The Mighty Quinns: Logan

He thought about the promise he’d made to Sunny. “That would be great. I’ll do that.” Logan paused. “And if you see Sunny, can you tell her I’m sorry I wasn’t able to sell her my horse?”

Ed’s brow shot up. “You met Sunny?”

“Yesterday. She came out and rode Tally in the paddock. She offered to buy her and I told her I’d already made a deal.”

Ed chuckled. “If that woman didn’t have horse sense, she’d have no sense at all. She’s right about the filly. I’ll give her that.”

“Is she always like that? I mean, a little…?”

“We don’t call her crazy. She’s high-spirited. But I guess I don’t blame her. She kind of raised herself, from what I hear. Not much input from the parentals. But she’s a helluva rider. She went to the Olympics in London. Show jumping.”

“Really? Oh, my God, she’s that Sunny Grant. I didn’t make the connection.”

“She fell apart, knocked out in the early rounds. She’s been hiding out here since then. The media has been brutal.”

“That’s too bad,” Logan said, his mind occupied with thoughts of Sunny and that tiny glimmer of vulnerability he’d seen in her eyes. He knew her intimately, yet he really knew nothing about her life at all. Now that he had a few more pieces, Logan wished he could have had more time with her. Who knows what else he might have discovered?

He finished his breakfast as one of Ed’s grooms loaded Tally into the trailer. Logan checked her before he closed the trailer doors, then grabbed his shirt and boots and finished dressing. He’d dragged his departure out as long as he could, hoping he’d see Sunny again. But in the end, Logan had to accept that there would be no goodbye between them.

He got behind the wheel and steered the camper-van around the stable and past the house. He glanced over, wondering what she was doing, imagining her lying in bed, her naked body tangled in the sheets. He smiled to himself and headed for the highway.

The next hour was spent rerunning the previous night in his head. It had been a long time since he’d been with a woman. He lived a quiet life on the farm, just him and his right-hand man, Billy. Occasionally, he’d spend a weekend in town, and when he got lucky, there’d be a woman willing to give him a second look.

Since he’d left his job as a banker five years ago, women just didn’t find him as attractive. Funny how a nice guy looked a lot nicer when he had big money. He’d used all his savings, liquidated all his investments to buy the ranch and good breeding stock.

The dream was worth the risk, he’d told himself. And when he’d walked away from the bank on his last day of work, he’d pulled off his tie and unbuttoned his shirt and realized that he was a free man, a man who would determine his own destiny.

Now was not the time to start doubting himself. He had never assumed it would be easy. But the one thing he never realized was how lonely it would be. Logan reached over and slid a CD into the player, then turned up the volume on an old AC/DC tune. He sang along with the song, keeping time with his fist on the steering wheel.

“What time is it?”

The sound of her voice over the song caused him to swerve, and Logan cursed as he brought the campervan and horse trailer back under control. He glanced over his shoulder to see Sunny leaning off the edge of the upper bunk, her pale hair tumbled around her face.

He turned down the music. “What the hell—What are you doing?”

“I was sleeping,” she said. She stretched her arms above her head, the sheet dropping away to reveal her naked breasts. “What time is it?”

“What the hell are you—” He turned his attention back to the road and carefully pulled off onto the edge of the highway. Logan turned off the ignition, then stood up. “What the hell are you doing here?”

She frowned. “I decided to come with you. I packed my things and came back, but you were spread across the bed. So I crawled up here and fell asleep.” She dragged the sheet around her bare body.

“No, you left. Sometime in the middle of the night.”

“Yes, but I came back.”

Logan raked his hand through his hair, shaking his head. “Oh, bloody hell. We’re two hours gone from your place. I’m going to have to take you back now.”

She swung her legs over the edge of the bunk and shrugged. “No. I’m not going back. Nobody cares whether I’m there or not. My father decided to extend his stay in Sydney and won’t be home for another month. So I’m going with you. I don’t have anything better to do.” She jumped down from the bunk and moved toward him, smoothing her palm against his cheek as she passed. She paused and brushed a kiss across his mouth. “Morning,” she murmured with a coy smile.

Logan groaned. “This is just what I need right now.”

“No reason to get narky,” she said, putting on a pout. “I decided I needed more time to convince you to sell me the filly.”

“Oh, really. That’s why you’re running away from home?”

She stared at him for a long moment. “Well, not entirely. But I don’t want to talk about that right now. Besides, we’ll have fun. I make a very agreeable traveling companion.”

The night’s activities flashed through his mind and, with a soft curse, Logan slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her against him. Their lips met in a long, deep kiss, and he felt her warm body melt into his. He couldn’t say that he was angry or even surprised. He’d known Sunny Grant for less than a day and he already knew she was the most unpredictable woman he’d ever met.

“Won’t someone notice you’re gone?” he murmured.

“They won’t care.” She stepped back and ran her fingers through her hair. “I need coffee.” She glanced down at the sheet wrapped around her body. “Can we stop somewhere?”

“I think you should get dressed,” he said. “Did you bring clothes?”

“Yes,” she said. “And money.” She reached up and dug through her bag, pulling out her purse. But after rummaging through it, she looked up. “Oh, no.”

“What?”

“I don’t have money. I must have taken my wallet out of my purse and I was half-asleep when I packed and—”

“Don’t worry, I have money.”

“I’ll pay you back. I can call Lily, our housekeeper, and she can send me some. I’m a really cheap date.”

“I find that very hard to believe,” he muttered.

She smiled at him, then crawled into the passenger seat, tucking her feet beneath the sheet. “I like this. It’ll be a little adventure. God knows I needed to get out of that house.”

“A little adventure,” he repeated. With Sunny Grant in tow, that was the understatement of the day.

Logan slipped behind the wheel and started the campervan, then carefully pulled back out onto the highway. He stole a glance over at her and found her watching him. “What?”

“Nothing,” she said. “I’m just glad you didn’t put me out on the highway.”

“I wouldn’t have done that,” Logan said. “Maybe if you had shoes and clothes on I might have considered it. But dressed in just a sheet, you would have been at a disadvantage.”

“Well, thank you for that,” she said.

“Am I going to be sorry I let you stay?”

She grinned. “I don’t know.” Her smiled faded and she drew in a deep breath. “But if you really don’t want me here, I can find my way home.”

For a moment, she looked so sad, and he wondered what would bring such sorrow to that beautiful face. Logan groaned inwardly. He would have plenty of time to figure her all out. From here to Perth was a long drive. “No,” he said. “I think we’ll be fine.”

SUNNY STOOD IN FRONT of the refrigerated section in the supermarket. Logan had given her thirty dollars and a half hour to buy whatever snacks and drinks she needed. She’d never done much shopping for food. That was usually left up to their housekeeper. But there were certain things that she liked.

She glanced down at the money she held in her hand. Though he didn’t come right out and say it, it was clear to Sunny that Logan didn’t have a lot of extra cash, especially to spend on food for her. As she wandered the store, she’d been trying to figure out a way to get some money of her own, but she wasn’t really sure where they’d be stopping or when they’d get there.

It felt strange to be living in the real world, where money dominated almost every decision. Through-out her life, she’d never had to worry about how to pay the bills. Her father had handed her a bank card when she’d turned thirteen and there were never any questions asked about what she used it for.

“Are you almost done?”

She saw Logan’s reflection in the glass door then spun around. “Sorry.” She pulled out a couple of bottles of orange juice and put them in the shopping basket.

“Is that all?” he asked.

“Yes.”

He reached inside and grabbed a few more, then took some bottled water, as well. “We’re not going to find a lot of places to stop once we head west. I’m going to get some ice. Pick out some snacks. Maybe something for sandwiches.”

Sunny found some packaged ham and sliced cheese, then searched the store for bread. Along the way she grabbed a few packages of crisps and then decided a bottle of wine might come in handy. By the time Logan returned with the ice, she’d spent her thirty dollars.

As they walked to the checkout, he examined her purchases, then pointed to the wine. “Maybe you should have gotten another bottle,” he said.

“One is enough for now,” she said with a smile.

“I’m not used to traveling with women. Is there anything else that you need? Lipstick? Nail polish?”

“I remembered my toothbrush,” she said. “But I forgot shampoo. I can use yours, I guess.”

He stopped. “I’ll get some for you and meet you in the queue.”

When he returned, he set the shampoo down next to her purchases. “I’d rather not smell my shampoo in your hair. This smells like grapefruit.”

Sunny opened the bottle and took a sniff. “Mmm. That’s nice.”

The checkout operator was watching them closely, and she turned to Logan, awaiting his next comment. He cursed beneath his breath, then nodded. “We’re done. Add it up.”

“Are you sure?” the checkout operator asked.

“Add it up,” Sunny said. She grabbed a package of Tim Tams from a rack and put it next to the shampoo. “Women need chocolate, too.”

They walked back to the campervan, and Logan opened the passenger door for her. Sunny jumped in and settled herself into the now familiar spot. A few seconds later, Logan got behind the wheel.

“Thank you,” she murmured. “I do intend to pay you back.”

“No worries,” he murmured.

“I’m wondering if I might arrange to have some money sent to me. If we pick a town down the road, I can have it sent there. But I’m not sure where we’re going next.”

“We’re not going to have a lot of time for shopping. I know you’re used to luxuries—”

“No,” she murmured. “I just don’t want to be a burden. In fact, from now on, I’m not going to eat at all. Unless you let me arrange for my own money, I’m going to fast for the rest of the trip.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You have to eat.”

“I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to do,” she said. “I’ll eat my Tim Tams. I can make those last at least three days.”

“Oh, Jaysus,” he said, leaning over the steering wheel and bumping his head against the top edge. “I should probably kill myself now.” He drew a deep breath, then reached down and grabbed his mobile phone from one of the cup holders. “Have at it.”

“Where?”

He pulled out the map and traced their route. From Brisbane they’d head west, into the interior of New South Wales on A2, then southwest to the coast again. He pointed to Adelaide. “There. We’ll be there day after tomorrow. Have it sent to a local bank.”

“Cool,” she said. Sunny dialed her home number and when Lily answered, she quickly explained her dilemma. In the end, the housekeeper agreed to express her wallet and credit cards to her father’s business office in Adelaide. After spending a few days on the road in the campervan, she’d treat Logan to a comfortable bed and a hot shower.

“All right,” she said to Lily as she scribbled down the office address. “And if it’s not too much trouble, can you just gather a few nice things for me to wear? Some summer dresses. And my lavender-scented lotion? And—” Sunny paused. She’d learned to do without the creature comforts. She could certainly last a little longer. “That’s all.” She hung up and handed the phone to Logan, who was watching her suspiciously. “What?”

“Lavender-scented lotion? Is that what you were wearing last night?”

She nodded. “It’s my favorite. And it’s really hard to find. It’s French.”

“I like the way you smell,” he said.

Sunny crawled out of her seat and settled herself on top of him, her backside wedged against the steering wheel. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she bent close and gave him a long, deep kiss. “We’re going to have fun. I promise.”

He smoothed his hands beneath her shirt, sliding his palm along her torso until he cupped her breast. She wasn’t wearing a bra. “Maybe we should have bought you some underwear.”

“I brought underwear,” she said. “I just don’t like to wear it. It gets in the way.”

“Of what?”

“Of your hands on my body,” she whispered. Sunny bent close and brushed her lips across his, teasing with the tip of her tongue. A tiny smile curled the corners of his mouth. Though she was just getting to know him, she’d already decided he was the sweetest guy she’d ever met.

He was so humble and genuine and he didn’t try to be anything but himself. She’d known far too many men who spent their energy trying to impress. He had a quiet confidence that she found incredibly attractive.

For a long moment, they lost themselves in the kiss, Sunny wriggling against him until he groaned in protest. But then a loud bang interrupted them and they turned to see a security guard standing outside the driver’s-side door.

“Move along now, folks,” he said.

Sunny giggled as she crawled back to her own seat. Logan started the ignition and slowly pulled out of the parking lot. She opened the box of biscuits and slowly munched on one as she watched the traffic.

“Are you going to offer me one of those or are you going to eat them all yourself?” Logan asked.

“I was thinking about eating them all by myself. Why, do you want one?”

“I could eat one,” he said.

“I’ll give you one if you answer a question,” she said.

“What kind of question?”

“A personal question. Before last night, when was the last time you were with a woman?”

“Tim Tam first,” he said, holding out his hand. Sunny gave him one of the biscuits. “I had a beer at the local pub the night before I left and I believe Becky Pelson was the barkeep.”

“You slept with the barkeep?”

“No, you asked when I was last with a woman. As I recall, she was the last until I met you.”

“Oh! Waste of a Tim Tam! You cheat.”

“I can’t be held accountable for your poor phrasing,” he said with a grin. “If you give me another biscuit, I’ll answer the question.”

She handed him a Tim Tam. “Honest answer.”

“It’s been a while,” he said. “Probably about six months. I’m not sure, exactly.”

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