On the Plus Side

by Alison Bliss

  Shit. Had she said that out loud?

  Valerie winced. Her friends probably thought Brett’s ridiculous brotherly behavior had been the motivation for her wanting to stay home tonight…and that was partly true. But she hadn’t told them the real reason—a bigger reason—for wanting to avoid stepping into the hottest new bar in town. And that reason not only had a name, but he was the owner. Logan Mathis.

  “Val?” Leah placed her hand on Valerie’s shoulder, pulling her out of her thoughts and right back into her noisy surroundings.

  She immediately lifted her drink and downed the martini in one gulp then rubbed a flat hand across her queasy stomach. “I can do this,” she whispered in encouragement to herself.

  Sam and Max were no longer paying attention and were busy having a heated football discussion, but Leah raised one suspicious brow. “What the hell are you talking about?” she asked before her gaze fell on the empty martini glass. “How many of those have you had?”

  Valerie glanced across the room again at the man who had her insides tied up in knots and sighed heavily. “Not nearly enough.”

  Leah’s gaze immediately followed the invisible trail of bread crumbs Valerie had left behind. She grinned and pointed across the bar. “Hey, isn’t that—”

  “Logan Mathis,” Valerie groaned, not bothering to hide the contempt in her voice.

  “Yeah, that’s the one. He was your brother’s—”

  “Best friend.”

  She nodded. “Yep, but didn’t he move away like—”

  “Eight years ago.”

  Leah pursed her mouth in annoyance. “Okay, how about you actually let me ask the question before you answer it?”

  Despite the way her stomach was churning, Valerie couldn’t help but grin. “Sorry. Go ahead.”

  “Isn’t he the guy you had that huge crush on back then?”

  Valerie blinked rapidly. “Wait. H-how did you…”

  “Oh, come on,” Leah said, rolling her eyes. “You didn’t really think you fooled me, did ya? You mooned over the Mathis boy every chance you got. And the way you always wanted to tag along with the two of them, though Brett frustrated the hell out of you most days. It was obvious.”

  Great. Just great. Valerie closed her eyes and rubbed at her temples before looking back at Logan. He had shifted his position and was now leaning with his back against the brick wall, which gave her a clear view of his face. Her mouth went dry. Good Lord. Could he possibly get any hotter?

  He had the same brooding brown eyes from before, but his muscled frame had filled out and taken on a more rugged appearance. A five o’clock shadow now graced his chiseled jaw but gave his face more depth and dimension.

  His clothes, however, were a bit misleading from the Logan she remembered. The neutral-toned flannel shirt permitted him an almost respectable, approachable look that was probably good for his business. But then she noticed that he’d only slightly tucked in the front of the shirt, enough to showcase the noticeable bulge beneath his belt buckle. As if he were putting his manhood on display.

  There’s the Logan she remembered. That damn subtle arrogance of his.

  Leah eyed her warily. “So that’s why you’re acting so weird tonight? You still have a thing for Logan?”

  “No, I don’t,” Valerie answered quickly.

  “Oh my God. You do! You’re practically sweating right now,” Leah accused, grinning her ass off. She peeked over at him again. “Hmm. Well, he does look good.”

  “Really? I haven’t noticed,” Valerie said, keeping herself from taking another peek.

  Leah looked more confused than ever. “But haven’t you seen him since he got back into town?”

  “No. I’ve been…busy. I had all that unpacking to do, ya know? And I’m pretty sure that opening a new bar required a lot of his attention.”

  “Val, you moved into my old apartment a month ago, and I helped you unpack everything the first week you were…” Leah paused. “Hold on. Did you say he opened a new bar? As in this bar?”

  “Um, yeah. It’s his place.”

  “I didn’t know that. I guess all this wedding planning has kept me distracted and out of the loop. I’m surprised you didn’t mention it thou…” Leah paused then threw back her head and cackled. “Oh, I get it! So that’s why you didn’t want to come out tonight. You’re avoiding him.”

  When Valerie bit her lip, Leah grinned wider, apparently enjoying the role reversal they had going on. Then she eyed Logan from across the room once more. “I never thought I’d say this to you, Valerie, but payback is a real bitch.”

  Before Valerie could stop her, Leah waved her hand in the air, snaring Brett’s attention. He immediately recognized his sister’s best friend and nodded to her before leaning toward Logan. Brett’s mouth moved with inaudible words that had Logan’s head spinning in the girls’ direction.

  Valerie leaned back quickly so that Max’s body blocked her from view as Logan glanced over. “Leah, what the hell?” She peeked around Max’s shoulder in time to see Brett start in their direction…with Logan on his heels. “Oh God! Why the hell did you do that?”

  “Because I’m your friend. There’s no point in avoiding him. It’s like ripping off a bandage. Just get it over with already.”

  “Damn it, Leah…”

  “Don’t be mad. Besides, Granite isn’t that big of a town, and you were bound to run into him sooner or later anyway.”

  “I was good with later.”

  Leah giggled and then tapped Sam on the shoulder, interrupting his conversation with Max. “Why don’t the three of us go grab another round of drinks from across the room? Brett’s coming over here, and I’m pretty sure Valerie is going to need a refill…or possibly ten.”

  “What?” Valerie blinked at her. “Now you’re leaving me all by myself? Gee, thanks. Some friend you are.”

  “I’m doing you a favor. You’ll thank me for it later. Besides, you wouldn’t want me standing here grinning like a fool when he walks up,” Leah said with a wink. “Let me know what happens though. I’m dying to hear how all this plays out.” Then she flitted away, taking Sam and Max with her.

  Traitor. She’ll be lucky if I tell her anything at all.

  Brett and Logan wove their way through the crush of people invading the bar, and with every step they took in her direction, Valerie could feel the room growing considerably smaller. Unwilling to make eye contact, she turned her body to the bar and stared straight ahead. Adrenaline raced through her veins, and her nerves surged with anxiety. Yep, definitely going to throw up.

  The moment the air pressure surrounding her changed, she knew Logan—and his overbearing male presence—was standing behind her. It was as if she could feel the tension rolling off him in waves.

  Unfortunately, she couldn’t put it off any longer. Straightening her posture, she sucked in a calming breath and crossed her legs, allowing her short skirt to ride up her thighs a little more than was polite. She planted a big smile on her face, spun around on her bar stool, and looked directly at Logan’s unsmiling face. He had always towered over her much shorter frame, but somehow she’d forgotten how impossibly small he could make her feel with just one simple look.

  Logan’s eyes met hers head on, and his lips curved. “Well, well. If it isn’t Princess Valerie.”

  * * *

  Logan Mathis hadn’t seen Valerie Carmichael since he’d skipped out of town eight years ago, but the moment he’d come face-to-face with his best friend’s kid sister, he couldn’t help himself. He’d called her the one thing he knew would get a rise out of her.

  And boy, did it ever.

  Just like in the past, Valerie jutted out that perfect pointy chin and narrowed those piercing ice-blue eyes. But instead of shrieking at him like she used to, Val did something he hadn’t expected. She lifted one brow in a prominent arch, as if daring him to find out just how much of a princess she really was. Interesting.

  Her cool, assessing eyes flickered over him. “Logan,
” she stated calmly, though her pitch held an undeniable amount of irritation, “I heard you were back in town. What happened? Houston got tired of you and decided to kick you out?”

  The young Valerie he remembered from years before had always been pretty and blooming with personality, but this girl, this woman, sitting in front of him had an air of confidence he hadn’t seen before.

  He smiled at the hostile edge to her tone, but as his gaze landed on the exposed flesh of her upper thighs, he began feeling a little antagonistic himself. “Yeah, guess that’s what happens when a guy makes his way through all their women.”

  Brett laughed and slapped him on the back. “Good one, bro.” Then he nodded toward the empty glass on the bar. “Looks like you’re empty, Val. Want another one of those…uh, whatever the hell that thing is?”

  A smile tugged on her red-painted lips as she swept her long, wavy blond hair over her right shoulder. “It’s an apple martini. And yes, I’d love another.” She leaned toward her brother and lowered her voice to almost a whisper. “But you might want to order it from the main bar across the room.”

  Logan didn’t need to ask why. He knew Derek wasn’t as fast as the other bartenders he’d hired, which was exactly why he’d started him out at the small side bar, where he wouldn’t see as much action. But he seemed like a good kid and had the desire to learn. He’d get faster in time. Probably.

  But leave it to Valerie to point out the one weakness in his staff. At least she hadn’t been loud about it. Didn’t matter anyway. Brett was so preoccupied by a redhead who walked past that he didn’t even question why he’d have to get their drinks at the main bar. He just nodded and said, “All right. I’m going to grab a beer while I’m there. Logan can keep an eye on you while I’m gone.”

  “I don’t need a babysitter,” she said, rolling her eyes.

  Logan considered doing the same. It was as if Brett expected women-eating sharks to start circling if he left his sister alone for even a minute. Then he noticed a guy standing a few feet away with his eyes trained on the hem of Valerie’s barely there dress. Okay, so maybe Brett has a point.

  Shifting his position, Logan used his own body to block her legs from view. Unfortunately, that meant he was practically standing over her, which only gave him a better viewpoint of her never-ending cleavage. His gaze focused between her breasts and slid all the way down to where hardened nipples poked through the thin fabric.

  “You want something, Logan?”

  Oh, yeeeah. It took him a moment to realize he still hadn’t answered Brett’s question out loud. “Uh, no. I don’t drink on the cock…I mean, clock.” Shit.

  Brett chuckled. “You sure you haven’t been drinking, buddy?”

  “I’m sure,” Logan said, forcing his gaze away from Valerie. “Just give the bartender your name, and they’ll put your drinks on my tab. I’ve already told them to expect you to—”

  Brett snorted. “You aren’t comping our drinks, jackass. You can’t make money by doing shit like that. First night on the job and you already suck as a businessman.” When Logan opened his mouth to argue, Brett held up one hand. “I’m serious, dude. Don’t make me kick your ass in front of everyone.”

  Logan grinned. “You could try.”

  Once Brett disappeared into the crowd, Logan turned back to Valerie, keeping his eyes on hers. His gaze begged him to shift lower, but he wasn’t about to let that happen. Even if she was wearing a sinfully tight dress.

  Actually, if you asked him, it wasn’t really a dress. More like a sparkly, figure-flattering scrap of spandex that outlined the shape of her curvy-ass body. The torturous, high-cut hem practically screamed at him to slide some part of his anatomy under it.

  His hands wouldn’t have been his first choice, but the nerves in his fingers twitched anyway. The last thing he needed tonight was to see her prancing around in shit like that.

  “Nice dress,” Logan said, clenching his jaw, though he managed to keep his tone casual. “Where’d you get it—the fabric store?”

  She grinned, as if his backhanded compliment pleased her. “I bought it online.” She stood, which brought her much closer to him than before, and smoothed her hands down her sides. Her eyes glittered under the flashing neon lights. “Do you like it?”

  “Not much to like,” Logan said gruffly.

  “Well, that’s basically the point, isn’t it?” Valerie giggled in that sexy, girly way that made a man’s balls draw up inside him.

  “I’m surprised your brother let you wear that. I figured he would have wrestled you to the ground to keep you from walking out the door in something so low-cut.”

  “Oh, please. Brett doesn’t have a say in what I wear. I don’t live with him.”

  “That hasn’t stopped him in the past.”

  Valerie sighed. “That was a long time ago, Logan. Believe it or not, I’m fully capable of picking out my own clothes. I don’t need his approval. Or yours.” She leaned forward, licking her plump lips, and whispered, “Maybe you haven’t realized this yet, but I’m not a little girl anymore.”

  His stomach tightened. You can say that again. But he also knew Brett better than anyone. “How many times did you change before you passed inspection?”

  Her lips curved. “Only once. Brett said the first dress would have gotten me arrested…or possibly him.”

  Damn it. Now Logan wanted to see that one too. It didn’t really matter which one she wore though, since he was pretty sure both would look fan-fucking-tastic lying on his bedroom floor. He’d never find out, of course, but he couldn’t help grinning for being right about her brother. “Yeah. I thought so, princess.”

  Her lips pursed as if she was mildly annoyed, but she recovered quickly. “So what are you doing back here anyway? The way you left town so fast, I was sure you’d never step foot within the city limits again.”

  “I came back to open a business. Or did you forget that you’re sitting in my bar wearing next to nothing?”

  “Yeah, but you could have opened a bar anywhere.”

  Yep, he could have. But he didn’t. “So?”

  “So why here?”

  “Why not?” he asked, deflecting the question.

  She gazed at him curiously and shrugged. “Seems like an odd choice, that’s all. Houston is a much larger city. Why would you want to open your business in a small town like Granite?”

  Damn. Couldn’t she just leave it alone already? “I’m from here, Val. And my mother still lives here, remember?”

  “Of course I remember,” she said, lifting one inquisitive brow. “I guess I’m just surprised you do. Your mom comes in the bakery all the time. I’ve probably seen her more in the past month than you’ve seen her in the past eight years.”

  Ouch. Okay, that stung. But what really pissed him off most was that she was right. He hadn’t come home. Not even once. And although he had his reasons, he wasn’t willing to discuss them with Valerie. Ignoring the jab, he gave her one of his own. “Yeah, your brother told me you were working in your friend’s bakery now. How many people have you poisoned with that endeavor?”

  “None yet,” she said, giggling. “But I’m certainly willing to make an exception in your case.” She grinned again.

  God, she had to stop doing that.

  The way her sensual mouth curved with that secretive little smile of hers had always driven him up the wall, but it was flat out lethal when paired with the delicate scent of her perfumed skin hovering in the air around him. Sugared oranges and sweet coconut. Like the blond goddess had bathed in a pool of ambrosia. It was enough to drive a man insane.

  He needed to wipe that sexy grin off her face before he did something stupid like lean over and kiss it away. “I’m not surprised,” Logan said, leaning forward and inhaling deeply. “But then again, I’ve always been the exception. Haven’t I, princess?”

  His comment had her temper flaring in those catlike eyes of hers, deepening the color. She crossed her arms, which only succeeded in pushing
her breasts higher. “God, must you keep calling me that?”

  He shrugged lightly. “It suits you.”

  Her eyes held his. “Why? Because my brother would love nothing more than to fit me with a chastity belt and lock me away in a tower somewhere? Or is it because you’ve always thought of me as a royal pain in the ass?”

  Stunned, his mouth hinged open. He hadn’t expected her to be so…direct. When had that changed? In the past, she’d always been sly with the subtle overtures she’d sent his way. Not that they’d ever gone unnoticed or anything. At least not by him. But even then, he’d done the only thing he could. He’d ignored them. Because if Brett ever found out his sister had made flirty passes at his best friend, Valerie would have found herself locked away, all right. Never to be seen or heard from again.

  It would serve her right.

  Either way, Logan had no intention of telling her the reason behind the nickname. That was his business, and if she didn’t like it, tough shit. Let her think whatever she wanted. “Both,” he lied.

  Her eyes narrowed slightly, but her smooth, silky voice had the same drugging undertones he’d remembered so well. “Well, I can see you’re still the same cocky jerk you’ve always been.”

  Unable to resist, he stepped closer to her. “Sweetheart, you have no idea how cocky I can be.”

  Logan knew better than to say something like that to her, but her sultry eyes were playing tag with his and had forced all rational thought out the window. And watching her tongue dart out to swipe across her full bottom lip only made things worse. An image of him taking her back to his office, bending her over his desk, and finding out exactly what was under that damn slinky-ass dress had his dick hardening almost to the point of pain.

  But then he spotted Brett making his way through the crowd with a drink in each hand and cringed inwardly. Sonofabitch. Logan quickly moved away from her and ran a frustrated hand through his hair. Damn it. What the hell am I doing? He’d gotten so caught up in their exchange that he hadn’t realized he was toeing a very dangerous line, one he wasn’t willing to cross.

  Brett was the closest thing to a brother Logan would ever know. Which meant that, no matter how eye catching the guy’s sister was and no matter how many times she flung herself in his direction, Logan wouldn’t risk giving up a lifelong friendship for one night of pleasure. It wasn’t worth it.