CHAPTER 6

Veronica stood on the dock in front of the yacht nervously. She had dressed quickly and had decided to wait for Logan outside. It was a lot later now, the sky having turned almost completely black. Estero Beach docks had large lights set up and that added with the lights coming from the yacht dispelled the darkness.

She had changed into clothes that Logan had bought for her in town. She was wearing a red peasant skirt that covered her thighs, but only teased her knees. She wore a loose white blouse over it, the sleeves rolled up to her elbows. She had a few colourful bracelets on her wrist instead of a watch; and flat sandals replaced her sneakers.

Veronica fidgeted with the folds of her skirt as she waited for Logan to join her. She had loved the clothes before, but was uncertain what her father would think about them. Would he just look at them as reminders of the fact that she had spent the night with Logan?

"What do you think?" Logan asked from behind her. Veronica turned and looked up, her breath catching.

Logan was standing on the yacht with one foot on the edge, getting ready to step off. He was wearing black slacks that were fitted like a uniform. He also wore a wife beater under shirt with a blood red shirt hanging loose over it. His hair was wet from the shower that they had shared earlier and curled a little.

"You look like a salsa dancer" Veronica blurted out, laughing at the disgusted look on Logan's face.

"It was either this or a shirt with palm trees printed on it" Logan grumbled to himself as he jumped to the dock next to her.

Veronica laughed again. "Do you have any gold chains to go with it?" she teased him. "You know, so your chest hair could curl around it?"

Logan snorted out a laugh and started buttoning up the shirt. He only got half way when he was interrupted.

"Veronica!" Keith called out from down the dock. He was jogging the distance between them and Veronica did the same. They met in a hug a few feet away from where Logan stood.

"Dad" Veronica said softly as the hug continued and Keith didn't show any signs of letting go.

""I'll let you go when I stop wanting to strangle you" Keith said back calmly, not moving. Logan heard him and chuckled. Keith's eyes snapped open and over to wear the young man was standing. He didn't move from the hug as he took in the clothes that Logan was wearing. "You look like a salsa dancer" Keith said bluntly.

Veronica burst out laughing as Logan groaned.

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Keith made a point not to discuss the situation as they made themselves comfortable in the small dining area above deck. Logan and Keith sat facing each other across the table with Veronica between them. The silence hovered for a second as the two men stared at each other.

"You both may be wondering why I'm not angry" Keith said suddenly, making Veronica jump a little; Logan didn't flinch. Keith didn't wait for an answer. "I had a lot of time to think on the way here from Neptune. I realized that being angry wouldn't accomplish anything" He gave Veronica a pointed look. "It wouldn't make sure that you never worried me like this again; and it wouldn't make sure that you were okay"

Veronica started to cry then. She had expected her father to be pissed, but he was only worried about her. She felt so guilty for leaving like she had. Keith had probably been dealing with his own grief about Leanne and Veronica had only added to that.

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When Logan saw the tears start to fall down Veronica's face, he moved on instinct. Without thinking about how Keith would react, he shifted on his seat and took Veronica into his arms. Veronica went willingly, resting her head on his chest and letting go. Logan cradled her softly and smoothed her hair gently from her face.

Keith settled down in his seat and got Logan's attention. Inwardly wincing for acting so familiar with Veronica with her father right there, he looked at Keith. The older man was watching them with an approving look in his eyes. He nodded once at Logan to let him know that it was okay.

Logan closed his eyes again and continued to soothe Veronica.

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God they looked natural together.

That was all Keith could think as he watched his daughter being held by Logan Echolls; that and panic. He could see how much they meant to each other and it scared him to death.

A large reason why Keith had always liked that Veronica was going out with Duncan was because he knew that Duncan wasn't a threat. Veronica 'loved' him, but not enough to ruin her life over it. The two would date through high school and then probably drift apart in College. That was what most high school romances did; drift.

Keith wasn't so sure with Logan though. The younger man was a lot deeper then most people thought. Keith knew that Veronica was one of the few people that had ever seen the other side of Logan and he worried that what she saw was enough to throw her off.

Veronica was a bright and ambitious young woman that had always known that she wanted to get to school to complete her education. She had recently pushed ahead in the race for the valedictorian spot, and therefore the Kane scholarship. Everyone thought that she was a shoe in to win.

But would all that change if Logan wanted it to?