Logan’s insides flooded with aching desire, both his body and his heart. Suddenly he wanted nothing more in the world than to take her home and make love to her. He wanted her all to himself. He wanted to bury himself deep inside her, hold her close . . . somehow shut down all his raging thoughts. “Check, please.”
As they shrugged into their coats, his whole body started to hum with searing heat, the familiar rush of primal lust that gripped him whenever he thought about being with Tess. He was growing edgy with it. But as they got to the door and he opened it wide, they were blocked by a woman who was walking in.
“Sorry,” the woman apologized. Then his eyes met hers, hers locked on his, and his heart skipped a beat. Holy shit. Ugh, no.
“Carrie!” Tess smiled brightly, lifting a hand to squeeze the other woman’s arm. “Hi, how are you?”
Carrie’s icy blue eyes blinked off the shock as she looked from Tess to Logan and back again. “Tess. Wow. Hi.” She swept back her long blond hair, and as her stare settled on Logan, her jaw tightened a little bit.
He cursed up a blue streak in his head. Yeah, this was going to get awkward.
Clueless, Tess tipped her smile up to Logan. “This is Carrie. She’s the fantastic instructor of my yoga class. Carrie, this is—”
“We know each other,” he murmured, unwilling to play dumb or lie. He nodded in deference to Carrie, who was staring at him hard now. “How’ve you been, Carrie? You look good.”
“Thanks. Well. Small world.” The corners of her mouth twitched, something like a grimace. She crossed her arms over her chest and let her gaze lock on Logan. “I didn’t know you two knew each other.”
“Tess is my girlfriend,” he said softly. Carrie’s eyes got wider. Shit, double shit.
“Girlfriend,” Carrie echoed. “Interesting. I thought you didn’t do relationships. In fact, I believe I’m quoting you directly when I say that.”
“I don’t,” he said. “Or, I didn’t.” He sighed. He couldn’t tell her the truth about his and Tess’s deal, but he hated the hurt he caught in her expression. Then he met Tess’s questioning gaze with a solemn one of his own . . . and watched her smile fade as understanding quickly dawned in her eyes. That was Tess: astute, intuitive, and sharp as hell. “Carrie, look—”
“No, that’s fine. That’s great. At least now I finally understand.” Her eyes narrowed on him, like heated lasers. “I get it. Maybe if I’d been an heiress, you’d have wanted a relationship with me, instead of my just being your regular booty call. Money like hers helps you swallow your reluctance, I’m sure.”
Tess stiffened at his side.
“Don’t do that,” he said to Carrie, low and tight. “Don’t insult her when you’re pissed at me. You’re better than that.”
“Go to hell, Logan. I’m better than you.” She shoved past both of them and stormed into the restaurant.
He stared after her, jaw clenched tight, heart pounding. Tess’s hand on his arm brought him back.
“Let’s go,” she murmured.
He glanced down at her, saw the utter calm and regal cool of her expression . . . ah shit. This wasn’t good. She was in Ice Queen mode. This wasn’t good at all.
Nodding and placing a hand on her back, he escorted her out into the cold night.
* * *
Tess sat very still in Logan’s truck, her hands in her lap. She was grateful for the warm air heating her, but something inside her had gone stone cold.
He was embarrassed and upset, she knew that. It was radiating off him in waves. But she sensed he wasn’t ready to discuss it. His jaw was clenched tight, his posture stiff.
She was a little upset too. That surprised her. Because really, truthfully, she had no right to be upset with him or the situation . . . but she was. She went into her own head to try to figure out exactly why as they drove in heavy silence back to her house.
By the time they got home, the tension was still thick as could be, and both of them had gone quietly rigid. She opened the door and Bubbles came running, barking her happy hellos. Logan crouched down to pet her as Tess removed her long coat and hung it in the closet. They moved into the living room and she turned on some lights.