Page 14 of Fighting Happily Ever After

She shrugged. “It’s definitely different than what I thought,” she admitted. “But to be honest, I didn’t really have a whole lot going on in the city either, so…this is pretty good.” She smiled at him, and it was one of those smiles that was without sass, or judgment, or any of the other things they usually threw at each other. It was fully genuine. And gorgeous.

“Well, I’m glad you’re here,” he said. And before she could get her back up because he was being too mushy or whatever else she’d call him out for, he added, “Come eat. I made you a sandwich, and if you don’t eat it I’ll take it as a personal offense.”

“You’ll take it that way anyway,” she fired back. But despite the fire, she actually put the iron down, folded the tablecloth and joined him at the table. She smiled in what he took as an appreciative gesture and took a big bite of her sandwich.

Logan held his and watched her while she ate. Her eyes closed, enjoying every single bite of what was just a basic ham and cheese sandwich. Had it really been so long since someone had made her a sandwich? Hadanyoneever made her a sandwich? Faith was a fierce, strong, and independent woman, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t use a little someone taking care of her once in a while. And dammed if Logan didn’t find himself wanting to be that man.

The feelings were all completely new to him.

Mostly.

Never in his life had Logan cared more about a woman than simply taking her out to impress her with a nice dinner or maybe a movie if they were in the city, just so he could get her into bed. There had only ever been one woman who’d made him want more. But she’d never reciprocated the feelings.

Ever.

Except... Maybe…just maybe…that was starting to change.

Faith opened her eyes and saw him staring at her. “What?” She self-consciously wiped at her chin. “Do I have mustard on my face?” She swiped again.

“No.” He shook his head and smiled. “I was just watching you.”

“Why?” She instantly looked suspicious.

What was it about this woman that she always had her guard up?If she hadn’t been so on edge when they were younger, he might have been able to make her see back then what he thought about her.

He kept his eyes soft and shook his head slightly. “Because you’re gorgeous.”

“Stop it.” She wiped her face again and took a swallow of her coffee before getting up from the table. “There’s no one here, Logan. You don’t have to—”

He stopped her with a kiss. He wasn’t going to let her walk away from him. Not again. She was tense in his arms, but it only took a moment for her whole body to melt into his touch. When he pulled away, her eyes were heavy with desire, her breath coming in short pants. Slowly, she looked up at him, blinking hard.

“Faith, you should know by now, I only do things because I want to.”

It was a bad idea. It was all a bad idea.

Logan’s kisses made her feel things. And getting involved with Logan—at least more than they already were—was a bad idea. No. It was a friggin’ terrible idea. It was literally the one thing she’d spent her entire adult life avoiding. Logan made her want things she shouldn’t want. Things that weren’t realistic. Things that couldn’t be real. At least not for any length of time. The only thing that would come from letting Logan make her feel something was heartache.

Or…

Maybe there was something else? Maybe Logan could give her the release she was so desperately looking for? After all, she was a grown-ass woman. She could keep things casual. Just sex. Why not? Besides, it would help with the whole optics of the situation.

“It wouldn’t kill you to relax a little, Faith.”

And just like that, Faith remembered why Logan wouldneverbe a good idea.

She blinked hard, and shook her head. “Fuck you, Logan.” She pulled away and grabbed another tablecloth off the pile.

“Faith, that’s not what I—”

“We have work to do, Logan, and I don’t want to be here all night because you thought that taking the day off was a good idea.”

“Faith, don’t do—”

“Do what, Logan?” She put the iron down, turned and glared at him. “Don’t do my job? Don’t try my best to pull off this gorgeous wedding when I’m already exhausted? Or maybe you mean, don’t try to win this stupid bet that you forced me into so I can get rid of you once and for all.”

She could see that her words hit him. He physically took a step back and for an instant, pain flashed on his face. She thought he might argue with her, challenge her even more than he already had. She was ready for it. Hell, shewantedhim to. Faith braced herself when Logan took a breath and opened his mouth.

But then he closed it again without saying a word. He turned, grabbed the stack of freshly ironed tablecloths, and started to set up the tables at the opposite end of the barn, leaving Faith wanting and feeling oddly disappointed.

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