by Amelia Judd
She followed Logan from her parents’ estate, heading north along the shore. After twenty minutes on the winding road, he turned onto a long, narrow drive leading toward the lake. The drive curved through tall trees for a hundred yards or so before ending at an adorable cottage with off-white siding, two dormer windows, and a prime location thirty yards from the sandy shore of Lake Michigan.
Gravel crunched under her tires as she slowed to a stop next to the cottage. She grabbed her stuff and climbed from the car. Looked like Logan hadn’t been kidding about the house’s seclusion. She almost reached back inside for the heavy metal flashlight in her glove box.
Thankfully, she wouldn’t be here alone tonight.
“Where’s your closest neighbor?”
“About a half mile farther north. The family that owns this place also owns most of the acreage surrounding it. Apparently, they consider it an investment.”
“Smart. Lakefront property is valuable.” Kat drew in a deep breath of rich summer air, hoping it would steady her nerves.
The mingled scents of cut grass and the lakeshore flooded her with memories of childhood—memories of evenings with her family, swimming in the lake or chasing fireflies barefoot in the backyard. Even the low, steady hum of the cottage’s air conditioner and the faint sound of waves washing onto shore reminded her of the time when fear didn’t control her life.
“How did you find this place?” she asked.
“Your mum set it up.”
“She wants you to help add a social outreach component to her charity like the one at La Vida, right?”
“Yip.”
“How are you going to do that? This is Silver Bay, not Costa Rica.” Kat shook her head. “There are different needs here.”
“I just have to find where the greatest need for help is and go from there.” Logan extended his right hand, inviting her to lead the way to the front door.
“Good luck with that,” Kat mumbled. Bag slung over her shoulder, she headed for the cottage.
Logan followed only a few steps away. He moved quietly for such a big guy. Not that she needed to hear him to know he was close. Every nerve ending in her body hummed in awareness whenever he was within a mile radius.
She climbed the two front steps and stepped aside for him to unlock the door.
“Go on. It’s open.”
Unbelievable. “You didn’t lock up before you left?” She looked over her shoulder, one eyebrow raised in accusation.
“Nah. Didn’t seem like a rough neighborhood.”
Kat huffed and shook her head. She vaguely remembered what it felt like living life unafraid, and she’d give anything to feel that way again. Maybe if she spent enough time with Logan some of his casual “no worries” attitude would rub off on her.
Stepping into the entranceway, she scanned the cottage’s interior. To her right was an airy kitchen with white cabinets, stainless appliances, and a large island with barstools tucked under the overhanging granite countertop. Pine floors spread through the kitchen and into the living room which held two clean-lined leather chairs and a stone-colored couch. An old wooden trunk with rusted metal latches and a lot of character served as the coffee table for the cozy room. The best feature, however, was the wall of windows running along the far side, showing off a screened-in porch and an impressive view of Lake Michigan.
“This place is gorgeous. You sure you’re going to want to leave at the end of the summer?” Kat asked.
Logan walked into the kitchen, grabbed two beers from the fridge, and twisted both caps off. “No worries. It’s harder for me to stay in one place than it is to leave. After spending a few years in Costa Rica, I reckon it’s time I wander for a while.” He offered her a bottle.
“Thanks.” She accepted the beer and took a sip. “So you don’t stick with anything, huh?”
Logan stiffened and looked at her with a serious expression she’d never seen from him before. “What do you mean?”
“I knew you walked away from the women in your life without a backwards glance. I didn’t know you left places and friends so easily too. Pax, Brick, and the rest of La Vida’s staff are more like family than coworkers. I’m surprised you’re willing to desert them.”
Logan shrugged. “I’m not deserting anyone. I can stay in touch. Just feels like it’s time to move on.”
She tipped her head to the side. “Why the itchy feet? Afraid you might care about someone or something if you invest too much of your time?”
His mouth curved into a humorless smile. “You’re a real tiger, aren’t you?”
“Can be. And you didn’t answer my question.”
“I thought it was rhetorical.”
“Good point. No need to tell me what I already know.” Kat eyed the room again, this time dramatically craning her neck around. “Where the hell is my room? We’ve spent a lot of time together today. I’d better give you some space before you start feeling the need to make a break for it.”
Logan chuckled and pointed to the left as humor returned to his eyes. “Around the corner. There’s only one bathroom so we’ve got to share.”
“Got it, big guy. Thanks for letting me crash here tonight.” She started walking in the direction he’d indicated.
“You’re welcome. And Kat … ?” He waited until she stopped and turned back to look at him. “No need to change out of your nightie before brekkie in the morning. It won’t bother me. I’m rather open-minded.
“I know. That’s my second favorite thing about you.”
“Second? What’s the first?”
She grinned and slowly scanned down and then up his long, hard physique. When she reached his eyes, she moaned out a small sigh. “I think you already know. Goodnight, Logan.”
Turning on her heel, she grinned at the shocked expression on his handsome face. Giddy pride swept through her. She’d just left the world’s biggest flirt speechless.
Smart? No, probably not. Enjoyable? Yes, definitely.
Kat walked into the nautical-themed guest room and shut the door firmly behind her. After turning on the small bedside lamp and double checking the window locks, she began unpacking her overnight bag, a goofy grin still on her face. She’d take small victories where she could.
Tomorrow she could worry about finding a place to live and getting a real job. And maybe soon she’d even figure out a way to become the strong, independent kick-ass girl she used to be.
Chapter 3
SHORTLY before sunrise, Kat crept to the kitchen in search of coffee. The fancy coffee machine with its impressive—if slightly surprising—selection of flavored pods made her send up a silent thank you to the gods of java. She loved rising early to enjoy the stillness of daybreak, but without her coffee, mornings could get ugly.
Daybreak without coffee was like watching a movie with her favorite hottie actor, Carter O’Reilly, cast as the bad guy: unpleasant, unnatural, and fundamentally wrong on every level.
After brewing a quick cup, she tiptoed to the screened-in porch and settled into the large outdoor-style sectional with deep red cushions. A cool breeze blew through the screens, bringing a nice reprieve from the heat wave of the past week. Curling her feet under her, she set her coffee mug on the arm of the sofa and sent a quick text to Claire, her ever-efficient and loved-by-everyone oldest sister.
Kat was the baby of the family, while Claire—second born and the first of the three girls—was just eighteen months younger than Pax. Not only was Claire older and wiser, she was the Bennett kid who least resembled Kat in looks and temperament. Sure, they’d both inherited their mom’s fair skin, but Claire was a natural blonde and had scored four extra inches in height over petite, dark-haired Kat. Those inches seemed to contribute to Claire’s authoritative air. As an executive at Bennett Industries, her older sister had her pulse on Silver Bay. If anyone would know where to find a roommate at the height of summer tourist season, it would be Claire.
Thankfully Kat’s phone vibrated with an incoming call bef
ore she stewed any longer about her vertical disadvantage. Grinning, she answered her phone. “How’s Chicago?”
“Great,” Claire said. “We all went to the aquarium yesterday. Today Grace and I are going to the American Girl store while Hannah takes Ty for a Divvy bike ride along the lake.”
“Sounds fun. Sorry I’m not there with you guys,” Kat said.
“That’s okay. I understand that laundry day is important too.”
Claire had asked both of her sisters to join her on the trip. Hannah had agreed instantly, but Kat had been afraid if she canceled on mowing Lillian’s lawn, the eighty-something-year-old woman would have tried to do it herself in yesterday’s killer heat.
“Uh. Yep. Laundry’s super important,” Kat mumbled with a cringe. Man, her excuse sounded even lamer hearing it from Claire.
“I’m just happy you have incorporated color back into your wardrobe. For a while there after you moved back, you looked like you were either in mourning or a biker gang.”
“Had to give up the look in Costa Rica. Too damn hot there to wear black all the time.” And after spending one week at La Vida, Kat hadn’t felt like wearing head to toe black any longer, but she didn’t feel like sharing that telling piece of information with her sister. “Anyway, I called because I’m hoping you can help me solve a little problem.”
“What’s wrong?” her sister asked, instantly alert.
“Mom and Dad kinda sorta kicked me out of the house yesterday. But it’s okay,” she quickly reassured. “I get it. I couldn’t stay there forever. I know you or Hannah would let me sleep on your couch for a while, but I need to find a more permanent solution. Any idea of someone we know in Silver Bay who needs a roommate?”
“Why don’t you rent a place on your own?”
“I don’t have enough money to live by myself.” The lie slipped off her tongue so easily she almost believed it herself.
“Mom and Dad would lend you money. Dad’s always complaining that he wants to help more than any of us will let him.”
“No way am I taking cash from Mom and Dad. I refuse to become the loser Bennett kid who needs her rich parents’ money. It’s bad enough I’ve been living with them. It’s time I get a new job and an apartment.”
Claire chuckled. “I work for Dad, and they cosigned Pax’s loan for La Vida and Hannah’s loan for Fresh. Heck, even Dad had help when he first started out. Grandpa gave him the company, remember? It’s not a crime to accept help from your family.”
Kat snorted. “You can’t compare building careers and businesses to bankrolling my rent. I need a job and a roommate, not a loan from the parents.”
“I get it, kiddo.” Claire’s voice softened with concern. “I just hate to see you struggle. Why don’t you talk to Hannah? She mentioned needing help at the café. I’m sure she’d be happy to hire you.”
“Good to know. I’ll talk with her when you guys get back in town. Now, any ideas on where I can sleep tonight? And before you ask me, yes I do know how lucky I am to have such an amazing sister who’s always willing to help my pathetic ass.”
“You’re not pathetic. You’re just finding your footing, and I’m really ticked the parents threw you out yesterday. What the heck were they thinking? I’ll call Dad and—” Claire stopped abruptly and sucked in air. “Wait a second. Where did you sleep last night?”
“Huh. Funny you ask.” Kat pretended to yawn in a not-so-subtle stall tactic. “I ran into Logan McCabe yesterday, and he let me stay at his place.”
“You mean our brother’s best friend? The tall, incredibly hot blond guy from Australia? The one you claimed changes women more often than I change lip glosses? That Logan?”
“Yes.” Kat thunked her phone against her forehead with each word. “The tall, incredibly hot blond guy from Australia. Thanks for that vivid description, by the way, like sleeping in a room next to him wasn’t already hard enough.”
Claire’s laughter filled her ear. “Kiddo, I expect plenty of women in Silver Bay would be happy to trade places. Logan’s caused quite a stir since he arrived. You should stay right where you are until he either physically removes you or the cops issue a restraining order.”
“I can’t stay here,” she hissed.
“Why not?”
“First, he only invited me to stay for one night. Second, I made a really big deal about being able to resist him. And there’s a slight chance I overstated my abilities on that one.”
“Fantastic! This could be just the jump-start you need to get things going again in your dating life too.”
“Logan isn’t a long-term kind of guy.”
“Even better. Relationships get more difficult the longer they last. Enjoy the blinding attraction and passionate sex now, then get out before either of you is stupid enough to try to make it permanent.”
“Yikes. Bitter much?
“Not bitter, realistic.”
“Okay, then your version of reality is kinda bitter. Aren’t you the romantic in the family?” Kat asked.
“Not anymore,” her sister said. “And you’re missing the point. I love the life I share with my kiddos. I wouldn’t change it up for anything. But I wish I would have enjoyed myself a little more before having children. It would be nice to have one wild, passionate fling to look back on fondly.”
“Guess I never thought of it that way.” Kat sipped her coffee and watched hues of orange spread across the sky as the sun rose from the water.
“So you’ll have sex with the hunky Australian?” Claire asked, all business.
Kat choked on her coffee.
“You okay?”
“Fine, fine,” Kat sputtered out between coughs.
“Doesn’t sound like it. Should I call nine-one-one? Oh, I know! You should ask Logan to give you mouth to mouth.”
“Hanging up now.” Kat ended the call and tossed her phone onto the cushion beside her.
Had her practical sister actually encouraged her to have a fling with a major-league player? She had to admit the unexpected advice intrigued her.
Hell, the more she thought about it, the real crime seemed like not having sex with a gorgeous guy when they were both single, healthy adults. Decades from now, maybe memories of wild monkey sex with Logan would put a smile on her old, wrinkled face.
Holy shit. She could talk herself into anything.
Kat gave her head a quick shake. Claire’s advice had twisted her thoughts to the point that right seemed like left, up seemed like down, and down seemed like a really, really good idea.
“Good morning, tiger.”
She jumped at the sound of Logan’s voice. She narrowed her eyes as she turned her head and saw him, shiny with sweat, standing outside on the stairs leading from the beach to the enclosed deck. The moment he stepped through the screen door, the air thickened and the spacious area seemed to shrink. His black running shorts and red T-shirt clung to mouthwatering muscles. And she wasn’t being corny or overly dramatic. Her mouth literally watered from looking at him.
“I thought you were still sleeping,” she said, her voice slightly strangled.
“Nah. Just got back from a run along the beach. I haven’t been able to find a decent gym in town.”
“Just got back?” Kat repeated his words as a question in attempt to clarify how long he’d been standing on the steps.
A wolfish smile was his only response.
Holy hell. How much had he heard?
“I’ve been thinking,” Logan said.
“Sounds dangerous.”
His smile widened as he took a seat on the other side of the sectional. He leaned back and kicked his feet up on the low wrought-iron coffee table. He looked content, carefree, and gorgeous as sin.
The sudden image of her straddling him on the sectional flashed through her mind and sent a wave of longing spiraling south. She gritted her teeth and took a deep breath. Damn Claire for planting the idea of a steamy fling in her mind. Kat had enough things to deal with right now. She didn’t need to
add fighting sexual fantasies to the list.
“I’m staying here for free,” Logan said. “Part of the job perks. You’re welcome to crash with me this summer while you look for a job and a more permanent place to live.”
“Won’t I get in the way of your social life?”
“I don’t plan to bring women here, if that’s what you mean.”
“Keeping the Batcave’s location on the down low, huh?” She clicked her tongue and winked in a conspiratorial manner. “Smart move.”
“Something like that.” He glanced at the techie-looking watch strapped to his wrist. A slight frown marred his features as he stood up. “I gotta go. Let me know what you decide.”
“Commissioner Gordon need you?”
“First Superman, now Batman. It’s ace you think of me as a superhero, darl.” He shot her a cocky smile as he walked past her and into the kitchen.
“Smug bastard,” Kat muttered, rolling her eyes. He would be an even bigger pain in the ass if she told him he looked like Thor. Guess she would have to keep that little nugget to herself.
She sipped her coffee and considered her options. If she turned down Logan’s offer, she would have to spend the day frantically looking for somewhere else to stay. And, if she didn’t find anywhere by tonight, she might be forced to admit to her parents what happened in DC, and she never planned to tell anyone that unpleasant story.
Bunking at Logan’s place would give her time to figure out how to start moving forward again. She could use the time to look for a flexible job, a new place to stay, and a roommate. Easy.
The only difficult part of the scenario would be resisting the mouthwatering Logan McCabe. Or she could embrace her impulsive nature and follow her sister’s intriguing suggestion and enjoy a steamy fling. Both sexy as sin and allergic to commitment, Logan epitomized perfect fling material.
For the first time since moving back to Silver Bay, Kat’s chest swelled with a combination of anticipation and delight. She’d have all summer to get her fill of smoking hot sex that would heat her cheeks to think about fifty years from now. As a bonus, sex with Logan would be an excellent distraction from worrying about the bigger problems in life that she had no idea how to handle.
