been madder than a wet hen since Mr. Herrington arrived. You haven’t been this short tempered since you sent that Callahan fella on his way.”
“Trust me, Arnette, the two have a lot in common,” Tory answered, then decided she’d said too much. “I’ll be at the Park Plaza shop for the rest of the day. Tell Mr. Herrington that I’ll see him at dinner.”
She turned on her heels and left the house before Arnette could start asking questions. Her own words were echoing in her brain. Reed and Logan were poles apart in appearance, but they were both opinionated men. That was enough for her. She’d broken her engagement six years ago because she didn’t want a man running her life, and she’d been wary of any close relationships since misjudging Reed.
They’d met in college and shared interests. Although they knew they’d be separated for a year after graduation, Reed had proposed a week before commencement. He’d been set to go to his apprenticeship in California and Tory to Paris. The moment he put the ring on her finger, the trouble began. Suddenly, he objected to her trip to France, although he’d seemed enthusiastic about her additional training only the week before. He said he didn’t want his woman gallivanting around a foreign country without his protection. Tory went despite his disapproval. After battling T.L. during most of her formative years, she wasn’t about to let Reed sway her from her purpose.
The engagement lasted a year, most of which they were separated. Tory liked to think she had more brains than to remain tied to such a chauvinistic jerk. Her first week back from Paris, Reed came to Little Rock and found fault with everything and everyone. After two days, Tory knew she’d made a tremendous mistake. He treated her as if she only had half a brain and was put on the earth to fetch and carry for him. One evening they went out with some of her high school friends, arguing on the way to the restaurant, and returning home in separate cars. Reed was dripping wet from the beer Tory poured on him after one patronizing remark too many. She’d been extremely satisfied with her handy work.
After Reed, she’d evaluated exactly what type of man she wanted in her life. He’d be quiet, sensitive, and understanding. The man she married, if she married, would be supportive and caring. None of these characteristics had anything to do with a self-possessed Yankee who had the nerve to undress a woman when she was unconscious. That was something an amazing chest and bone-melting kisses couldn’t make up for, Tory decided.
Tonight she would lay down the ground rules for the rest of Logan’s visit once and for all. And if that didn’t work, maybe she’d resort to a pitcher of beer again—a full one this time.
Chapter Five
Logan took his eyes off the straight stretch of highway in front of him to study his traveling companion. Tory was slumped down in her seat with her feet braced against the dashboard and a new baseball cap pulled down over her eyes. She hadn’t said more than a dozen saccharin-sweet words to him since she arrived at the house with the Winnebago and handed him the keys. He knew she was angry with him and why, but his mind kept wandering to dangerous territory. Was she wearing another set of mind-boggling lingerie under her jeans and cotton blouse?
Clearing his throat as they passed a mileage sign to Fort Smith, he knew they couldn’t go on like this for another four or five hours. He also had to get his mind off the vision of Tory in her bedroom. “If I apologize, will you start talking to me again without smothering me with southern charm?”
She uncrossed her arms and tipped her cap back enough to uncover one eye. “I was just being polite.”
“Tory, you’re madder than hell about me putting you to bed the other night, and we both know it,” Logan said without hesitation. “I’m sure if I’d been around yesterday, or hadn’t gone out to dinner with Trevor, we’d
“Trust me, Arnette, the two have a lot in common,” Tory answered, then decided she’d said too much. “I’ll be at the Park Plaza shop for the rest of the day. Tell Mr. Herrington that I’ll see him at dinner.”
She turned on her heels and left the house before Arnette could start asking questions. Her own words were echoing in her brain. Reed and Logan were poles apart in appearance, but they were both opinionated men. That was enough for her. She’d broken her engagement six years ago because she didn’t want a man running her life, and she’d been wary of any close relationships since misjudging Reed.
They’d met in college and shared interests. Although they knew they’d be separated for a year after graduation, Reed had proposed a week before commencement. He’d been set to go to his apprenticeship in California and Tory to Paris. The moment he put the ring on her finger, the trouble began. Suddenly, he objected to her trip to France, although he’d seemed enthusiastic about her additional training only the week before. He said he didn’t want his woman gallivanting around a foreign country without his protection. Tory went despite his disapproval. After battling T.L. during most of her formative years, she wasn’t about to let Reed sway her from her purpose.
The engagement lasted a year, most of which they were separated. Tory liked to think she had more brains than to remain tied to such a chauvinistic jerk. Her first week back from Paris, Reed came to Little Rock and found fault with everything and everyone. After two days, Tory knew she’d made a tremendous mistake. He treated her as if she only had half a brain and was put on the earth to fetch and carry for him. One evening they went out with some of her high school friends, arguing on the way to the restaurant, and returning home in separate cars. Reed was dripping wet from the beer Tory poured on him after one patronizing remark too many. She’d been extremely satisfied with her handy work.
After Reed, she’d evaluated exactly what type of man she wanted in her life. He’d be quiet, sensitive, and understanding. The man she married, if she married, would be supportive and caring. None of these characteristics had anything to do with a self-possessed Yankee who had the nerve to undress a woman when she was unconscious. That was something an amazing chest and bone-melting kisses couldn’t make up for, Tory decided.
Tonight she would lay down the ground rules for the rest of Logan’s visit once and for all. And if that didn’t work, maybe she’d resort to a pitcher of beer again—a full one this time.
Chapter Five
Logan took his eyes off the straight stretch of highway in front of him to study his traveling companion. Tory was slumped down in her seat with her feet braced against the dashboard and a new baseball cap pulled down over her eyes. She hadn’t said more than a dozen saccharin-sweet words to him since she arrived at the house with the Winnebago and handed him the keys. He knew she was angry with him and why, but his mind kept wandering to dangerous territory. Was she wearing another set of mind-boggling lingerie under her jeans and cotton blouse?
Clearing his throat as they passed a mileage sign to Fort Smith, he knew they couldn’t go on like this for another four or five hours. He also had to get his mind off the vision of Tory in her bedroom. “If I apologize, will you start talking to me again without smothering me with southern charm?”
She uncrossed her arms and tipped her cap back enough to uncover one eye. “I was just being polite.”
“Tory, you’re madder than hell about me putting you to bed the other night, and we both know it,” Logan said without hesitation. “I’m sure if I’d been around yesterday, or hadn’t gone out to dinner with Trevor, we’d
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