Logan sighed as he strolled down the hallway. “How did you get in?”
“Walked through the walls.” Rocco rounded the corner, looking both curious and insistent.
“Give.” Logan held out his hand. He wasn’t in the mood.
“Seriously?” Rocco looked surprised.
“Now.”
Rocco smacked the keys into Logan’s hand. “You’ve finally shaved off that hideous beard.”
“Had to for that photo shoot today.”
“Thank God, thought you were going all Deliverance on us for a while there. But it seems you were being secretive instead. Going for the disguise while courting your fiancée. Where is she?”
“You’re not seeing her. Go away.”
“Seriously Logan, you can’t get away with this without telling all.”
“I’m a guy. We don’t talk, we do.”
“So let me meet what you’ve been doing.” Rocco said.
“Watch it.” Logan glared at him.
Rocco grinned. “Protective? You’re kidding me.”
“I’m not getting away with anything. This is legit. Now leave us alone.”
“You can’t be ser—”
“Leave. Now.”
“She’s here?” Rocco angled his head and looked beyond Logan who’d been doing his best impersonation of a road block. “You’re Araminta?” Rocco’s focus narrowed.
Logan rolled his eyes and swung to face her. Typical that she’d not stayed where he wanted her to. Instead she was walking down the wide hallway towards them. But he saw the slight movement of her throat as she swallowed and couldn’t help tensing slightly.
“I’m Min,” she spoke low and slow and with a smile. “You’re Rocco.”
Easing in one way, and fully going hard in another, Logan glanced back in time to see Rocco’s jaw drop. Yeah, the sultry whispery voice had that effect. Not that she did it for that reason, Logan figured that the ‘voice’ only came on when she was feeling uncertain. When she was afraid she’d stutter. It was all a strategy.
But she had no idea of the different ways in which it worked.
Logan glared at Rocco, despite the fact his friend wasn’t looking at him to notice. No, Rocco was too busy staring at the dishevelled bit of gorgeous that was Min—even with the stains and the loosening braid. She was all wide eyes and fair skin and freckles, her body slim but round in the right places. Soft and sweet, the kind of body a man wanted to sink his teeth into.
Yeah, he knew exactly what Rocco was thinking.
“Time to go.” He snapped at Rocco, biting back the string of cuss words crowding into his mouth.
Rocco turned and stared at him. “But I haven’t—”
“Too bad, time to go.” Logan resorted to physical and gave Rocco a shove. “Don’t you know its bad form to interrupt a newly engaged couple? We have a private celebration planned.”
“Since when were you into private?” Rocco said drily, walking backwards, past Min, all the way to the door as Logan advanced in a more menacing fashion. “And I know nothing of engaged couple protocol. Don’t want to.”
“Then take your heathen ass elsewhere.” Logan meant it. And as Rocco’s expression tightened, he knew his friend had finally gotten that message.
Min remained in the middle of the hallway, unable to look away as Rocco stopped walking, his back right against the door. He stared at Logan, like there was some kind of silent communication happening between the two men. Then Rocco leaned his head enough to catch Min’s eye. “Nice to meet you Min. Truly a pleasure.”
Min just smiled weakly, her throat felt crazy clogged again.
“I hope you know what the fuck you’re doing.” Rocco’s harsh words to Logan could be heard right across the room regardless of the way he’d whispered them as Logan opened the door. “She’s not—”
“Talk tomorrow.” Logan shut the door and flicked the bolt with a resounding, final click.
Min cemented her smile in place as Logan turned back to face her. So he’d been going to a party tonight, had he? Going to hit the town with his partner-in-crime and slay his way through another few women? Add a couple more notches to the bedpost that was probably in danger of crumbling to dust.
There was one thing she really needed to make clear. Again. Especially after seeing his friends and knowing what Logan’s original plan for the evening had been. Especially after that near moment in the elevator just then.
But before she could speak he stalked up to within an inch of her, energized. “I’ll show you round the rest of the apartment.”
Min held her breath then released it as he took the slightest of steps to the side, his body almost brushing hers as he passed her. That almost-touch was deliberate and she had to deal to it. Nothing was happening between them, she’d ensure it.
Min slowly followed, thinking up her defense strategy as he lead her into the more private part of his home. But then she turned into the doorway he stood by. She pressed her lips together to stifle her gasp.
Who could afford this kind of space in the middle of Manhattan? The room was huge—all white and gleaming and totally minimalist. It was undeniably stylish and serene. She walked into the center of the room, slowly circling with an assessing eye, noting the few well-placed paintings but it was the occasional sculpture on the low tables that really caught her attention. It seemed he liked glass blown into beautiful curves, with sublime color somehow spun inside. She liked them too. Each piece was perfect. And though there were no personal photos adorning the room, that choice of art somehow seemed intimate.
“What are you thinking?” He leaned against the wall just inside the door, arms crossed, watching her.
“I’m deciding which of your personal items I’m going to sell on EBay when you’re not looking.” She sent him a saccharine smile. “You sure you still want me to stay here?”
“I’m sure.” He lifted away from the wall and walked towards her. “I should warn you I’m planning to keep a very close eye on you.”
She turned her back on him as he advanced, failing the first rule of combat. But seriously, his eyes were lethal weapons. And so much for thinking she could unnerve him.
“So is this it?” she asked in a bored tone. “You have a f-f-fold away bed in the corner?”
“No,” Laughter tinged his answer. “This is only the beginning.”
If that were true she was going to have to really pull out her acting moves to cover up her gauche overwhelmed reaction to such an apartment.
And act she did—nonchalant and unimpressed—as he lead her through to the large stainless steel and black marble kitchen, yet more marble in the guest bathroom. Then the series of bedrooms. She remained mute, not trusting the catch in her throat. No wonder the guy thought he could get away with anything. He owned the world up here. He moved into the sleeping quarters. One guest bedroom, them another, then another. Then finally—
“This is my bedroom,” he said.
Was it her or did his voice sound a little huskier?
“Great.” She broke her silence briskly, not bothering to even glance at it. She didn’t want to see the scene of all his conquests, but more than that she didn’t want to be thinking about beds. Bed made her think of sex and she was overheated already. The entire apartment seemed to be set on a higher than average temperature—it was the aircon, right? Not just her body going out of whack.
“And this is your room.” He didn’t hide his chuckle.
Min peeked through the doorway. ‘Her’ room was right next door to his. Big problem. She wouldn’t be surprised if one of those doors in there interconnected with his room.
She frowned.
“What’s wrong?” he goaded gently. “You don’t like it?”
What was not to like about that giant bed with its pure cotton coverings and mountain of pillows and cushions and the thick curtains that would guarantee total blackout? It was designed for peace and rest, something she found oddly surprising. The bitch in her had thought he’d be all mirrors and fancy lighting and a treasure chest of sex toys in each room as if his apartment was really some kind of bordello. Instead he was way more human than that—multi-faceted. And frankly, that made her uncomfortable. It was easier to paint him as the wicked Lothario.
“Well,” She cleared her throat and tried to quell her sudden nerves. She was modern woman, dammit, in control of her own destiny. “I think we need to establish a couple of ground rules.”
“Oh?”
She just had to come out with it. “For the two days or whatever that this ridiculous engagement stands, there’ll be no other women. None.”
His lips twitched. “You don’t need to tell me that.”
“Are you serious? Of course I do.” He’d been toying with her since the moment they’d met. “If this were for real I’d have you sign the contract in blood. But let me tell you, there will be blood shed if you let me d-d-down on this.”
He leaned a shoulder against the hall wall and eyed her. “Someone hurt you sometime?”
Oh she wasn’t going there. “If we’re redeeming your reputation, we’re doing it for real.”
“We’re doing everything for real?” His eyebrows flickered.
“You can’t help yourself can you? Always it comes back to sex. You’re an addict.”
He didn’t answer. This time his expression didn’t alter at all. Yet she felt as if she’d let him down somehow. Which was so dumb. But for once Min felt compelled to fill the conversation gap. “I don’t want to be publicly humiliated.” Been there, done that, and it so sucked.
“What does it matter what anyone thinks of you?” Logan stepped away from the wall. “You can’t let someone else’s opinion stop you from what you want to do.”
“So its just ‘opinion’ on whether something is right or wrong?” She simmered with annoyance again.