Page 32 of Trick or Trouble
Damn—how had he picked up on that?“But...you have needs...”She felt the red crawling up her throat.Men had needs, too—she’d been informed of that many times.And their expectations were real.
He chuckled, warm and deep.“Of course, I have needs, but I’m not a randy high schooler anymore.I can control those needs until you’re ready to make me lose control,” he teased gently.
Her throat felt tight, and she tried to look away, but he wouldn’t let her.
His voice was soft, coaxing.“Darcy, I’m in love with you.I want to be upfront about this because I want this relationship to work and eventually lead us to marriage.I think it's essential for you to know where I stand, so you’re not left in the dark and unsure of where this is going.I’m not planning on leaving you, no matter how much you test me.The only thing that will drive me away is ifyoutell me that it’s over and you don’t feel enough for me to keep trying.”
“We...we don’t have to go to bed together?”She tried to clarify without offending him.Not that she didn’t want to go to bed with him.She did—just not yet.She also didn’t want it to be expected—she’d had enough of that world.At least not until they were much further along in their couple status.
“Not until you’re ready.”
She blew out a breath that lifted a strand of dark hair above her eyebrows and smiled.“Thank you for understanding, Logan.I’m beginning to think you understand me better than I do myself.That’s actually scary.”
He chuckled.“Being amindjerkdoes have its benefits, but I’m not claiming that at all.I don’t profess to be all knowing.”
Darcy stared, a little bit of trust seeping into her psyche.He was definitely different.
“Good to know,” she whispered.
Chapter 8
Two weeks later, itwas Logan who was gripping Maxine DeAngelo around the waist as she sped down Dante Boulevard on her Harley-Davidson as if a demon biker had invaded her slender body.The wind was blowing his lips back off his teeth and trying to pull his eyeballs out of his head.He made a mental note:get my will in order if I plan to ride with Maxine.
When she pulled into 7-Eleven—probably one of the last few left in America—she stopped the bike and hopped off with the agility of a woman half her age.Her green eyes were sparkling in the sunshine and lit with mischief.“So, how do you like my baby, Logan?”
The wicked glint in her eyes was just like Darcy's.
“I’d say you’ve got a need for speed, Maxine,” he drawled, swinging his long legs off the bike.He took his helmet off and ran his hands through his hair.When Darcy had told him her mother had invited them to dinner—and mentioned Maxine’s homemade cannelloni, stuffed with three cheeses and a sauce that could make grown men weep—he hadn’t needed any persuasion.Meeting Maxine was already a goal of his; the meal was just a bonus.
She threw her dark head back and laughed, rich and unapologetic.“You would be right about that.Good thing I know most of the cops in this area—they let me slide since Rick was one of their own.”A brief shadow ran through her eyes, and she promptly threw the sign of the cross against her breast.“Dio lo Benedicta.”
He studied her for a moment, then shook his head and smiled.“He’s probably turning over in his grave watching you ride that monster like the crotch rocket from hell.”
Her hands fluttered dramatically.“Oh no, ragazzo mio.Harley is not a monster.He is my baby.The question is”—her gaze narrowed— “do you think you can handle my baby?”
Logan caught the double entendre—this was a test.He wasn’t a man to back away from a direct challenge.“Would you like a drink before I take us back?”he asked smoothly, giving nothing away.“It might be a long ride since I usually stay within the speed limit when I’m on the roads.”
