Wanted: A Bad Boy Auction Romance

“You two never could stay away from each other.”

Twenty

Piper

At the bar, I considered which booth to sit in. Our usual table was just past the bar, up against the side wall, but the idea of sitting there made my skin crawl. That was where he told me he was leaving all those years ago. I didn’t want to relive that moment.

Instead, I chose a small table in the back. Only two chairs sat around it and there was no one in the vicinity. The closest patron was sitting at the end of the bar, a good twenty feet away. I pulled out a chair and sat down, wiping the sweat off my palms. I was more nervous than I’d been the night before.

Kellan’s felt different than Martello’s. At Martello’s we were just two old friends catching up. Sure, there was chemistry and tension, but nothing I couldn’t easily ignore. At Kellan’s, though? I knew I wouldn’t be able to deny my connection with Logan. Especially not after what happened the night before. The pub held too many implications, too many reminders of our time together.

When Logan walked inside, he spotted me immediately. The way he moved was enough to make my face flush. As he smiled, I couldn’t look away from his lips. I had to shake myself to stop remembering the way those lips felt against my skin. I gulped. It was going to be an interesting night.

“You made it,” he said as he sat down across from me.

“Of course, I did,” I smiled. “You didn’t think I’d show?”

“Honestly, I wasn’t sure,” he admitted. “I was worried you might regret last night.”

“No,” I shook my head. “I probably should, but I don’t.”

“I’ll get us some drinks,” he offered. “Usual?”

“Sure.”

He came back to the table less than two minutes later with our drinks in hand. He set mine down in front of me and I immediately picked it up to take a sip. I needed something to help relax me. The alcohol burned slightly as it slid down my throat and landed in my stomach. I took another gulp. Then another.

“Whoa,” Logan laughed. “Thirsty?”

“Nervous,” I admitted shyly.

“All of this is still so new, yet…”

“Really familiar?” I asked.

“Exactly,” he said.

“I know,” I nodded. “I keep thinking I have to speed off to class in the morning.”

Logan laughed and said. “Or that I have to run off to PT before we even make it to bed. Feels like a million years ago, doesn’t it?”

“Sometimes,” I said. “Other times, I think it all just happened. Like I never even left Bradberry.”

“Sometimes, I wish I didn’t.”

Logan’s voice was low and his face fell slightly. I knew something serious had crossed his mind, but I also knew he didn’t want to talk about it. I smiled and leaned against the table. Logan’s eyes flickered down to my chest for a fraction of a second. I grinned wider.

“What are you thinking about?” I asked him playfully.

“Well, I was thinking about something else, but now I have no idea what it was. All I can think about is how amazing you look right now,” he said.

“I do, don’t I?” I said, tucking my hair behind my ears.

“You have no idea.” Logan’s voice was rough and his eyes were boring holes in mine. I had forgotten just how much we could say without speaking.

I moved my foot slowly across the floor until it touched his. When I slid it gently up his leg, he closed his eyes and exhaled sharply.

“Don’t start something you can’t finish,” he warned.