Healed with a Kiss. GINA WILKINS

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СКАЧАТЬ raised an eyebrow. “The fact that you operate your own successful business isn’t brag-worthy enough?” he asked, without mentioning her reference to theater.

      “My mom has owned and operated a successful floral shop in Roanoke for twenty-five years,” she replied drily. “To her, being a business owner is no big deal. But she seems to be pleased that I’ve done so well with it so far. She takes credit for teaching me all I know about the business. And I suppose that’s fair, though it wasn’t what she’d always planned for me.”

      “I disagree. You’ve done an excellent job with your business, and I’m impressed with how much you’ve grown it since you bought it from Lula Coopersmith.”

      No compliment he could have given her would have pleased her more. She beamed at him. “Thank you, Logan.”

      Still frowning a bit, he nodded. “Just stating facts.”

      And then, as if concerned that they were straying a bit too closely to sentimental territory, he added brusquely, “As long as you’re not trying to turn the inn into the Taj Mahal or Buckingham Palace, of course.”

      “You’re starting on that again?” Trying not to grin, she shook her head. “Don’t make me complain to Kinley that you’re not fully cooperating with a client.”

      With one of his rare laughs, Logan stood and offered her a hand. “You’re threatening to get me into trouble with my sister?”

      Now she was the one to laugh as she allowed him to boost her to her feet, then slipped her arms around his waist. “I have much more effective weapons in my persuasion arsenal than threats,” she said in her sultriest voice, pressing her body against his and looking up at him through her lashes.

      She was rewarded with another flash of molten gold from his narrowed eyes just before his mouth covered hers.

      She loved kissing him here in the sunshine with the wind whipping their hair, birds singing around them, the beautiful panorama spread below them. Loved having him all to herself, not worrying about who might see them together, feeling no need to keep her attraction to him under wraps. No pressure, no expectations, no questions or judgments, just two healthy single adults who enjoyed each other’s company and shared an explosive chemistry.

      Voices drifted up to them from the path, and they broke apart reluctantly. With a sigh of resignation, Alexis donned her day-pack just as a group of chattering middle-aged women came into view, some of them puffing a little from the climb. She and Logan exchanged cordial nods with them, then headed back down the path to retrace their steps to their vehicles.

      The keys to his pickup truck in his hand, Logan stood close by until Alexis had unlocked and opened the driver’s-side door of her car. “I’ll give you a call later this week,” he said.

      She nodded. “It’s going to be a crazy week from here out. I have no appointments at the inn this week, though I’ll be there next week for final preparations for the Kempshall wedding next weekend. I’ll be home around ten most evenings, if you want to call then.”

      “Yeah, I’ll do that one night. So, I had a good time this morning.”

      She smiled up at him. “So did I.”

      “Have a great week. And, uh, good luck at your mom’s matchup party?”

      His dry, questioning tone made her smile wryly. “Good luck would be if I’m wrong about that. Maybe it’ll just be family there this time.”

      She knew her expression wasn’t overly optimistic. There’d been something in her mom’s tone that had warned her to expect another maternal ambush. She would much rather spend that time relaxing with Logan, who expected nothing more from her than a good time. What more could she desire? she asked herself again as she made the solitary drive back to her rented house.

      Chapter Three

      “Maybe we could make it just a little bigger at this end?” Bonnie asked, critically studying her newly laid-out herb garden Friday evening. “Just to give me a little extra room for the rosemary plants.”

      It was too early in the season for planting, but Logan had the raised bed she’d requested ready for the first hint of warm weather. And already she was asking for changes? “I made it exactly to your specifications,” he said irritably.

      “I know, and it looks great,” she assured him hastily. “But now that I see it finished, I just thought— Never mind, it’s great. I love it, thank you.”

      And now he felt like a jerk for snarling at her. With a faint sigh, he reached out to squeeze her shoulder in apology. “Just let me know what adjustments you want. There’s plenty of time to take care of it before it’s warm enough to start planting. I’ll put up fencing after you plant to keep the rabbits and deer out.”

      As was typical of his softhearted youngest sister, she moved closer to him and gazed up worriedly. “Are you not feeling well, Logan? You haven’t been quite yourself today.”

      He forced a reassuring smile. “Just a little grumpy. Most folks would say I’m being totally myself.”

      Her answering smile was fleeting, her strikingly blue eyes still focused on his face with uncomfortable intensity. “Does your head hurt? You’ve worked so hard this week, maybe you need some rest.”

      “Bonnie, really. I’m fine. I’m sorry I snapped at you.” He was uncomfortably aware that he didn’t apologize easily, but Bonnie had a knack for making him feel guilty.

      “Forget about the herb bed for now,” she said briskly. “Come inside. I made a pot roast for dinner. All I have to do is warm the bread and we’ll be ready to eat.”

      “I was going to spread some mulch in the east-side rose bed before calling it quits for the day.”

      “You can do that later. Come eat dinner. Rest awhile. I have cherry tarts for dessert,” she added enticingly.

      He groaned. “Okay, fine. I’ll eat.”

      Bonnie laughed softly. “I figured the cherry tarts would get you.”

      “Oh, yeah.”

      His deliberately light tone seemed to set her mind somewhat more at ease, though he thought he still detected concern in her smile. He couldn’t explain why he was so grouchy this evening. His mood had deteriorated steadily all day. Maybe his sister was right and he needed a break; he’d been working almost nonstop since returning from the Tuesday-morning hike with Alexis.

      As expected, he hadn’t seen Alexis since, though he’d spoken with her briefly on the phone last night. She’d been tired from a long day of meetings and paperwork and phone calls. He’d been perturbed by a long day of things going wrong—not to mention that it had been almost two weeks since he’d visited her bedroom. Those kisses on the hiking trail had been great, but decidedly frustrating.

      In past months, their work had kept them apart for considerably longer than a couple of weeks, with only an occasional phone call to keep them in touch. Maybe he was getting a little spoiled because they’d had more time to spend together during the slower off-season. As the spring passed and bookings for both of them increased, they’d be lucky to get together once a month. For that matter, he never knew when they СКАЧАТЬ