“Cat.” His voice was a deep, husky rumble.
He grabbed her around her waist, hiking the oxford shirt up around her thighs. Laughing, she reached for him with one hand—and then a flash went off in front of her eyes. They weren’t alone.
“What the hell?” Logan reacted first and shoved her behind him, blocking her from view. Considering her state of undress, she appreciated his chivalry, but the picture had been taken and his gesture came too late.
“Mr. Montgomery, I’m here to meet you and your supporters as you announce your candidacy for mayor of Hampshire.” The female reporter glanced at her watch. “I thought the press conference was set for ten, but…”
“Press conference?” Catherine asked, stepping out from behind the shield of Logan’s body.
“Yes. Judge Montgomery said it was at ten, though I may be mistaken.”
“Would it matter?” Logan muttered. “You just got your scoop.”
Catherine yanked down on the hem of Logan’s shirt. It barely covered her thighs and she’d never felt so vulnerable and exposed.
“You said this press conference was planned?” Even as she asked the question, her heart turned ice cold.
“For the past week,” the reporter said. “And you are…?”
“Find out on your own,” Logan said, then turned to Catherine. “Let’s go inside. We need to talk.”
She would have swallowed but her mouth was dry. “I’m not sure there’s anything to say,” she told him.
“Can we discuss this in private?” He gestured toward the eager reporter and her camera-toting sidekick.
Without glancing in their direction, she walked ahead of him and headed for the safety of the house. No sooner had he closed the door behind them than he grabbed for her hand. “Cat…”
“I’d rather you didn’t.”
“Touch you or explain?”
She turned to face him.
Perhaps he read her emotions on her face because he’d schooled his own expression into an unreadable mask. “I take it the answer is both.” Pain and betrayal flashed in his eyes because she wouldn’t give him the opportunity to set things right.
“I’m not sure an explanation would make any difference,” she said. He’d never know the answer hurt her as much as it obviously hurt him. And her heart, which had been as warm as the sunshine, was now frozen solid.
This type of life wasn’t something she understood nor did she think she could get used to being in the public eye. Hounded by the press. Caught in varying states of undress and embarrassment.
“Well, tough, because you’re going to listen. After all that’s passed between us you owe me that.”
She nodded. “I’m listening.”
“The way I see things, the judge orchestrated a meeting here because he knew I wouldn’t show up at his designated spot. Since he knows nothing about you—us—I don’t see this as anything more than a very bad coincidence.”
Logan’s worst nightmare, actually, but Catherine didn’t seem as if she’d be receptive to his feelings at the moment. Not when her own were so obviously hurt and raw. He felt for her, but he also had a heart, and by ignoring his attempt to explain, she was trampling on it.
She sighed and tugged on the bottom of her shirt. He couldn’t begin to imagine her humiliation. Because of him. Hell, he’d dig into his trust fund if money would prevent that picture from being published. But it wouldn’t. Good press was worth more to the vultures out there than cold, hard cash.
“I can see your father’s manipulation in all this and I’m sorry he’s still trying to control you.” Pain still danced in her eyes along with what looked like resignation. “But I’m not sure I can stick around and be fodder for the media.” She glanced down at her bare legs, and he remembered her shirt hiked over her panties at the time the photo was taken. He shuddered at her humiliation.
“Cat…”
“I also think I see your grandmother’s hand. She locked us in a closet and she sent me things calculated to make me fall in l… to make me fall for you.”
He raised an eyebrow at her near slip. Now that was something he wanted to pursue further. So was his grandmother’s possible role. The fact that Emma had suggested this very scenario wasn’t lost on Logan.
But he wasn’t willing to give up on Emma yet. “I admit she had her own agenda. I even mentioned it to you the other day. But setting you up was never part of her plan.”
For all her faults, the older woman had a huge heart and she obviously cared for Catherine. Logan had no choice but to take a leap of faith and believe in Emma’s integrity. Otherwise, every good thing about his childhood and his life had been based on yet another illusion.
Catherine wrapped her arms around her waist. “Whether it’s Emma or your father who called out the press, it doesn’t matter. I just want out of here before this becomes a media circus.”
He muttered a curse, unsure what her feelings were behind the wall she’d erected. He didn’t have time to find out because she was right. He had to get her out of here and fast.
A glance out the window revealed a black sedan pulling into the graveled, unpaved space in front of his house. As usual, the older man’s appearance was timely as well as unwelcome. Logan rubbed his hand over his eyes and groaned.
He hoped this glance at his reality gave the judge a much-needed eye-opener. He’d certainly gotten one. For all his talk of being his own man, he was still having his strings pulled like a damned marionette.
But it would stop. Today.
Anger and frustration pulsed through him, as strong as the desire he’d been feeling minutes earlier. The last thing he wanted to do was give Catherine a way out of his life. But he owed it to her. If he wanted any shot of winning back the heart he’d worked so hard to reach, he had to let her go now.
He grabbed the keys to his truck he’d left hanging on a hook in the front hall. “I’m parked just outside the door. Walk out and don’t talk to anyone. Don’t answer any questions. Just jump into the car, circle around whoever else has arrived, and keep driving.”
Her sad eyes met his. “Thank you.”
Why did those two little words sound so much like goodbye? He glanced at her parted lips and the need for one last taste zipped through him.
He reached for her, grabbed her forearms, and pulled her close. She didn’t draw back, but the playfulness was gone. So was the unguarded look. Instead of her heart in her eyes, she now had it firmly under lock and key.
A loud pounding sounded on the door. Logan lowered his head and brushed his mouth over her lips. She tasted sweet and a renewed desire to reclaim his life—and her—surged through him. She sighed and he deepened the kiss, sweeping his tongue inside. The knock came again, louder this time.
She jumped backward. He didn’t blame her but still held her tight. “I open the door, you slip by him and keep going. Got it?”
She nodded.
“This isn’t over, Cat. We aren’t over.”
“You’re too much of an idealist,” she murmured, touching his cheek.
He shook his head, reaching for the door at the same time. “I’m a realist, and when this is over, you’ll be part of my reality.” He turned the knob. “Now go.”
He opened the door, expecting her to duck past the judge without a word. Instead, she paused in front of him.
“Hello, Judge Montgomery.”
His father looked flustered for a moment as his gaze darted from Catherine to the waiting reporters. “Miss…”
“Luck. Catherine Luck.”
Logan wasn’t concerned that she’d given the judge her name. The media would print it anyway. But he grimaced in disgust at his father’s snobbery. She’d catered a party in his house, and the judge, master of working a room, couldn’t be bothered to remember her name. But now he would. Logan had a hunch after today Catherine Luck was a name Judge Edgar Montgomery would never forget.
She held out her hand, and after a brief hesitation, the judge accepted h
er greeting. “Do I know you?”
“I catered your party last week,” she reminded him.
Logan saw the curiosity in his father’s eyes turn into blatant disapproval. “Emma hired you,” he said. “But I recall having a conversation with you about fraternizing with the guests.”
“Yes, you did.”
“I don’t have to ask what you’re doing here now,” he said with scorn.
Logan was tempted to jump in and protect her, but he sensed if he violated her sense of confidence, she’d never forgive him. Hell, he was lucky if she’d talk to him again either way.
Her gaze never wavered from his father’s. To Catherine’s credit, considering she wore nothing but his oxford shirt, she held her own with the man who intimidated even those who knew him best.
“No, you don’t. But since I’m not on your payroll anymore, there’s really not much you can say. But I would like to tell you one thing before I go.”
“Catherine, you don’t have to put up with this in my house.”
“No, I don’t.” She smiled at him, but there was no joy in the gesture. “Just call this my parting gift.” She turned back to the judge. “The more you try to control the people you love, the farther away they’ll run.” Cat cleared her throat. “Sir.”
Before his father could register her words, she ducked past him. By the time he’d begun to react, Cat had hit the open button on the remote control and ducked safely inside the Jeep.
Pride along with regret swelled inside him as Logan watched the media frenzy that followed her departure. Controlling his anger at his father wasn’t easy and he took a minute to center himself.
“Luck,” the judge muttered. “I remember that name. Big news around every state courthouse. She’s got spunk and attitude. Not surprising given her roots, but admirable just the same.” He met Logan’s gaze. “Now, would you care to tell me what’s going on between the two of you? And how you intend to explain it to the media?”
Anger seethed beneath the surface, but Logan took his lead from Cat. He had to maintain control. Judge Montgomery never lost his cool. Determination and an air of authority would get Logan further than losing his temper, something he’d learned as a child. The best way to reach the man was to meet him on a level playing field. Humor and dry sarcasm weren’t going to cut it anymore. The plain, honest facts were.
On his own time, Logan turned to his father. “I have nothing to explain to the vultures out there. Or to you. I don’t know what it’s going to take to convince you that I call the shots in my life. And in my house.” He drew a deep breath. “And I resent like hell the way you spoke to the woman I love.”
The judge shook his head. “I don’t understand you, son. You’re young and I can see her appeal, much as I hate to admit it. But you don’t throw away your life for love. It doesn’t exist. An equal partnership does. And that’s what a political man needs. A woman capable of looking good and standing by her man. No scandals involved.”
Logan raised an eyebrow. “I’m not a political man. I never will be. Do you hear what I’m saying? You can’t keep circling the issue. I’m not running for mayor. And I’m not going to take a job at a high-powered firm, or move into a luxury building or, worse, back into the mansion.”
His father let out a long-suffering sigh. “You choose to live in this… shack. Your mother and I have accepted it. Obviously, we have no choice. But just because you live below your means doesn’t mean you have to consort with lower-class women, too.”
Now, he’d gone too far. Logan clenched his fists, unwilling to listen to his father insult a woman he didn’t know. His woman, Logan thought, and it was time the judge understood that.
“Listen to me, because I’m only going to say this once. You will not insult the woman I plan to marry. Do you understand? She’s going to be your daughter-in-law. Accept her or walk out of my life because, on that score, there’s no compromise.” Logan’s head throbbed in time to his words. He didn’t care how short a time he’d known Cat. She was it for him.
For all their posturing and arguing, there’d never been a time when he’d completely removed himself from his family. Physically, yes, he’d moved out. Mentally, he was on his own. But emotionally, he’d clung to the hope that one day he’d have the solid family he’d always wanted.
His father grew pale beneath his golfing tan. He grabbed for the wall behind him for support and Logan reached for his father. “Dad?” He’d never had cause to question his father’s health before and fear paralleled his anger.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” His father regained his composure quickly as well as his angry pallor. “The woman ingratiated herself with a senile old woman so she could end up exactly where she is now. In your bed.”
Disappointment and regret lanced through Logan. His father would never see the truth any more than he would accept what was important in life. “Goodbye, Dad.”
“Son, consider your future. You don’t have to ruin your life just to thwart me. Think. Family unity is important. I know that. Why do you think I found a way to use your… lifestyle to our advantage? This photo opportunity would have set you up as the Montgomery who relates to the common man. As usual, you destroyed my efforts. But I tried. You need to do the same.”
Logan shook his head. “If family unity is so important to you, you do the thinking. Think about everything I said here today because I meant it. Give up the need to control me and accept my life. Accept Catherine.”
The judge grunted. “Her appeal will wear thin,” he said, but for the first time, he didn’t sound so certain.
“Never.”
“You have too much of your grandmother in you,” he muttered. “You realize you have the media waiting. What do you intend to tell them?”
“The truth.”
Without another word, Edgar walked out the door.
Logan shook his head. He wished things could be different, but he couldn’t dwell on it now. He had a life to reclaim as his own. By the time he was through, who Logan Montgomery was and where he was headed would be clear to everyone.
Including Catherine.
Chapter Eleven
Catherine’s head hurt and she could say for certain it was from stress. Along with her assistants, she’d spent the afternoon creating centerpieces for the next day’s party. The small studio she and Kayla had rented for Pot Luck’s place of business was filled to bursting. All that work should have left her spent, especially since she’d gotten little sleep the night before.
Her body still tingled in the places Logan had touched. She shivered at the memory, then decided she obviously wasn’t exhausted enough if she had the ability to think about, let alone react to, the thought of making love with Logan.
Determined to forget, Catherine retrieved the flour and then pulled the milk and eggs out of the refrigerator. Sugar and water came next. After this morning’s nightmare with the media, she was so worked up, she would probably end up with enough food to feed the entire apartment building. She’d settle for feeding Nick and his fiancée who lived across the hall.
She began mixing the ingredients with a wire whisk and a harder hand than necessary. Never mind that Nick’s crepes could put hers to shame, enthusiasm and surplus energy had to count for something.
The ring of her cell didn’t startle her. She’d been getting calls every thirty minutes for the better part of the evening. Logan had called five times so far, according to her cell. She’d listened to his concerned message once. She didn’t want to speak to Logan and she wasn’t ready to hear his voice again.
Not until the embarrassment faded. Not until she could understand how a family could set each other up and not care about the outcome. She and Logan had never seriously discussed the future, but even if they had, Catherine didn’t know if she could accept living in a fishbowl, never certain when the next incident would spring up to humiliate her. The only positive thing about today was her confrontation with Judge Montgomery. At least she’d left him feeling like h
is equal, not just the hired help he’d demeaned at the party last week.
She continued mixing the batter, slowly adding more milk. She already had the fresh blueberry sauce sitting in a bowl beside the cooktop, ready to go. She wiped her itchy nose with the back of her hand and wondered what her mama would say if she knew Catherine had willingly walked away from the man she loved. You’d be a fool to let that man go, Catherine Ann.
Of course, Mama had lived and died by that particular axiom, Catherine thought. And she refused to become a replica of her mother, pretending to be better than she was and pining for a man she couldn’t have. Or in this case, shouldn’t have. It all amounted to the same thing. Logan Montgomery meant pain and heartache.
The sound of the doorbell came as a welcome reprieve from being alone with her thoughts. She swung the door open wide. “Your stomach is huge, Nick. I said I’d call when the crepes were…” Her voice trailed off as she caught sight of her visitor. “Logan.”
“Obviously, you were expecting someone else. Sorry to disappoint you.”
He could never disappoint her. Even with two days’ razor stubble and a weariness etched into his eyes she’d never seen before, he was still the answer to her every dream. Too bad she’d been brought crashing into reality, or she’d be more receptive to the fantasy. “What can I do for you?” she asked.
He propped one arm on the door frame. “Let me in, for starters.”
She drew a deep breath, unsure if she wanted him to enter. At least in her apartment, there were no memories of him besides the ones she conjured in her head.
“You have my car so I had to pay for a cab ride out here. You wouldn’t turn away a poor working man, now would you?” he asked, a charming but wary grin on his face.
Nick would have driven his car back tomorrow, but she doubted Logan wanted to hear Nick’s name mentioned right now. She also doubted he’d accept his car keys at the door and be on his way. Her best bet was to stay composed and detached. Get him in and out—of her apartment as well as her life, no matter how much the thought hurt. “Come on in.”
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