He Kills Me, He Kills Me Not

contingent who were patrolling the edges of the property—Amanda and Madison remained at the table, waiting for a chance to speak with Logan about what was going on.
    “After being willing to sacrifice his own life for mine this morning you’d think he’d want to stop and check on me at least once today,” Amanda complained. Logan stood on the opposite end of the deck, near the stairs that led to the driveway and garage. Pierce and Riley were talking to him, and it seemed like he was making a concerted effort not to even glance her way.
    “I think this is where I’m supposed to reassure you that he’s probably just really busy. But even I can’t lie that well,” Madison said. “Pierce didn’t have a problem updating us several times today, and he’s got at least as many responsibilities as Logan. He is a federal agent, after all.”
    Amanda glanced at her friend and raised a brow. “Well, well. Interesting. Pierce did go out of his way to reassure us today, but now that I think about it, he spoke mainly to you. Not me.”
    Madison grinned. “He’s a hottie. I flirted outrageously with him this morning over bagels before you showed up and ruined the fun.”
    “Ouch. Sorry. I was furious with Logan. Now, I just want him to talk to me.” She looked at him and willed him to turn her way.
    “He’s mad about something all right,” Madison said. “He was furious this morning too. I could tell by the tic in his left cheek. Have you ever noticed that?” Not waiting for Amanda’s answer, she continued. “But now he’s moved on to that dark and moody stage all men devolve into at one time or another. Yep, no doubt about it. He’s pissed at you about something.”
    “Great.”
    Madison shrugged. “You still have the advantage. You’re sleeping with him. Just don’t put out until he makes nice again.”
    In spite of Amanda’s sour mood, she laughed out loud.
    Logan glanced over at her, but quickly looked away without a smile or even a nod. It was as if she didn’t exist.
    It hurt.
    Too damn much.
    L ogan watched Amanda go into the house with Madison. It was difficult not going to her and grabbing her when he came out of the woods and saw her sitting next to his sister. But he was so angry he couldn’t trust himself to speak without yelling, so he tried the opposite approach. He’d ignored her, not an easy task when she sat outside in that sexy white tank top and khaki shorts that revealed far too much skin. The way that glorious dark hair of hers spilled over her shoulders to curl around her hips was damned distracting. He’d caught several of his patrolmen gawking at her today.
    They wouldn’t make that mistake again.
    “Logan? Are you listening?” Pierce punched him in the arm.
    “What?” Logan asked.
    Pierce rolled his eyes. Riley laughed.
    “You know you’re going to have to speak to her, tell her why you’re so upset,” Pierce said.
    “Upset? She threw herself in between me and a bullet. I wear a vest, for God’s sake, and she’s out there in a tank top and she throws herself in front of me. Is she insane?”
    “She seems to like you. That probably qualifies as a kind of insanity,” Pierce conceded.
    Logan shoved him, then crossed his arms and leaned back against the railing. “Riley, when you get the bullet out of Branson, put a rush on the ballistics. I want proof it didn’t come from Pierce’s gun.” He glanced at Pierce. “You do have another gun you can use for now, don’t you?”
    “Of course.”
    “I’d like to know how the shooter found this place. I always drive the long way home and make sure I’m not followed.”
    “What about Karen?” Pierce asked.
    “Karen doesn’t live far from here. She drives between here and her house. There’s no reason for someone to follow her, since she never goes into town these days. And other than you,” he gave Pierce a pointed glance, “no one else has come here from town.”
    “Except your sister,” Pierce said. “She did say she looked for you at the police station. How many people know she’s your sister?”
    “Ah, hell. Everyone. She’s not exactly the meek and mild type. She’s like a cyclone blowing into town. Everyone in a ten-mile radius of the station probably knew she was there. And if someone was following her, she certainly wouldn’t have noticed.”
    “Do you want me to take Amanda to the safe house tonight or wait until morning?” Pierce asked, glancing up at the darkening sky.
    Logan sighed