Logan Kade (Fallen Crest #5.5)(64)

“Why’s that a problem?”

“Because…” I shook my head. Did he really not get it?

Suddenly, the Logan everyone else knew became the Logan only I knew, and the intensity in the room jumped two levels. We were back to thick, palpable sexual tension. He always had this power over me.

“No, I get why you might not want that put out there, but I do. I thought about this. I’m claiming you. It’s not the other way around. Girls try to claim me all the time, and I never let it happen. But not this time. Not with you. I want to claim you. I want everyone to know we’re together.” His eyebrows pinched together. “Aren’t we?”

“Are we?” My mouth went dry.

He stared at me. I stared at him. I didn’t think either of us had expected this talk.

“Wait. So, you want people to know we’re sleeping together?”

His voice dropped low. “You were never a secret to me.”

Oh. This…had me reeling. “I have major baggage, Logan. My mom. My ex-boyfriend. Now I’m worried about Jason—”

“Speaking of Delray. I was serious before. I asked where your boyfriend is, and where is he?” His eyes grew hard. “I want to have a talk with him.”

“That’s who you meant by boyfriend? I thought you were joking about yourself.”

“Normally, yes. This time, no. I really want to know where he is.”

I shifted my feet. “I can’t, Logan.” I’d promised Jason time.

“You can.” He moved closer. “Where is he?”

I moved back. “He said he’d take care of it. I have to give him that chance.”

“He put you in danger.”

“No.” I shook my head. “We put ourselves in danger. Jason didn’t know we were there. He had no idea. And it didn’t look like coming there had been his idea anyway. We helped give him extra time, but he’s never put me in danger before.” At least, he never realized he had. “I have to believe him.”

“He’s addicted to that lifestyle.”

“If it were Sam? She’s like family to you. If she was messed up in something, what would you do then?”

Logan’s eyes went flat, and his face became an unreadable mask. I had stepped wrong, but I needed to make him understand. Before he could say anything, my voice dropped to a whisper. “He’s my family, Logan. He was there for me when my real family wasn’t. You have to understand that.”

“I do, but he’s sick. You asked me what I’d do if it were Sam, and I’d do the same. If she were in that position, she’d be sick, and Mason and I would take care of her.” He moved closer. His hand took hold of mine, our fingers linking together. “I’d do the same for you.”

I knew he was right. “I don’t know what to tell you, though. He took off. I don’t know where he is, just that he promised to make things right and that Rankin would never be a problem for us.”

Logan wasn’t happy. I saw the anger on his face. He ran a hand through his hair, making the ends stand up in sexy disarray. He looked ready to say something when a thump sounded against the door.

Claire’s hand had smacked the window. She opened her mouth to say something, but her eyes went to Logan and she seemed to change her mind. Her eyes widened, and she stepped back, but she didn’t go away.

“You really don’t know where he is?”

I shook my head, turning back to Logan. “He was at my house this morning. He made me breakfast and then took off. I told him I’d give him time to fix things.”

“Taylor.”

I saw the worry. It dripped off of him, from his tense shoulders to the crease in his forehead.

“What are you going to do?” I asked.

“I’m going to find him, and I’m going to find out what he said to Rankin.”

“And after that?”

“Then we’ll deal with Rankin.”

He started to leave, but I caught his arm. I tugged him close. “Be careful, okay?”

The corners of his mouth relaxed into a slight grin. “What are you doing tonight? I’ll want to see you. Sorry for being an ass in the room.”

“I’m working, and that’s okay.” I squeezed his hand. “But if you wanted everyone to know we’re sleeping together, and I didn’t, doesn’t that make me the awesome one?” I winked. “Think about that.”

He chuckled and bent down to give me a soft kiss. Lingering there, his lips brushed over mine once more before he pulled back. “No one’s on my level.” His hand slid around my waist. “But I think you’ve exceeded it.”

After another deep kiss, he was gone, and I felt a little breathless.

Until Claire popped into the room.





PUNCHING’S MY THING





TAYLOR


Claire stepped aside so Logan could leave, then made a beeline for me. I braced myself, thinking she was going to ask about Jason, but she didn’t. She’d already heard the Logan rumor and wanted details. I wasn’t sure if that was better or worse.

I told her the basic truth, that we were sleeping together. She knew it, but I guess she hadn’t known how involved the sleeping together part meant. She wanted to know more, but I didn’t have anything else I wanted to tell her. Logan and I hadn’t nailed things down, and I didn’t really want to. Most girls might jump at the chance to lock him down, but I wasn’t lying when I’d told him I had baggage. Even though I was starting to deal with things, I had a long way to go. And I had to go to work, so Claire was pushed off…for the moment. I knew she’d want more gossip later, but for now, I was almost eager to punch my timecard.