“So, what will it be tonight?” Logan enters the code into the small silver box beside the front door to the building. I follow him as he steps inside. He begins walking backward toward the elevator, lifting the now soggy brown paper bag of groceries. His mouth curls back into that playful smirk. His golden eyes spark and I can feel them consuming me. “Spaghetti or tacos?”
I twist my face in disgust. Laughing, I step into the elevator, pressing the button for the nineteenth floor. “Spaghetti? Are you really asking me to choose between spaghetti and tacos? Hands down you know I’m choosing tacos.” I reach up, squeezing the excess rainwater from my hair then lean against the wall, eyeing Logan from across the small space between us.
“I knew it wasn’t a contest. I’m just a sucker for when you twist your face the way you just did. The way your smooth lips twist at the perfect angle. The way your eyebrows slant into those gorgeous light brown eyes of yours.” His eyes gleam despite the dim lights overhead as he slowly says each word. He leans back against the opposite wall, tipping his head back, mimicking my stance and watching me with hooded eyes. He’s happy. I’m happy.
Pushing off the elevator wall, I walk across the small space, tipping my chin up to meet Logan’s gaze. I press my hips into his, melting into his body. I grasp on to the wet fabric of his shirt with my fingers and run my tongue across my lip, pulling him impossibly closer. “And I’m a sucker for you, Logan Moore.”
Logan reaches up, wrapping his hand around the back of my head. His movements are quick, as if he knows exactly what he’s doing. His fingers thread through my wet hair. He pulls me close, pressing my lips to his. His mouth is warm and wet from the rain. I sigh against his body. His hand slides away from my hair and along my cheek, holding me back just enough for me to see his face. “I want it to be like this forever, Lena.”
“Me too.”
Then, as the elevator dings, reaching the nineteenth floor, I will Logan’s words to be true. I wish I could freeze this moment in time. One where my heart feels like it might burst out of my chest and Logan’s staring at me like he wouldn’t want to ever be looking at another person for the rest of his life.
I playfully bump my shoulder into his solid, sculpted arm as we step out into the hallway. It’s quiet as it usually is, and I’m thrilled about the prospect of removing my rain-soaked clothes. My cheeks grow sore from grinning as Logan walks ahead of me. My smile immediately fades when I stumble and nearly trip into him, the right side of my body slamming into his. His body is stiff, frozen solid and every part of my body turns cold when I follow his gaze.
The door to Logan’s apartment is propped open, six inches of black empty space between it and the doorframe. We don’t immediately walk toward the door. Instead, he reaches his arm out, blocking me from walking farther than where he is standing. He’s protecting me, unsure what kind of situation we’re in.
“Wait here,” Logan whispers.
“No,” I whisper back. “I’m going with you.” I wrap my hands around his arm, pressing my fingers into his tensed muscle.
He narrows his gaze toward me for a moment, knowing how stubborn I can be.
A chill prickles down the back of my neck and a familiar feeling washes over me. Fear pierces its way into my chest. Logan’s heavy boots carefully step onto the carpet as we inch forward, carefully examining what type of situation we’re walking into.
We’ve been here before. Months ago, I walked into my apartment to find Logan’s Boston Bruins T-shirt shredded to pieces on my bedroom floor and my ex-boyfriend’s tie knotted to the metal post of my bed frame.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath, willing myself to believe this isn’t the same. This can’t be Julian. It can’t.
When we make it to the front door, Logan leans forward and carefully peeks through the opening before gently nudging the door open with the toe of his boot. The hallway leading to the living room is pitch black and after my eyes have taken a moment to adjust, it doesn’t appear as if anything has been disturbed. But the sight doesn’t bring any sense of relief. It’s Julian’s way. He has a way of letting you know he’s there without making it obvious.
Neither of us step into the apartment and I could swear I could hear Logan’s heart pounding alongside mine, echoing through the empty hallway. I suddenly remember just how alone we are. I hold my breath, the oxygen swelling in my throat as I turn my head, glancing down each side of the hallway. There’s no one that I can see. Again, there’s no relief, worried the person could still be inside.
“I’m going to check inside the apartment and make sure there isn’t anyone still in there. I need you to stay here.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I’m going in there with you.” I remove his hands from my face, holding them between us. “I’m safer with you than I am standing out here alone.”
He presses his lips into a thin line, nodding in acknowledgment. I can see the war in Logan’s eyes. He’s afraid. He’s not afraid of what is inside the apartment. Instead, he’s more afraid of how what’s inside will affect me. He’s worried for me.
I look into Logan’s eyes one more time, silently telling him I’m ready to go inside. Without another word, he turns around and takes one careful step inside, craning his head farther into the apartment hoping to get a better view.
I’m immediately darting my eyes across every
