Page 14 of One Night Seduction

“I’m good. How have you guys been?”

“Better than you. You sure you’re ready to board that shit show again, my friend?” Tom snarks, gesturing upstairs to my mom.

Logan laughs, but it’s more sarcastic than amused. His large hand scrubs at his jawline as my aunt smacks her husband’s chest.

“I’m just here to hang out, decompress a little. I love this place,” he says, his eyes pausing on me for half a second before quickly moving back to my aunt and uncle.

“That’s fine, Logan. It’s none of our business,” my aunt says, casting a side eye to Uncle Tom, who holds up his hands in surrender but has an amused look on his face.

“Just trying to give the man one last chance to run. She’s your sister, babe. I’ve known her for over twenty years. You got out, man, don’t look back now.”

“Tom, shut the fuck up,” my mom hisses as she glides down the stairs, shaking her hips like she’s a runway model and strutting through the kitchen towards Logan.

Her dress, because of course she’s wearing a dress at the lake, is low cut and revealing. It has spaghetti straps and a lace bodice that transitions into a silk black skirt. She’s also wearing black heels with her hair in loose, sexy curls paired with a bold red lipstick, practically pointing an arrow to her mouth.

I can’t help but glance at Logan to see how he reacts, and to my surprise, he doesn’t. His posture is stiff, hands curled tight into fists at his side as his eyes stay on hers. Apparently, I’m in the way of her catwalk because when she gets near me, she shoulder checks me out of the way. I stumble for a moment, righting myself and seeing Logan watching me with furrowed brows.

“Logan,” she croons, wrapping her arms around his neck as she presses every inch of her body against his.

He hesitates for a moment before breaking our gaze and wrapping a single arm around her, releasing her almost immediately. She doesn’t get the hint, though, and continues to hold on like a monkey around his neck. The entire room glances at each other as an awkward air settles around us before my mom finally pries herself off him. The entire interaction is cringey at best, and I actually feel bad for her at Logan’s lack of attention. I mean, what did he expect would happen showing back up here after all these years?

“I have to say I’m surprised you showed up. I wasn’t sure you’d actually come.” My mom smiles.

Logan’s unwavering gaze yet again comes to me before he speaks.

“I wasn’t sure either, to be honest.”

He finishes his sentence by turning that dark gaze on my mom.

“Well, we’re so happy you’re here. Are you hungry? We could run into town and grab some lunch?”

His eyes rake over her, and she preens at the attention, butthe indifferent expression on his face is, I’m sure, more than a little disappointing for her.

“I think you might be a little overdressed, Kel. Looks like there is plenty of food here. I can cook,” he offers.

My mom’s smile falls at the clear brush off, but she masks it quickly enough.

“Yeah, it was just what I had on. I was going to get changed. I’ll be right back.”

She struts back towards the stairs, albeit with a little less swagger in her hips this time.

“We were just planning on making some sandwiches for lunch if that’s okay?” my aunt asks Logan.

“Sounds great. How can I help?”

She waves him off. “We’ve got it handled. Ari, help Logan find a free room. Unless you’re staying with Kelly…”

“No,” he quickly intervenes. “I’d like my own room if there’s space,” he says.

My aunt gestures for me to show him the way to the stairs. Hesitantly, my feet begin moving. Not sure why I have to show him, it’s not like he doesn’t know the house as well as I do. Not to mention, I literally just got here. I haven’t even grabbed a room for myself yet.

Grabbing my bag, I start up the stairs, almost missing the second step because I can feel him closing in on me. His heady presence is suffocating me on this staircase, and I want nothing more than to get to the hallway already.

When I finally make it to the top, I feel like I can breathe again. Well, that lasted all of two seconds until he’s behind me once more. I glance over my shoulder at him, coming to a stop when I see that the two empty rooms left are right beside each other.

Great.

Turning to face him, I awkwardly point.

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