Page 75 of Logan

A strange warmth floods through me as I wrap my arms around her and close my eyes, inhaling the sweet scent of her hair.

I can’t remember the last time someone hugged me like this, and I allow myself a moment to savor the embrace before releasing her. The moment feels nicer than I expected, but I can’t let myself get used to it. Our connection is temporary and limited to London.

“Such exciting news. You made my day!” She beams up at me. “I can’t believe my product is going into the production phase. Even if it saves just one person, it will be worth the investment.”

“It will save far more than one person. I promise you that.”

“Did I tell you I have more ideas like using artificial intelligence for the initial diagnosis of?—”

“Sloane.”

“What?” She halts mid-monologue, blinking at me with wide eyes.

I glance around at the bustling market. “Are you hungry?”

“Starving.” She laughs and ducks her head. “Sorry. I always get carried away when discussing ideas. I know what I want to order. I looked inside while waiting for you.” Clutching my hand, she tugs me forward. “Come on.”

We stop at a food stall that offers Chinese food with several people waiting in line. A woman prepares each dish to order on the spot, and right now, she’s making something that looks like a thin crêpe, filled with egg, sauce, vegetablesand meat. I watch, mesmerized by her skill and the tantalizing aroma.

“Looks good, right?”

She approaches the register to place her order, and on impulse, I add one for myself too. It’s not the type of food I usually eat, but we’re celebrating, aren’t we? I can allow myself a one-time indulgence. And besides, it smells delicious.

We find a bench near the stall to sit and eat. I do my best to maintain some distance from the surrounding crowd, but it’s not a simple task. Perching on the edge of the seat, I try to keep my suit clean and avoid touching anything.

“It’s spicy,” I mumble after taking a bite, my tongue tingling.

“Tasty as hell, though.” Sloane grins, her eyes sparkling. Her nose has turned red, and she coughs. “Wow, that was an especially spicy bite.” She gulps down the water.

I can’t tear my gaze away from her flushed, animated face. Damn.

“Does it hurt?” she asks.

“Does what hurt?” I furrow my brow in confusion.

“Your head.”

“No.” Come to think of it, I haven’t had a headache in days, not since we went to the club that night. Maybe I really did need a break from the constant stress. But…I just closed a massive deal this morning, and typically, I’d be at peak tension, relying on pills to get through this stage.

Strange. Could it be the sex? Maybe a good lay was all I needed after all.

I watch Sloane chewing her food, cheeks pink, smilingunselfconsciously. Or perhaps aware but uncaring of how she looks.

It’s refreshing and nice to have someone actually eat with me instead of just watching me eat. Georgina never would have eaten in front of me. Ever.

I used to avoid going to restaurants with her if I could help it. When she’d just stare at me eating, I’d get irritated. Then she’d order a Caesar salad and pick at it while I finished my meal. I hated that.

Thinking back on our relationship, I can’t recall a single memory of enjoying myself the way I am now, just sitting here eating street food in a crowded market with Sloane for company.

“You know, we never finished that question game,” she remarks, wiping her mouth with a napkin.

“What do you want to ask?” I raise an eyebrow.

“Why haven’t you ever gone sightseeing in London if you come here so often for work?”

I glance around at the colorful stalls and the tourists. “I don’t know. Guess I never made the time for places like this.”

She tilts her head, studying me. “So, you’re claiming it’s a matter of time? You’re the CEO of Valeur-Tech. You set the schedules, right?”