Page 29 of A Reputation Dark & Deadly

"Of course she did," he said with a roll of his eyes.

"I don't think Karla was" -

"Like I said," he cut in, his tone biting. "Karla had her own agenda. There's no reason for her to have shared that with you. Hell, I didn't even fucking tell her." He cocked his head to the side and looked down at her through dark hazel eyes. "What else did she tell you? Just so I can try to figure out what she's getting at and shut that shit down immediately."

Peyton cleared her throat, her cheeks turning red. She couldn't find it in herself to actually respond just yet. She didn't know what she could do to avoid it and it wasn't as though Logan was trying to be a jerk. He wanted to know for his own reasons.

"Basically," she finally managed to say, "she told me what it was like to be your TA and what was expected of me. She told me you have a particular set of rules that need to be followed or else I'd be reassigned. You know, that sort of thing. Guidance on how to handle you."

"How to handle me?" He raised a curious brow.

"Not in a weird way," she replied defensively. "You're an acquired taste. She was giving me advice so I don't piss you off."

"Sweetheart, there's no way you could piss me off unless you were trying and I know you're too fucking smart to do that," he told her. "You annoy the shit out of me but you don't piss me off."

Peyton wasn't sure how she felt about the admission but she'd be lying if she said she wasn't the slightest bit flattered.

"Anything else?" he asked curiously.

"Just that you're secretly super romantic and that you loved to be kissed right where your pulse thrums against you skin," she said, pointing to the place on his neck just under his chin. "She also told me I should sleep with you even though you don't like sleeping with virgins."

Logan nearly choked on his own snot. Peyton suppressed a grin. She hadn't planned on revealing so much about herself and it might not be the best decision in the long run considering she didn't want anyone to know about her sex life, especially not Logan Jeffrey, but she was sick and not thinking clearly, and the look on his face was priceless.

"Excuse fucking me?" he asked, whipping his head to turn to look at her.

"I feel as though I've answered your question sufficiently," she responded. "There's nothing left for me to say."

"I beg to fucking differ, sweetheart," he said but his eyes were gentle and his dimples popped as he smiled at her. "You dropped multiple bombs in that statement and I know you fucking know it. Don't try to weasel out of this."

Peyton placed her hand over her heart and gave him the best puppy dog eyes she could muster. "I'm under the weather," she told him. "Can't you cut me some slack? I feel as though I've said enough."

Logan rolled his eyes and stood. "Yeah, yeah," he muttered. "I should let you get back to sleeping. Don't want you missing out on anymore fucking class. Who the hell else am I suppose to pick on?"

"I'm sure there are plenty of females just clamoring for your attention," Peyton said as she walked him to the door. "For reasons that boggle my mind."

Logan turned around, pressing his lips together as his eyes sparkled. He didn't believe her, she realized. He didn't believe she didn't understand why women liked him. Her smile fell from her face and she stilled. The look was too knowing, as if he could see straight into her soul, penetrate her defenses and tear down her walls.

She needed to avoid that look.

"Feel better, sweetheart," he told her. "We have a date coming up and I don't do rescheduling."