Chapter 41

Terri slept most of the flight back to Chicago. The few times she did wake up, she found Logan either watching her or staring out the window with his hand on her knee. Each time, the sight of him brought on a wave of comfort and she drifted back to sleep immediately.

When they arrived at their home airport, it was late morning. And thank God for it. That way, her body had at least a chance of kicking the jet lag within twenty-four hours.

Trudging from the plane, she climbed into Logan’s convertible, which someone had brought out to the tarmac for them.

“You know…” She dropped her head back against the seat. “I still haven’t been to my apartment.”

“You going back there would mean us being apart, and I thought I already made it pretty clear I never want to be away from you again. You’re staying with me tonight.”

She cocked an eyebrow. “Is that supposed to be an order?”

“It’s a passionate request. Please. Please stay with me tonight.” He smirked as he turned the car away from the airport. “And tomorrow night.”

“I have to go home at some point. My things are there.”

“I’ll send someone for them,” he answered matter-of-factly.

She shook her head but also smiled. Was he being serious?

“You’ll get tired of me,” she warned.

“Try me.”

“I have this bad habit of leaving clothes everywhere.”

“I leave the bathroom light on.”

“In the middle of the night?” She scrunched her face up.

“Yep.”

“Oh…” She sucked in a sharp breath. “I dunno. That might be a dealbreaker.”

They burst into laughter, and suddenly Terri realized that though they’d spent numerous nights sleeping near each other, they had never been together in that way. And yet here they were discussing doing something that sounded specifically like moving in together.

The fact that they’d developed such a deep intimacy having never even seen each other naked sent a thrill through her.

She snuggled deeper into the seat, enjoying the warmth beating down on her skin as they zoomed for Logan’s house. With the appearance of the gates arrived a comfort she hadn’t expected. In a way, his house felt like home.

“It’s Kim’s day off,” Logan said as he parked in the garage.

“I’ve lived my whole life without a housekeeper and cook. I’m sure I’ll manage.”

“Oh, I’ll be cooking for you.” He winked. “I wanted to let you know that we have the place entirely to ourselves.”

She made a noise of acknowledgement; it was too hard to find her voice and utter words. Heat raced through her body, and she ached to climb into Logan’s lap right there in the car.

He was already getting out from behind the wheel, though, so she opened her door and followed him into the house. A few steps into the living room and he suddenly spun on her.

Hands on her hips, he backed her up against the wall. She gasped as her shoulder blades hit the hard surface. Logan’s lips dragged across her jaw and down her throat before coming back up to find her mouth.

Terri dug her fingers in his hair, relishing the kiss. Her shirt bunched in his hands, and she moaned gently into his mouth. The kiss could go on for the rest of the day, and she wouldn’t have minded at all.

Eventually, though, he broke the lip-lock and stepped back.

“Lunch.”

“If you say so.”

He pushed hair from her face. “You go upstairs and relax. I’ll bring it to you.”

“Are you sure? I can help.”

“Positive.”

“Okay.” With one last peck on his lips, she pushed off the wall and walked upstairs.

She’d taken next to nothing with her to Zurich and it felt like eons since she’d bathed. Turning on the shower as hot as she could stand it, she stripped and stepped into the delicious steam.

Closing her eyes, she let the droplets do their work and pummel the stress away. Images of what had happened at Bryce’s house flashed through her mind. Finding the photos. His sudden appearance, gun pointed straight at her face.

A chill that the hottest water couldn’t prevent went down her back. She’d thought that would be the end of her. Looking down the barrel of the gun, she’d thought two things: that she wished beyond all hope that someone heard the shot and came to find the photos before Bryce had the chance to hide them again, and that it was a damn shame that she’d never told Logan she loved him.

Even though he’d hurt her. Even though she didn’t know if she could trust him. Those things aside, she knew right then, staring death in the face, that she would love him forever.

But she hadn’t died. She’d been given a second chance.

The question was, what would she do with it?

Killing the water, she stepped from the shower and grabbed a fluffy towel. It could be a while before Bryce’s trial began. She’d need to find something to occupy herself with until then. Something other than drooling over Logan and lazing around his pool.

She padded into the guest bedroom, towel clutched around her torso.

“Terri?”

There was a soft knock on the bedroom door. Logan’s voice made her breath linger in her throat.

She swallowed, about to tell him she’d be out in a minute, but then reconsidered that.

“Come in,” she called instead.

The door opened, and Logan stepped into the room. The second he caught sight of her standing there in a towel, his eyes went wide.

“Oh.” His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. “Hi.”

“Hey,” she breathed.

They stood there for a long moment, him at the door and her halfway across the room, near the bed, just looking at each other.

“Lunch is ready.” He blinked and swallowed some more.

“Great.”

Still, neither one of them made a move. Terri’s skin felt hot all over, and she could see pink tinting Logan’s cheeks.

“You’re blushing.” She bit into a smile. “I don’t know that I’ve ever seen you blushing before.”

“It’s, um…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Hard not to with such a beautiful woman standing in front of me.” He cleared his throat and looked down. “I’ll give you some privacy. Come down whenever you’re ready.”

“Logan.” She took a step forward, and he froze, hand on the doorknob. “Yes?”

She tugged on her towel, letting it drop to the floor.

“I’m not hungry quite yet.”