Page 20 of Billionaire Bachelor
I yelp as he smacks my ass. “Hey!”
Logan grabs my hand, pulling me toward the kitchen. “C’mon, woman. I’m starving. You promised to make me breakfast, remember?”
I smile. “That I did.”
Logan brews some coffee while I whip up some banana chocolate chip pancakes. We fall into an easy rhythm, exchanging playful banter and flirtatious glances. The casual domesticity feels natural, almost like we’re a married couple who’ve been doing this for years. As we sit down to eat, I can’t help but think about how quickly things have changed between us. Less than twenty-four hours ago, I was facing a lonely, bitter weekend, and now here I am, sharing breakfast with Logan after a night of mind-blowing sex. Life has a funny way of surprising you.
“Whatcha thinking about?” Logan asks, a knowing smile on his lips. “You’re awfully flushed all of a sudden.”
I laugh, caught off guard by his perceptiveness. “Fishing for an ego boost again?”
“Nah, I know what I bring to the table.” He winks playfully, but there’s a stark vulnerability lingering in his gaze, reminding me of his teenage self.
I smile softly. “You’re the total package, Logan. You know that, right? Honestly, I do not know how some woman hasn’t nailed you down by now. Any girl would be lucky to have you by her side.”
He shrugs. “Maybe I’ve been waiting.”
I scrunch my brows. “For what?”
“For the timing to be right with the right girl.” He gives me a pointed look as if he’s encouraging me to read between the lines.
Could he possibly be referring to me?
I’ve spent half my life hiding or ignoring my feelings for this man, and if I’m reading him correctly, he’s been doing the same with me, for part of that time at least. I’ve known Logan is attracted to me—he hasn’t exactly made a secret out of it—but, at some point, I’d become complacent, thinking we’d never move beyond the flirty friend zone. I had convinced myself that the moment we shared all those years ago was nothing more than a drunken blip.
But I think last night may have been ourgame-changer.
My mind desperately wants to dissect and discuss every single moment, asking what last night meant to him. I want to shake him and scream, “Were you referring to me just now? Am I the girl you’ve been waiting for?!” But I stifle the urge, reminding myself there’s a time and a place for that, and the afterglow period isn’t it.
“Oh.” I gulp. “Yeah, timingisimportant.”
Logan chuckles, pulling me into a quick side hug, letting me go as he stands and plops a kiss on the top of my head.
“Not that I’m complaining,” I begin, “but what was that for?”
He strides over to the fireplace, crouching low to the ground. “Stop worrying, Rosie. We’ll figure it out when the time comes.”
“Worry?” I laugh awkwardly. “You thinkI’mworrying? Pfft.” I wave my hand dismissively. “I’m totally calm over here. Practically in a meditative state, in fact.”
Logan gives me his,You’re a hot mess, but you’re an adorable hot mess, headshake before looking over his shoulder. “Rosie, we don’t have to have all the answers right now. Let’s just enjoy this—us—for what it is, one moment at a time. I promise, no matter what,I’ve got you.”
I stare at him for a beat, worrying my lip. “You make it sound so easy,” I say softly, more to myself than to him.
Logan stacks the logs with practiced ease, his broad shouldersshifting as the muscles in his back flex enticingly. Once satisfied, he strikes a match, the slight flare flickering briefly before the flames crackle to life. The firelight dances across his profile, highlighting the sharp line of his jaw and the focused curve of his brow. Even with the daylight pouring through the windows, the golden glow of the fire adds warmth to his rugged features, drawing my gaze like a magnet. The faint scent of pine smoke mingles with the lingering aroma of pancakes and coffee, wrapping the cabin in a cozy, heady mix that eases the edges of my anxiety, if only for a moment.
“Maybe because it is.”
I roll my eyes as I pick up my coffee mug and take a slow sip, letting the steam rise around my face.Easy.God, wouldn’t that be nice?
“Well, if you’re so determined to keep me from spiraling, you’d better make sure I’m well fed.” I stab another bite of pancake, the melted chocolate still warm and gooey, trying to ignore the flutter in my chest. “I’m talking three meals a day, snacks at the ready…” I hold up my mug before taking another sip. “Coffee on demand…the works. Keeping Hangry Rosalie in her pen is a full-time job. Not for the faint of heart, mind you. Your Average Joe wouldn’t last an hour.”
Logan chuckles, his voice low and indulgent. “Good thing there’s nothingaverageabout me, as I think I proved last night. Besides, you’re worth the effort, Pip. Even when you’re narrating your life in the third person.”
I stick my tongue out, wielding my fork like a royal scepter. “Well, someone’s gotta make sure that brilliant brain of yours stays in peak condition,” I quip. “Think of it as a fun exercise—‘How to Prevent Rosalie from Becoming Hangry: A Survival Guide.’ Step one: Snacks. Step two: Coffee. Step three: Repeat until I’m no longer a threat to society.”
His lips twist as if he’s biting back a smile. “Noted. Avoid Hangry Rosalie at all costs. Emergency chocolate will be kept on standby at all times.”
“Smart.” I nod, satisfied he’s taking this important task seriously. “Now, get back here and finish your food before I do.”
