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

in the small room. The scent of burning wood filled her nose. And with every breath she took, another muscle in her body seemed to relax and the warmth of the fire seeped inside her. Or maybe it was Logan’s body heat she felt pulsing through her veins. He’d begun to massage her temples with his fingers in soft, gentle motions.

“Now hear the rhythm of the rain.”

She did. All night the storm outside had matched the one raging inside her. “Mmm. Don’t stop.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” He chuckled and the sound reached straight down to her toes.

“So, tell me how you discovered this… cure,” she said, keeping her eyes shut.

“Old childhood lesson.” His fingers still worked magic as he spoke. A gentle pressure on her temples, a soft tugging of her scalp. His touch felt wickedly good.

“What do you mean?”

“My sister suffers from migraines. She has since we were kids. She’d get through the weekends fine because my parents were never around, but weekdays were different.”

“How so?”

His fingertips moved from the sides to the front of her forehead as he continued to massage. “Weekends they traveled. During the week they were home. Or at least in the state. If they weren’t, they’d just come back late and wake us with the arguments they thought no one heard.”

Growing up, she’d always had the misconception that money would make things better. She was older and wiser now, but it still hurt to hear that Logan hadn’t had an ideal childhood either.

“That must have been tough.”

“Harder for Grace, really. She’d sneak into my room and most times her head was killing her. Stress-induced,” he said, the edge in his tone unmistakable.

His obvious love for his sibling was also unmistakable, and that was something Catherine could relate to. He claimed to be unaffected by the fighting. She didn’t believe him.

“How come they never separated?” she asked.

“Family motto—Montgomerys don’t divorce, they endure.”

“I thought the wealthy didn’t fight, they endured,” she said lightly, trying to lift the mood that had settled over him thanks to painful memories.

“That motto holds true only in public. For all the money it cost to build the mansion, the walls are incredibly thin.”

“So, it was you and Grace who did the enduring.”

“Yeah. I’d rub her forehead until she fell asleep,” he said softly.

His actions toward his sister told Catherine what kind of man Logan really was. “I hope she appreciated you,” she murmured.

“She did, does.”

“I know I do.” Another sigh escaped her lips as the gentle pressure of his fingers hit a particularly sensitive spot.

Whatever magic Logan performed for his little sister was brotherly and done out of love. What he did to Catherine was more erotic than fraternal. It was sensual and intimate, and she knew seduction was the goal. And she wanted to give in. She had until tomorrow before she had to walk out of this cabin and face the harsh light of day.

Forcing her heavy eyelids open, she glanced up at Logan, wanting to know more about him. “Where is Grace now?”

“Living in a loft in N.Y.C., taking pictures to her heart’s content, and avoiding commitment for fear of ending up like our parents.” He laughed but there was no pleasure in the sound. “She’s living off her trust, figuring Mother and the judge owe her for all the misery she lived through.”

“Is that how you feel?”

He shook his head. “Actually, I live off my salary and not a penny more. If I touch my trust, I give up control of my life, something I’m not willing to do. And I think Grace would be happier if she did the same.” He smiled then, a slow, easy grin that threw Catherine’s pulse into high gear and sent out warning signals to every part of her body that wanted to listen.

Judging by her rapid heartbeat, uneven breathing, and curling warmth in her belly, no part of her but her brain was paying attention. Even her more rational self desired to give in to Logan’s easy charm and sex appeal, to his understanding nature and giving soul.

“But Grace and her life is another issue for another day. This night belongs to us, Cat. If you want it to.” He paused a beat. “The choice is yours.”

She sat up too fast and had to wait for the rush of dizziness to subside. When it did, she realized her headache had fled with it. The man definitely had magic hands. The thought caused a delicious curling in the pit of her stomach.

“Feel better?” he asked.

“Much.” She sat up on her knees and faced him. “But I suspect that was the point.”

“Meaning?”

“You can’t seduce a woman if she’s going to use a headache as an excuse.”

His dark eyes met hers. “I see. And you just admitted yours was gone.”

“Completely,” she said, the yearning inside her building to unbearable proportions.

The fury of the fire and the driving rain had nothing on the flames burning inside her. But she couldn’t help but wonder…

Would one night be enough?

Chapter Six

Catherine raised her head and contemplated the importance of the next few moments. Logan was leaving it up to her to decide whether they would sleep together. Her body said yes, but her mind wasn’t sure.

“Whatever you need to know, ask now,” he said.

She grinned. “So, you’re a mind reader as well as an expert masseur?”

“I already told you, I’m a man of many talents. Now, quit stalling.”

Silence followed. Silence in which no sound but the rain came between them. “There is one thing I’d like to get clear first.”

“I’m safe,” he assured her.

She shook her head. “You’re the last thing from safe I can imagine. That storm and those cresting waves have less risk than you. But I understand, and thank you. I am, too, by the way, though that’s not what I wanted to know.”

“I was afraid of that. What is it?” he asked, twirling a strand of her hair around his finger.

“It’s not that I’m asking for promises or anything…”

He stroked a