Page 36 of Wilde Secrets

The world narrowed to just the two of them, as Harper clung to him as if she would float away without him as her anchor.

“Hey. It’s alright, Harper. It’s going to be alright.”

Logan’s deep voice washed over her, and her hands loosened slightly. She took a big heaving breath, fighting to get herself under control.

How could he say it’s going to be alright? Everything was upside down. She’d failed everyone.

Harper tried to speak but only managed to let loose a sob.

Logan’s hand settled on the middle of her back. His strong fingers were gentle as he touched her, and she let the rhythmic motion soothe her.

“It’s not going to be ok,” she said quietly, head resting on his chest with her eyes closed.

His hand stopped moving at her words. She frowned at the change and pulled back slightly, blinking to clear her eyes as she looked up at him.

“Why do you say that?” Logan asked.

“You lied to me.” Her bottom lip wobbled. She pushed at his chest, suddenly needing space. With him so close she couldn’t think clearly. “Let me go.”

He released her immediately and she stumbled backward, her backside hitting the stone wall. Her hands gripped the stone behind her, resting either side of her hips. She heaved in deep breaths, watching him warily. Logan’s hands were opening and closing rhythmically by his side.

“I know you have no reason to trust me, Harper. You hardly know me. But I didn’t tell Cassie who you are. I didn’t tell anyone.” His green eyes were sincere as he watched her, as if there was nothing more important to him right now than her.

How did he do that? His focus on her and only her, like he didn’t see anything else in the world.

Harper struggled to meet his eyes. She was still breathing hard, suddenly conscious of all the people in the park.

She dropped her head. “I don’t know what to believe anymore.”

Logan nodded and sighed, taking his cap off to run his hands through his hair before putting it back on again with a decisive tug. “Will you let me help you?”

Harper wanted to accept more than anything, but what would that say about her if she did?

But did she have a choice? With every day she felt time running through her fingers. She could choose to accept the help he offered or… What? What else could she do?

She’d already wasted another day. The timeline that seemed beyond difficult is slowly becoming completely impossible.

Who am I kidding? It was always impossible. It’s almost like dad wants me to fail.

But she had to know.

“Why?”

Logan looked over her shoulder, across the water. “I’ve been where you are now.”

“I find that hard to believe.” What could possibly have brought this man to his knees?

Logan gestured to the wall next to her. “May I?”

Harper nodded.

Logan moved to lean against the wall with one hip, facing her. Harper was conscious of how close they were—she could reach out and lay her hand flat on his chest if she wanted. There was something about his solid presence that was reassuring.

She laced her fingers together in front of her, head lowered. Had she completely overreacted? Maybe.

The sound of the water lapping rhythmically against the rock wall soothed. The breeze lifted her hair off her neck, cooling the sweat that dampened her skin.

Ok, definitely an overreaction.

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