she knew she wasn’t going to be allowed to pull free and walk away in regal splendor. Better not to
cause a scene by trying it.
„Hilary,“ Crawford began determinedly. „You’ve got it all wrong, dear, I…“
„Your guests are waiting, Crawford,“ she reminded him.
„Yes,“ he agreed resignedly. He hesitated and then asked carefully, „Is the invitation for tomorrow night still on?“
„Hardly,“ she began, the temper simmering just under the surface beginning to show. „I’m sure you’ll
understand…“
„We’ll be there at six-thirty,“ Logan interrupted brutally, turning to Crawford. „Don’t worry, I’ll take care of her
tonight. You’d better get back to your table.“
Crawford met Logan’s eyes in a man to man look which left Hilary totally out. „Yes,“ the older man finally said
thoughtfully, nodding his handsome, silver head, „I think you are the one who’s going to take care of my daughter. If
you survive the next few hours, that is!“ The last words were added with an abrupt, masculine smile which drew an
answering, rueful one from Logan.
„See you tomorrow night, Hilary,“ Crawford said swiftly and Hilary, who was madly formulating plans to be out the
next night, said nothing.
She continued to keep silent until it became apparent that Logan had every intention of reseating her at the small
table they had been using earlier.
„Please take me home, Logan,“ she said stiffly, refusing to accept the chair he was dutifully holding.
„Why?“ he demanded, meeting her eyes bluntly. „How has anything changed? You claimed you knew the facts all
along.“
„Knowing I’m part of a business deal and having that information announced to the world in a cocktail lounge are
two different things!“ she snapped. „I want to go home. If you won’t take me I’ll call a cab. Or Kevin,“ she added
spitefully. The last drew a quick response.
„I’ve told you you’re not going to see Thorne again so don’t go making rash statements,“ Logan grated. „Don’t
worry, I’ll take you home if you’re certain it’s what you want…“
„It is!“
„Keep that in mind,“ he told her enigmatically, collecting her shawl from the back of the chair.
Hilary refused to look at him, sweeping toward the front door of the lounge with an angry stride. Never had her
temper been so fully aroused.
„Don’t you think you ought to ask yourself why you’re so furious, Hilary?“ Logan suggested softly, holding the
car door for her.
„I’ve told you…“ she began seethingly, flashing a simmering glance up at him as she got into the vehicle.
„I know, but I don’t believe you.“ He closed the door with a small slam. A moment later he slid in beside her, his
large frame making the car suddenly seem very confining. Hilary felt a shaft of unease. He was so big, so much
stronger…
Grimly she took a hold on her stirring imagination. Logan was a civilized man. He wouldn’t hurt her. She certainly
had nothing to fear from him. After all, he would have to answer to Crawford. There would be no restaurants…
In spite of the reassurances to herself, the silent drive back up the hill to her home had never seemed longer. Hilary
wanted so badly to be alone to ask herself how she could have come so close to being taken in by a smooth-talking
businessman. She refused to think about what might have happened if she hadn’t overheard her father’s comments.
What if she had become even more enmeshed in Logan’s spell before confirming the truth? And spell was what it was,
she reminded herself sadly. Even now when she should be experiencing nothing but loathing for the man the
uppermost thought in her mind was how wonderful it might have been if matters were different.
Logan, who had made no further efforts to break Hilary’s self-imposed silence, parked the car in front of her
condominium and swung open his door.
„There’s no need to see me inside,“ Hilary
cause a scene by trying it.
„Hilary,“ Crawford began determinedly. „You’ve got it all wrong, dear, I…“
„Your guests are waiting, Crawford,“ she reminded him.
„Yes,“ he agreed resignedly. He hesitated and then asked carefully, „Is the invitation for tomorrow night still on?“
„Hardly,“ she began, the temper simmering just under the surface beginning to show. „I’m sure you’ll
understand…“
„We’ll be there at six-thirty,“ Logan interrupted brutally, turning to Crawford. „Don’t worry, I’ll take care of her
tonight. You’d better get back to your table.“
Crawford met Logan’s eyes in a man to man look which left Hilary totally out. „Yes,“ the older man finally said
thoughtfully, nodding his handsome, silver head, „I think you are the one who’s going to take care of my daughter. If
you survive the next few hours, that is!“ The last words were added with an abrupt, masculine smile which drew an
answering, rueful one from Logan.
„See you tomorrow night, Hilary,“ Crawford said swiftly and Hilary, who was madly formulating plans to be out the
next night, said nothing.
She continued to keep silent until it became apparent that Logan had every intention of reseating her at the small
table they had been using earlier.
„Please take me home, Logan,“ she said stiffly, refusing to accept the chair he was dutifully holding.
„Why?“ he demanded, meeting her eyes bluntly. „How has anything changed? You claimed you knew the facts all
along.“
„Knowing I’m part of a business deal and having that information announced to the world in a cocktail lounge are
two different things!“ she snapped. „I want to go home. If you won’t take me I’ll call a cab. Or Kevin,“ she added
spitefully. The last drew a quick response.
„I’ve told you you’re not going to see Thorne again so don’t go making rash statements,“ Logan grated. „Don’t
worry, I’ll take you home if you’re certain it’s what you want…“
„It is!“
„Keep that in mind,“ he told her enigmatically, collecting her shawl from the back of the chair.
Hilary refused to look at him, sweeping toward the front door of the lounge with an angry stride. Never had her
temper been so fully aroused.
„Don’t you think you ought to ask yourself why you’re so furious, Hilary?“ Logan suggested softly, holding the
car door for her.
„I’ve told you…“ she began seethingly, flashing a simmering glance up at him as she got into the vehicle.
„I know, but I don’t believe you.“ He closed the door with a small slam. A moment later he slid in beside her, his
large frame making the car suddenly seem very confining. Hilary felt a shaft of unease. He was so big, so much
stronger…
Grimly she took a hold on her stirring imagination. Logan was a civilized man. He wouldn’t hurt her. She certainly
had nothing to fear from him. After all, he would have to answer to Crawford. There would be no restaurants…
In spite of the reassurances to herself, the silent drive back up the hill to her home had never seemed longer. Hilary
wanted so badly to be alone to ask herself how she could have come so close to being taken in by a smooth-talking
businessman. She refused to think about what might have happened if she hadn’t overheard her father’s comments.
What if she had become even more enmeshed in Logan’s spell before confirming the truth? And spell was what it was,
she reminded herself sadly. Even now when she should be experiencing nothing but loathing for the man the
uppermost thought in her mind was how wonderful it might have been if matters were different.
Logan, who had made no further efforts to break Hilary’s self-imposed silence, parked the car in front of her
condominium and swung open his door.
„There’s no need to see me inside,“ Hilary
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