Free Temptation in Texas: A Christmas Special by Lynda Chance Page B

finally, inspiration had struck when she
she’d been up in the attic rummaging through the Christmas
decorations. Immediately, she’d called several contracting
companies, and the man who was coming in a few minutes would give
her the last estimate, and then all she’d have to do was choose the
company she wanted and the work would begin.
    Seriously, this was going to be the best freaking
present she’d ever given Logan!
     
    ****
     
    Logan pulled into his Houston area neighborhood at
eleven-forty-five . . . less than four hours from Dallas, not damn
bad. For him, it was always faster to drive than to catch a flight.
By the time he found parking at the airport, went through security
and finally boarded, he could have been halfway to Dallas County.
Besides, he enjoyed driving more than flying. He liked to be in
control of the vehicle, in control of the situation around him.
Flying took that away from him, so he only took flights when the
distance was too extreme to drive.
    As he drove down the street and visualized the
pleasure he’d see in Lauren’s eyes when he walked in a full day
early, a sizzle of heat rolled through his gut and landed with an
impact in his groin. Sexual anticipation raced through his blood as
his fists tightened on the steering wheel.
    But when his house came into sight, an unfamiliar
dark grey SUV sat in the driveway, blocking his usual space in
front of the garage door. With a slight frown of unease, he parked
behind Lauren’s car and instead of walking in through the back
door, which was his norm, he went up the path to the front door and
twisted the handle.
    It was locked. Sudden nerves shot up his spine and
quelled any residual desire he’d been feeling. Using his key, he
opened the door and walked inside the quiet house.
    Calling Lauren’s name and getting no answer, his
nerves quickly escalated into a cold sweat. Since there was an
unknown car in the driveway, as well as Lauren’s vehicle, she
should have been right there, in the living room or the kitchen
area, the places where they entertained.
    Quickly glancing around, his eyes fell to the sofa
and the sight of her purse, on its side, with her wallet and
checkbook lying on the floor, had fear grabbing him by the throat.
Her cell phone, half under the sofa, pierced him with a cold blade
of terror as sheer, black fear for her safety coursed like ice
through his veins. She never went anywhere without that cell
phone.
    Forcing himself to retain his sanity and not let the
panic he was feeling immobilize him, he pushed through the main
rooms one at a time. He glanced out the back windows to the
swimming pool area, but the yard seemed deserted as well. As he
heard a noise coming from the attic, stark fear for her safety
grabbed his heart and viciously squeezed. Fear congealed in his
stomach like a lead weight as he walked to the hallway with four
quick strides. The attic ladder was down, and in two seconds flat,
he was pushing his way to the floor above.
    The bare bulb hanging from the rafters was glowing,
the area fairly well lit, but at first glance, he didn’t see
anyone. The area was huge, encompassing the entire space above
their ranch style house. He knew he’d heard a noise earlier, and
now, fisting his hands at his sides, he heard another and swung
around to confront it. When he first realized that his wife was
safe, his initial emotion was overwhelming relief, but coming
swiftly on its heels was a raw stroke of anger. Not quite believing
what he was seeing, and certainly not understanding it, he stared
at Lauren, lying flat on her stomach, facing away from him, with a
man beside her, who lay flat on his stomach as well. They weren’t
touching, but they were side-by- fucking -side, sequestered
way back under the eaves, and Logan felt his temper ignite and
explode, the stark fear he’d felt only moments before fueling his
temper into the stratosphere. “What the fuck’s going
on?”
    At his bark, he was gratified to see Lauren