Simply Scandalous (Simply Series Book 2) Carly Phillips (new books to read .txt) 📖

like lying to him, and yet she couldn’t bring herself to admit his father’s disapproval had tainted an otherwise successful day. Or that she feared he’d blacklist her company instead of recommending it.

“I don’t believe you.”

A grin caught hold despite her negative thoughts. “I didn’t think you would. But I do appreciate your faith in me—I mean, my abilities.”

“Easy to have faith when it’s been earned.”

His cell phone rang, saving her from having to answer. Logan shot her a regretful look before easing his hand from hers. She felt the glide of his rougher skin as it slid away, and she most definitely felt the loss.

He walked across the room, a confidence to his stride that would be hard to miss. Catherine sighed. He was a man with presence and enough sex appeal to make a woman feel alive. Cherished.

He picked his cell on the third ring. “Hello.” He hesitated a beat. “Yes, Gran, I got Cat home fine.” He paused. “Whose home?” Logan glanced at her and winked. “Whose home do you think?” he asked. “Don’t worry, okay? She’s home safe and sound. We both are.”

Catherine listened as Logan humored his grandmother while protecting her privacy. She appreciated his discretion and almost envied him the older woman’s strength and love. She’d never had someone that stable to rely on unless she counted her sister. Catherine smiled. At least she could always count on Kayla.

“No, I don’t want to talk to the judge.” Logan’s voice drew her back to the present. “Gran? I said no. Tell him… Hello, Dad.”

Catherine stifled a groan. The last thing she needed was a reminder of their differences, not when they seemed so minimal when they were together. His father, the infamous Judge Montgomery, managed to make her feel insecure by his very presence in Logan’s life.

“No. No breakfast tomorrow. I won’t be hungry.”

Catherine had to laugh.

“Running for mayor? I plan to be too worn out to run anywhere tomorrow. I have to go… No. I’m hanging up now. Bye.” Logan looked at the screen and disconnected the call before his father could possibly respond.

He met Catherine’s gaze with an amused one of his own. “Emma’s golden rule. If you tell someone you’re hanging up, they haven’t been hung up on,” he explained with a grin.

“I suppose I should remember that.”

“Might come in handy sometime,” he agreed.

“Your grandmother is a piece of work.” Still, Catherine couldn’t help but like the older woman. The more she learned about Logan’s childhood and his relationship with Emma, the more her respect for the woman grew. If Logan was a decent man, and Catherine sensed the answer was a resounding yes, then Emma deserved the credit.

Logan nodded. “She likes to think so. Keeps her young and healthy in here.” He tapped his head. “And keeps me on my toes.”

Catherine agreed with him there. “She locked us in the coat closet. I’d say you have your hands full staying one step ahead of her.”

“Sometimes it’s not worth the effort. After all, she got the upper hand today, and look where it got us.” His heavy-lidded gaze strayed to hers. His eyes held warmth and a signal she couldn’t possibly mistake.

“And where would that be?”

“Alone, together, if you want us to be.”

So, the next move was up to her. She shouldn’t be surprised. Logan had been a gentleman from the first moment they’d met. He wouldn’t stop just because he had her alone in his home. If anything, in the past couple of hours he’d become more sensitive to her feelings.

He offered Catherine many things she’d never received before—respect, admiration, and a sense of acceptance. That he desired her went without saying. That he’d let her control what, if anything, happened between them put him in a class by himself.

She chuckled. He already was.

“The choice is yours, Cat.” His husky voice was deep and warm, comforting like a friend and seductive like a lover’s caress. She shivered at the thought.

Silence stretched between them until she couldn’t stand the strain. There was nothing holding Catherine back from being with Logan except…

The loud beeps of the microwave announced that dinner was ready—and saved Catherine from herself, at least for now.

Chapter Five

Catherine sat on the couch browsing social media on he rphone. The backside of the den had many windows, offering a magnificent view of the ocean. The sound of the steady rain along with that of the waves crashing onto shore and rolling back again sent her senses reeling. She’d always loved the rain and the heavy rhythmic sounds.

She closed her eyes and the sounds became even stronger; so did the pulsing within her. Her desire for Logan couldn’t be denied. She squeezed her legs tight and rolling waves of pleasure crested and ebbed, just like the water on the beach. Just like the pleasure she’d find by being with Logan, his body inside hers, finding the perfect rhythm, rocking together until the crescendo became the ultimate peak of pleasure.

She forced her eyes open and realized she was shaking with need. A glance back toward the kitchen told her she was still alone. Considering she could bring herself to the edge with daydreams of the man, Catherine knew she was in trouble. Better to concentrate on dessert, she thought. The edible kind.

Logan had promised to cook his favorite dessert, one that was handmade, not prepared by Emma’s chef. But he wouldn’t let her watch. By the time she’d exhausted her Facebook feed, Catherine had cooled her body off to a respectable level. But she couldn’t stand to be alone with her erotic thoughts anymore.

She tiptoed to the kitchen and peeked inside. The room itself was old, the appliances dated, but the dark wood cabinets had appeal and potential, and she was sure they’d be gorgeous once they were refinished as Logan planned. He puttered around the kitchen, muttering aloud. She couldn’t catch a glimpse of what he was making, and to walk inside would be to risk getting caught.

She took one