Forever Logan: Once Upon a Player, #2

By Elena Matthews

Once upon a time…

A sister told her brothers, "Eventually, a girl is going to come along and flip your worlds upside down."

She was right…

...and Logan was the second to fall.

From the instant Logan locked eyes on Ally, he knew she was the one.

Usually, women flock to him, but the one woman whose attention he wants hates his guts.

Lucky for Logan, his twin brother is getting married to Ally's best friend, and as the best man, Logan is determined to make good use of planning the wedding to his advantage…especially with Ally being the maid of honor.

It's tough, trying to make her fall in love with him when all they do is argue, but slowly, Logan begins to show Ally his worth.

Eventually, things between them begin to heat up…and the lust quickly accelerates into something deeper.

But will Logan always need to prove himself to Ally because of his past, or will he ruin everything with one stupid bet?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elena Matthews
• Release date: Sep 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393768777

Book preview

I smile around my bottle of beer as I watch how happy my twin brother, Nate, looks right now. We’re at our favorite bar, celebrating his engagement to his girlfriend—or I should say, fiancée. Ever since he met Remi, Nate’s been obsessed with her, so it’s no surprise he proposed to her after only five months of dating. Most people would say he’s rushing into it, but those people haven’t experienced near death in the way he did just a few months ago. In fact, we both almost died that day…at the exact same time. I know, freaky, right? But our bond is tight—to the point where if he died…I’d die with him. So, it makes sense we’d go through something traumatic like that together.

I’m watching them laugh with each other when my eyes snag on the brunette woman sitting with them, and my heart throbs at the mere sight of her.

Ally.

Fuck.

She is the woman of my dreams.

She’s so beautiful, it hurts…

So perfect, it isn’t even fair.

I’ve never been so hung up on a chick before…but then again, she’s unlike any other woman I’ve ever met before.

She hates me. Or at least, she pretends to hate me…but I see the way she looks at me. See the lust. She wants me. She just likes to deny herself of a good, quality man. And I’m not being pigheaded here, but I’m the full package. I’m tall, handsome, and ripped like a motherfucker. Also, I’m pretty charming, if I do say so myself. I tick all the damn boxes.

Instead, she’s currently sidled up to a guy who looks like his mom picked out his clothes for him this morning. I mean, come on, he’s wearing a sand-colored cardigan, for Christ’s sake. And he has a curtained hairstyle—bangs with a part, to be more specific. Have we time-traveled back to the ’90s? He doesn’t have a single fashion sense. And check this out: he’s a kindergarten teacher. I know we’ve all got to bring home the bacon. But could she have found a more boring person? And I totally said that in a Chandler Bing way.

I think she’s only dating him to piss me off. And the worst thing is, it’s working. Every time he touches her, I just want to rip his goddamn hands off her. I’m inwardly scowling right now as he wraps his arm around her waist, whispering something into her ear. But I have an amazing poker face. I’m a cop. I have to keep neutral most of the time. So, I act as if her being with another guy doesn’t bother me, that I don’t secretly want to beat the crap out of him.

Earth to Logan. Are you even fucking listening?

I grunt as a hand sucker-punches me in the stomach. Tearing my eyes from Ally, I glare at my older brother Jace.

Asshole, what was that for?

I was telling you about the planet I might have found today.

Oh, and another job more boring than a kindergarten teacher? An astrophysicist—aka stargazing. I mean, of all the scientific fields he could have gone in, he went with the most boring. And I’m not being a science snob here. I studied at MIT to become an engineer. I’m more of a lover of physical sciences, where I can get my hands dirty. What Jace does? Well, I’d be snoozing the entire day away.

And that’s why I zoned out, bro. Plus—I point to where Ally is standing—I’m kind of distracted.

He looks behind himself and immediately starts chuckling under his breath. Damn, you still haven’t given up on her?

You’ve seen her, right? There is no giving up on a woman like that.

Didn’t you tell me she hated you?

She says she does, but I know it’s just a front. Deep down, she wants me.

His eyes slide over to her, and he shakes his head with amusement. If she wants you, then why is she pawing at the dude over there and not you, huh?

I frown when I see her fingers crawling up his chest, but before Jace can see it, I shrug my shoulders. She’s playing hard to get.

It seems she’s hard to get, but there ain’t no playing there. If I were you, I’d just move on to the next woman. I mean, look around you. There are about six chicks’ eyes on you right now.

I don’t even spare a glance at anyone else. All I can see is Ally. I don’t know when it happened, but that girl has made me pussy-whipped, and she barely even knows I’m alive.

Yeah, I could have other girls, but that would be too easy. Things were getting boring. The challenge excites me.

Just then, my other brother Blake returns from the bar with three bottles of beer in his hands.

What have I missed? Blake asks as both Jace and I grab our beers.

I don’t miss Jace’s smirk as he flicks a glance toward me.

Oh, just Logan chasing his tail with a girl who couldn’t be any less interested in him.

Blake raises a brow as he throws back his beer. You talking about Ally?

I nod. Now, it’s Blake’s turn to laugh.

Dude, you still got it bad for her? Shit. Take the hint. She fucking hates you.

She doesn’t fucking hate me. We just…have some tension. Tension that would go away if she let me sleep with her.

Didn’t she once call you Channing Tatum? And as an insult, not a compliment, Blake says.

How can that be an insult? I mean, I’m straight, and even I know that guy is hot. He’s not called Magic Mike for nothing.

Maybe you’re just too hot for her, Jace pipes up. Some chicks feel intimidated by good-looking men. Or maybe it’s because you’re a dirty dawg and she doesn’t know where it’s been, he says, nodding down to my crotch, shit-eating grin on his face.

Fuck you. I’m clean. I shove him back, scowling. I glance back over to Ally, who’s now laughing at something Nate said. She isn’t intimidated. She seems to like Nate just fine, and we’re identical twins.

Wow, I love how you’re trying to come up with anything that explains why she doesn’t hate you when in fact she does, Jace says with a deep chuckle.

Dude, you’re just strung out because she’s the only woman in the universe who hasn’t fallen for your charm, Blake adds.

That might be a little true. I’ve had girls fawn over me since I hit puberty, but the one person I want fawning over me hates my guts.

Just cut your losses and find another woman, one who’s willing to fuck you, Blake says.

It isn’t about just fucking her, I tell both my brothers. I really like her, and the more she resists, the more determined I am to impress her.

Blake lets out a long breath before raising a brow to Jace. I hope this shit isn’t contagious. First, Nate, and now Logan. If there’s a bow and arrow filled with love potion, I want the antidote, so I don’t turn into this pussy-whipped moron here.

Jace roars out with laughter while I subtly raise my middle finger along the edge of my bottle at the pair of them.

I’ll tell you what, Blake begins. If you can get Miss Beauty Pageant over there to fall in love with you by the time Nate and Remi get married, I’ll give you my car.

I let out a low whistle. Because, damn, he loves his Porsche.

Are you serious?

As a heart attack, he drawls.

I suspiciously eye him, wondering why he’d bet his car. Then, a second later, I understand. That motherfucker. He doesn’t think I can make her fall in love with me. Now, this makes me more determined to prove him wrong, just to piss him off when I get to drive his car into the sunset. A lawyer betting against a cop. This should be fun.

Fine, you’re on. But when I win, don’t come crawling back to me, crying for your car, because once she’s mine, I’m not fucking sharing.

Who, the car or the girl? Jace pipes up.

Both. I beam.

My eyes instinctively go over to Ally, and I swear, my heart jolts in my chest as I find her eyes solely on me. And what’s even more perfect? The guy she was with is nowhere to be seen. I smile, and she quickly looks away, but I don’t miss the blush creeping along her cheeks. Yep, chicks who blush definitely don’t hate you, and eventually, I’ll make her realize that, too.

Now that she doesn’t have the creepy dude attached to her, I take this as my cue to say hi.

Now, if you will excuse me, a pretty lady is waiting.

And with that, I leave my brothers behind with Blake betting Jace ten bucks if Ally knees me in the balls within the first thirty seconds of talking to her. Asshole.

Ally’s eyes flick to mine. When she notices I’m approaching, her eyes grow, and she does this lip-biting thing whenever she’s nervous, which I find to be a fucking turn-on. She avoids my eyes and focuses solely on my brother and Remi, but I make it hard for her to avoid me as I place an arm around her shoulders.

So, I guess congrats are in order? I ask her, getting a sweet whiff of perfume. God, she smells incredible.

She barely glances toward me, but she doesn’t push my arm off her.

Why? I’m not the one getting married. She rolls her eyes.

But you’re the maid of honor, and with me as the best man, things might finally get dirty between us, I say with a waggle of my brow. It’s a tradition; the best man always gets with the maid of honor on the wedding day.

She looks up at me, a frown on her face, clearly unimpressed. Traditions are stupid, and just because you’re the best man doesn’t mean you’ll be getting with this maid of honor. Plus, I’ll be bringing a date anyway.

Who, the preppy boy who’s gone to use the big potty? I ask mockingly.

She just rolls her eyes again. What’s your problem with him? Ever since you met him, you’ve just been a dick.

I can feel Nate’s and Remi’s eyes on me, but I ignore them and bring Ally in a little closer, brushing my lips to her ear as I do. He’s not good enough for you, I tell her honestly.

What, and you are?

God, I love it when she gets feisty.

Um, yeah actually, I say, pulling away a little so I can look down at her. I still find it interesting that she hasn’t pushed me off her yet. If you haven’t forgotten, not long ago, I risked my life for you in that house fire, and a guy who risks it all should be good enough for you. I doubt pretty boy back there can handle a paper cut.

She glares at me, but the way her mouth tilts up with humor tells me she agrees with me. You really are an arrogant son of a bitch. And, FYI, you didn’t actually save me; a firefighter got me out. So, he risked his life for me. Maybe I’ll take him to the wedding, she smarts off.

Sorry, but Matt’s happily married with a kid, Nate says, laughing.

All the good ones are, Ally says with a sigh just as her dickhead boyfriend returns with his preppy hairstyle.

His eyes land on me instantly and the arm wrapped around his date. He frowns, and that only makes me smile.

You’re in my spot, he says, pointing to my arm.

Who is he, Sheldon Cooper?

Oh, I’m so sorry. Let me move for you, I say in my sincerest voice, but instead of pulling away from Ally like he wants me to, I just shift toward Nate and pull her with me.

Both Nate and Remi stifle a laugh while I feel Ally’s heated gaze on me.

There you go, Freddie.

I laugh as Ally slaps her hand against my stomach and shoves my arm off her just as he pipes up, It’s Eddie actually.

Yeah, whatever, sunshine.

Freddie or Eddie, he’s still a fucking douche bag.

You’re such a dick, Ally hisses at me.

I just shrug, my smile growing. It doesn’t surprise me as he sidles up to Ally and wraps his arm around her shoulders, pulling her into him, pressing a kiss to her cheek. The guy is clearly threatened by me. Good, he should be. He has the woman I want, the woman he doesn’t deserve, and he should know what he’s up against.

Ally’s eyes lock on to mine. I swear, for just a second, I see a flash of uneasiness, but then a mischievous grin appears on her pretty face, and she pulls him in closer. She’s purposely trying to make me jealous. I knew it.

So, have you picked a date for the big day yet?

I don’t even look at preppy boy as he speaks. I just continue watching Ally because, damn, she really is fucking pretty, and I can’t take my eyes off her.

Well, actually, yes, Remi answers.

My attention shifts to Remi. She glances up to Nate, who just nods, and then her eyes land on Ally and then me.

We were originally going to wait until the summer, but the venue we were looking at had a cancellation. So, we’re getting married on January 26.

I quickly do the math in my head, and with Halloween just a few days away, it means the wedding will be in a little over two months. I don’t know much about weddings, but I know they normally take a lot longer to plan. But then again, their entire relationship has been a whirlwind, so it makes sense for them not to wait around to get married. And I know wholeheartedly that this is what my brother wants. I sense it in a way only a twin can sense.

Ally is the first to speak, taking my breath away with that beautiful smile of hers, which I feel all the way to my soul—and my cock.

Oh my God, that’s so amazing! she gushes, enveloping her best friend in a hug. I’m so happy for you.

I know it’s not a lot of time to plan a wedding, but I’m hoping the maid of honor and best man—Remi winks at me while pulling away—won’t mind helping us with the planning.

I see it for just one moment, the way Ally’s face blanches in horror. Ally might think she hates me, but I know that Remi is rooting for us, and this is her perfect way of getting us to spend more time together. If I knew my brother wouldn’t kick my ass, I’d smack one hell of a kiss on Remi’s lips. Then, my thoughts go to my other brother Blake and that stupid bet. A laugh escapes my lips because, damn, I really have my work cut out for me now.

What are you laughing at? Ally snaps, scowling at me.

That only makes me laugh harder. Oh, just the fact that we have to spend time together and knowing how much you will hate every second, I taunt, my nostrils flaring with humor.

She just glares at me before turning back to Remi. For you, I’d do anything. Even if it means spending time with Mr. STD over there, she says, swiping a glance at me.

I don’t think she realizes it, but the meaner she is to me, the more I love it, and the more it turns me on. I guess I like the pain.

Ouch, you know just where to hurt me, I mock.

She flips me off before returning her attention to her best friend. I watch her for a second longer, and my heart flutters a little at the barely there smile curving her lips.