Chapter 6

I let out a shrill scream and jump at least a mile straight into the air. My heart slams so hard in my chest that I clutch my hands together in some effort to make sure it doesn’t pop out. It takes a few tense moments for me to get ahead of my gasping breath, and it isn’t until then that I realize the person standing next to me is Lucas.

Where the hell did he come from?

From the look on his face my outburst startled him as much as his sneaking up startled me.

“My God, where did you come from?” I say, my tone turning from panic to anger.

“If that’s the noise you make when you’re startled then I really need to hear you when you’re passionate,” he says. His eyes look me up and down as though they’re seeing me for the first time.

Is he hitting on me?

I don’t get the chance to figure it out before I hear feet shuffling from the back of the study. Logan and Mara appear from around that turn. Logan looks gorgeous, as usual. He’s changed into khaki shorts and a pink linen shirt. The top two buttons of the shirt are undone, revealing the very top of that deep line that shapes the center of his chest. He looks me up and down with concern in his eyes, as though he were expecting to find me being physically attacked. I can only imagine how those big, strong hands of his might do to protect me. And then what I would do to reward him for it…

Now is not the time. Get a hold of yourself!

“What are you doing here?” he asks, his voice full of concern. Mara does not look nearly so concerned for my well being.

I give a quick look between Logan and Mara and have an internal debate about whether or not I should make up a lame excuse for how I stumbled my way into Logan’s beautiful study—but I manage to steel myself. Mostly, anyway. I’ve done nothing wrong. This was supposed to be a fun weekend vacation, not two days of everyone gang up on Aimee. 

“I was looking for you,” I say, simply. My eyes flit to Mara for a brief instant before returning to Logan. “We need to talk.”

Logan opens his mouth to say something, but Mara beats him to it.

“So nice of you to show our guest around, Lucas,” she says, sharply. Her eyes are thin slits as her lips pinch into something no one would ever confuse for a hospitable smile.

The grin on Lucas’s face grows even wider. He has the look of someone who was just distinguished for some great act There’s no way I could pull off that look if Mara had spoken to me in that tone of voice.

“It was my pleasure,” Lucas says, without missing a beat. “I’m not one for turning down an opportunity to spend time with such a beautiful woman.”

Such a beautiful woman? Is he talking about me?

Why in the world is Lucas so quick to take credit for something that he and I know is a blatant lie? I’m starting to wonder if this whole group of people might be completely out of their minds.

But when I see how annoyed both Logan and Mara look I can’t help the vindicated rush that goes through me. I don’t know what comes over me, but I decide to play along and see where it goes. It can’t hurt for Logan to be reminded that he’s not the only man who notices me.

“It was very nice of him,” I say, flashing him a little smile as I do. “He promised to show me around this beautiful place some more later, as well.”

Only the slightest widening of his eyes gives any indication that Lucas is surprised by what I said. 

“Is that so?” Logan asks.

The conflict warring on his face is an absolute delight to witness.

“I was telling her how breathtaking the garden is,” Lucas confirms. “She absolutely must to see it before returning to the city.”

“It sounds like a good time. I’m looking forward to it.”

If that doesn’t get under Logan’s skin then I don’t know what will. A little pang of guilt lets me know how childish I’m acting, but I just don’t care. Logan is a cheating, lying bastard and deserves whatever he gets—I give him a quick look up and down without even thinking about it—and God how I would love to give him whatever he wants. 

I shift myself uncomfortably as heat rushes to my face.

“You need to talk to me about something?” Logan says, his gorgeous eyes giving me an intense look. I nod and he turns to Mara. “Perhaps we can continue this later?”

“Of course,” she says without even looking at him. “Aimee is our guest. It would be rude to keep her waiting.”

Her eyes look like they’re trying to burn a hole straight through me. Thankfully, it doesn’t last for long before she turns to Lucas.

“Perhaps you’ll accompany me on that walk in the garden?” she says, extending her hand to him. “And afterwards perhaps a dip in the pool…”

“Now that sounds like a fine idea,” he says. He crooks his elbow and she slides her arm through it.

They make pleasant small talk while Logan and I watch them leave the study together. A heavy silence settles all around us when the sounds of their voices fade into the mansion. I can feel the weight of Logan’s stare taking in my every move. I hope he likes what he sees—that will make denying him even more fun.

Despite my blustering, butterflies erupt in my stomach when I turn back to face him. In an instant it becomes nearly impossible to remember why I was mad at him in the first place. Why did I come here again? It feels so nice just stand here and look at each other, doesn’t it? I hope he thinks it’s as nice as I do.

No, I came here with a purpose. Ah, yes, Logan deserves a piece of my mind for lying to me. And if he’s good, maybe a piece of my body, too.

Lost somewhere in the eternal bliss of Logan’s eyes I somehow manage to recall a yoga trick that Stephanie once told me can help in a stressful situation…

Just breathe.

I take a deep breath.

Here goes nothing…