Page 59 of Tattered (Lark Cove 1)

After an hour of flip-flopping up and down the quiet side streets of Lark Cove, I was heading home along the highway.

My frustration with Logan had fizzled over the last hour. I tried to see things from his perspective. A month ago, he’d had no idea Charlie even existed. It might take him time to adjust his schedule so it could include her.

He just needed to learn not to make false promises.

I’d drill that into his gorgeous head until it stuck.

The sun had set and its lasting glow had nearly faded as I strolled. I’d been meandering down Lark Cove’s quiet side roads and had planned to take the same route back to the cottage. But as I passed the turn down a side street, a shiver rolled over my shoulders.

It was that feeling again. Someone was watching me.

I slowed my pace, looking all around, but I couldn’t see anyone. All of the homes around were silent. People were all inside for the night.

The shiver came again and the side street I’d wanted to stroll now seemed unappealing. So I picked up my pace, walking fast back to the highway. Once I reached it, the feeling was gone. You’re losing it, Thea. It had probably just been someone watching me from their window, wondering what I was doing out in front of their house alone at night.

So I relaxed my stride again, taking in the bar’s red and yellow neon sign a couple blocks down. It was supposed to be my night to work, but with Charlie’s birthday, Jackson had volunteered to trade. Besides the bar, the only other sign lit along the highway was the motel’s. It buzzed as I walked past. All the other businesses in town were closed at this hour.

The motel’s parking lot was full for a change. I’d heard through the grapevine that the Walters family was having a reunion this weekend.

I was scanning the license plates—Oregon, Idaho, Washington—when I saw a man standing at the vending machine with his back to me. I kept walking but did a double take as he ran his hand through his hair.

His hair looked a lot like my daughter’s.

The man punched a button and bent to get a bottle of water. When he turned around, I skidded to a stop.

Logan.

My heart nearly burst.

I immediately changed direction, rushing to catch up to him. His long legs ate up the sidewalk that ran along the doors to each of the rooms. He went straight to his room, unlocking the door and pushing inside. It had almost swung closed, but I managed to slap my hand on the door’s face.

Logan spun around, glaring until he saw it was me.

“You’re here?” My voice was breathy, both from racing across the parking lot and from the shock of seeing Logan in Lark Cove.

He nodded and planted his hands on his hips. “I just got in.”

“So when you called—”

“My jet had just landed.”

“Oh.” I cringed. The asshole here was me, not Logan.

“I promised you and Charlie I would be here, Thea,” he snapped, coming right into my space. “But I’m glad to see you have so much faith in me.”

“I’m sorry. I just . . .” I just fucked up. That’s what I’d done. “I have a hard time trusting people. I’m working on it, but people have a habit of letting me down.”

“I. Won’t.”

Two simple words said with so much conviction, they sank into my bones.

His chest was inches from my face, its heat chasing away the chill of the night air. He took my free hand and tugged me forward until the door swung closed at my back.

“You came back,” I whispered.

“I told you I would.”

I met his gaze. “Can we play a hundred questions?”