He Kills Me, He Kills Me Not

do.”
    He laughed, obviously not agreeing with that statement.
    “Logan, I hope you don’t mind but I looked through your files today. The ones on your desk in the study.”
    His grin faded. Tension lined his brow with worry. “I wish you hadn’t done that.”
    “I know, I’m sorry, but I wanted to help. Since my computer program didn’t yield much, I decided to take another stab at it myself. I made a list of suspects based on the interviews and descriptions in the files. If you don’t mind looking at it, I can go grab it.” She started to get up but he waved her back down on the couch.
    “In a minute. First, I want to discuss what Madison said. She has a good point, about me putting my needs above your safety, because God knows I need you. And I can’t stand the thought of you not being here with me. I thought I could keep you safe, but with Branson missing, maybe I should take you to a safe house after all.”
    She frowned at him. “You’ve kept me safe here this long. I don’t see any reason to go anywhere else. About that list I made. If you’ll just take a minute—”
    “You’ve only been safe this long because no one knows where you are. It’s only a matter of time before someone figures that out. Madison’s right. You need to be somewhere safer while I work on the investigation.”
    Pain knifed through her. Last night they’d shared their bodies and their souls. How could he want her to leave? “If you think you’re getting rid of me that easily, you’d better think again. I’m not going anywhere.”
    “Get rid of you? Is that what you think I’m trying to do?”
    “Is it?”
    “Hell, no. I want you here, in my house, in my bed. But with Branson missing, and the killer possibly escalating, I can’t risk him finding you. I should turn you over to the Feds tomorrow.”
    “Turn me over? Just like that? Don’t I have any say in it?”
    His face hardened and his eyes took on a flinty color. “No, you don’t.”
    She wasn’t about to back down, not when her heart was at stake. “The answer is no.”
    His knuckles whitened where his hands clenched the arms of his chair. “I didn’t ask. I’ve made my decision. I’ll call Pierce, ask him to come over in the morning and take you to a federal safe house out of town. I’ll have Madison pack your things, and I’ll see that they get to you.”
    Panic sent butterflies swirling through her stomach. “None of this makes sense. I was safe here before, but now that Branson is missing, I’m suddenly not safe? Did something happen to compromise my location?”
    “No.”
    “Then why are you trying to send me away?” she whispered, unable to hide the pain in her voice this time.
    Logan flinched but he didn’t waver. “If I screw up again, if I miss anything . . .” He raked a hand through his hair. “I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you and it was my fault. I need to get you out of here, so I can focus on the case.”
    She felt the blood drain from her face. “I’m a liability now?”
    “Damn straight. I can’t think with you here.”
    “Fine.” She stood, swallowing hard against the tears that threatened to fall. She had to get out while she still had some dignity intact. “Last night obviously meant nothing to you.”
    “The hell it didn’t,” he growled. His eyes narrowed dangerously. He stood and she decided a tactical retreat was in order. She hurried to stand behind the couch. With both the coffee table and the couch between them, she felt relatively safe.
    “It’s okay,” she said, trying to calm his anger and at the same time struggling not to let him see that her heart was breaking. He wanted to send her away. How could he be so cruel after making such sweet love to her last night? “I understand. I put too much importance on what happened between us. It was just sex.”
    “The hell it was,” he gritted out. He shoved the coffee table out of the way. It slid across the wooden floor and banged against the wall.
    She yelped when she realized he wasn’t slowing down. He vaulted over the couch and she ran for the stairs.
    She’d only made it to the third step before she was yanked off her feet and thrown over his shoulder. Her breath left her with a solid whoosh.
    He didn’t pause. As if she weighed nothing he jogged up the stairs. She was so surprised she didn’t say a word, not that she could have. His shoulder knocked the breath out of her with every step he took.
    At the top of the