Command Control

“I have to be honest with you. I’m not great with tools,” she said.

“All you have to do is hold the wire in place.” He retrieved the spool. “I’m done with this stretch, but there is another section farther back that needs work.”

“I think I can handle it.” She held up the brown paper bag. “But what do you say we break for lunch first? Steak sandwiches courtesy of Laurel.”

He returned the spool to the ground. “Sounds good. There’s a nice spot on the other side of the trees to sit and eat. If you don’t mind the hike.”

His gaze traveled down over her legs to her feet. The jeans and running shoes she’d worn to help with the chores didn’t exactly scream fun and sexy, not like his cowboy boots, but they seemed appropriate for the farm. He gave a nod and she assumed he agreed.

They walked side by side through the cleared grass to the tree line. Logan didn’t say a word. He wasn’t a big talker, she realized. He chose his words carefully. Unless he was relaxed and laughing like the other day at the bookstore. But she had a feeling that wasn’t the norm for him.

Today, he looked as if he was walking into an interrogation. As if he knew he owed her an explanation, but would rather have a root canal. She wanted him at ease. Smiling and teasing her like he had in the romance/erotica section.

“I can’t remember the last time I went hiking,” she said.

“I imagine you walk plenty in the city.”

“I do,” she admitted. “But it’s not the same. When I was little my dad would take us hiking and camping every summer. I loved it. So did Laurel. I think my dad did, too, though he always seemed a little sad he couldn’t take us on more expensive trips. We would lie out under the stars and he’d tell us all about the places he’d seen. England, Africa, Germany, they all sounded so exotic.

“But as kids, we loved visiting campgrounds, swimming in lakes and looking for wildlife. The only place we ever begged him to take us was Disney World. I think my dad was kind of horrified that we would rather see Mickey Mouse than Europe. He loved to travel. His job took him all over the world before we were born and my mom passed away.”

They’d entered the wooded area while she’d rambled. She’d been watching her steps, carefully avoiding cow patties in the field, but now she looked up at the tall trees. Their branches touched overhead and the leaves blocked her view of the clear blue sky. Her foot slipped and she lurched forward. A hand reached out and caught her arm, preventing her from falling to the ground.

“You all right?” Logan asked.

“Yes. Thanks.” She glanced down at his hand, still firmly wrapped around her biceps. She drew her arm closer to her body and the back of his hand brushed against her breast.

If this was one of her books, he would draw her up against that hard wall of muscle she was aching to explore and kiss her. One kiss would lead to more and soon she’d be naked, her back up against a tree while he drove her wild.

But this wasn’t fiction. They weren’t here to explore her fantasies. He hadn’t even kissed her yet. And even if he did decide to tell her what was holding him back, even if he finally claimed her mouth, they would not be having sex against a tree.

Sadie glanced at a cluster of evergreens. There was nothing sexy about bark cutting into her back. And without a blanket, the ground was not an option. He could be the most talented lover in the world and she would still be thinking about the things that might be crawling underneath her.

Logan released his hold on her arm. “Not much farther now.”

Sadie nodded and followed him out of the trees into the clearing. A group of flat, smooth rocks sat in front of a small pond. The forest and the surrounding mountains might be wild, but this place was landscaped.

“Nice,” she said, taking a seat next to Logan on one of the rocks.

“My uncle put this in years ago when he was thinking about selling a few acres. Thought it would make a nice home site. But then he changed his mind.” Logan opened the bag and pulled out the sandwiches. He handed her one and again their fingers touched. “Your dad. You said he liked to travel. What did he do?”

“He’s a marine. Retired now and living in Maryland, but still a marine.”

Logan nodded, but didn’t say anything.

“Actually, he left not long after my mom passed. He wanted to make sure we had a parent around. After he left the service he never had enough for plane tickets. We were just getting by.”

And, okay, now she’d revealed more than she’d planned. Her potential vacation-fling did not need to know how hard her father had struggled to be everything to his girls and still make ends meet. But there was something about being with Logan, out here so far removed from her daily life, that put her at ease. Or maybe it was the way he listened, glancing over at her every so often.

“How long have you lived in New York City?” he asked.

“I went to college there. About eleven years.” She took a bite of her sandwich, watching as he processed that information and determined her age. “Don’t worry,” she added. “I wasn’t a child prodigy or anything. I’m not that young.”

He smiled, but it didn’t touch his eyes. He looked so damn serious. “I’m still older than you.”

“And wiser?”

Logan shook his head. “I doubt that.”