Page 109 of Seven of Hearts

“And a jacket.”

I scoffed. “You might want to reassess the tone you’re using with me.”

“Leah,” he soothed as he curled my hair in a makeshift ponytail around his palm. Without warning, Logan tugged, yanking my head back. His lips grazed mine as he said, “Shoes on. In the car. Now.”

I glanced down at the pajama pants that I was in. “You’re kidding me, right?”

He was, in fact, not kidding.

Logan grabbed his keys, scooped me up like a bride, and carried me out the front door. The noon sun was high and bright, but it was a sick tease with the frigid temperatures.

“What the hell are you doing?” I screeched as he gently deposited me in the front seat of his car.

Logan reached around me and pulled the seatbelt all the way out to get it around my belly, then secured it. “I gave you a chance to get your shoes.”

My toes curled as the winter air bit at my bare skin. “I’m in my pajamas. Where exactly are we going?”

“Hang tight,” he said as he reached across me and cranked up the dial so the heat would kick on. Logan shut the door and jogged back into the house. Thirty seconds later, he came back with my slippers, his hoodie that I had stolen since mine didn’t fit anymore, and my phone.

Logan’s breath fogged around him as he slid into the driver’s seat and handed me the haul.

“Want to tell me why I’m being kidnapped very, very slowly and thoughtfully?” I asked as I wiggled my feet into the slippers.

He just chuckled. “We’re going for a drive.”

“I have to pee—like—every ten minutes. That’s a terrible idea,” I grumbled as we bobbed down the gravel drive.

Logan reached over and held my hand. “Will you trust me?” There was an undeniable kindness in his eyes.

I huffed just to keep up the charade of annoyance. “Fine. Will you tell me where we’re going?”

His smirk was victorious. “You’ll like it.”

Not ten minutes later, we were parked in front of the Taylor Creek Inn. I looked up at the stately marble columns that were wrapped in luxurious garlands and coils of lights. During the holidays, the inn looked like it belonged on a Christmas card.

“I amnotgoing in there,” I said as I stared at the five-star hotel.

“Yes, you are,” Logan clipped as he cut the engine.

“Are you out of your mind? I’m inpajamas.I’m pretty sure they’ll kick me out for being underdressed.”

“No one’s going to kick you out,” he said with annoying reassurance. “But if you keep arguing, you’ll be late. Either you can walk or I can carry you. Time to pick.”

I grumbled under my breath as I unlatched my seatbelt and stormed out of the car.

“When they tell me to leave because I’m barely dressed, I’m going to say I told you so,” I called over my shoulder as Logan locked the car and caught up.

It only took him two strides. I was significantly slower than I used to be.

“Take a left,” Logan said as we slipped through the lobby doors. A two-story Christmas tree was smack dab in the middle of the lobby. It was dripping in baubles and twinkling lights. I followed Logan around the tree, garnering my fair share of curious looks from the staff.

The festive jazz playing in the lobby shifted to meditative soundscapes as Logan pushed open the frosted glass doors of the spa and sidled up to the reception desk. “Leah Holloway is here for her appointment.”

I propped my hand up on my hip. “You made an appointment?” I asked with all the attitude I could muster as the receptionist typed away on the computer.

“I’ve got you right here,” she said, chipper as a chipmunk.

I wondered if there was something in the complimentary cucumber water that made people so damn pleasant. If so, I needed to drink the whole pitcher.

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