A Rainbow in Paradise Read Free Page B

the fireworks!"
Meg called.
    "Unless they're going to make some of their
own," Kurt said, and Alexa shushed him with a muttered, "Kurt!"
    "Ignore them," Logan whispered near Eden's
ear. "Let's walk a ways."
    "All right," she answered calmly, silently
thinking that she'd walk all the way to Antarctica if Logan kept
holding her.
    He did hold her, his arm clasped warmly
around her waist, leading the way around the baseball diamond and
past the soccer fields until they were on the other side of the
park. When they came to a bench, he finally let her go. "Have a
seat," he offered, and Eden sat, looking toward him expectantly,
wondering what he would have to say.
    "I..." Logan looked as uneasy as she felt. He
swallowed, attempted a reassuring smile, then sighed. "I don't know
how to say this," he said, looking away.
    Eden's heart fell. Is he going to tell me
to get lost? That hardly seems likely. We barely know each
other. Unable to think of words to cover their awkward silence,
she simply waited.
    "I'd like to see you again," Logan said
simply, quickly, almost as if he had to blurt it out in order to
get the courage to say it at all. "I don't know what it is I feel
when I'm near you, but..." He stopped there, and then said, "Tell
me you feel it, too, Eden." His voice was very warm and
hopeful.
    "I do," Eden said, vaguely aware of the
morning's vows echoing in the air around them. "Oh yeah. I
definitely feel it, too."
    He nodded, smiling contentedly. "I'm glad."
He paused for a moment, and then he said, "Listen, Eden. I have
appointments this evening, things I need to do. I'm not going to be
able to stay for the fireworks."
    Disappointment knifed through her. "I'm sorry
to hear that."
    He nodded. "So am I. When do you think you'll
be coming back this way?"
    "I'm not sure," she said, looking away. "I
have a business in Phoenix..."
    "The Old Woman's Shoe," Logan supplied
helpfully. "I know. I asked Chris about it."
    She felt her face warming. He had asked about
her! "It's hard to get away very often."
    "I understand," he said. "Eden, will you call
me when you're coming back to town? Or at least tell Chris and
Sarah to call me?"
    She nodded. "Okay, and if you should get to
Phoenix..."
    "That doesn't happen often, but if it
should..."
    "Here," she said, giving him her business
card.
    "Thanks." He put it in his shirt pocket.
"Well, let me walk you back to the others."
    Again he led the way as they walked silently
through the park.
    "It's been a pleasure meeting you," Eden said
when they had reached the picnic area. She felt the inadequacy of
the words.
    Logan grinned. It was that heart-stopping
smile she had first seen on the porch this morning, the one that
had given her such a sense of rightness. "The pleasure has been all
mine," he said, then in a gesture Eden had only seen in movies, he
stood, lifted both her hands to his lips, and tenderly kissed them.
“I hope to see you again soon, Eden Grant," he said, and then
turned and strode away, leaving Eden to gaze after him with an
audible sigh.
    Whatever had happened between them today, she
could only hope it would happen again—the sooner, the better.

Chapter Two
    Eden pulled up behind the
yellow school bus, waiting while it disgorged a half-dozen
bedraggled teens in blue jeans, T-shirts, and plaid flannel. When
it moved on, she passed ,and then turned on the gravel driveway
that led to Rainbow Rock Farms. I'd forgotten how early school
starts around here , she thought, or how hot the weather
still is the first week or two .
    In the few weeks since her last visit, the
daily high temperatures had dropped by only a few degrees, but a
shift in the direction of the afternoon breeze hinted at a turn in
the weather. Within another month, they'd likely have their first
snowfall.
    The coming change of the seasons matched the
inexplicable mood that had settled over Eden since her best
friend's wedding. Perhaps it was the direction her life had taken
lately that was causing her to feel so