“You seem unhappy,” Logan said. “Does it bother you that Cyndi is interested in photography? My own parents didn’t think it was a practical career, but she’s still young. Don’t kids change their career goals a hundred times while growing up?”
Jessica was glad he hadn’t guessed what she was really feeling. “Yes. So far Cyndi has wanted to be a princess, trapeze artist, botanist and a fire captain. Not a regular firewoman, you understand. She thinks being in charge is best. Oh, and a kitten tamer.”
Logan grinned. “Kitten tamer?”
“She loves cats, as you may have guessed from her fascination with your mountain lion photos. Honestly, I don’t care what field she eventually chooses, provided it’s something she cares about. Passion is important. If she hopes to be an award-winning photographer, that’s great. If she wants to be something else, that’s fine, too. I want her to dream as big as possible. Impossibly big. You never know what you can accomplish if you believe in yourself.”
“Does that also apply to you?” he asked, looking surprised by his own question.
“What do you mean?”
“You left your other job to run this shop. I’m sure you would have been a great doctor or teacher or engineer. Whatever you wanted to do.”
“That’s nice of you. It’s just...” She glanced toward the closed door and then back at Logan. “My goals changed when I became a single mom.”
He nodded. “Do you have any regrets?”
“None,” Jessica said emphatically.
“Cyndi seems well adjusted and secure,” Logan commented. “So you must be doing a great job.”
“Thanks. By the way, it’s after three thirty, in case you were hoping for coffee,” Jessica said, anxious to change the subject. “But I have a small amount of the organic dark roast left if you’re interested. You must have a caffeine addiction—you drink twice as much as your coworkers.”
He shook his head. “It isn’t the caffeine. I get restless working in a small office. Going for coffee is an excuse to get away for a short time.”
“I see.” The new subject wasn’t an improvement, though she couldn’t be sure he was referring to Moonlight Ventures’ expansion needs. “And you’d much rather have a more spacious location, somewhere near one of my display windows.”
Logan instantly looked contrite. “Yes. No. I meant that it’s a challenge going from a physically active career to deskwork. I was either outside or on my feet as a photographer. Being an agent is a huge change.”
She smiled tightly. As he’d once suggested, it was a good thing he hadn’t followed in his parents’ diplomatic footsteps. His verbal clumsiness might be charming if the Crystal Connection wasn’t on the line, because while his mouth frequently said the wrong thing, it was thoroughly appealing in plenty of other ways.
Unfortunately, noticing Logan as a man wasn’t helpful. If Aaron had been a mistake, Logan would be a disaster.
“I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt,” she said.
In a way she felt selfish, wanting to keep her shop where it was doing well. But Moonlight Ventures wouldn’t go out of business if they stayed in their current location, they just wouldn’t have space for everything they wanted to do. She wasn’t sure the same could be said of the store if it moved.
“Are you willing to tour the potential units we’re proposing?” Logan asked. “I thought tonight would be good, after you close.”
There was no avoiding it. At the very least she had to appear willing to consider the options.
“My grandmother just brought Cyndi over from school, but I’ll see if she can come back.” Jessica pulled a cell phone from her pocket and called. “Hey, Grams. I hate to ask, but could you come back and get Cyndi? Something has come up.”
“No problem. I’m at the grocery store, only a few minutes away. I’ll finish shopping and be there soon. I hope you have an unexpected date...maybe with that customer you told me about? You said he was cute.”
Jessica tried to keep her expression neutral. “Sorry to disappoint, it’s just work.”
“Oh, honey, I know that tone. Please don’t cut romance out of your life.”
The moment was surreal. Jessica had a handsome, single-but-off-limits man watching her from five feet away...and her grandmother on the phone, pushing for romance. Penny Parrish was a wonderful, wise lady, who treasured every memory of her marriage. She might be alone now, but Grams’s life with Granddad was what happily-ever-after should look like. Not everyone was that fortunate.
“I promise to think about it,” Jessica said brightly. “Thanks for the help, you’re a peach.”
“I’ll make enough dinner for all of us. Come home when you can. It’s nice having someone else to cook for.”
“Don’t worry about me, I can pick something up. I’ll fix dinner for all of us tomorrow. See you soon.” Jessica turned to Logan after disconnecting. “Grams isn’t far away—she stopped at the grocery store.”
“In that case, I’ll see you later. Before I forget, I need the address and time for Cyndi’s meeting on Saturday.”
“Everyone takes turns hosting it and this week we’re at my house,” she explained reluctantly. She didn’t want him in her home, but that ship had already sailed. “I’ll email the details.”
Jessica kept thinking about Logan after he left. She’d visited the Crystal Connection often since moving to the Seattle area, but they hadn’t met until the previous week. Her mental image of him had been skewed by his picture on the calendar, but meeting him in person had sent the image flying. Okay, it was stereotypical to envision a fashion photographer as a pale, artistic type with eyes that had turned glassy after years of taking pictures under hot lights. The reality was a strong, confident guy with muscles, a tan and a warm smile.
Grams arrived fifteen minutes later. Cyndi was confused to be going home earlier than expected, but she quietly gathered her homework and left with Penny.
Luckily for Jessica, a flurry of customers came in, distracting her from thoughts of Logan.
* * *
KEVIN WOKE REFRESHED as his plane landed at SeaTac. He already missed his daughter and her family, but it was good to see the familiar sights of Seattle as he collected his car in the long-term parking lot and drove home.
In the beginning, the condominium had seemed a good idea for him and Allison as they got older. Though it had a small patio garden, most of the exterior maintenance was covered by the monthly fee. The clubhouse was nice and the residents had monthly potlucks that were well attended. But with Allison gone, he was less certain that he wanted to stay.
“Hello, Kevin,” a neighbor exclaimed, rushing out from her front door, which was unfortunately close to his. Mary Gentry was one of the reasons he questioned keeping the condo.
“Good evening, Mary.”
She eyed the luggage he carried. “I’m glad you’re back. Will you come for dinner? You can’t have any edible food in the fridge after being away so long.”
“Thanks, but I have plans for the evening.”
His plans included staying away from a gregarious widow who was doing her best to collect a third husband.
“Come over if you change your mind. You’re always welcome. I can’t seem to stop cooking for two, so there’s plenty.” She followed him to his condo, still chattering. Most of the time she didn’t wait for an invitation and he practically had to close the door in her face.
Phew.
He blew out a frustrated lungful of air. Allison wouldn’t have been bothered at the thought of him remarrying, but he doubted she’d approve of Mary Gentry and he certainly didn’t care for her style.
Slumping into a chair, he turned on the television and flipped through the channels. Wasn’t that what old men did, watch TV and listen to their arteries harden?
Suddenly it was as if he could hear Penny scolding him, so he pick
ed up the phone and dialed her number.
* * *
BY SHEER FORCE of will, Logan made the remainder of the afternoon productive, including setting up four appointments with prospective clients. There was also a modeling job to coordinate, along with a couple of go-sees, which was a model’s version of an audition. He was building his own client list and a share of Kevin McClaskey’s original clients had been transferred to him, so there was plenty to do.
Kevin had been a stellar agent on many levels, but his intense involvement in clients’ lives didn’t necessarily match how the new partners saw an optimum working relationship. Thanks to Nicole’s efforts, most of them had adopted an engaged but more independent approach, though a few missed Kevin and still called him for advice. When buying the agency, the four of them had agreed he could stay in contact, but it was proving to be tricky.
Then there was the lifelong friendship between the Parrishes and the McClaskeys. Logan hadn’t anticipated Jessica being part of it. Instead, from childhood, she’d looked at the McClaskeys as honorary grandparents. He might have handled things differently with her if he’d known about their close ties ahead of time; it was his own fault for being impatient.
At five thirty he locked his office and headed for the Crystal Connection. Jessica was busy with late customers, so he wandered around the displays as they shopped.
“Do you have any black tourmalines?” one woman asked. “They’re supposed to be good for protection. I’m driving across country next week with my daughter, so it was providence when I saw your shop.”
Jessica directed her to a basket on a circular display stand.
Fifteen minutes later, Jessica locked the door behind the last customer. “Sorry,” she said. “I’m considering being open once a month on Saturday for people who can’t get here during the week.”
“Not all Saturdays?”
“My grandparents never opened on the weekend, which probably wasn’t the best financial decision. On the other hand, this isn’t a major tourist area, so weekend hours aren’t as critical. Um, let me take care of something before we go.”
Jessica removed the contents of the cash register and he followed her to the storeroom area, where she crouched and put everything in a safe.
“How about hiring a part-time clerk for the weekend?” Logan asked as he waited.
“I’ve thought about it, but this has always been a family-run operation, so that’s a big leap. I’ve also considered being open Tuesday through Saturday, but the coffee regulars would dislike it and I’d have less time with Cyndi.”
“Obviously being a good mom is important to you.”
Jessica straightened and stared at him. “Well, yeah. Kids aren’t kids for long—I don’t want to miss out.”
Over the years Logan had heard various comments about parenting. His mother and father were pragmatic, saying it was a duty to protect the young and raise productive human beings. Other people had mentioned not wanting to miss their kid’s childhood, but it was the expression on Jessica’s face that struck him—she genuinely enjoyed being with Cyndi.
“Why is her father missing it?” he asked but then stopped abruptly. “Sorry, none of my business. My big mouth again.”
Jessica didn’t look offended. “It isn’t a huge secret. We fell in love and I wanted to get married, so we got married. He wasn’t ready, though, and the prospect of a baby was too much for him. He left and I haven’t heard from him since. Aaron could be on the other side of the world for all I know.”
A rush of outrage hit Logan. “That’s terrible. A real man doesn’t run away from his responsibilities.”
She shook her head. “You’ve been talking to my grandmother. I’ll tell you what I’ve told Grams—it wasn’t Aaron’s fault. He wanted to wait, I didn’t.”
“Penny and I haven’t discussed it, but regardless, decent men don’t abandon their children.”
The corners of Jessica’s mouth twitched. “I’m the one who married the guy. Are you saying I lack good taste?”
Logan chuckled. “Not quite. You were just too young to know better.”
Her expression sobered. “I was twenty, which is two years older than Grams when she met Granddad. Do you ever wonder why something works for some people and not for others?”
The question was eerily similar to the one Logan had been asking himself about relationships. Strangely, he didn’t like hearing it come from Jessica.
“Penny lucked out,” he said firmly. “And even if your ex wasn’t ready to settle down, he didn’t say no, either. On top of that, he’s had years to grow up and make contact. If he knows anything about your family, you can’t be difficult to locate.”
“I suppose. As for Grams being lucky? I don’t know if it was luck or inspiration. I just know I don’t expect to get married again myself. The risk of repeating my mistakes is too great.”
Logan sensed there was more to it. A whole lot more. Jessica was strong and independent. She’d be an equal partner in a relationship.
He saw it, even if she couldn’t.
* * *
JESSICA DIDN’T KNOW what to make of the expression on Logan’s face and decided not to try. It had been an unusual conversation, but nothing was usual these days.
“Shall we walk to the potential sites?” he asked. “It doesn’t make sense to drive the length of the parking lot.”
“That’s fine,” she said, though she suspected he hoped to prove the new space wasn’t an impossible distance from her current location.
The walkway was wide and Logan strolled beside her with a comfortable ease. He was hard to figure out. It was odd that he’d tried to reassure her about the mistakes she’d made with Aaron. They’d already discussed his attitude toward marriage. If anything, she would have expected such a dedicated bachelor to take her ex’s side.
They rounded the corner of the building. “This is the first available unit,” Logan explained, opening the third door, “since Tupper Recording uses the first two. As you can see, a nice feature on this side is the band of grass, along with the protected green space across the street. I’ve noticed you put a bowl of water outside the shop for dogs, so the grass would be great for them.”
“I’ve been down here. Cyndi and I often take a walk after I close the store. The recording studio is the only occupied rental on this end, right?”
“Er...yeah, for the moment. But the studio is completely soundproofed, so you wouldn’t have a noise issue. The layouts of the units are similar, but you should check all of them. The paint and flooring are in poor condition, but that’s a cosmetic fix we’d take care of before you moved,” Logan said. “Each unit has a private restroom, which means routing water to a coffee bar wouldn’t be a big deal. We’d handle that, as well. Take a look around.”
Jessica wandered through the space, wrinkling her nose at the musty odor. Clearly it had been empty for a while, which should have been enough to tell Logan that it wasn’t desirable commercial space. A booming economy and they had four large empty rentals while the rest of the building was filled to capacity? Hardly a promising sign.
So, why hadn’t Moonlight Ventures considered moving to the rear of the building themselves? There was more than enough space and the nature of the agency didn’t require a high-visibility location. She almost asked but then remembered Logan’s remarks about the expensive remodeling they’d already done. It was unlikely they wanted to do it all over again.
He locked the door and they toured the next two spaces, then the last, which was the most appealing because it had more windows, except it was even further from potential customers. But nothing could change the fact that they all fronted on a quiet, narrow street, with no neighboring businesses except a recording studio.
“I wanted you to see what we could offer,” Logan said as they walked back to the Crystal Connection. “Each unit is twice the size of what you
’ve got now. Moving costs would be covered, along with the other incentives we’ve discussed.”
Jessica smiled noncommittally, her nerves twisting tighter. Even the push-pull attraction she felt for Logan was swamped by worry. She believed the owners of Moonlight Ventures were ethical people who intended well, but good intentions weren’t always enough. If she didn’t agree to move to one of the empty spaces, when the lease ran out she’d probably have to find another location altogether. After all, they were offering incentives to move now, not in three years.
“Where would you like to go for dinner?” Logan asked.
She blinked. “Uh...what?”
“From what I heard when you were talking to Penny, you don’t need to rush home and feed Cyndi. I figured we’d catch a bite.”
“That isn’t necessary.”
“It will give us a good chance to talk. It’s a challenge when the store is open and you have customers coming and going.”
Tiredly, she considered what to do. Logan was right that discussing business at the shop was problematic, but she refused to eat at another expensive restaurant where she felt out of place.
“How about a pizza?” she suggested.
“Good idea. We can eat in the agency’s break room.”
Jessica would rather stay on her own turf, but the store didn’t have a place to eat aside from the sales counter and the narrow coffee bar. Besides, if she had an idea of what the Moonlight Ventures offices looked like, she might get a better sense if it was feasible for them to move instead of her.
“Okay,” she said. “I’ll come over when I’ve closed out the register.”
“Didn’t you already do that?”
“No.” She resisted rolling her eyes. Logan really didn’t know anything about retail if he thought stashing cash and checks in a safe was the same thing as closing out a register.
“All right, no need to hurry. At this time of day, the pizza parlor will take an hour to deliver. Are there any toppings you don’t like?”
Finally, a Family--A Clean Romance Page 9
