Page 82 of Tattered (Lark Cove 1)

Logan and his simple gestures spoke more than a thousand words.

“I don’t expect you to act like anything but yourself. The woman I’m completely falling for.”

That was really, really nice to hear. “I’m falling for you too.”

“I know.” Logan smiled, then pressed his lips against mine in a sweet kiss.

I’d fallen for him the moment he’d come back to Lark Cove for Charlie’s birthday. Or maybe it was all those years ago when he’d swept me off my feet in a hotel bar. It didn’t matter. I wasn’t foolish enough to think our relationship would last forever.

I was foolish enough to let him have my heart until he realized what I’d known all along.

One day, he’d understand that Thea Landry didn’t fit into the Kendrick world. One day, I’d have to let him go.

And if the hollow pit in my stomach was any indication, that day would likely come in New York City.

The next night, I was sitting at the bar drawing in my sketch pad. I’d been here all day, throwing myself into work as a distraction from the nerves. I’d been an anxious mess ever since agreeing to go with Logan to New York. Pouring drinks, wiping down tables and making pizza had given me a nice outlet for my unease.

That was until I’d found a sweet note after the dinner rush.

Someone had written SLUT on a cocktail napkin and left it for me on the bar along with a three-cent tip.

I didn’t know who’d left it because we’d had a busy Saturday. My guess was the woman who’d been in earlier and hadn’t liked it when I’d told her under no circumstances would I call Jackson down so he could “entertain” her.

Seriously. What did he see in those bitches? How was I the slut in this scenario?

The napkin note had pissed me off and taken away my calm. So I’d resorted to drawing to make me feel better. I’d been at it for an hour and was finally beginning to relax again.

“Hey.”

I looked up as Jackson came through the back door of the bar. “Hi. What are you doing here?”

He shrugged. “I was bored at home. Thought I’d come in and keep you company.”

“Want a beer?” I set down my pencil on my sketch pad and picked up a pint glass.

“Nah.” He shook his head. “I’ll just have a Coke.”

I gave him a sideways glance. Jackson Page never turned down beer on Saturday nights. “Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m good. Just don’t feel like drinking.”

I left it at that and filled his glass with ice and soda. Then I set it on a napkin and leaned against the counter where I’d been drawing.

“Been busy?” he asked.

“Not bad. There was a good dinner rush tonight. Those guys in the corner booth have been here for a few hours. Wayne and Ronny were in earlier, but they both called it a night and left.”

It was almost midnight, so things were winding down, but my day here had gone fast. I loved Saturdays for that reason. If I couldn’t be at home with Charlie, then at least I wasn’t bored at work.

And in just two hours, I could go home and crawl into bed with Logan.

“Where’s Daddy Dearest tonight?” Jackson muttered.

“Hey.” I frowned. How long was it going to take for Jackson to lay off Logan? “Don’t be like that.”

He winced. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay. And he’s at my house with Charlie.”