The thought gave her little comfort. “I’m back.”
He glanced over his shoulder. “I’ll be done in a second.”
She walked toward the welcoming fire and took a seat on the floor in front of the couch. “Fire in the spring?” she asked.
“Why not? If you want something, why not make it happen?”
“Next thing I know you’ll tell me you can make it snow in summer,” she mused.
He laughed. “You don’t make anything easy, do you?”
“Would it be worth it if I did?”
“Touché.” He groaned and shifted his attention to the fire. “This is just one of the perks of living by the water.” He stood, hands on his thighs as he rose to his feet. “Since it’s always cooler here you can take advantage of the nighttime chill… or the daytime heat.”
His darkened gaze met hers. There was no chill in the air now and the fire had nothing to do with the heat arcing between them.
“Music?” he asked.
She nodded. “Something quiet. Mellow.” Without thought, she reached for her head and began a steady massaging of her temples.
“Something wrong?” He came up beside her.
“Just a slight headache. Postparty letdown,” she explained. “I get one after every big event.”
“Release of the stress you claimed you didn’t have,” he said with a grin.
“Exactly.”
He picked up his cell and fiddled with the music app until mellow jazz music surrounded them.
Logan came up behind her and eased himself onto the floor. “Is the music okay?” he asked.
“It’s wonderful.” The low strains were soothing. Between the party today and the sexual tension throbbing inside her, she was wound tight. His choice in music was the perfect antidote for her stress and she felt the tension in her shoulders and back begin to ease.
“And the head? How’s that?”
“Hurts,” she admitted.
He settled himself back against the couch and motioned for her to sit between his legs. “Lucky for you I have just the cure.” His darkened gaze met hers. “Come here, Cat.”
She didn’t hesitate. How could she?
Logan was a man who inspired trust and she trusted him. It wasn’t like her to invest so much faith in a man she’d just met, and the notion scared her. The only way to get through this was to hang on to her heart—and she sensed that wouldn’t be as easy as she hoped.
Catherine drew a deep breath and maneuvered herself until she sat in the V of his legs. His warm, solid strength surrounded her, and when his hands wrapped around her waist to better position her, a shot of fire sizzled through her veins.
“Relax. Your headache won’t go away if you’re still tense.”
“Keep your hands there and I can guarantee you relaxing’s the last thing I’ll do.”
He chuckled, his warm breath fanning her neck. “Now, hang on.” He released his hold on her waist, giving her a chance to breathe easy once more. Then he curled his legs beneath him until he sat cross-legged. “Lie back,” he instructed. “Head here.” He patted the welcoming space between his knees.
She eyed him warily but eased her body down until she lay back and propped her head in his lap.
“Okay, now close your eyes.”
The last glimpse she got before she shut her eyes was Logan staring down at her with a heart-stopping grin.