Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
I cringe. “Those weren’t my words.”
“Weren’t they?”
“Okay, yes, I called you something pretty close to that, but I was talking about Carter. Not you. Not exactly.” I take a deep breath. “Logan, I’m sorry for everything. I really am. But you’re just going to have to forgive me.”
“Why?”
“Well, I might die on a coconut farm tonight.”
“Then you won’t care if I forgave you or not because you’ll be dead, and so will I.”
“Wrong,” I say. “I just decided you’re not coming with me. You can drop me off and leave.”
“Why the hell would I do that?” he asks.
“You have your mother to think of. She needs you.”
“And you don’t have a mother?” he pushes back.
“She has my dad, and they’re not, you know, in critical condition like your mom.”
“I wouldn’t be able to face my mother again if I didn’t try to help Carter. Also, it’s my idiot brother who took the loan and got mixed up with these assholes.”
So he isn’t blaming me for this. It’s a relief.
I sigh. “You’re a good man, Logan.”
“But?”
“But nothing.” But everything.
“Why won’t you talk about what happened on the plane?” he asks.
I don’t want to tell him. Maybe because it wasn’t just about the dream. “We fucked. End of story,” I lie.
“You know, just like I do, it was more than a fuck. It was a test.”
“A test?” I say.
“To see if the attraction we feel is enough to become something more. It’s why you demanded I kiss you back at my studio.”
He’s actually right, though I didn’t see it that way at the time. I saw it as sating a deep, burning desire for Logan, knowing we can’t really work out.
“Then you probably came to the same conclusion as I did,” I say.
“I’m still undecided. I might need to fuck you again on the plane home,” he says, no hint of playfulness in his voice.
It completely throws me off guard. “Logan, I don’t think—”
“I think you overthink things, and that you and I need to talk after this is over.”
But what’s there to say? I refuse to have Carter in my life. And I’d never ask Logan to stop being the kindhearted man he is. It’s what makes him special. And especially sexy.
“I’ve already made up my mind, Logan. There’s not going to be an us,” I say.
“The sex was that bad, huh?”
“Yep,” I lie. “Now can we just focus on getting Sofie and Carter back in one piece?”
“Whatever you say, Mila.”
And…we’re back to being angry at Mila, again.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Logan and I pull up to the front gate of the Gusano Brothers Farm. It’s dark outside, but I can make out several security cameras along the ten-foot-high stone wall on either side of the gate.
“It’s a damned fortress,” I say.
“Looks that way.” Logan lowers his window and hits the button on the intercom podium just outside the gate. The gate slides open, and he looks at me like he wants to say something, but then changes his mind.
We pull forward and take a long driveway that weaves through towering coconut trees on either side. I see no employees or structures until we arrive at the house, which is a large, sprawling white monster with a huge circular fountain out front. The lighting in the water creates dazzling effects on the façade of the house, almost like a light show.
“This is pretty,” I say.
“Let’s get this over with.” Logan shuts off the engine, leaving our SUV to the side of the driveway, and steps out. “Get Carter’s camera,” he says.
That’s when I remember something important.
I get out of the SUV, too, leaving my door open for a fast getaway. “Logan,” I whisper, “I don’t have it.”
“What?” he hisses back.
“I gave the camera to Skippy, remember?”
“You’re just now realizing this?” If looks could kill.
“In my defense, there’s no point giving the camera to Miguel. Not when Skippy’s seen the video and put it on a cloud somewhere. The camera isn’t what he’s after.”
“Christ.” Logan shakes his head.
“I’m sorry, but I didn’t think we were actually going to give up the only leverage we have.”
His blue eyes flicker with anger. I think he sees where I’m going with this. “I’m not disagreeing, but you might’ve told me this before we got here.”
“You’re the one who said you didn’t see the point of making a plan.” I shrug.
“You and I are going to have words when this is all over,” he snarls.
“It’ll be my pleasure because it means we’re still alive.”
“True. Now let’s see what these assholes want,” Logan says.
“Sure you don’t want to talk about the plan now?” I say.
Logan heads to the front door and rings the bell.
I guess not.
A woman in a black suit answers the door. She has long dark hair slicked back into a ponytail.
“I’m Logan Strike. We’re here to see Miguel.”