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Logan’s muscled chest. Accustomed to his touch she softened when his right arm closed around her middle. She looked up to discover his intense green eyes focused on her face. Oxygen slowed its transit through her lungs. Heat infused where their bodies touched and her skin started to tingle.  
      “No,” she said on a whisper. When had he closed the distance between them? How much of their conversation had he heard? He had been silent after Lina interrupted their dance. His quiet stealth lulled her to slip into a simple interchange with Lina and not notice him listening in the background.
    “Ava, before you reject my offer do you see anyone you would ask for a ride home?” Her protest could be over any number of things at this point, her traitorous body’s respond to his attention, the ride home, the possibility that he’d heard some of their conversation.  
    Had he overheard the hand cruising, body bumping, Ava the Explorer comparisons? First the neon highlights on the dance floor, now this was embarrassment number two for the evening.  
      Lina stared at her with a Cheshire cat grin. Ava’s eyes scanned the darkened ballroom, praying to glimpse a familiar face. Her gaze landed on Randall standing at the bar, watching her with a menacing scowl on his face. Her palms grew clammy and cold at the sight of him. She swallowed several times, forcing the unease back down her throat. There was no one within visual range that she felt comfortable asking for a ride home.  
    “No, I don’t see anyone that I can get a ride home with.” Riding in a city bus with Logan was a temptation, sharing a car ride was detrimental to her emotional safety. She didn’t have a good reason to decline his offer.  
    “Let me take you home, sweetheart.” Both women spun to face Logan. Ava knew she looked none to pretty with her eyes bugging out of her head and mouth wide open. Lina in contrast, was talking faster than an auctioneer.  
    “Logan, give me a second with Ava.” Lina grabbed her hand then maneuvered them away from Logan’s apparently bionic hearing.  
    Lina whispered conspiratorially. “He likes you. In the five years I’ve worked with Logan I’ve never seen him hover around any woman until tonight. It’s okay for him to drive you home. He was raised a rich kid. But he went to school in Baltimore, so he has some swagger, if you know what I mean. You know I wouldn’t entrust my best friend to any Tom, Dick or doctor. Think of it as an early Christmas present.”  
    “It’s October,” Ava said crossing her arms over her chest.  
    “A birthday gift then.”
    “My birthday was in July.” At Lina’s continued bargaining Ava added a vigorous no head shake to the crossed arms.  
    “How about a pre-Columbus day sales event.” Ava furrowed a brow, at Lina’s hopeful expression. She couldn’t allow Lina’s enthusiasm to overshadow her displeasure at the turn of events. Spending additional time with Logan qualified as a big-ticket item purchase. She couldn’t afford the cost that any personal association with Logan would surely bring.  
    “Sale items are marked up before they are marked down twenty percent, but I’ll give you two points for originality,” Ava responded matter of fact.  
    “Dang Ava, I’m trying to help. It’s one ride home. This night could be a little treasure made just for you.” That’s what she was afraid of. This night had a short half-life. “You never have to ride with him again after tonight.” Ava released a low groan at her best friend’s ill-disguised innuendo. She felt her internal resolve crumbling. Maybe if she told Lina about the raw sensations running rampant through her body at this very moment she would be more helpful.  
    “Lina,” Ava leaned in close to ensure he didn’t hear her next statement. “He makes me feel weird things.”
      “What does that mean?” The other woman looked at her with open confusion.  
    “You know, all topsy-turvy, small boat,