Crazy for Her(39)

Sometimes he could break her heart. She saw a little boy, unloved and uncared for by his mother, desperately trying to learn how to make the foods he thought his sister should eat.

Although he wouldn’t want her pity, she couldn’t resist wrapping her arms around his waist and holding the boy that surely could have used a hug. Somehow he turned in her embrace, pulled her close, and rested his chin on her head.

“Logan?”

He kissed the top of her head. “Hush. Go sit and let me take care of you.”

She could have stayed in his arms all night, but he’d offered to cook for her, something no woman could resist. “How about we take care of each other? I’ll make us a pitcher of margaritas while you surprise me with your culinary skills.”

Brown eyes warmed to the color of rich dark chocolate. “Works for me.”

He kissed her then, in the same way he had earlier. God, she could do this with him forever. It was a soft, exploring kiss, one that said he had deep feelings for her. Was that what she wanted? She didn’t know. She had thought they would have an affair as hot as a flashing fire and when it burned out, they’d return to their respective lives. He was changing the rules, but she wasn’t sure she minded.

The slide of his palms down her arms sent little shivers through her. He entwined their hands, lifted his face, and stared at her as if he were searching for answers. What was the question?

She smiled and pulled her hands from his. “Right. I’ll just go make the margaritas.” The pitcher of margaritas made, she salted the rims and poured them each a glass. “Here you go. Can I do anything to help?”

“No, sit and relax.”

As he’d already set the table, she relaxed and sipped her drink. Although she loved to cook, it was nice having him take over. He obviously knew what he was doing.

“So, did you find anything out today?” she asked.

“Yes, but we’ll talk about it later, after dinner.”

“All right. What would you like to talk about?”

He turned and speared her with that intense look of his. “You.”

“I’m the most boring person in the world.”

Leaning back, he braced his hands on the counter. “Are you? I hadn’t noticed.”

The way he stood accentuated the muscles in his chest and arms. How was she supposed to have a coherent thought when all she could think about was undressing him? “What do you want to know? I mean, you pretty much know everything about me. Great childhood, great parents, blah, blah, blah.”

He chuckled. “All right. What about your writing? I haven’t seen you doing any since I’ve been here.”

“I’m between deadlines. I finished my children’s book. It was something I really wanted to do, but I’m ready to get back to my romances. The mirror story is bubbling in my head, and I’m itching to get started on it.”

“What made you want to write a children’s book?”

Dani skimmed a finger around the rim of her glass and licked the salt. If she was right about Logan feeling guilty over Evan’s death, the answer was going to spoil the mood, but she wanted to tell him. She gave a slight shrug.

“I did it for Regan and in a way, for Evan, too. The title’s My Daddy Book. It’s about a young girl whose father doesn’t return from the war. She’s sad and misses him terribly. She starts the fourth grade in a new school and doesn’t know anyone, hasn’t any friends. A bully makes fun of her every day and she thinks, if only her daddy were here he would make the mean boy stop.” Logan’s face had shuttered and she hesitated.

“Go on.”

“You sure?”

He nodded.

“Well, another little girl finally befriends her, and they scheme to get back at the bully. On an overnight at her friend’s house, the father overhears them talking about all the mean things they plan to do to the bully. He’s a police officer and knows the boy, knows that he’s being raised by a single mother and they’re having a hard time.

“He convinces them to try and make friends with the mean boy, and so, eventually they do, and the three children become fast friends. Simplistic, I know, but that’s the story part to keep a young reader interested. The theme of the book is how the little girl goes through the grieving process and learns to cherish memories of her father. The book’s interactive with places where a child can write in their daddy’s name, his favorite color, things like that. There’s also a page in the front to insert a picture.

“I started it to give to Regan one day, and I didn’t think of publishing it. I mentioned what I was doing to my agent, and she asked to see it when I finished. Without telling me, she sent it to an editor who handles children’s books.” Dani shrugged. “He liked it and there you have it.”