He disappeared, leaving her alone with her pounding heart and her scrambled thoughts. But before Logan returned, she knew what she had to do.
Kara was right. God had given her a huge sign, so big she couldn’t ignore it.
I just didn’t expect it to come from the devil.
CHAPTER 18
TWO WEEKS LATER
“We haven’t had our kiss today.” Logan slammed his laptop closed and stretched his arms over his head.
On the opposite end of the couch, Ellery jerked her gaze from her computer. “Maybe we shouldn’t.”
“You don’t want to deny our little reward after a long hard day, do you? It’s all I’ve been looking forward to since I woke up this morning.”
As expected, his comment sent a flush to her face. He started to scoot next to her when his phone rang. Irritated, he whipped it out of his pocket. The name that flashed on the screen made the words die in his mouth.
Allegra! Why is she calling me?
He was surprised to find he didn’t care. He was barely even curious. Certainly not curious enough to delay kissing Ellery.
He rejected the call. It felt good. It was his turn to do the rejecting for a change.
Logan closed the distance between them, not a simple task on a sectional composed of multiple connected recliners. Why had she chosen the seat on the far end? “I think I may get rid of this thing and get a regular couch.”
“That figures,” she muttered. “That’s why I think we need to talk.”
“We can talk afterwards.” He lifted his hand to her cheek, caressing the soft skin. He loved the way she responded to his touch. The quick intake of breath. The flutter of her eyelids. The rise of color in her neck. Most of the time, she held her emotions in a tight check. He could peer into her eyes for hours and be no closer to knowing how she felt about him. But the moment his fingers brushed her jawline, her strict control slipped. She couldn’t hide her response.
Maybe her attraction was purely physical, but it was there. It was real. It was a step. Something to build on. Something to hang his hopes on. Because more and more, he found it hard to imagine living without her.
Not that he planned to tell her. He knew exactly how that conversation would go. Thanks, Logan. I’m outta here. He needed patience, and it was the one virtue he possessed. He simply had to remember to use it.
He took the laptop from her limp hands and discarded it behind him on the couch. Then he tucked his fingers under her chin, tilting it toward him. He waited, prolonging the moment. He dipped his head closer, her sweet scent filling his lungs as he breathed in her essence. His mouth touched hers, sparking his senses as it always did. Warmth furled in his belly as he brushed his lips against hers, savoring her taste.
He closed his eyes and shut out the world, his mind reeling with sensations.
A hand pushed against his chest, forcing him back, tearing their lips apart.
“Logan…” Ellery’s chest heaved with rapid breaths. “I have something to tell you.”
An anchor dropped to the bottom of his abdomen. This couldn’t be good.
“What did I do? Whatever it is, I’m sorry.”
“You didn’t do anything.”
She wouldn’t meet his eyes. His mouth went dry. They’d never had a fight before, but he knew what to do. He was ready. Finn had been giving him advice about women.
“I have chocolate,” he babbled. “Lots of it. Any kind you want. Milk or dark. Truffles. Soft centers. Nuts. I’ve got it all.”
Her nose wrinkled. “What are you talking about?”
“Chocolate,” he repeated. “Finn told me he always gives it to Laurie when he’s in trouble. Don’t you like chocolate?”
“No… I mean, yes, I like it… but you’re not in trouble.”
“I must’ve done something wrong. You stopped me in the middle of a kiss.” He racked his brain. Had he insulted her? “Is it my breath? I brushed my teeth after dinner—”
“Logan, I stopped you because we can’t kiss anymore.”
“What?” He stared at her, hoping what she’d said would somehow change. “We can’t kiss? But why?”
“Because I think it’s time to take a step back.”
“You can step anywhere you like, and I’ll go with you.”
“We need to step apart.” She let out a long, slow breath like steam from a kettle. Her lips pressed together in a hard line. “I think we should date other people.”
Her words socked him in the chest.
“Why? Have you met someone?”
“No.”
Was she telling the truth? She’d never lied to him. At least, not that he knew of.
“Then why? Why break up? Am I still too awkward?”
