Stranded with a Billionaire (Billionaire Boys Club #1)(57)

Logan grunted a response.

“Charming girl,” Griffin said, tossing a chip into the pot to start the bidding. “Very interesting education. She’s a step up from your normal airheads, Logan.”

“She’s a waitress,” he growled. “Don’t get too attached to her.”

This time, it was Reese who frowned as he tossed his chips into the pot. “What does her job have to do with anything?”

Logan said nothing.

But Cade’s gaze was sharp, knowing. “She’s not another Danica. You don’t know that she’s after your money.”

“He doesn’t not know it,” Hunter said in a grave tone, folding his hand.

“Do we have to talk about this right now?” Logan asked.

“Well, clearly it’s affecting your mood,” Reese pointed out. “Is the problem that she’s a waitress or that you like her enough that you’re worried you’re being taken for a ride?”

Logan’s temper flared. He forced himself to be calm, pick up his cigar, and stare at his cards. “She’s not like Danica.”

“No? She’s female, isn’t she? That means she’s interested in your wallet. Face facts, Logan.”

He ignored Reese and clenched his cigar. He would not get angry. These were his friends, after all.

“Well, if she’s just a fly-by-night, let me know when you’re done with her,” Reese began. “Because I saw her ass in that little red dress and—”

His words cut off with a yelp as Logan jumped across the table to grab him.

Chaos erupted. The men jumped to their feet, and hands pried him off of Reese’s collar. The other man smirked knowingly, pleased that he’d gotten a rise out of Logan. Cade stepped between them, staring at the two with narrowed eyes. “No fighting during a meeting, remember? Do we need to take this outside?”

“I’m fine,” Logan said, flexing his hands and taking a step back. The red was receding from his vision, but he was now more furious with himself. Furious that he’d come so close to punching Reese, and furious that he’d shown his thoughts as clear as day by jumping on him.

Hunter’s hand went to Logan’s shoulder. “Come,” he said. “Let’s go walk for a bit.” He looked back at the others. “Play on. Logan and I will be back shortly.”

Logan had half a mind to tell Hunter to f**k off, but he needed to get away from the table. Casting another furious look at Reese, he stormed away, heading up the cellar stairs.

He didn’t speak until he and Hunter were up on the roof of the bar. Hunter pulled out a fresh cigar and offered it to Logan, who declined. The scarred man pulled out a lighter, clipped the end of his cigar, and lit it as casually as if two of his friends hadn’t just gotten in a fight. “So. You do realize that Reese was just busting your balls?”

“I realize that now,” Logan said with a snarl. Fucking egomaniac.

“I’ve never seen you this stressed over a woman. Even Danica, and we both know she left her mark.”

Logan said nothing. Hunter knew him better than the others. The quiet, scarred billionaire had been Logan’s closest friend in college. Logan had led, and Hunter had followed. They shared a tight bond. And it was that friendship that kept Logan from storming off of the roof and heading home to see Bront?’s sad eyes.

“I agree with Cade, for what it’s worth,” Hunter said quietly. “She doesn’t sound like Danica. Griffin likes her. Griffin doesn’t like anyone. He says that Bront?’s very intelligent and can hold a conversation. How many of your supermodels has Griffin ever said that about?”

“I bought her a necklace. She didn’t want it.”

“But she accepted it, didn’t she?” Hunter’s gaze was cynical.

Damn. Logan stared out at the night sky. He thought of Bront?’s sweet smile. The curve of her lips when she leaned in to kiss him. Her fury when she’d found out that he owned the resort.

But how did he know it wasn’t simply a masterful act by a consummate actress? Danica had had him fooled, after all, and she wasn’t half as clever as Bront?. “I need to know for sure,” he told Hunter.

“Then test her,” his friend said. “It’s the only way to be sure.”

***

The next evening, Logan tucked a manila envelope under his arm and strode down the hall to his apartment. An odd sense of anticipation curled through him, much like the adrenaline rush he got from a lucrative business deal. This was it.

This was how he’d see if Bront? was after him or his money. Hunter had suggested a test, and Logan thought it was a brilliant plan. He’d give her something valuable out of the blue, something that would be important to her, and watch her reaction.

If she was pleased with his gift, or demanded more, he’d know that she wanted it more than him. If she refused his gift, he could feel more confident in how she felt about him. She’d been upset when she’d found out he was rich . . . but she’d also been quick to cave in to his demands to go to New York. And every time he told himself that Bront? wasn’t like that, he saw Danica’s face again. Danica, who’d had him totally fooled.

And maybe, just maybe, if Bront? passed this test, he’d feel comfortable telling her how he felt about her, too.

Logan entered the apartment, pleased to find Bront? curled up on one of the couches, an open book spread across her br**sts as she napped.