Crazy for Her(8)

She didn’t get it. If a soldier didn’t obey his commander’s directives during battle, he likely got sent home in a body bag. Logan swallowed hard. He already lived with the guilt of Evan’s death. He wouldn’t survive hers.

Not letting her finish, he moved into her space and glared down at her. “There are no buts. You have two choices. You give me your word you’ll do what I say, when I say it, or you and Regan go to my house until this is over. Which will it be?”

Their faces were inches apart, and puffs of her warm breath wafted across his chin. Jesus, Joseph, and Mary, he had never wanted a woman like he wanted her this minute. What he wouldn’t give to explore the heat and passion flaring in her eyes, and then when his fire was doused, he would explore the gentle side of her. The one he had seen sitting in a rocking chair and looking down at her nursing daughter with eyes full of love.

If he allowed it to happen, he wouldn’t be breaking his personal vow, but he would dishonor his love and respect for Evan. That he would not do, no matter the temptation. Early in his life, he’d learned self-control, his SEAL training only made his willpower stronger. He could and would ignore his desires, was long used to doing so.

“You’re not the boss of me.” The stubborn lines of her mouth dissolved into a wide smile, and her eyes sparkled with merriment. “I just sounded like a six-year-old, didn’t I?”

“That old? I was thinking more like three.”

“No, that’s the tantrum age, and trust me, you really don’t want me throwing a tantrum. No one does it better than me.” She walked away, stopping at the entrance to the hallway. “You have my word, tough guy. Whatever you say, no questions asked. I don’t promise not to make faces at you, however.” She stuck her thumbs in her ears, wriggled her fingers, crossed her eyes, and stuck out her tongue.

Logan grinned at her retreating back. This was the Dani he missed. When she was dating Evan, the three of them sometimes hung out together, and her love of life and humor had captivated him. There had been times when they’d invited him along and he had declined, not able to bear seeing her hand in Evan’s or witnessing the quick kisses they often shared.

The devil whispered in his ear that Evan was gone, and there was nothing stopping him now from claiming her as his. He could be the one holding her hand and leaving kisses on all the places of her body he’d fantasized about.

Burying his traitorous thoughts down deep where they belonged, he picked up his leather tote and followed her down the hall. At the door to the nursery, he watched her lean into the crib and kiss Regan’s forehead.

“Sometimes it hurts so bad to think she’ll never know her father.”

Guilt soured his stomach, and for a brief moment he hated his friend for dying. “You should write down everything you know and remember about Evan before it slips away from you. Someday, Regan will thank you for it.”

Dani’s sudden smile was like sunshine, warm and inviting. He caught himself taking a step toward her and stilled, planting his shoulder against the doorjamb.

“I’m already doing that, but even better, she’ll have her uncle Logan to tell her stories about her daddy.”

Someone should have posted signs warning of the minefield. Whichever way he stepped was going to be dangerous for him. He didn’t know if he could handle being an active part of their lives in the role of uncle. What if Dani met someone and fell in love? It would happen eventually, and he couldn’t stand on the sidelines again watching her with someone else. Been there, done that, could not bear doing it again.

Yet she’d just made him Regan’s honorary uncle, and he didn’t have the words to refuse her. Her smile slipped as she waited for a response.

“It would be a privilege to be Regan’s uncle.”

The brilliant smile returned. “Thank you.” She kissed his cheek and walked past him.

Still attached to the doorway, he closed his eyes and prayed for strength. Her lips on his skin had felt as soft as he’d imagined. For close to three years, he’d kept his longing for her buried, and now it was surfacing like flotsam. Whoever this man was, he needed to be found and taken care of. Soon. Then he could go home and put temptation at a manageable distance.

“Logan?”

Pushing away from the door, he walked down the hall and followed her into a room.

“This is the guest room. It has its own bathroom through there.” She pointed to a closed door and then frowned. “You’re planning on staying here, right?”

He dropped his tote on the quilt-covered bed. “Until I catch this guy, I think it would be for the best.”