Page 34 of Break the Barrier

“Thea posted about our date?” I ask, excitement and confusion swirling around in my head.

“No,” Dani says. “It was an ‘anonymous participant’ in the Acton/Fall Springs Facebook group.”

I groan, though, this was the whole point—to get people to believe we were spending extra time together because we were dating.

However, it wasn’t fake anymore. No fucking way it was after that kiss last night.

“So, it was Meryl?” I ask, mentioning the town’s notorious gossip, Meryl Mason. She was the one who everyone went to for the “latest scoop,” and because she was so in demand—her words—she went ahead and started a town Facebook group for people to share what they wanted.

Which apparently included personal details of people’s lives, whether we like it or not.

“More than likely,” my cousin confirms. “So…”

“So.” I lift my brows at her. “What?”

Her jaw drops like she can’t believe I’m not immediately spilling the beans. “You went out with Thea!”

“So?” I shrug and turn to look at the dry erase board on thewall. It typically holds a list of work that needs completed for the day. I’m reading through it, fully aware that my cousin’s eyes are on me.

“So, you have been crushing on her for years, and you’re just gonna act like this isn’t a big deal?”

I purse my lips to keep my grin at bay, but it’s no use.

“Oh my gosh! Logan!” Dani comes closer, looking at me. “You’re blushing!”

I scoff and shove at her shoulder. “I am not blushing.”

“You totally are,” she confirms, patting me on the cheek. “Even under that scruff, I can see your cheeks. You are totally in love.”

She’s teasing me, but I turn and glare at her. “No. I am not.”

“Come on, it’s okay to be in love, big cousin. It happens to the best of us.”

“Yeah, well, not everyone needs to be in love.”

“That’s true,” she concedes, but she pokes me in the chest. “But I know what being smitten looks like, and you, my friend, are completely smitten.”

Maybe this was what Dani meant by being smitten, but after work, I found a voicemail from my mom saying she was taking Lue out for dinner tonight before bringing her home, which gave me a little bit of time.

I could spend it working on the garage I was building on my property, something that could double as a workshop for projects and something to keep my truck in when the winters got cold.

But instead, I found myself getting redressed after myshower and hopping back into my truck, driving it into town, and parking.

Of course, my eyes are drawn to the crowd outside of Bottle Grounds, the Friday night crowd gathering for a night of dinner, drinks, and music. I hear the music spilling out of the door whenever it opens, and I sigh at myself.

I take my keys and my hat, tucking the keys in my pocket and my hat onto my head before heading toward the front door.

I was a sucker.

A sucker for the brunette who was currently slinging drinks behind the bar, who was barking orders at her employees and giving half-tired, half-stressed smiles to her customers as she set drinks down and took more orders.

I find myself tucked away in the corner, not wanting to converse with the townsfolk tonight. I knew about eighty percent of the patrons in here, and yet, I had zero desire to bullshit with people tonight.

I only had eyes for her.

I shake my head at myself. It was probably the cheesiest thought I’ve ever had, but it was true. I was able to zone everyone else out and focus on just Thea.

An hour later, after one of her waitresses has served me a beer, and I’ve declined more, there’s a small lull in the crowd around the bar.