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His smile was crooked. “Probably, but Nick often tells me that I should be improving my manners.”
“I’d say it’s a lost cause.” She sighed and set the glass on the low reading table before them. “Then again, so am I.”
“That’s why we’re perfect for each other.” He picked up the glass and handed it to her. “Drink, lass. Think of it as medicinal. It’ll help warm you up.”
She was already feelingquitewarm, thanks to the giant sitting next to her. Nevertheless, she complied with his gentle command. The smoky beverage slid down her throat to ease her taut nerves.
“You were looking a little pale there for a while.”
She managed a smile. “I’m sorry I’m being such a goose, and I really should thank you for rescuing me. Your intervention was most timely.”
“I’m just sorry you had to hear their ugly nonsense.”
“It’s my own fault, eavesdropping as I was.”
“I was rather surprised to see you lurking behind a potted plant in that nefarious manner. How did you end up there, anyway?”
She winced. It would be easier to dodge his question, but embarrassment was no excuse for cowardly behavior. “If you must know, I was looking for you.”
His dark eyebrows shot up. “Hiding behind a potted plant? Not my usual habitat, love.”
Donella plunked down her glass and crossed her arms under her breasts.
Predictably, his gaze snagged right on her bosom, whichwasrather popping up over the top of her bodice.
She hastily brought her hands down to her lap. “Don’t be ridiculous. I was simply having second thoughts and needed time to compose myself. Things haven’t exactly been easy between us this last little while.”
Logan was obviously fighting a smile. “So you decided to duck behind the greenery for a bit of ruminating. Of course that makes perfect sense.”
“It was a very nice plant, in case you failed to notice.”
She sounded like a twit but she didn’t care. Logan Kendrick had to bethemost annoying man in the entire kingdom.
He reached for one of her hands, wrapping his long fingers around hers. “I did fail to notice, because I was busy looking at the extraordinarily pretty girl hiding behind the palm and I was wondering what she was doing.”
His warm, gentle tone deflated her sails.
“I sound like a complete fool, don’t I?” she said with a sigh. “And I did get my just deserts for eavesdropping. I didn’t mean to, you know. I was simply going to sit in that window alcove when I heard those two, idio—er, girls talking.”
“Idiots, I believe you were going to say.”
“That would be very uncharitable of me.”
He pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. The feel of his lips on her skin sent shock waves rippling through her body.
“It’s just ugly nonsense,” he said in a soothing tone. “You shouldn’t listen to any of it.”
Oh, dear.The last thing she wanted was his pity. She’d been an object of pity too many times, and she was heartily sick of it.
Better to make a joke of it. “They weren’t entirely wrong. I’ve been causing one scene after the next about town— rather like a circus act. No matter how hard I try to behave, I just can’t make it stick.”
That last bit ended on a quavering note that made her feel even more humiliated.
He scoffed. “Donella, there isn’t a damned thing wrong with you, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
“You have to admit some of my behavior hasn’t exactly been rational.”
“Really? I hadn’t noticed anything amiss.”
