She rolled her eyes. "You have at least fifty brilliant ideas a day."
"Well, maybe twenty. But this one's my personal favorite."
A laugh sailed through her gorgeously kissable lips. "Your humility is inspiring," she said dryly.
"Hey, we all have our gifts."
"True," she admitted fighting a grin.
"I want someone there I can actually talk to. Mingling with stuffy Suits isn't my bag."
"Logan, you're one of those Suits."
His mouth parted as he feigned offense. "Thanks a lot."
"It wasn't meant as an insult."
"That's how I took it." He crossed his arms, leaning his shoulder against the door jamb. "Now you have to make it up to me."
She arched an eyebrow. "Is that right?"
He offered gallantly, "I can think of a few ways … "
"Logan," she warned.
A thrill chased through him. "Damn, you're hot when you're all riled up."
"I'm not here for your personal amusement."
No, but he liked teasing her, testing her. Few women went toe-to-toe with him. She had the grit to give it right back. "Face it, I'm not taking no for an answer."
She blinked at him, exasperated. "Then why did you bother asking?"
"Seemed like the noble thing to do."
A sigh lifted her chest, and he could almost taste victory. "I'm not dressed for a party."
"We'll stop at your place on the way."
"Fine." She threw her hands up in surrender. "You could've told me from the start I didn't have a choice."
He sobered. "You always have a choice." Then he lifted a shoulder. "Doesn't mean I have to agree with it."
She huffed. "Getting past you is worse than airport security."
"We all have aspirations."
"You should aim for loftier ideals. Like learning how to compromise." As they rode the elevator down to the first floor, she said, "If I agree to this, we're driving separately."
He frowned. "Sure that's a good idea? We've had three inches of snowfall in under an hour. My SUV is a better bet than your compact."
"I thought snow melted quickly here. How bad could it be?"
As the elevator opened to the lobby, he pointed out the two-story windows. White sheets of swirling snow muted the dark night beyond.
Allison paused. With her nerves already stretched thin today, driving in a squall with the threat of losing control of her car might induce another panic attack.
He said, "I think you should take my offer."
She gulped. "So do I."
Once they were on the road, she was bombarded by second thoughts. Logan tapped her address into his dashboard navigation. Although the interior of his Escalade was luxurious, and she appreciated heated seats, the close quarters set her on edge. His size alone was intimidating, but he also had knowledge of her intimate, vulnerable moments with him. Moments she needed to lay to rest but couldn't. As he drove, unspoken thoughts condensed in the air between them. Not even the slap of windshield wipers or the satellite radio muted the words they didn't say. Although, Logan appeared annoyingly at ease.
Shoulders relaxed, one hand on the steering wheel, he maneuvered confidently through the snow-swept streets. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. Green and blue lights from the dashboard cast his face in profile, outlining his straight nose, deep-set eyes, chiseled jaw. Melted snow glinted on his hair and coat like tiny beads of blue and green.
His arm draped over the armrest between them, hand relaxed at the wrist, elbow slanted toward her. One sharp turn and his palm would land in her lap. Which wouldn't be so bad …
She bit her lip, dropping her gaze to the floor mat where the snow from her boots started to puddle. She wished she didn't know how good his strong hands felt coasting over her bare skin, settling at the base of her spine as she arched to meet his need.
But who was she kidding? She'd been a willing participant. They both recognized what was on each other's minds. Then, and now.
Seeing him in the dim light, sinfully hot, so close she smelled the woodsy-pine scent of him … any woman's mind would wander into forbidden territory. His lips held a trace of a smile as he stared straight ahead. If he could read her thoughts, he might dial up the seduction. She doubted she could withstand the heat without them both getting burned. Tucking her elbows close to her body, she folded her gloved hands in her lap and even crossed her legs away from him.
The man knew how to get under a woman's skin. And make her long to be in his bed.
She shivered.
"You cold?" He notched up the dual-control heating.
"I'm fine."
He squinted at his GPS screen. "It says I'm supposed to turn right. I don't remember condos or townhouses around here. This isn't the greatest neighborhood."