And damn if he’d stand here another second longer while she obviously believed she was.
That apologetic look in her eyes was killing him. She obviously believed the bullshit she was spewing, and he’d be damned if he let her think she’d done a single fucking thing wrong.
Eyes on hers, Logan dug deep into her gaze as he took another step forward. “You’re right.” A sharp nod. “I did make that promise to Hunt the day you two got married. And I’d make it a million times over. Not just because he was my friend…but because I care about you, too.” His insides churned as he added a daring, “I care a whole fucking lot.”
“Logan—”
“I’m not finished.” His pointed gaze held hers. “I still feel a certain loyalty to Hunt, sure. But after the team got our walking papers”—a twisted web he was still working to unravel—“there wasn’t even a question as to where I was going to move.”
Her glassy stare met his as Natalie’s adorable face twisted with confusion. “But…why?”
“I told you.” He was standing inches from her now. “I care about you.”
A single tear escaped the corner of her eye, and before he thought better of it, Logan was reaching up to wipe it away. His thumb whispered across her smooth skin, the warm droplet disappearing with the gentle move.
Natalie slowly reached up, her delicate fingers wrapping around his thick wrist. Her watery gaze remained locked as she whispered back, “I care about you, too, Logan. Which is why I don’t want you to feel obligated—”
“I’m not here because I feel obligated, sweetheart. I’m here because there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. Funny thing was he couldn’t bring himself to wish them back.
Natalie swallowed but said nothing. With his eyes still on hers, Logan could see the rise and fall of her luscious breasts in his peripheral. Could tell the way her breathing had shallowed, her lungs fueled by the very same nervous energy threatening to consume him.
His gaze lowered to her lips.
Full and bow-shaped, they parted slightly with what he could’ve sworn was a tiny hitch of a breath. Dusty rose was their color, and he just bet they tasted as sweet as they looked.
And God, did he want to taste her.
Logan leaned in as Natalie lifted her chin upward. Her lids fell shut, their mouths touching in the lightest of kisses. And then—
A car horn began to honk loudly, the sudden, repetitive noise obliterating what was left of the moment.
Noah jerked back. Natalie did the same. For a moment, they simply stood there. Both completely dumbfounded by what had almost happened.
When theydidrecover from the shock of unexpected turn of events, they both began talking at once.
“I’m so sorry!”
“I shouldn’t have done that!”
A united pause and then…
“I’m sorry, Nat.” Logan shook his head. “I don’t…” A rough hand over his jaw. “Hell, I-I don’t knowwhatthat was.”
“I, uh…” She gave her lips a nervous lick. “I’m pretty sure the kids callthata kiss.”
Without conscious thought, Logan’s tongue swiped along his own mouth, the flavor of chocolate and something uniquely Natalie nearly bringing him to his knees.
Doing his best to become a statue to avoid doing something stupid like taking her in his arms and going for more, he swallowed hard before trying to explain why he’d lost his damned mind and kissed her.
“I know what it’s called.” Another swallow. “That’s not what I—”
“I know what you meant, Logan. I just have a tendency to use sarcasm when I get nervous.”
Despite the situation—or the fact that he’d made the person he cared most for in the world nervous—Logan felt his lips twitch with the urge to smile. “Know that, too, sweetheart.”
The endearment slipped, but they both chose to ignore it and move on.