Chapter Ten
I arrived at the condo late in the evening, making the trip at a more leisurely pace since I was doing it solo. I’d even stopped in Saint Augustine to grab a cup of my favorite chocolate gelato, savoring it while I sat on a bench and watched the sky as the setting sun painted the clouds beautiful colors over the river.
The last week had been busy preparing for my trip, getting Sadie ready for camp, and arranging my house to make it easier for my mother to manage.
I’d gotten behind with work and spent most of Sunday getting caught up on my laptop and setting up my office equipment at the desk Uncle Mickey had put in the living room for me years ago. It was the only piece of furniture still in the living and dining areas. Movers had come at the end of March to take all the old furniture to a storage unit to make room for the new pieces my uncle purchased.
Monday, I worked normal hours then spent that evening taking the last few boxes that had been packed up down to the storage locker in the garage. They were full of old dishes, linens, and some home decor that could go into the next rummage sale the condo association hosted every other spring. I found the crate with the paintings we were using and moved it to the front of the locker so I could take them to be framed.
I went back upstairs and started wiping down the walls and trim in my uncle’s room. His new bedroom furniture was arriving on Friday so it was the first room I needed to work on.
I took off Tuesday morning to paint it the dusty grey he’d picked out.
By lunchtime, I was starting to feel a little stir-crazy and decided to grab a bite at The Beach Brew and take advantage of their WiFi. I’d finished my sandwich and was popping kettle chips in my mouth as I worked on an email to a client.
“Umm. Hi there.”
The usual thrill filled me at the sound of his voice. My head whipped up and I took in the sight of Logan for the first time since March.
He looked as handsome as always. His hair was a little longer again, which meant it was starting to curl more. He’d been getting a lot of sun and his skin was a sexy bronze. My eyes settled on the silver chain peeking out of his T-shirt and the sudden guilt of knowing what hung from it had me snapping them back to his face.
I finished chewing and swallowed. “Hi there,” I parroted back.
Logan stood beside the table, awkwardly looking around the cafe before back at me. He pursed his lips before opening them as if he were about to speak, seemed to change his mind, and pressed his mouth shut again. He appeared ready to bolt as he turned slightly toward the door.
I was both amused and embarrassed, watching him have an internal battle with how to handle running into me.
Logan looked at his watch, back at the door, then nodded as if he’d finally made up his mind as he scratched his jaw. “Can I join you for a minute?”
My mouth fell open but I closed it fast. “Yeah, sure.”
Logan slid into the booth across from me as I closed my laptop and pushed it aside.
He eyed it with a grimace. “I’m interrupting you.”
“It’s fine,” I said quickly. “I could use a break anyway.”
“Where are the girls?”
I told him about Grace staying in Philly for the summer and Sadie’s math camp.
“Wow. Those are some responsible decisions at their ages. I’m sure you’re very proud of them, and I’d say that’s a sign you’re doing an excellent job raising them.”
I’m sure my face pinked at the compliment.
He folded his hands on the table and looked at the computer again. “You work for some company remotely, right?”
I moved some chips around on my plate before tucking my hands in my lap to hide my nerves. Logan had never asked me questions about myself before .
“An insurance brokerage in Georgia. I started working there when we were at my ex-husband’s last duty station before he left the army.”
“That must have been a nice gig to keep. But Sadie was born in Tennessee?”
“Yes, I was pregnant when we moved home. She was born about a month later. I took a few weeks off to settle in with her but then had to get back at it. Drew, my ex, was looking for a new job but he wasn’t having much luck so we had to rely on my income for a while, and then we… ended up separating a few months after that.”
I picked up my water, taking a sip to stop my rambling.
“That had to be rough,” Logan said.
“It hasn’t always been easy but immensely worth it. My girls never had to spend a single day in daycare. Even after the” —I cleared my throat— “divorce.” I always hated saying the word. I bit my tongue to stop talking and started playing with my chips again.
“I imagine that was still a full load, a baby and an eleven-year-old, even if you could work at home.”
I just gave Logan a nod in response this time to keep my piling word count down.
“Was Sadie unplanned?” Logan made a face as soon as the question was out of his mouth. “Wow, that came out horrible. I only ask because of the age gap. There is nothing wrong with surprise babies of course. ”
I wasn’t offended, actually a bit amused. “That was Grace actually. Oddly enough, Sadie was the one we tried for.”
I delicately dabbed a fingertip to my jawline and the corner of my eye with exaggerated vanity.
“Unless I’m wrong in believing I was graced with my mother’s youthful skin, hopefully, you’ve assumed I’m still in my thirties.” I dropped my hand and gave Logan a goofy grin. “Grace was born about a month before I turned 19. That was not by design in the least.”
“I’m 41 and knew you had to be younger than me.” His lips twitched. “At least by a month or two.”
I opened my mouth with feigned shock and felt a jolt of pleasure when Logan’s eyes crinkled as he smiled at me. He was acting different, more at ease like he was when talking to the girls. He’d even just teased me. I relaxed even more and gave him a playful glare.
“The old guy thinks he has jokes, I see.”
Logan let out a low laugh and made a pained face. “Ouch, round one to Madison.”
My stomach fluttered, liking the interaction more and more. “A smile AND laugh from Logan Harper? One right after the other? Look at the crack in that hard exterior.”
His mouth curled again but then his amusement faded as he looked down at his hands. “I wanted to tell you again…” He blew out a breath before meeting my eyes. “How sorry I am for how I acted that night in March. ”
My face grew hot and I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Dang it! I’d been hoping we would pretend like it never happened. I’d spent several restless nights remembering the feel of Logan’s mouth and hands. I was an adult and would someday forget about it, but not if he kept bringing it up.
“Oh, don’t worry about that. You weren’t yourself.” I grabbed my napkin and started twisting it between my fingers. “Alcohol makes us do crazy, stupid things, right? I know you didn’t mean to do it. Really, it’s fine. We don’t have to talk about it.”
I dropped my chin and looked at Logan through my lashes.
A furrow started between his brows. “You think I kissed you because—”
“You weren’t in your right mind,” I anxiously finished for him. “I’m not the kind of person someone wants to just do t-that with,” I stammered. “Can we just forget about it, please?”
I looked around frantically, trying to find a way to change the subject, my eyes settling on the picture on the wall above the booth.
“The new owner did a number on this place, huh?” I shook my head, scrunching up my nose in distaste like Sadie had.
Logan glanced around as well. “You don’t like the changes they made?”
“It’s okay, I suppose. It seems like a place you would find in California or maybe Miami. Like they copied some trendy new start-up they saw in a magazine feature or something. I mean, come on, it’s like a surfer dude decorated his dorm room.” I shrugged and picked up a chip. “I guess I preferred the classic diner look. Had more character if you ask me.”
I kept looking around, avoiding eye contact and making faces at the decor. When I nervously peeked back at Logan, I could see he was trying to look serious as he nodded but his eyes were sparkling. “Character. Completely gone.”
“What’s amusing?” I asked, relaxing again since we were off the topic of our lips touching.
Logan shook his head. “Not a thing,” he answered before setting his chin in his hand as the young man waiting on me returned to the table.
His name tag read Georgie. Each of his fingernails was painted a different color of the rainbow. He had colorful earrings lining each ear and a diamond stud on the left side of his nose.
“You got a friend?” Georgie asked as he looked between us, his blue-tipped blonde hair waving around his face.
I thought it was an odd question and was going to ask Logan if he wanted to order something, but instead, I paused in confusion as Georgie held out a clipboard… Which Logan took.
“Inventory checked. The delivery is all good, Boss Man. The driver needs your John Hancock.”
“Thanks, Georgie. Uh, this is Madison,” Logan answered the question HE had been asked as he read over the delivery notes and then scrolled his signature at the bottom.
“Charmed.” Georgie smiled at me as he chewed a piece of gum.
Logan watched my saucer-sized eyes with delight dancing in his, one eyebrow raised as he held the clipboard back out to Georgie who took it and started to walk away before stopping to turn back with a flourish. “Sorry, love. Is there anything else I can get you?”
My mouth opened and closed like a fish for five heartbeats before I could speak again. “Just that to-go order I requested and the check please,” I squeaked.
“You got it, girlfriend.” Georgie pivoted to head back behind the counter and through the kitchen to the delivery dock. I stared at his back then the swinging door.
Logan cleared his throat so I bit my lip and looked at him slowly. His arms were crossed over his chest, his posture relaxed, his expression almost smug.
“You were saying something, Madison?”
“Uh,” I swallowed. “Soooo, you like to surf?”
Logan burst into laughter. He clearly wasn’t angry with how I’d knocked the changes HE made to the cafe when HE apparently bought the place! Still, incredibly embarrassed, I shook my head and buried my face in my hands until the rich sound of his amusement began to fade.
“Why did you do that to me? Let me keep going on like that!” I whined and threw my wadded-up napkin his way.
Logan tried to look sincere as he said, “I’m sorry,” but he couldn’t keep the grin off his face.
I soaked up watching him enjoy himself. Even if it was at my expense, the feeling it gave me was incredibly pleasant .
He pointed to my cheek. “Is that paint?”
I rubbed at my skin and felt the dried spot. “Oh, yeah. I’m doing some work on my uncle’s condo this summer. I started painting this morning.”
“I would be happy to come by if there is anything you need help with,” he offered.
I intentionally let my gaze travel slowly around the cafe again before giving Logan a deep grimace. “Thanks… but I’ve seen your work.”
His mouth fell open and then he started chuckling again.
I felt giddy myself. I could easily get used to hearing Logan Harper’s laugh.
Georgie sauntered up to the table with my check and a carryout bag. His head rotated back and forth between Logan and me, his lips pursed, his free hand on his hip.
“Well, well.” He settled on me. “You must practice magic or something, girl. I’ve barely seen this man crack even a smile in the last six months.” He gave me one more once over before walking back behind the counter.
Logan picked up my check from the table. “This one is on me.” He gestured to Georgie that he would take care of it later.
“Oh no, you don’t need to do that.”
Logan shook his head and stuck it in his pocket, settling the matter.
“Thank you,” I told him awkwardly. “You know I don’t hate what you did with this place, right?” I rushed to add. “I’ve always loved coming here since I was a kid. Seeing so many changes, it just hasn’t grown on me yet.”
Logan looked thoughtful. “I understand. Changes can be hard. Hopefully, you’ll get used to them.”
“Be glad Sadie isn’t here to give you a piece of her mind. She wasn’t too happy when we came in over Spring Break. I think she will forgive you though” —I touched my hand to the bag— “since you kept the orange cranberry scones. They’re our absolute…” I noted Logan was staring intently at the bag, “favorite,” I finished as he looked at his watch.
He was out of the booth the next moment. “I’m sorry, Madison. I need to get going. It was great seeing you.” He walked quickly as he spoke and was out the door before I could open my mouth to say goodbye.
I was thrown off by the abrupt end to the conversation but acknowledged the few we’d had seemed to end that way more often than not.
I was reaching for my laptop when the door opened again and I was surprised as Logan walked back to the table. Then he leaned down and spoke in a low voice close to my ear.
“Before you changed the subject to my hideous decorating skills, I intended to clear something up. I didn’t kiss you just because I was drinking that night. I kissed you because I wanted to. It doesn’t seem fair to let you believe otherwise.”
Logan straightened, giving me a slow, gorgeous smile. Then he tapped his knuckles on the table before he swiftly left again .
I watched him head to his jeep through the window as I rubbed the goosebumps covering my arms, wondering what the hell had just happened.