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LoVe Is A Strange Hotel

Veronica sat crossed legged on the floor and watched Logan expel some of the demons that were haunting him. He mumbled a lot as he worked the heavy bag, releasing bits of his anger with every punch. By the time they made it back to the suite, Logan was exhausted, but calm, and Veronica was starving.

She pulled out the room service book and started flipping. "Too late for lunch. Early dinner?" The prices on the dinner menu were outrageous, but they hadn't eaten breakfast, and she didn't think leaving the hotel for food would be a good idea.

Logan continued to chug water as he peered over her shoulder. "NY strip, medium rare. Baked potato with scour cream. Asparagus. Crème brulee." He hesitated. "I don't suppose you're going to let me order a bottle of wine or anything harder than apple juice?"

She reached behind her and patted his cheek. "Oooo, you're so smart."

"And you're such a tight-ass," he replied, but there wasn't even a trace of irritation in his voice. If she wasn't with him, he would have tossed the room, then gotten drunk, then probably tossed the room again. Instead he'd gone to the gym and now he was going to have a decent meal. Veronica was good for him in so many ways.

Veronica twisted on the couch so she could look up at him. "I'm not a tight-ass. And I'm not opposed to alcohol. I just don't see where getting drunk is going to solve anything. All your problems are still going to be here when you sober up."

Logan crouched down so he was eye level with her. There was a new edge to her voice. Something that started out a joke had turned very serious. "Are we still talking about me or did we segue way into your mother?" Veronica faced forward again and Logan sighed. "I heard she was back."

"And she's gone again." Veronica re-focused on the dinner menu in her lap. "They have French onion soup. I love French onion soup. Can I get two orders?"

"Order whatever you want, I don't care." Logan moved around to the front of the couch. "What do you mean she's gone again?"

Veronica ignored the question. "And a hot fudge sundae with extra whipped cream. I know, it's not an elite dessert like crème brulee, but there's nothing in the world a good old-fashioned hot fudge sundae can't cure."

Logan was sitting next to her now. He grabbed the menu out of her hands and threw it across the room. "It's not like you to avoid a difficult conversation, Mars. What happened with your mom?" He placed his hand on the back of her neck and she stiffened. Tense. He began massaging the muscles. "The trust thing? It's gotta go both ways, Veronica. If you can't trust me, we might as well end this now."

This was what annoyed Veronica the most about Logan. It wasn't the snarky comments. It wasn't the privileged attitude. It wasn't even his terrible temper. No, it was pointed, knowing observations. He'd summed up their fledgling relationship in one sentence. 'If you can't trust me, we might as well end this now.' Didn't he know she was supposed to be the one to take the direct approach? He was really stepping on her toes. She turned so she was facing him. "The short version? I paid for my mom to go rehab. I used my college money to do it. Ever penny I had saved. Last night, I pulled a bottle of water from the fridge, and when I drank it, I found out it was vodka, not water. I called the clinic and they told me she'd checked herself out. She didn't complete the program. I confronted her, told her she had to leave. Which she did, no argument. When I talked to my dad this morning, he asked me to deposit the reward check he got for bringing Duncan home. He hadn't had time to go to the bank and he hadn't been to the office to lock it in the safe. He didn't want to leave it laying around. But when I looked for it in his bag, it wasn't there. It took me all of three seconds to realize my mom stole it."

The check they were talking about earlier. Keith had said he knew it was difficult for Veronica to do. Now Logan understood why. He was almost scared to ask. "How much?"

"Fifty thousand dollars," Veronica told him flatly as she dropped into PI mode. She needed to distance herself from what her mother did. It was the only way she could discuss it. "It's a certified check, but it's made out to Keith Mars, so unless she's picked up some high-level forgery skills I don't know about, she doesn't have many options. She could open a joint account, forge dad's name and try to deposit it, but the bank is going to wait for it to clear before they allow her access to the funds. A forged ID might work, but it would have to be a damn god. We're talking way better than what you need to get into a bar. More like the stuff I do. And it's not like 'Keith' is an ambiguous name. A woman with that name is going to raise some eyebrows, and she can't afford any suspicion. If it was me, I'd probably find a male partner. A guy with access to forged IDs, and who could walk into a bank as Keith Mars. But if I picked the wrong guy, I run the risk of him stealing what I stole, or killing me outright. People kill for less all the time. And if he didn't steal the money or kill me, I'd have to split the take with him. Thirty-seventy sounds equitable to me - it is my check - but he'll probably want a fifty-fifty split. See that's the thing when you work with..."

Veronica kept going and Logan didn't try to stop her. He'd picked up enough in the past few weeks to know this was her process; she needed to think it out. But what he heard through her analytical analysis of the situation was she was afraid her mom was going to get arrested or killed. He wouldn't be surprised if she'd already started searching for the woman again. He made a mental note to ask Keith about it.

Okay, that was strange. He'd referred to her father as Keith and was already prepared to talk to the man about a touchy family issue. It was so... unlike him. Logan tilted his head as he re-examined the petite blonde in front of him. What had Veronica done it him? He'd already decided he wasn't drinking anytime soon, at least, not the full blowout he was known for. Not with her mom being an alcoholic. And he knew he was giving up sex for the foreseeable future, and it didn't bother him as much as he thought it would. She had him working out his aggression on a heavy bag instead of some random guy's face, and it had actually felt good. Since waking up with her staring down at him, he hadn't picked up the phone to call Dick or any of his friends. He'd called Trina and some extended family earlier, but that was it. Aaron had been arrested for killing Lilly, and Logan was... smiling.

But was it really him? Or was it just her reflection off of him? "Are you a witch?"

"- could get a conviction," Veronica was in the middle of saying, when the absurd question struck her. She played it back in her mind. No, that is what he said. While she'd been talking, she hadn't been paying attention to Logan. Now that she was, she noticed the thoughtful expression on his face. He was serious. "A witch? Not that I'm aware."

Logan hadn't meant to interrupt. The question had popped out before he could stop it. But it was out, so he continued. "There is definitely a witchy quality to you," he said as he toyed with the ends of her hair.

The ridiculous conversation was exactly what Veronica needed to derail thoughts of her mom. She rested her head in her hand and concentrated on Logan as hard as he was concentrating on her. "Was that witchy or bitchy?" she asked in an attempt to light his mood.

Logan cocked his eyebrow, and took a moment to consider. "You have to admit, you can be bitchy, but I said a witchy quality. With a 'W'. I think it's possible for you to get anyone to do anything you want. Which is extremely terrifying."

It was so far from the truth, Veronica had to laugh. Oh, how she wished she could get anyone to do anything she wanted. "I've been told it's the head tilt, but I think the hair flip is more potent. If it'll make you feel better, I'll promise to use my powers only for good." Logan looked doubtful. There was something going on behind his eyes, but Veronica couldn't catch a glimpse of it. "What are you thinking?"

Logan leaned forward and kissed her. It was more than a peck, but less than an assault. He touched her tongue with his, but he didn't plunder her mouth. When he was done, he rested his forehead against hers. "If I was a good man, I'd tell you to get as far away from me as possible."

Veronica pulled back completely. She cradled Logan's face in her hands and studied him, looking deep into his eyes, hoping to catch that glimpse so she could understand it. "You're a better man than you think you are, Logan."

Logan knew he was right; Veronica was a witch. She'd find the truth in him eventually, and when she did, she wasn't going to like it. But he still had the reflection of her distorting his truth and he was going to use it to protect her before it disappeared. "I know exactly the man I am. I'm going to end up hurting you. I don't want to, but it's going to happen." He stood abruptly and put needed distance between them. He couldn't look at her while he said it. "You'd be better off with Duncan."

In a heartbeat, Veronica was standing in front of him. She put her hands on the back of his head and forced him to look down at her. "I don't want Duncan. I want you, Logan. We've already hurt each other and we've gotten this far. I can take it. I fight back now. I'm not the nice, sweet, naive teenage girl I was before Lilly died. I'm persistent and mean and I can be a complete bitch. I have serious trust issues, and it takes a long time for me to let people in." She let him go and took a step back. "I thought you saw the real me. I thought you saw I was different. But if you think I can run back to Duncan like nothing has changed, I guess I was wrong."

Veronica saw the war raging in his eyes and she held her breath. She'd lost too many people, and now that she'd figured out she wanted Logan, she'd be damned if she lose him too. If she had to fight for him, she would, but she was tired of fighting all the time.

She was searching his eyes again. Logan had never see anyone search for the truth like Veronica did. He briefly wondered what it would be like to have those eyes searching his for the rest of his life. He warned her he wasn't a good man. He hadn't been raised by a good man. Who could expect him to turn out to be one? But he'd given her a chance to escape, and she refused to take it. She was going to regret that decision, but Logan was going to hold on to her as long as he could. Starting now. He pulled her back into his arms. "I see you, Ronnie. I've always seen you. Even when I didn't want to."

Veronica snaked her arms around his waist, relief flooding through her. "I see you too, Logan. Even when you try to bury yourself, I see you." It wasn't 'I love you', but for them, it was close. A shiver ran down Veronica's spine. Logan felt it and tightened his hold on her. She laid her head on his shoulder. "Stop scaring me. If you want to fight, we'll fight, but I don't want to do... this again."

Logan kissed the top her head. He realized he wasn't hundred percent sure what this was. Maybe the first moment of peace he'd experienced in over a year had confused him. Or enlightened him. He wasn't sure. "Keep calling me on my crap, Veronica. You're the only one who cares enough to do it."

She couldn't stop the sarcastic comment that came out next. "Would you be willing to say that into a recording device of some kind? I may need to play it back to you at certain points in the future."

Her remarks seemed to shift the world back to it's proper plain of existence. Whatever had driven Logan to start the strange conversation faded away. "What are you talking about? Did I say something?" Veronica slapped his back. Logan leaned down and kissed her loudly on the cheek. "I thought you were going to order food?"

"I was, but then I got distracted." Veronica picked up the menu from where it landed when Logan threw it. "You know, I'm giving up a lot for you. I really want shrimp cocktail, but I'm not going to order it."

Logan started towards his bathroom and the shower he knew he needed. "What does you not ordering shrimp cocktail have to do with me? I told you, get whatever you want."

Veronica snorted as she picked up the phone. "You're allergic to shellfish. I kiss you, and you go into anaphylactic shock. There's a fun date!" She waited for someone to answer the phone. " Hello. I'd like to place a room service order for suite 4007."

Logan whistled as he headed for the shower. Veronica remembered his allergy. What more could a guy ask from his girl?

--- VVV

When Logan walked back into the living area, showered and dressed, he saw Veronica busy as usual. She was eating her soup - so nice of her to wait for him - she had her cell phone wedged between her shoulder and her ear, and she was writing notes on a legal pad. He sat down across from her, eavesdropping on her conversation as he began to eat.

"Black or grey, anything dark, but nothing that screams undercover cop."

"If you can find one."

"They towed it to the impound yard."

"Yeah, it's evidence. It's a good thing it's totaled, or I'd have to wait for them to release it before I could get it fixed."

"Believe me, it's totaled. I'm hoping the insurance adjuster gets to it this week, but my dad isn't going to be driving anytime soon, so I'm fine for awhile."

"No, this does not constitute a favor. Money will change hands."

"I'll call, I promise."

"Thanks again, Weevil. Talk to you later."

Logan arched his eyebrow as she pressed the end button on her cell phone. "You're going to have Paco find you a car? It'll probably we stolen."

Veronica narrowed her eyes. "I'll run the VIN number through the system before I buy it." Then the first thing he said hit her. "And his name is Weevil. Stop calling him Paco. He's my friend." Logan rolled his eyes. "He saved your ass last night."

And Logan knew Veronica was never going to let him forget it. "After him and the rest of the delinquents beat the crap out of me. I should have pressed charges. A fair fight would have been one-on-one, not six-on-one. It was unsportsmanlike conduct."

Veronica almost choked on the mouthful she was trying to swallow. She coughed and Logan looked worried. She waved her hand to let him know she was fine. When she had her breath again, she said, "Since when is gang fighting a sport?"

Logan shrugged off the question. "Why don't you buy a new car? You have fifty thousand dollars now."

"Mars Investigations has fifty thousand dollars, minus taxes. Besides, even after what insurance pays, a good chunk of the money is going to dad's hospital bill." Veronica slumped forward. "I can't wait to see it. We'll be lucky if we're left with ten thousand. And I'd rather use that towards a better apartment than a new car. Weevil will find me something decent."

A better apartment. Hospital bills. Taxes. Things he'd never had to deal with. Logan glanced around the hotel suite. "Do think I waste money?"

"Yes," Veronica answered a split-second later. "But you've never had to worry about money, so I think it's natural." Then she frowned at him. "Although..."

Logan's interest was peaked. "What?"

Veronica made notes on her paper as she talked. "Have Cliff talk to the DA tomorrow. If your dad gets bail, they might freeze his assets so he's less of a flight risk. And if he doesn't get bail, you'll need to talk to his lawyer, see who's going to be in control of the money. You're not eighteen, so that leaves Trina, and that's a little scary. I'm writing it all down, don't worry."

Logan blinked at her in shock. "Freeze Aaron's assets. But what about our bills?"

Veronica continued to write, not looking at him. "I'm not sure, that's why you need to talk to Cliff." She glanced up and saw the concern on his face. "Logan, don't worry about it. It'll be fine, but you need to find out what's going on. If you ask now, you won't be surprised later."

Logan chewed his steak carefully as the possible ramifications of his current situation settled around him.

--- VVV

After dinner, Wallace stopped by to check on Veronica and to drop off Back-Up. Both boys were still wary of each other, not sure how to act. Logan being a fixture in Veronica's life again rattled her best friend, and Wallace now knowing more about her than Logan did, made her boyfriend uncomfortable. To diffuse the tension, Veronica asked Wallace to go with her to walk Back-Up. The Grand had a private area for dogs, so they wouldn't be besieged by reporters. Left alone, Logan decided to check his voicemail. Veronica turned off his phone when it started ringing constantly the night before, and he hadn't bothered to turn it back on. The press hadn't gotten a hold of his number yet, which was good, so the twenty-eight messages he had were all from '09es and Aaron's business associates. The one from Aaron's lawyer actually made him laugh. The man wanted to talk to Logan about Aaron's defense. When it went to trial, Logan was positive he'd be a witness for the prosecution. But he wrote down the number just in case he needed it later. Veronica's dinner conversation had freaked him out.

Logan made only one outbound call - to Dick. "Hey, man. What's up?"

"Dude!" Dick's voice was excited, but laced with concern. He'd left Logan seven of the twenty-eight messages. "What the hell is going on? There's all this shit on tv about your dad and Lilly."

"I'm sure most of it's true." Logan hadn't turned on the tv, hadn't listened to the radio, hadn't picked up a newspaper. He didn't want to know.

"It's true?" Dick asked in surprise. He thought there had to be a mistake. "He slept with her? Killed her? Tried to kill Veronica and her dad? What the fuck, man?"

"Yeah, what the fuck." Logan wearily rested his elbows on his knees. It was good to know the vultures were on top of things. "Look, Dick, you're the only one I'm calling. I'm staying at the Grand for a while, suite 4007. Don't tell anyone else. If they ask, just... just tell I'm fine, but don't give them the suite number. I'm not exactly up for company."

Logan could almost see Dick nodding in agreement. "Sure, dude, sure. You know me, my lips are sealed." Dick was an ass, but Logan knew he could trust him. He was getting ready to end the phone call when Dick said, "There were, uh, pictures, of you and. Ronnie. Together this morning. What's the deal, Logan? I thought we were back to I-hate-Veronica-Mars. I mean, she accused you of killing Lilly. And now you're like attached to her hip again? That girl is bad news, man."

"Well, she had the right family, just the wrong family member." Dick didn't laugh and Logan sighed. "This isn't Veronica's fault. Everyone's been lying, covering up stuff from the beginning, even me. Her and her dad were the only ones looking for the truth. If it wasn't for them... Just lay-off Veronica."

"Logan, you know I'll back whatever you want to do, but not everyone is like me." Dick hated this crap, but it was the way their circle worked. The rules they lived by. "People are going to say shit, and right now, you're not in a position to push back."

Logan straightened, instantly pissed. "What the hell that's suppose to mean? I already told everyone, they don't like my girlfriend, they can evaporate. That hasn't changed."

"Yeah, man, and you could get away with it when your dad was Aaron Echolls, megastar. But now, he's the guy who killed Jake Kane's daughter." Dick wasn't going to lie. Hard truths. "Dude, you're gonna get frozen. And having Ronnie on your arm isn't gonna help."

"Obviously you've already talked to people. How big a problem is it? Are you flaking on me?" Logan's inside's churned. This was the last thing he wanted to deal with right now. Stupid high school clicks.

"I'm not going anywhere. Me and Beav, we'll stick by you through anything. And Casey. He likes Ronnie anyway. She helped him with something, I think." And then Dick hesitated. "But I'm not sure about anyone else. I think they're waiting to see what Duncan does. If he's cool, everyone else will be cool."

Logan had known most of these people since he was twelve. He'd been going to school with them for five years. And now his social status rested in Duncan's hands. The one guy who had a legitimate reason to freeze him out. Perfect. "Then we'll wait to see what Duncan does."

Dick hated adding more shit onto Logan's plate. "Duncan and Meg broke up. At your party. Duncan went outside and lost it. He smashed the driver's side window of his SUV, and beat the door with a shovel or something. Meg's telling anyone who'll listen he's still in love with Ronnie. And a lot of people are listening."

"So you're telling me it's going to be a really cold summer?" Fuck! Logan grabbed a fistful of hair. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Just what he needed. Veronica said she wanted him, but if Duncan made a hard-core play for her...

"I don't know, but none of this good." Dick dropped the serious tone. "You sure you don't want company? A suite at the Grand. We could party. It'll get your mind off things."

Since Dick hadn't mentioned it yet, Logan figured he didn't know - yet. "Really not in the mood to party. Besides, Veronica is staying with me while her dad's in the hospital. If things are as bad as you say, I don't want to put her through it."

"Dude!" Dick was back to shocked excitement. "You're shacked up with the Sheriff's daughter? Do you have a death wish?"

Logan chuckled. Everyone still thought of Keith as the Sheriff. Nothing Lamb did was ever going to change that. The moronic prick. "He knows she's here. It's not like we're keeping it a secret from him. And she has her own bedroom."

Dick snorted. "Like that makes a difference."

Logan wanted to make things clear. He didn't want to be the cause of any more negative gossip where Veronica was concerned. The situation looked bad enough without people adding their own speculation. "Dick, I am not sleeping with Veronica. Anyone who says different is going to talk to me directly. Got it?"

Dick shook his head. Logan was always making an ass out of himself over women. First Lilly, now Veronica. Life was much easier when Logan dated random skanks he didn't care about. "Dude, you can't beat-up the whole world. I know you want to try, but it's not possible."

--- VVV

Logan didn't mention the phone call with Dick to Veronica. There were only three weeks left of school. He was sure Aaron, and by extension he, would be the center of gossip for all of it, but he didn't care. He really did have more important things to think about. If Aaron got bail, would he try to force Logan to move back in with him? If he didn't get bail, where would Logan live? He didn't have money of his own until he turned eighteen and the inheritance from his mom kicked in. Or could Cliff get him access to the money earlier? And it wasn't that much compared to what he was used to. Could he cut himself off from Aaron's money completely? Was he ready to do that?

Then there was the problem with Duncan. Several problems, if he was being honest. Duncan was his best friend. He didn't want to lose him because of what Aaron had done. But he didn't think the Kanes would be happy about Duncan maintaining a friendship with the son of the man who killed their daughter. Not that Logan would blame them. And if Duncan was still in love with Veronica, that added another layer of complication. He didn't know why Duncan broke-up with her in the first place, his best friend had never said. Maybe Veronica knew. He should probably ask her.

"Wanna watch a movie?" Logan called over his shoulder to Veronica who was feeding Back-Up in the small kitchen.

"As soon as Back-Up's done, I'm going to bed. I didn't get much sleep last night." Weevil had woken her up at three and she hadn't dared go back to sleep with Logan trussed-up on her couch. The rest of her day had been just as crazy; there was no time for a nap. Ever since dinner, she'd been stifling back yawns. If she went to bed now, she could get in twelve solid hours of sleep. It sounded like heaven.

Logan joined her in the kitchen. For the first time, he realized how tired she looked, and he wondered... "After Weevil dropped me off, did you sleep at all?" She reluctantly shook her head. Logan sighed. He should have known. "Christ, Ronnie, go to bed already. I'll watch Back-up. You don't need to do this."

The dog was her responsibility. She wasn't going to pass him off to Logan. "He's almost done."

Logan turned her around, placed his hands on her shoulders, and walked her towards her bedroom. He promised Keith he'd take care of her and that included taking care of Back-Up. "You're about ready to pass out. Go to bed. I'll put him in with you before I crash." She looked up at him and Logan knew she was getting ready to argue. "I mean it, Veronica. Back-Up and I will be fine."

She yawned, and when Logan cocked his eyebrow letting her know the yawn only proved he was right, Veronica gave in. "Thank you. I am really tired." She reached up and kissed him.

Logan wanted to deepen the kiss, but he knew it wasn't the right time. "Good night, Ronnie." Still, he couldn't stop himself from swatting her butt as she passed him into the room. Veronica shot him a death-glare as she closed the door in his face.

Forty-five minutes later, Keanu Reeves was deciding between the blue pill and the red pill, when Logan got the distinct impression he was being watched. He glanced over and saw Veronica fiddling with the edge of her tank top pyjamas. She looked very unsure of herself, and the hair on the back of Logan's neck stood up. "What's wrong?"

Veronica hated being this girl - had worked so hard to not be this girl. "Every time I close my eyes..." She hesitated, biting her bottom lip.

Logan immediately turned off the tv. "Nightmares?" he asked sympathetically as he walked towards her.

Veronica nodded, and when he opened his arms, she rushed into them. "I'm trapped in the box, and the fire... I can't get out..." She buried her head in Logan's shoulder as tears began to fall. She'd forced herself to stay in bed as long as she could, but the images kept coming. She could still smell the smoke, feel the heat from the flames. She was once again screaming for her dad. Only this time, he wasn't there to save her. "Would you stay with me? Please?"

She was shaking, and crying, and her voice was so not the voice of Veronica. It took Logan seconds to decide the promise he made to protect her outweighed the promise to sleep in another room. "Of course. Come on, let's get you back to bed."

Logan held the covers as Veronica slid back under the sheets. He leaned over and dropped a kiss on her forehead, while tucking the blanket around her. Back-Up came trotting in behind them. He jumped on the bed, circled a few times, and laid down at her feet. Veronica already felt better. She had Logan and Back-up; she wasn't alone. She petted the dog and watched Logan take of his shoes, when a random thought struck her. "You need clothes."

Logan was grateful for the clothes Wallace bought, but it was two shirts, two pair of boxers and a pair of jeans, which would only last him one more day. Veronica had a point. "We'll go shopping tomorrow," he said as he reached behind him and grabbed a fistful of material.

As he pulled the shirt over his head, Veronica suppressed a groan. It was such a male way of getting undressed and it was incredibly sexy. And when it was over, it left Logan shirtless, his jeans riding low on his hips. Oh, she might be in trouble. She might not have thought this through. "You have a closet full of clothes. I know you don't want to go home, so make me a list of what you need. I'll go to the house and get it."

"I don't want you going there alone, and I'm not going with you. Shopping trip tomorrow." He shucked off his jeans, leaving him in the boxers. Logan knew she wasn't wearing a bra, and he wondered if she was wearing underwear either, but he quickly pushed the thought aside. He was in enough trouble without thinking of her naked under those pyjamas. He still had the sweat pants she'd loaned him that morning and he thought about wearing them to bed, anything to put another layer of material between them. But he'd worn them while getting his aggression out on the heavy bag, so they were a dirty mess. Which meant he was left with a thin pair of boxes and his self-control as the only barriers between him and what he really wanted to do to her.

"Don't be ridiculous, Logan." Veronica fluffed her pillows with more force than necessary, and laid down giving him her back. She'd lost count of the number of times she'd seen Logan in swimming trunks and board shorts, but this was a completely different situation. "I'll be fine. Once I'm inside the gates, nothing's going to happen. And I can bulldoze over reporters in that yellow monster you drive."

Logan sent up a silent prayer of help to whoever might be listening as he turned off the bedroom light. At least the argument had distracted her from her nightmares, so she wasn't weepy and clingy anymore. She sounded like Veronica again. And Veronica wouldn't let him get away with anything. He crawled into bed next to her. "Like I'm going to let you drive my car." He pressed the front of his body flush against her back, threw his arm around her waist, anchoring her to him. She was scared, he reasoned with himself, he was only trying to make her feel safe.

Veronica never slept next to a boy before, not consciously, and she waited for her body to involuntarily tense at the contact, but it didn't. Just the opposite in fact. She molded herself against him. And when she felt him semi-erect against her butt, she smiled, but only because she knew he couldn't see it. "My dad taught me how to drive. Defensive police training. I can out-drive you any day of the week."

"That sounds like a challenge." Logan nudged her hair aside with his nose and dropped kisses on the back of her neck. Soft, Veronica was so soft. And she smelled like vanilla and lavender. He was never going to forget that as long as he lived. "There's an empty office building over on Market Street with a huge parking lot. When you get a car, we'll go out there and see who's the better driver. I'm going to kick your ass, Mars."

"Oooo, big words from the pampered rich boy." Logan's hand was resting on her hip, curled under her. He has great hands, Veronica thought. She'd never really noticed before. Strong, with long, lean fingers. And they were inches away from - Oh god, this was bad. "Will there be a bet involved in this competition? Money? Jewels? German bearer bonds?"

Logan's voice dropped to a husky whisper. "We'll decide the terms of the bet later. Just know, I wouldn't bet anything you didn't want to lose. I intended to collect when I win." Bet your body, he thought. Please, god, bet with your body.

If he kept talking in that voice, she was going to give him what he wanted right now. "You're such an arrogant ass," she said. Logan laughed against her skin, his hot breath practically singeing her neck, and every nerve ending Veronica had suddenly came alive. She couldn't stop the half groan - half moan that escaped from her throat as she said his name.

Logan's cock jumped at the sound of her voice. The rest of his body tightened, coiled. He buried his face in her hair. "Ronnie, don't. I'm doing my best here, but please don't say my name like that." If he pushed, one little touch, he knew he could have her. But this wasn't they way it was supposed to be. Not between them. Not after the roller-coaster ride they'd been on the past twenty-four hours. "Your dad was right," Logan mumbled. "I have no business being in this room with you."

Her father. There was a sobering thought. Veronica giggled. "He's going to look at us tomorrow and know we did something we weren't suppose to do." That's what she needed. Her dad. She just had to think about her dad. Her over-protective, gun wielding, all-knowing dad.

Logan shuttered behind her. "I'm dead," he said flatly. The man was recovering in a hospital, but Logan had no problem imagining Keith Mars jumping out of his bed and strangling him with the IV tube. The first promise Logan made with ever intention of actually keeping, and he'd blown it.

The tension was broken now, and Veronica snuggled back against Logan, relaxed once again. "I'll protect you from the big, bad wolf. I promise." Neither said another word, and eventually they fell asleep.

---TBC