Diamonds & Desire: The Priceless Collection (21 page)

“Who said anything about marriage? I was talking about love, Neil.” She hopped on one foot to slip on her shoe.

“Oh. Well, most women automatically mean marriage when they talk about meeting the ‘right’ girl.”

“I’m guessing there’s no one special in your life then?”

“All women are special, Jordana.”

“Spoken like a true player!”

He let out a hearty laugh.

“Do you see a car out there waiting for me?” she asked.

Seconds later, he replied, “Nope. He’s still not here. It’s alright though, you’re coming with me. Those services can be unreliable anyway.”

“Okay counselor, I think I’m ready.” On the outside at least. Though Neil had convinced her Logan deserved a second chance, a knot of uncertainty had nestled in her stomach and refused to leave. Going without speaking to Logan first didn’t feel quite right, but she didn’t want to miss this opportunity to see Logan before he left. She took a deep breath, grabbed her clutch, and walked out.

Neil’s grin softened to awe as she stopped, turned, and looked at him over her shoulder. The color, dark like eggplant, nearly black, was a stark contrast to her skin. The neckline was square, low, with thin straps at her shoulders, was unabashedly open in the back, while the silk material flowed to the floor, mermaid style. Out of all her gowns, this one was her favorite.

“You’re a knockout,” he announced as he pushed up from his chair. “No wonder Logan is depressed.”

She laughed as they left her apartment.

Chapter Twenty

Because he knew he’d be letting down more than a handful of people—including Miranda, who’d never forgive him if he missed two years in a row—Logan arrived at the museum, but in no mood to mingle. More than anything, he wanted to go home, pour a glass of something bitter and strong, and drink himself to sleep. Although he’d tried to forget about Jordana with all his might, so far, he’d failed.

At times, angry disappointment gripped him with vice-like strength and the only thing that kept from losing his mind was work. He logged in thirteen, fourteen plus hours a day at the office. There were times—the ones that snuck up on him at random, especially at night at home—that left him drained and otiose.

That was most maddening of all and showed how much Jordana had affected him more than any woman before her. She’d gotten under his skin, so close to his heart, and expulsing her was taking way too long.

As he walked in the party, he smiled as a few people greeted him. His expressions and greetings were automatic. Polite but detached. Copy and pasted from the last even he’d attended. A few ladies arched interested brows, purring he’d apparently come alone. If only one of them could view beneath the façade and give him what he really needed. Jordana had done that, but she’d been nothing but a fantasy.

“Logan,” smiled Iris Eckhart, a well respected psychiatrist in the area. “How are you these days?”

Miserable as hell if he were to be frank. As a shrink, maybe Iris had seen past his social mask and observed his pain. Was he that transparent? Or was the attractive redhead regarding him as a project? It was rumored she liked men who were quiet, standoffish, broken, or even antisocial. They intrigued her like riddles. He wouldn’t categorize himself with any of those characteristics until now. Occasionally he ran into her at these functions and she’d make suggestive comments about going home with him. He enjoyed flirting with her—she was pretty sexy for a shrink after all—but he never took her back to his place.

Maybe tonight he would.

She gestured to the bar. “Join me for a drink?”

He stopped, instinctively wanting to brush her off. Nonetheless, solitude hadn’t been much of a benefit to him lately. Maybe he’d been going about this all wrong. The surest way to get over someone was to get under someone else. Logan gave what he hoped was a charming smile, even though it felt unnatural. “I’d love to.” He walked with her toward the bar. Where was Neil? Probably sick of his cranky attitude and avoiding him. Not that Logan could blame him. He was well aware his bad attitude and surly disposition had people keeping their distance. Even Ashtyn walked on eggshells around him lately.

Something had to change. He had to change.

Well, he’d have a few drinks, have a few laughs. Take Iris home and see if sex with another woman purged Jordana from his mind and soul once and for all.

***

Jordana thought she’d be more intimidated by her surroundings as she and Neil walked in. He stood beside her like a guardian, sharp and self-assured in his tuxedo.

“Do you see him?” she whispered.

“Not yet. Don’t worry, he’s here.”

“Well, you don’t have to be at my side with every step. Go do your thing. Hunt for some left girl prey.”

Neil laughed, and at that moment, she spotted Logan, and her stomach dipped to her knees.

He wasn’t alone.

The woman he was talking to practically batted her eyelashes at him with every move of his mouth. He leaned in, spoke something in her ear. Jordana’s heart pounded, feeling like she had to catch her breath. Neil’s strong hand curled around her arm and she lifted her gaze.

“Forget her,” he told her gently.

Easier said than done. She swallowed. Maybe he’d assumed she wasn’t coming and found a date after all. Nervousness made itself known at full force. “I...I’m not sure I can do this now.”

“Why? Because he’s talking to another woman? I know you’re not going to let that stop you. You’re stronger than that. Stay here.” Neil winked, set his drink down, and sauntered over.

She fiddled with her hands, watching him interrupt Logan’s conversation. To his credit, Logan seemed pleased to see his friend, instead of annoyed by his interruption. The willowy redhead, however, was another story. She definitely looked peeved their private discussion had been interrupted. Showing no shame, Neil put his arm around Logan’s neck, and tugged him away.

As they came closer, Logan had yet to set his eyes on her, intently listening to whatever Neil was saying. Heart fluttering, she turned around, biting her lip.

“Savant, I’m telling you, forget Iris. I’m sure you’d much rather speak to this lovely woman right here,” she heard Neil say behind her.

With a slow turn, she faced them, breaking into a smile at his nearness, hit with a wave of acute yearning. Logan’s amiable expression switched to a cold blankness, rocking her confidence. “Remember me?” she joked, her voice a little shaky.

Neil slapped his friend’s back. “Well, three’s a crowd, and I know when I’m not needed. If you need any condoms, though, just shout.”

Jordana gasped. “Neil!”

He chuckled and walked away.

Logan’s lips parted, chest expanded as he took in two long breaths, looking irresistibly handsome in his tailored tux. So virile and polished, as if he hadn’t lost one minute of sleep since they broke up. Slowly, he raked his blue gaze from her feet to her face, and a distinct tingle snaked up her spine. Finally meeting her eyes again, his voice came out hoarse. “What are you doing here?”

She gave a shy smile, unable to quell a sense of uneasiness. “Surprise.”

For an indeterminable amount of time, they stood there, neither saying a word. Searching his features, she wished he would say something so she knew where to begin.

When he blinked, and straightened his broad shoulders, the energy between them shifted. As if he put up a wall. “You came with him?” he clipped.

“Yes. The car n-never showed.”

He raised a brow, tucking a hand in his pocket. “Because I cancelled it. Was it Neil’s idea to bring you?”

Now she knew for sure he hadn’t sent his friend to her house. She swallowed at his tone, not sure what to think about him canceling the ride. “Well, in part. It’s kind of a long story. He came by my place and convinced me to come with him, but I was going to anyway. I wanted to talk about that second chance.” The expression on his face was so unreadable, and she hadn’t been prepared for…this reaction. But she had to say something. “I was hurt, Logan. Deep down, I knew you didn’t mean the things you said that day in your office, but I was so afraid to trust you. Neil convinced me I was wrong. I’m sorry.” Heat crept up her face, and she felt awkward discussing their argument with so many people around, even though no one paid them any attention. “Can we go somewhere private?”

He lifted one shoulder. “You said what you came to say. There’s nothing to discuss.”

She was stunned. Nothing? Just like that? “Logan—”

“Look, I’ve moved on. You came here for nothing, Jordana.”

She blinked in astonishment at his cold cut down. However she imagined this conversation, this was not it. Obviously something changed between the time he’d sent the flowers and now. The woman he’d been talking to earlier maybe? Still, she didn’t want to give up. “Won’t you even consider hearing me out? I came to rectify how I handled things. You’d apologized, explained honestly, and I should’ve believed you.”

“Suddenly you believe me now?”

At a loss, she didn’t know how else to reply except with a small, “Y-yes.”

He moved his profile with sharpness, a tick in his jaw, as though restless to get on with his evening. He met her gaze again, but his eyes were neither warm nor tender. In fact, he stared at her with near contempt.

Did he resent her for how things ended? “Logan. I reacted blindly over a misunderstanding. We’ve both hurt each other, but I think we have something special, worth starting over for. Don’t you?”

He glowered at her, and she realized her words were not getting through to him. It was as if every note of her voice made him more resistant, more impatient.

Neil gave the impression Logan would drop to his knees for her. He’d been wrong.

He took a step closer and she had to crane her neck to meet his disdainful gaze. “You’re something else, Jordana. Showing up like this as if you’re so magnanimous, gracing me with your apology. Telling me you believe me now when you should’ve trusted what I felt for you then. Felt, by the way. Past tense.”

A rush of heat, then cold swept over her body, and her throat closed up. “I don’t understand,” she choked out.

His dark brows slanted down. “Pardon, I thought I was being direct. It’s over between us and we’re both better off for it. Sure, I like have fun, but I hate playing games. Especially with a woman who doesn’t know who or what she wants.”

Frustration built on top of her confusion. “What are you talking about?”

Nearly nose to nose with her, his spoke with an eerily controlled voice. “If you’d just been frank with me from the beginning, I would’ve understood. Instead you played some game of wanting more. That’s what pisses me off the most. That you weren’t honest with me as I tried to be with you. There I was, feeling guilty for saying something stupid, trying to think of a way to get you back, when you were never mine to begin with.” Watching her with exasperation as she stared up him blankly, he shook his head, lip curling. “You can stop the pretense. It’s not working. I know about your fiancé or whatever the hell he is. By the way, were you ever going to tell me or were you just praying I’d never find out?”

Her insides knotted hot and tight, made her ill, and the blood drained from her face. “How do you know about Zack?”

“Doesn’t matter. Answer the question. Were you ever going to tell me?”

About her failed engagement? A bead of sweat trailed down her back. The mere mention of her ex-fiancé tied her tongue. There were so many things she had to say, but didn’t know where to begin, especially not here. And not with Logan glaring at her as if she was the lowest of the low. Blindsided by this news, she opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Nothing.

He started to brush past her. “The look on your face says it all.”

The humiliation, the pain, shot to her gut like shrapnel. Knees weakening, she wanted to cry out in frustrated despair, but she bit down on her lip to keep from doing so. Turning to follow, tears filling her eyes, she caught up with him. “Wait. Please!” He stopped and faced her. A group of people turned their heads. She didn’t care. “It’s not what you think. Zack and I—”

He jerked his arm around her back and kissed her with abrupt, punishing passion. She barely had a moment to process what was happening, and when she heard him moan ever so softly, she whimpered, hoping it signaled he’d changed his mind. That his anger toward her had vanished. But when she touched his face, he broke away and stepped back, snarling as if disgusted. “Spare me the details.”

Her eyes stung at his tone while her chest heaved from the breathlessness.

Logan sent a quick, vicious glance to the group standing nearby who’d witnessed their scene, and they jerked back to their huddle. His gaze lingered on her, and for a second—a second only—she saw pain and longing in his gaze. But then it was gone, and he walked away without a backward glance.

Jordana took a step, then froze. Don’t chase him! Hasn’t he embarrassed you enough? She sucked in a breath, lips burning from his kiss. What happened? How had the night fallen to pieces without any warning? Then again, she’d sensed something was wrong the instant they were face to face.

She didn’t see Neil and was desperate to run to him for an explanation.

Wait. Did he know? Was he the one who told Logan about Zack? He was a lawyer after all, he could’ve easily found out that information with very little research.

Had tonight been some twisted set up? Not to reunite her with Logan, but to mortify her? It was farfetched and petty for either man to partake in something like that...but it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. With her mind reeling, a sudden headache formed.

I have to get out of here.

Skirting around the guests, her movements were uncoordinated as the walls closed in.

Which way is out, she wanted to scream. She couldn’t focus; all she wanted to be was at home and out of this dress.

She spotted Neil. He broke into a big smile as she approached. Irrational anger took over her good sense, and she grabbed a half-empty martini from a passing server and threw the drink on his chest. The couple he was talking to gasped.

He stepped back, swiping on his jacket. “Jordana!”

“If you really brought me here to humiliate me,” she choked out, “Congratulations, you did.” Only the hurt could speak. She caught the shock in Neil’s eyes before she dashed for the exit.

When he called her name, she ignored him.

Logan wanted nothing to do with her. What else could be done? In fact, by all accounts, he seemed to despise her now. Her heels clicking on the marbled lobby, the automatic doors parted, and the night air enveloped her shaky limbs.

She’d gone to her last ball.

***

How dare she show up and rock his world?

Logan wished with all his might he never would’ve sent the flowers with the note. After finding out about her fiancé, he never dreamed she would still have the gall to show up. He’d even cancelled the chauffer, but Jordana had come anyway. Because of Neil.

Speak of the devil…When he saw Neil cutting a path for him, he pivoted and headed to the bar another drink.

“Savant. Mind explaining to me why Jordana threw a drink on me before running away in tears?”

Logan kept his eyes forward. “How dramatic. Well, you were the one who brought her here.”

“To see you.”

Logan frowned as he faced his friend. “I want nothing to do with her, got it? She and I are over.”

“Not that long ago, you were talking about moving heaven and earth to get her back.”

“Is that the reason you did this? Because you thought I was pining for her?”

“Yeah, because you were doing exactly that. I’m sick of your bad mood, so is everyone else within a five mile radius. We all knew it was because you’d lost her. So I talked her into giving you another chance.”