the town, and Chief of Police Duke Remington already knew about Logan.
“Banned?” Skylar questioned. “But we’ve been friends since we were kids. I really don’t want to hurt Ty any more than he already has been. He just needs time to come to his senses, is all.”
Christ, she had a soft heart that would get her in trouble.
“Listen to me, Skylar. I know the type. He sees you as his property.”
“Well, yeah, but it doesn’t make it true. Today was just . . . him being protective. I don’t want to make things worse by banning him.”
He took a step closer to her. “You’re asking for trouble. He’s not gonna back down.”
She seemed to think about that, worrying her lip between her teeth. “Maybe I could talk—”
“No talking. Leave him to me.”
“I don’t think—”
“No need to think about it. That’s why you hired me. To protect you and the bar.”
She narrowed her eyes at Logan. He could see the sparks begin to fly behind her eyes and he bit his tongue to keep from laughing. She was a firecracker waiting to explode, and he wanted nothing more than to kiss her until she saw reason. Or light the wick and watch her explode. He was certain her temper would be fun to watch.
“As entertaining as it is to watch you two dance around each other,” Remington cut in, “can we get back to the matter at hand? I’ve got shit I need to do. Fish that need to be caught.”
Skylar blinked then turned swiftly on her heel as her cheeks filled with color. “Sorry, Duke.”
Duke watched her for a moment, his lips twitching as she regained her composure.
“I’ll consider letting him out, Skye, but Josh is gonna need a firm hand.” He looked at Logan as he spoke, so Logan nodded, agreeing without words he would be there to help.
“Yes. Of course. I promise with everything I am that if you return Josh to my custody, I’ll keep him out of trouble. Scout’s honor.” Skylar raised three fingers in the universal promise of a Boy Scout.
Duke grinned openly at the display. He glanced at Logan, who had covered his own mouth to hide his smile, then turned and picked up his keys from his desk, mumbling, “Scout’s honor is good enough for me.”
With a cry of happiness, Skylar launched herself at Duke when he turned back around and hugged him so forcefully, he had to take a step back. Patting her on the back in neighborly affection, Duke cleared his throat before leaving them alone to retrieve Josh.
Skylar smiled at Logan in victory, and it hit him straight in the chest. A man would do just about anything for a woman if she graced him with a smile like that every day of his life.
“I’ll drive Josh to school,” Logan stated, moving closer to her, “and have a man-to-man with him.”
Her brows pulled tightly across her forehead. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. He doesn’t know you, and my brothers can be difficult.”
He took another step closer until she had to tip her head back to look up at him. “You’re paying me to look out for your safety, so I’ll take—”
“I’m letting you sleep there in exchange for looking out for the bar,” she corrected, but her tone had gone slightly breathy, and the sound of it floated around him like a soft breeze, causing the skin on the back of his neck to tingle. Her voice wasn’t deep and husky, but so damn sweet and innocent it was calming to his nerves that always seemed to be strung tight.
“You are the bar,” he contradicted, “so anything to do with you falls under my job description.”
She stared back at him with eyes so round he could have drowned in them. The need to reach up and run his finger across her cheek, to see if it was as soft as her hands, was nearly overwhelming. So much so his hand began to rise to her face, but he stopped when a hoarse voice behind him said, “Skylar.”
They both spun to find Josh standing in the doorway. The kid looked defeated. Like he was ready to cave under pressure. Logan knew if he lost it in front of his sister and Duke, it would make matters worse. He was a kid but he was almost a man, one who was carrying a heavy burden on his shoulders, so he moved to intercept him before Skylar could mother him to