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She wiggled within his embrace trying to put distance between them. Maybe she could salvage his impression of her. An additional inch of separation would go a long way in re-establishing her equilibrium. He seemed to sense her intention.  
    “Stay right where you are.” She felt his cheek nuzzle the top of her head. It felt so good to be touched by him. “I like the way you feel in my arms.”  
    I do too. His hands moved from the soft flesh of her arms. With the skill of an experienced masseuse he caressed up and down the bare skin of her back, conducting a tactile study of her anatomy. She felt the soft brush of his lips against the shell of her ear.
    “My name is Logan.” The warm caress of his breath sent an electric current down her spine. “I want you to say my name.”
    If he only knew. She felt his hands descend to her waist and squeeze.  
    His nose brushed along her neck. She bit the inside of her cheek trapping the throaty moan threatening to escape. The sensual rhythm of his hands kneading and molding her skin created a slow burn of heat and moisture in her core. She reveled in the foreign experience that was all her own. For the first time in years she felt desirable. Could one man erase the damage left by another? She didn’t know, but she would pretend he could tonight. She placed her head on Logan’s muscled chest, closed her eyes in contentment and followed his lead.
      Lina’s voice at her side and the subsequent tap on the shoulder was a giant stop button on the live video streaming through her head. A scalded cat would have been more graceful compared to Ava’s theatrics as she sprang away from Logan. Forced to relinquish her hold on his broad shoulders she pivoted in Lina’s direction.  
    “Logan, you’re looking handsome tonight.” Of course, Lina would flirt with him. She flirted with everybody.
    “A compliment from the lovely Lina James, I am honored.” Ava’s lips thinned at his response. She didn’t appreciate the playful ease of their exchange. Impatient with her friend’s interruption Ava cleared her throat. The conversation stopped and Lina glanced in her direction.  
    “What?” Lina questioned with the smile of innocence on her lips.  
    “Never mind,” Ava scoffed. She couldn’t be jealous. It was just one dance. And Lina was harmless, but it bothered her to see how effortlessly the two of them could dialogue. She had never been comfortable talking with Logan.  
    “Would you excuse Ava for a moment.” Lina gave her a gentle push at the elbow.
    “Of course, I’ll be here waiting, Ava.” Oh goodness, that husky tone of his worked its mojo on her, again. Her legs wouldn’t move. She was standing in the exact same spot when Lina grabbed her hand and walked her over to the edge of the dance floor.  
    “Aren’t you full of surprises tonight Miss Ava,” Lina joked. “How did you end up on a body bumping exploration with Logan?” That question ended the mojo effect.  
    “I was not exploring.” Ava waved away Lina’s comment. Denial is the best defense when guilty as charged.
    “I saw you discovering all the hills and valleys of his anatomy from across the room. How did you go from wallflower to star power in sixty minutes?”  
    Ava shook her head in dismay. She recounted the incident with Randall. “I’m not sure how I got here.” She threw up her hands beckoning some understanding of everything that had happened tonight. “That creepy Randall Lester trapped me and I had a borderline freak out. I was begging for an exit route when Logan appeared at my side for our dance.”  
    “Oh no.” Lina said, eyebrows drawn together, with a hand at her throat. “Don’t tell me Randall has you on his radar. I’ve heard he’s a sneaky one. I’m glad Logan went all Return of the Jedi on him before I take a can opener to Randall’s dangling parts.” Ava winced at the visual. Then Lina paused a beat, rubbing her forehead.  
    “I’m confused. When did