that?” he asked.
She glanced at him, then held the vase out. He took it without another word and kept walking. She resumed digging in her purse for her keys.
Logan eyed the bouquet.
Who sent it to her?
He peered at the blossoms, noting the card stand. But no card.
“Still trying to find out who sent them?” Kelsey asked.
Logan lifted his chin and stared straight ahead.
She laughed. “This is me.”
He glanced up at possibly the biggest truck he’d ever seen. And he’d been around quite a few. Tucker, his second in command, also had a thing for trucks but his was at least reasonable compared to the one ton monstrosity filling out all of the parking space.
Logan whistled and reached out, opening the driver’s side door for Kelsey.
“Thanks.”
“And here I was thinking you might drive that little red thing in the parking lot,” he mused.
“Oh, hell no. Whatever I drive, I want it to be built like a tank.” She grabbed the handhold and used it to hoist herself into the driver’s seat.
He’d never seen a person actually need those to enter their vehicle before.
Was it cute? Or scary?
Kelsey perched on the edge with her feet hanging over the side of the seat. She grinned at him, clearly amused by his reaction.
“Flowers?” She held out her hands.
He glanced down at them.
Just who the hell sent them to her?
“You’re too easy, you know that? Chill.” She leaned out and plucked the vase from his hands. Her mouth curved into a smile he rarely saw. It was a softer, more private kind of smile, and she was giving it to a bunch of dying flowers.
Great.
Now he was jealous of fucking flowers.
Logan gripped the door, still watching her. He’d be a fool if he didn’t admit that the things that drew him to Kelsey were also the things that frustrated him the most.
“There’s no secret admirer, grumpy pants.” She glanced up and smirked. “I had the guys send them.”
“You—what?” He frowned.
Kelsey twisted and put the flowers somewhere out of sight, giving him a moment to process that admission. The guys? As in his team? Why hadn’t he known? Had she intentionally left him out of that task?
She faced him once more, hands gripping the edge of the seat.
As a child, she must have been an imp. Pure trouble with that grin.
“It props up my cover story, okay?” She shrugged.
“Oh.” He tried not to frown. He really did, but for some reason the idea that she’d sent herself flowers didn’t sit well with him either.
She deserved to have someone do that for her. To think about her. Care for her. And damn it all, why did this fictional person make him jealous?
He had to get his act together and his head out of his ass.
“What’s your deal?” Kelsey asked.
“Hm?” He blinked, refocusing on her face.
Most days Kelsey didn’t bother with make-up. He didn’t think she needed it to be beautiful. But now? Today? Her eyes seemed larger, the browns richer. Her lips were accentuated and glossy. Her cheeks rosy, but not from the crisp breeze.
She tilted her head to one side. “Why are you always riding my case? What did I ever do that makes you think you have to breathe down my neck? You won’t even let me walk to my truck on my own.”
“I’m not—that isn’t...” He opened and closed his mouth. “That’s not it at all.”
“Then what? Because I’m trying to not get pissed off at you and you keep pushing me. I swear, my own mother didn’t hover this much.”
Logan took a step back.
Shit.
“That was not my intention,” he said.
“Then what the hell is going on here, Logan? What did I do wrong? Hm?” Anger flashed in her eyes.
Fuck.
Logan dragged his hand over his face.
This wasn’t like him, but she twisted him up so much he couldn’t stop himself.
“I’m worried, okay?” he said.
“Worried?” Her mouth twisted up. “Bullshit.”
Logan leaned against the truck and pulled the door as close as he could, giving them a little privacy.
What should he say? Where did he start?
“Be honest with me,” Kelsey demanded.
He could. To a point.
“I am.” He stared back at her. “You’re brave. And selfless. You have no fear whatsoever. It’s like you think you’re invincible or whatever. You are great at what you do. But you take risks. Unnecessary risks that could get you hurt. Or killed. And I don’t want that. Ever. Not if I can have your back.”
Kelsey’s eyes widened in shock. Her mouth opened, then shut. For once, her face wasn’t a