Free Newborn Conspiracy by Delores Fossen Page A

Or this house," he said, using his cup to motion around the room."But I don’t want to get into a footrace with some badass who can outrun me because of this bum leg."

    Mia searched for another objection. There had to be one, but it didn’t immediately come to mind."You’re certain that the injury is permanent?"

    He nodded, sending Mia’s pulse and her fears galloping out of control. Because of Logan’s injury and his future job plans, she could no longer have any career objections to his fatherhood.
    But she sure as heck could have other objections.

    “I wanted a baby," she said."I planned to have one. I never planned on having a father in the picture because I’m not much of a relationship person."
    She hated that she sounded a little hysterical, even irrational, but damn it, her well-planned life was falling apart—again.

    “I’m sorry," He sounded genuine, leaned closer. So close that she caught his scent—spicy deodorant soap and a musky, manly aftershave, “I wish I could make you feel safe."

    Safe?
    That wasn’t it. That wasn’t why she objected to him.
    Or was it?
    Just like that, she was fifteen again and all those horrible images and thoughts came flooding back. Her life had been almost perfect then. Plans for dating, college and travel. She had a phone book filled with friends’ numbers.
    And then, she’d blown it.
    “I don’t think anyone can make me feel safe." she admitted and hated that her voice actually cracked.

    He reached out and slid his hand over hers, “You weren’t responsible for what happened to your parents."

    It was an old argument, one she’d heard dozens of times. An argument she’d never been able to believe."I met those two boys at the mall that day. I was attracted to one of them. Because he had that whole bad-boy, biker attitude. We talked. I flirted, a lot. I invited him over." Mia had to pause a moment."He came and brought his friend with him. And then later, he came again. That time he broke in."

    Logan sipped his coffee and studied her."You think because you flirted with him and invited him to your house that you contributed to the crime?"

    “I know I did. If I hadn’t invited him, he wouldn’t have been there."

    “You don’t know that. He was a killer. He might have targeted you the moment he saw you in the mall. He might have come after you even if you hadn’t flirted with him"

    “There are a lot of mights in that." Because she couldn’t bear his intense gaze any longer, she looked away, “But I’d love to believe it. I’d love for the nightmares and phobias to stop."
    She moved her hand from his. Because she thought it was a good idea. Because she couldn’t do this. She couldn’t let these little heart-to-heart talks soften her feeling toward him.
    “I don’t usually talk about this," she said."With anyone."

    Logan nodded, leaned back in his chair and lounged again."Then I feel privileged that you talked about it with me."

    Alarms went off in her head. They told her to take a huge step away from him."I won’t make a mistake like that again. I won’t ever be attracted to another dangerous man."

    He just stared at her with those heavy-lidded sizzling-blue eyes. She figured those eyes alone had been responsible for many seductions. They were certainly responsible for the sudden warmth she was feeling.

    “All right," she finally said."I’ll try very hard not to be attracted to a dangerous man."
    And for some crazy reason, that confession made her smile. Sweet heaven, it was stupid, she’d just admitted to Logan that she was attracted to him and that was the last thing she should have done. That in-formation in his hands could be very… dangerous.
    Her smile was short-lived. But not the attraction. Mia could feel it—simmering, growing. Oh, yes, it was growing, even though she knew it shouldn’t.
    But she couldn’t stop it.

    Logan obviously couldn’t, either. He shook his head, as if trying to clear it, but that didn’t work.