Heart thudding, she whirled to face whoever had sharply called her name.
Hunter?
She hadn’t spoken much to the muscled, serious-looking man when they’d been at Summerhill. He seemed to say little but know a lot. And he’d take care of the ring, she was certain.
But he was looking suspiciously at her. “What are you doing here?” he asked bluntly.
Didn’t he know it was all over between her and Logan? “I w-w-wanted...” She trailed off, feeling faint. She didn’t want to talk. She just wanted to leave.
“You’d better sit down.” He grabbed her elbow and guided her to the nearest chair. He took the one opposite and stared at her. “Where’s Logan?”
Totally direct, wasn’t he? She wished she could be. Instead she swallowed and didn’t answer.
“I’ve been away,” Hunter glanced around the lobby, his expression uncharacteristically tense. “I’m still catching up on everything that’s happened.” He shot another frowning glance towards the elevators. “You’re not with Logan?”
She knew he didn’t mean just this exact minute. She shook her head.
He pressed his lips together. “You wanted to see Rocco?”
She twisted the diamond ring off her finger and held it out. “I wanted him to give this back to L-l-l...” she trailed off, abandoning the attempt to say his name.
Hunter looked at the ring. He held out his hand, palm up. She dropped the jewel into it.
“I’ll make sure he gets it.” He put the ring into his pocket.
She nodded. That was it, disposed of. Just like her.
“Where are you going now?” Hunter glanced around the lobby again before fixing his unemotional, assessing gaze back on her.
She had no idea.
“Home?” Hunter waited. His face remained expressionless even though she remained silent. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell him. I’m good at keeping secrets.”
She bet he was. He was that coolly hard-headed. But it wasn’t like Logan was ever going to ask. To her horror, tears sprang to her eyes.
“I’ll see you there safely.” Hunter said, his tone clipped. “I spotted Pete Boulder at the restaurant two doors along, I don’t think you want to bump into him just now.”
She certainly didn’t. Him or any other photographer. Or anyone at all for that matter.
“Come on.” Hunter stood. “I’ll take you there now.”
Logan’s week went from atrocious... to just... there were no words.
He felt like the freaking, walking dead. The zombie Min had once accused him of being. He didn’t know what he needed, but sitting in his empty apartment wasn’t doing it. But that call from Rocco hadn’t quite been the summons he’d been seeking either.
“Whiskey, double. And a beer.” He sat on the stool in the bar of Rocco’s hotel and watched the bartender’s quick movements.
Frustration surged. He’d gotten used to Min’s company. Now she wasn’t alongside him it was like his right arm had been cut off. He couldn’t turn to see the sparkle in her eye. Couldn’t share an aside with her. Couldn’t tease or laugh.
He was close with Connor, but they hadn’t lived under the same roof in years. Xander and Hunter lived in the same building. And Rocco?
Rocco had called him earlier today, asked him to come and see him here at the hotel. He’d been there with Dani and, yeah, Logan wasn’t ready to think about that much yet.
He’d been alone a long while. Hadn’t shared an apartment in years. So why did it suddenly seem big and empty and soulless? Why was he suddenly feeling like he needed a goddamn friend?
It wasn’t a friend he wanted.
He could hop on a plane and go work on product development somewhere. Or he could have a night out. Get back to his usual way of life. The life that had been perfectly fine before. Plain perfect, in fact.
What he wanted to do, more than anything this second, was forget the past fortnight. All the fun. All the nightmare. The last half hour.
Hunter walked into the bar. “What are you doing?” He looked at the line-up of drinks in front of Logan. “You realize it’s the middle of the afternoon?”
Logan looked at the drinks, neither of which he’d yet touched. “I want to get blind fucking drunk.”
“So you can do some blind fucking?” Hunter asked harshly, leaning sideways against the bar so he could glare at Logan. “Pick some random hottie and do her everyway ‘til Sunday?”
“What’s wrong with that idea?” Logan asked belligerently. “You used to do it all the time.”
“I don’t have a fiancée,” Hunter replied. “I don’t have Min as my woman.”
“She’s not my woman.”
Hunter snorted. “I saw the way you were together.”
“Just lust. She doesn’t want to marry me for real. She only became my fiancée because I blackmailed her into it in the first place.”
“Did you blackmail her into your bed?” Hunter asked.
“I made it hard for her to say no.” Logan lifted his beer and swigged from the bottle.
But equally she’d made it hard for him to resist.
Impossible to resist.
Hell he missed her. Only her words burned—that he had no faith in himself? That he didn’t believe in himself?
“Where is she?” Xander took the seat on the other side of him.
Jeez, they were all turning up? “Shouldn’t you be in Mexico?”
“It was only a short trip. Seems a lot has happened since I’ve been gone though.”
“Don’t Xan.” Logan took another sip of his beer. “Rocco called you, right?”
“He’s concerned,” Xander said.
“He doesn’t need to be. Nor do you.”
And Logan was not thinking about Rocco this moment. Or Dani. And definitely not Min.
“I’ve been concerned for months Logan,” Xander said. “I was distracted for a while—”
Logan snorted.
“Okay I’m still distracted. Chelsea’s a handful. But you’ve not been happy for a long time. You need to sort it out.”
Logan sighed. “You were right. I’m in trouble.”
“You’ve not got her pregnant?” Xander looked stunned.
“No.” Logan rolled his eyes. Though it wasn’t a bad idea. He could see her looking soft and pretty all rounded
with his child.
He smacked his forehead into his palm. It was a dreadful idea. Trap the woman into staying with him? She’d resent him forever.
Besides, look what had happened the last time a lover of his had gotten pregnant.
Pain sliced into his chest. A pain he’d never allowed himself to feel. He never thought about it. Never wanted to acknowledge it. Never remembered.
But it was there. Always had been. And the truths hurled at his head that day?
Still rang true, right? He was the short-term screw.
“Leave it, Xan,” he said. “There’s nothing more to say.”
“Fine. But I’m having some lunch.”
Logan turned his back on his buddies and looked out at the room. Watched as temptation walked in. A woman. Tall, beautiful, available. She glanced at him, her attention lingered.
Six months ago Logan would have been over her like a rash. The invitation in her eyes, the sultry sway of her hips...
He was so not interested now.
She walked over to him, her gaze focused on his face. “You haven’t been out much recently.”
She’d recognized him but he couldn’t place her. A model most probably.
“I’ve been busy,” he said.
“Too busy for some fun?”
“Thanks but I’m taken.” He smiled but turned away, ignoring the woman’s small pout.
As far as the rest of the world was concerned he was still engaged and he was happy to let that idea stand a while yet.
He’d needed someone novel and fresh. Min was definitely fresh. Minty cold and biting. Like a sorbet, a palate cleanser.
Did that mean he was ready to return to the rich spread—to taste all the different dishes on offer? The thought of rich variety made him feel sick.
He didn’t want anyone else. He wanted Min. But she? She’d used him the way he’d used so many others. She’d played with him and found some sexual confidence and freedom along the way.
And that’s all she’d wanted from him, right? She hadn’t meant it when she’d challenged him about not having faith in himself. She was the one who lacked the faith in him and he didn’t blame her. She didn’t want the life she thought he’d offer.