Tess just folded her hands in her lap. “Whatever works for you.”
“That’s what works for me.”
“It sounds lonely,” she said quietly.
He shrugged. “On occasion. But so what.”
She pressed her lips together and nodded.
“Tess, I didn’t mean to sound harsh.”
“You didn’t. Not to me, anyway. But you sound pretty harsh on yourself.”
“I have to be. Gotta keep myself in line.”
Sounds more like you’re still punishing yourself, she thought. But that wasn’t her business.
“Look,” he added, his voice softer. “I came back from hell. I worked hard to do it, and I’m happy now. I’m good. It could’ve gone the other way. I’m grateful for what I have.”
“That’s a good way to be.”
“I think so. Give me the simple life.”
The waitress hovered nearby and Tess waved her over.
“Would you like to see the dessert menu?” she asked.
“Hell yes,” Logan said enthusiastically.
Tess arched a brow at him.
“Hey, gotta let me have one vice. Mine’s sugar. I admit it.”
“So the way to your heart is with sweets, huh?” she teased.
“You got it. What about you?” He locked his pale green eyes on her, searching, a sly grin on his face. “What are your hidden vices? How does Tess Harrison indulge herself?”
“Umm . . .” She thought it over, grinning back. “I’m no sugar junkie, but I’m a sucker for flowers.”
His brow furrowed. “Flowers? You eat flowers?”
She burst out laughing, “No! I love fresh cut flowers,” she said. “I always have them. I have them both at my office in the city, and in my home, in several rooms. I need that burst of color, that hint of life, especially in the winter. I spend quite a bit of money on that, so I’d say that counts as my indulgence.”
“That’s a damn nice one,” he said with appreciation.
“And when I got here, you’d filled the house with poinsettia plants,” she said. “That, um . . . went a long way. I loved that.”
“Without even knowing,” he said, his smile growing. “Gold star for me.”
“Absolutely.”
* * *
By the time Logan pulled up in front of Tess’s house, she was warm, full, tired, and happy. “I had a great time today.”
“I did too,” he said with a smile. “Thanks again for inviting me.”
“Any chance you’d like to do it again sometime soon?” she asked. “You’re a worthy ski partner, and I had fun with you.”
“Yeah, I’d like that,” he said. “But next time, I pay for my lift ticket.”
“Deal. Sometime next week?”
“Sure. Give me a call, we’ll work out a time.”
“Well, you have a job with a real schedule. Right now, I don’t. I’m free as a bird. So you give me a call.”
His eyes held hers as he said, “Okay. I’ll do that. You’re on. Got yourself a ski buddy.”
God, she wanted to kiss him. Sitting so close in the warmth of his truck, he smelled good and his eyes were intense and his mouth was inviting and she wanted to kiss him so bad. But this new friendship—all the things they’d revealed to each other that day—she didn’t want to cross any lines or mess it up. For now, she’d hold back.
But still couldn’t resist flirting a little bit. “So,” she said boldly. “Are you coming in to soak in my tub or what? The offer stands.”
His gaze turned hot, a full-out smolder that made her belly do a wobbly flip. “The offer is more tempting than you know.” His voice had dropped low and dead sexy, making her shiver. “But I think I’d better head home for tonight.”
They stared at each other for a moment, pure electricity crackling between them. She could feel her blood in her veins, racing now, hot and needing, as his eyes lowered to her mouth for a few seconds before lifting to meet her gaze again.
“You sure?” she asked. Her heart thumped in heavy beats.
“Only so much temptation a man can take,” he murmured. “And you’re testing my limits as it is, Tess. You have to know that.”