Page 20 of The Wanderer

"How long are you staying around?"

"Probably a month max. I don't stay in one place long, preferring to do quotes in person for jobs around the country." His response sounded rote and determination darkened his eyes. "I'm not a long-term guy, if that's what you're asking."

"I'm not asking anything of the sort," she said, clipped and frosty, sounding like she actually cared about his gypsy wanderings. She didn't. She liked the sex; she didn't have to like the guy.

Liar, her conscience screamed. She already liked him beyond his obvious talents. She wouldn't be talking to him now if she didn't. She would've dismissed him, using her icy persona she used to great effect when distancing herself from men who wanted more than she was willing to give.

She hated Willem for hurting her to the point she could never let any guy get too close. He’d really done a number on her and she’d been clueless until the end. He’d pursued her and wooed her with a relentlessness that should’ve alerted her that everything about him, from his five hundred dollar Italian leather shoes to his designer suits, were fake. She’d loved him, she’d depended on him, and he’d abused her trust regardless, leaving her a duped fool.

She never, ever, wanted to feel like that again.

"You sound pissed off," he said.

"I'm not," she snapped, and he chuckled and held up his hands, as if he had nothing to hide.

"All I'm saying is, I'm probably in town for another few weeks, so if you want to keep hanging out that's fine with me."

She snorted, hating the traitorous lurch of her gut that she’d like nothing better. "Is that what men are calling sex these days? Hanging out?" She made inverted commas signs with her fingers. "Because I'm okay with admitting the sex is great and I would like to continue, if that's suitable."

Damn, she sounded so stilted and formal, the exact opposite of how she felt around him when he got 'that look' in his eyes. The one that made her feel wanton and wicked, like a sex goddess capable of anything.

For someone who hadn't had a lot of sex over the years, and what she did have had been lacklustre at best, there was something about Logan that set her alight with a simple glance.

"It's certainly suitable," he said, the corners of his mouth twitching.

"Stop mocking me." She huffed out a breath that served to make him laugh.

"You're full of contrasts," he said, tapping her on the nose like a benevolent uncle. "Fire and ice. I like it."

"Most people don't," she said, masking her wistfulness with an abrupt cough. "Okay, so we're dating while you're in town?"

"Yeah."

"Monogamous?

Anger pinched his mouth. "Yeah."

"Hey, just checking." She turned away to stack sheet music before he could see the importance of his answer written all over her face.

She'd had a fling before, with an up and coming indie band's lead roadie. She'd fallen headlong into lust before realising she wasn't the only woman he was plugging his lead into. She wouldn't make the same mistake again.

"I won't jerk you around, Hope." He laid a hand on her shoulder and spun her around. "I'm a stand up guy. I know what I want and I call it. No bullshitting. And while I'm in Melbourne, I want you."

An insane urge to blubber swept over her so she kissed him, plastering herself so hard against him that his butt hit the piano keys in a resounding clash of mismatched notes. He laughed and gently eased away, holding her at arms length.

"While I'm happy to do you every which way wherever and whenever you want, I don't think banging on your precious piano is a good idea."

She smiled, relieved they'd moved past the awkwardness of their conversation. She loved his sense of humour. She didn't laugh often enough and she knew it.

"I'm not very good at this…" she trailed off, feeling like she owed him some semblance of truth for her swiftly changing behaviour but regretting bringing it up the moment he pinned her with that astute stare he did so well. "That's why I back off sometimes. I get spooked and embarrassed and—"

"You're a sensual, empowered woman embracing her sexuality. Don't ever be embarrassed by that." He cupped her chin, so she had to meet his eyes. "You should be proud."

"See, this is what I mean." She shoved his hand away. "I'm no good at this. At you understanding me. At you being kind. Ah, fuck…" She rarely swore and it only served to make her feel further discombobulated. "I'm not a vamp, though you might think so with the commando thing. But that's more about me doing something completely out of character than any great plan to seduce guys. I just feel…out of my depth around you."

His expression softened and she wanted to bawl again. "Do you have any idea how rare it is to have a straight-talking woman articulate exactly what's going on in her head?"

He tapped the side of her temple. "Contrary to popular belief, us guys have no clue as to what goes on in there. We wing it and hope for the best that we don't make complete asses of ourselves."

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