Chapter 23 Logan
Logan
It took all my restraint when I walked into the cafe not to walk right up to her and take her berry-colored lips. But it wasn’t the time. It wasn’t the place. Especially with Camila right next to me. Not to mention how we both agreed to last night being just a slip up.
Her words, definitely not mine.
I do admit that part of me questioned how she would feel today.
So I jumped at the chance to stop by to see her when my father mentioned needing a pick-me-up.
Unfortunately for me, Camila decided it was the perfect opportunity for us to get some alone time.
Though she spent the three minute walk chewing my ass out for obviously keeping my distance from her.
Not like I was paying attention. No, I was too busy wondering what I was going to say to Gwen, even though all the effort my brain put in went right out the door the moment I saw her again.
I was worried I would see regret etched on her beautiful face. And at first I thought I did. But when I put that drink she picked just for me to my lips and I watched her green eyes dance with excitement, I knew that wasn’t the case.
I keep my back to her until I hear the office door snick closed. Turning slowly, I steel myself to take her in fully without prying eyes.
“What did you need to talk about?”
“This.”
I eat the space between us in two quick steps.
Her lips part on a gasp that I swallow with my own.
The first touch quiets everything in my brain before it all floods back when her tongue reaches out to swipe at my lower lip.
My hand moves to her neck, gently tilting her with the slightest pressure of my fingertips.
I soak in the feeling of her hands coasting over my chest, only to part ways.
One goes to my waist and the other to the nape of my neck.
Both pull me in tighter, as if I could pull myself away at this moment.
I couldn’t even try. My entire being is trying to fuse itself with this gorgeous woman as if it was made to do so.
But I know I only have a couple of minutes before Camila comes banging down the door, if she’s not already tapping her toe with impatience right outside the door already. I hope not, as I nip at Gwen’s lip and she releases that delicious moan I’ve been dreaming about since last night.
Reluctantly, I start to pull away as my mind gets the better of me.
She tugs on my hair, bringing me back to her smiling lips a couple more times before we finally let go.
Except I can’t bring myself to remove my hands from her.
I can’t explain the way her touch silences the chaos within me, but it does, and I am starting to crave it.
Her wide green eyes look up, a smirk playing on her lips.
“What happened to one time?”
Her voice is breathy and knowing that I made it that way has me ready to puff my chest out in pride.
“I had to test a theory.”
One of her perfectly sculpted brows raises in question. “Oh, really? And what theory was that?”
“That maybe I actually am a fan of chocolate and mint together.”
“You had to test that theory by kissing me again?”
“Absolutely. See, you have to recreate the scenario in which the first revelation happened, to see if it holds up. Since I first realized I might like it as I was licking it off your lips, I figured that was a determining factor again.”
“Do you have a conclusion?”
I reach back for my cup. Handing it over to her to take a sip, only to swoop in for another soul-searing kiss when she’s done. I groan against her lips as I pull away, resting my forehead against hers. My chest rises and falls at a rapid rate as my heart pounds for her.
“Oh yeah, it’s definitely you.”
She giggles as her hands push against my shoulders, separating us. But we both seem to not be ready to let go as our hands join between us. Our fingers interlock mindlessly.
“Logan,” she sighs.
“I know that sigh.”
“How do you know my sighs?”
“I’m making it my life’s mission to learn every single one now. That one is you telling me we can’t keep doing this.”
“It’s not going to end well. You know it.”
I shake my head. “I don’t know that. But what I do know is kissing you, touching you, simply being near you makes me feel more alive than I have… well, ever. And I don’t think I’m alone when I say I can feel something special here.”
Her eyes flutter closed.
“How do you know all the right things to say?” She drops her head on my chest.
I chuckle, dropping a peck on the top of her head. “I’m just speaking from my heart.”
Wrapping my arms around her, I squeeze her to me in an attempt to gather her warmth into me to get through the day.
“This doesn’t have to be anything serious. But we can, I don’t know, explore these feelings together.”
Gwen leans her head back to look up at me again. Her long hair brushing against my arms as it falls down her back, sending a shiver down my spine at how good it feels.
“Explore these feelings, huh?” Her eyebrows waggle at me.
“Mind out of the gutter, Prescott.”
She nibbles her lower lip, her eyes shining with lust. “What if I want to be in the gutter with you?”
I groan, tossing my head back. “I’m trying to be really good right now, because I’ve already spent too much time in here and I bet someone is about to throw a fit waiting for me out there.
I won’t lie and say it’s not on my mind.
I want to explore more of you and that beautiful heart.
But if you want to be in the gutter, we can be in the gutter together. I want to explore all of you, Gwen.”
She squints an eye, her lips pursing to the side as she hums. “I’ll think about it.
” Pushing off of me, she extracts herself from the tangle of our arms and giggles.
I want to pull my phone out and record it so I can play it on repeat during the long days where I feel like I can’t make it out alive.
“You’d better go. I don’t need to give Camila even more reason to hate me. ”
“She doesn’t hate you.”
Gwen levels me with a blank stare.
“Okay, she’s not your biggest fan, but truthfully she’s not a fan of anybody.”
“She’s a big fan of yours, babe.”
“Trust me when I say, it’s not me. It’s my name.”
She grunts; the sound encapsulates her agreement and annoyance so perfectly that I can’t help but grin. “Gwendolyn Prescott, are you jealous?”
Gwen shakes her head quickly while her eyes look anywhere but at me. “Nope.”
“Uh huh, if you say so.” I lean down to peck her one more time on her lips. “There’s nothing to be jealous of. She’s just an unfortunate piece of the puzzle that is my father and his title. I don’t even see her.”
How could I when all I’ve seen since the day I came back is her?
“Always saying the right things, Mr. Spencer.”
My lips ghost over hers, the need to press them to her again coursing through me. I know if I keep it up, there’s no way I will leave this room anytime soon. “Can I see you tonight?”
Her eyes flutter. “As much as I would love that, I have other plans.”
“Hmm. Should I be the jealous one?”
She softly nods her head, her lips barely sliding against mine. “Definitely. I mean, you don’t even compare to Princess Rowan.”
The hackles that were starting to raise at the thought of Gwen spending the evening with someone else fall as quickly as they rose.
I chuckle, planting another peck on her, this time directly on her nose.
I pull away when all I want is to continue seeing how much blush I can get to travel her pale skin, brightening the freckles along her nose and cheeks.
“You’re right about that. Give her my best, would you?” I glance at my watch, realizing just how long I’ve been in here. “Shit, I really gotta go.”
My anxiety must morph on my face as Gwen’s brows push together.
“Everything okay?”
“Nothing I can’t handle. I really had an update on the festival, by the way.” I twirl my finger between us. “That wasn’t just a ploy to get you alone.”
She chuckles, “We can talk about it later. Go before Camila barges in here. I think I can hear her pacing outside the door.”
Gwen wasn’t wrong about the pacing, only it was outside on the sidewalk with a scowl and her phone attached to her ear. When she catches me exiting, Camila hisses into the phone and angry taps the end call button.
“About fucking time. I had Piper remake your dad’s drink.
There wasn’t a chance in hell I was going to show up to the office with a lukewarm coffee because you had to have a discussion with Gwendolyn right this second.
” Without a word, she starts walking down the street.
Her heels clack against the concrete, emphasising her words with each step.
“Couldn’t you just email her? God, I still cannot believe your mother is forcing you to keep up this charade of planning the festival.
She should know you have more important things to handle right now. ”
I move my sunglasses from my pocket, sliding them over my eyes to cover the rolling they are currently doing.
My subpar day filled with my father’s colleagues and their plans for what they deem to be a proper future full of an unnecessary amount of zeros in bank accounts had taken a positive turn since getting some time with Gwen.
I wasn’t going to let Camila ruin that. No, I’d save that inevitability for my father. But for now, I would hold on to it.
“It’s good for me to get out into the community. We all know this,” I sigh and take a sip from the paper cup. The taste only reminded me of how delicious it was to lick off of Gwen’s lips.
I feel the blood rush to my dick, which had finally started to cool off again.
“This town loves you and will be grateful when you follow in your dad’s footsteps. They might not like it now, but they will appreciate the changes later on.”
“Yeah? Is that before or after they lose the businesses they worked their lives for?”
She scoffs. “You need to get over that. Sure, maybe a couple of places won’t make it, but this place is going to boom with tourists. Think about our future.”
“While we are getting over things, why don’t you get over us? There is no our future.”
“I said I was sorry.”
I shake my head and pick up my pace. Her heels click louder as she rushes to catch up with me. Before I hit the steps for Town Hall, she grabs my arm and tugs me to a stop. I glare down to where her hand rests on my forearm until she takes the hint and removes it.
“Why won’t you talk to me?”
“We have nothing to talk about, Camila. We are nothing.”
She rolls her eyes at my words. “We are everything and you know it, babe. We are destined to be together.”
“Says who? Our fathers? God, Camila, you need to open your eyes and realize this is ridiculous. This isn’t the middle ages, we aren’t in an arranged marriage.”
Her lower lip juts out in a pout. “You love me.”
“No, I don’t.” I lower my voice, stepping forward when a couple walks by to keep our conversation private. “You deserve to be loved, I promise. But I also promise that person is not me.”
Camila’s natural tan darkens along her cheeks.
She turns her head slightly, looking toward the mountains off in the distance.
The autumn colors are in full bloom now, but I know she’s not taking in the scenery when I hear a small sniffle she releases.
I approach with caution in my next words, knowing she needs to hear them but unsure how they will be received.
“Don’t you want more from life? What happened to the girl who wanted to go to med school and help people?”
Her head turns sharply back to me. “She grew up and realized silly little girl dreams weren’t going to get her anywhere. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get this to your dad.” Without another word, she stomps up the steps.
I watch her go. Sadness fills my chest at how much she’s changed since we were two kids thrust together and clinging to each other, wishing for the love a father should give.