Chapter 165

For their second date, Logan picked up Tina in front of her manor. The moment she saw him, she jumped over the threshold and right into Logan’s chest. If his reflexes had been a half-second slower, he would have dropped her. As it was, he caught her just in time.

“My Logan,” she said, smiling so wide her cheeks must have hurt.

“You don’t have to act like this here,” he said. He tried to lower her but she refused to lower her feet to the ground, keeping her knees bent and her feet crossed at her backside.

“Shhh.” She placed a finger to his lips. “You never know who could be watching or listening.”

With the security around here, Logan severely doubted that anyone but the security guards were seeing or hearing what was happening here. Someone under Tina’s payroll like that likely wouldn’t jeopardize their jobs with gossip.

As an employee, to betray one member of high society was to label yourself a pariah. They’d never work for anyone in high society again.

“Put your feet down so we can go,” Logan said, losing patience.

Eventually, she obeyed, straightening her legs down. Logan gently placed her on the ground.

She clung to his arm as he led her to the car. Taking one look at the flash sports car, she asked, “Where’s your driver?”

“I’m my own driver in this car,” Logan said.

Tina’s smile dimmed. “How… pedestrian.”

“I used to race cars,” Logan said. He opened the passenger door for her.

“I’m glad to hear that’s past tense,” Tina said as she slipped into the passenger seat.

Logan closed the door, then circled the car to get into the driver’s seat. Before he opened the driver’s side door, though, he closed his eyes and inhaled a long, deep breath.

He could do this. He had to do this.

With that self-pep talk, he entered the car, started the ignition, and drove to the restaurant.

Logan didn’t drive particularly fast or dangerously, but Tina still held onto the door handle like she might fly out the window at any moment.

After Logan parked, she said, “Let’s get a limo for the drive back.”

Logan wondered when the last time she sat in the front seat of a car was. Maybe never. This girl might have only known the luxury of a limo. That seemed like a shame to Logan, but Tina didn’t seem bothered by it.

Tina waited in the car for Logan to come around and open her car door. Then, she jumped out and took him by the arm again.

“You’re going to love this restaurant, darling,” Tina said. “They have the most exquisite caviar.”

“Good,” Logan said. “Great.”

Tina explored Logan’s bicep with her fingers. “My man takes care of himself. That’s good.” She laughed. “I bet you are a sight to be seen naked.”

“Don’t say things like that,” Logan said. “Remember our agreement.” Logan had already made clear that his relationship with Tina would only be a front. Tina knew about Hazel. With no one watching them, there was no reason for her to say or act like they were a real couple.

“I do remember the agreement,” Tina said. “Maybe you are the one who misremembers. Didn’t I say that on our dates, you are to be in love with me? I’m hardly feeling the love right now.”

“No one is around,” Logan said.

“That you can see,” Tina said. “Paparazzi can wait around any corner. Or, what if someone we know is already inside the restaurant looking at us through the window.” A line split her brow as she pouted out her bottom lip. “Are you out to humiliate me? Is that the true purpose of this?”

“No,” Logan said at once. Truthfully, he hadn’t considered the possibility of others seeing them just walking down the street. That was an oversight. Anywhere in public, they could be watched.

The honest truth? He just really didn’t want to do this. His heart belonged to Hazel. He didn’t want to have to be out here pretending his love was someone else.

But this was the bed he’d made for himself. To keep his relationship a secret and preserve his legacy with his company, he had to play the part now.

“Just pretend I’m that little assistant of yours,” Tina whispered, a hint of an edge in her voice. “That should make things easier for you.”

Tina was nothing like Hazel. It was still sound advice, however, so he tried it.

Tina was a brunette where Hazel was blonde. Their heights were mismatched, and their demeanors couldn’t be more different. But if he tried hard enough…

Slowly, he lifted his hand and placed it over Tina’s on his arm.

“That’s it,” Tina said, her bright smile returning. She shifted her hand so that their fingers laced together. “I’m such a lucky girl, to have such a handsome man escorting me around.”

“My pleasure,” Logan said, trying to relax. He’d dated countless women before becoming stuck on Hazel. Being a charmer was built into his bones. He just had to tap into that now, for the sake of appearances.

Pushing down his discomfort, he brought forth the easy smile that he’d worn as a mask for so many years. When he showed it to Tina, she blushed.

Yeah, he still had it.

He led Tina into the restaurant. Fortunately, this place was used to Tina and her antics, so there was no blowout with the hostess like on their last date. The hostess immediately brought Logan and Tina to a table near the window.

Logan helped Tina with her seat, then took his own. No sooner had he sat down, then Tina pressed one of her bare, shoe-less feel against the curve of Logan’s calve. He sat very still as she traced her foot up his leg to his knee, then began to feel her way up his thigh.

In a flash, he caught her foot with his hand.

Lowering her menu, she pouted at him again. He wouldn’t budge this time, though. He wouldn’t betray Hazel by letting her feel him up in this fucking restaurant – or anywhere else, for that matter.

Especially because this was all happening under the tablecloth. No one could see what she was doing. There was no need for this.

Logan pushed her foot away from him and she slowly retracted it, though not without glaring at him.

Now wasn’t the place to talk about boundaries, though. That would have to come later.

“Darling, I really recommend the sea bass here. The way they season it is divine.”

“Very good,” Logan said.

The date continued, both playing their parts to perfection. Anyone outside their table would see them and think them in love.

During the course of their meal, Logan had to stop Tina’s wandering foot no less than three separate times, not counting the first one.

By the time the check came, he was positively seething.

“They didn’t ask if I want dessert,” Tina said, pouting again. Logan was quickly realizing this girl pouted more than she smiled.

“I’m not feeling well,” Logan said. “I want to leave as soon as possible.”

“Oh…” She seemed put out, but still replied, “Anything for you, dear.”

As soon as they were back in the safety of the car, Logan turned to Tina and said, “That kind of behavior was absolutely unacceptable. That wasn’t what we agreed to at all.”

Tina wasn’t paying attention. She was looking at something over Logan’s shoulder, out the window.

“A photographer,” she hissed. Then she grabbed Logan and kissed him.