Page 67 of What Matters Most

“I never have understood that saying.”

“Then maybe you’d better think about it, Abby.”

“In other words, you’re telling me I should let Logan know how I feel about Tate.”

“Yes. You can’t have it both ways. You can’t keep Logan hanging if you want to pursue a romance with this other man.”

The seriousness of her mother’s look, her words, transferred itself to Abby.

“Today,” Glenna insisted. “Now, before you change your mind.”

Slowly, Abby nodded. She hopped down from the counter, prepared to talk to Logan. “Thanks, Mom.”

Glenna Carpenter gave Abby a motherly squeeze. “I’ll be thinking about you.”

“You’ll like Tate.”

“I’m sure I will. You always did have excellent taste.”

Abby’s smile was tentative.

She knew Logan was working late tonight, so she drove straight to his accounting firm, which was situated half a block from her own office. Karen, his assistant, had gone home, and Abby knocked at the outer office. Almost instantly the door opened and Logan gestured for her to come inside.

“Abby.” He beamed her a warm smile. “What a nice surprise. Come in, won’t you?”

Abby took the leather chair opposite his desk.

“Logan.” Her fingers had knotted into a tight fist in her lap. “Can we talk?”

He looked down at his watch.

“It won’t take long, I promise,” she added hurriedly.

Leaning against the side of his desk, he crossed his arms. “What is it, Abby? You never look this serious about anything.”

“I think you have a right to know that I was with Tate Harding yesterday.” Her heart was hammering wildly as she said this.

“Abby, you’re as readable as a child. I was aware from the beginning who you were with,” he told her. “I only wish that you’d been honest with me.”

“Oh Logan, I do apologize for that.”

“Fine. It’s forgotten.”

How could he be so generous? So forgiving? Just when she was about to explain that she wanted to continue seeing Tate, Logan reached for her, drawing her into his embrace. As his mouth settled over hers, he drew from her a response so complete that Abby was left speechless and all the more confused. He kissed her as if he couldn’t get enough of her mouth, of her.

“I’ve got a client meeting in five minutes,” Logan whispered as he massaged her shoulders. “But believe me, holding you is far more appealing. Promise me you’ll drop by the office again.”

Then he let her go, and she sank back into the chair.

Three

Abby punched the pillow and determinedly shut her eyes. She shouldn’t be having so much trouble falling asleep, she thought, fighting back a loud yawn. Ten minutes later, she wearily raised one eyelid and glared at the clock radio. Two-thirty! She groaned audibly. Logan was responsible for this. He should’ve taken the time to listen to her. Now she didn’t know when she’d work up the courage to talk to him about Tate.

And speaking of Tate…He’d phoned after dinner and suggested going to the zoo that weekend. Abby couldn’t refuse him. Now she was paying the price—remorse and self-recrimination. Worse, it was all Logan’s fault that she hadn’t been able to explain the situation to him. She didn’t mean to do anything behind his back. She liked both men, but the attraction she felt toward Tate was far more intense than the easy camaraderie she shared with Logan.

Bunching the pillow, Abby forced her eyes to close. She’d gone to Logan to tell him she wanted to date other men. She’d tried, really tried. What else could she do?

When the alarm went off at six, Abby wanted to scream. Sleep had eluded her the entire night. The few hours she’d managed to catch wouldn’t be enough to see her through the day. Her eyes burned as she tossed aside the covers and sat on the edge of the bed.

---