As a master of the flippant comeback, Catherine found herself at a sudden loss. She’d never been so flustered before, which said much about her growing feelings for Logan. She didn’t like lying to him, and yet she couldn’t bring herself to admit his father’s disapproval had tainted an otherwise successful day. Or that she feared he’d blacklist her company instead of recommending it.
“I don’t believe you.”
A grin caught hold despite her negative thoughts. “I didn’t think you would. But I do appreciate your faith in me—I mean, my abilities.”
“Easy to have faith when it’s been earned.”
His cell phone rang, saving her from having to answer. Logan shot her a regretful look before easing his hand from hers. She felt the glide of his rougher skin as it slid away, and she most definitely felt the loss.
He walked across the room, a confidence to his stride that would be hard to miss. Catherine sighed. He was a man with presence and enough sex appeal to make a woman feel alive. Cherished.
He picked his cell on the third ring. “Hello.” He hesitated a beat. “Yes, Gran, I got Cat home fine.” He paused. “Whose home?” Logan glanced at her and winked. “Whose home do you think?” he asked. “Don’t worry, okay? She’s home safe and sound. We both are.”
Catherine listened as Logan humored his grandmother while protecting her privacy. She appreciated his discretion and almost envied him the older woman’s strength and love. She’d never had someone that stable to rely on unless she counted her sister. Catherine smiled. At l
east she could always count on Kayla.
“No, I don’t want to talk to the judge.” Logan’s voice drew her back to the present. “Gran? I said no. Tell him… Hello, Dad.”
Catherine stifled a groan. The last thing she needed was a reminder of their differences, not when they seemed so minimal when they were together. His father, the infamous Judge Montgomery, managed to make her feel insecure by his very presence in Logan’s life.
“No. No breakfast tomorrow. I won’t be hungry.”
Catherine had to laugh.
“Running for mayor? I plan to be too worn out to run anywhere tomorrow. I have to go… No. I’m hanging up now. Bye.” Logan looked at the screen and disconnected the call before his father could possibly respond.
He met Catherine’s gaze with an amused one of his own. “Emma’s golden rule. If you tell someone you’re hanging up, they haven’t been hung up on,” he explained with a grin.
“I suppose I should remember that.”
“Might come in handy sometime,” he agreed.
“Your grandmother is a piece of work.” Still, Catherine couldn’t help but like the older woman. The more she learned about Logan’s childhood and his relationship with Emma, the more her respect for the woman grew. If Logan was a decent man, and Catherine sensed the answer was a resounding yes, then Emma deserved the credit.
Logan nodded. “She likes to think so. Keeps her young and healthy in here.” He tapped his head. “And keeps me on my toes.”
Catherine agreed with him there. “She locked us in the coat closet. I’d say you have your hands full staying one step ahead of her.”
“Sometimes it’s not worth the effort. After all, she got the upper hand today, and look where it got us.” His heavy-lidded gaze strayed to hers. His eyes held warmth and a signal she couldn’t possibly mistake.
“And where would that be?”
“Alone, together, if you want us to be.”
So, the next move was up to her. She shouldn’t be surprised. Logan had been a gentleman from the first moment they’d met. He wouldn’t stop just because he had her alone in his home. If anything, in the past couple of hours he’d become more sensitive to her feelings.
He offered Catherine many things she’d never received before—respect, admiration, and a sense of acceptance. That he desired her went without saying. That he’d let her control what, if anything, happened between them put him in a class by himself.
She chuckled. He already was.
“The choice is yours, Cat.” His husky voice was deep and warm, comforting like a friend and seductive like a lover’s caress. She shivered at the thought.
Silence stretched between them until she couldn’t stand the strain. There was nothing holding Catherine back from being with Logan except…
The loud beeps of the microwave announced that dinner was ready—and saved Catherine from herself, at least for now.
Chapter Five