Logan (Carolina Reapers 4)

I blanched.

“I did not agree to a date auction,” Cannon muttered, folding his arms across his chest.

“Oh, relax. Weren’t you just bragging that you could handle three women at once? Think of all the money we could raise if you took all three bidders?” She wrinkled her nose at him and gave him a grin that would have sent me running for the hills.

“A date auction,” Delaney said slowly as she thought it over.

“We’ll call it, Bid For Your Book Boyfriend, and then we’ll assign them all a hero! So the women won’t just be bidding on Axel or Lukas, they’ll be bidding for Romeo or Mr. Darcy! And we’ll make sure the date packages are just to die for.”

Delaney’s eyes brightened. “That’s the best idea ever!”

“I’m so glad you think so! We really want to do this for you. Please say you’ll let us.” Sephie asked.

Date auction? Holy fuck, I’d have to hand Delaney my wallet and tell her to bid as high as she needed to make sure that I went home with her...which meant she’d have to know that a million wouldn’t hurt me.

She’d know I was a Reaper.

My stomach dropped, realizing Persephone had just put me on a deadline.

“When do you think you could pull this all together? And how can I help?” Delaney asked, more excited than I’d seen her since the budget had been announced.

“We have April 21st free, which is the only Saturday Matinee game this season. The rest are all Sundays. And I’m definitely going to need all of your literary expertise assigning our boys their heroes. Does this mean you’ll say yes?”

April 21st. That wasn’t too bad. That gave me six weeks to bring her fully into my world. Sure, she’d just put me on a deadline, but it was a merciful one.

Delaney looked at me with a question in her eyes.

“I’ll put myself on the block as long as you’re the one bidding for me,” I answered truthfully. “Let us do this for you.”

She nodded and looked at Cannon.

“I didn’t agree to a date auction,” he muttered again, looking directly down at Sephie, who barely reached halfway up his chest.

Had to give it to the girl, she just tilted her head and looked up at the giant. “What’s wrong, Cannon? Worried that Lillian won’t bid you up?”

His eyes flared with surprise.

“Oh! I bet she would! She wouldn't want her brother to have to go home with some random stranger,” Delaney assured him.

Cannon’s lips twisted into a smirk, and Sephie’s head snapped toward Delaney. “So is that a yes?” she asked, but her voice was tight.

“That’s a yes. Thank you!”

Sephie visibly relaxed. “Oh, thank goodness. My grandmother would have rolled over in her grave if I couldn't get you to agree. I’ll get everything rolling and give you a call?”

Delaney nodded, and the two traded contact information.

“I have to work, but I’m free later if you’re up for a late dinner,” I told Delaney as I leaned over the desk.

“I like late dinners,” she answered with a grin. Then she kissed me enthusiastically, keeping her tongue behind her teeth. “Now get out of here before I drag you up to the stacks.”

I kissed her once more and then took off toward where Sephie and Cannon were walking out.

“Your sister?” Sephie snapped at Cannon as we left the main corridor.

“Hey, you assumed,” Cannon defended himself with a slight shake to his shoulders.

“I swear, sometimes I really hate you, Cannon Price.” She pinned him with a glare and then walked faster, leaving us in the dust.

“Good. It’s better that way,” he muttered.

Knowing what I did about him—from the violent fights to the callous way he treated the women he slept with, I was in full-hearted agreement with him. I loved the guy like a brother, but he’d ruin someone as sweet as Persephone.

“You know what this means?” Cannon asked me as we left the library.

“Yeah. I know. I have six weeks to come clean to Delaney. Fuck.”

“Did you ever stop to think that she might just stay? You’re not that bad of a guy, Ward. I’d even say that you’re a good man. She knows you. She’ll forgive you.”

“Right. Yeah. Of course.”

But if I was so certain, why hadn’t I told her already?

12

Delaney

Logan had barely swung open the door to his home before he’d scooped me into his arms. His lips met mine in a hungry fury, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, holding on as he flicked and teased the inside of my mouth with his tongue. A white-hot burst of need sizzled down the center of me, and I sighed between his lips, my body flush against his as he held me to him.

Best. Greeting. Ever.

Despite seeing him last night, and earlier today in the library, I couldn’t get enough of this man. And the fact that he’d gone above and beyond to bring in Sephie to help me save the southern wing? It only made him more incredible, more desirable. I don’t think I’d ever felt as heard, treasured, respected, or understood as Logan Ward made me feel.