Series Starter Firsts in Series Collection - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,268

started out as a means to get the guy to leave her alone, turned into me yearning for more. In the kitchen, I just couldn’t help myself. I wanted to tell her I don’t care that I’m her boss, that what we do is no one’s business but our own. We’re adults. Luckily, Cole interrupted us before the words left my mouth. They were on the tip of my tongue.

It’s not that I don’t want her, I do. I ache deep inside from wanting her, but I know from hearing her talk and conversations we’ve had that she no longer believes in the promise of love. That fucker messed with her head, strung her along, and made her feel like she wasn’t enough.

It’s taking extreme effort for me not to demand she stay here. I shove another bite of my sandwich in my mouth. Logan’s cell rings and she pulls it out of her pocket. I continue to eat, but listen intently. Yeah, it’s rude, but I don’t care.

“What?” she says, shocked. “How long?” She seems troubled by whatever the person on the other end of the line is telling her. “Are we allowed in at all?” she asks. My attention is now piqued even further. “Right, okay. So we need to just wait to hear from you?” She waits for an answer. “Thanks for calling,” she says as she taps the screen and lets her hand that was holding her phone fall between us on the love seat.

“What’s wrong?” I rush to ask her. I can tell that whatever she just learned has upset her.

She’s staring off into space and chewing on her bottom lip. I’m jealous. “Logan,” I say her name again, trying to get her attention. Resting my hand on her arm, I gently run my fingers back and forth, hoping it will help calm her. “Logan, babe, you’re scaring me. What happened?” My voice is gentle, yet firm. I’m ready to flip the fuck out!

Snapping out of it, she turns to face me. “That was the management company for my apartment. Apparently, the unit above mine sprung a leak in their kitchen. It leaked into ours. Our kitchen was the only room affected.”

That’s not so bad. “Okay,” I say, because that doesn’t sound like it’s too bad.

“They’re going to fix it, but we can’t stay there while they are. Stacy and I will need to find a new place to stay until it’s finished.” Finally she turns to face me. “Can I, I hate to ask this, but I need to go find a hotel room I can rent for an undetermined amount of time.”

Fuck no! “Stay here.” The words fly from my mouth.

“I can’t stay here.”

“Why the hell not?” I bark at her.

She flinches at my words. I know they sounded harsh, but, damn it, I don’t want her staying alone in her apartment, and I’m putting my fucking foot down now. She’s not going to stay in some cheap hotel.

“Yeah, why the hell not?” Cole asks her.

Thank you, Cole! “Logan, listen to me. I have the space. There is no reason for you not to stay here. You’re here every day anyway. It’ll give you time to get your car fixed.” I stop there before I start pleading with her.

“At least stay until Stacy comes home. You don’t need to be staying in a hotel by yourself,” Gavin chimes in.

My boys got my back. “I’ll drive you to your apartment and we’ll get whatever you’ll need for the next week or so,” I offer.

“They said it could be two weeks, possibly more.”

“Okay.” This is not something that is going to change my mind. I want her here.

“Yeah, you can hang out with us, join us in a few writing sessions. Besides, who doesn’t like a sleepover?” Tristan winks at her.

Fucker! He’s doing it to rile me up, and if it were not for the fact that he’s trying to convince her to stay, I would punch his ass.

Gently squeezing her arm, I ask, “What do you say, Logan?”

“Really, I should get a hotel. When Stacy comes home, she’ll need a place to stay as well.”

“Done. She can stay here too. It’s a nonissue.”

Those big brown eyes take me in. She’s looking for a sign that this isn’t really what I want. She won’t find it.

“Fine. Yes, I’ll stay. Thank you so much for offering,” she says softly.

She has no idea. “Let’s head to your place, check out the damage, and pick up whatever you