Page 74 of Everything Has Changed
She’s already walking away from the counter, but my sights immediately snap back to where I last saw Gwen. And Mary was right.
My feet start moving before I even realize it, sending me out the door. A cackling Mary at my back disappears as the door closes behind me. I quickly look both ways, making sure cars are not headed in my direction. A voice calls my name from down the sidewalk, and I just throw my hand up in a wave, not turning to see who it is.
It doesn’t matter. My sights are set on getting to Gwen, who is currently tossing her head back on a laugh. Her hand reaches out, lightly pushing on Connor’s shoulder. I’d scoff at the dopey look the guy has on his face as he watches her smile light up her face, but I know from experience her beauty is captivating. Though I do wish he would back off a few feet and that she was directing that attention on me.
A tightness squeezes my chest as my cheeks feel flushed and my vision tunnels on the two of them. I make it across the street and to her storefront in record time.
It had been almost a full forty-eight hours since I last saw her, and though I went years without seeing her—almost my whole life, so far—those two days felt like an eternity. I had not realized how much I had come to rely on her light and comfort over the last few weeks.
Her eyes widen with her smile when she notices me walking up.
Damn, I want to kiss her right now.
“Logan!” Her voice saying my name sends a jolt straight to my dick. Just by me imaging how she sounds when she moans it against my skin.
“Hey, gorgeous.” The moniker is out before I can reel it back in, but the blush that overtakes her porcelain skin as she parts her lips in surprise makes it worth it. I vow to myself to make her do that again and again. Preferably without an audience. “Hope I wasn’t interrupting. Connor, right?” I step beside Gwen and reach my hand out to the man now sending a glare my way.
Actually, I hope I am interrupting, I think to myself. Because if anyone is going to make my girl laugh, it’s me.
My girl. I’m not sure what we are to each other after a few incredibly hot moments, but it feels right to call her that. It didn’t matter if it wasn’t right. At least not yet. I had a few things to take care of before I tried to convince her to be mine. For now, I’ll just show her how good we can be together.
Connor slaps his palm against mine a little harder than necessary, but it’s fine because when we pump our hands in a shake, I squeeze hard enough to make him flinch. He flexes his hand after we let go, and I have to keep my grin from being too smug.
“Right,” he grunts.
We know each other. I’m pretty sure we had a few classes back in high school. But I wasn’t giving him any grace, not when I know they have a past. Not that I have anything against that; we all have them. But I didn’t want him to think he has any more of her future.
“I was just trying to talk Connor into being part of the date auction. We need a few more signups.”
Connor’s brown eyes squint as his lips tip up on one side. “And I was saying how the only way I’m doing that is if I can guarantee Gwen gets the winning bid. I mean, it seems like the right choice when we already know how good we can be together.”
Next to me, Gwen sucks in a sharp breath. “I’m not bidding on anyone. I already told you that. But there are plenty of other single ladies in this town who will be knocking each other over to bid on a date with you.”
I hook an arm around Gwen’s shoulders, reveling in the stare down Connor gives our connection. “I think Gwen is going to be too busy with making sure the festival goes off without a hitch to bid on anyone, anyway. We have a lot going on, so we have to be extra hands-on.”
I look down at Gwen to see her fold her lips into her teeth, holding back a smile.
“So, can we put you down to be part of the auction?”
We both stare at him expectantly until he plasters a smile back on his face. Just for Gwen though, as he keeps his eyes only on her.
“Anything for you, G.”
Sensing the conversation is over and that I’m not leaving, Connor says his goodbyes and turns to walk down the street.
My arm is still wrapped around Gwen, and I have pulled her closer to my side when I felt her move against me. Her warmth seeps through her sweater and into my button-up, heating my skin. Though that could just be from being next to her again.
“You didn’t have to be so rude, Logan.” She sighs, removing herself from under my arm and turning to narrow her eyes at me. Her arms cross in front of her chest as she pops her hip to tap her heeled bootie on the concrete.
I take a mental note of how long her legs look in her flowy short skirt with her oversized sweater. She’s the girl-next-door dream. And I can’t help but wonder what it would feel like to have her legs wrapped around me in that skirt. How easy it would be to find out what she has hidden underneath and to see how many times I can make her lose control the way she did the first night I kissed her.
I have had the memory of that night on replay from that moment on. And probably will until my dying breath. I wasn’t kidding when I told her that it was the hottest moment of my life. I’ll be on my deathbed, my life flashing before my eyes. But the scene I would linger on the longest would be making Gwen fall apart for the first time.
27
Logan
She’s staring at me expectantly, but there’s only one thought in my mind that’s appropriate to speak about in a public space currently.
