Command Control

He reached out, took her free hand and started walking toward his truck, pulling her with him. “I know you might think I’m a pushover because I let you call the shots.”

No. Every time he let her take charge, she’d been aware of the fact that he could overpower her at any moment. And those times when he’d gone all Alpha-male on her, demanding that she come again and again? She’d loved it.

“But not when it comes to your safety, princess. Anyone who trespasses to get a photograph is a threat.” Releasing her, Logan stopped beside the passenger door to his truck. “I’m not leaving you alone on my aunt’s farm with a crazy person on the loose.”

She put her hand on the truck door, preventing him from opening it. “We’re tal

king about a guy with a camera. I think I can handle him. I’ve lived in New York City for years. You don’t need to do this. To take the chance someone will take another picture of us together.”

“I can’t walk away,” he said.

“I’m not a mission, Logan. Leaving me to fend for myself against a reporter doesn’t mean you’ve failed,” she said. “You need to protect your job. I understand, believe me.”

“I’m not leaving you. Walking away—it was wrong. I was still torn up over talking to that writer in New York.” He placed his hand over hers. “I can’t offer you much. I’m not ready to commit. But I care about you, and your safety.”

Not going after the man she wanted seemed stupid, but pushing him away when he insisted on staying with her? After he said he cared? She couldn’t do it. Even if it broke her heart when it ended, at least she’d know she hadn’t walked away because she’d been afraid of what she’d feel.

She opened the truck door and climbed into the passenger seat. After Logan settled into the driver’s side, turned on the truck and steered back onto the road, she said, “If you’re not leaving me alone, does that mean you’re staying the night?”

He pulled up in front of the guesthouse, but didn’t turn off the engine. “Or I could take you to Laurel’s place.”

Don’t be a coward.

“No, I’d rather stay here,” she said. “Laurel’s in for a long, sleepless night.”

He turned off the truck and smiled for the first time since she’d found him chasing the reporter. “Who said anything about sleep?”

19

LOGAN MOVED THROUGH the guesthouse, drawing the curtains and turning the locks. While he was at it, he checked the closets and behind shower curtains, anywhere a photographer hell-bent on snapping a picture of Sadie could hide. Once he felt secure they were alone, Logan headed for the kitchen where he’d left Sadie cooking dinner, making one last stop to retrieve a box he’d spotted earlier.

He’d spent the better part of the day pissed off while he walked Aunt Lou’s fence line. At first, he’d centered his feelings on Sadie. She’d kept secrets. But as he’d walked alongside the wire fence, looking for breaks, anywhere a cow could escape—or a reporter could slip in—he realized they’d both been searching for something. He’d been looking for a way to move on with his life and she’d wanted a chance to be herself.

“Smells good in here,” he said, setting the box on the counter. “I thought you preferred takeout.”

“I can heat up sauce and boil pasta.” She looked up from the stove and raised one eyebrow. “Monopoly?”

“I found it on the top shelf in the linen closet. Seeing as we aren’t planning to sleep tonight, I thought we could play.”

She laughed and the sound worked its magic, ratcheting his tension down a notch.

“You’re on,” she said. “Set it up in the living room and we can play while we eat. But I’m going to warn you, I’m good.”

An hour later, he believed her. Seated on opposite sides of the coffee table, their empty dinner dishes pushed off to the side, Logan sipped his beer and considered his next move. He’d gotten out of jail, but unless he rolled a ten and landed on Free Parking, he’d have to pay rent.

He heard a rustling outside. Across the table, Sadie glanced at the drawn curtains, her body instantly tense and alert. Logan rose and went to the window, pulling back the curtain.

“Wind,” he said. “It’s dark out now. I don’t think anyone’s out there.”

She nodded. “It’s strange. The feeling that someone is watching me.”

Logan turned to the table and rolled the dice. Eleven. He’d landed on one of his properties. “You said you were planning to go on TV soon.”

“I am. To coincide with the launch of the next book in the series.”

“Why?” he said. “If you’re a bestseller, why draw the attention?”

“Increased sales.” Sadie rolled the dice and moved her shoe piece to the next railroad. “And I’m also hoping to sell the movie rights.”