AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Last night proved that a lie.
She’d come alive under his mouth and hands, had felt her body open like a withered hothouse orchid finally being watered.
She’d been mortified when he’d pulled away. Horrified.
It was obvious she hadn’t been alone in her desire, both by the fervor with which he’d touched and kissed her and by the irrefutable evidence in his jeans.
But the pain in his eyes made it clear why he’d wanted to stop. She’d hurt him so badly all those years ago. Had hurt him twice, first by leaving the way she had and then by not giving them another chance, by living out their dreams of a future with another man.
It was no wonder he’d wanted to hit the brakes. He probably didn’t trust her, and she couldn’t say that she blamed him.
She sighed. It was better this way. She didn’t want to hurt him again, and she was in no position to make promises about the future. She lived in Chicago. Logan lived in L.A., a place that held too many bad memories, that lurked like a black hole on one end of the nation, an ever-present reminder of her old life and the person she’d been.
The door opened and Leo tumbled into the house with Logan on his heels.
“Looking good out there,” Gabriella said.
Leo beamed. “Logan said I have strong legs!”
“Logan is right.” Gabriella stood. “Let’s go clean you up. Your dad will be here soon.”
“Yay! Daddy!” Leo shrieked, running for the stairs.
Gabriella turned to Logan. “Thanks so much. For taking care of Leo and letting me sleep and the French toast and, well, everything.”
He smiled and she was relieved to see that it was warm and genuine in spite of what had happened between them in the kitchen the night before. “It’s my pleasure. He’s a great kid.”
“He is. Be right back.”
She headed for the stairs and cajoled Leo into the bathroom where she turned on the water and wiped him down with a washcloth. His hands and face were sticky with syrup, his legs stained with grass.
Clearly, Logan’s heroic efforts stopped at a wet washcloth, something she was happy to discover, if only because it proved he wasn’t perfect.
She desperately needed him not to be perfect.
“Come on,” she said. “We have to change your clothes.”
Leo whined about having to get dressed twice, but she managed to get him in his room and into a shirt without syrup dribbles and a pair of shorts without dirt on the bottom.
She was encouraging him to put on fresh socks and stuffing his overnight bag with pajamas and another set of clean clothes when she heard voices downstairs.
At first, she thought it was Logan talking to Beck or Ryker, her daytime guards and drivers — Jag was off on weekends when Leo was home — but then she realized the time.
Damnit.
“Finish up and pack your blanket and toys — one toy and a book.” Leo would pack his whole room if she let him, but he had another room full of books and toys at Nathan’s house two streets over.
She hurried down the stairs and found Nathan standing in the foyer, glaring at Logan, who didn’t look too happy either.
“Hey,” she said to Nathan. “Leo’s packing. He’ll be right down.” She glanced at Logan, then back at Nathan. “This is Logan. Logan, this is Leo’s father, Nathan.”
“We’ve met,” Nathan said. He wore jeans and a T-shirt, his wiry frame looking small compared to Logan’s height and bulk. He looked at Gabriella. “Can I speak to you in private?”
“Sure. Let’s go outside.” She opened the door and stepped onto the porch, then turned to Logan. “Be right back.”
The door had barely closed behind them when Nathan started in on her. “When were you going to tell me your ex-boyfriend is staying at the house?”
Her cheeks burned. “When you got here today. Because this isn’tthehouse — it’smyhouse now. Remember? And Logan isn’t my ex-boyfriend. He’s the bodyguard hired to protect our son.”
