troubled thoughts for company. He knew she was, in a sense, correct. What right did he have to claim his aunt and uncle, when he was never around when they needed him? How could he possibly take care of them when he was on the other side of the world? He could hire someone to stay with them, but they didn’t need a babysitter. They needed someone to be there when things became too much for them. They needed someone like Kelli.
He lay awake staring at the ceiling mentally listing his options. He could return to Sudan and leave his aunt and uncle living peacefully with Kelli. But that would be shirking his responsibilities. How could he allow a complete stranger to carry his load? Especially a stranger that was so petite, gorgeous, kissable, and so desirable. Even if she were slightly unhinged. With a groan he remembered how potent she had tasted, one hundred-fifty proof. The taste of her went straight to his head. He muttered a colorful curse, kicked the extra cover off his bed, and silently commanded all fairies to leave his head.
His second option was to move them into another house and pay someone to keep an eye on them. He grimaced in disgust. Not only would that be disrespectful, but downright insulting. After the years of unselfish love they had given him, how could he contemplate being so callous?
The third, and most intriguing alternative, was not to return to Sudan. There was plenty of work for a geologist in the United States. He could get a job, buy a house, and live with Ruth and Henry, or at least have them nearby. When sleep finally claimed him, visions of Texan oil fields and oil shale deposits in Colorado filled his mind.
#
Kelli stumbled into the kitchen by eight the next morning. But Logan was already gone. Ruth said he had to run into town, so she had given him the shopping list. With a painful smile, Kelli thanked her for her thoughtfulness and prayed Logan wasn’t a big spender. The coffers at Fairyland were running alarmingly low, and it was still weeks before they opened and started pulling in some money.
After a quick breakfast she headed out into the unusually warm March morning. She found Henry and a group of high school students at the outdoor theater discussing which split-log benches would need work. "Good morning, Henry. Morning, gang."
A chorus of "Hi, Kelli"’s filled the air.
"I know most of you have already met Henry, but for those who didn’t"—she grabbed hold of his wrist and pulled him into the circle of youths— "this is Henry Morrison. He’s in charge of all the grounds work. He’ll be the one handing out orders."
Kelli ignored Henry’s look of astonishment.
During the morning, with diplomacy and skill she passed out orders that seemed to come from Henry, conferred with him on four separate occasions, and generally started the ball rolling. By eleven-thirty she was tired, hungry, and immensely proud of the way Henry’s chest was puffed out and how his eyes sparkled whenever one of the kids called him Pop. She was headed home for lunch when she spotted Logan’s car parked out front. Quickly, she changed directions and headed toward the pond and the new mamma. She silently lectured herself for being a coward. After staying up half the night to paint fairies, and trying to think of a solution concerning Henry and Ruth, she was still confused. One thing was resolved; she was determined to keep her distance from Logan. Not only was he a threat to her newly found family, he was hell on her hormones. Every time she closed her eyes she relived the kiss they had shared. Never before had a kiss left such an emotional impression. She had shared some kisses with men in the past, but they had been tame, undemanding, and safe. With Logan she felt anything but safe. There was something primitive in his kiss. Something that called to a special part of her and demanded a response. One that she wasn’t sure she was ready to give. Especially to a man who was only here
He lay awake staring at the ceiling mentally listing his options. He could return to Sudan and leave his aunt and uncle living peacefully with Kelli. But that would be shirking his responsibilities. How could he allow a complete stranger to carry his load? Especially a stranger that was so petite, gorgeous, kissable, and so desirable. Even if she were slightly unhinged. With a groan he remembered how potent she had tasted, one hundred-fifty proof. The taste of her went straight to his head. He muttered a colorful curse, kicked the extra cover off his bed, and silently commanded all fairies to leave his head.
His second option was to move them into another house and pay someone to keep an eye on them. He grimaced in disgust. Not only would that be disrespectful, but downright insulting. After the years of unselfish love they had given him, how could he contemplate being so callous?
The third, and most intriguing alternative, was not to return to Sudan. There was plenty of work for a geologist in the United States. He could get a job, buy a house, and live with Ruth and Henry, or at least have them nearby. When sleep finally claimed him, visions of Texan oil fields and oil shale deposits in Colorado filled his mind.
#
Kelli stumbled into the kitchen by eight the next morning. But Logan was already gone. Ruth said he had to run into town, so she had given him the shopping list. With a painful smile, Kelli thanked her for her thoughtfulness and prayed Logan wasn’t a big spender. The coffers at Fairyland were running alarmingly low, and it was still weeks before they opened and started pulling in some money.
After a quick breakfast she headed out into the unusually warm March morning. She found Henry and a group of high school students at the outdoor theater discussing which split-log benches would need work. "Good morning, Henry. Morning, gang."
A chorus of "Hi, Kelli"’s filled the air.
"I know most of you have already met Henry, but for those who didn’t"—she grabbed hold of his wrist and pulled him into the circle of youths— "this is Henry Morrison. He’s in charge of all the grounds work. He’ll be the one handing out orders."
Kelli ignored Henry’s look of astonishment.
During the morning, with diplomacy and skill she passed out orders that seemed to come from Henry, conferred with him on four separate occasions, and generally started the ball rolling. By eleven-thirty she was tired, hungry, and immensely proud of the way Henry’s chest was puffed out and how his eyes sparkled whenever one of the kids called him Pop. She was headed home for lunch when she spotted Logan’s car parked out front. Quickly, she changed directions and headed toward the pond and the new mamma. She silently lectured herself for being a coward. After staying up half the night to paint fairies, and trying to think of a solution concerning Henry and Ruth, she was still confused. One thing was resolved; she was determined to keep her distance from Logan. Not only was he a threat to her newly found family, he was hell on her hormones. Every time she closed her eyes she relived the kiss they had shared. Never before had a kiss left such an emotional impression. She had shared some kisses with men in the past, but they had been tame, undemanding, and safe. With Logan she felt anything but safe. There was something primitive in his kiss. Something that called to a special part of her and demanded a response. One that she wasn’t sure she was ready to give. Especially to a man who was only here
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