moving across the room to the salt cellar cabinet. „And then I’ll
be ready to go…“
„No hurry,“ he said quietly behind her, but Hilary was finding the living room had become rather close quarters
with Logan Saber dominating it. She moved quickly to get her shawl, aware of his silent approval of her severely cut
black dress and the outrageously huge hoops of her earrings.
„You look more like a little pagan queen than ever tonight,“ Logan announced as he held the door for her. „It’s a
miracle some man didn’t carry you off over his shoulder years ago!“
Hilary, who thought she looked her usual, sedate self, but appreciating the flattery, grinned.
„Probably because I’ve made certain that any man who contemplated it would have to be prepared to pack along
my business records. Men tend to lose some of their romantic inclinations when a woman makes it clear she expects to
work hard at making a success out of herself.“
„Don’t think you’ll be able to intimidate me that easily,“ Logan smiled with a touch of menace.
No, Hilary thought with a pang. Your shoulders are broad enough to handle a woman and her career baggage, but
is that really what you want? Is it possible you could truly want me? Or are we just playing games?
Dinner was every bit as enjoyable as it had been the previous evening and Hilary found herself doing less verbal
fencing. The conversation flowed as easily, at times lightly bantering, but it seemed more relaxed. That goodnight peck
on the forehead had had its effect she decided with an inner smile at one point. Logan Saber had an instinct for putting
her off guard. Or perhaps he just had an instinct for handling women. Sobering thought.
But when she went into his arms on the dance floor an hour later, Hilary stopped pondering her reactions and gave
herself up blissfully to the throb of the music and the feel of Logan’s strong arms around her.
„You’re a pleasure to dance with, Hilary,“ Logan whispered into her coiled hair. „A pleasure to hold in my arms. I’m
glad,“ he added with outrageous whimsy, „that we have no deal about who’s got what authority tonight!“
„What’s that supposed to mean?“ Hilary demanded, pulling back slightly to meet his eyes with what was meant to
be a quelling glare. Unfortunately, Logan spoiled the intended effect by chuckling and hauling her back tightly against
him.
„Relax, little queen. You know I would never do anything you didn’t want…. Oh, no!“ he concluded abruptly, not
sounding particularly angry, but not sounding terribly pleased, either.
„What’s wrong?“ Hilary was aware Logan’s attention was focused behind her.
„Nothing really. Your father just walked in with a party of friends. I guess we’d better say hello.“
„Crawford? Here?“ Hilary glanced over her shoulder in time to see her father’s tall figure disappearing behind a row
of potted plants.
„Maybe it’s just as well,“ she smiled. „I ought to invite him over for dinner and now is as good a time as any to ask
him. If he can fit me into his busy schedule, that is! In fact, I owe you both meals,“ she added, smiling. „How about
tomorrow evening?“
„It’s a deal. Provided I’m not expected to share you with Crawford all evening!“
„Knowing him, he’ll have plans for after dinner that don’t include us. Who got back to the cottage first last night?
You or him?“
Logan grinned. „I heard Crawford come in about an hour after I’d hit the sack. How did you guess?“
„I know him. Come on. Let’s go say hello.“ Hilary turned, leading the way across the dance floor, Logan at her
heels.
„After which duty, I think we’ll make our departure,“ he commented behind her. „I prefer not to do my courting
under the eagle eye of your father. It’s bad enough having to share the cottage with him…“
„Logan!“ Hilary chided, embarrassed as they neared the rows of plants shielding the booth
be ready to go…“
„No hurry,“ he said quietly behind her, but Hilary was finding the living room had become rather close quarters
with Logan Saber dominating it. She moved quickly to get her shawl, aware of his silent approval of her severely cut
black dress and the outrageously huge hoops of her earrings.
„You look more like a little pagan queen than ever tonight,“ Logan announced as he held the door for her. „It’s a
miracle some man didn’t carry you off over his shoulder years ago!“
Hilary, who thought she looked her usual, sedate self, but appreciating the flattery, grinned.
„Probably because I’ve made certain that any man who contemplated it would have to be prepared to pack along
my business records. Men tend to lose some of their romantic inclinations when a woman makes it clear she expects to
work hard at making a success out of herself.“
„Don’t think you’ll be able to intimidate me that easily,“ Logan smiled with a touch of menace.
No, Hilary thought with a pang. Your shoulders are broad enough to handle a woman and her career baggage, but
is that really what you want? Is it possible you could truly want me? Or are we just playing games?
Dinner was every bit as enjoyable as it had been the previous evening and Hilary found herself doing less verbal
fencing. The conversation flowed as easily, at times lightly bantering, but it seemed more relaxed. That goodnight peck
on the forehead had had its effect she decided with an inner smile at one point. Logan Saber had an instinct for putting
her off guard. Or perhaps he just had an instinct for handling women. Sobering thought.
But when she went into his arms on the dance floor an hour later, Hilary stopped pondering her reactions and gave
herself up blissfully to the throb of the music and the feel of Logan’s strong arms around her.
„You’re a pleasure to dance with, Hilary,“ Logan whispered into her coiled hair. „A pleasure to hold in my arms. I’m
glad,“ he added with outrageous whimsy, „that we have no deal about who’s got what authority tonight!“
„What’s that supposed to mean?“ Hilary demanded, pulling back slightly to meet his eyes with what was meant to
be a quelling glare. Unfortunately, Logan spoiled the intended effect by chuckling and hauling her back tightly against
him.
„Relax, little queen. You know I would never do anything you didn’t want…. Oh, no!“ he concluded abruptly, not
sounding particularly angry, but not sounding terribly pleased, either.
„What’s wrong?“ Hilary was aware Logan’s attention was focused behind her.
„Nothing really. Your father just walked in with a party of friends. I guess we’d better say hello.“
„Crawford? Here?“ Hilary glanced over her shoulder in time to see her father’s tall figure disappearing behind a row
of potted plants.
„Maybe it’s just as well,“ she smiled. „I ought to invite him over for dinner and now is as good a time as any to ask
him. If he can fit me into his busy schedule, that is! In fact, I owe you both meals,“ she added, smiling. „How about
tomorrow evening?“
„It’s a deal. Provided I’m not expected to share you with Crawford all evening!“
„Knowing him, he’ll have plans for after dinner that don’t include us. Who got back to the cottage first last night?
You or him?“
Logan grinned. „I heard Crawford come in about an hour after I’d hit the sack. How did you guess?“
„I know him. Come on. Let’s go say hello.“ Hilary turned, leading the way across the dance floor, Logan at her
heels.
„After which duty, I think we’ll make our departure,“ he commented behind her. „I prefer not to do my courting
under the eagle eye of your father. It’s bad enough having to share the cottage with him…“
„Logan!“ Hilary chided, embarrassed as they neared the rows of plants shielding the booth
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