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I pause the audio. I’ll listen on the plane tomorrow with my earbuds so I can enjoy his voice. It’ll mean I won’t have to talk to Logan on the flight either.
Double win.
Chapter 7
Maddy
“It’sgoingwell…Yes,I’m eating, Mum.” Logan talks on his phone as he gazes out the car’s window, one elbow resting on the doorframe and his hand rubbing back and forth over his jaw.
He’s freshly shaven. I noticed it when he collected my suitcase for me in Milan. And that… bothers me. It bothers me that my first reaction to him when I opened the door to him this morning wasn’t my usual frown. This time my frown had a companion—my eyes. And they were intent on tracing the smooth line of Logan’s newly shaven jaw like it deserved my attention.
I know what this is. My mind is playing tricks on me, trying to fill the void that reading and listening to books gives me. I haven’t had my daily escape I treasure so much today. I tried on the private jet over to Rome this morning. But there must be something wrong with my earbuds because my audiobook sounds funny. Nate Black’s voice deserves earbuds that portray his smooth tone perfectly. Instead, I listened to music as I worked. Then when I switched that off, I kept my earbuds in and sat watching the view from the window as we landed. Logan didn’t speak to me, probably thinking I was still listening to something and couldn’t hear him.
They’re the perfect Logan deterrent.
It's why I’m sitting in the back of the car as we’re being driven through Rome with them in my ears, even though they’re not playing anything.
“She’s enjoying seeing the sights when she gets the chance.” Logan glances at me, and I pretend I’m fascinated by something outside.
“Yeah, I’ll tell her.” He pauses and then laughs softly. “How’s Dad?”
A change in the air makes me sneak another look over at Logan. His brow is furrowed, much like last night on the walk back to the hotel. He clears his throat and his jaw ticks as he listens to his mum.
“I know. I thought he would as well. I don’t understand why he’s so hellbent on it. It doesn’t make sense.”
He sighs and the heaviness in it makes me twitch.
“I don’t…” Logan lowers his voice and inclines his head toward the window, away from me. “I can’t do that. She’s not… Exactly. I doubt she will either.”
Are they talking about me?This is why it’s a bad idea to eavesdrop. I can’t ask Logan what she said because then he’ll know, and it’ll give him more ammo to ridicule me with.
He makes a few more sounds of agreement and then ends the call, his gaze remaining outside the car until we come to a stop.
“Where are we? This doesn’t look like a hotel.” I pull my earbuds out and stare at the giant building in front of us.
“Because it isn’t.” He smirks, back in full-asshole mode as he exits the car and holds his hand out to help me.
I climb out without his help and look around. We’ve driven up a long sweeping driveway and through metal gates to get here. That should have been my first clue. But I was too busy listening to his private phone call to pay attention.
“This is a palace,” I gasp.
I gaze up at the giant cream building. It has large archways forming a cover over the main entrance. They’re held up by giant pillars. So thick I couldn’t fit my arms around if I tried. Each window in the building is curved, stone architraves above each one. There are even two rounded walls, one on either end of the building with turreted roofs, like a fairy-tale castle.
“No. Just one of our properties.” Logan shrugs as I turn and gape at him. “Speechless, Smiles? That’s not like you.”
I close my mouth, fighting the urge to smack him in his smooth jaw.
“Am I being taken to my hotel after our first meeting?” I resist the urge to feed Logan’s ego further by checking out the mansion again and instead keep my eyes fixed firmly on his face.
Instead of answering me, he helps the driver get our suitcases from the trunk.
“Can you put Ms. Harper’s suitcase in the East wing guest suite, please.”
The driver nods and takes our suitcases in through the front door.
I shake my head so fast I’m surprised my brain doesn’t rattle. “No. No, no, no. I’m not staying here with you. The office has booked me a hotel room.”
“A closet, you mean?” Logan’s expression is unreadable as he looks at me. “You’re not staying in any other places the office has booked for you. You’re with me from now on.”
