I step closer to Logan and kiss his neck. “We have the house to ourselves for a bit.” I continue kissing his neck and toward his ear.
Instead of trying to have his way with me, which I want, he steps back. “We need to talk.”
My heart sinks. He’s felt distant these last couple of days since our talk about what state to live in this summer.
He scratches his head. “Can we sit down somewhere?”
“Sure. Follow me.” I lead him into what I call our reading room. Several bookshelves line the walls, holding a variety of books. And there are two couches that are quite comfortable. I sit on one, and he sits next to me.
His foot taps as he stares at the wall. He’s nervous.
My chest aches as I sense bad news. “You’re breaking up with me.”
His brows shoot up. “No. No, it’s not that. I need to ask you about your dad.”
Why is he so nervous? “What about him?”
He swallows. “Okay, I don’t know how to say this, so I’m just going to come out with it.”
“Okay.”
He scoots closer and takes my hands in his. “I think your dad is involved in criminal activity. Do you know if he is?”
This I wasn’t expecting, and frankly, I’m wondering if Duke said something to him.
“Logan, if Duke told you, he was just messing with your head.”
Logan shakes his head. “Duke didn’t tell me anything. It’s what I heard and saw.”
I squeeze his hands. “My dad isn’t a criminal. He has a few businesses, and his most successful one is the construction company. He’s very controlling and has made enemies, but nothing he’s done is illegal.”
Logan licks his lips. “You’re sure about that?”
Of course, I am. I know my dad bends the rules based on what I’ve heard at the office. But bending the rules and being a criminal are two different things. My dad is stern and likes to keep his meetings private, but I’ve never seen anything illegal. The books are all in order at the company. He does have a couple of men on security who look like they could be criminals, but my dad has a lot of money, so it makes sense he’d hire tough guys.
Before I can respond to his question, he asks another one. “If I asked you to run away with me tonight, would you do it?”
“Tonight?”
“Yes. Tonight. Without telling anyone.”
I pull back my hands. “Logan, I don’t understand what’s going on. You came here to meet my family and get to know them. Why are you asking me to run off with you now and leave them?”
He leans back. “While you don’t believe your dad is involved in anything illegal, I’m afraid you’re wrong. And the only way I can keep you safe is if we leave tonight.”
Something isn’t right. Logan never seemed controlling before this trip here, but now he does. I jump up. “Why the hell do all the men in my life want to protect me by controlling me?”
He stands and walks to me. “I don’t want to control you. That’s not what this is about.”
“No? This isn’t some pissing contest between you and my father to see who can win control of me?” That certainly is what it feels like.
He frowns and steps back. “No, not at all. You know me better than that.”
I cross my arms. “Do I? Because the man I know wouldn’t ask me to choose between him and my family. Before you came here, the plan was for you to move to California after you left the Navy. Then you changed it and asked me to move to Virginia this coming summer. That would at least give my dad time to fill my role at the company. To get used to the idea. Then a couple of days later, you change your mind and insist I leave with you tonight?”
“I know this sounds sudden—”
“It is sudden! What about my degree? My family? My job? You want me to just walk away and leave everything behind with no goodbye?”
