He was staring at me with a crooked smile, as his gaze shifted shamelessly down to my chest.

I made a face that I was certain he caught and pulled up my top, hoping to hide the cleavage spilling out, capturing his attention.

He said nothing, but I caught the glimpse of humor in his eyes before he looked straight out at the empty road ahead of us.

It was the sexiest laugh I‘d ever heard. Rolling my eyes, I continued my brisk pace, keeping my gaze ahead of me.

Okay, it wasn’t that sexy.

Trying to ignore the feelings creeping through my body proved difficult. Every muscle worked overtime trying to keep my pace while making sure my figure appeared attractive as possible.

Give it up. He’s married. A giant puff of air was pushed from my lungs when I laughed, relaxing. I was acting crazy. Attractive or not I’d never been one to get all insecure over a guy and I sure as hell wasn’t going to start now.

“Do you always run this early…?”

“Cassandra,” I said, answering the unasked question.

His lips pulled up in a ghost of a smile. “I’m Logan.”

Finally, a name. Shifting my gaze to his hands moving in rhythm with his legs, I spotted an empty ring finger.

“So?” he said, waiting.

“Hmm?” I was at a loss. What the hell was he asking now? Why couldn’t we run in peace? It was bad enough having him look damn near lickable, so close beside me.

“Do you run every day this early? You’re in great shape.” His gaze wandered down my body, lingering on my legs and then back up, grinning. “Very nice shape,” he repeated in a gruff murmur.

I swallowed, blinking wildly, and looked down at me feet. Keep them moving, one in front of the other, I reminded myself.

He’s nobody special.

“Yeah. Every morning.” I needed to get a grip, but the look in his eyes every time I glanced in his direction was absolutely mesmerizing.

I would have sworn if I didn’t know any better, he was planning on snatching me up and devouring me in one giant bite. That look was…powerful, and it left me breathless.

I wiped away the many inappropriate and vulgar thoughts that had filled my mind and tilted my head in his direction.

“What about you? You seem in pretty good shape.” Finally, I could speak in complete sentences and without a stutter.

He smirked. “Every morning. Although in the city, it was on a treadmill. This morning has been a very nice change.”

I rolled my eyes. How long was he planning to keep this up?

“Right well—” My foot caught in one of the many potholes in the beat up road and my body shot forward, arms flailing wildly.

I knew what was coming, so I closed my eyes, scrunched my face, and waited for the impact.

Strong arms caught me around the waist, but it was too late to stop my one leg from giving out and skidding across the pavement, shredding the skin on my knee.

Logan’s grip never faltered and he slowly helped me up to a sitting position.

“I’m fine.” I hissed, heat scorching my cheek. I was certain he was going to ask. I looked up, planning to deliver my best ‘seriously, I’m fine’ but the look of distress staring back at me left me frozen.

Pretending I wasn’t hurt when his eyes were filled with genuine concern was impossible.

Hesitantly I pulled my gaze away to focus on my knee. It was covered with dirt and oozing blood. I had a feeling I’d be picking pebbles out of it when I got home.

“That looks bad.” He bent down to examine my wound; the muscles in his naked back flexed and glistened with a layer of sweat. He had to do more than simply jog in the morning to have a body like that.

His clean, masculine scent filled my senses. He smelled exactly how I always imagined a real man was supposed to smell. Mark always sprayed on multiple layers of expensive cologne masking his natural scent.

Completely mesmerized by his bronzed taut skin, I didn’t see him pull out his sleek black bottle.

I winced, biting back the groan of pain when he began spraying the icy cold water over my wound. The liquid ran down my knee dulling the searing pain.

“Thanks,” I mumbled, looking anywhere but in those captivating hazy-blue eyes.

“You think you can walk back?” He asked, standing up. “You still have half a mile to go.”

“I’ll be fine.” The thought of limping the whole way was disheartening, but what other choice did I have.

That smug grin I’d seen earlier replaced his concerned expression and I couldn’t help returning a smile when he reached out and pulled me to my feet.

I groaned as the pain ripped through my knee when the muscles pulled. My hands rubbed soothing circles around the area above the wound but it did little to help.

“Hop on.”

I looked up and saw Logan bent down facing away. He tilted his head back and smirked.

“Come on, I’ll give you a lift.” His brows rose and he motioned his head for me to get on his back.

“You can’t be serious!” I laughed nervously, waiting for him to stand back up laughing as well and telling me he of course he was kidding.

“Get on, Cassandra.” His tone was something new. Not playful or even serious. Demanding, yet gentle.

“Um…that’s not really necessary.” I choked out, stunned. The thought of wrapping my sweaty body around him was unthinkable.

“You’ll either get on my back or I’ll throw you over my shoulder.” He stood and turned to face me, his expression gave nothing away. He was impossible to read.

I stiffened. He wasn’t joking. “I don’t—” My voice cracked, nervous laughter caught in my throat.

“All right then, over the shoulder it is.”

Before I could say another word or attempt to run—not that I’d get very far—he had his arms around my waist and my body thrown over his shoulder like a firefighter. He sure could pass for one but I wasn’t in need of rescuing.

Panic set in, my eyes wide in shock. “Put me down! I can walk!” I yelled pounding my fists on his back but he began walking blocking me out.

My mouth rested inches from his skin and his scent assaulted my nostrils at full force. Focus, Cassandra, Focus!

Logan continued in a smooth and slow pace. He seemed to be enjoying himself too much to rush.

“You always this stubborn?” he asked, finally breaking the long silence.

“Pretty much,” I mumbled through gritted teeth. My body had fallen limp in his arms, slung over his shoulder like a piece of meat. If only he had a cave to drag me into and ravish me until I forgot all about this humiliating stunt.

Where the hell did that come from? There was something about this guy that was so enticing and I knew that was a bad sign.

He chuckled once. “Thought so.”

When we reached my house, I sighed. Finally.

He carried me up my driveway to my front porch.

I waited for him to sit me down but he didn’t move. He just stood there, thinking or something. My body stiffened. I didn’t like the idea of him thinking right now. I only wanted to run inside and slam the door in his face, nothing else, no matter how much my body might disagree.

Looking back to see what he was doing, I gasped. He was blatantly staring at my ass that happened to be inches from his face. His searing breath hit the bare skin of my rear that peaked out from under my tiny shorts that were once again riding up.