“Hey, Logan,” Reece called out, suddenly there, almost to the Jeep. I jumped a little. I had actually forgotten they were approaching. It was Logan. He rattled my brain.

With a final wink at me, Logan swung his bat bag around so that it hid the erection pushing against the front of his pants.

I stared after him, feeling rattled and shaken and doing my best to disguise it.

Pepper balanced a sugar-drenched funnel cake in one hand and held on to Reece’s hand with the other one. Grin firmly in place, Logan turned to face Reece and Pepper. With no invitation, Logan snatched a chunk of funnel cake from her plate. The latticework of fried bread dangled from his fingers before breaking.

I watched, mesmerized, as he tilted back his head, opened his mouth wide, and dropped the food in. The tendons in his throat, the muscles flexing in his square jaw—all served to make my belly dip.

“Nice,” Pepper complained. “That was like half of it.”

He picked at another piece and she swatted his hand.

“Great game, Logan.” Reece looked at his brother almost earnestly, as if he was trying to convey something . . . be family for him, everything, the parent he so obviously lacked. “Seriously, man. I’m proud of you.”

Logan shrugged like it was no big thing. “Will you be at the new Mulvaney’s tomorrow?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there. You’re working afternoon to close at the old location, right? Mike’s going to open.”

Logan nodded. “Yeah. I gotta go.”

Reece moved in for that half-body hug guys did.

“Thanks for coming.” Logan’s glance skipped to Pepper, clearly including her in the thanks. Me, not so much. I just stood there, feeling as out of place as ever.

Logan’s gaze slid to me, warming me all over again. “See you around, Pearls.”

Logan walked away then, heading off to his after-party where he would likely use his charm to nail some other girl.

“Pearls?” Pepper inquired next to me around a mouthful of funnel cake.

I lifted one shoulder. “Yeah. It’s just a thing . . . he calls me.”

“Cute.”

I felt Reece’s stare on my face, but refused to look, too worried I would see confirmation in his eyes that he knew I was slightly infatuated with his player of a brother.

Climbing inside Reece’s Jeep, I wrapped myself in this knowledge that nothing more would happen between Logan and me. First of all, I would have to ask for it and that would be like me asking Mom to share stories about my real father with me. Yeah. Not in this lifetime.

Second, I was leaving soon. When I returned in the fall he would be at Kellison. I would see him less often and not face the temptation of his presence.

I could almost convince myself I was glad about this.

Chapter 6

I KNOCKED ONCE ON my advisor’s door before stepping inside. The office smelled like musty books and Taco Bell burritos. A quick glance at the overfull trash bin confirmed that Dr. Chase ate most of his meals there. “You wanted to see me, Dr. Chase?”

He’d written a note on my last paper for me to come see him during his office hours. I’d enjoyed his class this semester. As much as one could enjoy Labor Law and Policy. It just spoke to his teaching ability that he made the course work interesting.

“Yes, have a seat, Georgia.”

I still clutched my paper in my hands.

He came around his desk and sank into the chair opposite mine. He tapped at the paper. “This is good work, Georgia.”

A flush spread through me. “Thank you.”

He crossed his legs, gripping his ankle where it rested on his knee, showing off his plaid socks. “You have a strong control of language. It’s a gift. Half the time when I read an undergrad paper, I feel like I’m wading through a jumble of words to get to the point, but you have a better handle of the material than most graduate students.”

My chest swelled. I wished my mother were here to hear this.

He continued, “What are you doing this summer?”

“I’m going home.”

“And home is . . .”

“Muskogee, Alabama.”

“Hmm. Not a bustling metropolis.”

“No, sir. I’m looking into an internship at a bank—”

“Filing and making coffee.” He shook his head. “It’s a waste of your talents. You’ll learn nothing. One of the grad students I’d hired to assist me on my research this summer had to back out. I have an opening.” His gaze fastened on me, his dark eyes steady through the lenses of his glasses. “It’s a rare opportunity, Georgia. The other two students assisting me are grad students and I still need a third—”

“Yes,” I blurted. He hadn’t even mentioned pay or the research topic, but I didn’t care. This sounded a lot better than going home and working at the bank. And the best thing of all? I could stay here. Mom wouldn’t love the idea, but she would have to acknowledge it as a great opportunity. It was an academic endeavor that actually paid.

“Excellent. Speak with Doris, the department secretary, and she will gather your information. We’ll be in touch regarding our first meeting.” Dr. Chase stood.

I rose, too, grabbing the strap of my messenger bag. I shook his hand, maybe a little too vigorously in my eagerness. “Thank you.”

He smiled, already looking distracted as he dropped my hand. “See you soon.”

As soon as I left his office, I rummaged for my phone and scanned my contacts until I found the person I needed to call. He picked up after the second ring.

“Reece? Hey, it’s Georgia. Did you really mean it when you said I could use your old apartment this summer?”

MOM WASN’T THRILLED.

I’d known that she wouldn’t be, but she actually required more convincing than I expected.

“Maybe I should call this Dr. Chase,” she suggested, “And find out more about the particulars of—”

“Mom, no. What for?” With a deep breath, I softened my voice, “I’m twenty years old and in college. I don’t think he’s accustomed to getting phone calls from parents. This is legit, I promise. I’ll be working with grad students. I’m really lucky to get this chance.”

She sighed, and I knew she was relenting.

“I’m sure I can expect a fabulous recommendation from him for future jobs. And this experience will look great on my resume,” I added, knowing how Mom thought. “Your friend at the bank will be very impressed.”