He shook his head, and I stopped. I’d speak with him first thing in the morning and I wanted Logan to know that, but he surprised me with a sudden change of topic.

“What’s going on with you and Jax?”

“What? Nothing. He was just pressing my buttons.” I fell down onto the sofa.

“What buttons exactly? Is something going on with Hilary?”

This was it—now was the time to tell him—but I could never betray Hilary like that. It would also put Logan in an uncomfortable position. Would he tell Caleb? I could plead with him not to. No, in time he’d learn the truth and would have to understand how important loyalty was to me.

“She was over this morning, and we had a fight. She was mad I didn’t call her earlier this week.”

“That’s all?” he asked, unconvinced.

I was a horrible liar—even I knew that—but still, I nodded. “That’s all.”

He didn’t move as he considered me carefully. Would he call me out on what we both knew wasn’t the full truth, or let me keep my promise of secrecy to Hilary?

“Look, I know you’re angry over my outburst, and you have every right to be.”

Logan walked over, and my mouth closed. He stopped directly in front of me, his knees nudging my legs apart before he stepped between them. His heated stare bored into me.

“I don’t tolerate anyone except me raising their voice around my son. However, it was obvious Jax had provoked you. He’ll be dealt with tomorrow. As for you, if you don’t want me angry, then come upstairs next time. Oliver told me to tell you goodnight, and that he loves you.”

He loves me?

I bit my bottom lip as my smile grew, but the fact that I hadn’t been there to hear those words myself twisted my gut. I loved him, too.

Logan towered over me. “And for the record, I was more confused than anything else. I refuse to be in the dark with those I care about.”

I swallowed. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.” He bent down, brushed aside the wisps of hair blocking my eyes, and curled his finger under my chin. His kiss landed on my cheek, easing me out of my own anguish. “We all snap at times. Had Oliver not been there, I’d have kicked Jax out of the room and bent you over that damn table. Few people can shut my little brother up.”

My head reared back in shock. “What?” My outburst had turned him on?

“It took all the strength I had to keep my hands to myself.”

My smile grew. “Really?”

His fingers slid under my legs, gripping my ass and pulling me into him. “You have no idea how hot you are when you get angry, do you?”

I giggled under my breath. “Hot?”

Apparently, I’d been completely off base with my expectations for the conversation. I'd spent an hour worrying for nothing.

“Sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.” My legs wrapped around his waist, his erection digging into my center. “I could have devoured you whole right where you sat.”

“Nothing stopping you now,” I murmured as his lips nipped my neck.

He leaned back enough to meet my lustful gaze, taking me by surprise when he grabbed my shirt and ripped it open. I shrieked and his mouth crashed over mine, silencing me.

I giggled against his ravishing lips. “I want to try that tub of yours upstairs.” He kissed me harder, his lips trailing down to my breasts where his palms cradled and teased the sensitive flesh. “It’s bigger than mine. You ever use it?”

He shook his head, humor in his tone when he released my captive mouth and replied, “Never—I prefer the shower. But with you, always the tub.”

Before I could respond, I was in his arms, being hauled up the stairs as wild anticipation filled me. His tub was built for making love, and I was more than ready for a long night in it.

Chapter Twelve

Enigmas

Passion, pleasure, love—the previous night had it all. This included lavender-scented bubbles that had splashed over the marble floor in Logan’s bathroom, which was exactly where we found ourselves when the sun came up.

Wrapped in his arms, I was wonderfully and utterly satisfied. My limbs were wracked with beautiful exhaustion, but I was still on my feet the moment his alarm buzzed from his bedroom. With a low chuckle, Logan opened his eyes. His stare was all I felt as I skittered around, throwing my hair in a messy high ponytail and hopping into a pair of jeans from my bag.

To say I was anxious to be the one to wake Oliver would’ve been an understatement; I needed to be the first person he saw when those little blue eyes peeked open. I tugged on a shirt and decided to forgo socks—or anything else, for that matter. Oliver wouldn’t notice, and I couldn’t bear the thought of Jax getting there first.

“Might want to try again,” Logan said, rising to his feet.

“Huh?” I asked, nearly tripping over myself in my rush to the door. I stopped and twisted back, sucking in a rapid breath at the close proximity Logan had acquired so quickly.

His finger dipped inside the neck of my shirt and pulled up the tag that was supposed to be in the back.

“Backwards,” was all he said, but his hands were already taking care of the issue. I lifted my arms and he reached down, gripped the fabric, and dragged it over my head.

He held my shirt in his hands, his held tilting just the slightest, eyes filling with a deep-rooted desire. He had that look again, and now was so not the time.

“No, no more!” I snatched the shirt, made sure the tag was in the back, and pulled it back on.

“Not even a kiss?” he teased, a soft pout on his lips.

Lord help me, I’m doomed. As I was about to lean in to give him the best damn kiss he’d ever experienced, I heard a door creak open, followed by heavy footsteps.

Jax!

Spinning around with not so much as another glance at Logan, I yanked the door open and flew out into the hall, sprinting to Oliver’s room.

Jax stood a few feet away. He was stopped mid-step, his tired eyes wide, gaping at me.

“In a hurry to get somewhere?” he asked, stretching his arms out at his sides.

“I’ve got Oliver this morning. You can go back to bed.”

“I was just heading out. Unless Logan’s running late, I’m not one to wake the little prince. He can be a terror in the mornings.”

“I doubt that.”

“Uh-huh. See you around, doll face.” He tugged a strand of my hair as he walked past.

Turned out Jax was right: Oliver wasn’t much of a morning person. After I weaved through landmines of dinosaurs covering the floor, it took multiple wakeup announcements and a few minutes of rubbing his back before those little baby blues finally peeled open.

“Cassie!”

“Hey, little man! Or should I call you little prince?” I sat beside him on the bed.

“Uncle Jax says I’m the prince of the house.” He looked extremely pleased by that.

“You sure are. Now, what would the prince like for breakfast?” I scooted over as he sat up, wiping his eyes. His blonde curls were adorably wild.

“Pancakes!” His words were a high-pitched squeal, abolishing any last hold of sleep that clung to him.

“How about oatmeal? I can see what fruit we have lying around to add to it.”