Page 62 of Wilde Secrets

Logan had had enough. He reached over and hit the button to end the call.

“You hung up on him?” Harper gasped, staring at him with incredulous eyes.

“Yep.”

“He’s going to be awful now. He’ll think it was me who hung up on him.” She dropped her phone to the couch next to her and hugged her knees to her chest.

Logan blinked. Didn’t she see how wrong this was?

Harper snatched up her phone and dialed. “I need to talk to Isla.”

Logan watched as she sat there for long minutes, trying to reach first her sister and then King. Over and over she dialed their numbers, each time her face falling in disappointment when they didn’t answer.

Logan couldn’t take it after the third time, and gently pried the phone from her hands.

“What are you doing?”

“Come on.” He tugged her to her feet. “I want to show you something.”

Harper sighed. “Now?”

He nodded. “No better time.”

She nodded, a frown marking a vertical line between her brows that he wished he could smooth away. “Ok.”

Logan led the way out of the house through the front door. They’d come in and out of the mudroom since she’d been here, and the back sliding doors onto the deck that overlooked the water, but not the front door.

When they got outside, he turned and walked in the opposite direction to where his truck was parked and where he’d been cutting wood. He smiled as he thought of how Harper would love what he had to show to her.

Her footsteps fell softly on the ground behind him as he led her toward a path partially hidden among the trees. The path wound through the quiet of the woods, punctuated by bird calls and the soft splash of the nearby water against the rocks.

“Where are we going?”

Logan stepped into a small clearing and moved to one side so Harper could see past him. She stopped, a hand raised to cover her mouth as she looked around.

The clearing overlooked the inlet but was raised on a small headland, a rocky outcrop jutting into the water. It was hidden from view of the house, with a small shelter with a roof but no walls.

“Oh wow. This is…” she trailed off as she stared around in wonder. “What is this?” She asked, looking up at him.

“It’s where I come sometimes just to think.” He shrugged. “I thought you might like it here.”

She smiled up at him. “I love it!”

He felt a rush of pleasure at Harper’s joyful enthusiasm, watching as she explored the space. He trailed after her and took a seat on the outdoor couch that he’d brought out here, laying back against the padded seat and propping his feet up on a stool.

The peace he felt when he came here slowly washed over him. The water was much calmer today, and he spent a few minutes just staring into the distance.

At some point, Harper plopped down next to him and tucked her feet up underneath her legs.

“Thank you,” she said.

He glanced over at her. Her face was in profile, and he noticed some freckles over her nose that he hadn’t seen before. They were adorable, and he felt a sudden urge to count each and every one.

“For what?”

She turned to look at him with a warm smile. “Distracting me with this.”

He didn’t reply, just nodded and watched as she flopped back against him. He lifted his arm, and she scooted underneath it, resting her head on his chest.

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