Page 31 of Sapphire Sunset

That’s what he felt now as he rehearsed what he’d say toConnor.

Vertigo-inducing terror.

But he wasn’t high above the ocean. He was sitting at one ofthe tables outside of Laguna Brew, the one farthest from the teenage girls whowere texting like they’d lose money if their words-per-minute count dropped.

Then a car turned into the mini-mall’s parking lot. Logan’sheart lurched.

It wasn’t just a car.

It was a big, gleaming silver Rolls-Royce.

The teenage girls stopped texting at the sight of it. Themother and her three kids who’d emerged from the yogurt shop next door stoppedin their tracks, jaws agape.

The Rolls-Royce came to a stop, and Connor stepped from theback seat, looking as sparkling and perfect as the car itself. Dark blue,form-fitting designer jeans that plumped his perfect butt. A blue polo shirtwith white trim on the collar and bicep-hugging sleeves. And the kicker: whiteleather shoes fringed with rhinestones that made it look like he was walking onair.

Baby blues and then some.

He looked like a shiny little piece of candy, and Loganwanted nothing more than to unwrap him.

Maybe that’s why he’d stood up suddenly, like a shotgun hadgone off.

Connor was walking toward him, his seductive smile lightingup his eyes. A draft of his citrusy cologne reached Logan before he did,inspiring a head-spinning memory of their perfect first kiss the night before.He’d styled his hair so that the sides were gel darkened, but the top was stilllight and feathery. Just enough for Logan to run his hands through.

Oh, God.I can’t do this.

Connor took Logan’s extended hand, using it to pull theminto an embrace. Quick, but firm enough to cause a stirring in Logan’s balls.

“Thanks for doing this on such short notice.” Logan pattedConnor’s back three times in a row, like a coach congratulating his player.

Connor flinched. “Of course.”

“Cool.” Logan couldn’t think of anything else to say.Pulling Connor’s chair out for him might send the wrong message, and sittingdown would bring them another step closer to the moment he was dreading.

But Connor took his hand suddenly, and just as suddenlyLogan was struggling to keep his balance as the force of nature pulled himacross the parking lot.

Oh, crap. He’s trying to get me in the Rolls.

Before he could protest, Connor opened the car’s door, whichopened in the opposite direction from most normal cars. He knew the term forit, a suicide door, because mob guys couldn’t take cover behind it beforehitting the pavement and opening fire. Suicide might be exactly what Logan wascommitting if he stepped into the suddenly open space between him and the car’sinterior, but Logan entered it anyway. The display set up on the seat chasedhis breath away. Chocolate and peanut butter.

Cowboy boots. For line dancing, no doubt. It took a fewseconds, then he recognized the shape the peanut butter cups were arranged in.The chevrons on a sergeant’s badge. Connor had remembered he’d been a staffsergeant. And Logan had mentioned that, what? Once? Had he put this togetherhimself or hired someone to do it? Did it matter? It was both too much and morethan enough at once.

His heart was racing like it had when he’d peered out thatopen Black Hawk door. But instead of the ocean far below, he saw the fear andneed in his former street fighter father’s eyes the night before. A man out ofoptions. Except for his only son.

“That’s…” But Logan’s voice left him.

“Oh, no. What? You don’t like chocolate and peanut butter afterall?”

“No, that’s really amazing, Connor. I don’t know what tosay.”

“You don’t have to say anything. Just, you know, get in thecar and I can show you some other places that are as nice as the ones I showedyou last night.”

Summoning all the resistance he could manage, Loganstraightened, backed away from the car door, and when he finally turned to facethe man next to him, he saw it happen instantly. Saw Connor recognize the fearand uncertainty on Logan’s face and saw it dash something across the rocks insideof him.

“Oh.” Connor wasn’t pouting, but it was damn close. “I guessthis was too much.”

“No, no. This is amazing…I…”

What he wanted to say wasyou’re amazing, but if hewent down that hole, he’d end up tumbling into this gleaming, silver Rolls. Drivinghimself into Connor while the driver took them everywhere Connor wanted them togo. His head spun at the thought. But it wasn’t a thought. It was a fantasy.And a guy like him, a guy in his situation, wasn’t allowed fantasy.

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