Blow(68)

Not wanting the moment to end, I led us to a place I thought they would both like—the Duckling Sculpture. And I was right. Excitement gleamed in both their faces and Clementine squealed in delight. The statue was made of bronze and featured nine ducks: Mrs. Mallard and her eight ducklings.

The fact that I remembered that from my childhood blew me away.

But what blew me away even more was that no matter how wrong this thing was between us, right now it had never felt more right.





ELLE


I stared at that mouth. Those lips . . .

Oh my God.

My heart was beating so fast.

My breathing felt erratic.

He was so masculine. So sexy. So attractive.

Did he know it?

I didn’t think he did.

It wasn’t just the way he walked, or talked, or looked. It was his body language. His mannerisms. The ease in which he moved. It was everything.

We were strolling back to the hotel and talking about the Boston Red Sox. Mid-sentence, he looked over at me through the fringe of his lashes and smiled. It was devastating. Charming. “Don’t you agree?” He asked.

I was melting. That look warmed me all the way to my toes. I had to swallow hard to fight off the lustful feelings flowing through my veins.

Logan bumped my shoulder and said, “Should I be worried that I’m boring you?”

“No, not at all.” My voice had dipped low and husky. It was a voice I’d never heard before. “I do think the Sox will turn it around this year.”

A slow, lazy smile spread across his face. “You were listening.”

It was confirmed—he absolutely had no idea what effect he was having on me.

We reached the hotel before I knew it. As we strode through the lobby my mind was on him. On his smile. His scent. His low-slung pants. It wasn’t like I was thinking about some unreachable fantasy. I was thinking about him. And me. And f*cking.

As we got into the elevator and it started to move, I became all too aware that my body was humming, buzzing with need. In the confined space, it was taking all of my strength to fight against the lustful desire that was trying to make its way deep inside me. I’d told myself to push him out of my thoughts, but how could I do that when he was right beside me, exuding whatever it was that kept drawing me to him?

Logan glanced over at me and I knew the moment he became aware of my lustful trance. I felt the blood rush to my face, and I swallowed hard. My parted lips and heavy breathing were a dead giveaway. Not to mention my nipples felt like diamonds, and there was a steady pulsing between my legs that was beginning to ache.

He leaned closer.

He knew now what he was doing to me.

My clit was throbbing.

Space.

I needed space.

Thank God, the elevator doors opened and I used that as my cue to put some distance between us. With long strides, I stepped out ahead of him and but then turned back to see how Clementine was doing. Her eyes were closed and her head tilted to the side of the stroller. She’d fallen asleep on the walk back to the hotel.

Why I let it happen I don’t know, but my gaze rose, and again I found myself staring at those lips. Those lips that had to send women everywhere reeling—I knew they did. With a dry throat, I managed, “Looks like she decided it was nap time.”

Logan dropped his own gaze. “Will she wake up when I move her?”

I smiled. “No, she’s a good sleeper. She’ll sleep a solid two to three hours.”

He looked at his watch and seemed to be calculating something, as if time was of the essence. “How about you stay here with her and I’ll head over to the boutique and see if the garage door opener is in your bag?”

I contemplated the suggestion for a moment but found nothing wrong with it. “Sure, but I’m almost certain it must be.”

The more time that went by, the more I began to think I was overreacting.

Logan stopped in front of his hotel room door and pulled his key card out. Intently, I watched him. I couldn’t seem to drag my eyes away from him. Once we were inside, he pushed the stroller to his bedroom. I watched as he transferred Clementine to the crib. He was getting more comfortable with her, although he still looked worried that he might break her.

I couldn’t help but laugh at that thought.

He turned around and peered curiously at me.

With a lift of my brows and a rise of one shoulder, I shrugged it off and then reached for the blanket that was at the end of the bed. As I covered her, I met his eyes and whispered, “Thank you.”

Feeling warm, I unzipped my fleece and tossed it where the blanket had been. His eyes turned hungry as I circled the bed and a shiver danced down my spine. This attraction between us was too much. I didn’t know how to deal with it.

Dropping my gaze, I waved him out of the room. My purse was on the table and I went for it. It was best if he left. Digging inside, I found my keys and pulled them out. I took the key for the boutique off the loop and handed it to him. “Here you go. The boutique is closed on Sunday and Monday, but Peyton might be there. Just in case she’s not, the pass code for the alarm is . . .” I faltered.

He was standing right beside me. Excitement stirred in the air. He was so close that I could smell his heavenly scent. He smelled of the soap in the shower and he smelled like pure man. For some insane reason, I wanted to bury my nose in his neck and sniff him.