Irreplaceable (19 page)

“I wasn—”

She held up her hand, cutting me off. “Listen, give it
time, but don’t go screwing it up by trying to use sex to push him away so far
that you’ll lose him. Natasha coming back that night had to have been a shock
for both of you. He was hurting and acted out, but he wasn’t driving the car
that hit you.”

“How he made me feel hurt ten times worse than that car.”

“I know.”

“No you don’t! What if Caleb said those things to you?
Your worst fear thrown in your face, along with a cheap condom.” My voice was
hushed and shattered, but conveyed the anger I felt. I was about to tell her
about the two women he’d slept with, but I didn’t have it in me to bring it up.
I never wanted to think about it again. I’d told him to move on, and he did—at
least for the day.

“I get that you’re scared, and—”

“I’m terrified beyond words—freaking petrified!” I
propped my elbows on the table, cradling my cheeks in my palms. “I can’t sleep
at night without a sick need to call him or text him…beg him to come over and
make it all go away. But I’m absolutely frightened that he’ll only hurt me
again, and I can’t handle that. I’ve offered friendship, and I want to make
that work if he sticks around after I give him what he really wants, but I’m
not stupid enough to fall again.”

“Okay, just be careful.” She smiled gently, doing her
best to be the loyal best friend I needed.

Finally, she seemed to understand. It wasn’t that I
didn’t want Logan—I did, more than anything—I just couldn’t let go enough to
risk another chance with him. I wasn’t sure I’d survive it, and I hated how
weak it made me feel.

Chapter Seventeen

Best-Laid Plans

“Caleb!”

I heard rather than saw Oliver when he walked in. My head
shot up, staring at the door where he stood, with Logan directly behind him.

My stomach tightened at the sight of him. His dark wool
coat hung open, with his dark work suit underneath it. He looked good, but then
again, he always did.

No.
I needed to remain unaffected, no matter how
much my brain replayed our last interaction—our first, but not last, rendezvous
in bed.

“Hey, little buddy!” Caleb replied, bending down and
holding up his hand for a high five.

“Are you going to go and say hi?” Hilary’s voice broke my
stare.

I knew I shouldn’t, considering I’d been ignoring Logan’s
texts since that night while I worked out my thoughts, but I didn’t want that
to stop me from speaking to Oliver. Not to mention I needed to stick to the
plan and get it over with.

“Yeah, a quick hello. I’ll be right back.”

As I walked over, smiling at how happy Oliver appeared, I
stopped abruptly when I saw who entered behind Logan. Her head was down,
placing her phone back in her purse, but I recognized her immediately: Natasha.

Slowly, I began to turn around, but it was too late.
Logan saw me first and I couldn’t bring myself to look like a fool, so instead
of turning back, I began to detour to the ladies’ room when Oliver called out,
“Cassie!”

Damn it.
Natasha being there forced my confidence
out the window. I’d been trying to forget she even existed. I released a breath,
ran my tongue over my dry lips, plastered a surprised smile on my face, then
turned around.

“Hey! What are you up to?” I asked, strolling back over,
eyes focused entirely on Oliver.

I could feel Logan’s piercing gaze boring into me. I had
no doubt Natasha was staring as well, but I continued over, smiling at the
young tot beaming as he wrapped his hand around the slender hand beside him. I
followed it up the arm of his mother. My smile held firm, stinging my cheeks.

“This is my mom!” Oliver’s voice was proud, and full of
genuine admiration for the woman. “This is Cassie!”

I nodded, taking her all in once again. The woman really
was everything I would expect Logan to want. Her long legs rocked a pair of
dark skinny jeans and she wore a pair of patent-leather knee-high boots with a
black fitted jacket, an expensive scarf wrapped twice around her neck.

“Hi, it’s a pleasure to officially meet you, Cassie.”
From the way she bit out my name, I knew we’d never be friends.

I noticed her glance from me to Logan and back again. It
was then that I finally allowed myself to look over at him. He was watching
with keen interest as I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“You too,” I replied as kindly as possible through my
uncomfortable smile.

What else was I supposed to say? “Glad to see you’re back
after abandoning your family?” Honestly, I wanted to lean forward and let her
know what would happen if she broke Oliver’s fragile heart. The thought caused
me to wince.

“So, Oliver tells me you’re a teacher. Sounds like an interesting
job. All those kids running around.” She laughed once, and my dislike for her
was cemented. It wasn’t fair to her, and it wasn’t like me, but my
protectiveness for Oliver knew no bounds.

“Sorry, if you would excuse me for just a moment, I need to
use the restroom.” I caught the knitted brow on Logan’s stern expression as I
turned and ambled straight to the ladies’ room. I didn’t stop until I was in
front of the small sink, hands gripping it on either side, face down, trying to
collect my thoughts.

What was wrong with me? Was I always going to be this
weak, now that I gave in just a little? No, soon enough this would be over.

Get it together!

I needed to prove to Logan, to myself, that I could hold
my own and keep my heart protected after the war that withered it.

I’d tried to ignore her existence, even after I’d seen
her leaving Logan’s house the day before. She was living with him, as far as I
knew, and I couldn’t push past the worry that if she was living under the same
roof as him, something might happen. They had a history, and it was obvious she
wanted him. The fact that he allowed her to live there only helped me stick to
my determination that he and I would never be a couple.

With a deep breath, I twisted on the cold water and
splashed my hands in it. I ran it up my arms, cooling the heat flashes he’d set
upon me. I wiped the wetness over my forehead, lost in how I was going to go
back out there and play it cool. I felt antsy, my nerves skittering through my
veins.

I sighed.
Why did she have to be so beautiful?

“She’s nothing compared to you.”

I jumped, whipping around, splashing water on the floor
in the process of turning to see Logan standing just inside the door.

Crap, did I say that out loud?

“What are you doing in here?” I gasped.

I looked around. Was I in the guys’ restroom? I cringed
inwardly, my cheeks searing. My luck was always crap.

No urinals in sight—that was a good sign. I tilted my
head just enough to sneak a quick peek under the few stalls for feet.

All alone.
Phew.

The relieved feeling only lasted until I looked back at
Logan and saw that intense look in his eyes—one that reminded me he’d slept
with me, half naked, rubbing against him and looked forward to doing so
again…soon.

This was it—the moment I needed him to play into my hand.

I took two long strides toward the door, but he blocked
my path and, to my body’s uproar, reached back and twisted the lock.

“What are you doing?” I hissed, standing tall.

I needed to play hard to get or he’d see right through
me, but his perfect five o’clock shadow and alluring lips were almost too much
to endure.

“Unlock the door. Someone may need to come in! Someone,
as in the woman living with you now.”

“I don’t care. And the only reason I haven’t kicked her
out of my house is because I don’t want her using Oliver against me. I need to
know why she came back, and I need to keep an eye on her when she’s around my
son. But for the record, she’s sleeping in a guest room on the other side of
the house. And nothing, I mean
nothing
, will ever happen between me and
her again. It’s been over for years, Cassandra.”

“That’s none of my business.” I jutted out my chin,
holding my own, protecting my heart swelling in my chest. “I’m leaving. Goodbye
Logan.”

I went right and he mimicked my movement, so I stepped
left and he did the same, dancing to block my every maneuver. I huffed a heavy
sigh—not because I wanted to escape, but because I wanted to wrap myself around
him and beg him to have me right there. Instead, I stepped back.

“Fine, what do you want?” I crossed my arms over my
chest, big-girl panties on tight, putting on my show.

“To see you smile, always.” His words were so sweet and
sincere, and they mirrored the soft gaze in his eyes.

I pulled on the most contrived smile I could muster, my
eyes squinting in the process. “Happy now?”

He shook his head. “Not yet. Have lunch with me.”

“Already ate.”

“A drink.”

“Not thirsty.”

“A kiss.”

“Never again.” With that, I was feeling proud, and moved
to brush past him.

No such luck. He twirled me around to face him, then
stepped into me. I stepped back, and he continued until my heel was pressed
into the tile wall and my back was firmly against it. His hands rested against
the wall on either side of my head, palms flat.

“Logan,” I breathed. His clean scent, with a hint of
lime, filled my senses.

“Cassandra.” His voice was so soft, so tender and
delicious, that my insides caved. “One date—that’s all I want. A real date.”

No reply left my mouth as I looked up into his piercing
blue eyes. His thumb trailed across the back of my hand, which hung stiffly at
my side.

“I won’t take no for an answer,” he added.

It had only been three days since the night he claimed a
part of me. The heat pooling in my center agreed that was too long. I was a
strong, empowered woman; I told myself to keep the performance going. This was
a man who would bring me to my knees and abandon me there if I wasn’t careful.
That thought alone helped hide my arousal.

But when the tip of his tongue darted out and glossed a
thin line across his bottom lip, I forgot everything except for my desire to
taste his flawless lips hovering so close to mine.

I saw it in his eyes when I finally looked up. I stared
too long and obliviously, and he knew it.

“Forgive me.”

What?

Before I could ask, his lips were on mine, hard and
demanding. I fought not to give in to it, balling my hands and locking them at
my side.

Hard to get.
That was my role now, but damn, was
it difficult.

I wasn’t going to touch him. If I kept my hands to myself
and focused on something—anything—other than how amazing he felt and tasted,
then maybe he’d take a hint and release me. Give me a chance to regroup.

He pulled back just enough to murmur, “Please.”

Everything inside me exploded, with his need devouring
both of us. I stood my ground and opened my mouth to protest, but Logan used it
to his advantage and slid his tongue inside.

I was done. My hands flew up to his neck, tugging and
grasping his hair, losing myself in his embrace. One arm was wrapped around my
waist with his other hand on my cheek, holding me near. I couldn’t describe the
emotions flurrying inside me—everything from passion, to need, to lust. I
wanted to erase our past, making our lives easier.

It was I who finally found the strength to break the
kiss. “Stop.”

He did so instantly.

Panting, I breathed out, “Your son is waiting with your
ex.”

Thank God I could even think to speak, let alone find a
valid excuse with the way my head was clouded from the passion that sparked
between us.

He smiled and leaned back in, placing a tiny kiss on the
tip of my nose, then stepped away, giving me breathing room.

“Natasha wanted to take him out alone for lunch. I agreed
only on the condition that I’d bring him and wait here while they ate.”

“I thought she lived with you.”

“I allow her to stay in the guest house in the back with
a few ground rules. We came to a compromise that she’d be able to stay there
and see Oliver under supervision, as long as she understood that I was off
limits completely. Until I figure out her game, I’d prefer to keep my eye on
her, anyway.”

“Just your eye?” I scoffed.

“Don’t ever be jealous of her. I’m not interested, and
that will never change.”

He stood in front of me, watching my every breath,
waiting for my reply that never came. Instead, I focused on the other part of
his statement—one that was equally surprising.

“Since when do you compromise, anyway?” I laughed.

“I’ve done so on rare occasion,” he replied, searching
me. “Do you have anything in particular you’d like to compromise on?”

My brows pulled in. “Like what? You leaving me alone and
me not kneeing you in the balls the next time you try to touch me?”

The corner of his lip curled up. “I was thinking more
like you go on a date with me and I’ll stop pressing you into walls and beds—at
least, until you’re ready.” I caught the gleam in his eye, testing me.

I hated to admit how much I liked him pressing me into
things. I bit my lip, not pleased with my thoughts. I was going to have to deal
with Logan in a new way if I wanted to keep my heart out of it and protected. A
light flicked on in my head and I stepped forward, standing toe to toe with
Logan, who stared down at me, intrigued.

“One date.” My pointer finger jabbed his chest. “My
house, my rules. Tomorrow night. Deal?”

The excitement in his eyes could rarely be matched. He
held out his hand for me to shake.

“Deal.”

He didn’t shake my hand when I held it out; instead, he
brought it to his lips and placed a lingering, open-mouth kiss on my palm.

My eyelids closed on a sigh that stung my very center as
his lips moved ever so slightly. I yanked my hand free, goose bumps flaring
over every inch of my heated skin.

“Six sharp. If you’re late, don’t bother knocking.”

With a devilishly triumphant grin firmly in place over his
lips, he stepped out of the way for me to walk past him, heading back to meet
Hilary. If only he knew I had the same smile on my face.