Your ass, you mean?
I try not to smirk and watch him curiously. “I heard they caught the guy last night.”
“Yeah.” He looks down, then swallows. I brace myself for whatever it is he’ll say. Is he going to confess? “They couldn’t keep him.”
It’s not what I expect him to say. “So he’s out?”
“Yeah, so we’re beefing up security. We don’t want any females walking alone, especially at night.”
“Sure.” The guy would be stupid to come back, considering. “Do you think he’ll come back?”
“Maybe. I don’t know.” He dips his head. “I hate it that we have to be on our toes, especially here. It’s a kids’ camp for God’s sake.”
“We live in a different time now. It’s not like when we were kids.”
“You know, my parents used to always complain when I was growing up how bad things were getting. I didn’t see it, not until now.”
I shrug. My life growing up was far from rosy, unlike his perfect upbringing. Camp was the only thing I had to experience normal. “Yeah. Well, hopefully we won’t make a big deal about it so the kids don’t think any different.”
“Yeah.” He nods, then turns to leave.
“Oh,” he pauses like he just remembered something. “Did I hear right that you’ll be staying on this winter, working for Joe and Glenda?”
I swallow down the lump forming in my throat. “Yeah? Why?”
His eyes narrow. “What about school?”
The blood drains from my face. My lie about college has finally caught up to me, and a plausible excuse eludes me. I remain speechless, trapped in his curious gaze. All I know is that I’m not telling him the truth, no matter what.
He looks away. “I don’t mean to pry.”
I give him a fake grin. “No. It’s just… it’s a long story.”
There’s an awkward silence. “You don’t need to tell me if you don’t want.”
“Thanks.” I look away.
“Well, thanks again.”
“Don’t mention it.”
He finally leaves and I blow out a quiet breath. All of this is going to give me an ulcer.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Walking slowly back to Aspen, I mull over my stupid conversation with Dirk, and regret my decision to attend beach day today. I'm beyond exhausted.
“Hey, you. You’re not supposed to be walking alone.”
I turn toward Logan’s voice and melt. “Hey.”
He catches up to me, and I try not to grin too widely. “Now I’m not alone.”
“What are you up to this afternoon? Don’t tell me beach day.”
I lift my shoulder. “Thinking about it.”
His lips pull into a line.
“Why, do you have a better offer?”
“Well…” his mischievous grin lights up his face. “Nothing exciting. Just some laundry and a good book.”
“Laundry, reading, and a nap?”
“A nap is most welcome.”
I push into his shoulder. “Is this an invitation?”
“Of course.”
“Okay. I’m sold. Let me get my stuff. I’ll meet you at my car.”
Once I’m alone, I do a little happy dance, then pull out my phone and text Syd.
Me: Rain check on beach day. Don’t kill me.
We hang out at Soap and Suds like before. Logan stays close to me, touching me often, stealing my sexy underwear and reminding me he’s seen me in them, before I can take them back. As he reads to me, I watch his lips, and my body hums. I just want them on mine so bad.
Why did he choose to be with me and not Kat today? Maybe something’s changed. Maybe he can’t deny his growing feelings for me. Maybe he knows his relationship is on the rocks.
Laundry takes an hour and a half, and once we’re back at camp, we end up in his room. He instructs me to get comfortable on his bed, but doesn’t leave. I bite my lip and study him as he watches me roll onto my side, his dark eyes smoldering like he’s imagining me in my black underwear. What I wouldn’t give to peek into his head and know what’s stopping him from ravishing me.
“Will you hold me?” I ask.
I brace myself for his rejection, but he curls up next to me and wraps me in his arms. My head fits perfectly just under his chin, and I feel his arousal pressing into my hip. My heart takes off. Of course, this isn’t conducive for napping, but I don’t want him to leave, and I know if I look at him, he might kiss me, but I’m terrified.
“You’re confusing,” he breathes into my hair.
“Confusing?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“You’re confident, smart… attractive. You could have any guy, yet you’re spending time with me.”
I chuckle to keep from full out laughing from the ridiculousness of his statement. “And that’s confusing?”
“Yes.”
“You’re confusing, too.”
“I know.”
I smirk at his arrogance, when it hits me. I don’t want him to cheat like she’s doing to him. If we’re going to keep things status quo, he has to know this gesture doesn’t mean anything more to me than friendship, or I’ll lose him again. “But… I’ll take this as a token of friendship, like it should be.”
He sighs and squeezes me tighter.
My throat burns to tell him, to rush things and confess everything. But I can’t. I have to be patient. It’ll all be worth it if I wait.
~|~
After dinner, I’m positively glowing. He’s in denial, but there’s definitely something happening between us, and I know now he’s making excuses and fighting it. But if we’re to succeed, things have to proceed in the right order. Once he learns the truth, it will be different. He’ll be free to choose me.
The kids mill about the dining room after dinner, sunburned and exhausted. Logan and I quickly clean up, and he darts off just as the bell chimes for the evening meeting in the auditorium. He’s been avoiding most everything that has to do with campers this entire week.
I find Syd and hang with her girls during the skit. Just as Dirk is about to let the counselors go for the night game, he comes up to me.
“Hey, stick around for a minute, will you?”
My stomach drops. “Okay.”
Once Dirk dismisses the counselors and kids, he comes over. “ Hey, I have a question.”
“Yeah?”
“Are you still up to being a counselor?”
My mouth drops. “Yes?”
He smiles. “Great. Kitty isn’t returning, and so… I’m needing a counselor to fill in.”
I feel the tears welling in my eyes, and I can’t stop myself from hugging him. “Yes, of course.”
He pats my back. “Good. Kat needs to work her other job for one more week, then she’ll come back for the rest of the summer.”
I pull away, and my smile falters. “Really?”
“Yes, thank God.” He watches me, curious. “Don’t look so disappointed. You’ll still fill in for rotation help.”
“Oh, okay.” I’m still confused why Kat thinks Dirk is worth throwing everything away for, but I don’t want to press my luck. I’m hoping in the end, she’ll just break it off with Logan. Is this a bribe so I don’t talk?
But it doesn’t matter. My dreams are coming true, finally. I bolt for Logan’s cabin to tell him the good news.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
I walk inside Logan’s cabin, head to his bedroom and freeze. Kat is sitting backwards on Logan’s lap with her tongue practically down his throat.
I turn away disgusted before they have a chance to notice me and let myself out. Gasping for air, I lean over, hands on my knees. My head spins, and I’m more than shocked. How could Logan spend the afternoon holding me, then turn around and make out with her? And how could she be with two guys at the same time?
Running to Aspen, new tears slide down my cheeks. It’s like the world is against my happiness. I run to my room and fish out the bottle of
Goldschläger hidden in my bottom drawer. I can’t take another minute of this. It’s not that Logan’s the victim. He’s just as bad as she is. He’s just like Gage.
I hoof it down the trail to Devil’s Peak barely able to see. I have to get somewhere I can drink in peace. The pain is too raw. Once out of eyesight, I slug down a sip.
The small voice inside condemns me. You’re turning into your mother.
“Shut up!” I tell her and take another drink.
My life is so screwed up. I’m in love with a taken man, and I can’t tell him his girlfriend is cheating on him with his boss.
I pick up a rock and throw it off the cliff. “That’s for you, Kat. For being there first.”
I take a drink and throw another rock. “That’s for you, Logan, for being too stupid to see the obvious.”
Drink. Rock. “And that’s for you, Gage. For thinking with your dick.”
Drink. Rock. “And Allie, for stabbing me in the back.”
Drink. Rock. “And my mother, for being such a bitch.”
Drink. Rock. “And Dad, for leaving me for another family.”
I lean over to grab another rock, and fall on my butt. A deep rumble of laughter comes from behind me. I sit up just as a man steps from the shadows into the moonlight.
“I can take away all your pain, little lady.”
Seeing him advance sobers me.
“Who are you?” I ask.
“Just a friend.” He steps closer.
My numb legs wobble. I poise myself to run, eyeing the trail. Maybe I can get there before he does. Either way, no one is close enough to hear me scream.
“That’s a nice offer, but I have a boyfriend,” I say softly.
He laughs again. The hair prickles on my neck. “Who says he’d have to know.”
He lunges forward, and I throw the empty bottle at his head. I hear him cuss as glass shatters, but I don’t take the time to find out why. His footfalls hit the dirt behind me. I stumble and fall. The ground rips at the flesh in my knee, but I get up and keep going. My lungs start to burn, and I gasp for air. It’s too far away. I’m never going to get back to camp in time.
Miraculously, I find my way to the street. There’s a beam of light up ahead.
“He’s here! Help me!”
The light swings toward me. “Maddy?”
The voice of the guy who haunts me, calls to me. I fly into Logan’s arms. The guy running after me stops. Logan shines the light in his face for a second. There’s blood dripping from where I hit him with the bottle.
“You’re trespassing.” He grips me tighter.
“This here’s a public road,” he says. “Just helping the lady get home.”
“I’ll take over from here.”
The guy keeps advancing. “She has a fine way of showing her appreciation.”
I take out my phone. “I’m calling 911.”
“No, you won’t, you little bitch!” The guy pulls a knife.
Logan slides me behind his body. “I don’t think you want to do that.”
The guy charges forward, and I scream. Logan moves to the left, and they dance back and forth. The thug keeps jabbing at him with his knife, but Logan’s quicker than he is.
“Get out of here, Maddy,” Logan says.
But I my feet are frozen. My hands shake as I try to call 911. “What’s your emergency?”
“There’s a guy here with a knife.”
“Hang up, Bitch!” the guy yells. “Or your boyfriend will pay.”
The operator asks me something, but it doesn’t register. Logan’s life is on the line.
“Bitch, hang up!”
“Tell them where we’re at, Maddy,” Logan says calmly.
The thug lunges, and cuts Logan’s arm. He grunts in pain and holds the wound.
I shriek again. “It’s Redwood Springs Camp. Please hurry.” Then I hang up.
“When I’m done with you, boy, you won’t be so pretty.”
“Like you?” Logan taunts. “Give me your best shot.”
I can barely breathe. What is he doing?
The guy thrusts again. This time Logan moves aside, grabs his arm, and twists. The guy grunts in pain, lets go of the knife, and then goes to his knees. Logan lifts his arm awkwardly. There’s a sickening crack. The thug drops to the ground cussing.
I’m sobbing by now. Logan walks over and takes me in his arms.
He strokes the hair from my face. “Are you okay? He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
I can’t say anything. I’m just so thankful he’s alive, that I lean up and kiss him. He startles under my lips, then responds and opens his mouth. His lips are rich and full, his tongue hot and hungry. He presses his body against me. His hands push through my hair, then down the sides of my body, sending a thrill across my skin. I hold onto him tighter, kneading and gripping his back. My body aches and all I want to do is go back to his room with him. I’ve never wanted anyone more in my life.
A helicopter circles around, lighting up the street. He pulls away first, breathless. We stare at one another wide-eyed. My heart is pounding. His eyes are smoldering.
Then my gaze drifts back to the street. The guy on the ground is gone.
“Oh, shit.” I spin around, and Logan takes ahold of me.
“We need to get you somewhere safe.”
“Me safe?” I stare at him in awe. “How did you know how to disarm him like that?”
He shrugs. “I know a few things.”
“A few things?”
He continues to usher me away from the scene and closer to camp. “Let’s just say I had the crap beat out of me once. I never wanted that to happen to me again.”
Dirk runs up. “What’s going on?”
“Maddy was almost attacked,” Logan says.
I look down. There’s blood still gushing from Logan’s arm, and it’s all over me. “Oh, my gosh.”
A police cruiser drives toward us. I stay by Logan’s side as he explains what happened. Then they question me.
The cop’s eyes narrow. “Have you been drinking?”
I swallow and nod, hoping Dirk isn’t listening on.
“And you’re twenty-one?”
My shoulders slide downward. “In two weeks, yes.”
Logan stiffens next to me. “She’s the victim here.”
The cop nods and asks us more questions. Logan doesn’t leave my side and continues to grip my hand tight.
Dirk takes over and instructs the counselors who have gathered to get the kids into the auditorium for a headcount. An ambulance shows up and the paramedic wants to look at Logan’s arm. I stick next to him, swaying slightly, as they stitch him up.
Out of the growing throng, a girl yells that she’s Logan’s fiancé and Kat manages to break free from the line, and runs up to Logan. “Oh my gosh!”
She looks at me, then at his wound. She closes her eyes and shakes her head. “I can’t believe you’re doing this again.”
He glares at her. “I’m not doing anything. He pulled a knife.”
“You know how I feel—”
“It was either me or Maddy,” he starts. “Just… Can we talk about this later?”
She glares at me, but I don’t leave Logan’s side. “It smells like a freaking still. Are you drunk?” Her eyes narrow at me.
I glower back at her. She may suspect I’ve been drinking, but she needs to tread lightly. I have the goods on her and Dirk, and I’m prepared to use it.
She crosses her arms. “What are you doing out here alone?”
“Kat,” Logan says softly, just as the paramedic finishes up bandaging him. “Please. Go find your kids.”
She gives me one last harsh look before she leaves, and Logan takes a step to follow.
The paramedic stops him. “You need to get that looked at.”
“I will. Thanks.” Logan turns to me. There’s guilt in his eyes. “Maddy…”
“Later.” I hold up my hand. I’m not ready for the easy let down, or his excuses ab
out whatever sick and twisted thing we have going on here. Not when there’s people listening on, and most definitely not when my brain isn’t fully engaged.
“Are you okay, miss?” the paramedic asks me, then he wrinkles his nose.
“I’m fine,” I lie, and brush him off as I distance myself from the chaos. Kat’s most likely going to tell Dirk that I’ve been drinking, but maybe if he doesn’t see me himself, I won’t lose my job.
Logan tries to follow, but gets caught talking to another cop, and I wonder about what Kat had said, about his fighting. I don’t wait for him. I can barely stand, and I’m about to lose my dinner.
Kissing him wasn’t supposed to be like this, not as a result of being drunk and scared. And now I’m terrified it’s ruined everything. But the fear that there’s something lurking inside Logan, something Kat helps him keep in check, frightens me.
Apparently there’s a side of him I don’t know at all. What if I’ve judged the situation wrong? What if Kat’s the victim and wants to leave Logan, but can’t?
All I know is once morning comes, this madness is going to be a hot mess, and nothing will ever be the same.
VOLUME FOUR
CHAPTER ONE
The arguing outside wakes me and I take a moment to figure things out before my eyes slowly open. Somehow I’d ended up on the couch in my cabin and fell asleep sitting upright. I run my tongue over my teeth. My mouth tastes like something crawled inside and died. I try not to think about it and strain harder to listen.
“I can’t believe you stayed here the whole night.”
My heart thumps hard at the sound of Kat’s angered voice outside.
“I couldn’t leave her alone. She needed me,” Logan says.
“I need you!”
“You weren’t the one who was attacked.”
“Oh, so I have to be attacked to get some attention?” she huffs.
“Kat, this isn’t fair.”
I lean over to get closer to the door. My head spins and I shift upright. I need Advil, a tall glass of water, and coffee, stat.
“What isn’t fair is how you look at her,” she says.
My empty stomach jolts. Apparently I’m not the only one who’s noticed that.
Truly Madly Deeply: Volumes 1-4 Page 23