Chapter 16 Logan #2
“I’ll be right back as I need to get Jack before he leaves for town,” Logan said, reluctant to leave.
“Okay,” Charlie nodded, holding up the document. “I’m nearly done.”
Logan gave her a quick nod, turned, and forced himself to leave the room and head toward Jack’s office. To his relief, his friend was still sitting behind his desk using an overly large calculator and going through a ledger.
“You do know that’s what the fancy laptop on your desk is for, right?” Logan said, shaking his head at Jack’s reluctance to trust technology.
“I trust my calculations best,” Jack told him.
“Says the man who just told me he was going to use an AI attorney to help with his case,” Logan pointed out, receiving a scathing look from Jack.
“Is that one of Isabella’s cookies?” Jack's eyes followed the sweet in Logan’s hand.
“It is,” he confirmed, taking another bite.
“Thanks for bringing one for me,” Jack said.
“I’m sure all you have to do is call, and Isabella will have a plate load here for you.” Logan laughed. “When are you planning on going into town?”
Jack glanced up at the clock over the doorway. “In about an hour.”
“Good,” Logan said. “Because that attorney I told you about wants to meet you in about ten to fifteen minutes.”
“Oh, really?” Jack’s brows rose in surprise. “Okay.”
“Great, we’ll be back in a bit,” Logan told him, and before Jack could ask more questions, Logan ducked out of the office, finishing his cookie as he headed back to the library.
Ten minutes later, Logan led Charlie toward Jack’s office. He was trying not to notice the way she moved, the confident stride that said she knew exactly who she was and made no apologies for it. Betty had walked like that. Owned every room she entered with quiet certainty.
The comparison should have bothered him. Instead, it felt like permission. Like Betty herself was telling him it was okay to notice, to feel drawn to someone who reminded him of what he'd lost.
They made their way back through the inn to the office. Logan knocked once, then pushed the door open.
Jack looked up from the desk, where he'd been making notes on a legal pad. His expression shifted from concentration to confusion when he saw Charlie behind Logan.
"Charlie. Hi." Jack stood, glancing between them. "Is everything okay? Do you need something?"
Logan cleared his throat. "Actually, we need to talk to you. About the inn."
Jack's face went carefully blank. "What about it?"
Charlie stepped forward, setting the envelope on the desk. "Logan asked me to help with the foreclosure documents."
Jack's eyes widened, then snapped to Logan. "You told her?"
"She’s the attorney I told you about,” Logan explained.
"I can't afford legal advice!" Jack's voice rose slightly as he glanced at Charlie apologetically. "We've been over this."
"I'm offering my services pro bono," Charlie cut in smoothly, forgetting her promise to tell Jack that Logan had offered to pay.
“This is your vacation,” Jack said, shaking his head. “I’m sorry, Charlie, but this doesn’t sit right with me.”
"Trust me, I’m not very good at vacations, and this way, you’ll save me from my sister’s wrath when I start to get work withdrawal and start calling into work for something to do.”
Jack looked between them again, suspicion warring with desperation. "You're sure about this? I don't want to impose on your vacation."
"Are you kidding?" Charlie's tone was light but firm. "It's only been two days, and I'm already going stir-crazy. This is perfect."
Jack looked between them, clearly torn between pride and desperation. Finally, he nodded and gestured to the chairs across from his desk. "Alright. Thank you. I appreciate this more than you know."
Charlie and Logan settled into the chairs while Jack sat as Charlie pulled out the documents and spread them across the desk.
"I've reviewed the foreclosure notice," Charlie began, her tone professional but not cold. "And I need to ask you some questions to get a complete picture of the situation."
"Whatever you need," Jack said.
For the next twenty minutes, Charlie walked Jack through a series of detailed questions.
When did the financial troubles start? What was the original mortgage amount and terms?
Had there been any modifications or forbearance agreements?
What about other liens or encumbrances on the property?
Revenue streams? Outstanding debts beyond the mortgage?
Jack answered as best he could, occasionally pulling files from his desk drawer to verify dates or amounts. Logan added context when needed about operational costs and the inn's financial trajectory over the past decade.
Charlie took notes, her expression growing more thoughtful as the conversation progressed. When Jack finally ran out of answers, she sat back and studied her notes.
"Alright," she said slowly. "Here's what I'm seeing. The timeline they're pushing is aggressive, but it's not ironclad. There are several steps we need to take immediately."
"What kind of steps?" Jack leaned forward, hope flickering in his eyes.
"First, we need to formally respond to the foreclosure notice.
Challenge the accelerated timeline and request mediation.
That alone could buy us sixty to ninety days.
" Charlie tapped her pen against her notepad.
"Second, I need to do a deep dive into the mortgage documents and any correspondence between you and the bank.
Sometimes lenders make procedural errors that can invalidate a foreclosure action or at least delay it significantly. "
"What about the development company?" Logan asked. "The one circling?"
"That's the third thing," Charlie said. "I need to research who they are, what their typical tactics are, and whether they have any history of... let's call it aggressive acquisition strategies. If they've crossed legal lines before, that gives us leverage."
Jack's hands gripped the edge of his desk. "How long will all this take?"
"The research? A few days if I work efficiently. The formal response needs to go out within two weeks to be safe." Charlie met his eyes. "I won't lie to you, Jack. This is going to be a fight. But it's a fight we can win, or at least draw out long enough to find alternative solutions."
"I can help," Logan said immediately. "Whatever you need. Document gathering, research, and running interference. I know my way around legal databases."
Charlie glanced at him, and something warm flickered in her expression. "That would actually be really helpful. I'll need someone who understands the property and the local context. Two sets of eyes are better than one."
"Consider me at your disposal," Logan said, realizing he was excited about working with her, and pushed the feeling away.
They spent a few more minutes discussing logistics and next steps. Charlie outlined what documents she'd need copies of, and Jack promised to have everything ready by that afternoon. The tension in the room had shifted from despair to something that almost resembled hope.
Finally, Charlie began gathering her papers. "I'll get started on the research today. We'll meet again tomorrow to go over what I find and draft the formal response. And I will need to keep this." She tapped the foreclosure document.
“I’m sure Jack’s fine with that.” Logan’s eye caught his friend’s, who nodded and turned back to Charlie.
"I can't thank you enough for this," Jack said, his voice rough with emotion. "Really. You and your sister have been absolute saviors to us."
Charlie paused, looking up from the documents. "Sorry? My sister?"
"Your sister, Holly," Logan explained. "She offered to help with restorations around the inn this morning. The antiques, furniture, and so on that need attention."
Charlie rolled her eyes, but her tone was affectionate.
"Of course she has. My sister can't walk past something she thinks needs a bit of TLC.
" She laughed, the sound genuine and warm.
"And she moaned at me last night and this morning for having to do some work.
Apparently, I'm the workaholic in the family. "
Despite everything, Jack smiled. But then his expression shifted to concern. "I appreciate both of you more than I can say. But I'm worried about Trinity. With both of you working, I don't want her to feel abandoned or bored during your vacation."
"I have that covered!" Jane's voice came from the doorway.
They all turned. Jane stood there, leaning casually against the doorframe, arms crossed, her expression unreadable.
"Jane." Jack's voice held a note of caution. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough." Her eyes were calm but sharp. "Long enough to know you've been keeping vital information from Gran and me. A foreclosure notice, Dad? And you didn't think we needed to know?"
The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees.
But before Jack could respond, Jane's gaze shifted to Charlie and Logan. "Thank you. Both of you. For helping. For caring about this place, especially you, Charlie, and your sister. The two of you barely know us, and you’ve extended your help.”
"It's our pleasure," Charlie said softly.
"And don't worry about Trinity," Jane continued, her voice warming slightly. "She's helping me with the ballroom, and she's roped her new friend Maddy into it. They're having a great time planning and decorating."
"I hope she's not in your way," Charlie said, concerned.
"Not at all. I'm grateful for their help." Jane's smile was genuine now. "They bring an energy that the place has been missing for a long time." Her smile tightened as she looked at Jack and then back to Charlie and Logan. “Would you mind giving my father and me a minute alone?”
Logan nodded; it was time for him and Charlie to make themselves scarce. "I think this is our cue to leave," he said diplomatically.
Logan stood quickly, not keen to be caught in the middle of what was clearly about to be a difficult family conversation. He shot Jack an apologetic look.
But as they moved toward the door, Charlie paused beside Jane. Her voice was quiet but clear. "Go easy on your father. He was trying to protect you and keep you from worrying during December."
Jane's expression softened slightly. She gave Charlie a tight smile. "I'll try."
Logan touched Charlie's arm gently, steering her toward the hallway. Time to give Jack and Jane privacy for what was clearly going to be a difficult conversation.
But as they stepped into the hallway, Logan's hand slid down to catch Charlie's, intending to lead her away quickly before things got heated in the office.
The moment their hands connected, Logan froze.
Electricity shot up his arm, sharp and undeniable. His breath caught. Charlie's eyes went wide, her fingers tightening around his instinctively.
They stood there for barely a second before both pulling back like they'd been burned.
"I should—" Logan started.
"Yes, I need to—" Charlie talked over him.
"Research. You said research." Logan's hand was still tingling.
"Right. Yes. Research." Charlie fumbled with the envelope, nearly dropping it. "And you have... whatever you have to do."
“Things… I have things,” Logan blundered.
“Yes, right, things,” Charlie agreed, “Those are important.”
From inside the office, Jack's voice rose. They both flinched.
They stood there, still too close, both buzzing from that electric touch, fumbling for words.
"Okay, well, bye for now," Charlie said, her voice slightly breathless.
"Bye," Logan replied.
And then they both leaned in—that automatic goodbye gesture, pure instinct, and frazzled nerves.
Their lips met. Brief, electric, and completely unplanned.
The spark between them jolted them apart, their eyes wide.
"Uh... well... uh. See you," Charlie managed, stepping past him quickly, her face flushed, her heels clicking as she hurried away.
"Yes, later..." Logan stammered, equally flustered.
He started walking, his steps hurried and his mind spinning, barely paying attention to where he was going. It wasn't until he'd made it several steps that he realized he was heading toward the stairs to the guest suites in the completely wrong direction.
Logan stopped, closed his eyes, and cursed himself beneath his breath. "Idiot."
He turned around and saw that Charlie had made the same mistake. She stood frozen at the entrance to the family house hallway, her cheeks bright red, clearly realizing she'd gone the wrong way too.
Their eyes met across the distance. She pursed her lips and gave him a tight smile. He nodded as they walked toward each other. This time, they gave each other a wide berth, nodding awkwardly as they rushed past each other in their correct directions.
Logan was nearly to the door that led to the Christmas family house, his hand already reaching for the handle, when Julie's voice stopped him.
"Oh, Logan."
He turned. Julie stood behind the front desk, a knowing look in her eyes that made his stomach drop. How much had she seen? Logan wondered if she had seen what just happened; he’d never hear the end of it if she had. But his embarrassment was soon forgotten as Julie uttered her next words.
"I just got a call from a Tara Wellington looking for you," Julie said, her tone carefully neutral. "She said to tell you if you don't answer your messages, she'll have to come here in person."
His heart froze in his chest. Great. Just great. That's all I need.
"Thanks for the message," Logan said, forcing his voice to sound normal.
Julie's curiosity was practically radiating from her, but Logan ignored it, quickly pushing through the door into the family house and letting it close behind him.
He leaned against it, his heart still racing, his lips still tingling from that impossible, accidental kiss.
What the heck was happening to him?
First, that electric jolt when he'd taken Charlie's hand. Then that kiss. He placed his hand over his eyes as if it could erase the memory of that stupid, instinctive, completely unplanned kiss that had felt like touching a live wire.
And now Tara was calling. How the heck did she even find out where I am?
Good grief, his festive season was turning into a Comedy of Errors, and he’d only been here two days.