“Mom!” I shrieked, humiliated.

She shrugged. “What, I worry about you, and Logan here seems very nice and handsome.” Her smile grew when she looked back at Logan. “Do you plan on having more children one day? I would love a few grandchildren running around but Cassie’s still a little young, she needs to enjoy a healthy relationship first.”

I cringed, focusing my attention on the ground hoping to hide the flush raking my entire body.

Logan chuckled. “Cassandra’s lovely. I’ve definitely enjoyed getting to know her.” His lips turned up into an amused smirk, his gaze shifting toward me.

“She’s my friend,” Oliver spoke up, reminding everyone he was there.

“Yes, I am. Which reminds me, I needed to ask you a favor,” I said glaring at my mother.

“And here I thought you just wanted to introduce me to your handsome new neighbor.” She laughed once, completely aware of her actions.

Plastering a tight smile on my face, I held up a finger to let Logan know I’d be a minute before grabbing her arm to lead her a few feet away. Talking softly I asked my question and smiled when she agreed. My mother walked away without another word, she’d said enough and I turned back to face the impatient child looking around for something to do.

“All right, so I have a surprise for you.” I scrunched in front of Oliver. “How would you like to ride on the float in the parade with the sheriff and their special furry friend?”

My mother appeared just then with a large dog from the canine unit at her side.

Oliver’s eyes grew wide and he took off running toward the dog, eager to pet him. “Can I, Daddy?”

“Of course.” Logan nodded, smiling.

“All right, let’s get you up here. The parade will start the moment the first firework goes off. So say good-bye to your father and Cassandra,” my mother said, helping Oliver up on the float.

Logan and I waved good-bye and began walking the short distance down the grassy path to find a clear spot. We found a quiet place a little ways from the road, but with a perfect view to see Oliver when they passed. I crossed my legs under me, unable to find anything to say. My mother had said enough. The longer we sat the more Logan looked preoccupied in his head.

Between his rigid posture and silent treatment, I could sense something was bothering him. “Oliver will be fine. He’s surrounded by a dozen officers and the toughest dog in town.” I playfully nudged his side with my elbow.

He glanced up at me, frowning.

“We’ll meet him at the end of the parade route. My mother will keep him close, try to relax,” I added, reassuring him.

His worrisome expression deepened as he continued to stare at me. He looked away. “Oliver had a lot of fun tonight,” he finally said gazing at the street ahead.

“He still is.” I smiled, hoping to see Logan do the same. Instead, his eyebrows furrowed and a heavy sigh escaped his lips. Something was wrong. Before I could pry, he cocked his head to the side staring quizzically at me.

“I’m glad Oliver likes you…and that you’re…kind to him but…” He looked down, fidgeting with his hands placed over his knees in front of him. “Please, don’t make any more promises to my son, Cassandra.”

“Logan, I—”

“Just don’t,” he said, firmly closing the subject just as the fireworks began filling the sky.

Oliver rode by waving to the crowd wearing a giant grin, my mother at his side. He looked enthusiastically happy, but I had a feeling that wasn’t always the case. Logan’s tense posture told me there was a lot I didn’t know.

Reaching out I placed my hand over Logan’s resting in the grass beside me but kept my focus on the parade ahead of us as I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I won’t let anything happen to him when I’m around. And I won’t make any promises to him I can’t keep. You can trust me on that.”

I could feel Logan’s gaze on me but he said nothing. There was nothing he needed to say. Oliver was a good kid and I understood why his father needed to protect him. It couldn’t be easy being a single father.

As I removed my hand, his fingers gripped mine for a brief second. Sucking in a deep breath, I slowly pulled away to wave back at Oliver, trying to ignore the new feelings growing inside me.

Chapter Ten

Two Steps Back

Having spent the entire day with Oliver and Logan at the carnival, it opened my eyes. They were a family, just the two of them. I understood how hard it could be with only one parent, but Logan was doing a better job than most men. My sympathy for him made it easier to ignore the woman sneaking out of Logan’s house while I was preparing for my jog the next morning.

I didn’t recognize her as she walked to her car just after five in the morning, clutching her pink heels, her hair disheveled and mascara streaked down her face. I shook my head, popping my earbuds in and jogging past his property.

The week passed with Logan occasionally catching my attention while picking Oliver up from school, but other than that, we went our separate ways. Oliver, on the other hand, enjoyed hanging out in my tree house and after a little convincing, he managed to talk me into fixing it up.

Truth was, it wasn’t exactly safe the way it was now. Between the rotting floorboards and rickety ladder, it was an accident waiting to happen. To my complete surprise, Tuesday morning on my regular day off, I opened the door to two burly men, dressed neatly in maroon polos and khaki shorts.

“Um, can I help you?” I asked, standing in my doorway, fresh from my morning shower.

“We’re here to help with the tree house in the back,” the tall man explained. It was then that I noticed the toolbox in his hand.

“I didn’t—” I shook my head, scrunching my brows.

“Mr. West told us you’d be home today and to help in any way you needed on the place.”

“Oh,” I muttered, taken aback. It made sense since it would be his son playing there. Instead of walking next door, insisting I could do all the work myself, I smiled politely. “Go on around back and I’ll be out in a moment.”

By the end of the day, my old hangout looked brand new. I painted the old furniture bright–blues and greens, while the men did the real work. Oliver came over just before dinner, making a beeline for the new, sturdy ladder.

“Wow, this is great!” he exclaimed, climbing up.

I followed behind him, smiling as he took a seat at my previously hot-pink table. “Blue is much better.” He grinned.

Oliver helped me hang some of the old signs from my childhood, and then ran home for dinner explaining he’d bring over some of his artwork to hang later.

Later came and went—with no sign of Oliver—so feeling pleased with the events of the day and wanting to thank Logan, I walked next door and rang the buzzer. After waiting another minute, I rang it again, and then turned to leave. Maybe they went out.

The moment I stepped down the first step, the door opened. I turned back, smiling, expecting to see Oliver or Logan. Instead, there stood a tall, blond supermodel. At least she could pass for one. She wore nothing but a black silky sheet pressed around her barely twenty-one-year-old body.

She giggled back at someone in the house before turning to me. “Oh, you’re not Zoey,” she panted, her heavy accent was foreign to my ears. I watched the girl’s expression drop to disappointment.