The Mighty Quinns: Logan

“Yes,” she said. “And money.” She reached up and dug through her bag, pulling out her purse. But after rummaging through it, she looked up. “Oh, no.”

“What?”

“I don’t have money. I must have taken my wallet out of my purse and I was half-asleep when I packed and—”

“Don’t worry, I have money.”

“I’ll pay you back. I can call Lily, our housekeeper, and she can send me some. I’m a really cheap date.”

“I find that very hard to believe,” he muttered.

She smiled at him, then crawled into the passenger seat, tucking her feet beneath the sheet. “I like this. It’ll be a little adventure. God knows I needed to get out of that house.”

“A little adventure,” he repeated. With Sunny Grant in tow, that was the understatement of the day.

Logan slipped behind the wheel and started the campervan, then carefully pulled back out onto the highway. He stole a glance over at her and found her watching him. “What?”

“Nothing,” she said. “I’m just glad you didn’t put me out on the highway.”

“I wouldn’t have done that,” Logan said. “Maybe if you had shoes and clothes on I might have considered it. But dressed in just a sheet, you would have been at a disadvantage.”

“Well, thank you for that,” she said.

“Am I going to be sorry I let you stay?”

She grinned. “I don’t know.” Her smiled faded and she drew in a deep breath. “But if you really don’t want me here, I can find my way home.”

For a moment, she looked so sad, and he wondered what would bring such sorrow to that beautiful face. Logan groaned inwardly. He would have plenty of time to figure her all out. From here to Perth was a long drive. “No,” he said. “I think we’ll be fine.”

SUNNY STOOD IN FRONT of the refrigerated section in the supermarket. Logan had given her thirty dollars and a half hour to buy whatever snacks and drinks she needed. She’d never done much shopping for food. That was usually left up to their housekeeper. But there were certain things that she liked.

She glanced down at the money she held in her hand. Though he didn’t come right out and say it, it was clear to Sunny that Logan didn’t have a lot of extra cash, especially to spend on food for her. As she wandered the store, she’d been trying to figure out a way to get some money of her own, but she wasn’t really sure where they’d be stopping or when they’d get there.

It felt strange to be living in the real world, where money dominated almost every decision. Through-out her life, she’d never had to worry about how to pay the bills. Her father had handed her a bank card when she’d turned thirteen and there were never any questions asked about what she used it for.

“Are you almost done?”

She saw Logan’s reflection in the glass door then spun around. “Sorry.” She pulled out a couple of bottles of orange juice and put them in the shopping basket.

“Is that all?” he asked.

“Yes.”

He reached inside and grabbed a few more, then took some bottled water, as well. “We’re not going to find a lot of places to stop once we head west. I’m going to get some ice. Pick out some snacks. Maybe something for sandwiches.”

Sunny found some packaged ham and sliced cheese, then searched the store for bread. Along the way she grabbed a few packages of crisps and then decided a bottle of wine might come in handy. By the time Logan returned with the ice, she’d spent her thirty dollars.

As they walked to the checkout, he examined her purchases, then pointed to the wine. “Maybe you should have gotten another bottle,” he said.

“One is enough for now,” she said with a smile.

“I’m not used to traveling with women. Is there anything else that you need? Lipstick? Nail polish?”

“I remembered my toothbrush,” she said. “But I forgot shampoo. I can use yours, I guess.”

He stopped. “I’ll get some for you and meet you in the queue.”

When he returned, he set the shampoo down next to her purchases. “I’d rather not smell my shampoo in your hair. This smells like grapefruit.”

Sunny opened the bottle and took a sniff. “Mmm. That’s nice.”

The checkout operator was watching them closely, and she turned to Logan, awaiting his next comment. He cursed beneath his breath, then nodded. “We’re done. Add it up.”

“Are you sure?” the checkout operator asked.

“Add it up,” Sunny said. She grabbed a package of Tim Tams from a rack and put it next to the shampoo. “Women need chocolate, too.”

They walked back to the campervan, and Logan opened the passenger door for her. Sunny jumped in and settled herself into the now familiar spot. A few seconds later, Logan got behind the wheel.

“Thank you,” she murmured. “I do intend to pay you back.”

“No worries,” he murmured.

“I’m wondering if I might arrange to have some money sent to me. If we pick a town down the road, I can have it sent there. But I’m not sure where we’re going next.”

“We’re not going to have a lot of time for shopping. I know you’re used to luxuries—”

“No,” she murmured. “I just don’t want to be a burden. In fact, from now on, I’m not going to eat at all. Unless you let me arrange for my own money, I’m going to fast for the rest of the trip.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You have to eat.”

“I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to do,” she said. “I’ll eat my Tim Tams. I can make those last at least three days.”

“Oh, Jaysus,” he said, leaning over the steering wheel and bumping his head against the top edge. “I should probably kill myself now.” He drew a deep breath, then reached down and grabbed his mobile phone from one of the cup holders. “Have at it.”

“Where?”

He pulled out the map and traced their route. From Brisbane they’d head west, into the interior of New South Wales on A2, then southwest to the coast again. He pointed to Adelaide. “There. We’ll be there day after tomorrow. Have it sent to a local bank.”

“Cool,” she said. Sunny dialed her home number and when Lily answered, she quickly explained her dilemma. In the end, the housekeeper agreed to express her wallet and credit cards to her father’s business office in Adelaide. After spending a few days on the road in the campervan, she’d treat Logan to a comfortable bed and a hot shower.

“All right,” she said to Lily as she scribbled down the office address. “And if it’s not too much trouble, can you just gather a few nice things for me to wear? Some summer dresses. And my lavender-scented lotion? And—” Sunny paused. She’d learned to do without the creature comforts. She could certainly last a little longer. “That’s all.” She hung up and handed the phone to Logan, who was watching her suspiciously. “What?”

“Lavender-scented lotion? Is that what you were wearing last night?”

She nodded. “It’s my favorite. And it’s really hard to find. It’s French.”

“I like the way you smell,” he said.