“Guest awareness is part of my job.”
“Seems to me hiding behind your job is part of your job.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked, although she already knew. Logan had obviously seen through her feigned disinterest.
He walked up beside her. His masculine scent tantalized and seduced. A swirling ribbon of desire unfurled in her belly and reached straight to her core.
“I meant every time I try to get close, you scurry behind the job description. Do I scare you, Cat?” His voice lowered a dangerous, seductive octave.
His gaze never wavered. Warm eyes she could drown in locked and held with hers. Did he scare her? More than he could imagine.
“Because that’s the last thing I want.”
“Then what do you want, Mr. Montgomery?”
He laughed deep in his throat. “Semantics won’t keep me at a distance. It’s Logan.”
“I…”
“Say it.”
She licked her dry lips. His gaze followed the movement. “Logan,” she murmured more to appease him than to become more intimate.
“Nice. Now, as I was saying… I want to erase that cynicism from those beautiful green eyes. I want to make your dreams come true.”
His words struck Catherine in her heart. Unfortunately, she still didn’t believe he saw her as more than an interesting diversion from the more cultured, more beautifully dressed women at the party. Women who would trip over themselves for a chance at landing one of the state’s most eligible bachelors.
“You want a good time,” she said.
He had the audacity to grin. “That, too.”
She wanted to give in to that handsome face and easy smile, which meant she had to get out of here, to her empty apartment where safety and reality would reassert themselves.
“Logan,” she said, not wanting to give him further reason to believe he affected her. “I think…”
A loud thud cut her off as the closet door slammed shut behind them. She jumped at the unexpected sound.
“Hold that thought.” He touched her lips with one finger. Heat traveled between her mouth and his skin.
A shiver took hold. Desire? Fear? Probably both. Though she liked to flirt, she’d never reacted to a man with such carnal, sensual awareness before.
Before she could think further, he strode to the door and jiggled the door handle. The muted sound of metal hitting the marble floor sounded from outside. He muttered a curse.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing as long as you aren’t claustrophobic.” He held the doorknob aloft in his hand. “Looks like the old lady has her own agenda. Not that I mind.”
An uncomfortable feeling arose in the pit of her stomach. “What are you saying?” She eyed the doorknob he held onto and shook her head.
He banged on the door with his fist. “Open up, Gran.”
“What’s your hurry?” Emma called out. “The company’s good, and the way things look, you’ve got plenty of time. I’ve got to find someone in this house who understands hardware. I think I did serious damage.” The click of heels on the floor sounded as she walked away.
“She didn’t,” Catherine said, glaring at the door through narrowed eyes. She wasn’t claustrophobic, but she disliked the feeling of being trapped. Especially with this man.
“She did.” Logan shrugged. “Sorry. She tends to get carried away.”
“She?”