Shh! (21 page)

The Corolla hummed as Logan pulled it into the car park. “I was thinking we should grab some dinner tonight.”

My heart jumped like a baby cheerleader on steroids. What happened this morning, it meant something to him too.

Like he could read my thoughts, Logan reached across the seats and cupped my face in his hand. His eyes searched mine, looking for what I wasn’t sure, but his thumb brushed back and forth over my cheek and Logan leaned in.

He kissed me with such tenderness that it was almost like kissing someone else. The intensity from this morning had switched to a slow burn that had the exact same effect on my senses. It sent them reeling into a spiral of desire and a need to pull him in even closer. I tried to do just that, but the gear stick jammed into my thigh. Logan pulled back, and his eyes were heavily hooded, and their usual vibrant blue was much darker. He dropped his hand and I let out a tiny whimper at the loss of his touch.

Logan’s mouth started turning and a slow smile built. “Let’s get you upstairs.”

Unable to talk in proper sentences, I settled for a simple nod. He grabbed my bag from the backseat and together, we walked into Oxley. We managed to make it all the way to my block before we ran into another soul. I almost groaned when I saw a flash of deep cherry hair and skinny jeans; Ella coming down the same stairs we were walking up.

“Ella.” I gave a quick nod in greeting.

Her eyes narrowed on Logan. I cleared my throat and said, “You caused us to fail that group assignment.”

She flicked her gaze back to me. “I did not.”

The smirk that stole across her face made anger pound through my temples. “I got a credit in Torts because of the assignment only being a pass.”

Ella tossed her hair over her shoulder. “A pass isn’t a fail. Don’t blame your shitty grades on me.”

I knew it wasn’t entirely her fault but she’d made me cranky, and the way she stood there looking all proud of the fact I’d almost failed made me hate her in a way I hadn’t since we were kids and she’d called me Golly Olly – like snot.

I felt Logan’s hand on my back and it had a calming effect. “Come on, Liv. It’s not worth it.”

With a scowl at Ella, I said, “You’re right. It’s not.”

I heard a soft chuckle as I passed her and continued up the stairs.

****

You ready for dinner?

I’ll meet you in the car park.

I pulled my cupboard all the way open so as to get a full body mirror view. Black tights hugged the curves of my legs and my knit dress was just long enough to cover my thighs. My DKNY boots gave me extra height, which should make me a little closer to Logan’s six feet. I ran my hands through my hair, letting it fall back around my face. Why did I feel so nervous? We’d hung out plenty of times before, yet my stomach felt so empty it was nauseous. Like a swarm of bees were trying to form a whirlpool inside me.

I gave a shaky exhale and popped my lips to even out the gloss. This was an actual date. With Logan.
My
Logan. My heart fluttered as the bees took over my whole body, as if my blood itself had sprouted a million tiny wings. An
eeeee
passed my lips and I jumped up and down then kissed my reflection.

Dinner.

With Logan.

Okay. Best not keep him waiting. I bit down on my smile and snatched my purse from the bed. I’d had to visit Savvy and ask for it back, since it was black suede and matched my shoes perfectly. Pity I’d barged in on what looked like an argument between her and Dane.

I locked up my room and headed downstairs. It was only five p.m., but already the courtyard was a highway of people going to the dining hall. I slipped out to the parking lot without seeing anyone worth talking to.

The Corolla idled in the spot closest to the footpath I strode along. Not that it was easy to stride in heels, but the second I saw Logan’s little red car my feet took control. He reached across the passenger side and pushed the door open, not bothering to right himself in his seat. As I slid into the car, Logan’s stubbled cheek brushed against my ear.

“Hell—”

He caught my lips in his. My bottom lip rested gently between them and those darn bees stirred low in my belly. Really low. He sucked the sensitive skin into his mouth, running his warm tongue along the plump flesh. My eyes slid closed. Logan smiled against my mouth, releasing his hold on my lip and I sighed as he pulled away, opening my eyes. Tossing his arm over the back of my seat, he looked behind us and backed out of the car space.

“Hi.” My voice was entirely too breathy.

“Hi.” Logan smiled.

“Hi.”

“Hi.” Logan’s voice dropped an octave, heavy with innuendo.

I looked across and the smirk on his face made me grin.

We drove all the way into town before either of us spoke again. Every time I snuck a glance his way, Logan smiled at me. His hair looked shinier, his scruff scruffier, his eyes bluer. Even his arms looked bigger. Not that I could see them under the vintage blazer. Brown leather, it looked well worn, yet I’d never seen him wear it before. The leather was taut around his upper arms, the muscles beneath stretching the fabric. Gosh, he looked hot tonight. Forget dinner, maybe we could just find somewhere to park and I could touch his arms. Or maybe his legs … he did have those jeans on. I sucked in a deep breath that did nothing to cool the heat that had suddenly washed over me. Boy, it was hot in here.

My tongue ran over my parched lips, and when I peeked at Logan he winked.

Good heavens, he knew exactly how I felt.

The car suddenly stopped. I was glad he’d paid more attention to where we were going than I had. We could have still been in Oxley’s parking lot for all the notice I’d given our short ride.

Logan climbed out of the car. If I didn’t get a grip this dinner would be a waste of money, because I wouldn’t be able to eat a blessed thing.

My door opened while I was still composing myself. Logan extended his gorgeous hand, and taking it, I stepped out of the car. He pressed a chaste kiss to my cheek. “It’s nothing fancy, but the food here is great.”

We stood in front of Mozzarella Pizzas.

“Family discount, huh?”

Logan smiled. “I might be cheap, but I’m not that cheap.”

With our hands still twisted together, we entered the shop to the sound of the bell overhead. In my two years living in this town, I’d never been inside Mozerella’s. Not owning a car made home delivery more convenient. Surprisngly, it was a tiny shop, with no tables and chairs.

A middle-aged man stood behind the counter, his round belly hung over his black pants. “Logan.” He smiled. “Order’s up.”

“Thank, Carlos.”

“Don’t thank me yet. Penny made it. She’s still learning the ropes. Much like young Jordan.”

Carlos disappeared, only to return less than a minute later with a pizza box in hand. Logan released my fingers to extract a wallet from his back pocket. He paid Carlos, who in turn passed off the box of pizza. The olive-skinned man shot me a wide smile. “You kids have a great night.”

“Will do,” Logan said.

Back outside, Logan tugged open the Corolla’s back door and leaned inside.
Looks like he’s actually planned something
. I’d assumed we’d go to a restaurant … but this felt almost romantic. He backed out of the car and in his hand Logan held a blanket plus a small backpack.

“Want me to take that?” I asked.

He bumped the door closed with his delicious rear end. “All good.”

Hanging the bag over his shoulder, Logan shoved the blanket under his arm, balanced the pizza box on his palm and took my hand in his other one once again.

Across the road was a park I’d never really visited. Parks were something that didn’t make a lot of sense for me these days. The lack of Wi-Fi made it no use to students who spent every waking moment in study time.

Logan led us across the road and onto the lush green grass that almost sponged underfoot it was so soft. The air smelled fresh and clean, like pine and grass clippings, and I drew in a long breath. We walked so far in that I could barely make out the surrounding roads. It was tranquil and quiet, as if we weren’t in town at all, but rather at a beautiful landscaped garden on private property. Or maybe Sydney’s Botanic Gardens less the people, since we were the only ones about. We stopped under a giant pine tree and Logan released my hand then passed me the pizza. An entirely different smell filled my nose, and made my tummy grumble.

He laid out the blanket and plopped the bag in a corner, then retrieved the pizza from me and gestured to the rug. “Dinner, my lady.”

“You’re such a gentleman.” Smiling, I lowered myself onto the ground.

Logan sat beside me and laid the pizza between us, flicking open the box. It smelled divine and I had no idea how he knew what I liked, but it was ham and pineapple. My mouth watered as I reached for a slice.

A loud pop echoed through the air. I turned to Logan in time to see champagne flowing from the bottle he held onto the grass.

“I’ve always sucked at that.” He poured the sparkling liquid into two glasses that no doubt came in his backpack.

“Good thing you’re not planning a career in bartending.”

“I dunno. I could apply sociology to handling drunks.”

I laughed as I took a slice of pizza. Turned out it was just as good as it smelled. It was Mozzarella’s, after all. Staff-in-training or not, they did make the best pizza in town. “Really?” I asked. “What’s a degree in socio worth anyway?”

“Are you asking what I want to be when I grow up?” Logan half-smiled. “I want to work in schools or for a government organisation. Somewhere I can use my psychology degree to help people.” He scooped up a slice and doubled it over, biting into the gooey cheese, which oozed out the side.

“Pysch?”

“Surprised?”

“A little … I always assumed you were doing … I can’t believe I never asked.”

He made short work of another slice of pizza, and took a sip of bubbles. We both concentrated on eating for a while. I took a sip of my drink. The sparkling wine went straight to my head, making it a little light. I set the glass down. 

“I hear pysch’s a full-on degree.”

“It’s not too bad,” he said. “I do all right.”

“Just all right?”

“High-distinction average.”

Good lord. I didn’t mean to ask about his grades. Heat flooded my cheeks, drowned the tips of my ears.

“You …” He tapped me on the nose. “… have no idea what I do when we’re not together. I could study my guts out, for all you know.”

The finger still resting on my nose trailed down the side of my cheek, over the curve of my jaw and cupped my face. Logan leaned forward and claimed my mouth again, his lips crushing into mine, his tongue sweeping over them and into my mouth. He kissed me like he had this morning, with as much need, as if I could stop him imploding. I sure felt like that was the way
I
was headed. My ears no longer burned. Instead, the fierce heat spread through my body and I wanted him closer,
needed
him closer.

As if we were of one thought, Logan shoved the pizza box away and pulled me toward him. I scooted across the soft blanket, my chest crashing into his solid mass. Logan planted a hand on the ground and gently pushed me onto my back with the force of his kiss. His hand was now by my head as he hovered above me. His tongue explored every part of my mouth, sweeping across my lips, my teeth, my tongue, exploding a need deep inside me I hadn’t felt in months. There was a tingling in my tummy that drew from someplace lower and deeper.

I trailed burning fingers from his shoulders up into his soft hair, tangling them in its length, and I tugged him down until his weight rested against me, his hard chest pushed against the too-thick fabric of my dress and his knee planted between my thighs.

Logan’s kisses grew softer, but I held him close with my hand at the back of his neck. I’d waited so long that I wasn’t about to let him get away now. He groaned into my mouth and his lips moved, sliding over mine to place a gentle kiss on the corner of my mouth.

“Public place,” he growled.

I tipped my head back and despite his declaration, his mouth moved over my cheek, his tongue gliding along my jaw. Sweet kisses dropped in its wake. Playing kids be damned—they should all be home in bed by now anyway. The daylight was pretty well gone. My back arched, my breasts ached even though they couldn’t possibly be pressed closer. Logan’s warm breath skated over my ear.

“I could get used to this.”

“Uh-huh,” I moaned.
Me too.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

It was Wednesday before I even entertained the thought of talking to my parents and even then, it was only because Logan convinced me that it was better to get it over and done with than wait until the issue had been blown into something huger than what it was. Of course, it was huge already, and I didn’t think he truly got that, but he was right. Putting it off only made me stress about actually doing it. So, if I just bit the bullet and talked to them, hopefully I could put it behind me and the stress would be less intense.

I pulled my hands through my loose hair and yanked it up into a ponytail. I could do this.

“Liv, it’s okay,” Logan said from his position on my bed with his back against the wall and his legs stretched out in front of him. “I’ll be here the whole time.”

It still felt weird having him in my room when I’d refused to admit him so often before. Things had changed though and I hoped he’d be here often, so I tried to smile at him then glanced at my phone. There had been exactly thirty-two text messages and four missed calls since I’d hung up on my mother on Monday.

I briefly entertained the idea of sending a text instead, but that would only lead to her calling me, and it was better to do this when
I
was ready. I took a deep breath in through my nose and firmed my resolve. Then I tapped on my mother’s number and held my phone to my ear. She picked up on the second ring.

“Olivia.” Her voice was terse. “How dare you ignore my messages? I am one day away from booking a flight up there. Don’t think I won’t, young lady.”