The Fine Line Read Free Page B

partially finished basement with a pool table, wet bar, and a few old couches and chairs arranged in a circle.  We could either get crazy or just kick back there.  You never really knew until you got there.  Usually, his parents were MIA, but on the few occasions they were in the house, they kept to themselves, never saying anything about the extra people or noise.
    We approached Gavin’s house and spotted Nate and Gavin just outside the garage, standing around a flawless canary yellow muscle car with the hood up.  Nate walked toward us as we got out of Melody’s car. 
    “Do you know what that is, baby?”  He grinned at Melody with a look of excitement as he laced his fingers around hers and pulled her to the car.  I followed closely behind them.
    “A car?” she responded, sarcastically.
    “ That …is a 1969 Ford Mustang.”  Then he rattled off some information about the engine.
    “OK…” she said, clearly not as enthusiastically as Nate had hoped.  Noticing his disapproval, she continued with a little more encouragement, “It’s a pretty car, baby.”
    “Whose is it?”  I asked
    A slamming noise distracted me.  I began to walk towards the front of the car, and realized that someone must have closed the hood.  My answer stood in front of me and stopped me in my tracks. 
    It wasn’t the perfectly tanned, contoured abs that caught my full attention.  And it wasn’t the strong, muscular chest and solidly shaped shoulders that drew me in.  When my gaze wandered up to a warm grin and inviting hazel eyes I became fixed on the man in front of me.  I’m not sure how long I had been standing there, staring.
    “You like what you see, Liv?” a shirtless Logan whispered softly with an amused smirk, as I finally snapped out of it and began to approach him. 
    Shit!  Did he just say that?
    I could feel my cheeks getting red and my heart began to pound.  Of course he would notice me staring at him.  The others were already walking into the house, so I don’t think they had heard him. 
    What the hell was going on with me?  I didn’t usually get so flustered around boys—even exceptionally attractive ones.  I had a lot of fun with some of them, but there were never any expectations for a relationship, and that’s how I liked it.  There was something about Logan, however, that gave me….butterflies.  This was not a feeling I was fond of, and I felt a strong need to do something about it.
    “Shut up.” I inwardly cringed right after my response came out.  Oh yeah, real nice comeback, Liv.
    His eyes gleamed as he let out a chuckle. My gaze searched for something to focus on, anywhere but his eyes, as I desperately tried to come up with something witty and clever to say, but nothing came to me.
    “I was talking about the car.” he replied, lifting one eyebrow.  Still smiling, he grabbed his t-shirt out of the back of his shorts and put it on.  “Better?” he teased.
    I rolled my eyes, knowing full well he was not talking about the car.  Clearly, he was not lacking confidence.  In an effort to change the subject, I asked, “So, where did you get it anyway?  The car, I mean.”  I’m not sure why I felt I had to clarify that.
    His smile toned down a bit, but not all the way, and his eyes became distant.  “My dad and I spent about five years restoring it.  He left it to me when he passed away last year.”
    “Oh my God, I’m so sorry.” I was floored.  Could this conversation have gotten any worse?
    He must’ve noticed my panic, and his eyes softened.  He hooked his arm around my neck and began to walk me toward the house where the others had already migrated. “Don’t worry about it, Liv.  I’m okay.”
    My heart went out to him. And I found myself wondering about his life. 
    In the basement, the party was already starting.  I could tell it was going to be more of a “get crazy” night than a “kick back” night.  School starting on Monday meant this would be the