Meeting His Match (Single In the City 1)

The lie in her eyes burned bright.

He slid his hand down the side of her face.

“What are you doing?” she whispered.

“Looking at you.” He felt like he was seeing her for the first time.

&nbs

p; “What do you see?” She arched a brow in challenge, her tone light, counterbalancing the trembling of her hands.

He wouldn’t let her hide.

“I see a girl who doesn’t want to be right.”

Neither of them spoke. Seconds felt like hours.

Inching closer, he took in the floral scent of her perfume. Anticipation snapped between them like a live wire. Marti’s eyes widened, and his grip tightened his hold on her, his fingers raking into the hair at the base of her skull.

And like the slamming of a door, he saw the moment her guard went up. Fear flickered in her eyes before she pushed him away, palms firm on his chest.

Angling her head to the side, away from him, she said, “If we’re doing this, continuing this charade, we’ll be more and more in the spotlight. The stuff you told me tonight, it will be fair game for people to use how they see fit.”

Normally, the thought would petrify him. It probably should. If people ever questioned his ability as a doctor, it would crush him. But all her warning did was tick him off. “Is that supposed to scare me, McBride? Make me want to quit this?”

“No. But it’s reality. And I need to make sure you know what you’re up against.”

Oh, he knew what he was up against, all right. And it wasn’t the media. It was Marti McBride, with barbed wire around her heart.

Reaching out, he stroked a thumb over her cheek once before let his hands fall to his lap. “I think I’ll take my chances.”

LOGAN: Did you see the picture of us at Central Park? Were they hiding in the trees?

He stared at the somewhat blurry photo of them posted on some gossip account on Instagram. He’d wanted to drive to her workplace the moment he saw it, just for an excuse to talk to her, but after the other night, he thought he needed a couple days to cool down.

He would never have seen it had Brittney not called him a billion times, demanding to know if there was more going on with him and Marti than their intended arrangement.

Heck if he knew.

Marti: Don’t say I didn’t warn you. All it takes is one person with a camera to recognize me and this is a possibility. Normally, people don’t care that much, but this whole thing with you and me has everyone talking.

Logan: Can’t complain. Hidden Heartbeat just scored the Baby Co. endorsement deal. They are now officially partnering with us. Or at least they will be after we sign papers this afternoon.

Marti: Wow. That is amazing. Congratulations. Looks like my job is done.

Logan: Nice try, but we’re only halfway there. I read the article you wrote about us, by the way. Nice. It was pretty complimentary where I’m concerned. Just saying.

Marti: It was entirely fabricated.

Logan: Sure it was. ?? What are you doing right now?

Marti: Having coffee.

Logan: Where?

Marti: None of your business.

Logan: Ooh, sounds fancy. Is it new?