Page 70 of When He Plays

His head turned. He glared at her.

“I didn’t know. Truly, I had no clue, not until this exact moment. What an interesting development.” An incline of her head. “When did that happen?”

He knew the exact damn moment when he’d handed Charlotte his heart. Not like he was going to tell Jezebel, though.

I fell for her when a pillow separated us in bed, and I gave Charlotte five minutes of brutal honestly.

Then she took my hand.

“I’m good at my job, but I’m certainly not psychic,” she muttered. “How could I predict something like this? Granted, I realized that you did have a heart. I realized that back in London. You must possess one, with the way you cared for your grandmother and for Simone. So I realized you weren’t some soulless predator who would turn his back on a woman in need.”

“Well, look at me. Not being soulless.”

“I’d hoped that you would assist Charlotte, but I didn’t know you’d go and fall for her.” Her eyes widened. “It’s been fast, too. Guess when you’re all in, you are really all in, aren’t you?”

“Don’t play with me.”

“I’m not. I’m counting on you.” Her expression was completely serious. “Two things to note in this conversation. One, you didn’t tell me I was wrong. I am standing in front of you, saying that you are in love with Charlotte, and you are not calling me a liar.”

No, he wasn’t.

And I haven’t even slept with the woman yet. What in the hell? What was up with him? Maybe it wasn’t love. Maybe he just…cared. Yes, could be.

Dammit.

What he felt for Charlotte was so much more than mere caring.

“You’re also not calling me a liar,” he snapped out. “When I said you wanted me to do the dirty work for you. You didn’t say, ‘Oh, no, Logan, you’re so wrong. I don’t want you to kill the bastard. Let’s arrest him like the good guys that we are.’”

They stared at each other.

Jezebel’s dark eyelashes flickered. “Jacqueline was my niece, but I loved her like a daughter. Tell me, Logan, what would you do if someone abducted your daughter, tortured her, and then left pieces of her for you to find?”

He sucked in a sharp breath. “Fuck.” Then, zero hesitation, “I’d leave him in pieces.”

She sent him a satisfied smile. “And that’s how I knew you were the right man for the job.”

The hospital room door wrenched open. Charlotte stood there, face too pale, lips void of color, eyes lined by shadows. And still wearing the paper-thin hospital gown. “Where in the hell are my clothes?” she demanded.

“Pretty sure they cut them off you when they were pumping your stomach.” By pretty sure, Logan meant he was one hundred percent certain.

Her jaw hardened. “I want out of here, now, but I can’t leave in this.”

“Sure you can.” He reached out. Scooped her into his arms. “I dare anyone to say a word to stop us.”

Jezebel eased back. Melted away.

And Logan just wrapped his arms around Charlotte and carried her through the hospital. A few nurses frowned. One security guard even took a step toward them.

But Logan’s hard glare stopped any comment or protest those people might have.

He kept carrying her until they reached the exit.

He took her straight toward the waiting limo.

If she wanted out of the hospital, he’d damn well get her out.

From this point forward, he would always give Charlotte exactly what she wanted. Because he was fucking in love with her.