Series Starter Firsts in Series Collection - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,270

room, shutting the door behind him. He keeps walking until the back of my legs hit the bed, gently pushing me to sit down on the edge. With his index finger, he raises my chin to meet his eyes. “Logan, we both know you are more than just my employee. We don’t talk about it, but it’s there.” He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “I feel it just as strongly as I did then, standing on the beach the first time I laid eyes on you.”

I nod. He’s right. There is something more, and neither one of us has acted on it.

“I want you here. Hell, you’re practically a part of the band.” His blue irises study me. “What changed your mind?” he asks softly. Almost as if he’s afraid to hear the answer.

“Cole asked me to come down while you all write tonight.” He nods and smiles.

“Yeah, you should.”

“He also said you would be too distracted if I was up here while you all were trying to work.”

“Hmmm. He’s right, you know. I would be distracted.”

My chest is tight from his admission. I try to stand, and his hands come to my shoulders and push so that I continue to sit on the edge of the bed.

“Logan.” He says my name reverently. “Although Cole was looking out for me, he should have explained himself a little better. I would be distracted. Not because you are in my house, or upstairs alone, but because anytime you are anywhere near me, I want to be right next to you. Do you not wonder why, if we write during the day, it’s upstairs most of the time? Do you not wonder why I’m always the only one awake when you get here each day? I want to be wherever you are.”

I suck in a breath. Did I hear him right? He wants to be near me?

“So, please, Logan, please stay here. I want you here.” He reaches down and laces his fingers through mine. “Come downstairs with me, hang out with us while we work.” Leaning down, placing his lips next to my ear, he whispers, “Please.”

How do I say no to that? I nod my agreement. “Okay,” I say softly.

I feel the feather-light press of his lips against my temple, and then he’s gone, lifting my suitcases onto the bed. “Let’s get you unpacked.”

I place my hand on top of the case he’s about to open. “I can do it.”

“Okay, but it needs to be done before we head downstairs. I’ll wait in the hall for you.” He looks from me to the bags then turns and walks out the door.

Holy shit!

Chapter 22

Kacen

As soon as I shut her bedroom door, I pull my phone out and text Cole.

Me: Logan was packed and leaving.

Cole: WTF?

Me: She said you talked to her, didn’t want to be a distraction.

My phone rings and his face lights my screen. I hit ignore and lean back against the wall across from her door. My phone dings with a text.

Cole: THAT’S NOT WHAT I SAID!!!

Me: I know, but that’s what she heard.

Cole: Did she leave?

Me: No, I stopped her. She’s unpacking, and then we’ll be down.

Cole: Good

I hear her door open, so I slide my phone back in my pocket. “We good?” I ask her.

“Yeah.”

“Good.” I grab her hand, lacing her fingers through mine, and lead her down to the studio in the basement. I know I’m pushing boundaries. The fucking lines are starting to blur. I want her. I’ve been good about hiding that, but something happened between last night and today when I told her douchebag ex that she was mine. She was curled in my arms as I said the words, and it felt . . . right.

Hopefully, I’ve bought myself some time to figure this shit out.

I lead her into the studio, her hand still laced in mine. All three of the guys notice, but don’t say a word. They know what it means. She’s the first girl any of us has had down here. We write alone, until now.

Tugging her against my chest, I place my lips next to her ear. “I want you next to me.”

Logan sucks in a deep breath at my admission, and if I had not had my eyes glued to her, I would have missed the faint nod of agreement that she gives me.

Keeping my hold on her, I walk to the far wall and grab my guitar. I then lead Logan to an oversized