Chasing Ava: A Bachelor of Shell Cove Novel (The Bachelors of Shell Cove) (4 page)

How did he know she needed him?
Where did you come from
, her eyes questioned. What did it matter? His presence was the distraction she needed to deliver herself from the clutches of Randall.
She mentally grabbed hold of the verbal rope he threw, tied a knot and hung on. Normally, his presence would trigger a hasty retreat. For the first time, she didn’t want him to keep his distance. This was the night for surprises.
 

“Yes,” she stammered, “I apologize for not returning to you sooner. The city lights are so beautiful underneath the stars. The lovely view distracted me. I know better than to linger when I have someone waiting for me. Thank you for coming over. I might have been stuck here all night.” She swung her eyes in Randall’s direction in rapid sequence hoping Logan would pull her to safety.
Please get rid of him
she pleaded with her eyes.
 

“I should have returned before you had to search the ballroom for me.”
From stammering to rambling, stop Ava
.
The Three Stooges could understand the situation.
 

Logan was no fool. A calculating look crossed his face, followed by a narrowed hard glare aimed at her captor.
A sigh of relief fell
from her lips
.
He understood the precarious position Randall had created by pinning her against the wall with his beefy body.
 
“The view is breathtaking,” Logan agreed with his stormy green eyes fixed on her again. He extended his well-manicured hand, encouraging her to release the death grip on her shoulder.
 

There was no hesitation as she grabbed hold of his hand, holding tight.
 

Randall got the message and dropped his arm away from the wall. A firm, yet gentle grip closed around her much smaller one as Logan pulled her into his side. It appeared that was the only option to free her, as Randall’s substantial sized wing-tipped shoes remained anchored to the hardwood flooring.
 
“Have a nice night, Randall.” He looked Randall squarely in the eye. The message was clear. Randall’s presence was unwanted.
 

There was definitely some silent communication happening between Logan and Randall. Both men appeared tense and war ready. Whatever was going on between the two men as they stood facing off, Logan was the clear winner. Ava could tell the minute Randall decided he was no longer the alpha male in the scenario. He took a slow step back, eyes surveying Logan then her. The corners of his mouth rose into a wide, faux smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
 
“See you soon, Ava.” Randall’s voice was steely and flat.

Ava didn’t focus on Randall as he walked away. She felt like a gazelle that had outmaneuvered the cheetah. A brief smile crossed her face, looking down Logan was holding her hand.
 

The pad of his thumb made slow sweeps across her knuckles. It felt nice.
 

“Are you alright?” His voice was hypnotic, a warm wind tunnel cocooning her body.
His presence was tangible against her skin.

“I will be. Thank you for what you did.” The words were breathy to her ears. Relief coated each syllable. She was so grateful she could cry.
 

“You are very welcome. I could see you needed rescuing from across the room.” She glanced across the room taking in the throngs of merriment on the dance floor.

“I was at the bar with my brother and a family friend.” He turned in the direction of the bar. “I noticed you.”
 

She regarded him with open curiosity. He had noticed her through the crowd. How interesting.

“It’s hard to believe you spotted me and came over when you did.”

 
“You recognized my extraction technique and didn’t give me the deer in the headlights look. Your comeback lines were perfect.” He smiled down at her.
Stomach dip number two.
“You think on your feet. And I like the image of you returning to me.”
 

She swallowed, disconcerted at his compliment. In the far corners of her brain the “Logan alert” button was flashing exit now. She’d never allowed herself to be in his presence for a prolonged period of time. His eyes were more emerald than green, with rich bands of burnt amber. His smile was warm and calming. Everything about him was eye catching, vivid, and high definition.
Walk away. You don’t do relationships. Stop thinking about how good he looks.
 

“I am glad you have an emergency extraction protocol. He was making me…” She paused. “He was making me uncomfortable again.” She swallowed the fear that hovered at the border of her thoughts.
 

“You saved me. A victory for team pediatrics.” She tried to lighten the mood that had transitioned to something sober.

“We will have to decide on the spoils of victory.” She tried to laugh, but the reality that she needed a savior to get rid of a human parasite sent a shiver down her spine. What would have happened if Logan hadn’t intervened? The shiver morphed into all out trembling, the movements obvious and uncontrollable.
Not now.
Angling her body away from his direct view, trying to hide the tremors racking her body. Too late.
 

A spark of awareness flashed in his green orbs. “Ava?” He stepped into her field of view, looking her in the eyes. Concern and something more feral marred his handsome face. For some poorly understood reason she gripped him tighter to steady herself.

“What did he do to you?” His voice was low and menacing. His expression had transitioned from calm to thunderous.
 

“He cornered me. I didn’t do anything to get away.” She couldn’t stop trembling.
Keep it together, until you get home.
 

“Don’t say anymore. You are upset and he will answer to me.” He spun in the direction Randall had gone. Realizing his intent to confront Randall. She shook off the bad headspace she’d crashed landed into. How weak was she that someone else had to fight her battles?

She placed her hand on his forearm. She could feel the muscles in his forearm flex and release. She tightened her grip. “Logan, please. Don’t go after him.”
 

His steps halted. She could feel the tension in his muscles.
 

“I’m okay. He scared me.” Actually she’d been terrified. She pressed and released his forearm in comfort for both their sakes.
 

His gaze suddenly dropped to her hand resting on his arm. Had she done something wrong? He raised his head, their gazes locked. The golden ring circling his verdant eyes glowed with heat reminding her of slow burning coal in an open flame. She kept her hand steady on his muscled forearm though her insides turned to liquid.
 

 
He covered her now idle fingers with his large hand, curling the fingers protectively around hers. “You used my name.” A look of surprise, then something more primal framed his face.

“Yes, I did.” She touched her hair with her free hand to quell the surge of nervous flutter in her gut.
 

He moved closer to her. “You always refer to me by title. You don’t use titles for the other doctors, but you do with me.” She touched her hair once more before he secured both her hands in his.
 

“I know.”
She slipped up.
There was no escaping this one.

A drop dead, too gorgeous to live smile covered his full mouth. Ava’s heart rate increased by another ten beats. “You’re deliberately formal with me because you feel it too.” It was a statement. His chest appeared to expand by another four inches. This was dangerous territory for Ava. She parted her lips, then spoke the words she should the second she was free of Randall.
 

“I think I should call it a night.” She dropped her head forward, not wanting to see his response to her statement.
 

“I disagree. You came to have a good time. Let me help you with that.” Not looking up, she briefly closed her eyes willing her foolish heart not to consider the option.
 

Curiosity killed the cat, but Ava was certain the downward spiral started with temptation. The gaiety of the evening had been a needed change from her drab routine. It was a wondrous feeling to step outside of her guarded reality and experience the life of a normal twenty-six year old woman. A woman that didn’t suffer with elements of post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Call me Logan.” His right index finger came to rest under her chin. He slowly lifted her lowered head until their eyes met. “No more Dr. Masters.” He seemed as if he wanted to say more on the subject, but thought better of it. She felt a light tug on her hand.

“Come on, I want my dance.” That low, deep voice coupled with those full lips curved upward in a melt for me smile had her heart fluttering. His steady gaze and firm, yet gentle hand holding told her he was resolute in getting what he wanted.

 
This was her one night to have fun. Taking a dose of Logan’s determination, Ava decided she wouldn’t surrender this moment because of Randall. Male predators had taken too much from her. She would dance with a man whose mere presence penetrated the numbing haze that was her life.
 

“Okay,” she replied in what sounded like a sure voice. With that one simple word the night’s energy pulsed in her veins. The sense of liberation swallowed the earlier darkness. For the first time since Randall’s retreat she could feel the vibrations of the music moving through her body. It felt good. Better yet, it felt great. “We can do whatever you want.”
 

Where the heck had that come from?
Being near Logan brought out bravado that had abandoned her long ago. A genuine smile spread across her face for the second time. She was okay. She inhaled a deep, shuddered breath releasing the final remnants of Randall from her mind. She was safe. Logan must have sensed the direction of her thoughts.
 

“He won’t get near you,” he said with a set jaw. The words held such authority she had no choice but to accept them as truth. She nodded her head in acceptance.
 

“One more thing.” She looked up expectantly. The way he slowly studied her made her smile slip briefly. “Don’t say anything you don’t mean Ava. I will hold you to it.” Though delivered in a playful banter there was no mistaking the ring of truth in his voice.

She gave a shaky laugh because she didn’t know what else to do. “Don’t hold me to a million dollar marker or anything close to it. Remember, I’m a nurse, not a pediatric surgeon.”
 

He was still studying her when she noticed her hand rested protectively in his.
She started to pull back and his grip tightened. “Stay.” The sensuality in his tone took her by surprise. Her body quickened at the soft play of his fingers along her knuckles. Being near him left her exposed and reactive to her need.
 

“Excuse me?” Inhaling a deep breath to clear her rattled brain only heightened the response. Now she was busy cataloging every trace element of his scent. She had never behaved this way with a man.
 

“It’s my responsibility to keep you safe. To do that, I need you close.” The way he said
close
had her gaze roaming from his lips down his biceps to their joined hands, then back up to meet his crooked smile. Was she that obvious?
Yes.
She needed to put all the raging hormone pills back in the bottle before she danced with him.
 

“Okay Logan, come and get me when they play a fast song. I’ll be at that table.” He couldn’t know which table she referred to without her pointing it out. She tugged her arm backwards trying to extricate her hand. His grip tightened.

“I have you now, why would I let you go?” At her quick, indrawn breath, he chuckled.
 

It was an excellent question to which she had no reply. An “um” escaped her lips before she could seal them.
Say something bold and sophisticated.
She looked up at him, and that was a mistake. The carnality in his expression undid her. The desire she saw on his face was the opposite of calming. It had her insides flipping, tumbling, and sinking.
 

“This is a nice song. Come with me.” He moved toward the dance area, with her falling instep behind him. The late Luther Vandross crooned
So Amazing to be Loved
in the background.
 

Focused on what she would say to Logan during the dance, Ava didn’t noticed the slight incline leading to the dance floor until it was too late. The toe of her shoe met with the incline edge and stayed put while the rest of her body maintained its forward momentum. Her right forearm flew to her face in preparation for a crush landing that never came. Hard hands circled her waist before she felt hard muscle against her body.

“I’ve got you.” A brief glance up in those gorgeous green eyes and Ava had to agree. He had her. She took a moment to compose herself, inhaling a deep breath before moving a step back.
 

“Thank you.” She managed to push out in a shaky voice. “Hopefully, you won’t have to rescue me a third time in one night.” A wicked grin spread across his face and her heart did a back flip in her chest.

“The hero always gets the girl.” The breath in Ava’s lungs froze at the statement. He wasn’t asking a question because he knew. A tug at the hand he still held had her in motion as he navigated the dance floor. Avoiding the partygoers with all four limbs moving simultaneously and the soul train line enthusiasts, they joined the other couples at the margins of the floor. Some were young, maybe earlier twenties or so, some older, but all looked content to be in the arms of the one holding them.