Logan (Carolina Reapers 4)

I stayed put for the same exact reason. Another minute next to her, and I was going to find myself in some serious fucking trouble.

Attraction was one thing, but the blatant, consuming need that had struck me just then was something different. Needs were things you had to assuage.

Needs were undeniable.

She turned the corner, out of sight, and I let my head rest against the shelf.

I didn’t need her to be next to me. I was already in serious fucking trouble.

4

Delaney

The waves crashed against the sand, a constant, steady stream of sound as Quinn and I walked the length of the beach. The cold temperatures had deterred most would-be beach-goers, but I relished the vast expanse of sand and ocean before us.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t help checking my cell every few minutes.

Logan and I had texted back and forth for half the night last night.

And the night before that.

And the one before that.

I may have re-read our conversations once or twice, if only to ensure myself that I’d read it correctly, my heart having a hard time rationalizing just how perfect he was.

We shared so many similarities, from our taste in movies and music, all the way to how we drank our coffee and liked our pancakes—drenched in syrup and melted butter, of course.

But it went deeper than our favorite pastime. He understood my humor. Laughed at my awkward attempts at jokes. He listened and challenged me and never shied away from calling me out if need be.

He was quickly becoming the best friend I’d ever had.

And the hottest, which was certainly a drawback.

Though, even without his model good looks, I knew I’d want him—on some deep, forbidden level, I couldn’t stop wanting him. There was something about a man who listened and made me laugh and understood me and shared my outlook, and it had been so long since—

“You are not checking your phone again,” Quinn said, bumping her hip against mine as we walked.

I quickly pocketed my cell, flashing her a forgive me look. “Sorry,” I said, shoving my hands in the pockets over my oversized sweater—part to warm them up and part to resist the temptation of checking my phone again. “Logan has texted me every morning since I gave him my number, but not this morning. I’m worried,” I admitted.

Quinn stopped our walk, turning me to face her. “You said you two were just friends.”

“We are,” I said, and she tilted her head. “We are,” I repeated. “If you missed a normal text, I’d be worried about you too.”

She pursed her lips. “You’ve been spending a ton of time with this guy.”

I nodded. “When he’s not traveling, yes.”

“And you text and talk like every day?”

“Yeah,” I said, shrugging. “I text you every day, too, you know.”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s not the same—”

“Oh please don’t go down that road,” I cut her off. “A man and a woman can be friends.”

“I know they can,” she chided. “I’m not saying you’re not friends, either. I’m just noting the look in your eyes, the way you smile when you get a text from him or when he walks into the library.” She eyed me. “There is more there, and you know it.”

I sighed, hating that she could see me so clearly. Did that mean Logan could? I mean, he’d quickly climbed the ranks among best friendships ever, so perhaps he could see me. But it wasn’t entirely my fault—I hadn’t felt a connection to a man like this since…well, never. I thought I’d known what true love was, thought I’d known what a passionate relationship was, and I’d been completely wrong.

And the other night, when he’d helped me file those books...he’d been so close and smelled so good...I’d almost given into the temptation of finding out what he tasted like. I’d seen it in his eyes too—the want, the desire. But if we crossed that line, we’d lose what we’d built.

“Look,” I finally said. “We are friends, but I can’t ignore what I feel when I’m around him.”

“Which is?” She arched a brow.

“Safe.”

Her lips parted, pity and concern flashing in her eyes. “Oh, Delaney,” she said.

“Right.” I shrugged. “You know how long it has been since I felt safe with a man, felt like I could trust him. And maybe it is solely because we’re friends, or maybe it’s because he’s so easy to talk to, or that we have so much in common.” I sighed. “I don’t know the answer. But I’m not acting on the chemistry I can’t deny,” I clarified. “He just got out a horrible relationship, and we all know I haven’t exactly healed from my last one.”

Quinn furrowed her brow, reaching out to gently clutch my hand.

“I’m okay,” I said. “I just can’t help but enjoy this…friendship with Logan. He lights up those dark pieces of myself I’ve kept buried the past two years.”