Page 9 of If You're Reading This

Had Logan been part of the Iron Brotherhood?

No . . . he couldn’t be a state trooper now if he’d been in a gang.

So what was he talking about?

“I wanted to help.” Logan’s voice sounded hoarse.

She stiffened. “Then why didn’t you?”

He closed his eyes, shutting out the pain that filled his gaze. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

He nodded, confirming she’d heard correctly.

Tears flooded her eyes. “What . . . ? I don’t understand. How could you have not told me this?”

His expression crumpled like she’d never seen before, the carefully maintained armor of Alaska’s toughest trooper falling away completely. Those steel-blue eyes that had stared down criminals without flinching now held a raw vulnerability that shocked her—grief, guilt, and something like terror all battling for dominance in a face suddenly stripped of its defenses.

When he spoke, his voice emerged as barely more than a whisper, rough at the edges. “I didn’t know how.”

“So you chose this moment? The moment I’ve been waiting to happen for years—the moment my photography is being given the Ansel Adams Innovation in Photography Award? The moment we finally kiss?” She let out a harsh laugh before shaking her head. “I can’t believe this.”

“Let me explain—” Logan started to reach for her.

But Morgan jerked away. She didn’t want to hear his explanation. Didn’t want his comfort. Didn’t want to make him feel better. Not now. Maybe not ever.

She had a roomful of people waiting for her to interact with them.

“I . . . I can’t do this right now.” She turned away from him and walked toward the door, wiping away her tears as she did.

How had this beautiful moment turned into such a disaster—a disaster that shattered her very soul?

And she hadn’t even had the chance to tell him about her suspicions, her worries for her safety. She’d decided she should mention them. But her first priority had been that kiss.

It seemed this whole evening was full of mistakes.

CHAPTER

THREE

As Logan headeddown the road in his state trooper SUV with Zac Brown on the radio, he couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss he’d shared with Morgan four days ago.

More than anything he wanted to recreate it. To pretend he hadn’t shared the truth afterward. To pretend nothing stood between them and a possible future together.

Now that Morgan knew part of the story behind what had happened, she wouldn’t want anything to do with him. He’d known that would be the outcome. It was why he’d delayed the explanation for so long.

But he’d also known the day would come when he’d have to tell her.

He’d known after the award ceremony that he needed to give her space.

Doing so had killed him. Had caused a physical ache to form in his heart. Had caused his stomach to twist into knots until he felt like he might be sick.

He wanted to call her. To check on her.

But he didn’t.

For four days.