14. Logan
14
LOGAN
L ogan leaned against his truck, the afternoon sun warming his face. His bear stirred as Serena's scent drifted to him on the breeze before he caught sight of her. She walked down the street in fitted jeans and a light sweater, her hair caught up in that messy bun he found oddly appealing.
"Hey," he called out, straightening up. "Need help with your kit?"
"I've got it." Serena disappeared inside her house.
Logan drummed his fingers on the hood of his truck. Even after all this time, being around her made his skin prickle with awareness. When she emerged with her veterinary kit, he opened the passenger door.
"Such a gentleman," she teased, climbing in.
"Don't let it get around. I have a reputation to maintain." He slid behind the wheel, catching another whiff of her lavender-vanilla scent. "The raccoon's been asking about you."
"The one that kept trying to steal my stethoscope?"
"That's the one. Think he's got a crush on you."
"At least someone does." Serena's laugh filled the cab.
"Oh, I wouldn't say he's the only one." The words completely slipped out before he could stop them. Heat crept up his neck.
"Logan Steele, are you flirting with me?"
"Depends. Is it working?" He shot her a sideways grin, pleased when color bloomed in her cheeks.
"You're impossible." But she was smiling.
"Part of my charm." He navigated the winding road toward the sanctuary, hyperaware of her presence beside him. "Remember that time we went swimming at Miller's Pond?"
"When you pushed me in?"
"When you pulled me in after you, you mean."
"Details." She waved her hand dismissively. "Though I seem to recall someone squealing like a little girl."
"Bears don't squeal."
"This one did."
The easy banter continued as trees thickened around them. Logan found himself relaxing, remembering how natural it had always been between them. Before everything went wrong. Before she left.
But she was here now, wasn't she? And maybe that was enough for today.
Logan soon pulled into the familiar sanctuary's gravel driveway. He cut the engine once they reached the front entrance and quickly hopped out. He circled around to get Serena's door before she could reach for it. His bear preened at her small smile of thanks. The afternoon air carried the mixed scents of pine, animals, and her intoxicating lavender-vanilla perfume.
"Let me take that." He grabbed her kits before she could protest.
"I can carry my own equipment."
"Humor me." He led the way past the main enclosures, noting how the animals perked up at Serena's presence. Even the usually standoffish fox came to the fence to watch her pass.
"Someone's popular," he said.
"Animals can sense good intentions," she responded quickly. "Speaking of which, where's this owl you mentioned?"
"Treatment room." He shouldered open the door, setting her kit on the counter. "Found him this morning tangled in some fishing line. Wing's pretty banged up."
The great horned owl watched them from its cage, golden eyes wary. Logan's bear recognized a fellow predator, but the bird was clearly hurting.
"Poor thing." Serena approached slowly, her movements calm and precise. "Let's take a look at you."
Logan helped her prep the examination table, falling into a comfortable rhythm as they worked together. When she needed gauze, he had it ready. When she reached for antiseptic, he'd already uncapped it.
"Steady him for me?" She slipped on latex gloves.
Logan's hands bracketed the owl's body, careful but firm. His fingers brushed Serena's as she worked, sending little jolts of electricity up his arms. Her face was close to his, brow furrowed in concentration as she examined the wing.
"Remember that eagle we helped in high school?" he asked.
"The one that tried to take your nose off?" She smirked. "Good times."
"You laughed so hard you snorted."
"I did not!" But her eyes sparkled.
"Did too. Sounded like a piglet. Just like yesterday."
She hip-checked him, and his bear hummed in pleasure at the contact. Being near her like this, working in sync, felt right in a way he couldn't explain. Didn't want to explain, if he was honest with himself.
"Hold him just a bit tighter," she murmured. "This part might hurt him."
Serena soon finished treating the injured owl and Logan put him back in his cage. Logan then carried the owl's cage to an outdoor enclosure while Serena gathered her supplies.
Once safely inside his enclosure, the bird's golden eyes tracked their movements, more alert now that the pain medication had kicked in.
"He needs to take it easy on that wing." Serena's hair had started escaping her bun, wisps framing her face. "I can whip up something to speed the healing."
Logan followed her to his workshop, watching as she laid out her ingredients with efficiency. Logan felt something stir deep inside of him at how at home she looked in his space.
"Can you pass me that mortar and pestle?" she asked.
"Yes ma'am." He handed it over, deliberately letting his fingers brush hers.
"Don't 'ma'am' me, Steele." But her lips curved up.
"Whatever you say, doc."
She crushed herbs with quick, precise movements. The workshop filled with earthy scents - chamomile, yarrow, something spicy he couldn't identify. Logan leaned against the workbench, content to watch her work.
"You're hovering again," she said without looking up.
"I believe this is still my workshop."
"Mmhmm." She measured out a purple liquid. "Make yourself useful and hand me that bottle of moonflower extract."
"Bossy." But he grabbed it anyway, enjoying their easy back-and-forth.
"You love it." She froze, cheeks pinking as she realized what she'd said.
Logan's bear perked up at her slip. "Maybe I do."
The air thickened between them as Serena stirred her potion. Steam curled up, carrying hints of mint and honey. She was biting her lower lip - an old nervous habit he remembered well.
"Almost done," she murmured, breaking the tension. "Just needs to simmer for a few minutes."
"Good thing I cleared my schedule then." He crossed his arms, making no move to leave.
"You're impossible."
"You might've mentioned that earlier." He grinned as she rolled her eyes.
"Still true though."
The potion bubbled, turning a soft golden color that matched the owl's eyes. Serena nodded in satisfaction and began bottling it up.
Logan watched Serena's steady hands as she administered the golden potion to the owl. His bear rumbled with satisfaction at her caring for his animals. The owl's feathers gleamed in the late afternoon sun.
"Easy there, big guy," she murmured to the bird. "This'll help that wing heal faster."
"You should've seen the first animal I helped here," Logan said, crossing his arms and leaning against the enclosure. "Little fox kit, barely old enough to walk. Found him trapped in some idiot's illegal snare."
"What happened to him?"
"Named him Trouble. Still visits sometimes, actually." Logan's lips quirked up. "See that scar on my thumb? That's from when he decided my hand was a chew toy."
Serena finished with the owl and turned to face him. "So, your parents really just gave you all this land?"
"More like they got tired of finding injured animals in their garage." He shrugged. "Dad said if I was going to keep bringing strays home, I might as well do it properly."
"Smart guy."
"Should've seen his face when I brought home that bear cub though." Logan chuckled at the memory. "Mom about had a heart attack."
"You didn't."
"Sure did. Named her Princess."
Serena's laugh echoed throughout the sanctuary. "The big bad bear shifter had a cub named Princess?"
"Hey now, she picked it." He pushed off the frame and moved closer. "Wouldn't answer to anything else. Stubborn little thing, reminded me of someone else I know."
"I have no idea who you're talking about." But her eyes sparkled.
"Course not." He reached past her to adjust the owl's perch, letting his arm brush against hers.
Logan soon led Serena to the deer enclosure. She leaned against the fence, watching the young fawn that had arrived last week.
"So there I was, first day of clinicals," Serena said, pushing her glasses up. "This massive Great Dane comes in. I mean huge. And I'm trying to be professional, right? But this dog decides my scrubs are the perfect place to wipe his drool."
"Bet that went over well with your fancy city clinic."
"Oh, it gets better. He knocked me flat on my back, sat on my chest, and refused to move." She grinned. "My supervisor found me pinned under two hundred pounds of stubborn dog who thought he'd found his new best friend."
Logan's laugh rumbled deep in his chest. "Sounds like my kind of dog."
She smiled, but then it faded slightly. "You know, I used to imagine telling you these stories. Back when..."
"When you first left?" His bear stirred restlessly. "I wanted to call. A thousand times."
"Why didn't you?"
"Pride. Stubbornness." He ran a hand through his hair. "Fear."
"Fear?" Her gray eyes widened.
"You were going places, Serena. Big cities, fancy schools. I was just the local bear who liked helping injured squirrels." He met her gaze. "I convinced myself you'd realize how small town I was and never look back."
"Logan." She touched his arm. "I would have come back. For you. If you'd just supported my dreams instead of fighting them."
"I know that now." He covered her hand with his. "I was young and stupid. Thought keeping you here was the only way to keep you."
"And I should have fought harder instead of running away." She squeezed his fingers. "We both messed up."
"We did." He smiled slightly. "But look at us now. All grown up and actually talking about feelings."
"Will wonders never cease?" Her familiar teasing tone returned. "The mighty Logan Steele, admitting he has feelings."
"Don't tell anyone." He bumped her shoulder with his. "Friends?"
"Friends," she agreed.