Fighting Fate (Granton University #1)(36)

But he was already lifting them, offering them her way. “One step ahead of you.”

She grinned and lifted her face to thank him. But when she focused on a familiar pair of cerulean eyes, she stumbled in her heels, gasping.

“What’re you doing here?”

“Um…” Logan sent her a strange look, and she wanted to slap her palm to her forehead for such a stupid, here’s-your-sign question even as he answered, “I’m designated driving.”

A month’s worth of thoughts and daydreams about him rushed to the surface. A hot flush instantly coated her skin as her gaze gobbled him from head to toe. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t recognized him immediately outside the party before she’d even gotten into his car. Then again, she’d been a little preoccupied and hadn’t bothered to focus on the face below his hat or above the DD shirt.

Though the red shirt was short-sleeved, he wore a white thermal underneath, the sleeves long enough to cover his wrists. She paused at his veiled wrist as he silently held out the bottle of disinfectant, then moved on to his fingers. Beautiful, long fingers that sketched his deepest desires for love on paper and had tended to Paige’s injury with such gentle kindness. And had balled into a fist to kill her brother.

“Uh…thanks.” She quickly accepted his offering even as her stare moved up to his face.

He didn’t make eye contact but stiffly turned away to fetch more cleaning supplies from the trunk. As he leaned into the back seat, she watched him wipe away the mess Tess had left.

Something inside her seemed to click into place. Looking at him, standing near him. It just felt right. Even if it should be wrong.

Disturbed by the direction of her straying thoughts, she whirled away to find both Bailey and Tess watching her.

“You know him?” Bailey asked.

“Uh…yes,” Paige answered vaguely as she put all her attention into tearing off a handful of paper towels and scrubbing at her stained dress.

“But he’s so gorgeous.” Tess squeezed her eyes closed and gave a low moan. “Oh, how horrifying. I just barfed on the side of the road in front of a totally gorgeous guy.”

She promptly turned back to the bushes as if she was going to be sick again.

Drawn back to Logan, Paige watched him duck his head out from the back seat and straighten, both his hands full of dirty, wadded paper towels.

Over the past few weeks, she’d actually been planning what she wanted to say to him if they ever crossed paths again. But when he looked at her now, her mind went blank.

“If that doesn’t work.” He motioned toward her spray bottle. “There’s an entire crate full of stain removers in the trunk you could choose from.”

Paige frowned slightly, confused. “You have a crate full of stain removers in your trunk?” As soon as she quirked an eyebrow, thinking that was the strangest thing she’d ever heard, Tess heaved out an awful sound, emptying more of her stomach.

On the other hand, if he played DD a lot, it might be the smartest thing she’d ever heard.

Still, Logan flushed at the question. “It’s not my car.” After tossing his cleaning supplies into the trunk, he rubbed the back of his neck, looking embarrassed. With his hat on, he looked so different; she could almost pretend he was someone else. Someone she was allowed to smile at.

She nodded. “Oh, so then you’re stealing cars now, huh?”

The words spilled out before she could stop them. They were meant to be a joke, and her teasing smile supported that.

But his eyes widened to nearly the size of golf balls. “What? No! I—the fraternity house got a grant to buy an old clunker for designated driving use only.”

She bumped his elbow. “I was teasing.”

“I—” He cleared his throat. “Thanks for telling me.” But a moment later, one corner of his mouth hitched up and the skin around his eyes crinkled with amusement.

His crooked half smile was so charming she felt the impact of it directly in the center of her chest. And she knew instantly she’d gone over the line. Just because she didn’t outright abhor him any longer didn’t mean they could become friends.

Like ever.

God, what was she doing, trying to make a joke with Logan Xander? It had just felt so nice to see him again after so long…and she had no idea why. Their last encounter hadn’t been pleasant. However, it had been eye-opening. It had changed her entire perspective of him. And strangely, of herself too.

But just because she didn’t out-and-out hate him now didn’t mean she could become friends with him.

His blue eyes warmed as he scrutinized her, melting to an almost smoky gray. When he seemed to shift closer, she skittered back a step. “You know, I think I will try a different spray.” Clutching the spray bottle in her hands to her chest, she veered past him, hurrying toward the opened trunk of the car that wasn’t his.





Chapter Fifteen


LOGAN STARED AFTER PAIGE as she hurried off. He wasn’t sure what shocked him more: the complete lack of loathing in her gaze when she’d looked at him, or the fact she’d actually teased him.

Teased!

Him!

Too unbalanced to make heads or tails over what this meant, he glanced at the two girls still huddled by the bushes.

The sober one shook her head and snorted. “Don’t look at me. I didn’t think it was that funny of a joke either.”