“Have I?” He shifts closer, his smile changing to something brighter, but the tamale tray is still in his way, so he can only get so close. I’ve never hated a tray more, but it’s the only thing standing between me and inevitable heartbreak. “How much?”
Rolling my eyes, I tug the tray from his hands and step around him to walk the last little bit to the kitchen, hoping that puts some distance between us.Stay strong, Savannah.I can’t let myself get distracted by his charm when I’m so close to finally getting some traction. “Easy on the ego, Hero.”
He’s hot on my heels. “Are you telling me you like me more than you did on Friday?”
Yes.“I like your kitchen.”
Snagging the tray from my hands, he dumps the three tamales in the trash and sets the tray on the counter in one quick movement, turning to face me. “I’m well aware you’re fond of my kitchen, love. We’re talking aboutme.”
“Aren’t we always?”
“Cheeky, aren’t you?”
I laugh. “That shouldn’t come as a surprise, Logan.”
“Oh, it doesn’t.” He moves closer and backs me against the counter, boxing me in.
Heat rises from my belly to my face, but I do my best to stay cool as I peer up at him. What’s his play here? He said he wanted to change the nature of our relationship, but I need to know what he means by that.
Asking for honesty is a lot harder than feigning insults, and the words stick in my throat for a second. Even when I manageto force them out, they barely carry any sound with them. “You want me to need you?”
He nods slowly. “Apparently.”
“You’re not sure?”
“Love, a week ago I was practically blaming you for the inevitable end of my rugby career.” His hands press against the countertop on either side of me, bringing him close enough that his body heat soaks into me. “I have no clue what’s happening here aside from the fact that I avoided Lola because talking to her meant I wouldn’t have a solid reason to keep talking toyou.”
Heavens to Betsy, those are fighting words, and they mirror my thoughts exactly. My voice comes out strained as I ask, “Really?”
His throat bobs. “Really. And you should know that I hated every minute of watching you smile at the lads today, but I’m not going to ask you not to do it tomorrow because I don’t have that right.”
How pathetic does it make me if Ireallywant him to ask me that? Pathetic enough that the independent feminist in me roars to life, bringing my hand up to press against Logan’s chest, ready to push him away. “Smart man,” I tell him, though I’m not sure why my inner feminist decided to speak in a husky tone. “Youdon’thave that right. But were you actually jealous?”
As his head dips closer to mine, his voice slips into a low rumble. “I’m not answering that.”
My face flames with warmth. Hewasjealous. “Now you know how I feel every time you cuddle up with Beef.”What?
To no one’s surprise, that catches Logan off guard, and he cocks his head. “You’re…jealous ofyour cat?”
The heat in my face doubles. “No! I was saying I’m jealous ofyoubecause I want Beef to cuddle withme.” At least, I think that’s what I was saying. But now that Logan’s said it, I can’t get the idea of cuddling with this large, muscly man out of my head. It sounds nice.
More than nice.
In fact, there are a lot of things I’d enjoy doing with him.
Logan’s gaze sharpens as his eyes trail over the features of my face. His hands slide from the counter to my hips, his fingers warming my skin through my clothes, and I think I might straight-up combust as my body overheats. “You keep telling yourself that, love,” he murmurs and moves in closer, until his lips are only inches from mine.
Yeah, I’m really starting to like the idea of doing all sorts of things with Logan Callahan. I still don’t know how long he’ll stay in California, and I barely have time to keep my business afloat, let alone date. But I’ve been on my own for so long, and this cocky man somehow makes me feel like I matter as much as he does.
Maybe a few months with Logan will be worth the risk of heartache. Maybe I’ll be strong enough to let him go at the end. Maybe I don’t care what happens and just want a moment to pretend I can have everything.
Terrified and exhilarated, I rise up on my toes and close my eyes, ignoring every warning bell in my mind as Logan’s hands tighten on my hips and I get so close that I feel his breath on my lips, warm and sweet.
I can’t resist anymore.
“Ahem.”
Chapter 16
