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“Abby,” Logan said under his breath.
“Have a wonderful time, you two,” Abby continued, her voice slightly high-pitched. “I’ve only been to the Sheraton once. The food was fantastic, but I can’t say much for my date. I no longer see him. A really ordinary guy, if you know what I mean. And so predictable.”
“I’ll be right back.” Logan directed his comment to Patty and gripped Abby by the elbow.
“Let me go,” she seethed.
Logan’s grip relaxed once they were outside the house. “Would you let me explain?”
“Explain?” She threw the word in his face. “What could you possibly say? No.” She waved her hand in front of his chest. “Don’t say a word. I don’t want to hear it. Do you understand? Not a word.”
“You’re being irrational again,” Logan accused, apparently having difficulty keeping his rising temper in check.
“You’re right,” she agreed. “I’ve completely lost my sense. Please forgive me for being so closed-minded.” Her voice was surprisingly even, but it didn’t disguise the hurt or the feeling of betrayal she was experiencing.
“Abby.”
“Don’t,” she whispered achingly. “Not now. I can’t talk now.”
“I’ll call you later.”
She consented with an abrupt nod, but at that point, Abby realized, she would have agreed to anything for the opportunity to escape.
Her hand was shaking so badly that she had trouble sliding the key into the ignition. This was crazy. She felt secure in his love one night and betrayed the next.
Abby didn’t go home. The last thing she wanted to do was sit alone on a Saturday night. To kill time, she visited the Mall of America and did some shopping, buying herself a designer outfit that she knew Logan would hate.
The night was dark and overcast as she let herself into the apartment. Hanging the new dress in her closet, Abby acknowledged that spending this much money on one outfit was ridiculous. Her reasons were just as childish. But it didn’t matter; she felt a hundred times better.
The phone rang the first time at ten. Abby ignored it. Logan. Of course. When it started ringing at five-minute intervals, she simply unplugged it. There was nothing she had to say to him. When they spoke again, she wanted to feel composed. Tonight was too soon. She wasn’t ready yet.
Calm now, she changed into her pajamas and sat on the sofa, brushing her long hair in smooth, even strokes. Reaction would probably set in tomorrow, but for now she was too angry to think.
Half an hour later, someone pressed her buzzer repeatedly. Annoying though it was, she ignored that, too.
When there was a banging at her door, Abby hesitated, then continued with her brushing.
“Come on, Abby, I know you’re in there,” Logan shouted.
“Go away. I’m not dressed,” she called out sweetly.
“Then get dressed.”
“No!” she yelled back.
Logan’s laugh was breathless and bitter. “Either open up or I’ll tear the stupid door off its hinges.”
Just the way he said it convinced Abby this wasn’t an idle threat. And to think that only a few weeks ago she’d seen Logan as unemotional. Laying her brush aside, she walked to the door and unlatched the safety chain.
“What do you want? How did you get into the building? And for heaven’s sake, keep the noise down. You’re disturbing the neighbors.”
“Some guy from the second floor recognized me and opened the lobby door. And if you don’t let me in to talk to you, I’ll do a lot more than wake the neighbors.”
Abby had never seen Logan display so much passion. Perhaps she should’ve been thrilled, but she wasn’t.
“Did you and Patty have a nice evening?” she asked with heavy sarcasm.
Logan glanced briefly at his hands. “Reasonably nice.”
