Auctioned By The Ceo novel Chapter 19

Logan grinned and shrugged.

“I was very impressed by that resume by the way. It’s how I knew this auction idea of yours would work. Of course, I didn’t plan on this.” He gestured between them and rather enjoyed the way Hannah’s cheeks turned pink.

“So, this wasn’t all just an exercise in getting into my knickers then?” she asked.

Logan threw his head back and laughed.

“No, though once I saw you up for auction I had to have you.” He sobered and tapped her nose. “Just for tonight, of course. I meant what I said about this having no effect on our standing at work.”

Hannah blew out a breath and nodded.

“Right, well, it’s late, or should that be early? We should probably get some sleep. I’ll be out of your hair the minute they bring me my clothes in the morning.”

“There’s no rush.” Even to his own ears the words sounded hollow. Hannah must have thought the same because she shook her head.

“Oh, but there is. I wouldn’t want Rhia to get the wrong idea. We both know what tonight was, so let’s leave it at that.”

Logan nodded, surprised and irritated by the pang he felt at her words. It was usually him delivering the speech. Hearing her sum up what they’d shared as though it was nothing out of the ordinary grated. Then again, for all he knew she did this all the time. He had no idea about Hannah Watson’s private life, and his previous assumptions about her had been all wrong. The thought of his little dove indulging in an active sex life, quite possibly of a kinky sort, made his blood boil. It wasn’t like him to be possessive, and he was all too aware of the double standard, but fuck him.

“What happened to your mother, I mean?” The minute he asked that question he wanted to take that back, because Hannah’s face dropped. What the hell was he doing, asking personal questions like that?

“Forget, I ask, it’s none of my business, after all, and you’re right, we should get some sleep. You can use the main bedroom. I’ll stay with Rhia. That way I’ll be on hand if she has another nightmare.”

Hannah nodded.

“That sounds a good plan. As for my mother, she went the way most addicts go. Died of an overdose.” He whistled through his teeth, and she shrugged. “It was always going to happen, well that, or she’d have been beaten to death by one of her boyfriends. If I had a penny for every time she thought herself ‘in lurve’.” She mimed quotation marks around those two words and winced.

“Every new one was going to the ‘the one’. Beyond ridiculous really, but she did do me one favor. It cured me of looking for love. Lust, well that’s true enough. Not sure I believe in love anymore.”

A wealth of hidden pain came through with those words, and Logan shifted on his feet. This was all a bit too close to home, but it sure as hell explained her reaction to his situation.

“Anyway, it’s all ancient history. I couldn’t help her, but I saved my sister.” Her face lit up in a smile. “She recently graduated, is a teacher at that school I mentioned by the way, so ask after Sarah Watson if you decide to go down that route. Tell her I sent you, and she’ll get Rhia in. They usually have long waiting lists, but they always make room for special cases, and you know, they need a new roof. It leaks, so I’m sure a generous donation will help to persuade the head teacher to find a space, too.” She winked at Logan, and he laughed.

“Money talks and all that, right?”

“Right, anyway, that’s enough of my sad story. If I don’t see you in the morning, thank you for … well you know.”

There she went with that endearing blush again, but before he could say or do anything, she’d walked away. The click of the bedroom door sounded too loud in the quiet night air, and Logan did the only sensible thing he could do under the circumstances. Joined his niece and tried his best to forget all about little Hannah Watson.