Between You and Me

But she didn’t even blink. “Okay. You got the help you needed?”

Hey now. No withdrawal, no look of horror. He nodded. “Yes. Took me hitting rock bottom, but I checked myself into rehab and cleaned myself up. Then I left New Orleans and moved back here.”

“When was that?”

“Eleven years ago.”

“Have you fallen off the wagon since then?”

“Not even once.”

Her mouth curved up ever so slightly, and what he saw in her beautiful eyes was . . . whoa. Only compassion and respect. Her voice was gentle when she said, “Then I’d say that’s nothing to be ashamed of, Logan. I’d say that’s something to be admired.”

He stared into her eyes for what felt like a long time. Most people didn’t have that response when he told them that dark truth. They looked at him a little differently, whether they realized it or not. Yeah, people had come a long way with understanding alcoholism, especially after they found out what drove him to it . . . but not everyone. They regarded him with trepidation, or maybe judgmental disapproval, and once in a while, pity. His own brother was a self-righteous bastard about it, one of the reasons they’d grown apart. The only ones who’d been cool, who’d been flat out positive about how he’d turned his life around, were his mother and his closest friends. For Tess to be so unfazed, so nonjudgmental . . . he appreciated it more than he could say. Something like warmth stole over him.

Which was quickly followed by a flash of self-loathing. He’d been wrong about her or sold her short so many times now, it was embarrassing. Goddamn.

“I don’t know about my being admirable,” he finally said, “but I am honest. You’ve told me a lot about yourself tonight. If you’re going to find stuff out about me, I’d rather just tell you myself than have you dig up ugly old shit on the Internet.” He flashed a wry grin. “Okay, that’s enough of that. We’re supposed to be having a good time, remember? New Year’s Eve and all that?”

A warm smile spread across her face. “I have been having a good time.”

“Yeah? Good. Me too.”

“Then let’s get the spotlight off of you so you’ll relax again,” she said. “I liked that you were relaxed around me. Not so gruff and aloof.”

“I’m—hey, wait a minute. I’m not gruff and aloof.”

“Yeah, okay. And I’m not tall and brown-haired.”

He smiled and shook his head in wonder. “You don’t hold back, do you?”

“Not often, no.”

“Upfront city girl.”

“That’s right, lumberjack.” Her eyes twinkled as her playful smile dazzled him. “How about this: I’ll tell you one of my truths, since it’s somewhat related to one of yours.” She took a deep breath and fidgeted with one of her silver hoop earrings. He watched and waited for her to go on, wondering what she’d say. “Remember I told you I’m not drinking these days either?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I’m no saint. I love a good glass of wine. I’m not drinking now because I’ve been cleansing my body. No drinking, cleaner eating . . . because I’m planning to get pregnant soon.”

Chapter Seven

Logan felt his jaw drop in surprise. Pregnant? He stared and stammered, “Uh . . . okay. Wow. Not what I was expecting you to say.” Then another thought hit. “Wait a minute. You have a boyfriend and you’re out with me tonight? I don’t understand.”

She smiled with obvious bemusement. “I don’t have a boyfriend. I don’t have a man in my life at all, actually, which is why I’m planning to . . . well . . . I’m going to do it on my own. Find a sperm donor, and all that entails. Get it now?”

He couldn’t have been more shocked. She was the most desirable woman he’d ever seen, and getting to know her made her even more so. She was damned likeable, even when he was being an ass. Why would she feel she had to go that route? He was obviously missing something. But all he said was, “Okay.”

“That’s the real reason I came out here by myself for a few months.” Tess seemed relieved to confess all this, so he stayed quiet and let her continue. “I don’t want to start this process at home. My father and brothers . . . They all mean well, but they’re a little . . . overbearing. We’re very close, my brothers and I. I’d even say they’re some of my best friends. But about this . . . Well, they’d all have something to say, and I don’t need that.”