Julia laughed again, staring at me as though I’d grown two heads. “My brother is in love with you, Cassandra! Hell, I’d bet good money that I’ll be attending your wedding next year.”
With an awkward snort of a laugh, I had to remind myself to breathe.
“You are insane! Married? To Logan?” I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or cry.
Julia rolled her eyes. “You don’t think one day you’ll be my sister?”
“Sorry. You’re great and I want to be better friends, but no, I don’t.”
“Then we bet!” she stated, insisting rather than asking. She and Logan were a lot alike.
Oh no. No more betting for me. “I’ve sworn off betting.”
“Come on, it will make it interesting. I bet that within two years, you’ll be madly in love and engaged to my brother. I should clarify, though—to my brother Logan.”
My brow shot up. “You needed to clarify this why? In case Jax grew into a man I couldn’t resist?”
“Believe me, I don’t get it, but the girls love Jax. I have never had a single friend who didn’t want to sleep with at least one of my brothers. In high school, a friend slept over and snuck into Logan’s room when he was home visiting. He turned her down, of course—he never slept with my friends—and she ended up in Jax’s bed. Disgusting.” Her eyes rolled back and tongue choked out.
“Logan never slept with any of your friends? Not even one?” Why was that so hard to believe?
“God, no! He’s seven years older than me, although most of the girls I hung around with would still try. Jax, on the other hand, couldn’t get enough.”
“How old is Jax?”
“Nineteen, same as me.” Her eyes lit up. “We’re twins! I thought you knew.”
“No, but I should have guessed.”
“So, what do you say? The bet’s on?” she pressed, reminding me of the silly wager she insisted on dragging me into.
“Fine. And when I win, what do I get?”
“You won’t, but if for some reason you do, then I’ll…hmmm.” She looked thoughtful for a moment until her face beamed, staring at me with a renewed eagerness. “If you win, I’ll tell you what Logan said in his sleep this morning.”
“What?” Did I want to know?
“Logan was sleeping on the couch when I came over, and I heard him talking,” she explained, grinning with an I’ve-got-a-secret elusiveness.
I sighed. “Why would I want to know that two years from now, especially if I’m not even with him then?”
Her smile faltered as she thought it over. “I guess if it were me, I’d want to know.”
What the hell did he say? She was right—I did want to know, and now I’d have to wait two long years to find out. I sucked in a deep breath and blew out a heavy sigh. “All right.”
Julia sat up straighter, unable to control her excitement. “Great, and when I win, which I will, you have to name your first daughter after me.”
“What!?” Oh, she had to be kidding!
“Ahhh.” She wiggled her finger at my flabbergasted expression. “See, you are a little worried I’ll win this.”
“No, it’s just…” My first daughter? A child? With Logan? My head began spinning.
“Come on, at least the middle name,” Julia drawled.
“What’s your middle name?” Why did it matter? Logan and I were not having a daughter—or any kids, for that matter.
“Not telling.” She gave a cheeky wink. “Got to be able to trust your future sister-in-law,” she teased.
“You’re positively insane!” I giggled at her antics. “But why not?”
We shook on it, and I slurped down the rest of my cold cocoa.
“So, any plans for tomorrow night—the big V Day?” she asked, leaning back in her chair.
“Luke, Caleb’s brother, called earlier and asked me to hang out for the night. He’s bringing over pizza.” Her head snapped back in my direction accusingly. “As friends. He’s dateless as well,” I clarified, not that it was needed. I was very much single, although I felt far from unattached.
“Really?” I noticed the pink of her cheeks deepen. God knew Luke liked her, and he hadn’t even been officially introduced. Did she have an eye for him as well?
With an inquisitive stare, I regarded her with a crooked, knowing smile. She caught it, then looked down at her lap sheepishly. Who was this girl, and since when was she bashful?
Picking a piece of invisible lint from her jeans, she added, “I mean, he’s cute. I guess I expected him to be in a relationship.”
Yeah, she was interested, all right. It was a shame she was still dating my ex-dumbass. Or was she?
“Nope, he’s single. It’s a shame, though, because he’s a really nice guy. He just needs to find the right girl,” I said.
“Yeah. So, does Logan know?” She looked up and out at the row of trees across my backyard.
“That Luke’s single? Not sure he’d care.” I lifted my shoulders and made a face.
Julia shot me a smile and giggled. “That you’re not his date for Valentine’s.”
Oh, that. He might care about that, but then again, he hadn’t asked. “No, but he never asked.”
“You wanted him to.”
“I never said that.”
“You didn’t have to.” With a wider smile, she added, “Next year, he’ll make up for missing it.”
“Next year, he’ll be moved on to another girl,” I retorted immediately.
The moment she opened her mouth to reply, Logan appeared from around the corner of my house.
“Oliver’s ready to go,” he said, interrupting our challenging stares.
Did he hear us? He had to have heard at least my last statement.
Julia stood. “I’ll be calling Katie to set up a night out, or maybe a girls’ weekend to Vegas this summer.”
I didn’t have a chance to do anything other than laugh to myself before she was skipping away happily, humming to herself.
“Hi,” Logan said softly, looking down at me wrapped in a flannel blanket on the porch chair.
“Hi,” I repeated with the same thoughtfulness. He looked amazing as always in his black wool pea coat with a dark work suit underneath.
“How are you feeling this morning?” His blatant glance to my crotch heated the blood in my cheeks.
“Better,” I replied softly, regretting looking up to meet his humorous gaze.
“That’s good to hear.” The corner of his lip twitched. “I wanted to ask about Valentine’s, but I overheard you have plans already.”
I took in his intimidating stance in front of me. He held himself with such grace, strength, and power, and here I sat with bedhead and a crotch slathered with balm. It suddenly felt like we were polar opposites, defying the odds by enabling our attraction.
He was watching my every uncomfortable move as my mind reeled back to wondering how long he’d been listening to his sister and me. The idea of him overhearing us put me back on track with words ready to aim his way.
“You were eavesdropping? How shady is that!?” I said, clearly offended and overly appalled.