“Logan!” She practically scaled the counter to get to him. He shot a look at the arched entranceway that led to Bridgette’s flower shop to see if he’d be mauled from both directions, but he didn’t see Bridgette. They loved to double-team him and bowl him over.
“Logan! Honey, I’ve missed you.” Willow threw her arms around him and kissed him smack on the lips, then turned a wide smile to Stella and pulled her into an equally enthusiastic hug. Willow was in her midtwenties and was tall and curvy. She had a big personality rivaled only by the size of her heart. “You must be Stella. You’re every bit as pretty as Logan said you were.”
“Hi.” Stella looked at Logan and mouthed, You told her I was pretty?
He shrugged, loving the look of appreciation in her eyes.
Willow took a step back and held Stella’s hands. “Honey, Logan doesn’t ever bring women around, and I mean ever. I was worried the guy would end up alone with a house full of porn, if you know what I mean.”
“Hey,” Logan protested halfheartedly.
“Not that he doesn’t have every girl in this town after him.” Willow tossed her thick braid over her shoulder and crossed her arms. “So, I hear Logan has to go do guy things, and you get to spend the day with me. I can’t wait to get to know you.”
“Thanks, Willow,” Logan said.
“Yes, thank you. I won’t be any trouble. I could have stayed at his cabin—”
“Nonsense.” Willow swatted the air. “First of all, why would you stay in that cabin all by yourself when you could be here with me?” She leaned in close and whispered, “I’m fun, trust me. Did he tell you how we met?”
“Hey, Willow. Don’t take her skinny-dipping.”
Stella turned mischievous eyes in his direction. God, he loved seeing that spark in her eyes.
“Jealous? Maybe we’ll skinny-dip in Sugar Lake.” Stella arched a brow.
Logan scrubbed his hand down his face. “What have I done?”
Willow put a muffin in a bag and handed it to Logan. “Go on. Go do your boy things. We’ll be fine.” She shooed him toward the door.
He reached for Stella and lowered his voice. “You okay? You have the phone I gave you?”
“Actually, I’m fine now. And I have the phone.” She hugged him and whispered, “Thank you.”
He couldn’t resist giving her a soft kiss.
“Oh my goodness. Get out of here before you have her all googly-eyed. I’m gonna get to know this chickadee and make sure you’re not too bad of an influence on her. Go.” Willow shooed him out again.
***
BY MIDDAY STELLA felt more comfortable than she had since she left Mystic. Willow was easy to talk to, a good listener, and warm and wonderful with each and every customer that came into the bakery. Each customer had a story to share—news of a pending birth, an upcoming event for a church group, a cousin who had hit hard times. There were too many to keep track of, and Willow listened intently, offered advice, and doled out hugs and well-wishes to nearly everyone. It was easy to see how she and Logan would get along. Two people for whom helping others was stamped in their DNA.
They were baking cookies, something Stella hadn’t done in years. It made her long for her mother even more than usual.
“So, how did you end up with Logan? All he told me was that he was trying to track down a bad guy. I swear he’s like a modern-day Superman.” Willow took a batch of cookies from the oven and slid another tray in.
She felt like she could open up to Willow, and more important, she wanted to. She already felt like a friend, and Stella didn’t have many friends these days.
“This is going to sound like I’m a weak, pathetic girl, but really, I’m not.” Stella didn’t want anyone’s pity, and even though she sensed that Willow wouldn’t pity her, she still felt the need to clarify.
“Honey, we’re all weak girls. You know that saying ‘A real woman can do things herself’? Well, I buy into the next part, too. ‘But a real man won’t let her.’ Heck, if I had a man like Logan, I’d get in trouble on purpose just to let him save me.”
Stella felt her jaw drop open.
Willow finished rolling out the dough before lifting her eyes to Stella. “Oh God.” She wiped her hands on her apron. “I’m not interested in Logan. I didn’t mean—”