Jumping into the driver’s seat, he tosses his folded umbrella onto the floorboard behind his seat. Settled, he takes a deep breath and is immediately assaulted by Avery’s sweet smell. Even through the rain and a stranger’s coat, she has a fragrance of spring flowers and a hint of something else – something uniquely her.
Logan turns to look at her, but the hood remains upright on her head, blocking his view of her profile. Taking that as his cue, he turns on the car and asks which way he needs to go. She points to the right and Logan moves the car onto the street, following her directions as she points.
As they approach Nikki’s complex, Logan feels a strange combination of curiosity and nerves at the same time. He hadn’t considered that she might be the same girl he saw through Nikki’s window last night. Logan’s hands tighten on the wheel, turning his knuckles white, as he controls the urge to pull back her hood, see her face and delve his hands into her silky hair.
Pulling into the parking lot, he finds a spot close to the entrance and follows Avery up the stairwell and into the apartment while holding the umbrella over both of their heads.
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“Oh my God,” Nikki screeches as she rushes forward to pull Avery into a tight embrace, knocking the offending hood from Avery’s head. “I have been looking everywhere for you! I heard about the bus. Are you okay?”
Standing alone in the doorway, Logan strains to hear a reply, but he is met with hushed tones as she whispers softly and then turns to walk down the hall.
Nikki’s all-knowing eyes turn toward him as she tilts her head to look at him more closely. Logan quickly explains what happened outside the office to put her at ease, but he can tell that Nikki thinks Avery is someone special and wants to take care of her. Nikki has that look in her eyes that she gets when she sees sick patients.
She beckons him to follow her farther into the apartment, which thankfully, has been tidied up since he was here last. Situating himself on one of the bar stools, she moves into the kitchen, resting on the side of the counter opposite of him.
“She’s delicate, Logan,” she whispers in a condescending tone.
Startled at her assessment of the situation, Logan looks at her blankly and replies, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Just as she is about to expound on her previous statement, Avery comes walking into the kitchen and heads straight for the fridge. She grabs a bottle of water before turning around and staring in his direction, eyes as wide as saucers.
Damn, she’s fucking beautiful.
The dark brown hair that captured his attention last night is pulled up high upon her head, showcasing a smooth and long neck. But her face… her face renders him temporarily speechless. Her ivory skin is a blank canvas that showcases eyes the color of the Caribbean Sea. Her cheeks begin to turn a soft shade of pink and she licks her full, rosy lips before bringing the water bottle to her mouth and taking a sip, breaking Logan free of his trance.
She walks softly in his direction and extends her hand forward.
“Thanks for the ride…,” she trails off, prompting him for his name.
Logan glances at her hand, then stares into her eyes as he places her delicate extremities into his larger grasp.
“Logan,” he grits out, trying to ignore the sensation of sparks igniting through his hand as her skin brushes against his own.
She looks intently at their joined hands before raising her gaze to meet his.
Slightly bewildered, she responds with a shaky voice, “Uh, yes… Logan. Um, thanks for the ride,” and removes her hand from his clutch.
“You said that already,” he replies sarcastically, missing the feel of her touch against his palm.
A hint of pink darkens her already tinged cheeks.
“Yes, well…” she trails off, looking toward Nikki for help.
Chiming in for the rescue, Nikki asks, “Logan, do you want to stay for dinner?” whilst running her hand down his arm.
This is a familiar gesture from her that normally wouldn’t bother him, but Logan has to stop himself from twisting away at her uncomfortable touch.
“No thanks. I’m going to head home. I’ll see you both in the morning.”
Feeling the need to leave as quickly as possible, Logan turns toward the front of the apartment but nearly topples over Avery. She slivers past him in the hall, but he hears her gasp as her soft breasts brush against his other arm.
After exiting the apartment, Logan takes the steps two at a time and rushes down to his car, in dire need to return to his home and end the day.
ONCE LOGAN STEPS INTO the building the next morning, he quickly locates Dr. Fields and explains the situation with Avery. The elderly physician nods his head in understanding and gently pats him on the shoulder.
“You did well, Logan. Sometimes we all have bad days. It seems like you came to her rescue.”