Bad Boys of Red Hook [2] You're the One (14 page)

“D.O.G.’s gotta go, and I can’t walk him alone.”

His mouth felt as if an army had tromped through it and left cotton in its wake. “Okay, give me a minute and I’ll get up. Do me a favor, Nicki. Press the brew button on the coffeemaker, will ya?”

“I already did.” She pointed to a cup on his bedside table.

“Thanks, kiddo.” He sat up and took a sip of the brew. Maybe after another five cups he’d feel as if he might live. He sat farther up, glad that he’d started wearing sleep pants to bed.

“Logan?” Nicki stood with her arm around D.O.G.’s neck, and her sneakered foot digging into the worn carpet of his bedroom. “What’s gonna happen when you marry Payton?”

He ran his hand through his hair, which was standing
straight up from the feel of it. Shit, even his hair hurt. He didn’t know what the hell to say to her. Still, she looked at him with those big brown eyes full of worry; he had to say something. He patted the edge of the bed and D.O.G. took it as an invitation to jump up. Logan narrowly missed being unmanned by the eighty-pound puppy.

Nicki wasn’t nearly as enthusiastic. She leaned her hip against the mattress, her hand holding D.O.G.’s paw. “Nicki, Payton and I had a long talk last night and decided that we really didn’t want to get married.”

Her eyes got wide and she sucked in a deep breath. “Did she dump you because of me? I don’t think she liked me and Pop very much.”

“First of all, she didn’t dump me, and secondly, it had absolutely nothing to do with you. It was about us—Payton and me. We realized we were making a mistake. When you marry someone, you have to love them a whole lot, and we just didn’t love each other enough.”

“Did she cry when you told her?”

He shook his head—a big mistake. “No.”

“Did you stay and make sure she was okay?”

He shook his head again. Evidently, he was a slow learner. He probably should have stayed with Payton a little while, but damn, he’d been so pissed at what she’d said, he didn’t give a shit if she cried. He tried to dredge up some remorse.…Nope, it wasn’t happening. “No, I didn’t stay.”

“What if she was really upset? She’s here all alone. You should call her, Logan. You should make sure she’s okay.”

He was stunned. All through dinner, Payton had acted as if Nicki didn’t exist and now Nicki was worried about her. She was one hell of a kid. “I’ll call Payton later and
make sure she’s okay, but if she’s anything like me, she’s relieved it’s over.”

“I don’t know. Wendy said you’re quite a catch.”

He wasn’t going to touch that one. “Nicki, getting engaged to Payton was a mistake. I just didn’t see it until I came home. Storm and Bree love each other enough to get married and stay married. Payton and I didn’t love each other that way. It wasn’t anyone’s fault—you can’t make yourself love someone no matter how hard you try.”

Nicki nodded and looked way older than her ten years. “I know.”

“How do you know?”

“I tried to love some of my mom’s boyfriends when I was little. It didn’t work either.” She shrugged her little shoulders. “They didn’t want me around.”

“That’s not a problem anymore. You love Pop, and Storm, and Bree—”

Nicki nodded. “And D.O.G., Ms. Patrice and Mr. Francis, and you.”

He let out a relieved breath. “That’s good, because I love you too, Nicki.” He wrapped her in a big hug. “And I’ll always want you around.”

“You promise? Even if I do something bad?”

“Even then. No matter what.”

D.O.G. whined as if he didn’t like being left out.

Logan patted the big dog’s head. “You too, boy. Now both of you get outta here so I can throw on some clothes and take this monster for a walk. Nicki, you finish getting ready for school. When I get back, I’ll fix you a quick breakfast.”

“Okay. Come on, D.O.G., let’s go put my books in my backpack.”

Logan watched her bounce out of his room before getting out of bed. He threw on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. The weather was getting cooler, which reminded him that he needed to take Nicki out and buy her some heavier clothes. Maybe Skye would help him out on that front—that is, if she was still speaking to him after last night’s fiasco.

He could ask Patrice or Rocki for help—and Lord knew he needed help. He had no idea how to buy little girls’ clothes, but he had a feeling that shopping with Patrice or Rocki would be a fate worse than death. Skye seemed like a woman who shopped because it was a necessity—not a vocation. For Patrice and Rocki shopping was a religious experience—heck, it was a calling. Just thinking about it sent chills down his spine. No, he’d do just about anything to avoid shopping with them. He’d beg Skye if necessary.

He took care of business, brushed his teeth, and then slogged his way to the kitchen to fill a to-go cup with more coffee.

Nicki and D.O.G. waited by the door. “I’m all ready for school, so I have time to go with you guys on your walk, okay?”

“Sure.” He checked his watch and snapped the leash on the dog’s collar. “Let’s go.”

Nicki skipped down the steps wearing her backpack. He wasn’t sure why she brought her backpack, but it wasn’t worth asking. It was all he could do to get down the steps in one piece with D.O.G. tugging like a one-dog sled team. Logan opened the door for the three of them and headed toward the park. He took a sip of hot coffee just as they turned the corner.

D.O.G. lunged.

Coffee spilled.

Logan sidestepped Nicki to avoid knocking her over and ran right into Skye and Pepperoni. “D.O.G., down.”

The big mutt had his paws on Skye’s shoulders, while Pepperoni jumped all over D.O.G. and Nicki.

Logan grabbed D.O.G.’s collar and pulled him to the ground. “Sorry.” Skye looked completely edible…again. She wore another pair of sweats and a baseball cap with her hair pulled through the back. He remembered how soft her skin was, the way her hair felt like silk slipping through his fingers, and the taste of her. He remembered everything. “We have to stop running into each other like this.”

Skye’s face flamed. “It isn’t as if I planned it.”

“Hey, I’m not complaining. I imagine it’s much more fun wearing chocolate than hot coffee, though. Want a taste?” If Skye’s face was red before, it was crimson now.

Nicki picked up Pepperoni and gave her a hug. “Hey, Skye, can you come to the dog park with us? If we stop at the bagel shop for breakfast, we’ll have a whole half hour to play and then you can walk me to school. I have my backpack with me. It’ll be fun.”

Skye didn’t look thrilled with the idea. “Sure, Nicki.”

He winked at Skye. “You don’t mind hanging around with us for a while, do you, Skye?”

Skye completely ignored him and kept her eyes on Nicki. “I’d love to hang out with you and D.O.G.”

Ouch, that stung.

Nicki bounced up and down like he supposed little girls did when they got excited. “Good. Can I walk Pepperoni? She pulls, but not hard.”

Skye nodded and handed her the leash. “Make sure
you put your hand through the loop so we don’t lose her if you should drop the leash.”

“No problem.” Nicki grabbed Skye’s hand like she’d done it a thousand times before, and tugged her toward the park. “Come on, Skye. Wait till you see the tricks I’m teaching D.O.G. I taught him to jump over the benches.”

“Hmm…” Skye quirked her eyebrow. “Maybe encouraging D.O.G. to jump isn’t the best thing.”

Nicki laughed, something she didn’t do often enough. Her pigtails bounced in time with her steps. “Maybe not, but it sure is fun watching him fly.”

Logan and D.O.G. hung back, letting the girls set the pace and chat. When they arrived at the dog park, he held the gate for them, and then let D.O.G. off the leash.

The dog flew and Nicki and Pepperoni ran after him. “Watch us, Skye!”

Logan stopped beside Skye. She still hadn’t looked at him. He knew he should say something, but what?
I had a great time last night until Pop showed up.
No, he didn’t think that would go over well. He didn’t want to apologize, because that would be a lie, and he didn’t lie. “I was worried about you last night. You took off so fast, I didn’t get a chance to—”

“What?” She finally looked at him and he almost wished she hadn’t. Until that moment he still had some hope that they could get past this. Sure, it had been embarrassing, but it wasn’t the end of the world.

“Hell, I don’t know, Skye. I’m sorry Pop showed up.”

“I’m not. I don’t know what I was thinking. It was a mistake. Let’s just forget it ever happened.”

“Not likely.”

Her face flushed and her mouth tightened. He was
waiting for her to snarl. She tugged the sleeve of his sweatshirt. “You have to.”

“No, I don’t. I had a great time and so did you. I spent the rest of the night remembering it over and over again.”

She blew out a breath of exasperation and he couldn’t help but chuckle. She was sexy as hell when she was pissed. “Well, stop.”

“Make me. I can’t wait for a repeat performance, but next time we’ll do it behind locked doors. I’m not normally an exhibitionist.”

Skye’s mouth opened, closed; then she sputtered.

He had to laugh. He couldn’t help it. She was so hot, if he didn’t laugh, he’d have to kiss her, and she looked mad enough to bite. Not that he would mind.

“Logan, damn it. Don’t you dare laugh at me.”

“I’ll stop just as soon as you stop talking nonsense. ‘Forget it ever happened.’ You gotta admit that’s funny as hell.” He stepped closer so she had to crane her neck to look him in the eye. “If Nicki wasn’t here with us, I’d drag you behind the bushes and show you just how much I remember. Then I’d spend the rest of the morning reminding you of how good it felt. I’d tell you how great you taste, and all the things I plan to do with you.”

“Logan Blaise, listen to me.”

“Sure, sugar.”

“Sugar? That sounds weird coming from a Brooklyn bad boy. What are you trying to do? Channel your inner Mark Twain?”

“No, but the nickname suits.”

“I can’t do this.”

He grinned even bigger. God, he hadn’t had this much
fun fighting in…well, ever. “You sure had no problem doing it last night. You did great.”

“It will never happen again.”

“And why’s that?”

“Because I won’t fool around with my boss.”

He tugged on her ponytail. He couldn’t resist; he had to touch her. “I’m glad to hear it. I don’t think Pop’s heart is strong enough to handle the likes of you. Besides, you’re young enough to be his daughter.”

“Logan.” She crossed her arms, which only highlighted her perfect breasts.

“Yeah, sugar?”

“Would you stop calling me that?”

“Why? You taste like sugar, and Lord knows, I have a hell of a sweet tooth.”

“You need to stop this. I can’t…we can’t—”

“Sure we can. Hell, we did. And if Pop hadn’t interrupted, we’d have done a hell of a lot more.”

“I don’t sleep with people I work with.”

“Skye. I’m working here temporarily. Pop’s your boss—”

“Yes, and he caught me making out at the bar with you. God, he probably thinks I’m trying to sleep my way to the top.”

“Sugar, you’re already at the top. If anyone’s taking the heat for last night, it’s me. Pop’s worried about you.”

“He’s not the only one.”

Logan was just about to ask what she meant by that when she tugged on his shirt again.

“Look, it was fine, but it’s over. It takes two to tango, and I just flushed my dance card.”

“It was fine?” Hell, that was possibly the hottest make-out session he’d ever had. It was a damn sight better than fine.

“Yes, it was nice, but it’s over.”

“Nice? Fine? Sugar, them’s fightin’ words. You don’t tell a man who licked chocolate frosting and whipped cream off your hot little body that it was fine and nice.”

“What do you want, a medal?”

“No, I want another dessert.”

“Tough. I don’t have relationships with people I work with.”

“I’m only working with you temporarily.”

“Temporarily, huh? So once Bree comes back, what are you going to do?”

“I have no idea.”

“I’m not gonna be your little piece on the side while you try to figure it out. I’m not temporary. I want to build a life on my own. I don’t need people wondering how I got my job.”

“Everyone at the Crow’s Nest knows you’re an asset to the team. You’ve earned their respect. Our seeing each other isn’t going to change that.”

“It changes everything, so I choose not to. Don’t fight me on this, Logan.”

“Fine.”

Nicki ran up and skidded, kicking up a cloud of dust. “Did you see us, Skye?”

“Sure did, Nicki. You guys are amazing. Come on, I’m hungry. Let’s go get a bagel and then eat it on the way to your school.”

Logan bought the girls breakfast and walked both dogs so they could eat, since he’d mysteriously lost his appetite back in the dog park.

What was it with him? He couldn’t win for trying. Skye was freaking out, and Pop thought he was moving too fast. Unfortunately, ever since he saw Skye being
mauled by D.O.G., all he wanted to do was pull her into his arms and kiss her—everywhere. And he wasn’t blind; he saw the look on her face when he told her all the things he wanted to do to her. She still wanted him all right; she just didn’t think it was a good idea. Fine. She’d come around. He wasn’t the only one with a sweet tooth. There were a lot more desserts on the menu and he planned to try every single one of them—on her.

*   *   *

Skye waved to Nicki and watched her run up the steps and through the doors. Nicki had hugged her good-bye and said she’d stop in the kitchen for a snack after school. Now, if Logan would only disappear. She wasn’t beneath taking her dog and running all the way home, but since Logan had Pepperoni, she had to at least look at him.

She took a deep breath and held out her hand. “May I please have Pepperoni’s leash?”

“So you can run home and not finish our discussion?”

“That was the plan.”

“Then I guess I’ll have to hold Pepperoni hostage. Besides, the little beast is too tired to walk. Look at her.”

The puppy was lying beside them half-asleep. “I can carry her.”

“She’s almost twenty pounds, Skye, and it’s a long way home.” He bent and picked the puppy up, leaned her against his shoulder, and held her like he would a baby.