Come to think of it, his eyes did look a little bloodshot.
“I’m fine. Not even tired.” He chuckled. “And if Mom’s tired, it’s her own fault. She got up every time to make sure I left the door to your room open. You’d think I was sixteen instead of a grown man, but I humored her.”
Ellery only heard two words of his reply. “Every time? How many times did you have to get up?”
“Only three times,” he replied quickly. “And the last time only took about five minutes.”
Which meant the other times had taken significantly longer. It wasn’t simply humiliating. It was mortifying. No wonder he felt so sorry for her.
“Listen, I really appreciate what you did, but you didn’t have to do that.” She held up her hand when he started to protest. “This happens to me all the time, and I’m used to it. So tonight, I’ll sleep downstairs on the couch where you can’t hear me.”
A V-shaped furrow formed on his brow, a replica of the one she’d seen on his mom’s forehead. “That’s not necessary. I honestly didn’t mind at all.”
“You got less sleep than you would with a new puppy.”
A dimple popped into view. “Then I’ll be ready if I ever get one.”
Why did he have to be so cute? She had to do something, or she was going to fall for him.
“Okay, then. I’m going to pay you back.”
“Pay me back?” His gaze darted her way and back to the road. “I don’t need your money.”
“No, I’m going to pay you with what you don’t have.” She stuck out her chin. “I’m going to help you win Allegra back.”
CHAPTER 8
It was one thing to get a haircut he didn’t want. It was another thing to get one with Ellery watching, a triumphant expression etched on her face. How had he let her talk him into doing this? Probably because he felt guilty.
He hadn’t even admitted to her that he’d talked to a counselor about his problems with his stepdad. He was too embarrassed that he hadn’t made any real progress while Ellery had come so far after much worse trauma. She wasn’t even bitter, despite losing her entire family.
“I don’t need a haircut,” he’d argued when Ellery had first suggested it. “My long hair is my way of saying I don’t care what people think.”
“Nope. It’s not long enough to say that.” Ellery had shaken her head. “It’s only long enough to say you’re sloppy.”
By one thirty, the haircut and manicure were done and they were driving back to his mother’s house for lunch.
“I can’t believe you talked me into cutting my hair,” Logan said. “Mom’s going to be so happy.”
“Your hair looks great.”
“Thanks.” A warm satisfaction spread inside, along with alarm. Why was it suddenly so important to please Ellery? From the corner of his eye, he saw her hand stretching toward him. Was she going to touch his face? Blood pulsed in his ears. If she wanted to see what his beard felt like, he would let her. No harm done, right?
The contact never happened. Her fingers wiggled in the air.
“Thanks again for the manicure. I’m usually too broke to splurge on something like that. Plus, I’m hoping it will draw the attention away from the scars on my arm.”
“No one will notice it, anyway. I saw your arm last night, and it looks fine. And anyone who cares about that isn’t worth worrying about.” He hoped his reassurance would make up for his blunder the day before.
“I’ve been thinking about that…I think Allegra might be—” Her words ended in a strangled cry.
In the split second that he’d glanced her direction, a car had swerved into his lane and slowed for a sudden turn. He slammed the brakes. The SUV skidded to a stop with inches to spare. Blowing air between his lips, he risked a glance at Ellery.
Her face was white. Not just slightly blanched…it was dead-body chalky.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She gave a sharp nod, but her eyes were wide and panicky.
“I’m sorry.” He found her hand, clamped on the edge of her seat, and covered it with his. “We’re almost back to Mom’s. I won’t talk anymore until we get there.”
As he drove, he left his hand on top of hers, stroking his thumb idly across her soft skin. He was simply comforting her. It was the least he could do after scaring her so badly. It didn’t mean anything.
Yeah, right! Keep telling yourself that.
For the next ten minutes, he concentrated on his driving. Correction…he tried to concentrate on driving. But when Ellery’s hand abandoned the seat to thread her fingers with his, electricity jolted through him. He found it hard to pay attention to anything else. Her slender fingers were velvety, despite their iron grip. He ought to be feeling guilty for pushing her into a panic attack, especially after experiencing the effects of her nightmares last night. Yet he found himself remembering how nice it had felt to hold her. How his heart had swelled in his chest over the fact that he’d been able to soothe her with his gentle words and touch, though she had no idea that had happened. Some selfish part of him even hoped she might need his comfort again tonight.
As Logan pulled into the driveway and turned the engine off, her hand slipped away, tucking itself under her crossed arms.
“You okay?”
“I can’t make the memory go away. It’s always there. It makes me feel weak, and I hate being weak.”
“From what I’ve seen, you’re as strong as steel.” His hand slid under her hair to caress the soft skin on the back of her neck.
“Ha! I wish. I’m just good at faking it.”
