Can he feel it too?
Warmth rushes from my shoulder and settles in my chest. Unexpected emotion wells inside me. It’s been so long since anyone has touched me. I’m sure that’s the only reason why his touch affects me so much. It can’t be anything else.
When he removes his hand a second later, I pull in a breath, urging myself to continue. “And as I sat there listening to her read the words I’d written, I felt ashamed.”
“Why?” Logan asks, looking genuinely perplexed.
I shrug. “I don’t know. Just like I had lied or something.”
He meets my eyes, and there’s a newfound understanding between us. “It wasn’t a lie, Summer. I think it was really nice what you did.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that.” I smile.
We stare at each other for a beat too long before his gaze darts away and his body becomes rigid again. It’s as if he’s remembered why I’m here.
Up go his walls, and I feel like I’ll have to begin to chip away at them all over again.
7
* * *
LOGAN
After the weighty discussion we’ve just had, the air around us is tense, but there’s also a sense of calm and healing that I haven’t felt in a long time. I shake out of my daze and refocus on the fire that I’ve yet to start.
“Give me a few minutes, and I’ll get this going.”
As I load the woodstove with kindling, I focus on the task at hand and allow myself to clear my head of thoughts of how easy it felt to tell Summer things I’ve never told anyone. Admitting that I was glad I wasn’t here when Dad died . . . I never thought I’d ever say that out loud to anyone.
But I can’t say I regret it either. There was something kinda freeing in admitting that.
The kindling catches, and the first crackle of fire licking at the logs makes Summer hum happily to herself. The temperature is only in the forties. I can’t imagine how cold she must have been in here last night.
All the animosity I felt earlier overhearing her gossip with my mom is gone. Summer is here to do a job, and I haven’t made it easy on her. I’ve been an asshole. Simple as that.
Stacking more wood in the fire with some paper, I say, “Tell me about your mom. What was she like?”
When I glance at Summer, she has a faraway look in her eyes. “She was spunky and fun, not at all one of those helicopter parents. She never hovered. She let me figure things out, but I knew she’d be there if and when I needed her.”
“That’s cool.”
Summer nods. “She was.”
When I close the door to the stove, I feel Summer behind me. “Do you want me to show you how to get this started again if it goes out?”
She nods. “Yeah, that would be helpful.”
“So, you want to get the kindling just right. That part’s important.”
I show her how to add more logs. Summer’s quiet while I mess with it. Once I’m done, I close the door to the stove again.
“That should last you about two hours. Just keep adding more wood.”
She stands in front of the stove, rubbing her hands together in the warmth it’s slowly starting to put off.
“Better?” I ask, standing to join her.
“So much better.” She smiles. “I’m happy I won’t have to wear twenty layers to bed tonight.”
Another punch of emotion hits me right in the chest.
Summer is so cheerful and good-tempered, even when I’ve been nothing but a dick to her. Even when she doesn’t have any family left in the world. Even when she nearly froze to death, sleeping in her jacket last night. It’s like nothing fazes her. She’s still smiling.
Who is this girl?
For the first time in a long time, I find I want to spend time getting to know a woman. Part of me wishes she’d be here long enough for me to figure out who Summer Campbell truly is.
“Did you grow up here on the property?” she asks, changing the topic back to me.
“No, we only moved here about ten years ago. I was thirteen. We lived in a town a couple of hours away before this. But this was my dad’s dream, living off the land as much as possible. Space to roam, and space for us to just be kids.”
Summer nods. “It’s a nice dream to have.”
I raise one shoulder. “It can be. It can also be a difficult one.” As is evidenced by how much Graham is struggling to get things to work.
“Will you tell me about him?” she asks, her expression growing soft.
“My dad?”
She nods.
I’m not sure I want to, but then before I decide to keep quiet, words start to spill out of me. “He was great. Taught me to how to fish, how to hunt. He wanted to make this place work so badly. He wasn’t the easiest guy to get along with, he had an opinion about everything, but he was good to my mom and loved her unconditionally. I never heard them argue.”
Summer gives me a genuine smile. “He sounds like a great guy.”
“Yeah,” I say, rubbing one hand over the stubble on my jaw as nerves suddenly slam into me. “I still can’t believe you came all the way out here just to get me to talk.”
Summer combs her fingers through the ends of her long ponytail, which hangs over one shoulder. “I didn’t have a choice. I know I told your mom that I started my own company, but the truth is, it’s barely off the ground. The opportunity to work with someone of your caliber, a client in the NHL . . . it would mean everything to me and really kickstart my career.”
I think there’s a compliment in there somewhere, but I’m still leery. “So, you said you know Les?”
She nods. “Yes, he’s been like a mentor to me, and he just wants the best for me.”
“He’s a cool guy.”
“He’s the best. I actually had Thanksgiving dinner with him and his wife last year instead of spending it alone.”
I take a step toward the door because I really do need to get back to helping Austen. But then I pause, glancing back at her. “So . . . if I did work with you, what would it involve?”
Summer’s full lips lift. “Well, we’d talk. Have some counseling sessions. Probably like an hour each. Minimum of, I don’t know, six sessions? And we could do them over the phone or Skype. I mean, I’m not staying. I only came to win you over with my shining personality and dedication to get the job. I wanted to show you I was serious about this.” She grins, planting her hands on her curvy hips.
I’m distracted for a second, because she really is gorgeous. Fit, but with curves in all the right places.
I nod. “Okay, we can try. But the truth is, I don’t know if it will help.”
She reaches out as if to touch my shoulder, then thinks better of it and drops her hand. “If it’s okay with you, and of course your family, maybe I can stay a couple more days and we can have our first counseling session either today or tomorrow face-to-face. You’re helping your brothers today, right?”
“Yeah, but it won’t take all day. We’re planning on having a bonfire after dinner. You can come, if you want.”
“That sounds nice.”
“Well, I’d better get back out there. I’m helping Austen with his truck.”