Page 86 of Tattered (Lark Cove 1)

“Of course.” I helped her get buckled into the seat, then nodded at our attendant that we were set.

Five minutes of taxiing later, the captain announced we were next up on the runway.

The minute he punched the engine, forcing our backs deep into the seats, Thea’s hand shot out across the aisle. Her eyes were closed tight and her other hand was gripping the armrest with white knuckles.

I took her hand and let her squeeze my fingers tight. “I’ve got you.”

Somehow, I’d make this okay. With time, she’d get used to this kind of lifestyle, because really, there wasn’t another option. I wasn’t letting her go.

This lifestyle—my lifestyle—was hers now too.

We just needed to get to the city and everything would be all right.

“Whoa.”

Charlie’s word of the day. It had started on the plane and continued through every part of our journey. When we’d flown over the city, she’d been glued to the window, whispering whoa. When we’d landed and walked to my town car, whoa. And now, standing just inside the door to my penthouse.

“Come on in and make yourself at home.” I turned to the doorman. “We’ve got the bags from here. Thank you.”

He nodded, setting down our luggage in the foyer. “Have a good evening, sir.”

When the door closed behind him, I picked up Charlie’s tiny suitcase and carried it farther down the hall. “How about we do the full tour and then order in some dinner?”

“That sounds nice,” Thea said, following behind with Charlie. “Logan, this place is . . .”

“Whoa?”

She smiled. “Exactly. Nice place, gorgeous.”

“Thanks.” I grinned. She didn’t call me gorgeous often, but damn I liked it when she did. “I’ve only been here for about three months,” I told t

hem as I walked into the living room. “So I’m still getting used to the place myself.”

“Three months?” Thea’s frame perked up. She’d done the math and knew this place wasn’t the one I’d shared with Emmeline.

“You both will be my first overnight guests.”

That got me a full-blown smile. I’d never brought a woman here for sex. It wasn’t like I’d done it consciously, it just hadn’t happened. The only woman I’d fucked since Emmeline was Alice and she’d never been invited over. I mentally patted myself on the back for my foresight.

The only woman who had a claim on my bed was Thea.

“Whoa.” Charlie’s head tipped back to the ceiling, taking it all in as she spun around. She nearly crashed into a couch as she came into the living room.

The main room was situated in the corner of the penthouse with floor-to-ceiling windows lining both exterior walls. Beyond the glass was a garden terrace that overlooked Central Park and the towering Manhattan skyscrapers in the distance.

The windows had sold me on this place. The black iron between the rectangles was thick to give them an industrial feel. On the top row, the architect had kept them as squares but added some circular iron accents to break up the grid. Wood panels had been placed strategically throughout the living room to warm up the space. And in the center was a two-story, concrete fireplace. Next to the windows, it was my favorite part of the penthouse.

“This is a beautiful place.” Thea ran her hands over the back of a leather couch. “But not what I was expecting.”

“Really?”

She nodded. “I guess I figured it would be modern and,” she shrugged, “I don’t know. I guess I thought it would be like the places you always see in fancy magazines where everything is white. The kind of place where no one can actually live for fear of spilling something. But that fireplace is beautiful. And the wood accents are done so well. It’s amazing.”

“Thanks.” I took her hand and pulled her past the fireplace and into the kitchen.

Behind the fireplace, the ceilings were lower, making room for the upstairs bedrooms. But it was still open and airy in the back part of the penthouse. The windows let in a lot of early evening light so the room was glowing.

“Would you like anything to drink?” I set Charlie’s suitcase down and opened the fridge. There wasn’t much inside. My cleaning service had cleared it out last week. But my assistant had filled it with some necessities, like bottled water, soda, juice for Charlie and Thea’s favorite beer.