Page 80 of The Search

“I didn’t think so.”

“Why should you? It was my job.”

“The hell it is.”

“Stop pacing around the room and sit down. You’ve been on your feet too much today.”

“I’ll sit down when I feel like it.”

She held up her hands. “Whatever you say. I don’t care if your leg aches all night. It would serve you right.” No, it wouldn’t; he had just done her a great favor. She tried to hold on to her patience. “Look, I’m sorry I involved you in that ugliness with Madden. I owe you and I—”

“You don’t owe me shit. We made a deal and I paid it. Do you think that’s what this is all about?”

“All I know is that you’re not behaving reasonably. It’s not my fault that Madden is the bastard he is.”

“It’s your fault that you didn’t let me help you. You’re not alone in this world, you know. Would it have hurt you to let me protect you? Just once?”

She blinked. “I didn’t need protection.”

“No, you don’t need anyone, do you? You’re not wounded. You haven’t got a scar to your name. Bullshit.”

She stiffened. “Shut up, Logan. I’m sorry if your ego was hurt, but don’t take it out on me.”

“You should have let me help you.”

“You did help me.”

“Is that why your knuckles are bleeding?”

She looked down at her hand in surprise. “It’s nothing. Just a graze.”

He stopped before her. “And you’re so tough that it didn’t faze you.”

“No, dammit, I was too busy trying to understand why you were overreacting to a little— Let me go, Logan.”

His hands tightened on her shoulders. “Why? Will you sock me too?”

“Maybe. If you deserve it.” She looked up at him. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Nothing’s wrong with me. No, that’s a lie.” He shook her. “You’re driving me crazy. You’re not alone in the world, dammit. You don’t have to do everything for yourself.”

“Let me go.”

His hands opened and closed on her shoulders. “What’s the matter? Are you afraid I’ll jump you like your friend, Madden?”

“I know you better than that.”

“Do you?”

Her chest tightened. He was gazing at her with an intentness that made her feel . . . She hurriedly looked away from him. “You’re not Madden. And you said you were my friend. Was that a lie?”

He went still. “No.” His hands dropped away from her shoulders. “It wasn’t a lie.” He walked back to the open doorway and stared at Madden’s car, which was faintly visible in the distance. “And I’m not Madden. Why didn’t you tell me you were lovers?”

“You didn’t need to know to help me. It wasn’t important.”

“No? It feels damn important.”

“It shouldn’t. That was a long time ago and doesn’t affect the present situation. The only use he has for me these days is to help his career.”