Crazy for Her (5 page)

His sister had come within a hair’s breadth of being a throwaway, a little girl given over to social services to be placed in foster care. Only because he had been fifteen and working after school, giving Lovey Dovey his earnings, had she reluctantly agreed to give Maria to him. His threat to disappear forever, taking Maria with him, had the desired results. Lovey Dovey’s fear of losing her booze and cigarette cash was the only reason his baby sister hadn’t been lost to him forever.

“Lovey Dovey could take lessons from you on how to be a mother.”

“Who?”

Hell and damn, why had that come out of his mouth? “My mother.”

“Your mother’s named Lovey Dovey?”

The incredulous look Dani gave him was expected. Who the hell had a mother named Lovey Dovey, anyway? Logan hated talking about his parent—rarely did to anyone. But he’d opened that door.

“She was born Gretchen Kincaid. When she decided she was going to be a famous stripper like Gypsy Rose Lee, she legally changed her name to Lovey Dovey. She kept the name, but the dream got lost in the dregs of a tequila bottle.”

Dani didn’t seem to have a response, and he was glad for it. He had nothing more to say about the wretched woman.

Nodding at Regan, he said, “She’s asleep. Why don’t you put her to bed, and then we need to talk.”

“About what?”

“Your stalker.”

Her expression turned guarded. “Do you know something?”

“Yes. Put Regan in her crib; then I’ll tell you.”

She gently gathered up her daughter, and again he compared her tenderness to his mother’s cruel touch, especially with Maria. To Lovey Dovey, Maria was competition. By the time his sister reached her teens, it became obvious she was going to be stunning. Lovey Dovey’s hatred of her daughter grew with each passing year.

Pushing away thoughts of the woman who birthed him, he went to his room and retrieved his laptop. By the time Dani returned, he was ready for her. She stopped in the doorway and eyed the computer sitting open on the coffee table.

“Come here, Dani,” he said softly.

Her gaze shifted to his, and he held out his hand. She came to him and slid her hand into his. His heart thumped hard in response to her touch. Her hair—a riot of curls hanging halfway down her back—brushed over his arm, and he closed his eyes for a moment, willing his skin not to twitch. It didn’t work.
Concentrate on the mission, Kincaid.
He needed the Iceman, but it appeared he’d gone AWOL.

This morning he’d downloaded images from the camera he put in the tree. Because she hadn’t let go of him, he operated his computer with one hand. “Have you ever seen this man before?”

She leaned her nose close to the screen and studied the photo. “With all the camouflage paint on his face and the ball cap pulled down over his eyes, he could be anyone.”

Logan clicked on the next photo. “Look familiar?”

Her eyes widened on seeing the black Ford F-250 truck. “Is that his?”

“No, just a picture I downloaded, but he drives one like it, except his has dark tinted windows.”

The color drained from her face. “That was him who drove by this morning?”

“I suppose it’s possible it was just one of your good ol’ boys.”

“But you don’t think so?”

The urge to assure her the man hadn’t been within feet of her warred with his need to explain the danger she’d be in if she wasn’t careful. He flipped the computer lid closed. “No, I don’t. It was stup—”

“I know what you’re thinking. I’m sorry.” Her shoulders slumped, and she stared at her hands.

He hated seeing her this way and waited for her to look at him before he cocked a brow. “You’re sorry you know what I’m thinking?”

“No, I’m sor—oh, you’re teasing me.” She narrowed her eyes. “Aren’t you?”

Against all good judgment, he wrapped his arms around her and leaned back on the sofa, pulling her with him. She came willingly, snuggling against his side. Holding her felt so damn right.

“Yeah, I’m teasing.” Resting his chin on her head, he inhaled her scent. “Your hair smells like honey.”

“It’s honey and green tea.”

He tilted his head and peered down at her. “You put honey and green tea in your hair? Isn’t that kinda messy?”

She grinned. “No, silly, the shampoo fragrance is honey and green tea.”

To see her smiling again was worth being called silly. “I like it.” He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Christ, he wanted to kiss her again.

“Well, if you like this one, wait until you smell my vanilla-bean-and-apple-pie-scented shampoo.”

Did she change shampoo scents the way she changed toenail polish? God help him. If she came near him smelling like vanilla ice cream and apple pie, he refused to hold himself responsible for licking her from her toes to her mouth.

“Did you just groan?”

Had he? “I don’t think so.”

These minutes, sitting on the sofa with her curled up next to him, all warm and sweet smelling, made him dream of a life with a woman who loved him and only him. Dani wouldn’t be like Lovey Dovey and bring strange men home, a rare one or two of them nice, but most from whom he’d had to protect Maria.

“I think you did.” She pushed her hand under his T-shirt, sliding her fingers over skin that was aching for her touch. Her face lifted, her mouth inches from his.

I’m sorry, Evan
, he offered just before he kissed her.

Logan memorized the spicy taste of her because he couldn’t let this happen again. But for a few minutes he allowed his desire free rein. He angled his head and deepened the kiss. Her lips were full and soft, perfect for kissing. Cradling her neck with his palm, he held her close while his tongue explored her mouth. Under his shirt, her hand was busy with its own exploration, and when she flicked a finger over a nipple, he groaned.

This time he was certain he had because he heard it, the sound a red flag to his lust-filled brain. He had to stop. He didn’t want to stop. One more minute—he would allow himself one more minute.

When she sucked on his tongue, he forgot about time and minutes. Tangling one hand into hair softer than silk, he slid the other over the curve of her breast. She sighed into his mouth.

He felt the vibration of her sigh down to his bones. Tentatively, her fingers traced the bulge in his jeans, and he vibrated again.

Amazing
.

Logan pressed her palm down on his cock. She tried to curl her hand around him, but the tight denim prevented her from grasping him. As she reached for the zipper, he vibrated a third time.

Christ, it was his damn phone. Lifting his head, he looked at her, taking in the dilated eyes, and the mouth, pink and moist from his kisses. He could have Evan’s wife this minute on her sofa. Disgusted with his breach of honor and his disrespect to his best friend and SEAL brother’s wife, Logan untangled his hand from her hair and mumbled an apology.

He pulled his phone out of his back pocket, looked at the caller ID, and punched
TALK
. “Hello, sweetheart.”

CHAPTER SIX

S
weetheart?

Dani left the room, allowing him to talk to the buxom Maria in private. Seeing the woman’s name on his phone reminded her there was a prior claim on Logan. “Hello, sweetheart,” she mimicked as she slapped a package of shaved Black Forest ham down on the counter. What incredible timing. The lady must be clairvoyant.

To make matters worse, he had apologized for the kiss. Again. So, why was he kissing her if there was another woman in his life?

After putting a layer of baby Swiss cheese on top of the ham, she turned on the broiler. She sliced a kosher dill pickle and put the slivers on their plates. God, he was a good kisser. Somehow she needed to learn what his relationship with this Maria was. If it was serious and a commitment existed between them, then there would be no more kissing. Or fondling. Or the other stuff that followed fondling.

On the other hand . . .

The Georgia peach slices added the perfect finishing touch. Envisioning how the plates would look with the toasted ham and cheese hoagies added to them, she smiled with satisfaction. Not able to resist a fat, ripe peach, she picked up a slice and popped it into her mouth, the juice running down her chin. She turned to get a paper towel and shrieked.

How long had Logan been watching her? He looked so manly leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest. Smoldering chocolate-colored eyes followed the juice sliding down her chin. She stuck out her tongue and licked at the peach juice. His nostrils flared as he lifted his eyes to hers.

Heaven help her. The man was a living, breathing, walking advertisement for “Why I Want to Have Sex.” She shivered and hoped he didn’t notice.

His gaze slid over her body. “Are you cold, Dani?”

The words rumbled over and through her. Good God, even his voice dripped sex, and jeez, the way her name slid over his tongue sent heat spiraling through her. Her favorite Regency word came to mind.
Wanton
. Yes siree, she was one of those.

“Uh . . . no. I’m fine. Really. Are you hungry? I’ve made lunch. Well, almost. Just have to stick this under the broiler.” She shoved the cookie sheet with the hoagies into the oven and slammed the door shut.

“Didn’t mean to do that,” she muttered. Amusement shimmered in his eyes. She might slap his face yet. “Beer?”

“Sure.”

“Grab one from the fridge.” Opening a drawer, she picked up a bottle opener, but before she could give it to him, he’d twisted the cap off. Evan used to do the same thing. She stood like an idiot as tears welled in her eyes. God, what was wrong with her?

He set the beer on the counter, took the opener from her hand, and put it back in the drawer. “Dani?” His hand came to rest on her shoulder. “Are you upset because I kissed you? I shouldn’t—”

Damn him. “Do. Not. Apologize.” Turning her back on him, she slid a mitt onto her hand and removed the hoagies from the oven. “Please don’t say you’re sorry. Obviously, we’re attracted to each other, and I’m okay with that.” She glanced over her shoulder. “But you’re not for whatever reason, so no more kissing.”

He focused on her in that direct way of his. “It’s a matter of honor.” Picking up his plate and beer, he sat down at the table.

They ate in silence, her mind churning with questions. Did he mean Evan, that he felt it was wrong to kiss his fallen comrade’s wife? With Logan’s strong sense of loyalty, that was a good possibility. Or was he thinking of Maria? If he meant he couldn’t kiss her because he was already involved with someone, she could respect that.

It was unfortunate he was involved with someone, because he was the first man since Evan to whom she was attracted. She also believed Evan would applaud her choice, had even teased her that Logan had a crush on her. More than anything, though, Evan had wanted her to find a way to be happy if something happened to him.

“I want you to promise me something, sugar,” he’d said on his last night before deployment.

“Anything,” she’d said, inhaling his scent and missing him before he’d even left.

“If I don’t come back, you have to promise me you’ll find a way to be happy again.”

She’d pressed herself against him, hating talk of the danger that loomed over him as long as he was a SEAL. “Please always come back to me, Evan.”

“I’m going to do my best, sugar, but this has to be said. If anything ever happens to me, Logan will always be there for you if you’re ever in need. You’ll have to ask him to come to you, though. He won’t willingly trespass onto my property.”

She giggled and punched him. “I’m not a piece of property.”

“No, you’re my heart.” He kissed her like there was no tomorrow.

“Sugar,” she murmured.

“Pardon?”

Dani slid a pickle across her plate, transfixed on the wet trail it made. It seemed to upset Logan whenever she mentioned Evan, but damn it, she wanted them to be able to speak of her husband and his friend.

“I was just remembering how Evan liked to call me sugar. I think it was a Texas thing.”

His eyes shuttered and he stood, taking his plate to the sink. Had Evan been right? Had Logan harbored secret feelings for her, and did he still? No, he might have once, but he had the delectable Maria now and was obviously over any attraction there might’ve been for her. Didn’t explain why he had kissed her twice, though.

She sighed and carried her plate to the sink. Logan took it from her and busied himself washing the dishes while she dried and put them away.

“Is there anywhere you would like to go?” she asked after they finished.

He leaned back against the counter and shrugged. “I’d like to go by—”

He pulled his phone out of his back pocket, but she was at an angle where she couldn’t see the caller ID. Jeez, was
she
calling again, already?

“Hello, Suzanne,” he said, and walked out the back door, shutting it behind him.

Suzanne? Well, he had been in the Navy and maybe practiced the old adage of a girl in every port. His tone of voice had been different with this one, however. With Maria, he sounded soft and sweet, but with Suzanne, clipped and distant. Dani pictured a slim, blue-eyed woman with sleek, streaked blond hair and a cool, sophisticat
ed demeanor.

If he had the black-haired Maria and the bleached-blond Suzanne, it seemed to her that she could round out the colors with her red hair. Now there was a stupid thought. She had no intention of joining a harem.

“You Had Me from Hello”
by Bon Jovi chimed from the wall speakers. Dani went to the door and peered into the peephole. Smiling, she unbolted the locks. “Hey, Jared. Come in. Where’s Scott?”

One of the best-looking men on the planet walked in and grabbed her in a bear hug. She pushed her hands into his rakishly long golden hair and smacked him on the lips.

“Scott dropped me off. He had to run to the post office, but he’ll be back shortly.” He handed her a plastic container.

Dani opened the lid and inhaled the tantalizing scent of warm zucchini bread. “Yummy,” she said, pulling off a chunk and popping it into her mouth. “Oh, wow. This one is the best yet.”

He laughed. “You say that every time.”

“Because it’s true every time.” She turned to go back into the kitchen, and he followed her, as at home in her house as she was in his.

Jared shared her love of cooking, and they often made meals together, much to Scott’s enjoyment. Anyone looking at Jared would not be surprised he was a personal trainer. He was big, muscled from head to toe.

The surprise would be his culinary skills. As more of a hobby than a job, he worked part time as a private chef. For some pretty big bucks, he would go to a client’s home and create a night of culinary magic. Whenever he had a booking scheduled, he would practice his menu on her and Scott.

Jared and Scott had been her salvation after Evan’s death. One or the other had stayed with her and held her while she cried. Jared had encouraged her interest in cooking, while Scott critiqued her books. Both had paced the waiting room when she gave birth. She couldn’t ask for better godparents to her daughter. They were the brothers she’d never had, and she loved the hell out of them.

Setting the zucchini bread on the counter, she peeked out the window to see Logan still talking on the phone. From the expression on his face, he didn’t seem to be enjoying the conversation. That pleased her to no end.

The phone rang and Dani froze.

“Dani?”

Jared’s concerned voice penetrated the haze. She answered the phone, pushing the speaker button. “Hello.”

“I’m disappointed in you, Danielle.”

She glanced at Jared, saw the questioning look in his eyes, and put a finger to her mouth to hush him. “I can’t imagine what I’ve done to disappoint you. Will you tell me your name?”

“The Bible says a wife should cleave unto her husband. Why is there a strange man in your house, Danielle? I very nicely asked you to send him away, yet he’s still there. The Bible says a wife should love, honor, and obey her husband. If you can’t manage such a simple thing as obey, Danielle, then how can I trust you to love and honor me? The Bible says thou shalt not kill, but Papa Herb—oops, almost spilled the beans,” he said, and giggled.

A chill slithered down Dani’s spine. Whoever this was, he was crazy. “Papa who?” she asked, only to hear a dial tone. “Crap,” she said, and hung up the phone. “I could use a hug, Jared.”

He wrapped his big body around her. “Dani, love, what’s this about?”

Logan pushed the phone into his pocket and glared at the sky. When would the blasted woman give up? He had said it was over nine ways to Sunday even though in his mind there hadn’t been anything between them in the first place. Four dinner dates spread out over two months did not constitute a relationship.

Just as he turned to enter the house, the hair on the back of his neck stood up. The bad guy was watching him. Logan slid his hand behind him and touched the gun, reassuring himself it was there. Knowing that if he headed for the woods, the man would disappear, he walked back into the kitchen.

“Dani, love, what’s this about?”

Logan stilled in the doorway and speared the man daring to call Dani his love with a look that would have sent his team members scurrying. The man pushed Dani behind him and magically grew bigger. Logan knew that trick and performed his own body expansion. They exchanged hard stares, sizing each other up. The dude was obviously trying to appear menacing, but he sported gym muscles, nothing more.

Who the hell was he?
“Dani, introduce your friend.”

She peeked around the man’s massive arm. “Logan, meet my neighbor, Jared Cooper. Jared, this is my friend, Logan Kincaid. He was Evan’s SEAL commander.”

A smile appeared on Jared’s face and he stuck out his hand. “Heard a lot about you, Kincaid. Good to finally meet you.”

She had talked about him? Over an exchange of handshakes, Logan couldn’t resist saying, “Haven’t heard a thing about you, Cooper, but good to meet you anyway.”

Jared’s eyes narrowed before crinkling up at the corners, his smile turning to a wide grin. “Dani, my girl, your boyfriend’s jealous.” He draped an arm around her. “The joke’s on him, my love.”

The two of them looked at each other and burst out laughing. Irritated, Logan scowled. What was he missing? Exactly what joke was on him? And why the hell was she cozied up to this dude? Without thinking, Logan deftly hooked an arm around her, pulled her to him, and tucked her up under his arm where she belonged.

Music flowed out of ceiling speakers. Jared smiled. “That’s Scott.”

Logan tightened his hold on Dani. If another iron-pumping jock walked into the room and called Dani his love, he was going to hurt someone.

Jared disappeared, returning with his arm around the shoulder of a slim man who reminded Logan of Clark Kent. For the first time since he’d walked in and found Dani in another man’s arms, Logan relaxed. Not that it was any of his business to whom she gave her affection. He just didn’t want to be around when it happened. The black-haired newcomer looked at them with interest. Realizing he still had her tucked into his side, Logan stepped away.