Page 23 of Trick or Trouble
Logan’s lips twitched, his eyes dark with amusement as they flicked between her and Holly.“Guilty as charged—and no apologies for it.I’m protective of those I care about; you might as well get used to it, sweetheart.”
Her stomach fluttered in rebellion and fascination at the same time.God help her, the man was infuriating—and ridiculously sexy when he laid down the law.Dropping her head to her plate, she tried to focus on her food instead of the man across from her.She’d wipe the floor with him later.Still, the comparisons between Conrad and Logan invaded her mind—it was impossible not to line them up side by side.
Both men undeniably wanted to be in charge—yet that was where the similarities ended.Conrad’s rules had been suffocating, designed to serve his own needs and strip her of her independence until she’d nearly lost herself.
Logan’s rules came with choices—and the consequences of sometimes sitting on a sore bottom.And while that was not exactly painless, it was nothing like the psychological chokehold she’d experienced.
Conrad had crushed her spirit, leaving her gasping for air and doubting her sanity.
Logan had left her sitting gingerly last night, but at least she’d been free to gripe, sass, and curse about it every step of the way.
Conrad was consumed with his own ego.
With Logan, it wasn’t about his ego; it was about protection, abouther.The difference alone was liberating—and tempting enough to make further research worth considering.
As Holly complained while Logan laid out instructions on what to do while he chauffeured her around, she could feel his concern for his niece.Granted, the girl hardly needed a babysitter, but it touched her that he was willing to spend his weekend with a teenager.They weren’t the easiest people on the planet to deal with.God knows she hadn’t been.
Finishing the last drop of Merlot after consuming every bite on her plate, she leaned back with a satisfied sigh.“I got to admit—that was amazing, Logan.But the best is yet to come.”
“Would you like more?”he asked politely, that wicked grin never far from his lips.
She held up her hands and shook her head.“I can’t eat another bite, honest.”
“It was good, Uncle Logan,” Holly admitted, albeit grudgingly.“It would have tasted better without all the instructions.I’ve been taking care of myself while Mom and Dad have been away for a long time now.I’m not a baby, you know.”
Logan raised an eyebrow.“I know that, but they’ve never left you for an entire weekend before.I don’t blame your father for being worried.A pretty girl like you should never be completely alone,” he teased.
Holly snorted, but looked pleased with the compliment.“Ha!Neither of you trusts me, admit it.”
“It’s not you we don’t trust, Holly,” he replied as he stood and gathered their empty plates.“It’s the hormone-driven teenage boys we used to resemble that we don’t trust.Having already lived through those years, we know exactly what they are thinking when they think about girls.”
“That’s because their thinking doesn’t change just because they get a few years on them,” Darcy said, winking at Holly.Then she laughed at the chagrinned look that crossed Logan’s face.
“I will neither confirm nor deny that,” he replied with a shake of his head.
Darcy watched his firm backside as he headed for the kitchen sink, then winked at Holly.Holly giggled and rolled her eyes.Finally, Darcy stood up and helped clear the table and load the dishwasher, then glanced at her watch.“Time to get going,” she announced.“I don’t want to miss my opportunity tonight.”
“I’ll finish up, Uncle Logan,” Holly volunteered.“Thanks for fixing dinner, it was delicious.I think it might be the best chicken cacciatore you’ve ever made.”
“Thanks, brat.”Logan gave her a quick hug.“Be good while I’m gone.And lock the door behind us.”
Holly rolled her eyes again, and it was Darcy’s turn to snicker.She ignored the warning glance Logan shot her as she strolled towards the front door.Just the same, Logan waited outside the door until he heard the lock click into place before he placed his hand on Darcy’s back and guided her towards his silver Camaro.
He’s ridiculously protective, she thought, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.Imagine that energy focused on me.Her mind wandered.Would he hover over me the same way?Insist that I lock the door behind him?Or would he let me push a little—see if I could get under that alpha skin of his?
A shiver ran down her spine at the thought.She could practically feel the tension in the air between them, dark and charged, like a storm waiting to break.
Her lips curved into a faint, wicked smile.Research was definitely in order.
