Run the Risk by Lori Foster Page B

her ponytail, she pulled out the band and refastened
the mass.
    How much had he heard?
    “Sue, are you all right?”
    Enough to make him worry. What to do now?
    Pushing away from the couch in a rush, she slid the screen
aside and stuck her head out to the balcony. Standing there with the blue sky as
a backdrop, his dark gaze vigilant, he nearly took her breath away, he looked so
good. Rugged. Sexy.
    The same as always.
    A little wistful, Pepper waggled her fingers at him. “Hi.”
    Concern narrowed his gaze. He looked her over as if seeking an
injury. “Everything okay?”
    “Yes.” Think, Pepper. He’s going to ask,
so come up with a story and fast.
    “I heard you talking.” Logan rested his forearms on the
railing, leaning toward her.
    The positioning did interesting things to his shoulders, his
biceps.
    And her imagination.
    “You sounded…upset.”
    “Oh.” Focus, Pepper. She should
have thought about their sliding doors being open. But until Logan, she’d never
had to. Not for a very long time had any man showed interest. “No, I’m
fine.”
    He tipped his head, scrutinizing her. “You look upset,
too.”
    More like agitated. Where creeps and criminals were concerned,
Rowdy was far more recognizable than she’d ever been. Anytime he showed himself,
he ran the risk of one of Morton Andrews’s flunkies noticing him. Granted,
Morton and his following had no reason to be around here. They were well away
from his domain, but still…
    “Sue?”
    Think, think. “Are you ready for
me?” That blurted question held very distracting overtones. Pepper prayed that
it worked.
    And it did.
    Logan slowly straightened. “Ready?”
    She nodded. “I’ve been thinking about…you know.” Sex. “I can come over…now?” So
pushy. But thanks to Rowdy, she had to be. “That is, if there’s time
before dinner.”
    A new, hotter emotion replaced the concern in his dark eyes.
“Yeah, you can come over. Anytime. I told you that, remember? Dinner isn’t ready
yet, but I—”
    She walked off in the middle of him talking. Now that she’d
decided what to do, a pulse beat of anticipation expanded throughout her system,
throbbing, curling in her lower belly.
    Snatching up her keys and purse, she went out her door, closed
it, and as she turned toward Logan’s door, it opened.
    Sexual tension held them both still, gazes locked. They stared
at each other as expectation built with every breath. She felt a little
uncertain. He just looked turned on.
    What to say, how to explain? “I, um…”
    “C’mere.” Logan reached for her, dragged her into his
apartment, and pinned her back against his door the second he got it closed.
    “I need—”
    His mouth on hers cut off her attempt to steer them into the
bedroom.
    Knees going weak, she let him have his way, relishing the damp
heat of his mouth, the slide of his tongue past hers, the urgency.
    He held her upper arms as he ate at her mouth—and she liked it.
A lot.
    God, truthfully, she liked him. How he seemed to care. His
interest and patience and his keen sensuality.
    “You’re a tease,” he whispered against her mouth, then kissed
his way to her cheek, her throat.
    “Mmm.” That felt so good. But she
had to get it together. Rowdy would only be safe if they were off in another
room, door closed, fully involved.
    If he ever found out, her brother would detest her tactics, but
too bad for him.
    Putting her hands flat to Logan’s chest, she levered him back.
“Bedroom.”
    He pressed her shoulders to the door, his breath coming fast,
aroused color slashing his cheekbones. “I like the idea of taking you right
here.” He wedged in closer to her. “Like this.”
    Oh, such a wonderful idea—but like so many things in her life,
not possible.
    Sad, she whispered, “I can’t.”
    Butterfly kisses teased her temple, her jaw. “Tell me why.”
    “I’m sorry, Logan.” Closing her eyes, Pepper swallowed hard and
shook her head. “It’s either in the bedroom, right