The Billionaire's Practice Kiss - Tamie Dearen Page 0,5
a shake to clear it.
He’s not just cute. He’s mouthwatering!
“He said it, and I believe it,” Kara declared.
Ellery didn’t want to feel attracted to Logan West—billionaire or not. In fact, it was a terrible idea to let that happen. But her traitorous heart gave a lurch when he turned and flashed a cautious smile, flipping a too-long lock of deep brown hair off his face with a toss of his head. His broad jaw, accented by a few days’ worth of beard, was so masculine-looking, her fingers itched to touch it. But it was his eyes that really hooked her. Green, with specks of amber, he peered at her with a lonely, soulful look she’d seen in her own mirror…one born of self-condemnation. It had taken six months of counseling to learn that her lack of self-esteem had started long before the disfiguring accident, and another year to accept that her value came, not from how she looked or anything she’d ever done, but from the fact that God cherished her enough to die for her. And daily, she struggled to remember and put it into practice.
“He could’ve been lying about being a billionaire,” said Kara, “but I don’t think so. When I asked him what he did for a living, he said he’s in computer engineering. But he also said he’d created a few apps. He listed Bring-It-To-Me, Spot-Check, Elder-Assist, and Pay-Me.”
Outside the car, Logan swung a booted foot to strike the gas pump before stomping off toward the small gas station convenience store. The gas pump screen read Please see attendant.
“He said he created Pay-Me?” Ellery exclaimed. “I thought that was a Phantom app.”
“That’s what I said. But he said he sells some of his apps to Phantom Enterprises for a cut of the royalties. He knows Cole Miller personally.” Kara gave a star-struck sigh. She was a complete computer nerd, practically in love with Cole, the handsome CEO of Phantom who frequented TV talk shows, brandishing his lime-green mechanical arm. That he was now happily married hadn’t affected her crush.
“Good gravy! That’s how he got to you, isn’t it? What did he say to you? Did he promise to introduce you to Cole?”
Kara gave a guilty cough. “He might’ve said something about putting in a good word for me with Cole if I applied for a job at Phantom. But I won’t finish my doctorate for another three years. I’m sure Logan will have forgotten all about me by then.”
“He must’ve said something to make you abandon your good judgment.”
“Actually, I made the logical choice. Logan agreed it was dangerous for you to be delivering stuff to total strangers’ homes.”
“Exactly! Look what happened when I delivered to him.”
Kara gave a frustrated snort. “With the twenty thousand he’s paying, you won’t have to do that anymore. One weekend, and you’ll be free.”
“Assuming I survive it, now that you’ve thrown me to the wolves.”
“I may have thrown you to a wolf, but he’s a really sweet one.”
“Sweet is the last word I’d use to describe Logan West. He’s rude.”
“Maybe he’s just awkward. Some of us computer geeks aren’t social butterflies like you.”
“Me, a social butterfly?” Ellery muttered. “You know I haven’t been to a single party since the accident.”
“This morning you said you were okay now. You said you’d had an epiphany.”
“My epiphany didn’t include going to a socialite wedding in Houston. I would stand out like a sore thumb, even if I didn’t have a big purple splotch on my cheek.” Ellery groaned, her throat feeling dry. “I’ll be so awkward around all those rich people.”
“You and Logan can just be awkward together.” Kara chuckled shamelessly. “He seems like a really nice guy to me. I may be cautious, but I’m a good judge of character. Maybe the two of you will hit it off.”
“Never mind that. Right now, I just need you to pray I don’t have a panic attack from being on the road after dark.” Ellery spotted Logan coming out of the station.
“You can handle it. You’ve done it before. Concentrate on your diaphragm.”
“I’m concentrating on being mad at you,” Ellery said.
“Are you really upset with me?”
“Not really. But I’m a little nervous about this whole thing.” Ellery watched Logan approach. “I don’t understand why he would want someone like me to be his date.”
“Someone like you?” Kara’s voice was tinged with anger, and Ellery knew why. Kara had made her promise to stop saying demeaning things about herself. Yet, whether she said them or