16. Logan
16
LOGAN
L ogan paced in his office, phone in hand, staring at the festival flyer pinned to his bulletin board. The setting sun cast long shadows through the window, and the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore reminded him of all those nights years ago when he and Serena would sneak away to watch the fireworks.
First things first. He snapped a quick photo of the fawn they helped earlier that morning. The little guy was curled up on a bed of fresh hay, sleeping peacefully after their day of treatment. He typed out a quick message: "Just thought you'd want to see your patient resting comfortably."
Serena's response came almost instantly. "Aww, sweet baby! That potion really helped with the leg pain."
Logan's thumb hovered over the keyboard. The bear inside him growled with impatience, but he forced himself to wait. Ten minutes ticked by as he wrestled with the right words.
"Beach festival tonight. Remember how we used to go?" He finally typed, then added, "Want to check it out? For old times' sake?"
The three dots appeared immediately. His heart hammered against his ribs.
"The Welcoming Spring Festival? I can't believe it's that time already! I've missed it so much. The bonfires, the music, the fireworks..."
"Is that a yes?" he texted back, grinning at her enthusiasm.
"Definitely yes! I just got home, need to change."
Logan's bear practically purred with satisfaction. "I'll pick you up at 8."
He set the phone down, unable to wipe the smile off his face. Working with Serena these past weeks had awakened something he'd thought was asleep forever. Every time she laughed at one of his jokes or got that determined look while brewing her potions, he felt himself falling harder. The way she connected with the animals, her gentle touch, her fierce protectiveness - it all reminded him why he'd fallen for her in the first place.
"Keep it together," he muttered to himself. "It's just the festival. Just two friends hanging out."
But even as he said it, he knew he was lying to himself. Nothing about Serena had ever been "just" anything.
Logan soon pulled up to Serena's house to pick her up for the festival. The bouquet of wildflowers he'd picked up sat hidden under a blanket behind his seat. He'd grabbed them on impulse, then chickened out of actually bringing them to the door. Friends didn't bring friends flowers.
His bear's keen senses picked up her scent before she emerged. When she stepped out onto her porch, his grip tightened on the steering wheel until the leather creaked.
Gone was the messy bun and practical clothes she wore at the sanctuary. Her hair fell in loose waves past her shoulders, and she wore a flowing sundress that made his mouth go dry. The sight of her bare shoulders in the porch light sent his bear into a possessive frenzy.
"Down boy," he muttered to himself, forcing his claws to retract where they'd started to emerge.
Serena approached the truck, and Logan leaned across to push open the passenger door.
"Your chariot awaits," he said with an exaggerated bow from his seat.
"Such the gentleman." She climbed in, bringing with her the scent of lavender and something uniquely Serena that made his head spin. "Though I notice this chariot still has the same squeaky door it did ten years ago."
"Hey now, don't insult the truck. She's sensitive."
They drove toward the beach, the setting sun still painting the sky in light oranges and pinks. The festival lights were already visible, strung between poles along the shoreline. Music drifted on the breeze - some local band covering classic rock songs.
Logan pulled into the makeshift parking area on the packed sand, finding a spot near the back where fewer cars had ventured.
"Looks packed already," Serena observed, peering through the windshield at the crowds near the entrance.
"Good thing I know all the secret ways in." He winked at her. "Unless you've forgotten how to sneak onto the beach?"
"Logan Steele, are you suggesting we break the rules?"
"More like creatively interpreting them." His bear preened at the way she laughed. "Besides, those lines are for tourists. We're locals."
Logan led Serena through their secret entrance onto the beach, his bear's protective instincts surging as she navigated the rocky path. The festival lights twinkled above them, casting a magical glow across the sand. His fingers itched to take her hand, but he kept them firmly at his sides.
"Remember that summer we snuck in here every weekend?" Serena asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"And old man Henderson would chase us off, waving that ridiculous flashlight?" Logan chuckled, the memory warming him more than the nearby bonfires. "Good times."
They soon wandered past food stalls, the scents of fried dough and grilled meat making his stomach growl. When Serena's eyes lingered on a candy apple stand, Logan immediately stepped up to buy two.
"You didn't have to," she protested, but accepted the treat with a smile.
"Course I did. Can't have the festival experience without getting sticky candy all over your face."
They found a quiet spot near one of the smaller bonfires, away from the main crowd. The flames cast a warm glow across Serena's face as she bit into her apple, and Logan had to force himself to look away.
"Oh! The tide pools are still here," Serena exclaimed, pointing toward the rocky outcropping. "Remember how we used to spend hours looking at the starfish?"
"Want to check them out?"
She nodded eagerly, and this time Logan didn't stop himself from taking her hand as they picked their way across the rocks. His stomach flipped when she squeezed his fingers instead of pulling away.
They spent the next hour discovering tiny sea creatures, Serena's excitement infectious as she pointed out each new find. Logan found himself watching her more than the tide pools, memorizing the way her nose crinkled when she laughed, how the sea breeze played with her hair.
"Look at this one!" Serena leaned closer to a particularly colorful anemone, nearly losing her balance.
Logan's arm shot out, steadying her against his chest. She fit there perfectly, just like she always had. The scent of her shampoo mixed with the salty air, making his head spin.
"Still clumsy as ever," he teased, not letting go quite yet.
"Still trying to catch me when I fall," she countered softly, looking up at him with those gray eyes that haunted his dreams.
His bear wanted nothing more than to claim her right there, but Logan forced himself to release her, settling for a gentle squeeze of her shoulder.
As they walked back along the beach, the band's music drifted over from the main festival area. Logan watched Serena's face light up as she recognized the song - an old rock ballad they used to dance to years ago.
"Oh! I love this song." Serena swayed to the rhythm, her sundress catching the evening breeze. "Dance with me?"
His bear boomed with pleasure at her invitation. "Right here?"
"Why not? We're far enough from everyone else." She held out her hand, and the playful glint in her eyes made his heart skip.
Logan pulled her close, one hand settling on her waist while the other clasped hers. Her skin was warm through the thin fabric of her dress, and his bear's heightened senses picked up the quickening of her pulse.
"You still remember how to lead?" she teased, following his steps in the sand.
"Some things you don't forget." Like how perfectly she fit against him, or how her scent mixed with the ocean breeze drove him wild.
They moved together easily, muscle memory taking over from countless dances shared years ago. The distant festival lights cast a soft glow over them, and the waves provided a gentle backdrop to the music.
"You've gotten better at this," Serena said, her breath catching as he spun her out and back into his arms.
"Had to learn some new moves to impress all those lady bears." He grinned when she rolled her eyes.
"Oh please, when's the last time you went on a date?"
The question hit closer to home than he cared to admit. Truth was, no one had measured up to her since she left.
As the song shifted to something slower, Serena moved closer, resting her head against his chest. Logan's bear purred with satisfaction, wanting to mark her with his scent. He fought the urge to nuzzle her neck, instead drawing slow circles on her back with his thumb.
The casual dancing had transformed into something more intimate. Each breath brought him her intoxicating scent, each movement pressed her closer. When she lifted her face to look at him, her lips parted slightly, Logan felt his control slipping.
His gaze dropped to her mouth, and he started to lean in. The bear inside him demanded he claim what was his, what had always been his.
The first explosion of color lit up the sky just as Logan's lips nearly brushed Serena's. They jerked apart, startled by the sudden boom that echoed across the beach. His bear growled in frustration at the interruption.
"Midnight already?" Serena's voice was breathless as she took a small step back, though she remained within the circle of his arms.
Logan's enhanced vision caught the flush on her cheeks, the rapid flutter of her pulse at her throat. The fireworks painted her in alternating hues of red, gold, and blue, making her look almost ethereal. His bear wanted to pull her back, to finish what they'd started.
"Guess spring's officially here," he managed, his voice rough.
Another burst of color illuminated the sky, reflecting off the waves. Serena tilted her head back to watch, exposing the elegant line of her throat. Logan's fingers tightened on her waist.
"They're beautiful," she whispered.
"Yeah," he agreed, though he wasn't looking at the fireworks. He half-smiled when she caught him staring and blushed deeper.
They stood there, neither quite willing to step away, as the sky exploded in a symphony of light and sound.