Page 75 of Chance of Romance
Epilogue
Two weeks after what Sabrina now thought of as their love talk—when Logan had let her know just how much she meant to him—she happily showed up on his arm at the Clover Park Valentine’s Day dance. Dating Logan was wonderful. They spent the night at each other’s places on the weekend, but the rest of the time they lived apart. She hadn’t realized how much she needed that stability and routine to feel secure enough to open her heart and keep it open. Two weeks of Logan’s steady love, a short-lived fake marriage, plus months of solid friendship were all it took for Sabrina to commit. She could admit to being relieved he was no longer tied to Olivia in any way, but Sabrina’s love for him was so deep, her commitment so solid, she now would’ve chosen to follow him to California just so they could be together. Fortunately, she didn’t have to.
Her life was finally back on track. She was slowly rebuilding her practice, her lawyer had shut down any further defamation from Tara with the damning evidence Sabrina had recorded against her, and she was working on her book,Romance Rebel. The title was growing on her because she was a bit of a rebel the way she did her own relationship from the deep end and tiptoed on back out. She understood how deep commitment issues could go and had a new empathy for commitment-phobes. After all, she used to be one.
“You want some love punch?” Logan asked her, his hand sliding from the back of her neck down her spine in one smooth stroke, bringing a warm tingle along its path. “I heard it’s spiked.”
She smiled up at him, running a hand down his arm, loving the feel of soft fabric over hard muscle. He wore a navy blue suit that made him look even hotter than usual, all accomplished and professional. She’d dressed up too, wearing a dress she’d bought special for the occasion—it was tight and black, and Logan couldn’t keep his hands off her in it. The dress had a V-neck and cute layered fringes at the thigh-high hem that went perfect with her silver winged heels. “Sure, thanks.”
He gazed back at her tenderly before turning to her friend. “How about you, Lexi?”
“Make it a double,” Lexi replied. “Thanks.”
Logan inclined his head and went to get the drinks.
Lexi smoothed her hands over her hips in a dark blue satin cocktail dress and glanced around the crowded room, looking self-conscious. Sabrina had already told her she looked amazing. Her dark brown hair was up in a sophisticated twist; her dress with a white lapel along the deep V was super sexy. Surely, this would be a romantic night for Lexi. Love was in the air.
Sabrina put an arm around Lexi and gave her a little squeeze. Lexi hadn’t wanted to come tonight, saying she didn’t want to be the only single woman at a dance full of couples. When Sabrina had pointed out Hailey was going, Lexi had snorted, saying, “She’s in a relationship with her dog.”
It was hard to deny that. Hailey had spent the last month and a half in sessions with a dog trainer, coaching Rose to be a therapy dog for the sole purpose of having Rose with her everywhere she went. Not that she didn’t already sneak Rose everywhere in her giant pink doggie purse, but she was eager to take Rose out of her purse more and let her explore.
Logan returned a few minutes later and handed over the punch. “I took a sip of yours,” he said to Sabrina. “Strong stuff.”
“Awesome,” Lexi said and took a big swallow.
“I’m heading to the bar for a beer,” Logan said. “Be right back.” He left.
Garner’s Sports Bar & Grill had catered the event, and she’d seen Josh setting up earlier. He’d brought staff with him and, surprisingly, had come out from behind the bar to mingle a bit. Maybe he’d even dance, though Sabrina had to admit if he did, he likely wouldn’t ask Lexi. Not because Lexi wasn’t a great person, more because he was drawn to a certain strawberry blond woman currently in love with her dog.
She focused on Lexi again, who watched the room with a grim expression. “Lexi, your time will come,” Sabrina said gently. “Just be patient. Maybe it’ll happen tonight.”
Lexi sighed. “Truth? I think we had the right idea marrying ourselves. Who needs a man? I have a great career, great friends, a nice apartment, nice vacations, and…and…lots of great stuff. It’s only weird when I’m surrounded by couples. No offense.”
“No offense taken,” Sabrina murmured. She knew how hard it was to watch all your friends find their forever love when you couldn’t even move past the second date. She wasn’t even sure if Lexi ever moved past the first date. Most men didn’t pass muster with her.
Hailey waved at them and headed over in her deep red off-the-shoulder dress that clung to her perfect body. Red ballet flats with silk ribbons wound up her ankles. Even with her giant doggie purse, she still looked every bit the beauty queen.
“I swear,” Lexi said, under her breath, “if Hailey tries to get me to meet someone one more time, I’m going to turn the tables on her. See how she likes it.”
“She means well,” Sabrina whispered.
Hailey reached them and gave them both a hug. “Happy Valentine’s Day! Such a romantic day, right? It’s too bad I didn’t have any Valentine’s Day weddings this year, though I wouldn’t be surprised if some men are moved to propose tonight.” She looked right at Sabrina when she said that.
Sabrina smiled serenely. “Maybe.” She doubted Logan would propose, but she didn’t want to lessen the romantic view Hailey had, however unrealistic.
“Holy crap!” Lexi chortled. “Check them out!”
They all turned to the dance floor, where Mr. Campbell, Joe, was slow dancing with Hailey’s mom, Brandy. They were barely moving, pressed close together, cheek to cheek.
Sabrina and Lexi exchanged surprised looks. Hailey winced.
“I didn’t know they were still together,” Sabrina said. Last she’d heard, Joe had asked Brandy out. Of course, Sabrina had been a little out of the gossip loop with all the drama in her own life.
“It’s all I hear about,” Hailey said, rolling her eyes. She lowered her voice. “And she won’t stop talking about how great he is in bed.” She shuddered. “It’s revolting.”
Sabrina looked around for Logan and caught his older brother Josh’s eye. She waved at him, thinking how nice he looked dressed up in a white button-down shirt and gray pants. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, exposing tanned muscular forearms, probably from all his bartending work.
He walked over to them, doing his usual slow amble, but the moment he got close, Hailey’s dog erupted in ferocious barks, popping her head out of Hailey’s purse.
