by Sabrina York
“Easy.”
The twin—whatever his name was—seemed unrepentant. “Shall we?”
“What . . . digs?” she asked, a strange unease curling up her spine. It probably had to do with the mischief in their eyes.
“Ooh.” One twin glanced at the other. “She doesn’t know about the digs?” And then, to Logan, “You didn’t tell her about the digs?” For some reason, they both laughed.
Hanna was starting to understand Logan’s warning. These two were playful, impish . . . and trouble. And, perhaps, as he said, a pain in the ass.
Logan frowned. “Didn’t Rafe explain that we’d be putting you up for the duration of the project? You can’t be expected to drive back and forth to Snake Gully every day.”
Hanna nodded. Yes. She had seen that in the contract but . . . “I assumed it was a hotel or something.”
“Or something.” One of the twins snickered.
The other snapped his fingers several times in succession. “Wait. Did you say you were from Snake Gully?”
She hadn’t, Logan had mentioned it. But Hanna nodded.
For some reason, their gazes both whipped around; they stared at Logan until his cheeks went pink. She could tell a question was burning on their lips, but they didn’t ask. And whatever this tidbit had revealed to them, it had a strange effect. They became curiously subdued.
Logan ignored them both. He waved her toward the door. “The property came with two bungalows, on the other side of the road. We’ve been using them during the construction, for offices and lodgings. Now that most of the work is done, there’s an empty one. We thought you could stay there. Would you like to check it out?”
The prospect of staying here, so close to the project, excited her. She could work all night if she so desired, and then simply cross the road and drop into bed. “Yes, please.”
When they stepped out into the bright sunshine from the shadowed structure, it was a shock to the system. It was just after noon and the sun was high in the sky. They crossed the parking lot and headed for the bungalows.
“Busy road,” Logan said as they waited for traffic to pass.
“I see that.”
The bungalow was small, compared to the home she’d lived in her entire life, but cozy. It had two bedrooms and a full bath as well as a kitchen, dining, and living area and was decorated with functional furniture. “We have cable and Wi-Fi,” Logan said.
“Running water,” one of the twins put in. The one in red.
Hanna turned to him. “What was your name again?” she asked.
He clutched a hand to his chest. “God, woman,” he wailed. “Break my heart, why don’t you?”
Logan laughed. “That’s Ben,” he said. “But trust me, they’re pretty much interchangeable.”
Ben’s response was a profanity that made Hanna blush, but Logan laughed that off too.
She wandered to the fridge and opened it. It was clean, but empty. “We’ll have that stocked,” Logan said. “The stove works fine too.”
She peeped into the bathroom. The claw-footed tub bespoke the age of the place. But it was well kept and tidy. Charming, in fact.
“So what do you think?” Logan asked, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Do you think you could stay here?”
She didn’t answer right away, toying with a concerning niggle in the back of her mind.
“Of course, if you don’t like it . . . we can find something else.” Oh, why did he seem so bereft at the prospect?
“I do like it, but . . .”
“But?”
Hanna wandered to the window and looked out at miles of scrub. She shivered. She’d never lived alone before. She could stay with Sidney, she supposed, though even that would be quite a drive every day. Red Oak was a ways from her sister’s apartment in town. “It’s just so isolated. I don’t think I would feel comfortable way out here all by myself.”
Brandon snorted. “Oh, you won’t be by yourself.” Ben nudged him with an elbow. “Well, not much anyway.” Ben nudged him again.
Logan cleared his throat. “I, ahem. I’ll be right next door.”
Hanna stared at him in shock. She wasn’t sure why this shocked her, but it did.
Also, it thrilled her.
The thought of being out here, in the boondocks, with him, was glorious.
“And you two?” She turned to the twins. “Where will you be?”
“My place in town.” Brandon looked horrified.
“I’m not staying out here,” Ben said.
“So it’s just you and me?” she asked Logan. “Way out here in the ass end of nowhere? Alone?”
Logan nodded.
Hanna tried to keep the smile from curling on her lips. But she failed.
And when he added, “Not a twin in sight,” she couldn’t help laughing.
***
Her father was thrilled about this new opportunity, but bemoaned the fact that she was leaving for a couple months—or more. Once she’d packed, he insisted on taking her into town for groceries. He was convinced that without him, she’d starve.
“I won’t starve, Daddy,” she said as they trundled out of the truck in the parking lot of FoodWay, the only market in town. “They do have grocery stores in Dallas.” Hanna took her mother’s arm and helped her navigate over a step and into the store.
Her father grunted. “Big city stores. It ain’t the same.” He brushed at his cheek.
“Daddy?” She peered at him. Were those . . . tears? “Daddy, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Daddy . . .”
“It’s just . . . What will I do without you?” he asked. “You’ve never been away so long. It was bad enough when Sidney left.”
“I know.” She gave her father a hug.
“I just can’t imagine it.”
“I won’t be gone that long. And just think of how much money I’ll be making.”
He frowned. “We don’t need it now.”
Hanna laughed. “I need it.”
The wash of chagrin on his face was amusing. “The money?”
“No, Daddy.” She patted his arm. “I need this. I need to have something. I love that they appreciate my work. They want to pay me for it. Do you know how much that means to me?”
“I s’pose, sugar.”
Mom spotted the yarn display on the far side of the store and headed off that way. “You go with her, Daddy,” Hanna said. “I’ll shop.”
He frowned. “All right,” he said, a gruff grumble. “But I am paying, and no sass from you, young lady.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
“Gonna be a long time before I can buy you groceries again.”
“Not that long, Daddy.”
He ignored her. “Get anything you want. Everything.”
She nibbled a lip. “I was thinking bacon . . .”
He laughed. He knew how much she loved bacon.
Well, she wasn’t going to get everything, she thought as she guided her basket down the first aisle. She’d get dry goods and non-perishables. She couldn’t allow Logan and his family to provide all her food, on top of that dazzling salary and a place to stay. She shivered a little at the thought.
The thought of a place to stay. With Logan.
Having him nearby day . . . and night was a stimulating prospect.
She had so enjoyed seeing him again. Even enjoyed the interaction with his brothers. They were all awfully cute. Not as attractive as Logan, of course, but cute all the same. Why her friends Porsche and Amy, and Sidney of course, flickered through her mind as she thought of Ben, Brandon, and Rafe, was a mystery. It would be fun, getting them all together—just to see what happened. Perhaps she would throw a party when the project was finished, and invite them all.
She enjoyed the little slither of mischiev
ousness curling through her. It was highly possible that Brandon and Ben—and their mischievousness—were contagious. Of course, she knew very little about them. They could all be married, for heaven’s sake. She made a mental note to ask Logan when she saw him again.
Oh dear.
Another slither. This one not playful at all.
She’d be seeing him again, and soon.
She’d pack up her truck and head out to Dallas. She’d be there tonight.
With him.
Alone.
The thought made her giddy.
That was probably why she wasn’t paying attention. She was obsessed with thoughts of Logan—tonight, alone—when she bumped into someone.
She whipped her head up, her lips poised to form an apology, but it froze, half formed.
She hadn’t bumped into anybody.
Zack had bumped into her. Grabbed her cart and yanked it to a halt. His fingers, wound in the metal grid, were white.
“Hanna.” A hiss.
His face was a mask. Not at all like the one she was used to, but she’d seen it before, this look, that afternoon in his truck. Upon reflection she realized it wasn’t a mask at all. This was the real Zack. The other one—the kind one, the funny one, the patient one—that had been the mask.
She forced herself to stand up straight and meet his eye. “Hello, Zack.”
His gaze flicked to her cart. “I hear you’re leaving town.”
“For a while. I got a job in Dallas.”
His lip curled. “What the hell kind of job did you get in Dallas?”
Hanna tipped her head. It was none of his business, but Snake Gulley was a small town. He’d learn about it sooner or later. “Painting.”
“Painting?” He barked a laugh. “What the fuck kind of job is that?”
She stared at him, anger and annoyance warring inside her. “It’s a job I want, Zack. Please move.”
He snorted and edged closer. She should have known. He never did anything but what he wanted. “You think you’re free of me?” The vitriol in his voice shocked her, as did the venom in his eyes. She’d never been so close to a rattler. Never wished so hard she had a gun on her.
“I know I am.”
“The hell you are. You’ll never be free of me, Hanna. Go to Dallas. Paint the whole fucking town for all I care. But you’ll be back.”
She cleared her throat. “Of course I’ll be back. I live here, Zack.”
He grabbed her wrist in his hand and held her tight. His fingers bit into her skin. “Don’t get flip with me, Hanna. Don’t forget who I am. I can destroy you. Your father, your whole family.”
“Let me go.”
He did not. In fact, his grip tightened.
Fury raged within her. What right did he have to terrorize her? What right did he have to terrorize everyone? Hell, the whole town was afraid of him. Hanna glanced around. Ricky, who was working produce, met her eyes, then paled and looked away. Same with Barney at the meat counter—and he had a knife. None of these men, none of these people, would stand up to Zack.
Well, Hanna had had enough.
“Let go of me,” she said, one more time, just to give him the opportunity to comply, then she reached into her cart and grabbed a random item, a large bottle of salad dressing.
He sneered at her and yanked her closer.
“Remember what my Daddy said about your balls?” she asked.
He didn’t answer. He didn’t get a chance. She swung at him, hard and low, catching him in the groin with the hard bottle. His fingers released. He sank to the ground. She stepped out of the way to let him fall.
She hunkered down and looked straight into his anguished eyes. “I’ve had enough of your bullying, Zack Pucey,” she said. “Leave me the fuck alone.”
And then she whirled her cart and headed for the checkout.
Turned out, her father didn’t get to buy her groceries after all. Because Rodger, on the cash register, just shot her a grin and waved her on through. “It’s on the house, Hanna,” he said with a wink.
Chapter Twenty
It felt good, damn good, driving away from Snake Gully with her suitcases, her painting supplies, and the groceries in the backseat. A sense of elation and excitement and freedom washed over her.
She couldn’t have imagined feeling like this a month ago, a week ago, and it was exhilarating. That she was heading for Dallas, and Logan, didn’t hurt.
She’d hated saying good-bye to her parents, though Mom hugged her and said, “See you soon,” as though she really didn’t understand. It had been hardest leaving her father, all alone as he was. He’d made arrangements with Flo Johnson to come in a couple days a week and give him a break and, of course, he mentioned, he had chili recipes to work on.
The miles flew by. The first time she’d made the drive into Dallas it had seemed to take forever. Not so this time. Before she knew it, she pulled up next to the little bungalow that would be her home. She sat back and drew in a deep breath, glorying in the elation skimming through her veins.
Because Logan was there, waiting for her.
He must have heard her drive up, or perhaps he’d been waiting, as wired with anticipation as she. Hard to say. But the grin on his face was unmistakable.
It was late afternoon. Too late to begin work. She would have the rest of the day to settle in. Spend the evening with him.
Why that made her suddenly shy, she didn’t know. They’d shared every intimacy a man and a woman could share—or nearly so. She had no call to be bashful.
He met her at the door and, as she slipped from the truck he pulled her into his arms for a hug. “You’re here.” His voice was low and melodious.
She nibbled her lip. “You knew I was coming.”
He flushed. “I, yeah, I wasn’t sure you’d come. You could have changed your mind.”
She set her palm on his chest. His heart thrummed beneath it. Change her mind? Not a chance.
His eyes skated over her face, as though he couldn’t get enough of her, and then they settled on her lips. She knew—knew—he was thinking about kissing her. Involuntarily, she nudged closer. His nostrils tightened, as though drawing in her scent, and he lowered his head, but he didn’t kiss her, not the way she wanted him to. He pressed a chaste buss on her forehead.
Unable to stop herself, she sent him a pout and he chuckled and kissed her again. Again, on the forehead.
“Logan?” The question was clear in her tone.
“We’re taking this slow.” He tucked a curl behind her ear, stroked her cheek.
“We are?”
He nodded and pulled away, opening up the back door. “This is about you,” he said. She didn’t really understand what he meant, and was about to ask him, when he laughed. “Good lord, woman. How much stuff did you bring?”
She peeped over his shoulder. “Just two suitcases.” She hadn’t needed much. She always painted in the same grungy outfit.
“I mean the food.” He gaped at her. “We said we’d stock the larder.”
Hanna blushed. “I know. But I wanted to bring my own food. Then Daddy had to send some chili, and made sure I got some of the jam we put up last spring and . . .”
“A side of beef or two?”
She grinned. “It’s not that bad.” She pushed past him and hefted a box.
“Let me get that,” he insisted. He groaned as he lifted it and shot her a playful glower.
She let him carry in the food, but insisted on bringing in her suitcases, which she stashed in one of the bedrooms as he finished carrying in everything else. Then together, they put all the food away. It was fun and very domestic and positively not seductive at all.
Why she’d thought he’d leap on her the moment she arrived, she didn’t know. But she had. And, truth be told, she was a little disappointed at his restraint.
This is about you, he’d said. I want you to be free, he’d said. And then it all became clear.
He sincerely wanted to give them a chance to get to know each other better before they tumbled into bed.
Why that sent a swirl of annoyance and impatience through her, she didn’t know.
All right. Maybe she did.
Those two nights with Logan had been wonderful. Transformative. The memory of his dark growls as he claimed her, the feel of his body pressing into hers, still haunted her thoughts, night and day.
She wanted him.
She wanted him very much.
And while she thought it was a good idea to get to know each other better before leaping into bed, she didn’t see why they couldn’t do both at the same time.
But he seemed fairly adamant and she had the sense he was the kind of man who thought long and hard before making up his mind, but when he finally did, he would be difficult to sway.
It only made sense, then, to tempt him. Tempt him into flinging this inconvenient vow of celibacy into the wind. She started subtly, brushing against him as they put the food away. Grazing her breast against his arm or bending over so her butt nudged his crotch.
His reactions proved he was not immune to her charms. Each time his breath would catch and his features would tighten. Occasionally a little muscle in his cheek bunched. His fingers clenched. Stuff like that.
But he didn’t break. He didn’t wrench her into his arms and kiss her madly as she wanted him to.
Perhaps subtlety was overrated.
“It’s a little warm in here,” she said as they put the last of the food away.
“There’s air conditioning,” he said helpfully, but then his jaw went slack and his eyes widened.
Good.
He’d finally noticed her fingers toying with the buttons of her blouse. One. Two. Three. She traced the crevice she’d revealed. He swallowed.
“Hanna . . .” A ravaged moan.
“Logan.”
“What are you doing, baby?”
She tipped her head to the side. Loosed another button. “What are you doing?”
“P-pardon?” His gaze flickered confusedly to her face and then back to her cleavage.