Page 98 of Logan

Chapter Twenty-Seven

SLOANE

“Boo!”

I jump out of my chair, my heart leaping into my throat, and my phone slips from my fingers, clattering to the floor.

“Fuck Emery, you scared me.” I press a hand to my heaving chest, trying to calm my racing pulse.

“That was the point, dummy.” She grins, unrepentant, and bends down to retrieve the fallen device. “You were so absorbed that the moment asked for it. What’s so interesting?” she asks, looking down at the screen of my phone.

“No!” I lunge at her, making a wild grab for the phone, but she’s too quick. She dances out of reach, her eyes already glued to the screen, eyebrows climbing toward her hairline. “Is that Logan Valeur?”

I purse my lips and nod, feeling heat crawl up my neck.

“Hard to recognize him like that when his face is on thiswoman's lips. I didn’t know he was even capable of showing affection.” She laughs and flips through the photos, each swipe of her finger like a knife to my gut. “Oh, there are a lot of pictures of them. Wow, she’s gorgeous. Is that the same one he was photographed with a few months ago?”

“I don’t know,” I lie. I already searched her name. And searched for the previous photo. Same one. And here he is, sitting in a posh restaurant with her, the same day he told me I’ll always be his business, his lips glued to this perfect woman.

I know it shouldn’t hurt. He’s made it clear on multiple occasions that he’s not interested in continuing our...whatever it was, but my stomach flips. I think I’m going to be sick again.

“Why do you look like you ate a frog? I thought you were feeling better.” Emery cocks her head, concern overtaking the mischief in her gaze.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.” I wave a dismissive hand, pasting on a smile so fake it hurts my cheeks.

“Yeah? Because if you want to take another day to rest, after what happened in the meeting the other day, I’m sure Liam would approve it.” She perches on the edge of my desk.

“What do you know about what happened at the meeting?”

“Nothing.” She blinks, innocence flickering over her face. “Just that everyone came back, and you weren’t there, so I asked Liam where you were. He said Logan sent you home because you weren’t feeling well, and he asked anyone not feeling well to not come in so they wouldn’t infect others.”

Of course, he put the blame on me. Asshole. I grit my teeth, anger flaring hot in my chest. “I’m fine. I don’t have afever anymore, otherwise I wouldn’t have come back. Johnny took care of me the two days I missed.”

Johnny. Who fussed over me like a mother hen, made me tea and took care of me, but every touch from him made me cringe like I was cheating. I know it makes no sense. But even Logan’s simple touches set me on fire, made me feel more alive than I ever have, and with Johnny... Nothing. Just a vague sense of discomfort and wrongness.

“Yeah...Johnny. You told me he showed up. So spill. How did that happen? You said you’d never forgive him, and suddenly you’re all lovey-dovey, and he’s playing nurse?”

“No. I mean, yes. I don’t know.” I rake a hand through my hair. “We’re not lovey-dovey. I didn’t do anything with him. He just took care of me when I was sick. I guess I was too weak to resist. He was gentle and attentive, but nothing happened.”

“You really think he’s changed? You’re willing to give him another chance?” Skepticism drips from her every word.

“I don’t know.” I shrug. “He wants me to go on a date with him. Start over.”

“You could invite him to the gala. It would be a date, but with people around, so you could scope him out without having to be stuck alone with him.”

“Gala?” I furrow my brow, casting my mind to upcoming events and coming up blank.

“The company event this weekend. Didn’t you see the invite?” She stares at me like I’ve grown a second head.

“Shit.” The invite was emailed yesterday when I was sick. I saw the headline but didn’t look at the details. Logan will probably bring that blonde bombshell with him, and I’ll have to spend the whole evening watching him shove his tonguedown her throat, his hands roaming over her perfect body. My stomach churns at the thought.

“It’s this weekend?”

“Yep. And it’s a plus-one invite, though I’ll be coming alone, as always. So, are you planning to come alone, or will you invite him?”

“Who?” My pulse quickens. She can’t be talking about Logan.

“Johnny. Who did you think I was talking about? Do you have another guy in the pipeline I don’t know about?” She narrows her eyes.