Logan's Woman

by Avery Duncan

  He was already starting to notice how she acted around certain people and how she had a sort of…façade.

  He’d have to get past that and reach down to the pure innocence and kindness he knew she had. She acted prime and proper in front of others, but when she was vulnerable that true child-likeness shown. It was different from what he normally saw – in fact, everyone around here was either closed off or just way nosy, and he liked the change, was intrigued by it. His ex-wife hadn’t been like that – she’d been cold and distant to the very end, the only thing she wanted being his money.

  Claire hadn’t made a comment about his obvious wealth. Actually, she acted like she didn’t even notice it. Last night, when he’d come out to get her, he’d seen the look of complete awe in her eyes when she’d looked at the plants and gardens that his mother had created.

  No, he didn’t have to worry about her wanting money. An even better testament to that was how she’d stayed in a crappy hotel agaist the choice of a better one for a cheaper price. She seemed conservitive, except for her name-brand sports clothes. He made his way from the room and found himself wondering what she was going to wear, and how she was going to do her hair. Maybe he should have Frank tell her to leave it down if he saw her.

  Logan’s lips lifted on their own accord, even as he got down to business with Ricky and making sure his injured cow was taken care of. The fencing was going to be re-done and they had planned that for tomorrow, but it was getting chilly and the forecast had warned of showers. If they waited till tomorrow, they would have to do it in the mud and that was a disaster waiting to happen.

  “Frank,” he called out, kicking up dust as he jogged to meet his man. He wanted to get the job done in time to take Claire out for lunch so they had to move quickly.

  “Aye?” Frank looked up, spitting and rubbing his hands on his roughly-worn jeans.

  “We need to start on that fencing. It has to be done before noon.”

  Frank frowned, looking him over. “Have you gone insane? Wasn’t we gonna do that tomorrow?”

  “It might rain tomorrow and I have plans after this,” he said shortly.

  He didn’t appreciate Frank’s knowing look. “With the blonde?” he asked, a cock-sure grin on his weathered face.

  Logan leveled him with a stare. “It’s just to welcome her. She was staying at Gerry’s hotel and Darla suggested I let her stay here instead.”

  “All of these years, and you only invite someone to this ranch because of Darla? Boy, I have a hard time believin’ that.”

  Logan didn’t respond, but looked toward the house.

  The house that held the beautiful blonde. His gut clenched as he thought of what she’d been through last night, and what he’d done to her earlier this morning. She must think he was a monster – which he was. Guilty, he got the men working on the fence and tended to his cow.

  It was half past eleven when they got done with the fencing. It was quick work, but it was good. When he got on his horse to ride back to the house, he got a knowing look from Frank. He was dutifully ignored.

  His shoulders were hot and his face was dripping with sweat. It had gotten hot, the heat striking at ten. His clothes were covered in mud and he looked like he’d had a mud fight. He tried to get inside before Claire could see how dirty he was, but was stopped when something struck him that there was something…off.

  As he got near the stables with a clear view at his drive way, he knew what it was immediately.

  “God damnit,” he growled, swinging his leg over the saddle and tying the lead around a post. The horse went about his business with the hay that was provided and Logan stormed over to the red shiny convertible that had no reason to be in his driveway.

  It was too much to hope that he’d caught the driver of that car before they went inside. It was empty and parked and he wanted to run the damn thing into a pile of rocks.

  He stormed up the front of his steps, ready to punch something.

  “…and he is so when –“

  The door slamming opened stopped that fakely-sweet voice from talking anymore.

  Thin, blonde, petite, and filled with ice. Madison Smith turned with a hand covering her mouth. She was sitting in front of Claire with her bare legs crossed at the ankles. Her heals were black and sleek and the skirt she wore chose just that moment to slide up her pale white thighs.

  “Get out.”

  Claire was sitting there, looking at the ground, her hands folded in her lap. Whatever Madison had been telling her, it obviously hadn’t been something she’d wanted to hear.

  Madison’s red pouty lips turned and she stood to her feet. “Love, you are positively dirty! What were you doing out there, playing with cows?” Her sparkling brown eyes were bright and unassuming, as if she didn’t realize that what you had to do when you owned a ranch.

  “Pretty much. Now leave.”

  Fury rode him and his fists clenched at his side. She had to choose today to show up. She had to choose today to make his tight situation with Claire worse.

  “I can’t just leave,” she said, laughing. She sauntered over to him, her heels clacking on the tile. “I brought us some lunch. Aren’t you hungry?”

  Her hand lifted to touch him, and then her nose crinkled with disgust. “Let’s get you into a bath,” she said, daintily grabbing his hand and towing him towards his room. Claire was still sitting there, this time her arms crossed over her chest. Now that Madison’s attention wasn’t on her, she seemed to relax and take a more casual pose.

  She was also watching the scene. Any other person might not have noticed the glances or the pose that suggested she didn’t care, but Logan was trained enough to see through it. What was she thinking about?

  Not wanting her to get the wrong idea about him and Madison, he pulled his hand away from Madison’s roughly. He leaned down to whisper in her ear not-so-quietly, “Grab your ‘lunch’, and leave. I didn’t invite you out here and I can call the sheriff. It’s called ‘trespassing’.”

  She turned to look at him, an emotion flashing through her eyes too quickly for him to decipher. “I just wanted to welcome our new guest, Logan,” she said chidingly.

  He closed his eyes briefly, then began dragging her out. “Leave. If I see your car on my driveway one more time I’m calling your father and the sheriff and you three can work it out. Stay off of my ranch.” He didn’t add the nasty comments that he was itching to.

  Leading her towards the door a lot less gently than he should have, he threw open the double-oak doors and pushed her out. He was closing the door when she stuck her heeled foot between then, holding the door open. “Logan,” she said deeply, her voice low, seductive. Her perfectly done make-up was smokey around her eyes. When she might have had an effect on him years ago, it only brought out a strong feeling of disgust in him. “Why invite her when you could have me so easily?” There was actual pain in her voice, and he almost felt bad – before she looked over his shoulder and at Claire.

  The look she sent Claire had him leaning in say, “Because unlike you, she isn’t a Barbie looking for money. Now get off my property and tell your father I said hi.”

  This time, he did close the door in her face.

  He stood there with his forehead against the door, waiting till he heard the low rumble of her car. Only when he couldn’t hear it anymore did he let out a breath and turn to Claire, who was looking at him with pressed lips and still-crossed arms.

  “She was a very pleasant woman,” she said after a tense silence.

  Logan stared at her.

  “She told me all about you and her,” Claire added, leaning into the love couch even more. Her voice was emotionless and he really didn’t know what to think about it. “You’ve been together for several years now. The dog on the ranch – I think his name is Ricky – was a gift from you to her on her twenty-fifth birthday. Ah, let’s see…”

  “Stop talking,” he commanded, taking off his boots. Logan began walking to his room, stripping of
f his shirt and undoing his belt. He didn’t care that Claire might be watching – hell, let her stare all she wanted. He had nothing to hide from her and the scars on his back weren’t leaving no matter what he did. The sooner she saw them, the better. Because they were a part of him and if he planned on taking her to his bed, then she’d better get used to him.

  He heard Claire behind him. Her steps were soft and graceful.

  “You designed the kitchen together,” she continued, ignoring his order. “And I think there was something about –“

  He turned around furiously. “Claire,” he snapped. “The only thing out of everything she’s told you that is true is Ricky. I took him back from her when she almost killed him because she couldn’t take care of him. Fuck, she even used him to ruin my marriage.”

  He paused, breathing heavily. Her eyes were wide and but she didn’t back away from him.

  “That,” he said, stabbing his finger in the direction of the backyard, where Ricky probably was right now, “is the only thing that’s true. I’m going to change and then I’m making lunch. Be ready in a half hour to leave and I hope you can ride a horse.”

  With that, he turned on his heel and strode to his room.

  Chapter 5

  Claire went to her own room, shocked at what had happened.

  Logan had a temper. A really hot, sexy temper.

  His eyes had darkened to the point of near black – reminding her of what had happened that morning. Shivers coursed down her back and she had to stifle a dreamy sigh. She hadn’t been scared of him; she knew that no matter what, he would never physically harm her. She didn’t know how she knew that, but she did. He had been a little rough with the blonde girl, Madison, but he’d been angry at her – and it seemed as if they didn’t have the best relationship, as much as she’d tried to tell Claire that.

  Claire started to get ready, heating up the water in the shower.

  Madison had shown up an hour before Logan had come inside. She had heard the car pulled up and then someone entering the house, and she’d gone downstairs. She hadn’t known to either be alarmed or embarrassed when she’d seen the other blonde woman, but she’d quickly realized what to think and say.

  She was a classic wanna-be rich girl. Her hair was all done up, her make-up perfectly placed, her dress from a high-end designer – two years ago. She’d worn that same dress on her aunt and uncle’s anniversary nearly three years ago. It had cost her father a small fortune but it’d been a gift.

  The heels were something that you could find at Wal-Mart – Claire bet whoever had gotten those shoes hadn’t told her where they’d gotten them, or she probably wouldn’t be wearing them right now.

  It had been had not to laugh at her when she’d walked in haughtily and stared at her as if she were dirt on her Wal-Mart-brand heels.

  But she’d played along, the broken little traveller girl who had no clue about anything around her. Madison had started talking about Logan, then clothes and how grubby Claire looked, and then Logan again. It was obvious the girl had a small obsession with the man.

  And it was also pretty obvious that Logan wanted nothing to do with her. That was a relief to Claire.

  But with the relief had come worry. Why did she even care? She’d known the man for two days, had fantasized about him for a week, and now she was staying in his house. What did that say to her?

  A lot of fucked-up-ness. That’s what.

  She scrubbed a hand over her face. She’d never been with a man, had never had a boyfriend, had never even talked to a man as virile as Logan. Her father surrounded her with old men and for a reason – she wasn’t allowed to have a boyfriend. Ever since her mother had died, he’d been set against her having no boyfriend.

  No boyfriend meant no pain. No boyfriend meant a happy a happy Claire. No boyfriend meant a stress-free father. No boyfriend meant to scandal.

  And she’d never had a problem with it. She was content to be a daddy-girl and a social butterfly, it was what she’d grown up with and what she was used to. But now, seeing Logan, feeling his touch and his kiss and hearing his voice, it seemed as if her whole world was turned upside down.

  She stripped off her clothing and stepped into the shower. Maybe she should just tell Logan that they should wait for lunch until he was calmer. While she found him incredibly sexy when he was angry, she didn’t want the whole day to be ruined because of his mood-set.

  She finished showering and climbed out, wrapping a towel around her body and – shit. Her suitcase hadn’t been brought up. Groaning, she looked down at herself and could have sighed.

  It was still downstairs and her clothes were dirty but…she had to get her suitcase. Wrapping the towel around herself, she went into the main bedroom and dressed in just her long, baggy gray shirt and the jeans. No bra and no panties – she shuddered, feeling exposed. Her hair was damp so she wrapped it in the towel.

  She opened the door and a gust of cold air had her skin chilling. Great, she thought, crossing her arms over her chest and rushing to the kitchen, where she’d seen it last.

  It wasn’t there.

  What the hell?

  Praying that Logan was in a better mood and out of the shower, she quickly ran to his room and knocked on the door. “Uhm, Logan?” she called, knocking again.

  Not out of the shower.

  Just great –

  The door opened.

  “What’s wrong.” She heard his voice before she saw him, and when she turned around she didn’t expect him to be so –

  Shirtless.

  Completely shirtless.

  Her face flamed and her throat ran dry. “My ah…my…” She trailed off into silence, struggling not to stare at his bare chest. She’d seen the scares on his back, but she wasn’t prepared for what she saw on his chest now – and how it made her react.

  Heat flashed through her body.

  His shoulders were huge, leading to a thick, perfectly formed chest and then to lean hips. His body was…perfect…even with all of the scars. In fact, if she had to be blunt, they made him even more hot. More desireable. More…lickable. Claire could see herself kissing and licking every inch of his skin till she reached –

  “Claire?” he asked, crossing his arms over his chest, leaning against the doorway.

  Oh lord.

  His arms...

  “Ah…my suitcase…I need clothes.” Her face flamed and shamed shot through her. Her father…if he saw her now…he would probably disown her.

  But, god, he was so amazingly…formed. That was the only word she could think of to describe him.

  “It should have been brought up to your room,” he said, frowning. He got up from the doorway and passed her, not bothering with a shirt.

  She cursed mentally. He really should have put one on. She had a more than clear view of his back and shoulders and it was so…enticing. Licking her lips, she tried to keep her sigh to herself as he strode to the kitchen.

  His gait was strong and commanding, just like his presence was.

  So caught up in following him and daydreaming about his body wrapping around hers, she didn’t realize when he stopped and –

  “Oh,” she squeaked, running into his back.

  He turned around and caught her before she could fall back, hands wrapping around her upper arms and dragging her close. Heat shot through her at the touch of his hands.

  He didn’t let go.

  If anything, he drew her closer, her body pressed tightly against his warmer one.

  “Let…me go,” she said weakly, the command turning into more of a question than an order.

  She brought her face up to his. Gasped at the desire she saw there.

  He leaned down and caught her lips with his, shocking her.

  Her reaction was immediate.

  With a sigh, she melted into his embrace and kissed him back, her eyes closing. He opened her mouth with his, kissing her hard, drawing her closer to him. One hand wrapped around her waist, and the other fell to her
ass, cupping her.

  Her hands threaded in his hair and she forgot where she was. There wasn’t any danger, any anger or weariness. There was only Logan, his hands, and his mouth.

  She pressed into him, wishing he’d do more with his hands like he had earlier this morning. Whimpering, she pulled on his hair.

  Logan pulled back.

  Stared at her with obsidian eyes.

  Then groaned, picking her up and carrying out of the kitchen, face buried in her neck, leaving light kisses as he expertly made his way through the hall and to wherever he was taking her.

  She didn’t notice, couldn’t have if she’d tried. She was too blissed out, too desperate for him to touch her and kiss her and make her feel like she’d never felt in her life.

  “Logan,” she whispered, pleading to him for something she had no idea about. Her hands were stroking him everywhere she could touch as he carried her through a door.

  He set her on a bed.

  Stood over her.

  Stared at her.

  Started to lean down to her…

  And shoved away from the bed, from her.

  The desire washed away as if someone had poured ice cold water on her. Her hands turned numb and slowly, as he moved to stand by the window, as far away from her as he could manage without leaving the room, sat up.

  She cleared her throat awkwardly, feeling tears burn her eyes. She’d never felt such passion with anyone in her life, and now, after he so easily walked away from her after making her feel so…amazing, she was ashamed to have let herself be so free, especially with a man like Logan.

  Claire struggled to keep the tears out of her eyes. “Listen, we can skip the lunch. If I could just get a ride to town to get a room at a hotel…”

  He turned around sharply.

  “No.”

  Her back straightened, the manners her aunt had taught her stepping in. “It’s clear that I’m…taking space. At a hotel I can stay out of –“