Page 14 of Sapphire Sunset

“The United States Marine Corps,” Logan answered.

“Ooooo, impressive.” Connor’seyebrows went up. “Thank you for your service.”

“Hooh-yah,” Logan said in a huskywhisper.

“How long since your discharge?” Connor asked.

“A couple months.”

“How’s it been?” Connor asked.

The urge to pour out his dad’s drama came on strong, but hestopped himself, worried it would come off like he was trying to manipulate theboss’s family with his sob story. And in the end, would Connor Harcourt understand?If someone in the Harcourt family was forced into retirement by a medicalissue, they probably took up watercolors on the veranda.

“Some family stuff to deal with,” Logan said, “butotherwise, pretty great.” He looked into Connor’s eyes. “Especially now.”

Connor took a small step forward, and suddenly they wereinches apart, and it felt like all the little moves they’d made before now werejust a silly prologue to this moment. This moment of sudden, unwavering eyecontact and unspoken need. “So, um, do you dance as well as you catch punchesin midair?”

“Are you asking me to dance, Mr. Harcourt?”

“I told you not to call me that.”

“That’s right. Apologies.”

“And didn’t you askmeto dance at the party?”

“In a passive-aggressive kind of way.”

“I don’t know, maybe it was your way of defusing thesituation. And making the other gays feel more comfortable by outing yourself.”

“Maybe,” Logan said. “Partly.”

“Or maybe you really want to dance with me,” Connor whispered.

Logan swallowed, and suddenly the only sound was the huffingbreaths he was taking through his nostrils.

From the way Connor’s face fell, Logan realized the guy hadmisinterpreted his silence.

“I’m making you uncomfortable,” Connor said. “Sorry.”

“No,” Logan managed, but it didn’t sound convincing, andwhen he stood up straight and lowered his arm from the balustrade, Connor tookit as a cue to step back.Shit.

“I am. That waskindaforward, Iguess. Anyway…”

“Connor—”

Connor took several steps back. Each one tugged at thecenter of Logan’s chest. The expression on his face blended regret andnervousness into a cocktail that made Logan’s stomach go sour. “I really didjust come out here to thank you. Truly. If you hadn’t done what you did, I’mpretty sure those guys would have come back for round two, and it might have ruinedthe party. So thank you, Lethal Weapon. Sapphire Cove is lucky to have you.”

The sight of Connor walking away was like watching a flightyou’d raced to catch pull away from the gate, or your own car sliding backwarddown the driveway without you in it because you forgot to set the parkingbrake. Suddenly it felt like the potent connection they’d made would blow outto sea and be lost forever the minute the door closed behind Connor’s perfectbutt.

Logan had enough counseling under his belt to know thatsometimes when something scared him, that meant it was good for him. WouldConnor Harcourt qualify?

“Connor?”

Connor turned, but he was mostly in shadow now, so it wasimpossible to see his face.

“So there’s sea caves here?” Logan said.

For what felt like an eternity, Connor didn’t move, then heslowly approached until a sliver of light from the ballroom fell across oneside of his face.

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