Auctioned By The Ceo novel Chapter 29

Logan’s self-deprecating laughter filled the space between them.

“Hardly, I was a late developer, shall we say. Rick was always taller than me, so yeah, I guess he was the popular one. I was his little runt of a brother, the butt of the school jokes, because I’m the older twin by five minutes.” He shook his head and growled again. “I caught up of course and yeah, still not popular. Folks were afraid of me most of the time, especially once I joined Rick in the boxing ring, but this isn’t about me. You were telling me your story.”

Hannah knew a dismissal when she heard one but even that little glimpse into his childhood made her feel closer to him. Logan wasn’t a man to share confidences, and that he had told her this much, meant far too much to her.

Remember, none of this is real.

Surely, if she repeated that mantra in her head often enough it would eventually take root and squash those little insistent seeds of hope that refused to go away. Like weeds they came back time and time again, no matter how hard she tried to pull them out. This wedding was a means to an end, that’s all.

Logan put on his indicators, and to her horror started to pull into a layby and slowed down.

“What are you doing?” She grimaced at the high-pitched tone of her voice, but, surely, he wouldn’t.

“I told you what would happen if you didn’t talk so…”

“Jesus, fine, I’ll tell you. Please, just drive.”

Logan crawled along for a few meters, before he accelerated, and indicating right, joined the A-road again.

“You weren’t popular, because…” he prompted.

“Well, we moved a lot for starters. It’s hard always being the new girl, especially when you have

to wear a secondhand uniform that doesn’t fit properly. Forget when people find out who your mum is. I used to hate her coming to parents’ evening. She always smelled of booze, and she was an embarrassment, you know.”

She risked a glance at his closed off profile, and he nodded just once.

“I can’t say I know. My mum always tried her best for us. It was more us who turned into an embarrassment for her, or rather a constant worry. We both got into trouble a lot, when we were younger.” He shrugged, but the white-knuckled grip he had on the steering wheel told its own story. Hannah thought it wisest not to probe that hornets’ nest too much, and carried on with her own sorry tale of woe.

“Fucking wanker.” Logan’s murmured swearing made her laugh again.

“Yeah, I can see that now, but back then it stung. I guess I should be grateful that my embarrassing dance moves saved me from that ultimate horror. They planned to film it all, had it all set up, you see. Such a blasted cliché. Anyway, that’s my tale of woe. It took me a long time to feel comfortable in my own body after that, but I got there eventually. I’ll never be a model stick-insect type men seem to like, but I’ll do, I guess.”

The slap to her thigh came out of nowhere, and she jumped.

“What was that for?”

“That was for doubting yourself. I heard that wobble in your voice, and just so we’re clear.” His voice dropped an octave, and Hannah’s stomach fell to her boots along with it, because really, that was just so damn sexy. “I and countless other men appreciate a woman with curves. Personally speaking, I love something to hold onto when I fuck. Doesn’t mean I’m not attracted to thin girls. All shapes and sizes are beautiful in their own ways, but it’s what’s inside a person that counts.”

Hannah was tempted to argue that, but his attention was taken up by joining the Motorway, and visibility was horrendous due the weather conditions, so she kept quiet. While Logan was an excellent driver, he didn’t need the distractions. Besides, the steady movement of the car soon had her fighting a yawn. She hadn’t exactly slept well the night before—too nervous about her imminent nuptials—so the lack of sleep was catching up with her now.

Perhaps she could just close her eyes a little…