Crazy for Her (15 page)

Dani eyed the bikini she’d bought a year before and never worn. Logan was waiting for her, and it was the only bathing suit she’d brought. She seriously considered putting on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, but then she’d be a coward. Sighing, she stripped and put it on, and then went into the bathroom and studied the stretch marks on her stomach. Well, that’s what happened when one had a baby. If they turned Logan off, then he was an ass.

She grabbed the matching cover-up off the bed, slipped it on, and skipped down the stairs. What she had learned earlier that day about Evan’s family disturbed her. There was some bad business going on, so bad she didn’t want to deal with it until she could think about it without feeling sick.

If Logan had allowed it, she would’ve holed up in her room and worked herself into a depression. “This afternoon is for us,” he’d told her when they left K2 and then added, “All this shit, we’ll think about tomorrow.”

That worked for her.

Logan stood at the bottom of the stairs wearing board shorts and nothing else, Regan cradled in his arm. Her heartbeat sputtered. Good God, he was too damn sexy. A smoking-hot man holding a baby? Who knew that would start a fire in her belly that spread to areas no man had touched since Evan?

His gaze slid over her, from her face and then slowly down to her breasts, which peaked under the hot look in his eyes. From there, his eyes lowered to take in her belly, then to her upper thigh area, where he paused. The bathing suit cover-up was a see-through, and oh boy, was he ever looking.

She felt herself dampen under his stare and marveled that he could do that to her with only a look. Her legs were next to come under his scrutiny, and unable to help herself, she let out a long sigh. The man was making love to her without touching her body. If he could do that, how fantastic was it going to feel when they actually touched?

She put her foot on the next step, narrowing the distance between them. “Hello,” she said, hearing the breathiness in her voice.

“Hello to you.” His soft voice was like an intimate caress over her skin. He held out his hand. “Come with me. Today is for fun and games, but first I have to tell you something. I look at you and think I’ve died and gone to heaven. God help you if you smell like apple pie.”

“Then God help me,” she answered, and put her hand in his. “In case you didn’t realize, I ache for you.” His pupils dilated and his nostrils flared. Oh yeah, God help her. Her legs gave out, and she sank down onto a stair.

Brown eyes deepened to a dark chocolate as he sat next to her, her daughter still cradled in his arm. He leaned toward her and inhaled. “Did you do that on purpose because you want to be licked? From head to toe?”

Well, yes.
“Maybe.” His hot breath against her ear sent heat as searing as molten lava to the area between her legs. She squeezed them together in a futile attempt to squash the ache. It had been so long since she’d been with a man, and now that she wanted to, she wanted it now. Immediately.

“I’m going to kiss you.”

“I’m going to let you,” she said.

He chuckled and lowered his lips to hers. It started as a soft kiss as he explored the corners of her mouth, and then he sucked on her bottom lip. His kiss grew demanding, his tongue seeking hers. Was she the one moaning, or him? Both, she decided. His mouth was hot and minty tasting, and oh God, she loved kissing him.

He stilled, and they looked at each other just before they both burst out laughing. There were three of them kissing. Dani tapped Regan’s nose. “Were you feeling left out? Do you want a kiss, too? Can you say ‘kiss’?”

Regan giggled and clapped her hands. “Iss!” She puckered her lips.

Dani gave her daughter a smack on the lips. “There, are you happy?”

“Gan, iss!”

Logan tapped his cheek. “Lay one on me, pumpkin.”

Regan obliged him with three kisses, screaming “Gan, iss!” between each one.

“I think we’ve created a kiss monster,” Dani observed. He was so good with her daughter, and she almost wished he wasn’t. She meant it when she’d told him she didn’t want to fall in love with him, but it didn’t seem her heart was listening.

Standing, he held out his hand. “Let’s go play.”

Dani sank into the bath until her chin floated just above the bubbles. She had sand in places she didn’t even want to think about, but oh, what an afternoon. A smile lifted her lips. It was a coin toss who had played harder, her daughter or Logan. Regan had gone out like a light after a bath and dinner and would no doubt sleep until morning.

She reached for her shampoo, the one that matched the peaches-and-cream scent of the bubble bath. The apple pie one was tempting, but she didn’t want Logan to get bored. Maybe he would want to lick this one off her as well.

Deciding what to wear took a few minutes, but she finally chose a little cotton sheath with spaghetti straps. She painted her toenails glittery yellow because it matched the flowers on her dress, and Logan had seemed to like the color. After blow-drying her hair and letting it curl naturally, she decided to keep the cosmetics to a minimum, putting on nothing more than mascara, a little blush on her cheeks, and lip gloss.

Now, what shoes? None of the ones she brought appealed to her. “Barefoot it is, then.” Hopefully she wouldn’t scandalize Mrs. Jankowski too much by appearing for dinner shoeless and in a dress about five inches above her knees.

Since Evan had died, she’d dressed for herself, preferring jeans or shorts and T-shirts, or bulky sweaters if it was cold. Tonight she dressed for Logan. She checked herself in the mirror and chuckled. Well, she should probably say, barely dressed for him. Anticipation hummed through her.

She skipped down the stairs to the kitchen. “Oh, hello,” she said, disappointed to find Mrs. Jankowski the only occupant.

“Don’t you look pretty,” Mrs. Jankowski answered, eyeing her up and down. An amused smile appeared. “Our boy’s going to have trouble thinking straight tonight, I think.”

Heat crept up Dani’s neck to her cheeks. She felt half-naked. She
was
half-naked. “I should go change.”

“Don’t you dare. Do him good to pant after a woman. He never has, you know.” Mrs. Jankowski grinned mischievously. “I probably shouldn’t have told you that.”

No, she didn’t know. “Surely he’s had girlfriends. I mean, just look at him. He could have any woman he wanted.” It was a strange conversation to be having with a woman she hardly knew, especially with the one who’d practically raised him.

“No one he’s cared about. Why you’re different, I don’t know, but I’m glad for it.” She poured wine into two glasses and set one on the counter in front of Dani. “Have a seat. He’ll be down shortly.”

“Thanks,” Dani said, climbing onto a bar stool. This woman had known Logan since he was fifteen, and curiosity got the best of her. “What was he like when you first met him?”

Mrs. Jankowski took a sip of wine, her eyes turning distant. “Angry. Half-starved. On a one-way road to prison, and that was if he was lucky and didn’t get himself killed first. Has he told you about his mother?”

Dani nodded. “As a mother myself, I have a lot of trouble understanding how you could treat your child like that.”

Although Mrs. Jankowski busied herself wiping off an already sparkling counter, Dani caught the surprise in her eyes. “It’s interesting he’s told you anything, but I doubt he’s told you the worst of living with Lovey Dovey. Maria experienced a little of it, but he protected her as best he could. When they tumbled into my life, I like to think I played a small part in helping them. I couldn’t love either one more if they were my own children.”

“They were very lucky to have found you,” Dani said softly. “Why did you decide to help them?”

“It was the boy’s eyes. They were the saddest eyes I had ever seen, but there was so much intelligence in them. When I caught him stealing, he lifted his chin, all pride and fierce determination on his face. ‘My sister needs this more than you’ were the first words he said to me. Here he’d just been caught red-handed, and most kids would be crying or begging me not to tell their parents. Not Logan. I only thought to take him home and have a word with his mother or father, but when I saw where and how he lived, I did the only thing I could to help and not destroy his spirit. I put him to work.”

Dani stood and moved around the counter, giving a big hug to the woman who had saved a lost boy and his sister. “You’re amazing, Mrs. Jankowski.”

“Believe me, I’ve gained more from knowing those two than they’ll ever understand,” she answered with a catch in her voice. “I had no one until a belligerent boy stepped foot in my store.”

Dani understood—she felt like crying herself. Lifting her eyes, she saw Logan leaning in the doorway, watching them. How much had he heard? Would he be angry with Mrs. Jankowski for talking about his childhood? His expression was blank, giving her no clue as to what he was thinking.

“I’m trying to decide if I want to know why the two of you are hanging on to each other for dear life,” he said.

Mrs. Jankowski winked at Dani before turning around. “None of your business, young man. Where is that girl? If we don’t leave now, we’re going to miss our dinner reservations.”

“You’re not staying and eating with us?” Dani asked.

“No, for some reason I can only guess at, Maria and I were gifted with a girls’ night out. Dinner, movie, a suite at the Palms, and all the works at their spa in the morning, and then lunch at their five-star restaurant. Seems you two will have the house all to yourselves until tomorrow afternoon.”

She untied her apron and handed it to Dani. “Put this on him or he’ll ruin his shirt.” Leaving, she waved her hand. “You two have fun and don’t do anything I wouldn’t. Better yet, do something I wouldn’t.” Laughter trailed behind her as she walked to the stairs. “Maria, girl, let’s go!” she yelled.

Dani stood where Mrs. Jankowski had left her, her gaze centered on Logan. Would there ever come a time when he didn’t steal her breath away? He wore a pair of loose white trousers that looked Middle Eastern and a V-neck white silk shirt, rolled up at the sleeves. Like her, he was barefoot.

Well, someone needed to bring her oxygen right now. She didn’t know what to do. Apparently he’d arranged for them to be alone, but she feared she had ruined everything by asking questions about him.

“Hi,” she stupidly said.

“Come here, Dani.”

There had been no change in his demeanor, no welcoming smile. Just “Come here,” the words spoken roughly. She went. Stopping in front of him, she waited to see what he would do. He inclined his head, listening to the sounds behind him.

Mrs. Jankowski’s voice floated to her as she ushered Maria out the front door, and then all was quiet except for their breathing. She was sure hers was coming faster, maybe his, too. There was heat in his eyes—hot, burning fire.

“I want to kiss you.”

Dani exhaled. “I wish you would.”

There was no answering smile, no words of agreement, just his lips crashing down on hers. Having experienced how easily he could steal the strength from her bones, she grabbed his waist with both hands.

Minutes, hours, maybe days passed before he raised his head. “Are you hungry?”

“I’m starving,” she whispered.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

I
’m starving.
Logan understood that she didn’t mean for food, but as tempted as he was to pick her up and carry her upstairs, he had a courtship agenda. He’d made a decision earlier not to do any thinking tonight. If they made love, he wouldn’t be breaking his vow. At no time had he thought to include a rule that the woman had to be in love with him. If this turned out to be a brief affair, at least he would have memories of being with her. The pain of losing her, he would deal with when the time came.

She was always beautiful, but tonight she was so damned sexy that he grew hard just looking at her. Sometimes she straightened her hair, but now it was a mass of curls he wanted to comb his fingers through. He liked it. A lot. This afternoon, in the sunlight, her hair seemed to have streaks of fire in it, but tonight in the dim light, it was the color of a rich burgundy. Winding a lock around his finger, he brought it to his nose and inhaled.

“I was hoping for apple pie, but I think I’ve just discovered another one of your scents that makes me want to taste you. What is it?”

“Peaches and cream.”

“Another lickable dessert. Nice.” He leaned back so he could see her toes, grinning when he saw she had painted them her happy yellow. His gaze traveled up long, sleek legs, over the little sundress, and back up to her face. It was a damn good thing he was a disciplined man; otherwise their first time would happen right now on the floor of the kitchen.

Taking her hand, he led her to the bar stool. “Sit here and talk to me while I finish our dinner.” He topped off her wine and took the wrap off the plate of grapes, cheese, and crackers.

“What are you making?”

“My specialty, paella. I hope you like it.”

“I’ve never had it before. I love trying new things.”

When she picked up a grape and sucked on it, his cock jerked its agreement.
Dinner. Concentrate on dinner.

Since he’d prepped as much as possible earlier, he only had to cook. He put the paella pan on the gas burner and tried to think of something to talk to her about other than sex, or Evan’s twin, or sex.

“It was nice of you to give Maria and Mrs. Jankowski a night out,” she said.

He snorted. Getting them out of the house had been purely selfish. It reminded him, however, that he wanted her opinion on what to do about Maria.

“I’m worried my sister is starting to like Buchanan a little too much.” He gently shook the pan to even out the rice. “I’m not sure what to do about it, though.”

“Why should you do anything? Don’t you like Jake?”

“Sure I do. I just don’t want Maria to like him, at least not like that.” He picked up his glass and turned around, leaning back against the counter just in time to see her sucking on the end of another grape. The wine he’d just started to swallow went down his throat the wrong way and he choked.

“Are you all right?”

No, he wasn’t. “I’m fine, just swallowed wrong,” he answered when he could speak again. “Why do you eat grapes like that?”

“I don’t know, just something I’ve always done. When I was a little girl, I liked to suck the juice out of them.” She grinned. “Didn’t really realize I still did it.”

Christ, he couldn’t think straight. He shifted, glad he’d decided to wear the loose trousers instead of tight jeans. He had to stop thinking about sex, or dinner was going to end up burned.

What were they talking about? Oh, yeah. “I don’t think Jake would be good for Maria. His nickname’s Romeo for a reason.”

“Reformed rakes make the best husbands.”

He frowned. “What the hell does that mean?”

“Just a Regency saying. Means he pretty much got his screwing around out of his system, and when he falls in love, it’s forever. Or something like that.”

“That’s bullshit. If it walks like a duck, then it’s a duck.”

She shrugged. “Possibly, but if you try to interfere, you’re just going to drive her right into his arms. Let it play out, Logan. She’s young, and tomorrow it’ll be the cute guy in her English class that makes her heart go pitter-patter.”

That was probably true, but he didn’t like it. He also didn’t like the cute guy in her English class. “What if Jake hurts her?”

“If he does, it won’t be the end of the world. She’ll get over it eventually, and she’ll learn from the experience. You can’t control another person’s heart, so don’t try.”

And there was a truth he didn’t like. When she picked up another grape, he turned back to the paella.

“What all’s in that?”

Hanging onto his control by a thread, he didn’t dare turn around. One more sucked grape and he would decide the kitchen floor really was the perfect place to lose his virginity. “Lobster, shrimp, chorizo, chicken, clams, and Spanish rice.”

“Sounds awesome. Can I help?”

“Yeah, you can stop filling up on grapes.”
Please stop
. “Top off our glasses and take them out on the deck, then grab the salads out of the fridge. The table’s set.” He opened a drawer and grabbed the butane lighter, handing it to her. “If you’ll light the candles. I’ll be right behind you.”
Behind you
conjured up an image of her bottom. “Damn,” he muttered, and sucked on the finger he’d just put in the fire.

Dinner was apparently a great success if the moans accompanying Dani’s every bite were any indication. He barely touched his food. Would she moan like that for him? What if she didn’t? What if he didn’t please her? He suddenly regretted he wasn’t experienced, that he didn’t know how to pleasure a woman.

Would she compare him to Evan? Logan didn’t know if he could bear it if she did. He didn’t necessarily want to be a better lover than Evan, just different. Well, he was going to be different, all right.

“Not another bite.” She pushed her plate away. “That was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. You have to give me the recipe.”

“Sure.” If she would marry him, she wouldn’t need the damn recipe. He’d make it for her—every night if she wanted. Restless, he stood and walked to the railing. She followed, standing close, her arm brushing his.

“It’s so beautiful here. If I didn’t love my mountains so much, I think this is where I’d want to live.”

Logan angled his body to face her. “Or, you could live here half the year and the mountains the other half.” He could make that work.

“Summer in Asheville, winter in Pensacola? Sounds a little like Camelot.”

The breeze ruffled her hair, the moonlight making it shimmer. He burned with wanting her. If he let the fear take over that his inexperience would ruin tonight, then that’s exactly what would happen.

He’d survived brutal firefights, camel spiders as big as his hand, and friendly fire. How hard could it be to figure out how to please a woman? It seemed the best thing to do was just worship her body and the rest would follow.

Moving behind her, he wrapped his arms around her chest and pulled her against him, something he’d been longing to do all night. “Would you like living in Camelot?”

She lifted her hands and rested them on his arms. “Who wouldn’t?”

“Dani?”

“Hmmm?”

“All I can think about is kissing you.” To start with anyway.

“Yes, please.”

She twisted around in his arms. Eyes darkened to the color of forest moss stared back at him. A man could fall into those green pools and never leave. God help him, he was a goner. He brushed his lips across hers, marveling at their softness.

Though he tried to keep it a teasing kiss, when she parted her lips, he gave in and stroked his tongue over hers. She tasted of spices and wine, and he couldn’t get enough. He rubbed his groin against her, and when she pressed back, he squeezed his eyes shut. Damn, he was too close to the edge.

“Let’s go upstairs,” he said. Maybe he could cool down between the deck and his bedroom. Or, maybe not.

“Let’s stay here. I want to feel the breeze on my body when you make love to me.”

A racehorse’s heart couldn’t possibly beat faster than his did at that moment. “You will, I promise.” Logan took her hand and pulled her—probably too roughly—along behind him.

“What about the dishes?”

“To hell with them.” He was going to make love to a woman for the first time in his life and she was worried about the fucking dishes?

Opening the door to his bedroom, he pulled her inside. She stopped and looked around.

“Wow.”

“I thought Maria took you on a tour.”

“She did, but she said your room was off-limits. I think she was still feeling a little jealous of me at the time and didn’t want me to see it.”

He didn’t want to talk about his sister. Didn’t want to talk about anything. Words weren’t his priority right now.

“I’ve always wanted a fireplace in my bedroom,” she said.

Marry me and you will have one
. “When I first saw the house, I knew I wanted it, but it wasn’t until I saw this room that I decided I had to have it no matter the cost.” He’d left the French doors open and the wind blew the sheer white curtains, making them look as if they were doing a kind of slow dance.

“I want your bed.”

They were in agreement, then—he wanted her to want his bed. He looked at the four-poster and imagined her in it. Later. They’d get to the bed later.

Taking her hand again, Logan led her out to the deck. “This is my favorite part of the room.”

She turned in a slow circle, taking everything in. He looked around, trying to see it through her eyes. On the back wall was a sink and counter, a mini-fridge underneath.

Half the deck was under cover, and he’d spent many hours under it watching storms stir up the sea, something that, for reasons he didn’t understand, calmed him. A chiminea sat near a chaise longue on the part of the deck with no roof. That was his destination.

“I hate to keep repeating myself, but wow,” Dani said. “If you’re ever looking for me, try here.”

More pleased by her words than she could ever know, he smiled. He steered her to the chaise. “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll join you in a minute.”

“I need to check on Regan. As hard as she played today, there’s no doubt she’s in never-never land, but I need to make sure.”

“There are baby monitors in every room, but go ahead.”

“Really, where?”

“There.” He pointed to the monitor next to the sink. Why that earned him a look that appeared to be amazement, he didn’t know. It almost pissed him off. Did she have no idea he would do whatever necessary to ensure Regan’s safety?

“Go check on her.” His command was more abrupt than he’d meant it to be.

An eyebrow rose at his tone, but she left without commenting.

Don’t be an ass, Kincaid
. She didn’t know he’d called Mrs. Jankowski and told her to buy ten monitors, one for every room of his home. He’d never known there was such a thing until he’d seen Dani’s.

His mother had certainly never used one, not that she would’ve spent her booze money on one. Besides, who needed a monitor in a one-room shack?

Hell. He was working his way to places he didn’t want to go. Logan lifted his face and breathed in the salty air. Soon he would hold the woman he loved close and finally know the secrets every man but him knew. Nothing else mattered.

Though it was a warm night, he started a fire in the chiminea and lit the candles on the table next to the chaise. Next, he pushed the button on the coffee machine and then flipped the outside lights off. He turned in a circle, surveying the scene. Had he forgotten anything? Christ, he was as nervous as a kid on his first date.

Condoms! Hurrying into his bedroom, he took one out of his night table and then, deciding to be optimistic, grabbed another. He hoped he’d bought the right size. When the girl had asked, he’d felt his cheeks heat. Hell if he knew. Wanting to pay for them and get out of the store, he’d said extra large, his shirt size. Why hadn’t he thought to test one? Practicing putting one on would’ve also been a good idea. The Navy had passed them out, but his had never left his wallet.

Returning to the deck, he put the condoms on the table. Too obvious? He tucked them behind one of the candles. Better. What was keeping her? The coffee machine gurgled, and he made two cups with Baileys in them, adding whipped cream to hers. He took a minute to mentally run down his checklist to make sure he had remembered everything.

The only thing that seemed to be missing was the woman. Too tense to sit, he walked to the railing and looked out over the gulf. The wind was picking up, and there were dark clouds in the distance. Rain was headed their way, but he estimated it was at least an hour away.

Warm hands slipped under his shirt and he stilled. They slid over his sides, up his ribcage, and then over his back. She tugged on his shirt. “Take this off.”

Logan turned. “Well, look at you.” She’d changed into a short silk robe. He didn’t think she wore anything under it, fervently hoped not. The robe barely covered her bottom and was so thin he could see the outline of her nipples. Any minute now he was going to embarrass himself and start drooling.

She tugged on the hem of his shirt. “Off.”