The air crackled, sending shivers up her arms. Was he remembering the scene he’d painted for her? Was he imagining the two of them acting it out?
“Where do you want these?” he asked, breaking their connection.
“In my bedroom.” She got some hooks, and after he hung the stained glass in front of her window and mounted the mirror on the wall, Dani stood back and admired her purchases.
“That has to be the ugliest mirror I’ve ever seen, but there’s something about it.”
There was. “I know. I think it probably once hung in a brothel. Imagine the stories it could tell. I can’t get your idea out of my mind. May have to write it. I’ll call it something like, The Naked Earl and the Secrets of the Mirror, or maybe, The Naughty Earl and the Naked Lady. The naked lady could refer to all three: the mirror silhouette, the mistress, and his betrothed.”
“I thought only the earl and mistress were naked.”
“Little do you know.”
Something flashed in his eyes. “You have no idea.”
What did that mean? Standing close to him, Dani felt his heat, inhaled his scent, and pushed her feet onto the floor to keep from crawling up his body and wrapping her legs around his hips.
“Well, I guess I’ll call it a night.”
“Dani, about earlier—”
“If you’re going to apologize again, don’t. I swear to God, Logan, don’t you dare.”
His cell rang. He took it from his pocket, glanced at the screen, and sighed. “Kincaid,” he said.
She saw the caller ID said Suzanne, but Dani heard the irritation in his voice. So, Slinky Suzanne wasn’t the wall between them. Dani was glad to know it, but if not her, then who? She thought he would leave so he could speak in private, but he didn’t.
While he listened, he walked to the mirror and traced the naked lady’s outline. Transfixed, she watched his finger as it tracked the curve of the silhouette’s breast, down her belly, and then lower. Dani shivered. As if he knew what he was doing to her, he turned his gaze on her while his finger lazily retraced its path. By some kind of osmosis, she felt his touch glide over the same places on her body. Holy moly, she had bought a magic mirror.
“I don’t know when I’ll be home,” he said, breaking the spell. He turned his back and Dani shamelessly listened to his conversation. “How many ways do I need to say there is no us, Suzanne?”
Dani grinned and decided to paint her toenails.
Logan stared at the phone. “Guess she didn’t like that.”
“Mmm? Why’s that?” Sitting on her bed, Dani painted her big toe, then stopped to admire the color.
“She hung up on me.” He sat in the chair, stretched out his legs, and crossed his ankles.
“Does that upset you?”
“Do I look upset?”
Dani tilted her head and studied him. “No, can’t say as you do.”
“What color is that?”
She held a foot up. “Glittering Sunshine. Like it?”
“Not sure I’ve ever seen yellow polish before, but since it means you’re happy, yeah, I do.”
“Why do you say that?”
“What?”
“That it means I’m happy.”
“I finally figured it out, but if I tell you, you’ll stop.”
He seemed right at home lounging in her bedroom. She liked the intimacy of a man sitting in her room, watching her paint her toes. And this one was fascinating. Without doubt, he had demons. His childhood had much to do with his hang-ups, she was sure, and she wanted to know more. Not wanting to spoil his amiable mood, however, she held in her questions.
Finished, she capped the polish, leaned back on her elbows, and wiggled her toes. “So, tell me what you think you’ve figured out.”
“No.”
“I’ll tickle it out of you.”
His eyes glittered with mischief. “You can try.”
She swung her feet over the bed. “You are ticklish, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know.”
“How can you not know?”
He shrugged. “No one’s ever tried.”
The man just kept breaking her heart. Didn’t all mothers tickle their babies? “Well, we’ll have to rectify that.” She stood, but before she could approach him, she heard Regan.
“I’ll get her,” he said, and left.
Dani thought he seemed to welcome the excuse to leave. He obviously resented the chemistry between them, and she was determined to find out why. It wasn’t because of another woman, unless there was someone she didn’t know about. No, if he loved another, he wouldn’t be eyeing her with longing. Logan wasn’t the kind of man who played around. The only explanation he’d given was that it was a matter of honor, but honor to whom? Evan? Whatever his thinking, he held it close. Well, except for the desire he couldn’t hide, which was more obvious than he probably wished.