Page 7 of Home Sweet Mess


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“Seems like that would be a good idea.”

“Great.” Logan crossed the room to the bar, which stretched along the back wall, processing what just happened. He couldn’t believe that woman was Andrew’s sister. The entire day considered, Logan would say he’d never met a woman so frustrating.

Or so frustratingly arousing.

And not only was his body sending confusing signals, so was she.

He could have sworn she was checking him out in line at the deli before she demanded he hand over his lunch.

Logan thought of himself as a gentleman and a chivalrous one, at that. His mother taught him well. But that deli made the best hummus, and he’d been thinking about it all morning. He’d wavered for a split second to consider a salad and avoid the carbs, but he just couldn’t. He wanted that hummus, and she wasn’t the only one who got hangry. So when she made her audacious request, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Andrew spoke so highly of Jeni, and she worked in child welfare, a career Logan couldn’t put any higher on a pedestal if he tried. It was a beautiful thing for her to be doing and surely meant she had compassion and kindness somewhere in that nicely shaped body of hers.

He couldn’t be sure, though, with her hostile attitude. She’d obviously decided she didn’t like him.

All because of sex and hummus.

Oh, and because of his job. His dream job, no less, one he’d never imagined landing at the age of twenty-seven. What kind of woman held a man’s job against him anyway? Was he not supposed to eat or pay his mortgage? She didn’t want him to pay the taxes that went back into the system and ultimately paid her salary at the child welfare office?

The bartender approached. “What can I get you?”

“Two Guinness drafts and a Michelob Ultra, please.”

The bartender nodded and moved down the counter. Logan leaned his elbows on the bar to wait.

“Thirsty?” came a feminine voice.

To his left sat a woman with long, black hair and a sultry smile. She was probably ten years older than Logan, but that didn’t bother him.

He smiled and angled his body toward her. “Will it disappoint you they’re not all for me?”

One dark eyebrow raised. “Michelob Ultra for your girlfriend?”

“No, that’s for my friend who worries about his physique more than any woman I know. I don’t have a girlfriend.”

The woman rotated on the stool so that her body faced him and crossed her long legs. “That’s good news.”

Well, all right then. He moved closer and held out his hand. “I’m Logan.”

This woman didn’t hesitate to slip her thin hand into his. “Amber. Nice to meet you.”

Logan considered asking if he could buy her next drink, but he didn’t want to bail on Andrew. That irritating sister of his, maybe. But nah, better not.

The sound of glasses being set down on the bar pulled his attention away from the woman. He paid for the beers and looked at her again. “I’d love to chat more, but I’d better get back to my friends.”

The woman stood and sidled up next to him. She smelled nice, like some sort of fruity perfume. She slid a business card across the wood countertop. “If you want to meet up sometime, give me a call.”

Logan smiled and slid the card into his pocket. “I’ll do that.”

He tucked Andrew’s beer bottle against his body with his forearm and grabbed the pint glasses. He carefully made his way back to the table where Andrew and Jeni sat, setting the drinks on the table.

“Jeni was just filling me in on your…interactions today,” Andrew said.

Logan sat down. “In vivid color, I’m sure.”

Jeni pulled her beer to her side of the table. “Just telling it like it was. I was almost to the part where you took the last vegetarian sandwich and wouldn’t give it to me.”

Andrew laughed at that. “Did you ask nicely?”

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