UNBROKEN PROMISE

~61~ Adorable

The night air was crisp, laced with the scent of dried leaves and fresh hay, carrying the distant sound of fiddle music and laughter from the festival up ahead. The path to the barn was lit by lanterns, their warm glow flickering against the cool evening breeze.

But Logan hardly noticed any of it.
His attention kept drifting against his better judgment to the woman walking beside him.

Oma had always been very beautiful in a quiet way, the kind of beauty that snuck up on a man when he least expected it. But tonight... tonight, she was something else entirely.

She wore a deep blue dress, the rich color setting off the golden undertones of her skin, making her green eyes stand out even more beneath the soft lantern light. The bodice hugged her small waist, the structured fabric emphasizing the delicate curve of it before flowing into a full skirt that swayed with each step she took.

The sleeves, long and fitted, tapered at her wrists, the simple trim adding a touch of elegance. The high neckline kept her modest, but even so, Logan found his eyes drawn to the graceful slope of her shoulders, the way the fabric clung just enough to hint at the softness beneath.

She had always been slender, but over the past few months, she had begun filling out, rounding in places that had his stomach twisting into knots. The gentle swell of her hips, the way the fabric of her dress shifted as she walked, it was enough to make a man forget himself.

Logan clenched his jaw and forced his gaze forward, his boots scuffing against the dirt road as he fought the urge to look again.

Damn fool, he cursed himself.

He had no business looking at her like that. Not when he was supposed to be keeping his distance, not when she deserved better than a man who still wasn't sure he knew how to love right.

He shook his head, scowling at the ridiculousness of his own thoughts.

Beside him, Oma caught the movement and turned her head. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice gentle, curious.

Logan exhaled through his nose, debating whether to answer. After a long moment, he sighed and finally looked at her.

She was watching him closely, those green eyes of hers sharp, searching. The freckles on her cheeks, scattered like tiny flecks of gold, stood out more in the lantern glow, and for some reason, that made something shift in his chest.

He swallowed. "You look nice," he said, the words coming out gruff, almost reluctant.

Oma blinked in surprise.

Logan cleared his throat and glanced away. "The dress," he added quickly, feeling heat creep up the back of his neck. "It's uh mighty fine on you."

A soft silence stretched between them before she finally murmured, "Thank you."

It was quiet, almost uncertain, like she wasn't used to hearing compliments. Like she wasn't sure if she should believe them.

That didn't sit right with Logan.

His jaw tightened as he looked ahead, pretending he didn't notice the way she ducked her head slightly, the hint of color rising to her cheeks. They walked the rest of the way in silence, but something between them felt different now.

Logan clenched his fists at his sides, his mind racing with thoughts he had no business thinking.

This was gonna be a long night.

The barn was alive with energy, the kind that only came from a year's worth of hard work finally paying off. The festival had drawn nearly everyone from town and the surrounding farms, the large space packed with people eager to celebrate the harvest.