Aern sighed. “Brianna, you can’t do this.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but it didn’t matter that I wasn’t doing it on purpose.
He pointed at a chair and said, “Sit.” I did as he asked, trying my best not to gawk at the other man in the room. The Logan. A short, breathless laugh escaped and Aern stopped what he was doing to glance at me. I smiled, hoping it didn’t appear as manic as it felt, and he returned to setting the table with my lunch, only shaking his head a little at my erratic behavior.
I watched them as they swept the room, discussing the existing and possible security measures. Aern’s arms were crossed, his gaze frequently coming back to meet mine, but I couldn’t look away.
I picked at the sandwich—prosciutto, oil, and cheese, now lukewarm—but I could barely taste it. He was roughly Aern’s height, but stouter. Or maybe he only seemed so in his dark, military style cargo pants and black T-shirt. There was a nylon belt crossing his waist, and it struck me where I’d seen a similar outfit. I struggled against the bite I’d taken, throat suddenly thick.
I’d forgotten about my attacker. I’d forgotten why this man was here.
To protect me.
I stared at him anew. He might have been the man from my visions, but he was a stranger. I knew nothing about him, and he … well, he would be even less acquainted with me.
The two men gripped each other’s forearms, and my stomach clenched. There was some unspoken message there, some entreaty, some promise, and then it was gone, their connection broken as they turned back to the room.
Logan stepped into the hall to speak with the guards, and Aern sat in the chair opposite me. “Are you well, Brianna?”
“Yes,” I said automatically. He watched me for a moment to be certain I wouldn’t change my answer.
“All right, then.” He stood, placing a hand on my shoulder and looking down at me. “You know how to reach me.”
I smiled. “I have your number.”
The corner of his mouth turned up and he patted my back on his way past. When he reached the door, he called over his shoulder, “Get some rest, Brianna.”
I turned, smiling, and caught Logan coming back into the room.
The intimacy of the smile meant for Aern suddenly felt awkward now, aimed at the familiar stranger, and it faltered, leaving an uncomfortable pause between me and this man who would be my babysitter. This Logan.
I cleared my throat, pointed toward the bedroom. “I’m going to lie down.”
He nodded, but said nothing until I’d crossed the room and my hand touched the brass lever.
“Brianna.”
He spoke to my back, but the sound of my name sounded different somehow; weightier, sweeter, more right, in his voice. I didn’t turn around.
“I’d rather you left the door open, if that’s all right with you.”
My fingers slipped off the lever and I glanced back, only briefly, as I walked into the darkness of my room.
Chapter Three
Concealed
I hadn’t slept at all. I had tried; counted sheep, backwards in Russian, muffled footsteps in the hall. Even my teeth. But all I could do was think of Logan. Of the prophecy. Of the man who’d nearly carted me out the window.
Logan hadn’t slept either, I decided, because though I’d never heard him, I’d seen his shadow pass the open door throughout the night. I’d seen him stop, staring at my still form, and I’d held my breath.
When I’d finally given up on rest, it was before dawn. I walked barefoot across the carpet into the sitting room—opulent in deep shades of blue and creamy white—and saw Logan standing in front of the sofa, arms crossed as he studied the painting. He didn’t turn as I approached, and my eyes traced every line of his form, lingering on strong arms, broad shoulders, and other bits here and there. I stopped beside him, gaze trained on the painting, though I could see, almost imperceptibly, the corner of his mouth twitch.
After a moment, he glanced at me. “What do you think?”
Automatically, my head tilted sideways as I considered the painting. “I like it,” I said. “Very much.”
He smiled then, only slightly, and I got the feeling he’d found my answer amusing. I couldn’t understand why.
“So,” he said, “breakfast?”
“Oh,” I glanced down at my cotton sleep pants, “I should get dressed.”
Logan touched my arm as I moved to go, and I stared up at him, immediately immobilized. “I’ll have them send something up.”