The Billionaire's Practice Kiss - Tamie Dearen Page 0,35
“I’m looking at your muscles, not staring at your scars.”
“Right. But you’re kind of used to them by now. These other folks—”
“They won’t care. I’m sure of it. Especially after what Cole told me about his partners.”
Her brow creased. “I thought Cole Miller was the owner.”
“He’s kind of the public face of Phantom, but there are three others. You’d probably recognize their names if you were in the computer field.”
“Which I’m not. I so shouldn’t have come.”
“That’s not what I’m saying.” Logan stopped and turned to face her. “You know how Cole has a prosthetic arm? It turns out that’s how he got hooked up with the other three. They met as teenagers at a computer camp… a camp for kids with disabilities.”
Logan let the idea sink in. Ellery had nothing to worry about. No one would give her a hard time, and she was the kind of person everyone liked as soon as they met her. He, on the other hand, was socially awkward all the time. Though he hoped he’d improved a little over the last two months with Ellery frequently pulling him out of hiding. For now, concentrating on Ellery was calming his nerves.
“So all four of them have some sort of disability?”
“Yep. I’ve met Branson Knight. He’s completely blind, and he’s incredible! I haven’t met Finn or Jarrett, and I didn’t ask what their disabilities are.” Logan led them forward to the elevator and pushed the button. “They also have a huge non-profit arm called Limitless that does all kinds of stuff for kids with disabilities. Phantom profits get rolled over into their Limitless division. For once in my life, I could be a part of something really amazing. Something unselfish.”
“Okay, I admit that’s pretty awesome, but I think I’m even more nervous about meeting them now.”
“The point is these people won’t be like the ones at the wedding. I don’t think they’ll judge you or anyone else by their looks.” Logan prayed his words were true. He would be up-in-arms if anyone made her feel bad. “And if they do—”
“I know, I know. If they do, we won’t waste a single brain cell thinking about them.” Ellery’s eyes crinkled in the corners as she recited one of Logan’s favorite lines. She seemed to be fine. Maybe she’d reached the point where her scars no longer bothered her.
“And one more thing,” Logan said. “I want to work with Phantom Enterprises. But it’s not like I need it. I’m just excited about this new project. I hate being bored.”
“Yes, we don’t want you to get bored and turn into a computer hacker.”
“What?”
“Isn’t that what happens when computer guys get bored? They turn into hackers and make malware?”
He stifled a grin. “I promise I won’t turn into a computer hacker.”
The elevator doors opened and they stepped inside. Logan caught her gaze in the mirrored walls and waggled his brows, speaking in a gravelly tone. “Looks like we get a private ride down. We probably shouldn’t waste this opportunity.”
On cue, roses bloomed in her cheeks, but she didn’t object when he lowered his lips to hers. Savoring the moment, he closed the gap with agonizing deliberateness.
“What are you waiting for?” she mumbled in a grumpy voice. “A written invitation?”
She surged upward, pressing her lips to his, her hand resting on his chest, where his heart thumped a crazy rhythm she could probably feel through his shirt. Mere seconds later she tore away, ending it almost before it started. She dropped her gaze to the floor and cleared her throat. “That was very nice.”
“Nice? Sounds like something you’d say if I handed you a potted plant,” he teased, maintaining a serious expression. It was one of their favorite games, one he had yet to win. No matter what he’d tried he hadn’t been able to pierce her solemn façade when they were competing. She was impermeable, even to goofy expressions, awful puns, and tickling.
“Only a really good potted plant.” She twisted her mouth to one side, as if she were pondering. “Like an aloe vera, maybe. Something that’s pretty and also useful.”
The elevator dinged, announcing their arrival on level one. Moving quickly before the doors opened, he pressed a kiss to the top of her head, breathing in the clean, sweet scent of her hair. “I’m so glad to know you hold me in the same high esteem as an aloe vera.”
The doors opened and the clamor of voices assaulted his ears. Concentrating on Ellery, he’d managed to put the