“Who’s to say he’s not having them too?” Cassie finished.
“Right.” Bonnie smiled, a little wan around the edges. “But we’re going home tomorrow. It’s only one more day.”
“Remind me what’s on the agenda for today?” Cassie asked. She glanced at the closed door to the bedroom.
“A bunch of Shakespeare stuff in Stratford-upon-Avon and a show at the Globe tonight.”
Cassie yawned. “Sounds like a packed schedule.”
“You know that’s how I roll.” Bonnie snorted. “I don’t mind if you want to ditch. Sadie and Ana already bailed and are going shopping at Harrods, but Delaney will still come with me.”
“Sorry. I just need coffee, really.” Cassie stifled another yawn and thought of the warm bed waiting for her in the other room, and the man who was keeping it warm—much more tempting than a day spent tromping around in the fog and rain.
“Look, if you prefer to spend the day with your sexy Scot rather than the Bard, I understand.”
Cassie smiled. “Thanks, Bonnie. You really are the best roommate ever.”
Bonnie stood and tightened the knot on her robe. “I know. And also the best friend ever.”
“My bosom friend,” Cassie agreed, repeating a favorite childhood phrase of Bonnie’s, borrowed from Anne of Green Gables.
“A kindred spirit.” Bonnie beamed. “I’ll go steal a few snacks from Delaney and come back in an hour,” she said, giving Cassie a quick hug before heading for the door. “But only one hour, I still have to get my clothes and we’ll need an early start to fit everything in.”
“Thanks for the heads-up.” As Bonnie pulled the door open, Cassie called after her. “Why don’t you see if Theo is free today? I get the feeling he likes Shakespeare.”
Cassie caught the mint Bonnie threw at her head, laughing as the door slammed shut.
CHAPTER 13
LOGAN STRETCHED, RELISHING the luxurious pull on the muscles in his arms and legs and back. He’d dropped like a stone after their third go late last night—or maybe that had been early this morning. He couldn’t remember when he’d slept so deeply. He reached a hand out and felt for Cassie, but the lass wasn’t there. Her side of the mattress was cool. He grimaced and hoped he hadn’t chased her from the bed. As dead to the world as he’d been, he wouldn’t be surprised if he’d been snoring like an old badger.
He pulled the covers down to his shoulders and popped his head out, looking around the room. No Cassie. Rain tapped against the windows and skylight, a steady beat, heavier than the morning shower typical in London. This storm had legs and would likely last awhile.
Logan swiped the tangle of hair off his forehead and lay back on the pillow, contemplating how he might go about convincing Cassie to stay in bed with him all day. Where could the lass be? He sat up, the door to the bedroom was closed. Logan thought he heard the soft murmur of feminine voices beyond, but the sound was almost drowned out by the thrum of rain.
Rolling out of bed, he made for the pile of clothes lying on the floor by the door. After he picked up Cassie’s dress and draped it across her roommate’s still-made bed, he grabbed his jeans and pulled them on. A flash of red caught his eye, and he glanced back down and grinned. Logan retrieved Cassie’s knickers from the floor, letting the silky fabric slide between his fingers. For a brief moment, he considered pocketing them, but decided against it. He was already worried enough about being accused of stalker behavior, he didn’t need to add pervert to the mix. He tossed them on the bed next to the dress.
He was glad he did, because a second later he’d have been caught red-handed, quite literally, as the door to the bedroom slid open.
“Morning.” He looked Cassie up and down. The lass was wrapped in a hotel robe, her dark hair was an unholy tangle, and there was a smudge of makeup under one eye. She looked good enough to eat, a delicious, well-boffed mess.
“Morning, yourself.” She returned the appraisal, hungry gaze snagging on his groin, where he hadn’t finished doing up the buttons of his jeans, having been distracted by a pair of red knickers at his feet.
Lust coiled at the base of his spine as his cock responded to her attention. Christ, after last night, he’d have thought the randy bastard would be in need of a break. But no, here the lad was, up and ready for action.
“Who was at the door?” he asked, seeking distraction.
Cassie tore her gaze away. Reluctantly, he was pleased to note. “Bonnie.” She moved to the coffee maker tucked into a nook next to the closet and popped one of those pod things into the top. “She saw your friend Theo this morning. I guess he has a room down the hall?”
Tell her, mate. Get it over with already. Before he could say anything, she pressed a button on the machine and then headed for the loo. The sound of running water was soon overpowered by a series of hisses and gurgles erupting from the coffee maker. Logan eyed the machine warily, wondering if an explosion was imminent. After another minute of menacing noises, the smell of something one could loosely define as coffee wafted through the room. Logan peered into the mug Cassie had placed at the base of the machine.
Cassie poked her head into the room. “Hey, that’s mine. Make your own.” She pointed her toothbrush at him, and he supposed she meant it to be a threat.
He laughed and made a grab for her toothbrush. She yelped and escaped back into the loo. Logan followed.
“Here.” She ripped the plastic wrapper off a new hotel toothbrush and handed it to him.
“Thanks.” Logan joined her at the sink. It was oddly pleasant to stand next to her like this. He didn’t think he’d ever brushed his teeth with a lass before, not even Nettie.
As she rinsed her toothbrush under the tap, she met his gaze in the mirror, her thoughts echoing his. “I’ve never brushed my teeth with anyone before … other than Bonnie, maybe.”
He wiped his mouth with a towel and grinned. “We’ll add that to the list of firsts you’ve experienced with me then, aye?” He could see his own eyebrow arch in the reflection. Mam was right, it really did make him look like a satyr. Devilish, even. He was feeling devilish. He moved behind Cassie, wrapping his arms around her waist and nuzzling her neck.
She raised her hand and rubbed it along his jaw. He heard the soft rasp of his stubble against her fingers. He tilted his head and pressed a kiss to her palm, wishing time could stop so they could stay in this room together for as long as they liked. To hell with everyone and everything else.
Again, as if reading his mind, Cassie stepped out of his embrace. “I better get dressed. Bonnie is coming back soon.”
“Aye.” Logan trailed after her. “I suppose you have plans for the day?”
“Shakespeare.” She picked up her coffee.
“The Globe?”
She shrugged and sat on the edge of her bed. “I think so, and some other stuff Bonnie has planned.” She hesitated. “I don’t have to go with, though.”
“No?”
Cassie shook her head and stared at her coffee. “I told her I might stick around here today.”
“Oh, aye?” He moved to join her on the bed. “And do what?”
“Well…” She peered up at him over the rim of the mug, eyes full of mischievous speculation. “That depends on you.”
Suddenly the room seemed bright, filled with sunshine despite the rain outside. This incredible, beautiful, sexy woman had only one more day of her holiday left, and she wanted to spend it with him. He could not believe his good fortune. “I’m all yours.”
Cassie made a gagging noise, and Logan hesitated. “Lass?”
“Sorry, this coffee is disgusting.” Cassie stood and set the mug on the dresser. “It’s my fault. Paris has ruined me forever. I’m hopelessly spoiled. Maybe I could get the hotel to send up a French press.”
“Or maybe,” he said, standing up and pulling on his shirt, “we could order some real coffee from room service and have it sent to my room.”
She turned to face him. “Come again?”
That’s exactly what he hoped would happen. Logan shoved the thought back to the part of his brain that had never matured past age fifteen and forged ahead. “You mentioned your friend had seen Theo a few doors down from here, aye?”
“Aye,” she repeated, her voice hedged with suspicion.
Logan swallowed, too late to back down now. “We booked a room.”
“Oh, that’s perfect!”
He could leave it at that. She seemed fine with the revelation he’d gotten a room in the same hotel as her, why provide any additional unnecessary and potentially damaging details?
“Wait.” She frowned.
Damn. This was it. Logan braced himself, but instead of the tirade of accusations, demanding to know why he had followed her from Scotland to England, she bit her lip and looked up at him, a question in her eyes.
“Just one room for both of you?”
Relief flooded his cowardly veins. He grinned broadly. “Not a chance. Theo is over in 757.” He fished his hotel key out of the back pocket of his jeans and held up the card. “I’m Room 762.”
“In that case,” she said, matching his grin, “why don’t you head over to your room now? I’ll meet you there soon. I need to tell Bonnie there’s been a change of plans.”
Logan yanked on the belt of her robe and pulled her to him. He kissed her hard on her minty-fresh mouth.
Cassie kissed him back just as hard before pushing him toward the door. “Go on. And order up some real breakfast to go with that real coffee, please. I don’t think we’ll be leaving your room for a long time.” She smiled at him, the wicked curve of her cheek launching a thousand fantasies.
A day in bed with Cassie? Hell yes. On his way to his room Logan stopped outside 757 and knocked.
Theo opened the door. “Go away.”
Logan stuck his foot out to stop Theo from shutting the door in his face. He pushed it open again and stepped inside. “Can I come in?”
“You are in, you rude bastard.” Theo left Logan at the door and retreated into the suite. His mate was already dressed for the day in freshly pressed slacks and a crisp blue-and-gray striped button-down. BBC News droned in the background.
“My, don’t we look smart. Looking to impress someone, are we?”
“I was thinking I’d take care of some business this morning since I’m in town.”
A tray of tea and breakfast pastries perched on a small table by the window. Logan grabbed a scone. “Can it wait? I have something I’d like you to do.”
“Help yourself,” Theo said drily as he poured a measure of tea.
“Thanks.” Logan grinned and bit off a hunk of scone.
“Don’t mention it,” Theo said. “This is all on your tab, after all.” He took a swallow of tea and set his cup down. “Speaking of, did you get your precious contract signed?”
Logan choked. “Not yet.”
“I thought you planned to walk your American lady friend to her room and then talk—”
“I know what the plan was. It was my plan, after all,” Logan growled. “I just … It didna feel right, ya ken?”
Theo chuckled. “You’ve got it bad.”
“Shut yer face,” Logan snapped, but his jibe lacked heat. Theo was right, and they both knew it.
“I suppose I should warn you…”
“About what?” Logan asked before popping the rest of the scone in his mouth.
“The cat is out of the bag.” Theo swatted Logan’s hand away from a thick slice of frosted lemon loaf and grabbed it for himself. “Bonnie saw me in the hall this morning. She knows I have a room here.”
“Aye, I heard.”
“You did?” Theo glanced up in surprise.
“I did, indeed.” Logan brushed crumbs from his fingers.
“How? It only happened an hour or so ago. She spotted me outside my door when I was grabbing the Times.” Theo paused, a rare smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Did you know she has a robe with teacups printed all over it? And fuzzy slippers—”
“—with matching stuffed teapots on the toes. Aye, I know that too.” Logan swiped a square of shortbread.
Theo’s face darkened. “And how, pray tell, did you happen upon that knowledge?”
Oho, am I getting a whiff of jealousy? “Easy, lad. I saw her in that getup our first night here, when I walked Cassie to her room. Come on, it’s not like she was wearing something naughty.” Logan wondered what kind of pajamas Cassie favored. Was she into fuzzy, quirky stuff too or did she prefer silky, satiny, sexy sleepwear? He hoped it was the latter. So far, they’d spent all their time in bed together naked—not that he was complaining.
Thoughts of being in bed with Cassie reminded Logan he had to hurry. “Bonnie stopped by this morning, told Cassie she saw you.”
“Ah.” Theo pressed his fingertip to the plate of pastries and picked up spare crumbs of lemon cake. “Did you tell Cassie you had a room here too?”
“I did.” Logan left out the fact he hadn’t come clean on the timeline. “Which leads me to what I need from you.”
“Oh?” Theo crossed his arms over his chest.
“I’m supposed to meet Cassie in my room in a few minutes.” Logan raised a hand to ward off whatever comment he saw brewing on Theo’s face. “She’s skipping out on her plans with Bonnie. I thought it might be nice if you stood in. They’re touring Stratford-Upon-Avon and some other Shakespeare touristy stuff.”
“That’s a lot of time in the car.” Theo sighed. “Fine. I’ll do it.”
“You’re a prince,” Logan said, smothering a knowing smile. Theo had capitulated much too quickly. It had been a long time since Theo had fancied a lass; he was usually too busy fighting off the wealthy title hunters his mother kept thrusting on him. Too bad the lass in question was spoken for. Not wanting his friend to get hurt, Logan thought it best to inform him of that fact. He paused at the door and turned. “She’s engaged.”
“Who?”
“You know who. Bonnie. Cassie told me the lass got engaged last Christmas.”
A muscle twitched in Theo’s jaw, but beyond that, his expression didn’t change. British stiff upper lip firmly in place, Theo held the door open for Logan. “I appreciate the warning.”
“Right, then.” Logan clapped Theo on the shoulder and stepped into the hall. “You’re a good man, Theo.”
“Don’t remind me,” Theo grumbled and shut the door.
CHAPTER 14
ANTICIPATION PUMPING MORE adrenaline than a caffeine rush, Cassie zigzagged around her hotel suite like a drunken bumblebee as she dove for her suitcase. In preparation for her foreign fling, along with the box of condoms, she’d also packed some fancy new lingerie. It’d be a shame if those silky pretty things traveled all this way and never had a chance to strut their stuff. Sweaters and T-shirts went flying as she dug down to the bottom of her suitcase.
She was starting to wonder if she’d forgotten to bring the matched set Sadie had helped her pick out in a boutique on the North Shore. As someone who usually purchased bras and pajamas a few aisles over from the milk and toothpaste, Cassie had almost suffered heart failure when she saw the price for what amounted to less than a fistful of fabric. She wouldn’t have been surprised if her inherently frugal nature had subconsciously left the ludicrously expensive underwear behind. To be returned later, the money spent on something more prudent—like a month of groceries, possibly two—when she got back home.
Cassie was about to give up when a pair of sweatpants she hated and had no idea why she’d bothered packing unrolled, revealing a small vellum-wrapped packet tucked inside. Aha! She gingerly removed the featherlight bundle and set it on the bed. Untying the satin bow, she peeled away the delicate sheets of cream and gold paper, and then gasped in surprise, having forgotten how exquisite her splurge had been.
She fingered the price tags, still attached to the garments by a satin ribbon, elegantly secured with gold pins. Hell, the fancy pins probably cost more than what her usual bra and pant
y set did. She unfastened the pins and made a point to tuck them and their satin strung price tags inside a pocket in her suitcase. Then, before the frugal, prudent side of her brain found its voice, she shrugged the hotel robe off and slipped the more-expensive-than-a-Brazilian-blowout panties on.
Oh. They felt nice. Very nice. The fabric managed to be snug without pinching, and the touch of silk brushing against her lady bits was downright sensual. Cassie lifted the other half of the set from the layers of vellum. She couldn’t remember what Sadie had said this thing was called. A chignon? No—that was a hairstyle. Whatever it was, it was gorgeous, and surprisingly easy to get on. Delicate straps held up the fitted cups, with three tiny satin buttons that fastened between her breasts, almost like the clasp on a bra that opened in the front.
As she did up the buttons, Cassie focused on the movement of her hands in the large mirror over the dresser. The silk was pale lavender, wisps of fabric flowing from bodice to hips in a dreamy cloud, sheer enough to be nearly see-through. Okay, not nearly, it was totally see-through. The satin trim on the bra and panties was darker—a rich, royal purple. Watching her reflection, Cassie felt like royalty.
Damn—Logan was waiting for her. Cassie pulled the hotel robe back on over the lingerie and hurried to the front parlor, mentally scrambling to recall the room number Logan had told her. She’d almost left the suite when she remembered she was barefoot. She ran back to the bedroom and dove through the piles of stuff she had tossed on the floor during her mad lingerie hunt. A pair of flip-flops appeared, and Cassie tugged them on. Good enough, she wasn’t planning to wear them very long anyway.
She dashed out of the bedroom again before realizing she needed her key. Sure, she planned to spend most of the day in Logan’s bed, but at some point she might want to come back here for actual clothes. Flip-flopping her way over to the side of the couch where she’d dropped her purse last night, Cassie grabbed her keycard and her phone, shoving them both into the deep pockets of the robe.
At last, she was ready to head out the door when she caught a glimpse of Logan’s jacket hanging over the back of the couch, flung there and forgotten. She’d missed it when she’d hurriedly cleaned up the rest of their clothes after Bonnie’s discovery of the errant panties.
Getting Hot with the Scot--A Sometimes in Love Novel Page 14