THE SOLDIERS’ HOMECOMING

Brett, Logan and Sam were best friends and three of the finest soldiers in the Australian SAS K9 division. But one day Sam was killed, tearing their friendship group apart and leaving Brett and Logan with memories that would haunt them for ever.

Now, back in Australia, Brett and Logan are adjusting to life outside the army.

But they haven’t counted on two gorgeous, intriguing, captivating women who swan into their lives and present them with challenges they’ve never faced before!

Available in March

THE RETURNING HERO

and

HER SOLDIER PROTECTOR

Available in April

Her Soldier Protector

Soraya Lane

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Writing for Mills & Boon is truly a dream come true for SORAYA LANE. An avid book-reader and writer since her childhood, Soraya describes becoming a published author as ‘the best job in the world', and hopes to be writing heart-warming, emotional romances for many years to come.

Soraya lives with her own real-life hero on a small farm in New Zealand, surrounded by animals and with an office overlooking a field where their horses graze.

For more information about Soraya and her upcoming releases visit her at her website, www.sorayalane.com, her blog, www.sorayalane.blogspot.com, or follow her at www.facebook.com/SorayaLaneAuthor.

As a little girl I begged frequently for a dog of my own.

As a little girl I begged frequently for a dog of my own.

Thankfully I only had to wait until my seventh birthday before I was gifted an eight-week-old Australian Silky Terrier named Chloe. So this book is dedicated to my amazing parents for giving this dog-loving girl her dream come true!

Contents

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

EPILOGUE

EXTRACT

CHAPTER ONE

LOGAN MURDOCH SURVEYED the waiting crowd. After years spent serving overseas, usually in the desert and lugging an eighty-pound pack on his back, he had no intention of complaining even if he had to wait another hour for his superstar client to arrive.

“Stand by for arrival in five minutes.”

He touched his earpiece as the other security expert’s voice came on the line.

“Cleared for arrival in five minutes,” he responded.

Logan moved down the line, checking that all the waiting fans were securely behind the low, temporary fencing. A couple of policemen were on guard, keeping an eye on the large crowd, and he had a security team ready to help if he needed them. He reached down to give his dog a pat, before moving out with one minute to go to wait for the car. Logan had already led his dog around and inside the entire perimeter to check for explosives, and now their primary objective was to get the client safely from the car into the building.

“I have a visual on the car. Stand by for immediate arrival,” he said, before talking to his dog. “Stay at heel,” he commanded.

His dog knew him better than any human possibly could, and the verbal command was just procedure. One look and Ranger would know what he was thinking.

The car pulled up to the curb—jet-black with dark tinted windows—and Logan stepped forward to open the back door. He’d researched his client, knew all there was to know about her in the public domain, but nothing had prepared him for seeing her in the flesh. For the slim, tanned legs that slipped from the car, the beautiful face turned up toward him or the star power she exuded from her small frame. She was gorgeous.

“Ms. Evans,” he said, holding out his hand to assist her. “Please follow me immediately through the front door. Will you be signing autographs today?”

Her eyes—big blue eyes that were as wide as saucers—met his, and she shook her head. Logan might never have met her before, but something told him she was terrified.

“Yes!” someone from inside the car barked. “Candace, you’re signing autographs. Go.”

Logan tightened his hold on her hand as she stepped out, and suddenly they were surrounded by flashes that seemed like bulbs exploding in front of them.

“Easy,” he told Ranger, his grip on the dog’s leash firm. “Let’s go.”

He released her only when she loosened her hold, then he walked with his palm flat against her back, his dog on his other side. If she wanted to stop to talk to fans, then that was her decision, but anything that alerted him to a potential problem? Then he’d be the one calling the shots, never mind what her manager or whoever he was wanted her to do.

“Don’t leave me,” she whispered just loud enough for him to hear, a tremble in her voice.

“I’m right here until you tell me to go,” Logan replied, moving his body closer to hers, realizing his instincts had been right. “I’ve swept every inch of this place, and my dog never makes mistakes.”

Logan watched her nod, before bravely squaring her shoulders and raising her hand in a wave to her fans. The flashes from the paparazzi were still in full swing, and now everyone in the crowd seemed to be screaming out to the woman they’d queued hours to meet. He’d been doubtful that she needed such high-level security, but the worry in her voice told him that maybe it had been justified.

“Candace, over here!” one girl was yelling. “Please, Candace, I love you!”

Logan steered her forward, stopping only when she did. He noticed the slight shake of her hand as she signed multiple autographs, before angling her body toward the building. He took his cue.

“Autographs are over,” he announced, at the same time as the crowd started yelling again.

They walked straight toward the door, stopping for a few more fans just before they disappeared inside.

Logan touched his earpiece. “We’re in the building. Secure the exits.”

As the doors shut behind them, Candace collapsed against the wall, her face drained of color.

“Ms. Evans?” he asked, at her side in a heartbeat.

“I’m fine. It’s just overwhelming,” she muttered, resting her head back against the wall. “I didn’t think I was going to be able to make the walk from the car.”

Logan dropped Ranger’s leash and told him to stay, before crossing the room to fill two glasses of water.

“He won’t hurt me, will he?”

Logan glanced back and saw that his dog was sitting to attention, ears pricked, eyes trained on her. Ranger was looking at her as though curiosity was about to get the better of him.

“Lie down,” he commanded, smiling as Ranger did as he was told. “He’s a big softie and he knows his manners. The worst he’d do is lick you if I let him, and he sure seems to like the look of you.”

Her smile wasn’t convincing, but she did seem to relax. He passed her a glass of water, trying not to look too intently at her bright blue eyes, or the long blond curls that were falling over her breasts. In real life she was beyond stunning—much shorter than he’d have guessed, and tiny, like a doll.

“Tell me why you’re so scared,” he asked. “I’m guessing it’s more than just the bombings that have happened around the world lately to cause a seasoned superstar like you to panic.”

Candace nodded, sipping her water before passing it back to him.

“I’ve received threats,” she told him. “The first few to my house, then a package sent to my last tour bus and another to my manager. I was fine to start with, but it’s starting to get to me.”

Crap. He’d guessed there was more to this story, but the fact that he was head of security and hadn’t been correctly briefed was a major breach of trust from everyone involved.

Logan kept his face neutral, not wanting her to see him as anything other than trustworthy and dependable. It wasn’t her fault that not all the information had been passed along—he would save his anger for someone who deserved to be blasted. Like maybe his boss or her manager.

“I’ve worked with Ranger for five tours in warzones, so there is no chance an Improvised Explosive Device is coming anywhere near you without him detecting it,” Logan told her. “The only thing you have to do is make sure your people keep me fully briefed at all times. No secrets, no lies.”

The smile she gave him was shy, but it lit up her face, made her eyes swim to life. “Will you stay with me until I go on? I have an interview to do soon, but I’ll be in my dressing room until the show.”

“Yes, ma’am.” There was no way he was going to walk away when he’d finally seen her smile like that.

“I don’t even know your name,” she said, pushing off from the wall she’d been resting against as her entourage came down the stairs at the end of the hall, having been escorted into the building through a separate door.

“Logan,” he said. “And this here is Ranger.”

“Call me Candace,” she told him, her eyes never leaving his as they spoke. “If you’re in charge of keeping me safe, you can at least call me by my first name.”

Logan smiled at Candace and picked up Ranger’s leash, before following a few steps behind her. He might have moaned about being asked to work security by the Australian Army, but this job was turning out to be a whole lot more interesting than he’d expected. She was here to perform to a sold-out crowd and help promote Australia to the rest of the world at the same time, and being her private security detail might just prove to be the most enjoyable work he’d done in his career with the SAS.

Personally enjoyable, anyway. Not to mention it was a job that wasn’t going to haunt him in the middle of the night like his last few assignments.

* * *

For the first time in weeks, Candace was relaxed. The tightness in her shoulders had almost disappeared, and she wasn’t on edge, looking sideways to make sure no one was following her who shouldn’t be. Ever since the letters had started to arrive, she’d hardly slept and almost cancelled the last leg of her world tour, but she hated letting anyone down.

And then Logan had escorted her past the waiting crowd and into the building, and the fear and terror had slowly seeped from her body.

She’d had plenty of bodyguards over the years, usually hulking guys who could deal with any physical threat. But with the latest spate of bombings around the world and the situation with the letters, she didn’t just want men capable of brute strength around her. She’d asked for the best, and it looked like she’d received him.

“We’ll take it from here.”

She glanced across at her manager, Billy. He always had her best intentions at heart, or at least she hoped he did, but right now she wasn’t interested in doing what she was told.

“I’ve actually decided I want Logan to stay with me,” she said.

Eyebrows were raised in her direction, and she almost laughed at the stern expression Logan was giving them in response. She doubted that he was easily intimidated, or that anyone here would have the nerve to cross him, especially not with his fierce-looking dog at his side.

“This way,” Candace said, nodding toward the room with her name on it.

He followed, dog at his side, each of his footsteps covering more ground than two of hers. It was oddly comforting having his heavy boots thumping out of rhythm with the click of her heels.

“So are you in private security now?” she asked, wondering how someone who’d served in warzones was even assigned to work with her.

He chuckled. “Would you believe me if I told you I’m still SAS, but that the Australian government was so determined to have you here to promote their new tourism campaign they decided to send me here to head the security team?”

She shook her head, pushing open her door. Logan walked past her, his dog doing what appeared to be a quick check of the room.

“You’re not kidding, are you?”

“Nope. But I can’t say that I mind. After years on patrol in the middle of nowhere, it’s a nice change of pace before I retire.”

She sat down on the sofa and gestured for him to do the same, unsure of whether she believed him or not. “What do you feel like? Sushi? Something more substantial?”

He raised an eyebrow. “You’re ordering lunch for both us?”

“Ah, yes,” she said, not sure why he found that so unusual. “Unless you do something different at this time of the day in Australia?”

He shook his head, a wry grin on his face. “If you’re buying lunch, then I definitely have no complaints about this gig.”

“I have a bit of a ritual that I always eat Japanese food before a show. I’m thinking sashimi and miso soup, but maybe you’d like something more.”

“Candace, I’m used to eating dehydrated army food when I’m working, so if you feel like sushi, I say sure.”

“That settles it then. I’ll order.” She stood up to use the phone, ordering way more food than they’d ever consume.

Candace turned back around, eyes locking on Logan’s as he met her gaze. It wasn’t something she was used to—a man not intimated by meeting her, not fazed by the circus they’d confronted when he’d escorted her from her car. She knew that she was no one special, but men usually reacted badly to her fame or her money, and the way Logan was behaving was the complete opposite. He was just staring back at her like she was...ordinary. Although she guessed a lot of it, dealing with the crowds and stress earlier, was more to do with his training than anything else.

“Can I ask you something?”

He shrugged. “Shoot.”

“You’re the first guy in years who’s treated me like a regular woman and not a celebrity. Is it your training or just how you are?”

He leaned back, crossing his legs at the ankle and stretching out his big body. Logan was tall and fit, the T-shirt he wore snug to his athletic frame, pants stretching over his thigh muscles. She’d sure hit the jackpot where he was concerned.

“Aren’t you a regular woman?”

She felt a blush crawl up her neck and heat her cheeks. It had been a long time since a man had drawn that kind of reaction from her, but he’d said it like it was the most logical answer in the world. Which she kind of guessed it was.

“Of course I am,” she said, refusing to be embarrassed. “It’s just that men usually avoid me, look at me like I’m some freak show because they’ve seen me on television or in magazines, or otherwise they’re all over me. Even most of my bodyguards have never gotten used to dealing with the whole fan and paparazzi thing.”

“Sounds like you haven’t spent much time with real men,” he said with a chuckle. “Or maybe it’s just that Australian men aren’t so easily intimidated. A pretty lady is a pretty lady, no matter who she is, and at the end of the day, I’d rather a camera in my face than a semi-automatic.”

He thought she was pretty? “Well, maybe I should spend more time down under. Is that what you call it here?”

“Yeah, that’s what we call it.”

Candace could tell he was trying not to laugh.

“So, are you going to hang around for the concert?”

“Is that an invite?”

“There’s a VIP pass with your name on it if you want to stay. And I can’t say I’d mind you hanging around, knowing that you’re keeping an eye on things that could go boom.”

“Sure thing. Can’t say I’ve ever been given the VIP status before, so it’ll be a nice change.”

Candace cleared her throat. “Ah, do you have a partner or anyone I should add to the list, too?”

“Yeah, but he’s probably not that interested in a show.”

“Oh.” He was gay? She sure hadn’t seen that one coming, and it wasn’t exactly easy to hide her disappointment. “If you’re sure, then.”

Logan met her gaze, his eyes dancing with what appeared to be...humor? “You’ve already met him, actually.”

She swallowed, trying to figure out why he looked like he was about to burst into laughter again. “I have?”

“Yep. He’s pretty big, beautiful brown eyes...and he’s staring at you right now.”

It took her half a second before she locked eyes with the dog staring at her, his black tail thumping against the ground as she showed him a hint of attention, like he’d figured the joke out before she had.

“That wasn’t funny,” she said, shaking her head and refusing to smile.

“Sorry, couldn’t help myself.”

“So, just the one pass, then?” she asked.

“Just the one,” he confirmed, standing up when a knock at the door echoed throughout the room.

Candace watched as Logan accepted the food and kicked the door shut behind him. He wasn’t hard to watch, the kind of guy she’d always notice no matter where she met him—tall, built and with close-cropped dark hair that matched his eyes. But he was strictly off-limits, eye candy only, because she was staying true to her promise not to get involved with anyone at the moment.

He paused, stood there looking down at her before crossing the room again.

“Candace, I won’t be offended if you say no, but are you busy after your show?”

Why did he want to know, and why did he suddenly look so...staunch? “Why’s that?”

Logan cleared his throat “I thought you might like a night out in Sydney, you know, to just have fun once you’re done with work.” He laughed. “I’ve been working around the clock for months, and I have a feeling you don’t take much time off, either.”

Candace stared at him, taken aback. He’d just managed to surprise her twice in less than a few minutes. “It’s not that I don’t want to, but it’s just not that easy for me to hang out in public.” Was he asking her on a date or did he think taking her out was part of his job description?

He put the containers down on the low table between the two sofas and sat down, leaning forward, eyes on hers. “You’re in Australia, not America, and the places I’ll take you, if it’s just the two of us, no one will even realize who you are.” Logan held his hands up. “But I have thick skin, so you can just turn me down and I’ll forget I ever asked.”

She took the plastic tops off the containers and reached for a pair of chopsticks, before looking up and seeing the serious expression on Logan’s face. He was serious. And she had no idea what to say to him.

“You promise I’d be safe? That it would just be the two of us?”

“I promise,” he said. “You’ll just be a girl in the crowd instead of a superstar.”

A shiver cascaded down her spine, spreading warmth into her belly. Now that was something she liked the sound of. “I’ll think about it, but it does sound nice.” It sounded way better than nice, but she didn’t want to lead him on, not until she’d had time to think about it.

“Well, you just let me know when you’re good and ready,” he said. “Now it’s time for you to tell me exactly what I’m about to bite into here, because I haven’t ever seen anything that looks like this before.”

Candace didn’t usually even talk much before a show, tried to rest her voice, yet here she was chatting with a cute guy and thinking about going out with him. Maybe Australia was exactly the place she was supposed to be right now, to take her mind off everything that had been troubling her since...way too long.

* * *

Logan fought not to grimace as he held the chopsticks—awkwardly. He wasn’t opposed to trying new things, but the food sitting in front of him looked downright scary. Not to mention the fact that he was more comfortable using a good old knife and fork.

“When you said Japanese, I was kind of thinking about the over-processed chicken sushi that I find at the mall.”

Candace gave him her wide smile again, the one that was making him wish he’d met her under different circumstances. Although, someone like her wouldn’t exactly have crossed paths with him if he hadn’t been assigned to mind her. She was an international superstar and he was...a soldier turned bodyguard for a couple of days. Which was why he’d taken his chance to ask her out while he could. That would teach his friends for pestering him about being single too long and not enjoying enough human company—he’d stepped completely outside of his comfort level with Candace.

“So, I probably should have explained to you that sashimi is raw fish, huh?”

Logan raised his eyebrows and wrangled with the chopsticks some more, trying to mimic her actions. Except she was already dunking her first piece in the soy sauce and popping the entire thing in her mouth, which meant she was way ahead of him.

“Here goes,” he muttered, leaning over the table so he didn’t spill any, his other hand ready to catch anything that fell.

“What do you think?” she asked.

He swallowed. “I can’t say I’ve ever wanted to eat raw fish before, but I guess it’s not half bad.”

“I do have one kind with a cooked prawn on top. Here,” Candace said, opening another box and then pushing it his way. “Try this.”

Logan shook his head. “I can’t go eating your favorite foods hours before your big concert. I’m the help, not a guest.”

She rolled her eyes. “If we eat all this I can order more, so just take whatever you like, okay?”

Logan stared at her, wondering if he was about to see her diva side firsthand. He had a feeling someone that beautiful and talented was bound to be difficult. “You’re sure?”

“Look, most celebrities have a rider about exactly what they do and don’t want backstage or in their dressing room. Me? I just ask to have someone ready to run out and grab me great Japanese food and bottled water, and I request good lighting for my hair and makeup team.” She smiled, shrugging at the same time. “I like the fact that everyone thinks I’m easy to deal with, so trust me when I say we can order more. These people are used to divas requesting a certain number of candles with a particular scent, flowers, bowls filled with expensive chocolates and imported candy. You get my drift?”

Logan got the picture. “Okay, pass me the prawn one, then.”

“That’s more like it.”

Candace pushed the container closer to him, as well as a cup with a lid on it.

“What’s this?”

“Miso soup. You’ll love it.”

Logan took off the lid, staring into the brownish liquid. “You sure this stuff won’t kill me?”

“Positive. Now stir it with your chopsticks and take a sip. The green stuff is just seaweed, and there might be a few pieces of tofu floating around, too.”

“Tofu?” he asked, pausing before the cup touched his lips. “You’re killing me. I don’t even think Ranger would eat tofu.”

As if he understood exactly what they were saying, Ranger let out a low whine that made Candace laugh.

“Tofu,” Logan muttered, taking a sip.

It wasn’t half as bad as he was expecting, so he had some more, careful to avoid anything solid that was floating around in the soup. He was probably the only person in the building who hadn’t tried this type of food before, but he was a soldier and a rancher—he was more used to simple steaks, vegetables and fries than the latest cuisines. Not to mention he was having to act like a regular guy instead of one who usually couldn’t go a day without exercising like a crazy thing—sprinting as hard as he could to outrun his demons.

“So, what do you think?” Candace asked, pulling her long hair from her face and throwing it back over her shoulders.

“I think,” he said, clearing his throat and putting down his chopsticks, “that it’s time I went and did another perimeter check.”

He was starting to become way too comfortable sitting around with Candace, eating fancy food like he did it every day.

Smoke billowed around him, obscuring almost everything. He walked slowly, not able to see even one of his feet, but he never let go of Ranger’s leash. And then he stumbled, looked down and realized he’d just walked over another human being, facedown in the sand.

Logan cleared his throat, pushing away the memories that always hit him when he was least expecting them. If he wasn’t on duty, he would have changed his shoes and hit the gym. But today that wasn’t an option, and neither was giving in to his memories.

CHAPTER TWO

CANDACE TOOK A deep breath, mentally preparing for the concert. She’d been given her sixty-minute countdown already, which meant it was time to start running through her exercises, have a little something to drink, stretching out so she was all limbered up and dressing in her first costume.

But preparing for the performance wasn’t taking up all her energy like it should have been. Instead she was thinking about a certain man who’d as good as knocked the wind from her earlier in the afternoon.

She’d been single for so long, not to mention the fact that she hadn’t met a man who’d even remotely interested her for close to a year. Maybe that was why Logan had surprised her so much. Because even if she stayed true to her promise to remain single, she could still appreciate a good-looking man. And Logan was a fine-looking addition to the male species.

Candace cleared her throat and was about to start rehearsing when there was a knock at the door. She didn’t call out because she was saving her voice, but she did cross the room to see who it was.

“Hey.”

The man she’d been trying her best not to think about was standing in the hallway.

“How did you get past my security detail?” she asked in a low voice.

Logan grinned. “It just so happens I know the boss.”

She laughed and pulled open the door so he could come in. She was about to ask him in when he held his hand up and shook his head.

“I’m not going to disturb you, I just wanted to check that you felt safe,” he told her. “I personally handpicked the men working tonight, so you’ve got nothing to worry about, and I’m going off duty now for a quick break.”

Candace thought for a second before saying what was on her mind. “What do you think about escorting me to stage and watching from the wings?”

“Like my own private concert?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

She grinned. The idea of having Logan close by in case something did happen would be reassuring.

“What if I made you a trade?” she asked.

He cocked his head, clearly listening.

“I’ll say yes to the night out you suggested, tonight, if you look after me for the duration of my performance.”

Logan didn’t even blink he answered her so fast. “You’re on.”

Candace met Logan’s gaze, determined to keep her head held high. He was a handsome man who happened to be protecting her, and one she’d agreed to go on a date of sorts with. It didn’t mean she had to go all bashful and forget the confident woman she usually was.

“Well, that’s settled then,” she said. “I’m going to keep running through my routine, so if you could come back in about forty-five minutes?”

Logan nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

Candace forced herself to stop staring at the tall, heavily muscled hunk standing outside her door and shut it instead, slowly slithering to the floor once she did so, cool timber against her back. She was behaving like a silly girl, flirting with a man who probably had no interest in her other than to parade her around a few hotspots on his arm. How many times before had she had someone say to her that they wanted to take her on a quiet date, only to find the paparazzi tipped off the moment they arrived at a restaurant or club? Or a man pretending he wasn’t interested in her fame, only to find out he was a wannabe film star or singer with a CD he wanted to slip her during drinks or over an entrée. That was why she’d sworn off men for the time being.

Deep down, she wanted to believe that Logan was different, but until he’d proven that he wasn’t the type of guy she was used to, she needed to tread lightly. No falling for her bodyguard, no touching her bodyguard and definitely no letting herself think, at any stage, that he could be anything more than fun.

She’d tried serious, and it hadn’t worked. She’d even tried marriage, too, and that hadn’t worked out well at all. When it came to men, she’d realized that maybe she just wasn’t good at picking them, and it was probably something she’d inherited from her mom. Her mom might have been an incredible businesswoman, but she’d also had to raise Candace singlehandedly because of her poor decisions when it came to the male species.

Candace sighed, reached out for her first outfit, ran her hands down the silk, shut her eyes and imagined herself on stage, wearing it. Listening to the crowd. Holding the microphone as the band started to play. Hair and makeup would be back any minute, and so would her stylist.

She could do this. She’d performed a hundred times before, and Logan had promised her that the venue was safe and secure. She needed to forget the stupid threats and just do what she did best. Because no matter what happened to her, no one could ever take away her love of singing. Performing was the love of her life and it always would be.

This was her time to shine.

* * *

“You a fan of country music?”

Logan glanced at the woman standing beside him, her headset pulled back so she could talk to him. She was holding a tablet, and until now she’d had her eyes glued to it and had been speaking intently into her headset.

“I can’t say I’ve ever really listened to it before,” he admitted. Truth be told, he’d never listened to it because he’d never really liked it before, but watching this particular performance was fast converting him to the genre.

“She’s pretty incredible to watch,” the woman said, pulling on her headset again. “I get to see a lot of performers, but she’s hands down the most talented and nicest we’ve hosted yet.”

Logan smiled in reply and turned his attention back to Candace. As the song finished she wowed the crowd with her mesmerizing, soft laugh, before turning around and waving toward the band so they could have their own round of applause. He was pleased that she’d asked him to watch, but he’d actually been employed to stay until the end of her concert anyway. He just hadn’t told her that.

“Thank you for having me here tonight!” she told her fans. “Australia is one of the most beautiful countries I’ve ever visited, and I wish I had more time to spend here.”

The applause was deafening, but Logan could no more take his eyes off her and walk away than he could stop breathing. If there was such a thing as star power, she had it—on stage she wasn’t the sweet, soft-spoken woman he’d spent time with earlier in the day. Up there, her presence was almost overpowering, and the screaming fans only seemed to make her light up more in front of them, her confidence soaring as they encouraged her.

As she burst into another song, Logan leaned against the wall where he was standing. The past year had been nothing short of hard, unbearable, and being here tonight, watching Candace, was the kind of night he’d needed, even if it was technically work.

When Sam had died...hell. He didn’t want to go back there. Losing one of his closest friends so soon after his parents’ accident, then coming so close to losing another under different circumstances, not to mention deciding to retire—he’d only just pulled through. But the rush he’d felt when Candace had said yes to a night out with him had given him a much needed boost. He was ready to add some nice memories to his thought bank, and Candace was exactly the kind of memory he’d prefer to dwell upon.

He looked up as the next song came to an end, and the next thing he knew Candace was running toward him.

“What did you think?” she asked, eyes flashing as she glanced at him, a big smile on her face as she ran in her heels. “The crowd is crazy here!”

She kept moving, not pausing, so Logan spun and jogged to keep up with her, even as she was surrounded by a group of people who started to tug at her clothes and talk a million miles an hour.

“You were great out there,” he managed when the crowd paused for a nanosecond.

“You really think so?”

There was an innocence in her gaze that made Logan smile, because this was the woman he’d glimpsed earlier. The one who was so used to being told by others what they thought she wanted to hear, that she no longer knew who to believe, who to trust. She wanted to know whether she could believe him—it was so obvious it was written all over her face, and he had no more intention of lying to her than anyone else.

“I know so,” he told her honestly.

The words were barely out of his mouth before she disappeared into her dressing room, and Logan turned his back when he realized the door wasn’t going to be closed. It seemed like only minutes later that she was running back out again, heading toward the stage, and instead of trying to keep up with her this time he just walked behind. She was still being plucked and prodded, her outfit pulled into shape and her hair fiddled with just before she was due back on stage. The woman with the tablet from earlier was flapping her arms at a group of dancers, before starting a countdown and sending them on as the music started again.

Just before she disappeared, Candace turned and locked her gaze on his, smiling for barely a second before throwing one hand in the air and returning to the stage.

There was no doubting she was a brilliant performer, but she was also like a little girl desperately in need of someone to look after her and trust in. To tell her the truth when she needed it, but also to shield her from harm.

“I’m not that person,” Logan muttered to himself, even as his instinct to protect reared within him before he could stamp it out.

He’d protected and looked after people all his life, and still he’d lost those he loved. Some of the people he cared most about in the world, and some strangers whose faces he’d never forget until the day he died, too. Looking after Candace while she was on stage and during her press conference tomorrow was his job, and one he intended on doing well, and tonight was about having fun with a beautiful woman. There was no need to overthink the situation or turn it into something it wasn’t.

He wasn’t going to be the one to rescue her, because he was still waiting to be rescued himself. Tonight was going to be great, but after that he’d never see her again, which meant she wasn’t his to worry about. Or protect.

* * *

Candace took one last bow after her second encore song before walking from the stage. It had been the kind of night she loved, the type that made her remember how lucky she was to perform for a career, even though her nerves had jangled whenever she’d let her mind stray to the hate mail she’d been receiving. There were always those times when she wondered if that person was in the crowd, watching her, but with Logan standing in the wings and the security amped up for the evening, she’d tried to make herself just relax. And for the most part it had worked.

Her heart was still pounding, adrenaline making her feel a million dollars, as she disappeared into the darkness of the wings, her eyes taking a moment to adjust from the bright lights she’d been performing under.

“I think you’ve made me like country music,” a deep male voice said.

She recognized Logan’s Australian twang the moment she heard it, and her heart started to race a little more.

“I’d say I don’t believe you, but I kind of want to,” she said with a laugh.

“I’m actually thinking of joining your insane fans and lining up for a CD and T-shirt. It seems to be the thing to do.”

She laughed, brushing her hand against his as she passed and then snatching it back like she’d connected with a flame. It had been a long time since she’d just touched someone impulsively like that, and it wasn’t something she wanted to make a habit of. Especially not with a man, even if she was enjoying his company.

“You can have a free T-shirt, I’ll even autograph it for you,” she teased.

“So what time do you want to head out?” he asked, following her.

Candace took a slow breath, still energized from her ninety minutes on stage. She always felt amazing at the end of a performance, exhaustion never setting in for hours after she finished.

“We’ll need to wait until the crowds die down. I don’t mind signing a couple of autographs, but I’m not going to ruin my buzz by being mobbed. Not tonight.”

Logan shook his head. “I think we’re best to leave immediately, before anyone expects you to depart. My truck’s parked around the back and we should be able to get in before anyone realizes it’s you, so long as we move quickly.”

Candace wasn’t convinced, but then she also usually timed these kind of things all wrong anyway and ended up in the middle of a hundred fans, trying to reach her getaway car. Or else her manager set things up to happen like that for maximum publicity when she gave him explicit instructions to the contrary.

“I don’t believe you, but I’m prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt,” she said.

“Good. I’ll go check the exit now and be back in ten minutes,” he told her. “Shall we meet in your dressing room?”

Candace nodded. “Let’s do it.”

The idea of a night out was exciting—she’d become used to feeling fantastic, on a high from singing, then going straight back to a hotel room, alone. Most of the time she ended up ordering room service, watching an old movie and going to bed, before receiving her wake-up call and taking a car to the airport early the next morning. Before she’d become recognizable, she’d always had a fun night out after any gig, which was why tonight was like a blast from the past for her. Add the tourism campaign she was the face of, and she didn’t have a hope of Australians not realizing who she was.

It was yet to be seen whether she could even manage to leave the building without being recognized or followed, so she could easily end up holed up in her hotel room just when she least expected it.

Candace closed her dressing room door the moment she stepped inside and slipped the feathery minidress off, letting it pool to the floor. She rummaged around in her case for the casual clothes she’d packed, in case she needed them, pulling out a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and wriggling her way into them. She didn’t have anything other than a T-shirt to wear, so she flicked through the tops hanging on her racks, wishing they weren’t all so costume looking, until she spotted a sequined black tank. Candace pulled it over her head, grabbed a studded leather biker jacket, and slipped into a pair of dangerously high heels she’d worn on stage earlier in the evening.

Glancing at the clock on the wall, she stopped, took a deep breath, then sat down at her dressing table. Her makeup was excessive—thick false eyelashes and sparkly eyeshadow—but she didn’t have time to change it. Besides, Logan had seen her looking like this all evening. She did run her fingers through her hair to flatten it down a bit, teasing the hairspray from her curls so it felt like real hair again, so it was touchable.

There was a knock at the door. Candace jumped, glaring at her reflection at the same time. It was just Logan, and it wasn’t like she hadn’t known he was coming, but her nerves had been permanently on edge for weeks now. Maybe she could talk to him about it and see what he thought the best way to react to the threats was.

“Just a minute!” she called out.

Candace jumped up to grab her purse, checked her credit card, phone and hotel swipe card were all inside and swung open the door.

“Wow.”

Logan’s approving smile and the way he looked her up and down made her laugh. He seemed to say what he was thinking, and she liked the fact he was a straight shooter with her.

“Are we cleared to leave?” she asked, trying to ignore what he’d just said even though she couldn’t stop smiling.

“I told your manager and the rest of the team that you’re feeling ill, and you wanted me to escort you straight to the hotel. I said we’ll be exiting from the side entrance, and I have a feeling there’ll be a lot of fans waiting there, if you catch my drift.”

“So we can’t go?” she asked, hearing the disappointment in her own voice.

Logan gave her a wry smile, a dimple flashing against his cheek at the same time. “We’re going out the very back. My vehicle’s parked down the alleyway, so no one will see us.”

“So you lied to everyone?” she asked.

“I expanded the truth,” he said, winking as he gestured for her to follow him. “I have a feeling your manager is more interested in getting publicity than a quiet getaway for you, and given that I’m your head of security, all I care about is your safety. You say no fans or paparazzi? That’s what I give you.”

Candace shook her head. “I think I underestimated you,” she said with a chuckle.

“I also told them that you’d be exiting in fifteen minutes, so if we’re going to do this, I think we should hurry, just in case someone comes looking for you before we go.”

He waited for her to nod, then clasped her hand firmly, walking fast in the opposite direction to which they’d arrived earlier in the day. Candace had to almost run to keep up with his long, loping stride, but she didn’t care. Logan was going to get her out of here without being mobbed, without even having to come face-to-face with her manager, and she might actually have a drink at a bar before anyone figured out who she was. Adrenaline was starting to fill her with hope.

Her phone started to beep in her purse, and she managed to open it without slowing down. She glanced at the screen.

“It’s Billy, my manager,” she told Logan when he looked down.

“Text him from the car when we’re driving away,” he said. “You can tell him we’ve gone once we’ve hit the main road, but not before.”

Candace slipped the phone back into her purse and hurried along with Logan, trying to concentrate on not falling off her stiletto heels. A few little white lies weren’t going to hurt anyone, especially not her manager, who didn’t seem to care that she’d spent the past few weeks frightened out of her own skin about the thought of being in public.

* * *

“So did you believe me when I said I’d get you out of there?”

Logan glanced over at Candace and saw that she was staring out the window, watching the world as it blurred past.

“No,” she replied, sighing and turning in her seat to face him. “If I’m completely honest I didn’t even want to let myself hope that I’d get out of there that easily.”

“So I don’t need to ask you if you’re still keen for a few drinks and something to eat?”

Candace laughed and it made him smile. “I’ll stay out until someone starts flashing camera bulbs in my face.”

“You’re on. The places I’m taking you no one will ever find us.”

She was looking out the window again, and he took his foot off the gas a little so they weren’t going so fast. For someone who hadn’t found it easy being back or dealing with people, he was finding it weirdly easy to talk to Candace. She should be the one person he had nothing in common with, but for some reason he was drawn to the fact that she was an outcast just like he was, albeit a different one. It settled him somehow.

“That kind of makes you sound like a serial killer,” she finally responded, like she was just thinking out aloud. “Which makes me wonder how I ended up letting you whisk me away from everyone who’s supposed to be looking after me and keeping me safe.”

“I’m the one who kept you safe today, so you don’t have a lot to worry about,” Logan told her, taking his eyes off the road for a second to make sure she was listening to him, looking at him. “If I’m perfectly honest, you have a manager who makes sure you get mobbed when he knows you hate it, and the rest of your entourage probably have way less interest in making sure you’re kept out of harm’s way than I do.”

She shut her eyes and put her head against the rest. “I know you’re right about my manager. Deep down, I think I’ve known it for a while. I just didn’t want to acknowledge it.”

He didn’t answer. He knew he was right, but he didn’t need to make her feel worse than she probably already did.

“Until you said that, I guess I’ve been trying to bury my head in the sand and pretend like everything’s fine.”

Logan fought the battle to bite his tongue and lost. “The guy’s seriously bad news. How long have you put up with him for? I know you have more experience with the whole celebrity thing than I ever will, but that’s a layperson’s take on him.”

Candace sighed. “He’s been with me for years, and he used to be a lot better than he is now, that’s for sure,” she muttered. “Things have kind of been going downhill for a while now.”

“How about we stop talking about work and just have a nice night?” Logan suggested, wishing he’d just kept his mouth shut instead of insulting her people. For once in his life he wasn’t screwing up—usually something he only managed to achieve in his work life—and he needed to just enjoy the company of a beautiful woman.

“You betcha,” Candace agreed. “Hey, where’s your dog tonight?”

Logan grimaced. “I left him at home. He was pretty pissed.”

“You know, for a dog he’s kind of nice.”

“You’re a cat person, aren’t you?”

She laughed, like she was embarrassed. “Sure am. I was attacked by a German Shepherd when I was a little girl. In fact, I still have the scars to prove it. I’ve just never really warmed to dogs since. Stupid, I know, but just the way I am.”

“Understandable.” Personally, he wasn’t fussed on cats, but he wasn’t going to tell her that. “I’ve had dogs all my life, but then I’ve never had one be anything other than loyal to me.”

“Back home I have a pair of Birman cats called Indie and Lexie, and if I’m completely honest they’ve probably done me more damage with their claws than your dog has probably ever done to you with his teeth.”

They both laughed. Logan changed the subject for a second, wanting to point out to Candace where they were going.

“See just over there? That’s Cockle Bay and it’s where I’m taking you for dinner.”

“I thought we were just going for drinks?” she asked, her nose almost pressed to the window, looking where he’d pointed.

It was the reason Logan had brought her here, because he knew how amazing the harbor was to visitors. Him? He’d grown up with it and was used to it, but every time he’d returned from a tour it had always put a smile on his face, told him he was home.

“If you’re not hungry, we can always skip dinner.”

“Don’t be silly. After all that energy I used on stage, I’m famished,” she admitted. “And dinner sounds great.”

Logan parked his four-by-four and jumped out, grabbing his jacket and pulling it on. He walked around the vehicle and opened the passenger door, waiting for Candace to step out.

“Thank you,” she said. “You know, it’s kind of strange for me getting out on this side of the road.”

Logan waited for her to grab her purse, before shutting the door and leading the way, walking slowly so she didn’t have to hurry beside him.

“Your shoes are insanely high.”

“I know, but aren’t they fab? They were a gift from my favorite designer.”

He raised his eyebrows. “You’re talking to a soldier, sorry. But they do look cool, I guess, for a pair of shoes, that is.”

Candace laughed. “I definitely need to spend more time with real people. Of course you couldn’t care less about my shoes!”

He shrugged and pointed ahead. “We’re going to a place called Jimmy’s and they have the best seafood in Sydney. Plus they’re right on the water.”

Candace started walking even slower, a smile spreading over her face that he couldn’t miss as they passed a couple who didn’t even look at them.

“You have no idea what it feels like to just walk along the street and not be noticed. I’ve missed this for so long now.”

Logan looked up, taking comfort in the bright stars twinkling in the dark sky—the same stars he’d looked at every night when he was on tour even though he’d been on the other side of the world. When he was at home in the Outback, they always seemed brighter, but they were still just as pretty to look at in the city.

“When I was on my first couple of tours, white soldiers were pretty easy to notice. I remember the first time we went through a village, and the women were screaming out to us, begging us to help them. I couldn’t understand what they were saying, but the pleading, desperate looks they were giving us told me that I was their last chance. That that’s how they thought of us.” Logan took a deep breath, wondering why he was even telling Candace all this. He hardly ever spoke about his tours, except with Brett, but for some reason he just needed her to know. “These little children were hanging on to us, grabbing us as we walked through on patrol, and we gave them all the food we had. It wasn’t until the next day that we found out all the men had been killed by local insurgents, and the women were left to fend on their own, terrified that they’d be next, and with no way to provide for their children.”

Candace had almost stopped walking now, her eyes like saucers, filled with tears as she stared at him. Her hands were clenched into fists at her sides.

“What happened to them?”

Logan shook his head. “I don’t know. But I can tell you how awful it was to be recognized, as someone who those people thought could save them, when in reality all I could offer was some dried snacks and a candy bar. And it happened to us over and over again.”

“So, what you’re saying is that I need to stop caring about being recognized for who I am?” she asked, her voice soft.

“No, what I’m saying is that sometimes being recognized for the right reasons is okay. The people who want to see you just want a smile and an autograph, and they’re things you can give them. It’s when you’re powerless that being recognized is something to be scared of.”

Candace shook her head, a sad look on her face. “I sound like a selfish, self-centered idiot for even saying all that, when you compare it to what you went through. But I guess it’s just that I struggle with the whole fame thing. I’m a singer and I love what I do. It’s just the publicity that I find really difficult.” She sighed. “Unfortunately one doesn’t come without the other in this industry.”

“No, Candace, that’s not what I meant,” he said as they started to walk again. “I guess I just want you to know that I probably understand some of what you go through on a daily basis, even though our worlds are light-years apart.”

They walked in silence for a minute, almost at the restaurant. She knew what he meant, but she still felt stupid for moaning aloud about being recognized. She was lucky and she knew it, but lately being surrounded by fans had turned from flattering to downright scary.

“Have you ever tried Morton Bay bugs?” Logan asked, changing the subject.

Candace gave him a look like she was trying to figure out if he was joking. “I have no idea what you’re even talking about, but they sound revolting.”

He laughed. “Definitely not revolting, I promise you. They’re kind of like lobster, but different. Better.”

“You’re serious, aren’t you?” she groaned as he opened the door. “You’re actually going to make me eat something called a bug as punishment for the sashimi.”

“It’s a stupid name for what they are, but yeah, you’re definitely going to be eating them.” Logan chuckled as they stood and waited to be greeted. “Grilled with garlic butter, fresh bread on the side and...”

“Logan?”

He spun around, taking his eyes off Candace and her cute smile. “Hey, Jimmy.”

His old friend raised his eyebrows, looking from him to Candace, before his eyes widened. Logan gave him a look that he hoped he understood, not wanting their night ruined before it even started.

“The kitchen’s closing soon, but I can squeeze you two in if you order quick,” Jimmy said, grabbing two menus. “How you been, anyway? I haven’t seen you in ages.”

Logan motioned for Candace to follow, touching his hand to her lower back and guiding her forward.

“I’ve been okay, can’t complain. Especially since I’m back for good now.”

Jimmy walked them through the restaurant and waved toward an alfresco table, complete with low candles on the table and a view out over the water. Even though it was dark, the water was twinkling under the lights from all the restaurants and the luxury yachts moored nearby. The night air was warm, slightly muggy still after the hot day.

“Do you even need these?” Jimmy asked with a grin, gesturing at the menus.

Logan grinned straight back at him, pulling out a seat for Candace. Jimmy obviously knew exactly who she was—maybe he was just too starstruck to remember his manners, or his job.

“Let’s start with two buckets of prawns and sourdough bread, then Morton Bay bugs for two, and maybe a Caesar salad.”

Jimmy was nodding, but he was also spending most of his time glancing at Candace, who was looking out at the water, her body turned away from them.

Logan leaned in closer to his childhood friend, giving him a playful whack across the back of the head.

“Don’t you breathe a word of this to anyone until we’re gone. No tipping the media off, no telling your girlfriend.”

Jimmy made a face like his head hurt, but he was still grinning. “Can I at least get an autograph before you leave?”

“Keep everyone else away from us and I’ll make sure you get one. Deal?”

Jimmy’s smile grew wider. “And a big tip, too, right?”

“You do know I have a dog that could eat you in a few mouthfuls, don’t you?” Logan said in a low voice, smiling as Candace turned to face them.

Jimmy just laughed. “I’ll get your order in and bring you some drinks. Champagne?”

Logan sat down and glanced at Candace. “Bubbly or beer?”

She made a thoughtful face before one side of her mouth tilted up into a smile. “Let’s have a beer. Why not?”

Logan didn’t let the surprise show on his face, even though he’d never have picked her choosing beer over champagne in a million years. “You heard the lady. Two beers, bottles not glasses.”

Jimmy shook his head and walked off, leaving Logan to burst out laughing. Candace seemed to be finding the entire thing as hilarious as he was.

“He knew who I was the moment we walked in, didn’t he?” she asked in a soft voice, like she wasn’t in the least bit surprised.

Logan wasn’t going to lie to her. “Yeah, he did. But there’s no way he’s going to make a fuss or say anything, okay?”

She nodded. “So you don’t think it’ll be in the papers that I was spotted out with a mystery man, knocking back beers? Knowing the paps, they’ll probably say I was out of control and ready for rehab.”

“You missed the part about us digging into two massive buckets filled with prawns, that we’ll be eating with our fingers like barbarians instead of fine dining.”

Candace dipped her head when she laughed, looking up at him like she wasn’t entirely sure whether he was ever being serious or always joking. “And here I was thinking you’d brought me to a classy restaurant.”

“Believe me, nothing in the world is better than fresh seafood eaten with your fingers, washed down by an ice-cold beer. We don’t need five forks and silver service to eat incredible food.”

“Well, I’ll have to reserve judgment until I’ve experienced it, but I’m guessing you’re probably right.”

He leaned back in his chair. “See the beautiful super yachts out there?”

She nodded, following his gaze.

“When you come here earlier in the evening, there are waiters running back and forth from the restaurant to the boats, carrying silver trays of seafood and champagne. It’s crazy, but a lot of fun to watch.”

“I was right going with my gut feeling on promoting Australia to the world,” she said with a laugh. “Next time I’m ready for a vacation, I’m heading straight back here.”

CHAPTER THREE

CANDACE LOOKED BACK out at the water to avoid looking at the man seated across from her. There was something exciting about being out somewhere different, on the other side of the world, and with someone she hardly knew. And for the first time in forever, she actually felt like herself, like the old her, the one she’d started to slowly lose a few years earlier. When her marriage had started to crumble, so had her self-confidence, and then when her mom had died...she pushed the dark thoughts away and focused on Logan.

“Is this somewhere you come often?”

Logan leaned forward, both hands on his beer bottle. She took a sip of hers while she waited for his response.

“I’ve been coming here for years. Every time I came home from deployment, this was the first place I headed to for a meal,” he told her. “There were three of us with a standing date.”

“As in three soldiers?” she asked, curious.

Logan twirled his beer bottle between his hands. “Yeah.”

Candace could sense there was something else going on, something unsaid, but she didn’t know him well enough to pry. She knew what it was like to want to keep some things private.

“It must have been a relief coming here for the amazing food after what you had to eat over there,” she said, wanting to give him an out if he needed it.

Logan looked up and met her gaze. “It was. There’s only so much dried jerky and dehydrated food a guy can eat, right?”

She laughed, but it died in her throat as their waiter approached the table with an enormous amount of food.

“No way.”

Logan grinned and leaned back as two large silver buckets filled with prawns were placed in front of them. She’d never seen so much seafood in her life.

“You’re telling me that this is just for starters?” she asked, groaning.

The waiter returned with two dishes of some kind of sauce and freshly quartered lemons, as well as a bowl of warm water, which she guessed was for them to dip their fingers in to after eating.

“In Australia, we have a saying that you can’t eat enough seafood,” Logan told her.

“You do?” Candace watched as he picked up one of the prawns and pulled the head off, before peeling the shell.

“No, I just made that up to make you think this was a good idea.” He gave her a wink that made her heart thud to her toes. “If you don’t want to get your hands dirty I can peel yours?” he offered.

“I appreciate the gesture but I think it’s about time I got my hands dirty.” She was sick of people running around and doing everything for her, and tonight was about her just being her. “You show me what to do and I’ll do it.”

“You just have to grab your beer bottle between your palms so it doesn’t get all greasy. Like this,” Logan explained, demonstrating with a quick swig of his beer before dipping his prawn into the sauce.

Candace just shook her head, finding it hard to believe that she’d been performing live in front of twenty thousand people only an hour earlier, and was now sitting at a restaurant, tucking into a meal with the man who’d been assigned her personal head of security. Add to that the fact she hadn’t been asked for even one autograph...it was insane. She shouldn’t have trusted him so easily, but she hadn’t been so relaxed in a long time. Maybe she’d wake up and realize it had all just been a dream, but if it had been, at least it had been a nice one.

She peeled her first prawn and dipped it in the sauce.

“Good?” he asked.

“Amazing,” she murmured, hand over her mouth as she spoke. “You were right.”

They sat in silence for a while, both eating their prawns and sipping beer. Something told her that Logan wasn’t usually a big talker—that he was comfortable not saying anything at all, and she liked it. Where she’d grown up, the men had a motto of speaking only when they’d had something worthy of being said, but her adult life had been filled with men who couldn’t say enough to make themselves sound important.

“So have you always lived in the city?” she asked.

Logan looked up, finishing his mouthful and dipping his fingers in the lemon water to clean them. She watched as he dried his hands on the napkin.

“I actually grew up in the Outback,” he told her, finishing his beer before leaning back in his chair. “I’m based here a lot of the time, but when I’m not working I head straight back there just to be away from the city and out in the open air.”

So, that’s why she felt so comfortable around him. It had been a while since she’d hung out with a country boy.

“Your family all ranch out there?”

He grinned. “We call it farming here, but yeah, it’s my family property.”

Candace paused, slowly peeling a prawn. “So your dad runs the place or a brother?”

Logan took a deep breath, she could see the rise and fall of his chest, before he waved to a waiter and gestured for another beer. He glanced at her, but Candace shook her head—hers was still half-full.

He cleared his throat. “My parents both died a few years ago, and my sister lives on a farm with her husband,” Logan explained. “The property has been in our family for generations, so I’d rather die than sell the place, but I’ve had to have a manager employed while I’ve been serving so the place can continue to run smoothly.”

Candace sighed. “I shouldn’t have been so nosey, Logan. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. Sometimes it’s just hard to say out loud, because admitting it makes it real, as stupid as that sounds.”

She knew exactly how that felt. “My mom died a couple of years ago, and if I’m honest, that’s why I’ve put up with my management team for longer than I should have. She was the one who dealt with all that stuff so I could just focus on singing, and I’m still pretty lost without her. She was the business brains and I was the creative one, and it had always been just the two of us. We made a good team.”

Logan took the beer that arrived at their table, his eyes leaving hers to look out at the water. She did the same, because it seemed wrong to keep watching him when he was obviously troubled about what they were talking about. He was silent.

“I didn’t mean to just unleash all that on you,” she apologized. “I don’t usually spill my thoughts so easily, but...”

“It’s nice to tell someone who actually gets it, right?” he finished, gaze meeting hers again.

“Yeah,” she murmured, “something like that.”

“Losing a parent is tough, and it doesn’t get easier, so don’t believe anyone if they try to tell you otherwise,” he told her. “But you do learn to live with it.”

Their table was cleared then and within minutes two large white plates were placed in front of them.

“So these are the bugs, huh?”

Logan nodded, but he was more reserved now than he’d been before—his enthusiasm dulled.

“You just scoop the white meat out of the shell,” he told her. “It’s incredible.”

Candace spread her napkin over her lap, smoothing out the wrinkles, before picking up her fork and following Logan’s lead. He was right—again—the food was great.

“Thanks for a lovely evening,” she told him when she’d finished her mouthful. “It was completely unexpected and I appreciate the gesture.”

He gave her a weird look. “Sounds like you’re ready to leave.”

“No, I’m just grateful that I’ve actually enjoyed a night in someone else’s company. You’ve given me some perspective at a time when I needed it.”

Logan went back to getting every last piece of meat from the shellfish, and she forced herself to stop watching him and just eat, too. There was something so refreshingly real about him.

“Another beer?”

She looked at her bottle and was about to say no, before she changed her mind. “You know what? Yeah. I’d love another. Why not?”

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