Page 116 of Frozen Hearts
“And a little extra to cover the stress.”
“Fine.”
At this point, I just want her off the goddamn phone.
My shoulders sag in relief when she hangs up, and still refusing to look at Logan, I begin Googling heating repair men.
“Your mom is a bit of a bitch,” Logan interrupts several minutes later.
“Yeah, no shit.”
I can feel his gaze drilling into the top of my head, but I remain pointedly fixed on my phone as I dial the number for the first guy I come across.
“Hi. The heating has gone out at my mom’s place and I need someone to go out right away and take a look. Would you be available?”
“Sorry, love. I’m not working this week. Holidays and all that.”
“Right, thanks anyway.”
Sighing, I hang up and go back to scrolling for the next number I can try. However, my search comes to a halt when a large palm lands on top of my phone, blocking the screen.
“Riley,” Logan coaxes with surprising gentleness. He waits until I muster the strength to gaze up at him. “Talk to me.”
“I don’t have time to talk to you, Logan,” I bite back. “I have to sort this shit out before Grayson wakes up and decides to make me his dancing monkey for the day. Then I’ve got to go to work tonight and see if any of the girls would be willing to give me any of their shifts. And even if I didn’t have to do all of that, I still wouldn’t talk to you about my mom because you and I aren’t friends, Logan. Forget you heard that entire conversation.” Dropping my eyes back to the phone, I desperately tack on, “Please.”
A heavy silence follows my outburst as I compile a list of various handymen to contact. Until Logan snatches the phone from my grip.
“Hey!” I bark as he gets to his feet. “That’s mine! I need it.”
“No, you don’t. I’ll sort out your mom’s heating.”
“No, Logan. You won’t.”
He doesn’t appear to be listening as he strides toward the door with my phone in hand.
I move to chase after him, but the jiggling of the cuffs and sharp press of metal against my wrist reminds me that I can’t.
“What if my mom calls back?” I shout at his back, frustrated and panicking.
“Then I’ll deal with her too.”
31
RILEY
“You didn’t need to come in,” I grumble as Royce follows me into Lux later that night.
“Babydoll, I’m not just escorting you inside. I’m staying for your entire shift.”
“Seriously?” I groan. “That issonot necessary.”
“Hmm,” is the only response I’m warranted before he points toward a table in the back corner of the club. “I’ll be right over there.”
“You mean, you don’t want your usual booth?” I partially tease.
His lips form a smug grin and he wraps his arm around my shoulders before leaning in to whisper, “Now, why would I need a booth when I’ve got my own personal lap dancer at home?”
Rolling my eyes, I shove at his arm before striding toward the dressing room. I’m in a surprisingly good mood tonight, and I keep telling myself it has nothing to do with the fact Logan totally came through for me. He sorted out a heating guy to go to my mom’s today, and I got word from my mom that it had been fixed and everything was working as it should.
