Page 26 of The Lost and the Found

“Hayden, you have to eat,” he admonished.

“I did.” I showed him the empty wrapper from my sandwich. “Now I’m full.”

He looked like he wanted to say something but held off at the last minute.

When we were done, I handed Logan my trash and he walked it out, throwing it away in a trashcan. At least he didn’t litter.

Not paying for his parking ticket was one thing, but disrespecting the earth wasn’t something I could tolerate.And I wondered why that mattered to me. That Logan be the kind of man I could not only admire, but respect.

In such a short time, he had embedded himself into every fabric of my life, and the idea that he could be here for all of my future moments didn’t occur to me until this very moment, when it seemed real enough.

Or it could be the kiss talking. Perhaps because I went so long without feeling anything for anyone, I was now a mess of emotions, all because he kissed me the way I always imagined being kissed, and I… wanted more.

That was dangerous.

I couldn’t hope for a future with Logan. He wasn’t a part of the plan, and if I let him in, he might mess it all up for me.

When Logan got back in the car, I checked the clock. I still had about 45 minutes left before I needed to be at work. I didn’t mind getting to work early, and if it would get me away from the man so that I could think more clearly, I’d take it.

“Work?” I asked. He nodded.

I stared out the window as he drove down the familiar road I usually saw from the bus window, but for the first time, I didn’t dread the moment I had to get out. The bus stop was at least a three minute walk from the bar, and during the winter, those three minutes were three minutes too many.

Having a car was a convenience I wanted, but there was also something I needed to do before all of that. I needed to learn how to drive.

Logan commanded the car with such ease, I couldn’t help but be a little turned on just by watching him. I liked how his muscular form took up most of the seat, how he mindlessly tapped his thumb on the steering wheel, and how sexy he looked when he did something as simple as switching gears.

I knew enough to know the kind of car he drove was manual. And just watching him command such a powerful car… I shifted in my seat.

He pulled into the bar and parked into the space closest to the entrance. I unbuckled my seatbelt, and Logan did as well. I looked at him inquisitively.

“Hang on a sec. You still have time, and there’s something I wanted to give you.”

“What?” I asked suspiciously.

He smiled and climbed out. I had no other option but to climb out with him. We met at the trunk of his car, which he had already opened, and then Logan reached in and pulled out a black winter coat.

I know it wasn’t for him, because the design was obviously feminine. “Logan,” I said. “What are you…”

I didn’t finish my sentence. Logan was already wrapping the soft coat around me. I tried to pull away. “I can’t accept this!”

“Sure you can. You need a winter coat—you’re lucky you’re not sick from walking around in just those sweaters.”

“I can buy my own,” I protested. And that was true. I had been saving my tips for this very reason.

“I didn’t say you couldn’t. I know you’re more than capable of taking care of yourself. But I wanted to do this for you. I needed to do this for you.”

“Why?” I asked quietly. He still hadn’t answered my question in the car. Now I wanted to know why he was being so nice to me.

“Maybe because I like you. Maybe because there’s something about you that makes me want to take care of you. Does there really have to be a reason?”

“Yes. There does. Just because you’re doing all of this for me does not mean I’m going to put out. I’m not a whore, so you may as well get that through your head now.”

Logan’s eyes flashed with anger, and when he took a step toward me, I took one back. I knew it then: Logan wasn’t someone you messed with. He was dangerous in every sense of the word. “Did I say you were a whore? Did I ever give you any reason to think I wanted you to repay me on your back?”

My stomach clenched, mostly because of the visual of me on my back with Logan there, staring down at me. I swallowed. “N-no.”

“There are no strings attached to these gifts. When I have you naked in my bed, trust me, it won’t be because you want to repay me back for my ‘kindness.’ It’ll be because you want to be there. And for that comment, I’ll make you beg for it.”

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