Fighting Fate (Granton University #1)(60)

After a see-what-you-started scowl for Paige, Logan sighed and set his hands on his hips. “Well, I’m sorry, but my unicorn is in the shop right now, and I don’t think they’ll let us out of this joint for the rest of that stuff.”

A bunch of grumbles answered him, and Paige led the rebellion as she hooked her thumb over her shoulder and motioned to him. “Boy, does he know how to shoot down some perfectly awesome suggestions.”

Not sure how he’d become the fuddy-duddy of the group, Logan glanced around the sterile playroom, determined to redeem himself. Trying to come up with something—anything—the kids could safely play, he paused briefly when he spotted an old leather trunk sitting against the far wall.

“Hey, what’s in that trunk over there?”

No one knew.

“How long has it been there?” he asked next.

“It’s always been there,” one shaved-head, bruised-eye little girl answered.

Logan lifted his eyebrows. “Well, isn’t anyone curious what’s inside?”

“We’re not allowed to touch it,” someone else spoke up. But since he had mentioned it, the children eyed the trunk, all of them looking decidedly interested.

“I’m going to check it out,” he announced and started boldly for the trunk.

“Wait!” Paige grabbed his arm in a light but cautious grip.

He gaped at her fingers before looking up at her face. He had no idea if he’d ever get used to her voluntarily touching him, but he did know he liked it. A lot. A sudden desire to pull her into a fierce hug and press a soft kiss to her bruised, cut cheek overwhelmed him. When was the last time someone had coddled her and kissed away her boo-boos?

Logan restrained himself from doing just that, mainly because he knew she’d push him away if he even attempted it, but also because it’d break up playtime and wipe that refreshing look of vivacity off her face.

Her eyes glittered with amusement even as she showed her teeth as if they were chattering with fear. “I don’t know. What if it’s full of…of flesh-eating dragons?” she asked, her voice going hushed with worry.

Inspired by her act, he patted her hand lightly in reassurance and kept his voice quiet. “Do you really think I’d let a flesh-eating dragon past me…not when I have my handy…” He paused to dig a hand into his pocket. When his fingers latched around something, he pulled it out to show all the children. “…gum with me.”

The kids roared with laughter.

Paige glanced at the gigglers and promptly turned back to him, arching her eyebrows. “Gum? Is that all you got?”

He gave a serious nod. “Didn’t you know dragons were afraid of gum? Especially spearmint flavor. It takes the fire right out of their breath.”

She promptly held out her hand, palm up. “In that case, I’ll take two pieces please.”

After that, everyone in the room needed a piece of gum to ward off all possible flesh-eating dragons. Logan had to tear the sticks in half so he’d have enough to go around. By the time he had the kids munching contentedly, he and Paige approached the trunk.

“Let’s drag it closer so everyone can see inside,” she suggested.

He took one end, she took the other, and they worked together, heaving the heavy old thing to the center of the half circle.

“Oh, I’m so scared,” Paige told the kids as Logan undid the latch. When she hid behind him and clutched at his shirt, ducking her face against his back, awareness prickled his scalp. He knew it was all an act, but God, he loved having her close to him. Touching him.

Holding back his hand as if to shield her, he paused dramatically and eyed the patients. “Are you ready?”

They cheered out their enthusiasm. Logan slung open the lid, only to yank out…a dress from the top of the pile.

“Clothes?” a crew of disappointed little voices chorused.

He wrinkled his nose. Old and tacky, and gagging him with its overpowering musty perfume, the dress seemed to be made of hot pink gossamer tulle, a little silk, and not much else.

“And I think it’s just your size,” he told Paige with a taunting grin, though it was obviously way too big for her.

She shook her head. “Umm. No. Pink’s not really my color.” Her dark brown eyes sparkled with mischief as she added, “But I think it’d look simply fabulous on you, Logan. With your sky blue eyes, you’d be sooo beautiful in it.”

His smile dropped flat, all joking aside. “I’m not wearing a dress.”

But all the kids rebelled, urging him to put it on. Paige pooched out her bottom lip and gave a fake pout, setting her hands on her hips and everything.

“Fun hater,” she charged.

He closed his eyes briefly and prayed no one had a camera phone on them.





Chapter Twenty-Three


AN HOUR LATER, still decked out in a frilly pink dress over his clothes, Logan accepted a hearty hug from the last kid in line to wish him a farewell and thank him for coming. As an attendant rolled the little boy from the room, Paige straightened from dumping a pile of shoes into the trunk and called goodbye.

They’d gotten a small lecture from the nurse who’d caught them playing in the chest, something about letting unknown molds and mildew into the air for even unlatching the lid. So their time with the kids had gotten cut short. But Logan still considered it worth it. Every child had left the room grinning. To see those sick, sunken faces so alive with joy, he’d gladly break the rule again.