Page 34 of Under the Mistletoe
She extended her hand. “Devin Hendrixson. Thank you for volunteering.”
“Glad to help.” He shook her hand, then scanned the area. “And it’s a good way to meet more people. Strange being the new guy in town.”
“I remember what that was like. Well, I’m always looking for volunteers.” Devin glanced back at where Logan had been. The kids were gone, but he was…staring at Greyson.
“I have to say, you are not what I was expecting.” Greyson’s eyes narrowed on her but in a pleasant way.
“Were you expecting someone taller?”
“No. More masculine.” He laughed and tried to hide his embarrassment.
“I get that a lot. It’s a family name.” There was no doubt Greyson was good-looking and a quality guy from everything she’d heard. And maybe if Logan weren’t consuming her mind these days, she could entertain the idea of liking him. But right this minute, it took all her strength not to shoo him away so Logan might come over to chat with her.
“Well, it is good to finally meet you, girl Devin. Maybe I’ll see you around.” He waved, then walked away.
Her gaze darted back to where Logan had been, but he was gone. Of course.
Devin tied up the garbage and lifted it out of the bin.
“I’ll take that.” Logan appeared next to her with his skates over his shoulder. “I’m headed out.”
“Thanks for coming.” She didn’t hand him the bag but waited.
You have to listen a little harder.
Wait a little longer.
Luke and Hannah were wrong. Logan wasn’t saying anything exceptsee ya later, and now she was making this awkward. But he did seem to be extending another olive branch of friendship, andthatshe would take.
Finally, she held out the bag, and he took it. “So the Victor Holt novella is good. Have you been reading it?”
“I have.” He gave a slight nod. “It’s all right.”
She studied his profile, waiting for a micro expression or anything that would clue her in to whether she was right about him being Holt’s editor. “All right?”
He blinked at her.
Maybe she had said that with a bit too much indignation. “I just mean, it’s better than all right.”
“Let me guess, you just love that Rand.” He sounded almost annoyed, but why wouldn’t she love Rand? He started back toward the garbage bin at a quicker pace this time.
She hurried to catch up. “I’m pretty sure I’m supposed to love Rand. Besides, he is so much better for her than Orin. Orin is just so?—”
“Boring?”
“What?” She waited while he tossed the garbage in, then shut the lid. “No. I mean sure, he’s focused and intentional about his kingdom, but that’s fine. He doesn’t really love her. That’s the problem. Rand would do anything for her. And he’s a man of adventure. I think there’s a twist coming where someone is after Astryn, and Rand is the only one who can protect her.”
She had no idea if that was coming, but she really wanted that to happen, so it didn’t hurt planting the idea in the editor’s mind.
“Why would you want that?”
“Who wouldn’t want that? Rand is strong and daring. Orin is about the kingdom, but Rand is all about Astryn. He can see who she really is and would go to the ends of the earth to give her everything she needed.”
“Right.” He stopped at the Mathewses’ house, his face annoyed again. “Well, I told my mom that I’d help my dad put up the outside lights. I’ll see you around.”
“Thank you for coming.”
He waved but didn’t look back.
