Closing the door behind me, I walked over to the bathroom to get ready for bed. I had work in the morning and the more I thought about it, the more against going in I felt. What would the kids think if they saw me like this? I looked absolutely frightening. There was no possible way to cover it up.

I snatched my phone from my bedside table and sent an email to the principal letting him know I would need a substitute for the next day. For some reason I also sent a text message to Logan.

Hope your day was as relaxing as mine.

I hit send to Logan and he replied less than a minute later.

Spent it with Oliver and my mother. He talked us into taking him to the zoo.

I smiled.

Where did u find that much energy after last night?

Not much of a choice with a 4-yr-old. For the record, my energy level has never been an issue ;)

I rolled my eyes, but chose to ignore that last part of his text.

Hope u had fun. I’m guessing u did all that after stopping at sheriff’s?

Your mother got a hold of u I take it? She was a wreck trying to call u when I went in. And yes, I’m pressing charges.

Why go through all the trouble. They got him for violating parole. That alone will lock him back up.

One thing you’ll quickly learn about me, sweetheart, is that I don’t allow people I consider a close friend to get hurt. I’ll do everything in my power to make him suffer for hitting u.

I sat there, gnawing on my bottom lip as I typed. Now we were close friends? We’d only been anything other than neighbors for less than a day.

Well, his fist was meant for u not me.

He could have stopped it if he had any self-control. I’ve never hit a woman nor have I ever come close, even during bar fights.

Bar fights? Okay, so there was a lot about him I didn’t know. Definitely not close friends. I rolled from my back to my side and began typing.

U been involved in many bar fights? Let me guess, u screwed either someone’s wife or their daughter?

After hitting send, I typed another quick message, chuckling.

Or u offended other patrons by wearing a ten thousand dollar suit in their bar.

I chuckled softly, but the image of Logan beating on Kurt, leaving him unconscious and bloodied, reminded me of the glimpse of rage I saw in him. A shudder ripped through me.

I opened his text the moment it dinged.

Let’s be clear, I’ve never slept with a married woman, as far as I’m aware, and never would. Marriage is not something I would ever disregard so easily. As far as daughters, well, if they’re consenting adults, I don’t have an issue. But no, never fought over a woman. U were the first ;)

I grinned, feeling giddy and quickly tried to squash it. Friends, nothing more, I reminded myself.

I’m honored. So I take it your suits were the issue then?

Men can get quite jealous of an impeccably tailored suit, sweetheart ;)

I laughed but as I did, a yawn spilled out.

Uh-huh. Perhaps someday you’ll share some of your sordid past. For now, I’m sleepy.

Perhaps. Goodnight, Cassandra. Sleep well.

Chapter Fourteen

Open Door Policy

I woke early the next day, before sunrise, and started the day with a long bath. After I climbed out, relaxed and ready to take on the world, I slipped into my favorite light wash jeans with the knees worn out, and pulled a yellow tank top over my head. After popping some extra strength Tylenol, I decided to spend the entire day locked inside cleaning, hoping to take my mind off everything. I threw my hair up into a loose bun as I strolled out of my bedroom and cranked up the music on my stereo.

Within an hour, I was lost to the beats of Maroon 5 and dancing around my living room as I dusted each and every corner of the massive built-in bookshelf. I sang along like a mad woman—the meds covering the sting in my lip—occasionally gripping the duster like a microphone. Kurt be damned, I felt good. Pleased with myself after finishing the bottom shelf, I stepped back to admire the perfectly polished shelves.

“Looks good.”

I jumped, startled, chest heaving, and saw Logan standing on the other side of my screen door watching me. He oozed with sex appeal in a perfectly tailored black suit and grey tie. I caught myself staring before stalking across the room to turn down the blaring music.

Still panting, I turned around, giving a pointed look to the man now entering my house as if he lived here. One night’s help hardly gave him free reign of the place.

“Ever heard of knocking,” I snapped, my breath heavy from the singing. I instantly regretted my tone when I watched the sweet smile waver on his face.

“You weren’t at school when I dropped Oliver off. I was worried, thought I would come check on you. That is what friends do after all, sweetheart.” He smirked. But it slowly melted into a frown when I stepped forward and his gaze dropped to my injured lip.

I knew he blamed himself for me getting hurt. It was obvious that night. I’d never forget the look on his face when Caleb pulled him off Kurt’s limp body. He was acting on adrenaline and pure rage.

I smiled, releasing the tie in my hair and letting it fall down around my face creating a curtain to that side of my mouth as I turned my head. “Right, well, thank you, but as you can see I am doing fine. Just catching up on some housework.”

“So, can I come in then?”

It was a ridiculous request considering he was already standing in my foyer, but I nodded, with a wider smile. How could I deny him when he looked at me like it’d physically hurt him if I said no.

“Um, sure,” I answered, chuckling under my breath. “Can I get you something to drink? Glass of orange juice, water, anything?”

“No, thanks.”

He looked around the room he had stood in just the other night. It was strange seeing him here in the light of day. He felt out of place in the tiny living room. I’d bet his suit cost more than my furniture.

“So, what are you up to today?” I asked, walking into the kitchen and pulling out a chair to sit. I gestured for him to do the same. “A day of boring meetings at the paper, I assume?”

As he took a seat across from me, he smiled. “Not today. I’m on my way to meet my realtor.”

“Are you moving?” A twinge of grief shot through me.

“No,” he chuckled once, looking away. “Just looking to buy a small home for Julia. Next year she can live off campus.”

“So you’re…buying her a house?” I asked slowly, dumbfounded, my face twisted in confusion.

He chuckled again, placing one hand on the table in front of him, and looked up at me. His tongue darted out, slowly moistening his lips. “I consider it an investment. She can live there for free with a few roommates who pay rent to cover some of the expenses. She’s a good kid, and I know she doesn’t want to live in the dorm next year. I love my sister but I’m not exactly fond of her living in my home. Good for Oliver, but annoying for me.”

I opened my mouth to speak but was stopped by a dry lump that had formed the second he licked those damn lips. I stood, and walked to the sink for a glass of water “Yeah, I can understand that.” I managed to get out before taking a sip. “Especially after witnessing your little ménage à trois party the other night.”

He cleared his throat, and when I walked back to the table I noticed his posture had stiffened.