8. Logan
8
LOGAN
“ L ogan, come on, man,” Brant says, nudging me with his shoulder. “Have we resorted to stalking?”
“No. I have a driver and a car. They shouldn’t be getting into an Uber.”
“There are thirty other women in this bar, and you’re not bent out of shape about them getting into an Uber.”
They’re not Serena.
The thought of her going home with one of those guys who has been stuck to her all night is infuriating.
At least this way, I know that she’s not going to sleep with one of them tonight.
I want her in my bed tonight. I’ll be damned if she meets someone else.
As we step outside, I scan the area, searching for the two women who slipped out just a minute before us. I catch sight of them near the curb, huddled together as they fumble with their phones. They’re both noticeably intoxicated.
“I’m not thinking about her,” I lie. “If something happens to her, it would ruin Abby’s party.”
“Oh, that’s where we’re going with this?”
I run a hand through my hair, the strands falling back into their usual messy state.
“Can we not right now?” I growl.
I stalk toward where Serena and Lila are talking quietly. I put my hand on the small of Serena’s back.
“Get in the car,” I say in her ear.
“Get the fuck away from me!” she screams out as her hand flies toward me.
Just as quickly, I feel a rush of electricity rip through me, and the next thing I know, I’m on the ground looking up into Brant’s face as he laughs hysterically.
“What the fuck happened?” I groan.
“Remember when I told you I could test my taser on you?” Serena asks softly.
“You tased me?”
“We just walked out of a bar at closing time, and you told me to get in the car. I didn’t know who you were. You’re lucky I didn’t pepper spray you too.”
“Yeah, you probably should have thought that through,” Lila giggles.
“You tased me,” I repeat as Brant helps me off the ground. “I was just offering you a ride.”
“You do not have the greatest social skills at all,” Brant chuckles.
“I was just offering you a ride instead of you taking an Uber. I have a driver.”
Serena’s eyes narrow slightly, and I can practically see the wheels turning in her head. She’s suspicious, and I can’t blame her. This must seem pretty random, even to her.
“We’re fine, Logan,” she says, her tone clipped. “You don’t need to do that.”
“I know I don’t need to,” I reply, keeping my voice steady. “But I want to. It’s late, and I’d feel better knowing you got home safe. And that a stranger isn’t taking you home.”
Brant and Lila both laugh.
Shit, did that sound the way I think it did?
She crosses her arms in front of her breasts, and it causes her cleavage to spill out of her dress. I can’t tear my eyes away.
Damn it.
I shift uncomfortably as I feel my pants tighten.
Lila’s eyes dart between us, clearly sensing the tension but not understanding it. “Well, I mean, it’s a free ride,” she says with a shrug, trying to lighten the mood. “I’m not gonna say no to that.”
Serena hesitates, and I can tell she’s weighing her options. She doesn’t want to take the offer, that much is clear. But I can also see the logic in her eyes. She knows it’s a safer option.
“Serena,” I say, lowering my voice so only she can hear, “please. Just do this. I’m not... I’m not trying to make things weird. I just want to know you’re safe.”
For a moment, she just stares at me, and I wonder if she’s going to tell me to get lost. But then she sighs, the tension in her shoulders relaxing just a fraction. “Fine. But this isn’t about you being some kind of hero, okay? We’re just taking a ride.”
“Great! Hop in, ladies. The Logan Express is ready to roll.”
My driver, Dante, is standing at the car door to my sleek black Jaguar. He shoots me a funny look as he lets the girls in the backseat. Brant slides in behind them, leaving me in the front seat.
I growl inwardly. Lila giggles, clearly amused, and Serena just rolls her eyes.
“You good, boss?” Dante asks once he shuts the door.
“Absolutely,” I lie.
“I’ve never seen you bring a woman home from the bar,” he says.
“She’s planning Abby’s party. I can’t have her getting hurt out here.”
He chuckles and nods. “Yes, sir.”
You know, Logan, I’m starting to think that getting her in a car with you might not actually be safer. You look like you’re about to explode with all that pent-up emotion.
Brant is texting me from the backseat and I’d like to flip him the middle finger, but I refrain.
Brant laughs.
Relax, man. I’m just messing with you. But seriously, try not to let her see how much she’s getting to you. Girls like that can smell weakness from a mile away.
I’m not weak .
Didn’t say you were. Just saying you’ve got to keep your cool. She’s already on edge, and you don’t want to push her further.
I nod. Brant’s right, as much as I hate to admit it. I need to keep my emotions in check.
She tased me. That’s why I’m all off-kilter.
I guess I shouldn’t worry about her so much. She can clearly protect herself.
Damn it, why does that turn me on even more?
As Dante pulls away from the bar, I glance in my mirror, seeing that Serena is directly behind me. She’s staring out the window, her expression unreadable, but I can see the tension in her posture, the way she’s holding herself so tightly.
“How about some music? Or are we going to ride in awkward silence the whole way?”
Lila laughs, and I can hear the relief in her voice. “Music sounds good. Anything but country, though. I’m not in the mood for sad songs about trucks and heartbreak.”
Dante grins, reaching for the radio. “You got it, darlin’. Let’s see what we can find.”
As the music fills the car, I try to relax and focus on the road ahead. But it’s hard when all I can think about is the woman sitting in the backseat, so close yet so far away.
“Lila, what’s your address?”
She rattles it off, and I gesture to Dante. “Perfect, it’s on the way to Brant’s.”
“Um,” Serena starts.
I turn around to see Lila giving her a look. Serena huffs and sits back in her seat. It’s not long before Brant and Lila are deposited in front of their apartments. I move to the back to sit by Serena.
“You didn’t have to do this, you know?”
“You’re an employee. It’s the only reasonable thing to do.”
“An employee?” she snaps. “Are you in the habit of sleeping with all of your employees?”
I sit back slightly and eye her carefully. Dante’s eyes are forward, trying not to be obvious that he’s in the car.
“No, we had this talk and…”
“Logan, you can’t tell me that you don’t do relationships or whatever bullshit you said and then stare at me all night long. The only reason why you offered me a ride home was because you don’t want to sleep with me, but you couldn’t stand the thought of me going home with someone else. Grow up.”
“You think I don’t want to sleep with you?”
She rolls her eyes, sits back, and folds her arms across her chest before she looks out the window.
What am I doing wrong?
It’s not long before we pull up in front of her apartment. She practically jumps out the door, and I watch her step onto the curb unsteadily.
“Maybe you should walk her to her door, sir,” Dante offers as he clears his throat.
Shit. He’s right.
I jump out of the car and race after her.
“Serena!”
She doesn’t slow down. She continues to walk ahead.
I mean, it’s a great view. The black dress that she’s wearing shows off all of her amazing curves.
“Listen, I’m sorry if I was rude or came off as a jerk. I…I don’t know how to navigate any of this, okay? I’ve never been in a real relationship before, and I’ve certainly never felt a connection with a woman before like the one I feel with you.”
“You have a shit way of showing that,” she snaps.
“I do. I don’t know what’s gotten into me. It’s like…all I want to do is kiss you, but I can’t understand how to convey that.”
She grabs my shirt and pulls me into a hot, passionate kiss.
Damn it, why didn’t I think of that?
She pulls away and rolls her eyes as she starts back into her apartment.
“Can we talk about this?”
“Not tonight. I need action, not words.”
And just like that, she disappears into her apartment building without a second thought.
I slink back to the car. Dante’s in the front seat, trying to hide a smirk.
“That’s the one,” he says with a chuckle.
“Excuse me?”
“She’s the one, sir. Did you ask her on a date?”
“Shit, no.”
Dinner tomorrow night at eight. I’ll pick you up.
“Tell me that you didn’t just text her asking her on a date,” Dante laughs as he pulls away from the curb and starts toward my house.
“Why?”
“Because you should ask her in person. Asking her tonight, when you’ve been drinking and just left a bar, well, it looks like you’re only interested in one thing.”
“I didn’t think about that.”
“I’m sure you didn’t intend to come off like that, but she won’t see it that way.”
I blow out a breath and look down at the message. She read it but didn’t respond.
Lovely.
The next day, I’m back in the office, trying to focus on work. But my mind keeps drifting back to the incident in the candy store. It wasn’t an incident. I lost my virginity. It was serious—full of intense feelings. I can’t stop thinking about Serena, her touch, her kiss, and the way she looked at me in the dark. It’s all mixed up in my head, and I can’t quite make sense of it.
As I sit at my desk, my phone buzzes with a message.
I have everything finalized for the party. Would you like to meet to discuss?
Dinner at eight?
You can stop by the store before I close today. I have plans for tonight.
Plans? What could she have planned?
Does she have a date with one of those guys from the bar?
I cover my face and let out a frustrated groan.
If she does, she does. I can’t be getting into a relationship right now. It’s not in my plan for the year.
When I arrive at the candy store, it feels different, more vibrant, and organized. Serena has everything for the party on display as she works through the final touches.
Damn it, she is sexy as hell right now.
She’s wearing a tight purple dress with a plunging neckline. Her tattooed and sculpted arms are on full display.
“Hey,” I say as I enter. “Ready to finalize the plans?”
“Yeah, let’s go over everything and make sure we’re all set.”
We sit down at the small table, surrounded by colorful candy jars and party supplies. The atmosphere is more relaxed today, but I can still feel the undercurrent of tension between us.
“Everything should be set.”
“Great,” I say, trying to focus on the task at hand. “And the entertainment?”
“The magician and the bounce house are both confirmed.”
“Perfect. It looks like we’re almost ready.”
There’s a moment of silence, and our tense feelings hang between us.
“I’ll get to the venue on Friday to begin setting everything up. You and Dee won’t need to do anything. I’ll take care of it all.”
“That’s amazing. Thanks. You’ve exceeded my expectations.”
“Great. A phone call to the building owner would be appreciated right now. I don’t want to be out on my ass in two weeks.”
“The deal was that Abby had to be happy with her party.” I try to delay. I don’t want her to turn me away so quickly.
“She will be. You know how much she loved everything when she was here the other day.”
“She’s four, it changes by the hour.”
She narrows her eyes and glares at me. “Very well then, it can wait, I guess.”
“By the way,” I say, trying to lighten the mood, “I noticed you’ve got quite an impressive collection of candy. Do you have a favorite?”
She shoots me a funny look. “I do. I’m a big fan of the gummy bears. They’re just so... nostalgic.”
“Nostalgic?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“There’s something comforting about them. Plus, they remind me of my childhood.”
“I guess we all have our guilty pleasures,” I say, leaning closer. “Do you have any other secret favorites?”
Serena’s gaze lingers on me. “Well, I do have a soft spot for chocolate-covered pretzels. They’re a little indulgent, but they’re worth it.”
“Indulgent, huh?” I tease. “I might have to try some of those myself.”
“You should,” Serena says, her voice dropping to a more intimate tone. “They’re definitely worth the try, especially mine. Do you have a favorite?”
“Peanut butter fudge.”
“Why’s that?”
“My Grams and I used to bake and cook a lot. It was one of my favorites then, and she’d make sure we always made it and that she sent some home with me after the summer in case I missed her.”
“That’s really sweet. Were you two close?”
“Yeah, I was her favorite, of course,” I chuckle. “Although she told all of us that.”
“Seems like she and my Granny were the same,” she giggles.
“Do you do anything online for your sales? Like a website or social media?”
Serena shakes her head, looking puzzled. “Not really. I’ve got a website for the store, but I don’t do much with it. Mostly, I rely on people coming in.”
“That’s surprising,” I say, leaning on the counter. “You could really boost your sales with a stronger online presence. Think about it: people could order candy and have it delivered. And you could promote your party planning services and cakes. I bet it would make a big difference.”
“I like the personal touch of having people come in and experience the store. There’s something special about enticing them with smells and tastes.”
“I get that, but think about how many more people you could reach online. You could showcase your products, offer special deals, and make it easier for people to order. Plus, with delivery options, you’d attract customers who might not be able to come in person.”
“I suppose there are benefits, but I really enjoy the atmosphere here. It’s not just about the candy; it’s about creating an experience—besides, delivery can be pricey. I’m the only one in the store. I can’t afford employees yet.”
“I understand,” I say, nodding. “But there’s a way to combine both. You can maintain the in-store experience while expanding online. You’d reach a wider audience and increase sales without losing what makes your store special.”
“I haven’t really thought about it that way. I’ve always been more focused on the in-store experience.”
“I know,” I say, my excitement growing. “But think about it: you could create an amazing online presence that complements the store. You could have a blog about candy, offer tips on party planning, and even do virtual tastings. It’s a whole new way to engage with customers.”
“That does sound interesting. I guess I never really considered the potential. But again, it’s only me.”
“You could even have special promotions, like limited-time offers or exclusive online products. It’s a great way to drive traffic to the store and keep people engaged.”
“You make a good point. I suppose there’s a lot of potential I haven’t explored. But you’re not listening. I am only one person.”
“I’d be happy to look through your books and see where you can create room to hire some help. Sometimes, you could even hire a freelancer to help with marketing or planning.”
“Lila is in marketing. I don’t…”
“Then why haven’t you used her?”
“I can’t afford her.”
“If she’s your friend, she’d do it for a trade, I’m sure.”
“A trade?”
“We’ll discuss that later. But, where are your books? The program you use for inventory. I can go through everything and…”
“I appreciate that, but no.”
“No?”
“No. I barely know you. I’m not going to hand over my financials to someone I don’t know.”
“I own a Fortune 500 company. Do you think I’m going to steal from you?”
“I once had a man tell me he was a millionaire, a couple of times over, while also offering to be my business coach. Turns out, he was a swindler.”
“I own the building next door. I’m all over the media with my accomplishments. Was this guy, too? No, probably not. I’m not going to burn you.”
“I’d rather you just listen to my no,” she says.
“Okay, I will. If you change your mind, let me know. I can be a lot of help to you, though, especially if you’d let me be.”
“Is that all you needed today?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“Good, I need to close up. I have plans tonight.”
“Okay.” My smile falters. I reluctantly turn to leave.
“You know,” she says quickly, “Thank you for bringing up the stuff about an online store. That sounds like a good idea. I would appreciate help with that.”
I stop and look back over my shoulder. “I’m glad to hear that. Let’s set up a time to go over some ideas. I’m sure we can come up with something fantastic.”
“O-kay,” she hesitates. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“I hope you have a good night.”
As I leave the store, I’m lost in anticipation and longing. The possibilities for Serena’s store are endless, and our connection is undeniable. I’m eager to explore both, even as I can’t shake the thought of how much I want to kiss her.
At least I found a way to stay connected to her after the party with Abby.