Page 19 of Never Sleigh Never
“You’re welcome,” I reply.
She peels the wrapper and pops the end in her mouth. “Daddy, can I look at the trees over there?” She points to a cluster of white pines.
“Yeah, but stay where I can see you,” Logan says.
“Okay.” She skips to a tall, full white pine.
“You have an adorable daughter,” Willa says.
“Thanks. She gets everything from her mother.”
“Except she has your eyes.” Shit. Heat flames over my cheeks. I didn’t mean to say that out loud.
Logan’s gaze hooks mine; his mouth almost—almost—tips into a smile before he turns to Mason. “I hear you’re a firefighter.”
“Yep, protecting the fine folks of Mount Holly. He wraps an arm around Willa. “Especially this one.”
While they talk, Logan flicks glances over Mason’s shoulder to make sure he can still see Josie. My ovaries wave balloons and shoot off party poppers, wanting to invite the single dad standing in front of me to the party. Traitorous ovaries.
Willa lifts a finger. “That was only one time.”
“Twice actually.” Mason chuckles.
She winces. “Right. The flambé incident. But you were already at the diner, so I didn’t call you.”
“If I hadn’t been there,” he says, “the Jolly Biscuit might be a crispy biscuit.”
“You’re insufferable.” Willa shakes her head but laughs.
“Are you free sometime this week?” Logan asks Mason. “I’m working on a few things and thought you might be interested in participating.”
“Yeah. Call me,” Mason says.
While Logan and Mason continue to talk, Willa nudges me with her elbow and whispers, “Did you thank him for your present?”
“No,” I mouth. I regret telling Willa about the dryer sheets. Since yesterday, she’s been hounding me about the meaning behind giving someone dryer sheets. I told her there is no meaning. They’re dryer sheets, but she insisted you don’t give just anyone dryer sheets. He was thinking of me or my underwear and brought them to my house. I reiterated Logan is cocky and probably did it for his own amusement. “There’s no reason to?—”
Willa blurts out, “Brie says thank you for the dryer sheets!”
Logan turns around, brows raised in amusement. “You’re welcome.”
I give him a tight-lipped smile with a shrug. “I’m static-free today.”
“Glad to hear,” he says.
Henry races over, hands raised in disbelief. A dark gray trapper cap with light tan, wool ear flaps sits on his head. It’s kind of ridiculous but oddly fitting for Henry. It matches his black and gray flannel jacket, so he’d be stylish if he were to model for the Great Northwoods magazine.
“What the he—heck happened here?” Henry sensors himself when he spots Josie. His gaze follows the line of destruction.
“The trees wanted to play dominoes,” I say, aiming for adorable and landing somewhere near guilty golden retriever.
Logan leans down and whispers, “While you were secretly spying on me.”
I glare at him. Unfortunately, it’s true. My gaze meets Henry’s. “I’m so sorry. It was an accident. I lost my balance and took the trees and Willa with me. I’ll help you pick them up. And if there are any damaged ones, I’ll pay for them.”
After we right the fallen trees, Josie leads Logan, followed by Henry, down the pathway to show them the perfect tree she found. Logan chases after her, and Josie’s squeals of laughter fill the air. When she’s within arm’s reach, he scoops her up, a beaming smile covering his face.
Willa bumps my arm. “You’re staring.”
