The Millionaire She Married

Lacey turned around and snared the phone off the breakfast nook wall. “Here you go.”

Jenna took it—and then just sat there, holding it.

“What?” Lacey groaned. “All of a sudden you’ve forgotten his number?”

“Of course I haven’t forgotten his number. I know his number.”

“Hey. Look here. You’ve got him on autodial.”

“Lacey—”

But it was too late. Lacey had punched the button and Logan’s phone was ringing.

“This is Dr. Severance.”

“Uh. Hello.”

“Jenna. Hello.” As always, he sounded so happy to hear her voice. “What’s up?”

“I wonder…” She hesitated.

Lacey mouthed the words, “Do it!”

Jenna made a face at her sister and then forced herself to go on. “Do you think you could come over here? There are a few things I need to talk to you about.” Lacey gave her the high sign and a big, congratulatory grin.

Logan said, “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. I just…really need to talk to you.”

“I’ll be over right away.”

Chapter Four

Lacey decided to make herself scarce. As she went out the door, she advised, “Don’t wait up—and don’t you dare chicken out this time.”

“I won’t,” Jenna replied, sounding a lot more confident than she felt.

Logan arrived five minutes later. Jenna led him to the back parlor, the big, comfortable room off the kitchen, where the family had always gathered. He sat on the roomy dark green convertible sofa and looked up at her, a worried frown creasing his brow. “This is about whatever’s been bothering you for the past week, isn’t it?”

She sat down beside him. “Yes.”

He turned toward her, still frowning. In his somber expression she saw his concern for her. And his love. “You know that whatever it is, you can tell me, don’t you?”

“I know. I just…”

“You know that I love you?”

“I do. And I love you.” It was true. She did love him.

But not in the way she had loved Mack McGarrity.

And that did bother her. It bothered her terribly.

“Logan, I wonder…?”

“Yes?”

“Would you…kiss me? Really kiss me?”

He sat back from her a little. “Kiss you? I thought you were going to tell me—”

She put three fingers lightly against his lips, to silence him. “I will. I’ll tell you. I’ll explain everything. Just…would you please kiss me first?”

His dark gaze scanned her face. “Kiss you.”

“Yes. Please.”

His expression softened a little, the worried frown fading. He slid an arm around her shoulder and gently, with the tip of a finger, tipped her mouth up to his.

Light as a breath, his lips met hers. His mouth was warm and soft and his big arms cradled her cherishingly.

She closed her eyes and tried to give herself fully to the act of kissing him, sliding her hands up his broad chest, allowing her lips to part, inviting him to deepen the kiss. His tongue slid into her mouth.

Jenna sighed. But she knew as the small, tender sound escaped her that it was a fake sigh, a forced sigh, an effort to convince herself—and Logan, too—that she was an eager participant in this.

Jenna closed her eyes tighter, kissed him back harder, tried to call up memories of when they’d been teenagers.

Teenagers necking in the front seat of his car.

It had been exciting then, hadn’t it? She was certain it had.

But now wasn’t then.

Between now and then, there had been Mack.

Mack.

That did it. Just the thought of his name.

Jenna shoved at Logan’s chest.

Startled, Logan pulled away enough to look down at her. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

He still had his arms around her. She felt trapped there, all wrong there. “Please. Let go.”

He released her and sat back. “Jenna. What the hell is going on here?”

“I…I don’t think I can marry you, Logan.” She didn’t know she was going to say it until after the words were out. And then, once she had said it, she stared at him, stunned at what she herself had just uttered.