Pheromonal: One Night With the Alpha-Chapter 35: Logan’s True Feelings...?

The interrogation leaves me drained.

I lean against Penelope as we exit the building, grateful for her steady presence. Bright sunlight hits my face, warm and comforting despite the autumn chill.

"Don’t look back," Penelope mutters, her voice low. "McSexy’s following us."

I tense, my heart rate spiking. "How do you know?"

She lets out an exasperated sigh. "Do you ever pay attention to your surroundings?"

Before I can retort, a strange figure steps in front of us. A man, holding a silver reflective umbrella despite the cloudless sky, stares directly at Penelope. He’s mildly attractive, pale, and dressed in SED uniform—right up her alley.

"Why are you leaving already?" he asks, his voice smooth and tinged with curiosity.

I glance at my best friend, noticing her startled expression. There’s a flicker of recognition in her eyes. I’m burning with curiosity.

"I’ve been waiting for your call," he continues, his gaze never leaving Penelope’s face.

Realization dawns on Penelope’s face, her eyes widening slightly. She leans in close, her breath tickling my ear as she whispers, "McFlirty."

Ohh.

Logan’s coworker, the one Penelope met at her bar. The guy who doesn’t like him. The one she said was human, if a little pale. Well, he’s definitely not human.

Penelope clears her throat. "Sorry. I’ve been pretty busy. Maybe we’ll catch up soon." Her words are a beacon of hope, despite being a complete lie. Penelope rarely, if ever, has enough curiosity to keep a man around.

She tugs on my arm, trying to maneuver us around Umbrella Guy. But he’s persistent, stepping into our path once more.

With his pale skin and the reflective umbrella, he has to be a vamp. I wouldn’t want to call him, either. No matter how nice or handsome they are, there’s way too much risk of being bitten during the fun bits.

"When are you going to call?" he presses, his tone a mix of playfulness and determination.

There’s a sudden warmth behind me. A strong presence pulls both Penelope and me backward, away from Umbrella Guy. The scent of pine and something distinctly masculine fills my senses, and I know without looking that it’s Logan.

"Ethan," Logan’s deep voice rumbles from behind us, greeting his coworker. "I see you’ve met Ms. de Lucien and Ms. d’Armand."

My body tenses at Logan’s proximity, even as it tries to melt into him. It leaves me feeling awkward, like a living stick figure.

Ethan’s eyes flick between Logan, Penelope, and me, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "Indeed, I have," he says, twirling his umbrella. "Though I was hoping for a more... private conversation with Ms. de Lucien."

Logan’s hand on my shoulder tightens slightly, and I wonder if he’s even aware he’s doing it. "I’m afraid that will have to wait, Ethan," he says, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I was about to send these two home."

"I can do that," Ethan interjects, with a charming smile.

"We’re good," I blurt out, my skin crawling at his insistence. How does Penelope find guys like this?

By the way she’s blinking at me, fast and furious in a way that makes me think she’s trying to send me some sort of message I can’t understand, I’m pretty sure she wants nothing to do with the guy.

"They’re good," Logan repeats, and when I glance behind me I can see his friendly smile in Ethan’s direction.

For some reason, it’s cold enough to make me shiver.

The dislike must be mutual.

"Penelope hasn’t said a word," Ethan points out, no longer looking very friendly.

The woman in question hesitates, glancing at me once more, with another batch of rapid blinks. What the hell is she trying to say?

"Penelope already said she’s been busy," she says after that, annoyance finally underlining her words. "Look, Ethan, or whatever your name is. We talked at the bar. You gave me your number. You were drunk. That’s all there is between us. Stopping me and trying to pressure me into more connection isn’t a good look, okay?"

"Sexual harassment isn’t a good look on anyone," Logan agrees, resting his hands against our shoulders. "Shall we go, ladies?"

"Take your own advice, Everett." Ethan’s lip curls into a grimace that takes away from his vampiric attractiveness. While many vamps are hot—like hot, hot—many look just like they do in their living life. Ethan seems to be one of those. Just averagely attractive.

Brown air. Red eyes dark enough to pass as brown if you’re not paying attention. Skin that’s not just pale, but edging on blue-tinged, like he doesn’t get enough oxygen.

But Logan just nudges us along, and the vampire finally steps to the side, getting out of our way.

He’s like a block of ice as I pass by, rendering the cool air of autumn even more frigid. Some vampires are like that. Cold-blooded. Like bodies on ice.

The shiver that goes through me has little to do with the temperature, though, and everything to do with the bad feeling settling into my gut as Logan walks with us into the parking lot.

"Where are you parked?" Logan asks politely, not even looking in my direction. He’s focused on Penelope.

"Down there. The yellow Jeep."

"You know, if Ethan bothers you..."

"Yes, I know. I can always report his actions. Thank you." Her words are as warm as the dead of winter. "We don’t need your escort, Officer Everett."

"Oh, no. It would be my pleasure. My day isn’t complete without saving charming ladies from predatory vampires." There it is—his flirting, engaging tone. Completely different from how he treats me.

The audacity. Meanwhile, he’s acting as if I don’t exist.

Penelope slows her steps. "You realize I know all about you, right? Officer Everett?"

"Pardon?"

After a glance over her shoulder—I peek in that direction too, realizing she’s checking to see if Ethan’s still watching, and he isn’t—Penelope stops dead in her tracks, waiting until Logan turns to face her.

"You’re an asshole, Officer Everett. I don’t like guys who don’t get the hint. That includes you."

His lips twitch, and he finally turns his attention to me. "I see why you like her."

"Hey." Penelope stands defensively in front of me. "Don’t talk to her. You were an ass to her in there."

Standing on my tiptoes to peer over her shoulder, I watch as Logan nods. "I was. It’s my job. There’s a dead man and questions that need answered."

"Let’s just go," I whisper, tugging at the back of Penelope’s shirt. I don’t want to have a scene in the middle of the parking lot. The thought of how many eyes will turn our way—blech. No. An introvert’s nightmare.

She grabs my hand with another scowl in Logan’s direction. "Thank you for the escort, Officer. Have a lovely day."

Logan’s smile shifts, transforming from professional to disarmingly charming as he extends his arm, effectively blocking Penelope’s path. My breath catches in my throat, a mix of irritation and unwanted attraction swirling in my chest.

"Here," he says, pressing a crisp business card into Penelope’s hand. "I know she probably won’t take it, but as someone who cares about her safety, I hope you’ll keep my number handy. Just in case anything happens."

I roll my eyes so hard I’m surprised they don’t get stuck in the back of my head. The audacity of this man never ceases to amaze me. One minute he’s cold and professional, the next he’s acting like he gives a damn about my well-being.

Penelope’s eyes narrow as she scrutinizes the card, her suspicion evident in the set of her jaw. "You’re acting pretty strange for someone who didn’t like how his rejection ended," she observes, her voice laced with skepticism.

Logan’s expression doesn’t falter, but something in his eyes shifts. "Just... keep her from driving up any mountain roads in the near future, alright?"

The grim tone in his voice sends a chill down my spine. His gaze finally meets mine, and for a moment, I’m lost in those intense green eyes. A burst of pheromones floods my senses, rich and intoxicating.

My legs turn to pudding.

It’s temptation straight to my brain, making me want to dive into his arms and beg him to—

Before I can process what’s happening, Logan turns on his heel and strides away, leaving me reeling in his wake.

"There’s definitely something there," Penelope mumbles beside me, her voice low and thoughtful. "He’s trying his best to hide it, but..."

And then the man turns around and winks at her.

Winks.

Penelope smiles triumphantly. "I knew he could hear me. See that? That’s proof."

Shaking my head hard to clear it of the fog and confusion and desire he managed to blast me with, I latch onto her arm and drag her along. "Let’s just go. I’ve had enough of this place for one day."

"Hey!" Penelope half-jogs to keep up with my determined gait. "You aren’t happy? Doesn’t that make you wonder just why Officer McSexy’s hiding what he really feels about you?"

"He’s not doing any of that. He’s just your garden variety psycho alpha."

"And denial is a river in Egypt."