‘Hey, you’re up early.’ Logan strolled into the room, looking all mussed up.
‘I think Mickey’s got a urinary infection. He’s been up to the bathroom three times.’
‘I’ll check him over when he next wakes up. He hasn’t got a fever, has he?’
She shook her head. ‘Didn’t seem to.’
‘Has he had an infection before?’
‘A while back.’
‘Okay.’ Logan filled the kettle and spooned instant coffee into a mug.
Karina watched him from under lowered eyelids. He’d easily made himself at home. Did that come from living and working in so many different locations? Would he fit in anywhere? Or was it because this was the nearest to his own home he had? If so, did that indicate he might change his mind about selling?
That would mean having him in the house more often. Could she remain impervious to him then? Would she be able to turn away when her mouth cried out to be kissed? When the heat spreading down her body demanded physical release?
She doubted it. So he had to sell to her.
She eyeballed the man causing these problems. ‘Would you give your share of this place to me as a loan? I’d get proper papers drawn up and make regular payments into your account.’
Did she have to sound like she was begging? Yeah, she did—because she was.
Logan straddled a chair and studied her. Probably trying to go from Mickey’s pee-pee problem to could he lend her a few hundred thousand dollars within minutes.
Huffing out the breath she’d been holding, she started again. ‘Of course I don’t know your circumstances, but if you don’t need the funds you’d get from selling, then it makes sense for you to lend it to me. A win-win answer.’
‘When did you come up with this idea?’
Heat crept into her cheeks. ‘Just now.’
‘So you haven’t thought it through?’
‘What’s there to think about? A loan with you is no different to a loan with the bank. I’d pay the going interest rate.’
That gorgeous mouth she’d kissed last night actually softened into a small smile as he kept on watching her. ‘Why did the bank turn you down?’
‘None of your business.’
Except it was if she wanted to borrow from him.
‘Sorry, I take that back. I think the manager didn’t like me, or he has a thing against lending to women. I have a small nest egg that I try not to touch except in dire emergencies.’ She’d managed to save some of her wages before she’d moved in with Mickey. A deep breath in. ‘But the account I use for day-to-day expenses is kind of empty.’
‘Explain “empty”.’ That smile hadn’t disappeared. Yet.
‘My wages from the medical centre go in every fortnight and by the time the next pay day comes round I’ve used most of it. If not all of it.’
‘What about the weekly amount from James and Maria’s estate to cover Mickey’s expenses?’
‘The lawyers told me I’d have to wait for that until probate had been finalised.’
‘That was done a month ago.’ Logan’s eyebrows rose in a disconcerting fashion and his mouth flattened with annoyance. ‘You weren’t told that?’
‘I thought the lawyers would phone, or at least send a letter about it. It’s hard. I don’t want to seem to be waiting for James and Maria’s money. It’s not like Mickey’s going without anything. The lawyers might think I’m a greedy cow if I ask.’
She’d made a vow never, ever to ask for money again and that meant from anybody. Unless it was a loan.
‘Why am I not surprised at that answer?’ The annoyance vanished and Logan’s mouth widened into a heart-stopping smile, astonishing her.
‘You think I’m a push-over, don’t you?’
‘You’re a dedicated, big-hearted, caring woman who puts everyone before herself. Nothing wrong with that. But you also have to be practical. James would be angry if he knew you weren’t getting the funds available.’
Did he have to sound so reasonable?
‘It’s not about whether you think you can manage. James can’t be here for Mickey, but he made damned sure he could provide for him in the advent of a disaster happening—as it did.’
‘I hadn’t thought of it like that.’
‘I’ll get on to the lawyers today.’
His tone told her that those lawyers were going to wish they’d been paying her for weeks.
‘Thanks.’
This conversation hadn’t resolved the house sale issue, but she knew when to stop pushing. There were still more than three weeks to come up with a solution.
Standing up, she placed her mug in the sink. ‘Time I got ready for the day.’
Logan stood up too. His knuckles under her chin tipped her head back, so she had to look directly at him. ‘About me lending you the money...? I didn’t say no. Or yes. But if I do agree I won’t be asking you to pay me any interest.’
Her mouth fell open. Not a pretty sight. ‘But—’
His thumb slid across her jaw. ‘We’re supposed to be waiting a month before discussing what’s happening with this place, remember?’
Sucker punch me, why don’t you?
‘You’re right. I made that request. I guess I’d better stick to it.’
‘One other thing, Karina. Have you thought about what you’ll do when you meet someone you want to marry? Would you expect him to fall in with your plan to live here for the foreseeable future?’
‘Me? Get married again?’ She pulled away from that tender thumb to gape at the man. ‘That so is not going to happen.’
‘Come on. You can’t know that. What if you meet someone tomorrow and fall in love? You’re telling me you won’t want to get married again? Or at least have a live-in relationship with him?’
Disbelief glittered out at her.
‘That’s exactly what I’m saying.’
‘Your marriage break-up must have been horrendous for you to still feel like that.’
He stood watching her. Seeing what?
‘It broke my heart.’ And it made me think hard about myself.
‘I guess that’s not easily forgiven or forgotten.’
‘No, but I don’t blame him for everything. I let him control my life just as my father had conditioned me to do.’
Genuine kindness showed in Logan’s eyes, causing a small lump in her throat that she had to clear before continuing.
‘I come from money; went to the best schools, became a fashion icon, had the society wedding. All for nothing.’
Now Logan looked confused. ‘So why are you trying to raise money from the bank to buy me out?’
‘I walked away from it all.’
As his mouth opened with what was probably another question she held her hand up to stop him.
‘What Ian did was wrong. But there was a silver lining in a convoluted way. I’d trained as a nurse but never got to put it into practice. I’d had my fun, but then it was time to fit in with the family line and become the perfect wife and hostess. My sister revels in all that.’
‘You never did?’
‘That’s why I can’t hold it against anyone. I always complied, but the day I learned of Ian’s duplicity I learned there was more to me. A part I’d never explored. The person I wanted to become. And here I am.’
‘I’m more than impressed. It must’ve taken a lot of guts. But that’s no surprise. You’ve got that in spades.’
Her head jerked back a notch. ‘Thank you.’
His simple yet empowering statement went a long way to reminding her that, yes, she was strong—could do whatever she had to for Mickey. Which meant fighting this man to keep Mickey’s home.
Ironic, really.
‘I’m glad you told me. It helps—’
/>
‘Kar—ina, I peed in my bed.’
She winced. ‘Nothing like a dose of reality to get the day moving.’
‘Go have your shower. I’ll take care of this.’
Logan headed for Mickey’s room, not pausing to see if she agreed.
She couldn’t fault him, really. Except for one thing. He liked being in charge, too. Then again... Her fingers touched her lips where he’d kissed her last night. He was nothing like her ex at all.
CHAPTER SEVEN
‘I DON’T WANT to use the potty.’ Mickey stamped his foot on the bathroom floor.
Karina ached to pick him up for a cuddle, but that wouldn’t help get the urine sample she needed to send to the lab. ‘I need you to.’