Read Online Explosive Engagement by LISA CHILDS - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: LISA CHILDS
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ex-wife.
Girlfriend? Lover? Friend with benefits?
When the woman focused her gaze on him, the hatred left her eyes. Lust and adulation replaced it. “If you’re doing this to stop the attempts on your life, it isn’t necessary,” she told him. “I can protect you—like I’ve protected you before.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Logan said dismissively.
“You don’t think you’re in danger any longer?” Parker asked.
“I know that I can protect myself,” Logan replied, “I am the CEO of Payne Protection.”
With a chuckle of amusement, Parker assured him, “We definitely know you’re the boss.”
And that woman—that besotted woman—was apparently one of his employees since a family member wouldn’t be looking at him like that. Like Stacy looked at him...
She couldn’t not look at him. Except for the bandage on his shoulder, he wore only a towel slung low around his lean hips—his tight buttocks clearly defined, even through the thick terry cloth. His chest and back were bare and broad and all sculpted muscles.
Despite waking up thirsty, she was suddenly nearly drooling. Her skin heated and flushed with attraction. With need...
She had never needed anyone like this before. She had wanted a man before but she’d never needed one. Logan Payne was not just any good-looking man. He was the one who had kept her father from her when she’d needed him most. She looked away from Logan’s brain-scramblingly sexy body, and her gaze collided with his sister’s. Her dark eyes were so much like her mother’s—so warm and affectionate. Stacy couldn’t recall ever exchanging any words with the youngest Payne before.
Nikki spoke now. “Congratulations,” she said as she closed the distance between them and pulled Stacy into a hug.
The woman even felt like her mother—like warmth and safety. But Stacy drew back. “Congratulations?”
“On your engagement,” she said with a chuckle. Then she threw her arms around her brother and kissed his cheek. “Congratulations to you, too.”
Logan’s brows arched; he was apparently as confused as Stacy was over his sister’s reaction. The others might have come to stage an intervention, as Stacy had overheard Logan remark, but not Nikki.
“You’ll want to get together with Mom soon,” Nikki spoke to her again. “Or she’ll have your wedding all planned out without any input from you.”
Parker and that woman were also looking at Nikki as if she’d lost her mind. But she just smiled and turned for the door. “We should leave them alone now,” she said. “They’ve just gotten engaged.”
The woman’s face flushed again—with embarrassment and fury—and she turned that gaze of hatred on Stacy. “But Logan’s still in danger—probably in even more danger now with her here.”
Parker slid an arm around the woman’s shoulders and turned her toward the door. “Nikki’s right. We should leave them alone.” He escorted the women out and then turned back and winked at his twin before he closed the front door behind them all.
Stacy wasn’t so certain that leaving them alone was the best idea—especially when Logan turned toward her. His gaze was every bit as intense as his employee’s. He was angry with her, but he wasn’t just angry. There was passion burning in his bright blue eyes as he stared at her.
Despite the heat of that look, she shivered.
“Maybe you shouldn’t have taken off your dress,” he suggested. “Then you wouldn’t be cold.”
She wasn’t cold. She was hot. So hot that she lifted trembling fingers to the collar of his shirt. But she hadn’t done up that many buttons so she didn’t dare undo any more. “I—I’m fine.”
Logan shook his head. “You’re lying to me again.”
“I haven’t lied to you,” she said.
“You haven’t told me the truth,” he said. “Same difference.”
“What haven’t I told you?”
He shrugged. “If I knew, it wouldn’t matter. But I can sense that you’re
Girlfriend? Lover? Friend with benefits?
When the woman focused her gaze on him, the hatred left her eyes. Lust and adulation replaced it. “If you’re doing this to stop the attempts on your life, it isn’t necessary,” she told him. “I can protect you—like I’ve protected you before.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Logan said dismissively.
“You don’t think you’re in danger any longer?” Parker asked.
“I know that I can protect myself,” Logan replied, “I am the CEO of Payne Protection.”
With a chuckle of amusement, Parker assured him, “We definitely know you’re the boss.”
And that woman—that besotted woman—was apparently one of his employees since a family member wouldn’t be looking at him like that. Like Stacy looked at him...
She couldn’t not look at him. Except for the bandage on his shoulder, he wore only a towel slung low around his lean hips—his tight buttocks clearly defined, even through the thick terry cloth. His chest and back were bare and broad and all sculpted muscles.
Despite waking up thirsty, she was suddenly nearly drooling. Her skin heated and flushed with attraction. With need...
She had never needed anyone like this before. She had wanted a man before but she’d never needed one. Logan Payne was not just any good-looking man. He was the one who had kept her father from her when she’d needed him most. She looked away from Logan’s brain-scramblingly sexy body, and her gaze collided with his sister’s. Her dark eyes were so much like her mother’s—so warm and affectionate. Stacy couldn’t recall ever exchanging any words with the youngest Payne before.
Nikki spoke now. “Congratulations,” she said as she closed the distance between them and pulled Stacy into a hug.
The woman even felt like her mother—like warmth and safety. But Stacy drew back. “Congratulations?”
“On your engagement,” she said with a chuckle. Then she threw her arms around her brother and kissed his cheek. “Congratulations to you, too.”
Logan’s brows arched; he was apparently as confused as Stacy was over his sister’s reaction. The others might have come to stage an intervention, as Stacy had overheard Logan remark, but not Nikki.
“You’ll want to get together with Mom soon,” Nikki spoke to her again. “Or she’ll have your wedding all planned out without any input from you.”
Parker and that woman were also looking at Nikki as if she’d lost her mind. But she just smiled and turned for the door. “We should leave them alone now,” she said. “They’ve just gotten engaged.”
The woman’s face flushed again—with embarrassment and fury—and she turned that gaze of hatred on Stacy. “But Logan’s still in danger—probably in even more danger now with her here.”
Parker slid an arm around the woman’s shoulders and turned her toward the door. “Nikki’s right. We should leave them alone.” He escorted the women out and then turned back and winked at his twin before he closed the front door behind them all.
Stacy wasn’t so certain that leaving them alone was the best idea—especially when Logan turned toward her. His gaze was every bit as intense as his employee’s. He was angry with her, but he wasn’t just angry. There was passion burning in his bright blue eyes as he stared at her.
Despite the heat of that look, she shivered.
“Maybe you shouldn’t have taken off your dress,” he suggested. “Then you wouldn’t be cold.”
She wasn’t cold. She was hot. So hot that she lifted trembling fingers to the collar of his shirt. But she hadn’t done up that many buttons so she didn’t dare undo any more. “I—I’m fine.”
Logan shook his head. “You’re lying to me again.”
“I haven’t lied to you,” she said.
“You haven’t told me the truth,” he said. “Same difference.”
“What haven’t I told you?”
He shrugged. “If I knew, it wouldn’t matter. But I can sense that you’re
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