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“Abby.” Logan’s voice was deadly quiet. “Don’t you see what’s happening? You may not think of Tate in a romantic light, but I saw the way he was looking at you in the pizza place.”
“You openly challenged him.” Abby threw out a few challenges of her own. “How did you expect him to react? You wouldn’t have behaved any differently,” she said. “And if you’ve come to ruin my birthday…then you can just leave. I’ve had about all I can take from you, Logan Fletcher.” She whirled around, not wanting to face him.
“I didn’t come for that.” The defeat was back in his voice again.
Abby’s pulse thundered in her ears as she waited for the sounds of him leaving—at the same time hoping he wouldn’t.
“Aren’t you going to open your present?” he said at last.
Abby turned and wiped away a tear that had escaped from the corner of her eye. “I already know what it is,” she said, glancing down at the package. “Honestly, Logan, you’re so predictable.”
“How could you possibly know?”
“Because you got me the same perfume for my birthday last year.” Deftly she removed the wrapping paper and held up the small bottle of expensive French fragrance.
“I like the way it smells on you,” Logan murmured, walking across the room. He rested his hands on her shoulders. “And if I’m so predictable, you’ll also recall that there’s a certain thank-you I expect.”
Any resistance drained from her as Logan pulled her into his embrace. Abby slid her arms around his neck and tasted the sweetness of his kiss. A wonderful languor stole through her limbs as his mouth brushed the sweeping curve of her lashes and burned a trail down her cheek to her ear.
“I love you, Logan,” Abby whispered with all the intensity in her.
Logan went utterly still. Gradually he raised his head so he could study her. Unflinching, Abby met his gaze, determined that he see for himself what her eyes and heart were saying.
“If you love me, then you’ll stop seeing Tate,” he said flatly.
“And if you love me, you’ll trust me.”
“Abby.” Logan dropped his hands and stepped away. “I—”
“Oh Logan.” Glenna Carpenter moved out of the kitchen. “I’m glad to see you’re still here. We insist you stay for dinner. Isn’t that right, Abby?”
Logan held her gaze with mesmerizing simplicity.
“Of course we do. If you don’t have another appointment,” Abby said meaningfully.
“You know I don’t.”
Abby knew nothing of the kind, but didn’t want to argue. “Did you see the gift Logan brought me?” Abby asked her mother and held out the perfume.
“Logan is always so thoughtful.”
“Yes, he is,” Abby agreed, and slipped an arm around his waist, enjoying the feel of him at her side. “Thoughtful, but not very original.” Her eyes smiled into his, pleading with him that, for tonight, they could forget their differences.
Logan’s arms slid just as easily around her. “But with that kind of thank-you, what incentive do I have for shopping around?”
Abby laughed and led the way to the back patio.
Frank Carpenter, Abby’s father, was busy standing in front of the barbecue, basting chicken.
“Logan,” he exclaimed, and held out a welcoming hand. “This is a pleasant surprise. Good to see you.”
Logan and her father had always gotten along and had several interests in common. For a time that had irked Abby. Defiantly, she’d wanted to make it clear that she wouldn’t marry a man solely because her parents thought highly of him. Her childish attitude had changed dramatically in these past weeks.
Abby’s mother brought another place setting from the kitchen to add to the three already on the picnic table. Abby made several more trips into the kitchen to carry out the salad, toasted bread, and a glass of wine for Logan.
Absently, Logan accepted the glass from her and smiled, deep in conversation with her father. Happiness washed over Abby as she munched on a potato chip. Looking at the two of them now—Abby busy helping her mother and Logan chatting easily with her father—she figured there was little to distinguish them as unmarried.
Dinner and the time that followed were cheerful. Frank suggested a game of cards while they were eating birthday cake and ice cream. But Abby’s mother immediately rejected the idea.
