Page 11 of My Perfect Valentine

Logan huffs. “Yes, really. It was so uncool then, but now…” He pulls me in closer to where not even air is between us. “I need to thank my mom for forcing me into those classes.”

I’m about to swoon or die. Who can ever tell the difference? I’m not getting a lot of oxygen to the brain with this man around. It’s all supposed to be fake, and I remind myself of this, but for brief moments I allow myself to believe he’s all mine and I’m all his.

It helps how he keeps giving me little touches, kisses me on the temple or on my forehead, stroking my back, constantly telling me I’m beautiful. Most importantly, I haven’t caught him looking at the slew of gorgeous women, not once. It’s like a fairytale and I hate how I’m going to wake up and it all be gone.

But tonight, I get to hold him close like this. I rest my head against his shoulder as we continue to dance to the slow song,imagining we’re dancing on the clouds with no one in sight. I inhale deep and take in his cologne that blends with his natural scent and it does things to my body. Lustful things. Wet things.

“May I cut in?”

And there goes all the good feelings. I fight back a groan as I open my eyes and see Mason standing there with a tight jaw and beady eyes watching us. I peek over his shoulder and notice my mother glaring daggers at me.

Shoot. If I decline his dance, I won’t hear the end of it. It’ll just be faster to do the one dance and then be done with it.

I lift my head from Logan’s shoulder, and he lifts a brow at me, waiting for me to decide. Which makes me want to kiss him even more. He’s letting me take the lead on all of this.

“Okay, Mason, one dance.” It’s clear I’m not excited about this, and Logan smirks a little. More importantly, he lowers his mouth to mine and kisses me like he’s marking his territory right in front of Mason and the entire room. And if Logan isn’t holding me up, I’d be slipping into a puddle on the ground.

Damn, that man can kiss.

“I’ll go get us some refreshments. Mason.” Logan nods at the smaller man and walks off the dance floor and I can’t stop staring at how well his ass fills out those slacks.

Mason clears his throat, and I shift my gaze to him. I accept his hand, and make sure there's plenty of space between his body and mine. He’s a lot shorter than Logan, so I have to maintain more eye contact with him, which is uncomfortable because he looks at me like he’s judging me. And it’s clear he is.

“Okay, Addison, I don’t know what you’re trying to prove, but this all needs to stop now.”

I pull my head back so I can look at him better and try to understand what he’s talking about. “What?”

“Let’s be fair. There’s no way that man is good enough for your family name. He’s a bike mechanic, for heaven’s sake. This isall nonsense and you’re making things difficult for your mother when there doesn't need to be. I’m willing to swipe this all under the rug.”

“First, Logan is the best man in the world and to say differently shows your shortcomings. Second, he has his own business and is extremely successful, so don’t even go there. Third, I’m not making anything difficult, I’m only living my life.”

“Come on, we’re supposed to be together, so stop fighting it and just face the inevitable, your parents will never approve of that man. Who can be your father, by the way. You’re just embarrassing yourself as you cling all over him.”

Red invades my vision as I stop moving and drop my arms. I try to step back, but Mason looks around and grabs me to pull me in closer as he hisses. “Stop it, Addison. You’re acting like a child.”

Enough of this. I speak loud and clear, making sure to enunciate each word so there won’t be any misconceptions. “You think I’m acting like a child? Why? Because I want nothing to do with you?”

The surrounding people look over and slow down in their dancing.

“Addison, stop it. You’re proving my point right now.” He reaches for my arm again, and I swipe him away.

“What I’m proving is that you're an imbecile. I have a boyfriend and I want nothing to do with you. It’s my mother who keeps pushing us together, for whatever reason I can’t fathom. But I’m happy and don’t want to be with you at all. I never have.”

The dancers stop dancing, but the band still plays and the people at the tables and bar are still chatting, unaware of what’s going on here.

“Addison, knock it off.”

“It’s Addie, and no. I don’t even understand what you want with me. I overheard you telling somebody how the only goodthing about me was my last name. Being with me is a boon to your career.”

Several people gasp, but I ignore them.

“I’ve never been interested in you, and I’m happy with my life and with Logan. In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t follow what my mother says. If I did, then you surely won’t be a part of the equation because I’d be on my way to medical school. You’re the back-up plan for me in her eyes.”

Mason seethes and glares at me. He looks like a rat with his beady eyes and puckered lips. I hate to compare him to such a defenseless creature, but it’s how he looks.

“You would be lucky to have me, and not some mechanic.”

“Oh, get off it. Logan is ten times the man you are, and you’re not even that great of a doctor. Google your name, the reviews are far less than stellar. You need to grow up and stop trying to smooch your way to the top. You’ll never be the doctor my parents are, at least not at this rate you’re going.”

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