I manage to flag one down, and give my address to the cabbie as we slide into the backseat.
Logan’s thigh presses against mine as the driver whips around a corner when he finds an opening in traffic, sending us both sliding across the seat.
“I got you,” Logan says, wrapping an arm low around my hips to steady me.
He doesn’t have me, though. Not really. But I want him to.
The cab stops in front of my building, and Logan pays this time before we climb out.
The doorman opens the glass door to the lobby when he sees me coming. “Good evening, Ms. Regent.”
“Thank you, Joe. I appreciate it.”
Joe says nothing about the man behind me.
Logan doesn’t speak until we’re inside the elevator. “Regent suits you. It’s a hell of a name, but you carry yourself to fit it. You could definitely be the queen of something.”
It’s not one of those throwaway compliments likeyou’re beautifulorI love your eyes. It’s sincere, and more of my willpower evaporates.
“Thank you.”
The ride up to my floor is borderline awkward as other building residents crowd inside with us, breaking the unwritten rule that you don’t look at each other in the elevator. A middle-aged couple looks from me to Logan and back to me again, and I can see the judgment on their faces.
Another one-night stand,I’m sure they’re thinking. It’s not like I’ve ever tried to hide it. Why should I?
Regardless, I unlock the door to my apartment quickly. I don’t want to tempt fate. The last thing I need is for Myrna to peek out with her cane in hand and hassle me, telling me to keep my legs shut.
Logan doesn’t say anything about how fast I shut the door and lock it behind us. Instead, he takes in my apartment. It’s done in whites and silvers and grays, with pops of yellow and turquoise. Nothing like what he would pick, I’m assuming, but I love it.
“Nice digs.”
“I like it.”
He turns to face me. “I like you, Banner. A lot. I didn’t exactly expect tonight to go this well.”
I press my lips together, unsure how to respond to his honesty, but I end up responding in kind. “Me either.”
He lifts a hand to push a lock of hair away from my face. “A good surprise for both of us then, even though you’re so fucking far out of my league, I should be back in my truck heading for the highway.”
My mouth drops open. “I’m out ofyourleague? Have you not seen yourself? Do they not have mirrors in Kentucky?”
“I’m nothing special. I make my living with my hands.” He holds up both of them, big and wide, in front of me. “I spend more time scrubbing with Fast Orange so they’re not stained black than you probably do getting your nails done. There’s not one fucking thing about me that makes me the right guy for you. I’ve known that from day one.”
His words cut into me, and I’m terrified he’s going to leave me standing here without ever knowing what could have happened between us. If he’s dead set on going, I’m not the kind of woman who will ever beg a man to stay.
“Then why did you come?”
Logan’s gaze pierces mine. “I couldn’t miss the chance to meet a woman who has me intrigued like no one else ever has.”
“Intrigued.” I try the word out like it’s Russian or something.But isn’t that exactly how I felt?
“Yeah, really fucking intrigued.”
“Well, you’ve met me.”
Heat burns in his blue eyes. “And intrigued doesn’t even begin to cover what I’m thinking right now. You’re the whole package.”
Even though I know I shouldn’t, I peel off my trench coat and toss it toward the love seat. Without stopping, I reach for the belt on my dress and untie it.