Page 52 of Beary In Love

Logan's heart raced as he leaned down, pressing his lips to her cheek. Her skin was soft, warm, and he caught the slight hitch in her breath.

"Sweet dreams, Serena," he murmured against her skin before pulling back.

He waited until she was safely inside before heading back to his truck, his bear purring with contentment. The spot where his lips had touched her cheek tingled all the way home.

22

SERENA

Serena slumped against her front door, sliding down until she sat on the cool hardwood floor. Her heart fluttered like a hummingbird trapped in her chest, and she pressed her fingertips to where Logan's lips had kissed her cheek. The spot still tingled.

"Oh god," she whispered to her empty house. "I'm in so much trouble."

She kicked off her shoes, letting her head fall back against the door with a soft thud. The events of the day played through her mind like a highlight reel - Logan's strong hands lifting her off the ground when she cracked Beatrice's puzzle, spinning her until she squealed with laughter. The way he'd "happened" to remember that overlook spot where they used to watch sunsets, producing a bouquet of wildflowers from his truck.

"I just wanted you to know how proud I am of you," he'd said with that half-grin that made her knees weak.

Then there was that impromptu dinner at Betty's Drive-In, where they shared fries just like they used to. Logan had even remembered she liked extra pickles on her burger and sweet-talked the waitress into bringing extras.

"Such a gentleman," she'd teased him when he'd walked her to her front door.

"Only with you," he'd replied with a wink that sent warmth spreading through her chest.

Serena groaned, covering her face with her hands. "What am I doing?"

But she couldn't stop the smile spreading across her face. Every time she caught him looking at her today, his gold-flecked eyes had been so soft, so warm. The way he'd touched her elbow to guide her, found excuses to stand close, laughed at her terrible puns - nobody could fake that kind of attention to detail.

She touched her cheek again, remembering how his stubble had scratched slightly against her skin, how his lips had lingered just a moment longer than strictly necessary for a friendly kiss.

"I'm completely head over heels," she admitted to the empty room, letting out a breathless laugh. "Totally, absolutely gone."

Serena paced her living room, her sock-clad feet padding across the hardwood floors. Every few steps, she'd pause to stare out the window at the moon-drenched garden, then resume her restless circuit.

"Friends," she muttered, running her fingers through her loose hair. "We said we'd be friends."

But friends didn't look at each other the way Logan had looked at her today, like she was something precious he'd found again after losing it. Friends didn't find excuses to touch each other's hands while passing potions ingredients back and forth.

She flopped onto her couch, grabbing a throw pillow and hugging it to her chest. "And friends definitely don't kiss cheeks like that."

The memory of his lips against her skin made her flush all over again. Ten years ago, she'd been so certain he was the one - until that fight about her leaving for vet school had exploded into accusations and hurt feelings.

"But he's so different now," she said to the empty room.

These past weeks, she'd watched him bottle-feed injured fox kits, seen how tenderly he cared for each animal that came through his sanctuary. The way he'd supported her magic, encouraged her to experiment and grow - it was a far cry from the stubborn young man who'd once insisted his way was the only way.

"Remember when he used to solve everything by charging in?" She smiled, remembering earlier today when he'd actually asked her opinion about handling a particularly skittish deer. "Now he actually listens."

Serena stood up and resumed pacing, this time with more energy. "He remembered my favorite wildflowers. He still knows exactly how I take my coffee. He keeps finding reasons to work late just so we can watch the sunset together."

She stopped at the window, pressing her forehead against the cool glass. "And the way he looked at me at the festival..." Her breath fogged the pane as she whispered, "Nobody's ever looked at me like that. Not even..."

She couldn't finish the thought about her ex-husband. Because the truth was, what she'd felt for her ex paled in comparison to how Logan made her feel - both then and now.

Serena fumbled with her phone, nearly dropping it twice before managing to dial Julie's number. Her hand trembled as she pressed it to her ear, pacing circles around her coffee table.

"Julie? Are you awake? I need to talk."

"For you? Always." Julie's voice crackled through the speaker. "What's got you calling at this hour?"

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