Page 11

Chapter Eleven

Now that was the Logan she remembered. For as long as AJ had known Logan, he’d always been a protector. It was nice to see that side of him come out again.

“Maybe Amelia or Adam is still here.” Logan put his arm out behind AJ to guide her inside but didn’t make contact.

How she longed for his strong hands to touch her again. She missed him so much it hurt.

Amelia emerged from the children’s ministry area with her one-and-a-half-year-old on her hip, Caleb and the two other children followed.

Logan waved them over. “Can we steal you for a moment, Amelia?”

“Sure.” She handed the baby to Caleb and said to him, “I’ll meet you at the van.”

Will and Zara waited to be filled in, and as soon as the kids were out of earshot, AJ told them all about the texts she’d been receiving. “Also, Daryl drove by Granny’s house the other day while I was sitting on the porch and attempted to ask me to hang out. I told him to get lost, and he drove on.”

Amelia sighed. “We may be able to retrieve those deleted texts, assuming you haven’t filled up your phone storage since then. Then we’d have a record of them. I can open a case, but it’s not much to go on right now. With permission to search your phone records, I can see if I can find out where they are coming from. If he bought the SIM cards with his own name, we’ll know who it is pretty quick.”

AJ grimaced. “I doubt someone who intentionally got multiple phone numbers would do so under his own name. I didn’t figure there was anything you could do.”

Logan set his hand on her shoulder. “It’s not nothing. If he keeps harassing you, we’ll get him.”

“Do I need to tell him to stop rather than ignoring it?”

Logan removed his hand, and she ached for it to return. “Ummm.” He handed her the phone. “I may have already taken the liberty.”

She swiped it open. Logan had sent the creep a text.

Leave her alone.

Her heart swelled. She couldn’t be mad at him for doing that. In fact, she loved him a bit more for it. But she knew better than to hope it meant more.

Amelia said, “Why don’t you stop at the station in the morning, and we can get the ball rolling. If anything more happens or he sends a threat, you call me. Got it?”

AJ nodded.

“You have my cell number?”

“I do. Thank you.”

“Of course. Stay safe.” Amelia left.

AJ didn’t know what to do. She wanted Logan to stay close, but only if his normally icy demeanor remained far away. It was too much to ask of him. She’d already invaded his space enough for the last two days. Coming to second service might have been too much, but she was so glad he’d been the one she’d found when she received those texts.

If only he could understand how much she still needed him, wanted him, desired him.

Zara spoke up as the silence lingered. “Let’s eat back at our place. You too, Logan.”

AJ held her breath. Would he?

“I don’t know.” He met AJ’s eyes. What did she see in there? It wasn’t the malice she expected. So much hurt.

She swallowed. “You are welcome but don’t feel obligated.”

“I guess I could come eat.”

Will clapped his hands. “Good. Let’s go.”

AJ smiled. “We’ll see you guys there.” She wove her hand around Zara’s elbow, and the women walked to the car arm in arm.

Outside, Zara said, “Are you okay?”

She let out a squeak. “Maybe.”

They settled in the car, and AJ said, “Here’s the stupid-quick version: five years ago, Logan and I hit a rough patch, and I had an affair with Daryl. It was only like a few times, but it’s what happened. I came clean with Logan, and he kicked me out of the house.”

“Oh, AJ.”

“It was dumb on my part. But despite my repentance, he hasn’t been able to forgive me.”

“What happened between the two of you to lead to that?”

“I can’t handle that story too right now, but let’s just say the hardest year of our lives. We didn’t handle it well.”

AJ leaned back against the headrest. Tears pooled in her eyes. If she didn’t stop talking about it all, she’d be a blubbering mess before they got to the apartment.