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shadow her until she finds someone to keep her safe."
"I think I'll call one of the members of my kiss to come and take her home.
He can protect her as well as keep her entertained."
Logansat on the bed long after James and Dara left him alone with his
thoughts. He knew Charity was just using him and he knew he'd done the right
thing. So why did he feel so miserable? At times like this, he missed his old
self.The self who could walk away from a woman without regrets or conscience.
But he also knew he couldn't raise a child while he was living a lie.
He dropped his head into his hands and did something he hadn't done since his
mother died. He prayed.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Loganstepped into the cockpit of the private plane and slipped into the
co-pilot's seat. He buckled himself in and then glanced over at Ariel, who
expertly operated the controls. After searching for something to say to break
the silence, he said, "Can all gargoyles fly planes?" All that had come out of
his mouth since they'd boarded the plane had been one-liners and lame
icebreakers.
Ariel laughed, the sound of it bubbled over his skin in the enclosed space.
"No. But a few years back a foreign diplomat we were protecting took flying
lessons. So, I got to learn along with him."
Another heavy silence fell between them andLogan grimaced. After her sisters
told her about the discussion he'd had with Charity, he'd hoped for a more
intimate feeling between them. It was as if Ariel held him at arm's length for
some reason, but he could tell it was with reluctance. He shifted in his seat
to face her and tried again. "I'm surprised the others didn't want to wait an
extra day and go back on the private plane - there's enough room for ten or
twenty people back there." He nodded his head toward the back of the plane.
When Ariel didn't respond, he tried again. "And thanks for staying with me.
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It's easier for me to be available now than to wait for a space in Tim's
schedule."
Ariel glanced over at him, her face lit with excitement. "Are you kidding?
It's not every day a girl gets to meet Tim McGraw. It was really sweet of him
to sign those autographs for me to take to my sisters." She returned her gaze
to the equipment panel and flipped a large toggle switch in front of her,
whichLogan suspected had something to do with altitude. "Besides, it's
probably best if you and Charity aren't on the same plane until she cools
down." The cool tone in her voice was obvious.
"So you did hear about that. I wondered since you didn't say anything." When
silence descended in the cockpit again, he sighed.Should've stayed away from
that subject. He turned toward the window to see fluffy white clouds sail by.
They looked like soft swirls of cotton candy and they were so close, he
thought he could reach out and grab one.
Finally, Ariel cleared her throat. "Are you going to write that song for
Tim?"
Grateful to have another chance at a conversation,Logan answered."Probably.
But I told him it wouldn't be ready for his next album. I have a few other
songs already in my head I need to get down on paper before they are
gone."Mostly songs inspired by you &
When he glanced over at her, it worried him to see her face devoid of color.
He touched her arm and confirmed his suspicions. Her skin was clammy and cool
to the touch."Ariel? Are you okay?"
She didn't turn her head to look at him, only nodded and swallowed
deliberately before answering. "Would you mind grabbing some of that tea in
the black tin out of the galley and bringing me some hot water? I think I'm
still getting over my& cold."
He detected the slight hesitation before the word "cold," which only
assuredLogan she kept something from him. But confronting her now when things
were still fragile between them didn't seem like a good way to get her to open
up. When she was ready to trust him again,Logan was confident she'd confide in
him. And now that he'd straightened things out with Charity, they had all the
time in the world.
Loganreturned with the tea a few minutes later and handed her the steaming
cup.
Ariel flipped another toggle switch on the console he assumed was the
autopilot since the controls began to move on their own. She held the mug
between her cupped hands as if basking in the warmth emanating through the
ceramic.
After blowing away the steam, she sipped tentatively and then sighed.
Almost immediately, her color began to return and the knot that had formed
inside his stomach began to loosen. "Wow, that's fast-working tea."
She nodded and took another sip."Alonna's recipe for supernatural health."
Loganabsently rubbed the spot on his inner thigh where Alonna's permanent
purple lip prints remained. "I'm glad she gave you something that helped."And
yours isn't even permanent .
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He relaxed against his seat and began to study the cockpit. There were
hundreds of gauges, knobs and levers, some of which he could decipher with
common sense or from various movies he'd seen. But others reminded him of
being inside an alien spaceship and they looked foreign and ominous.
The gentle sounds of Ariel's sips were the only punctuation to the drone of
the engines, and for the first time since he'd boarded, the silence settled
between them comfortable and warm.
The mountains in the distance grew larger and he returned his attention to
inside the cockpit. Maybe she'd be willing to teach him to fly. It looked like
just as much fun as driving his cars.
Suddenly a loud popping sound startled him, remindingLogan of the pop gun he
had as a boy. The plane shuttered and a wrenching sound shimmied through the
metal beneath his feet. Then without warning, the plane lurched to the left,
smoke and the sound of rushing wind filling the air around them. Pain seared
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