Page 39 of The Lost and the Found

“Fun? You just told me the event would be boring.”

One side of his lips curved up in a small smile. “But I’ll make it fun.”

Calm down, heart. He didn’t mean that in a sexual way.

Various scenarios popped unbidden into my head. All of them dirty. Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I looked away. I took a sip of my coffee, then busied myself by putting the mug on the coffee table. When I looked back at Logan, I noticed how dark his eyes had gotten.

“I can’t just take the day off. It’s two days away.”

“I’m sure they would understand. You’re one of the most dedicated workers I know.”

I bit my lip and looked away. Was I really considering this? Accepting Logan’s invitation to a world I knew nothing about? And giving up all the potential tips I could make Saturday night—our busiest night.

“Hayden, I know you. I know you haven’t done anything for yourself in a long time, if ever. Don’t you think there is more to life than work and school?”

“There will be. When I graduate.”

He shot me a look. One I couldn’t interpret. “That’s when you’re an adult. Now is the time to have fun. Say screw responsibilities, even for a little while.”

Logan could say that because the consequences of such decision wouldn’t put him out on the street. I looked away so he wouldn’t see the desperation in my eyes, how badly I wanted to have fun, even if it was just for one night.

I had a good chunk of my tips put away into a savings account. Could I really not afford one night of fun, even if Logan had described the function as boring?

I shook my head. “I still don’t have anything to wear. I don’t own a single dress, and my nicest outfits are thrift store buys.”

His eyes softened and he cupped my cheek. I couldn’t look away even if I wanted to. And being this close to his mesmerizing hazel eyes—I didn’t want to. “It’ll be on me. We can make a day out of it.”

“I can’t let you buy me clothes.”

“Why not? You wouldn’t even need a dress if it wasn’t for this function. It’s the least I could do. And believe me, to be able to see you dressed up… well, it would be worth every damn penny.”

“You don’t know that. I might look hideous in a dress.”

His lips twitched, and his eyes glinted in amusement. “Oh, I doubt that. Even in jeans and a t-shirt, you look beautiful. I imagine I’ll spend the rest of the night guarding you.”

“Guarding me?”

His hands moved down to my shoulders and his thumbs hooked inside the collar of my shirt, playing with the skin there. I let out a small, uncontrollable shiver. “Yeah. Guarding you. I’ll have to let everyone know that I have the most beautiful girl at that party with me. That way, no one can get any ideas.”

I rolled my eyes, but there was a small smile on my face. I knew he was exaggerating, but it was still nice to hear.

“I’m not lying to you, Hayden. Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”

I knew I was attractive compared to a lot of people. But it still made me uncomfortable to receive such compliments from Logan, especially because I knew he was way out of my league. Men like Logan didn’t usually go for girls like me. I didn’t know how to answer his question so instead, I blurted out, “Are you going to kiss me again?”

I felt heat on my cheeks, and I wanted to take the words back, but Logan’s eyes started smoldering, and I couldn’t think of anything else but having his lips on mine. I really, really missed his kisses.

I hated even admitting to that—because it made me weak. It reminded me of just how badly I wanted him, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

“Do you want me to kiss you?” he asked, his hot breath fanning across my face. When did he get so close? I could see every individual strand of dark eyelashes.

“Only if you want to,” I said, my last attempt to keep my dignity intact.

“Oh, baby. I’ve been fantasizing about your lips for days now.”

“Then why haven’t you kissed me?” I asked. I sounded petulant, even to my own ears. Hopefully he wouldn’t think this was how I was most of the time. I swore I was much more level-headed than this. Petulant was not how anyone would describe me.

“I was giving you space.”

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