The Billionaire's Practice Kiss - Tamie Dearen Page 0,30

to be mad at his mom’s interference. “There is no relationship. Ellery and I only met Friday afternoon.”

Nancy’s glower bored into the back of his head. “Friday? As in yesterday?”

“I paid her to come.” He struggled to talk around the lump in his throat. “I just didn’t want people to know I was such a loser, I still didn’t have a girlfriend.”

“You lied to me?”

He twisted to face her, noting how the garage light was illuminating the disappointment on her face.

“I’m sorry, Mom. For what it’s worth, I regret it.”

“The way you acted…like you really cared about each other…that was all fake?”

“She was pretending. But I feel… confused.” He stared at the closed kitchen door, his chest aching. “It doesn’t matter. She hates me now, and I deserve it.”

“Your real dad used to say, ‘Regret is worthless. Restoration is priceless.’”

“There’s nothing to restore.” He couldn’t hide the desolation in his voice.

“You’ll never know unless you talk to her.”

He knew. From her body language. From her tone of voice. From the way she jumped when he touched her.

“I’ll try,” he said.

But it’s hopeless.

As Logan had feared, when he went up the stairs, Ellery’s door was closed, no light filtering from beneath it. He lay in his bed, secretly hoping she would have another nightmare to give him an excuse to go into her room. Meanwhile, the memory of their intense kiss swirled inside his head, making sleep impossible. Still wide awake at two a.m., he heard a strange sound coming from her room. Nothing blood-curdling, like Friday night, but loud enough he could hear it through the wall.

Pulling a T-shirt over his head, he tiptoed from his room into the hallway. The noise must not have been loud enough to wake his mother, whose bedroom door was closed. Maybe it wasn’t even a nightmare.

Still, it won’t hurt to check on her.

He opened Ellery’s door slowly and stepped inside. Bathed in the striped lights from the window blinds, her motionless form appeared to be in deep and peaceful sleep. Perhaps he should stay for a few minutes, just to be sure.

He edged a little closer. And closer. Until he was right beside her. Watching. Listening. He heard nothing. Was she even alive? He bent down, straining to hear the slightest breath.

“What are you doing?”

Logan jumped, his heart tumbling in his chest. “You scared me!” he croaked.

She laughed. “Serves you right. Why are you in here?”

“I thought you were having a nightmare.”

“I wasn’t.” She sounded skeptical.

“Maybe you had one and don’t remember.”

“I know I didn’t, because I haven’t slept.”

“Oh…me, neither.” Strained silence. “Since we’re both awake, can we talk?”

“Logan, this is awkward.”

“That’s my middle name.” He shrugged. “I can’t help it.”

She sat up, smoothing her hair. A heavy sigh escaped. “How was the party?”

“I told you I didn’t want to go, and I didn’t.” He tamped down his impatience. How could he expect her to understand? She couldn’t read his mind.

“What about Allegra?” Hurt. Suspicion. But why should she trust him?

“Come sit with me?”

She stared at his outstretched hand for an eternity before taking it, her soft touch as electric as ever. He clicked on the bedside light and led her to the loveseat, noting she sat several inches away. She tugged her hand, but he held it firmly.

“Ellery, I know I’ve sent confusing signals, and—”

“No, you haven’t. You’ve been very clear. I don’t have any expecta—”

He placed a silencing finger on her lips, and her crystal blue eyes widened. So tempting to replace his finger with his lips.

“I didn’t go to the party, because I’m not in love with Allegra.”

Her eyebrows bent. “Was it something I said? I didn’t mean to criticize her—”

“I finally saw what I should’ve seen all along.”

“But I understand why you’d love her. She’s beautiful.” Ellery’s voice cracked, her gaze dropping to her lap.

“But you inspire me.” He cupped her face between his hands, his thumbs caressing both cheeks. “You make me want to be a better man… to be courageous like you. To stop hiding. To put the past behind me.”

Her eyes squeezed shut, a single tear trailing down her cheek. “Please don’t put me on a pedestal.”

“Why not? It’s where you belong.” He pressed his lips to the puckered skin on her right cheek.

Her head was shaking. Another tear. It tore at his heart.

“I’m as scarred on the inside as the outside.” Sniffing, she pushed him away. “You think I’m brave, but I’m not. I’ve just been faking it. I live my life on the verge