That kiss was better than I expected, and that actually scares me a little bit. I expected to like it, of course, but not as much as I did.

By the time he let me go, I was dripping wet and ready to do whatever he wanted. If that raccoon hadn’t come along and scared the heck out of me, I would have given in to him. I know I would have let him do whatever he wanted right then and there, right in the park where anybody could have caught us. I wanted him that badly, and all just from a single kiss.

That’s what scares me. Normally, I’m more reserved than that. I can control myself. But with Logan, I’m not sure I really can control myself at all.

When we get back to the apartment, I head back into my room to unpack the stuff I brought. I get changed, used the bathroom, and then climb onto my bed with my laptop in my lap. I pop open the lid and just intend to mess around online before heading to bed. I still have to work in the morning, and it’s getting a little late. I don’t want the boss to think I’m shirking my duties by staying up until all hours of the night.

As I check my email, something catches my eye. I haven’t been looking at my personal email for a few days, just because I’ve been distracted. But this is from someone I don’t recognize, and the subject line is pretty creepy.

Pictures prove you’re a liar, Everly.

I stare at the email before clicking on it. There’s a little text at the top, which I read first.

I know you’re not telling the truth about you and Logan, but I don’t know why. I’ll figure it out soon, though. And when I do, you’ll be mine.

A shiver runs down my spine and I can feel fear growing in my gut. I don’t know who sent this, but someone suspects that my relationship with Logan isn’t real. I’m already on edge from that creepy walk home, and now this is just shoving me over the edge.

I scroll down and there are pictures of me, each one dated. And each one shows that I’m not pregnant.

But what I find at the bottom of the email makes me scream.

It’s a picture I took a couple of years ago, a sexy picture. I’m not usually the dirty selfies kind, but I was flirting with a guy back then, and it was fun. The picture isn’t naked, I’m covering the important bits with my hands, but it’s still very revealing.

And I never showed it to anyone before. Not even to the guy. I took the picture and kept it on my phone but I never sent it.

I don’t know why I scream. But I shove my computer away, horrified. I don’t even realize that I screamed until Logan pushes open my door, concern on his face.

“Everly,” he says. “What’s wrong?”

He rushes over to my bedside.

“The email,” I say, pointing at my computer. “Shit, nobody should have that. Logan, how does he have that?”

I’m babbling and not making any sense, I know, but I can’t think straight. I’m so creeped out and feel so incredibly violated. Logan picks up my laptop and scrolls through the message, reading it with a concerned look on his face.

When he gets to the bottom picture, something flashes across his expression, but it quickly disappears. He closes the lid and looks at me. “What shouldn’t he have?” he asks.

I take a deep breath, getting ahold of myself. “That last picture,” I say. “I took it for a guy two years ago. But I never sent it. I’ve just had it on my phone.”

“Damn,” he says softly. “Do you know what this means?”

I shake my head, but I think I already know.

“Someone hacked your phone,” he says. “I don’t know who or how, but they must have.”

“Why include that picture?” I ask him.

“Whoever did this must want you to realize that he has access to your phone. I think someone is messing with you.”

I take a deep breath again, trying to calm myself, but my heart is hammering in my chest. I don’t know why I’ve been so jumpy lately, but there’s just something about this situation that’s causing me a ton of stress. It’s probably because I’m lying to the whole world right now, including my own mother.

I’ve never been good at this sort of thing. I usually pride myself on being a good person. Lying about being married to a man just to trick someone else into selling a property is so outside of my normal self that I’m amazed I’m even doing it.

But there’s just something about Logan that I can’t deny. He frowns at me for a second before looking through the email again. I watch his handsome face, etched with concern, go through the whole thing again.

It only occurs to me after he reads it a second time that he’s looking at that mostly-naked picture of me. I quickly reach forward and grab the computer from him. “Okay, that’s enough,” I say, blushing like crazy.

He looks confused for a second then grins. “Come on, Everly.”

“You don’t need to keep looking.”

He laughs softly. “Not going to pretend that I don’t like that picture. But that’s not what I’m doing.”

“I’m sure.”

“You do look good, though. You can barely cover your breasts with your arm.”

I blush even more. “Enough.”

“I’m just saying. There’s something incredibly sexy about a woman that can barely contain herself. And you can barely keep it under control.”

“I can control myself just fine, thanks.”

“Tell that to your lips.” He smirks and steps closer to me. “They’ve been hanging open, begging to be kissed.”

“Logan,” I say.

He grins at me but doesn’t move. “Don’t worry. I’m going to take care of this.”

I let out a breath. “How?”

“I know some people. I’ll make some calls.”

“What am I supposed to do with this now, though?”

“Keep it,” he says. “I’m going to need that email.”

“But it had… that picture.” I blush again and look away. “People are going to see it.”

“Maybe,” he concedes. “But I promise only people that absolutely need to see it will see it.”

I sigh. “This is going too far. I didn’t sign up for this.”

“I know you didn’t. And I promise, whoever did this is going to pay.”

I look at him and I believe him. I don’t know why, but I do. “Who do you think it was?”

“I don’t know,” he admits. “Could be a few people.”

“How many enemies do you have?” I ask, exasperated.

“I’m rich, Everly. When you’re as wealthy as I am, people come after you. It’s impossible to avoid.”

“And I’m just caught in the crossfire?”

“Maybe,” he says slowly. “But I don’t know. This looked targeted. I didn’t get anything, but you did.”

“Maybe they think I’m an easier target.”

He grins at that. “Maybe. But they’re in for a rude surprise.” He steps even closer to me and sits down on the bed, leaning toward me. “Because you’re mine now, Everly. And I’m going to take care of you.”

I stare into his gorgeous eyes for a second before he reaches out, takes my hair, and pulls me toward him.

I fall into his kiss again. His mouth opens and his tongue rolls against mine, sending shivers down my spine. I kiss him full and deep, wanting it so badly. I want him to make me forget all about this email. I want him to make me feel good again.

Slowly we kiss like that, but finally we break apart. “You’re safe,” he says. “But I need something from you.”

“Anything,” I say, a little breathless.

His smirk is maddening. “I need your laptop.”

I hesitate. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. I promise I won’t snoop. And I’ll get you a new one.”

I sigh. “Okay.” I push the laptop toward him.

He takes it. “It’ll be safe. I’ll have someone look into this.” He stands up. “Get some sleep.”

“Yeah, okay,” I say.

He walks to the door and hesitates. “Look… you can back out of this. Whenever you want.”

I blink at him. “I didn’t say I wanted that.”

“I know. But I want you to know that the option is there.”

“Thanks,” I say, a little surprised.

“But I don’t want you to go. I just understand if this is too much.”

“Okay.” I’m not sure what to say. I don’t want to leave, but I’m really freaked out by that email.

He smiles at me before leaving and shutting the door behind him. I collapse back into the bed, conflicting feelings swirling inside of me.

On the one hand, I kissed Logan twice now, and both times were incredible. But on the other, that email was one of the most horrifying things I’ve ever gotten, and I don’t know how to feel about it.

I decide to go to bed and put this off until tomorrow. I’ll deal with all of this then and hopefully Logan is able to figure it all out. I have to trust him. I don’t know what else to do.