Blow(12)

“Oh, the alpha male thing,” I gave a huff of laughter. “I’ll be fine.”

Concerned, he said again, “I’d rather you didn’t ride with him.”

I wasn’t sure what to think but felt I should trust his judgment. “I’ll take a cab then. I can’t ask you to drive me around. You know what? Maybe I should just call around and try to find someone who has the tire in stock.”

He looked at his very expensive watch, then back at me. “Like I side, doubtful. The tire is too expensive for most shops to keep in stock. Besides, it’s a Friday and after six. Good luck getting anyone to answer, even through Triple-A.”

He had a point.

“Just let me help you,” he insisted.

“I don’t want to inconvenience you. Like you said, it is Friday night. Don’t you have a date or somewhere else to be?”

The lipstick-stained coffee cup came to mind.

He stared at me and then ever so slightly shook his head. “The only thing you’re interrupting is my planned date with the Four Seasons room service menu. But since you’re going to let me take you out to dinner, I think I can forgive you for that one transgression.”

Wariness crept over me. “How do I know I can trust you?”

His grin was wide. “If you don’t know that by now, I can’t help you answer that.”

I tilted my head in contemplation.

Logan was determined, and he continued to watch me.

A fleeting, what-do-I-have-to-lose thought had me smiling at him and then when he smiled back, I thought about how long it had been since I shared a moment like this with anyone.

Why not? So what if I’m attracted to him? Dinner is dinner; it doesn’t mean things between us need to go farther if I don’t want them to. Even if it does, so what if we f*ck? That’s what two people do who are attracted to each other. My terms. My rules. I’ll make that clear. One night and we could both move past this strange attraction. It could work out perfectly for the both of us. And besides, I did skip lunch and I’m hungry.

My eyes slid toward the mechanic, who appeared to be losing his patience, and without further hesitation, I nodded in agreement. “Dinner it is. Just give me a minute.”

As I walked, I felt Logan’s eyes on me and knew the attraction was mutual, but for some reason that knowledge didn’t make me second-guess my decision. I quickly looped the oversized silver and black fob off my key ring and handed it to the mechanic. “Here’s the key. Can you deliver the vehicle to where I work at 40 Charles Street tomorrow once it’s ready?”

He nodded and then scribbled down the address. “The total will be four hundred and sixty dollars—that includes the delivery fee of fifty dollars.”

Once upon a time, I might have winced at the amount for a single tire, but leading a life of domesticity was expensive, as I’d come to learn over the past three months. Without hesitation, I pulled out my credit card, or rather my sister’s, and handed it to him.

Michael and I had an agreement: he’d cover me until my new business got on its feet and I could pay him back. In return, while he did what was needed to make things right for what Lizzy had done, I would help him with Clementine. She had a nanny, but with her mother missing and out of the picture, she needed as many constants in her life as possible. Michael of course, did his best, but he did work a lot. Things were going to have to change soon, but since my arrival I had created a routine with her that worked wonderfully—Wednesday morning breakfasts, Friday afternoon walks, Saturday night sleepovers, and Sunday dinners.

The mechanic handed me the pink carbon beneath the yellow original.

“Have a good night,” I said.

He gave me a nod. “You too.”

Hmmm . . . he seemed fine. I’m not certain what Logan found to be off about him.

The music had started to blare again, this time even louder. “Ready?” Logan’s warm breath was in my ear before I’d even turned around. I heard him just fine, as if my body had become attuned to his in this short period of time.

That should have worried me. But the shiver that ran down my spine erased any worries. With a slight turn of my head, I responded, “I am, but you don’t even know where you’re taking me. I could be asking you to drive me across town for all you know.”

The crowd had seeped into this room without me even noticing and it was no longer the after-work crowd. This was the Friday night crowd. The space between the booths and the bar acted as a second dance floor. Bodies pressed together. People moved. Sweat dripped down women’s bare backs and men’s necks. The tempo seemed to overtake everyone and lust was in the air.

Did he feel it too?

The pounding pulse of the music had me lost for a moment. I almost considered pressing myself against Logan and wrapping my arms around his neck so we could move together in a sinful manner.

Logan, on the other hand, didn’t seem to share that idea. With his jacket on, he slid beside me and handed me my hat and coat. Bringing me back to the conversation I’d almost forgotten about, his mouth was at my ear. “That’s not true. I know that first we’re going to eat at a much quieter place I know around the corner. After that, I’m happy to take you wherever it is you work that you considered walking to because you had to get there so badly. And later I’m taking you back to your place.”