Page 124 of Poet & Protector

My phone buzzed again. I was starting to wish I’d told someone where I was. Though it wasn’t like they could rescue me if I sent up an SOS.

Louise opened one of the doors and stepped aside, indicating I should enter without her. As soon as I was through the door it closed at my back, leaving me in a short hall, which I guessed was some kind of entryway.

That tracked. Keepers were the sort who would have bedrooms with foyers.

I stood just beyond the doors, wondering if I should keep going or wait.

Before I could decide, Logan ambled into view.

“Mason.” He walked up to me, his smile warm and open, which rattled me. It was a very un-Logan expression. “I’m so glad you could come.”

I…what? He said it like he’d extended an invitation and I accepted.

Were the elder Banes supposed to ask me if I wanted to go with them? Did I have a choice about being here? I doubted it.

“Sure,” I replied.

“May I show you my room?” Logan asked.

Again…what the fuck?

“If you like,” I said, because how else was I supposed to respond?

No, Logan, I do not want to see your room or be in your house at all. You scare the hell out of me. Thank you very much; I’ll be leaving now.

He motioned for me to follow him. The short hall led into a giant room with a vaulted ceiling that was at least twelve feet high. Three or four…more like five of my bedrooms could fit in here. Beyond the entryway was a broad open space with couches and chairs arranged in front of a sleek built-in fireplace that ran the length of one wall. A small dining area with a table and four chairs was nearby, as was a wet bar built from lacquered inlaid wood; an array of crystal decanters sat atop it.

The rest of the room had a writing desk, bookshelves, a pool table, and four arcade cabinets that looked vintage. And, okay, the arcade games were very cool, but not cool enough to change how I felt about being in Logan’s room.

At the far end of the space, an enormous bed sat alongside floor-to-ceiling windows that looked over Vail in the valley below. An entrance to what I assumed was an en-suite was across from the bed.

I was going to stay as far away from that side of the room as I could manage.

“I mean, I guess it’s all pretty self-explanatory,” Logan was saying.

I realized he’d been talking while I’d been gawking. Hopefully, I hadn’t missed anything vital.

“It’s great,” I said.

He smiled again and it was as weird as the first time.

Logan’s trademark arrogance had vanished. He seemed almost shy as he looked at me, then looked away. I also noticed that while he wore his customary designer t-shirt and jeans, he’d added a hoodie and was barefoot. His hair was more mussed than usual and his sunglasses were nowhere to be seen.

“Can I get you anything?” he asked. “I have…Well, to be honest, I have everything. What would you like?”

For a moment I thought about making a really off the wall request to see if he did indeed have everything.

Instead, I said, “A Coke would be great.”

“No problem.”

He went to the bar. There must have been a fridge built into it because he ducked down and a moment later he was popping the cap off a frosted glass bottle of Coca-Cola.

“Thanks,” I said when he brought it to me.

I took a few quick swallows. It was something to do.

“Don’t be shy about asking for something stronger,” Logan said, a teasing note in his voice.