She placed hers on her small tan handbag.
“That’s cheating.” I frowned. “If I have to look ridiculous so do you.”
I pulled it off her bag and slapped it on the center of her large chest. Her low-cut flower print dress then looked less sexy and more awkward, but at least we were going into this as equals.
“Thanks,” she grumbled. “Look, I never thought I’d be spending my night speed dating either, but Caleb asked and you know he’s not the easiest person for me to refuse.”
“Yeah, I’ve noticed you have that problem.” I tried to stifle my chuckle when a large group of women began shuffling in the doors, pushing us forward.
Caleb was certainly going to be thrilled with the turn out. I grimaced. I’d never realized there were that many single people in Harmony.
“Are you going to make a move with Caleb tonight?” I asked. “Or continue playing the sweet friend eager to help out?” I hadn’t seen Hilary since the supermarket on Monday, but I did receive multiple texts from her throughout the week about hanging out at Haven to lend a hand at setting up this event. “At some point you have to confess you are in love with the man. Preferably, before one of those bright-eyed, bushy-tailed tramps sink their claws in him.”
We walked toward the crowded room filled with singles, all holding drinks, and wearing similar name tags. I cringed; this was not where I wanted to belong, among every other person incapable of finding love.
“He asked me to come here for speed dating. Does that sound like a man interested in me?” Hilary sighed.
“Whatever you say.”
Sifting through my purse I turned my phone to silent, not that I’d hear it over the music.
“Oh. My. God,” Hilary giggled. I looked up to find her facing the bar. “Look who’s here. Never thought a guy like that would need help finding a girl.”
Great, so apparently I did fall into the box of people that needed help. I took a deep breath, preparing myself for a night spent talking to guys with clichéd pick-up lines that still lived with their parents. I followed Hilary’s gaze to see who she was talking about when my eyes widened at the sight of Logan.
Could I not have one night out without having to deal with this guy? He seemed to be everywhere.
Tonight he was sitting at the bar, staring straight at me wearing a devilish smirk.
Logan raised his glass—of what appeared to be hard liquor—in my direction causing my body to stiffen and my pulse to race. Wild flutters crept through my stomach and my breath caught in my suddenly dry throat. Why did I still feel this way around him?
I had jogged every morning, but had not seen him since the beginning of the week. I did notice him leaving about the same time I left to go run. Instead of a bare chest, shorts, and tennis shoes, he was wearing a dark suit and tie.
He didn’t even look in my direction the one morning he drove right past me. It was as if my cold shoulder to him had turned him off. I was no longer any fun. I should have felt proud and relieved instead, there was a tiny ounce of something unknown and bewildering tugging at my chest.
I was the one avoiding him, not the other way around. He would be lucky to have me groping him in his foyer like Katie did.
“Guess he’s getting lazy with his pick-up efforts.” I laughed. “He gets them served up on a platter tonight.”
Logan cocked an eyebrow and my inside took a dip. I grabbed Hilary’s arm and pulled her into the nearby restroom.
“What the hell?” Hilary snapped when I released her. I struggled to regain my composure, ignoring the stares of the few women standing around the mirrors. I hated that this one man caused my body to react like that. I spent all week feeling so proud of myself.
“Why does he have to be here tonight?”
“Caleb said he’s a regular at the bar most nights.” She gave me a wry smile. “Okay, what’s really the problem? You think he’s hot and you had that dirty or shall we say delicious dream about him, so why not, you know, get to know him?”
Oh, the things she’d have to say if she knew exactly how many dirty dreams about Logan I’d had. The things he did to me in my slumber were mind-blowing. I shook my head, groaning.
“What part of him being a dick did you not understand the other day?” I answered, throwing my hands in the air. “I’m not going to be another notch on his bedpost!”
“You’re right, sorry.” She shook her head as if suddenly remembering something. “Maybe he’s just here having a quick drink? He’s not exactly in need of a speed dating service.”
Hilary gave me one last smile before turning to leave me in the ladies’ room that was now unoccupied.
A deep breath, in and out, while I stood in front of the full-length mirror next to the bathroom door did nothing to clear the swarm of butterflies overwhelming my stomach.
“Okay Cassandra, you can do this. He’s not that hot.” I whispered to myself while fluffing my hair and reapplying my favorite red lipstick. If he wanted to lurk behind me and throw around his good looks, so could I.
“Hey Cassie, thanks for coming out tonight,” Caleb said as I approached the bar. Logan sat on the stool in front of him.
Before I could reply, my gaze wandered down to Caleb’s arm wrapped around Hilary’s waist. That was new.
I glanced up to see Hilary biting her lip, staring back at me with wide eyes, holding back a giant grin.
“I’m sure we can find some poor schmuck in here for you to turn down,” Caleb chuckled.
“Very funny, Caleb. I’m only here as a favor, so don’t tempt me to leave.”
“Relax, I just heard around town you’re not the easiest girl to pin down a date with,” he explained.
Where did he hear that? I rarely got asked out, but then again when I did, I was pretty good at coming up with a reason why I couldn’t. Not because I wasn’t looking but because the right guy hadn’t asked.
“Maybe it’s because the people in this town aren’t used to women with standards. Something most women here tonight lack,” Hilary replied smiling at me. Her gaze shifted to Logan and she shot him a cocky smirk.
I couldn’t help returning her smile. She never failed to have my back. I loved her for that. As much as I knew she was freaking out having Caleb’s body so close to hers and actually touching her, she still wasn’t afraid to speak her mind.
Caleb craned his neck to say something to Hilary but my mind was too preoccupied with the feeling of Logan’s eyes boring into me. I needed to say something or at least look at him but finding the courage was a larger task than it should have been. Why did he have to look so amazing tonight?
He was still wearing a suit. The top few buttons were undone as was his tie and his jacket was thrown over the stool beside him. Thank the heavens above he was seated since his trousers were sitting snugly below his waist and I had no doubt they would show off a perfectly sculptured ass that drove me wild the day he carried me home from our jog.
My heart began to race and heat shot from the tip of my toes to the top of my head. Breathe, Cassandra, breathe.
I puffed out my chest, held my head high, and turned to face him.
“Hello, Logan,” I said slowly before closing my lips into a tight line pulling up slightly on the sides to keep from looking like a total bitch. My cheeks burned as I forced the smile. The thought of him knowing just how much he left me flustered drove me insane.