BAD Beginnings by Shelley Wall

chest and rubbed. Since when had his life been fair? The thought made him shiver. “Let’s go inside, it’s a bit too chilly out here.” He stood and waited as she led the way. She reached to the wall plate and touched the switch to close the sliding glass. It refused to respond. She moved her fingers and pressed again.
    Nada.
    “Which one is it?” She pressed another.
    “The one on the…” he stopped as a creaking noise across the dark room revealed a panel in the wall. It slid to expose a hallway. Blue fluorescent lights flickered on and the entire scene felt like the entry to a sleazy bar. A fake wall? A safe room? Was this guy that paranoid or that dangerous?
    “Oh my God, a hidden room Logan?” Her eyes popped to meet his gaze, seeking an answer he couldn’t give.
    Because he didn’t know. Was that where the guy kept his blow? Or something else? Maybe that’s where he went to recoup his massive injuries? His curiosity was as deep as Gemma’s. “What can I say? Everyone should have a safe room to keep their things safe, right?”
    “Assuming we have important things worth keeping safe, I guess. Can I look?” She swallowed nervously. Logan noted a nervousness to her words and a pallor to her skin. Was she afraid? Her eyes darted toward the bar where her bag resided.
    Something deep in his core shivered and prodded him to say no. He had no idea what was down that eerie hallway and he abhorred surprises. “Wait.” Before they ventured into that unknown chamber, he had to clear the air. “I have to tell you something.”
    She turned toward him. The glow of the lights created a halo over her hair and shadowed her face into total darkness. “I’m here.”
    He strode forward, needing to read the expression on her face when he divulged his identity. The fluorescent light flickered over his head as if to chastise. “I can’t really continue the charade Gemma. It’s not right. I’m not--” A tiny sizzle and zap signaled the darkness that followed and he couldn’t see his hand in front of his face. He bumped solidly into her, instantly the scent of her skin flooded over his senses. The force of his body against hers sent both of them in an overbalance. “Oh, sorry.” He wrapped a hand around her waist to steady them both then cursed for the touch. How was he to expose his lie when he couldn’t see her and know her thoughts?
    The heat of her breath washed against his collarbone then her shaking fingers entwined in the fabric of his shirt. “It’s okay. I know. I can feel the difference.”
    He swallowed the lump in his throat. “Really? You can tell?”
    She let out a nervous laugh and her chest surged against his own. “I wish I couldn’t.”
    “It’s not fair, you know.” He ran a hand up her arm and stroked his thumb against her cheek. “You shouldn’t be so gorgeous. It’d make this a lot easier.”
    “That would be a lot easier to believe if we weren’t in complete darkness at the moment.” She hiccupped. Was she drunk? God, he hoped not—that would make it even worse. He lifted her face and the tip of his thumb felt damp. No, she was crying.
    “What’s wrong, Gem?” He moved his other hand from her waist so he could encase her face in his palms. “Did I hurt you? Step on your foot?”
    She thumped her head to his chest as she hooked her fingers into the belt of his pants. “No, nothing that easy. It’s just—I wish things were different, that’s all.”
    He heaved a sigh and wondered at the slight bit of encouragement she’d given. Her hands continued to tremble and he pulled them from his pants to hold them against his chest. “So do I, believe me. But I can’t think about that at the moment.”
    It was now or never. As soon as the light came back on and exposed him for who he wasn’t, it would all end. So he did what felt right. He leaned down and put his lips softly to hers and let a moan escape. God he wanted her. All the other fancy shit around them could fall to