Page 45 of Reckless

With Allison coming tomorrow to pick up the kids, I can’t keep them out late to chase after my pissed-off nanny. At least, I think she’s pissedoff.

I cringe when I think of her response to Sandra.That’s about all I’m good for.Babysitting.

With a patience I don’t really possess, I tuck each of my children into bed, read them their bedtime stories and cuddle, the whole time wondering how I fix this.Tori probably thinks I played her all week. That I was trying to get in her pants. That I don’t reallycare.

The second the kids are asleep, I stride into the living room and yank the remote out of Logan’s hand. “What the hell were you doing tonight? Why would you set me up with Sandra? In front of Mila?” I don’t say the rest.In front ofTori.

“What?” He shrugs and returns his attention to the TV, which I flick off. “Mila seemed fine, and you told me you’d go out withSandra.”

“The hell Idid.”

“Bro. For real. Week before last when I asked you about Sandra, you said you’d go out on adate.”

I stare at him as I collapse on the couch, wondering if he’s spent too much time in thesun.

He snaps his finger in my face. “It was that first day Tori brought youlunch.”

A long minute passes.“Really?”

“Yes, dumbass, really.” Groaning, I run my hand over my face. My idiot brother laughs. “Why you acting like I’m making you haul horse shit instead of thanking me for setting you up with a gorgeouswoman?”

“I thought you wanted me to explore this thing withTori.”

Surprise registers on his face. “Have you fuckedher?”

“Don’t talk about her like that.” Anger burns hot through my body, way hotter than it probablyshould.

“Fine.” Raising his voice so he sounds like a prepubescent boy, he asks, “Have youmade lovetoher?”

I smack him with my baseball cap. “No. Not that it’s any of your business, but we’ve been hangingout.”

“Is ‘hanging out’ code for some other sexual activity? Oral? Anal?” With a devilish grin, he adds, “You know, some girls don’t consider anal to besex.”

This is why every father in a twenty-mile radius locks up his daughter when Logan Carter’saround.

Undeterred by my scowl, he elbows me. “Bro, if things were moving forward with Tori, why didn’t you say something to me? Every time I brought her up this week, you changed the subject. In fact, when she came home last weekend, youtoldme you weren’t making a play forher.”

“Have you considered that maybe I wanted to keep it to myself? That this is personal, and I don’t feel like announcing shit to you so you can make light of it?” Even now I don’t like talking about this. Not when everything with Tori is sonew.

A beat goes by before he scratches his head. “Tori didn’t seem like it was a big deal, you going out withSandra.”

“Sure she didn’t,” I saydryly.

He lifts his chin. “You falling forher?”

Shrugging, I lean back. “I like the girl. Isn’t that enough? She’s fun and sweet and beautiful, and she doesn’t make me feel like an asshole for working long hours. Does that meet with your approval, Mr. DatingExpert?”

This answer doesn’t appease him like I think it should because his brows pulltight.

“What about this isn’t working for you, Logan? You’re the one who suggested I hang out with Tori in the firstplace.”

“I’m worried,okay?”

“Why are you worried?” I point the remote back to the TV, ready to tune himout.

“Because this sounds serious all of a sudden and you’re only now getting out of a goddamn marriage. One you didn’t want, I might add, and you’re already diving into something else that’s way too ambitious. I thought you might get up close and horizontal with Tori, not fall forher.”

Now I’m getting pissed. “Why are you saying I didn’t want my marriage? I busted my ass to make it work withAllison.”

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