26

ANGEL TOOK ONE LAST PASS BY THE MANATEE ENCLOSURE AS

they headed toward the park’s exit. She’d loved seeing everyone, but the fact that they were in pens saddened her—and reminded her exactly what Humans were ca-pable of. Oh, yes, this facility was for the animals’ ben-efit, and visitor money enabled the caretakers to care for the manatees, but other Humans weren’t so altruistic. That’s why she was determined to succeed. For every-one’s benefit.

The smiles Logan had given her today when she’d sug-gested Michael hold his hand were a personal benefit.

“So, Michael, what do you think of the manatees?” she asked as they were departing, not dwelling on per-sonal anything when it came to Logan. Well, trying not to.

Michael wrinkled his nose. “Manatees don’t look like mermaids. Mermaids are pretty.”

A smile replaced the thoughtful look on Logan’s face. He obviously found Michael’s comment funny, but Angel took the comment for what it was: a compliment. “Perhaps not to you, but they’re b