“Have you been inside?”
“Several times. When Eric and I moved back to the States, Virginia Satterly was still hosting garden club parties there. It was lovely. Her formal gardens are gone now, but I think the less structured setting suits the house.”
Penny really hoped Logan would buy the Satterly home. It wasn’t the type of place a man chose when he expected a wife and family in his immediate future, but it was a decent size and no one could tell what would happen. It might be ridiculous, but she’d often thought Logan must be lonely, especially now that his closest friends were all married. The excitement of working around the world in exotic locales couldn’t replace sharing your life with the right person.
Besides, it was a shame for a beautiful house to stand empty.
“The Flash Committee toured the property when it came on the market last fall,” Jessica said. “We were hoping it might work for an urgent care but decided it wasn’t feasible.”
“Is it in poor condition?” Logan asked.
“No, the site just wouldn’t be good for a medical clinic. From what our volunteer architect says, the house mostly needs cosmetic fixes.”
His eyes narrowed. “Cosmetic, huh?”
She smiled sweetly. “Yes. You’ve heard of them, right?”
The interplay was interesting, though Penny didn’t know what it meant. She still felt the impulse to play matchmaker, but anything she said might do more harm than good.
* * *
JESSICA TRIED NOT to laugh at Logan’s expression. He knew she was referring to the “cosmetic fixes” needed in the empty rentals. Poor guy. He’d come to talk about photography with a group of little girls, only to be surrounded by people who supported her side of things.
She didn’t have long to think about it because the members of Cyndi’s troop began arriving. A divorced mother who hadn’t expected to stay for the meeting changed her mind, despite the limited seating. Jessica suspected Logan was the reason.
Amy Irvine soon came over to stand near her. “I don’t see a wedding ring,” she whispered. “Are you involved with him?”
“He’s one of my landlords for the shop,” Jessica explained in a neutral tone. “That’s how Cyndi got acquainted with him. She’s been camera-crazy ever since.”
“Oh. I see.”
The twinkle in Amy’s eyes caught Jessica’s attention. Should she warn the other woman away? Amy was welcome to make a move on Logan, but she might be disappointed. Would a man who dated supermodels and brushed elbows with movie stars and world leaders get involved with a divorced, small-town soccer mom?
The usual troop business didn’t take long and then the meeting was turned over to Cyndi, who explained that Logan was her guest and since she was in charge of the program, she’d invited him to talk.
“He takes super, super, super cool pictures,” she said. “See?” Proudly she displayed each page of the calendar. Excited cries of admiration came from her audience when they saw the photo of the baby mountain lions. “Okay, now he’s going to show us his camera.”
Logan got to his feet. “Thank you for inviting me, Cyndi.”
As he spoke with the girls, Jessica grew increasingly impressed. He didn’t talk down to them the way the plumber had done; instead he described how digital cameras worked in words they could understand. He’d claimed to be better with groups than individuals, but she’d assumed he was exaggerating. As part of his demo he took numerous pictures, including a group photo, then displayed them on his laptop.
“Grandma says she misses film,” Kitty Carman said when he invited questions. “What’s film?”
Logan explained what film was and how it was processed, throwing in some of the history of photography, as well.
Ellie Smithfield put up her hand. “My mom just takes pictures with her smartphone.”
Logan smiled. “Phones are easy and quick, which is great when you’re busy. Some models have advanced features, but they may not have the same capabilities as cameras, especially the ones with special lenses and the optical zoom I mentioned earlier. Everyone has to choose which gadget works best for them.”
Jessica appreciated his attitude. She’d known experts who dismissed amateur efforts, but Logan seemed made of better stuff. Surely she could recognize his positive qualities without putting her heart at risk.
When he was finished, the girls chorused a thank-you in unison.
“Can you come back again?” Kerry Stevenson asked.
“I’d love to.” He sounded sincere and even the married mothers attending the meeting seemed dazzled.
Jessica sighed.
“I made the snacks myself,” Cyndi announced. “I scrubbed my hands the way Momma says, and I washed the oranges and celery over and over. There are orange slices, ants-on-a-log, organic grape juice and gorp cookies. They have lots of oatmeal and raisins and healthy stuff along with some chocolate because Mom says chocolate is good for mental health.”
Her troop didn’t crack a smile, but the adults in the room snickered.
A moment later, Logan came over to stand next to Jessica.
“Good for mental health, eh?”
“Absolutely, and I read once that...” She stopped, realizing she didn’t want to explain that she’d read chocolate made a person feel the way it felt to be in love.
“Yes?” he prompted.
“Nothing. It isn’t important.”
He looked both skeptical and curious, though he didn’t press the subject further. “In that case, what are ‘ants on a log’?”
“Oh.” Jessica shook her head. Considering Logan’s unusual childhood, it was doubtful he’d ever perused the kids’ section of a cookbook. “They’re peanut butter celery sticks with raisins stuck on top. Someone must have thought it made a cute name. You’ve never eaten them before?”
“Peanut butter isn’t popular in most of the countries where we lived. Anyway, my mother isn’t a fan.”
“Oh.” Jessica knew people who didn’t care for peanut butter, but even her own parents hadn’t objected to their kids eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Cyndi approached, carrying two paper plates.
“This is for you, Logan.” She handed one of the plates to him.
“That’s very thoughtful, thank you.”
“I brought you some, too, Momma.”
Jessica smiled at her daughter and accepted the treats. “Thanks, sweetie. You’re doing a fine job.”
Cyndi beamed before hurrying back to the serving table. Jessica considered going over to help, but Grams and Kevin seemed to be enjoying themselves as assistant leaders of the event. As for Amy, she kept sending longing glances in Logan’s direction but apparently couldn’t summon the resolve to introduce herself. It couldn’t be easy to become socially active again after being part of a couple.
Jessica understood.
Though she’d grown accustomed to taking the blame for her divorce, Logan’s contempt for Aaron was making her reevaluate. While she’d been too needy in the marriage, her husband hadn’t been honest with her. That didn’t negate her mistakes, but maybe she didn’t have to accept every single scrap of responsibility.
“Your daughter’s a good hostess,” Logan murmured, breaking into Jessica’s thoughts.
“It isn’t about being a good hostess, per se, actually, it teaches courtesy and respect for others.” Jessica ate a bite of cookie. “The troop leaders are very clear that those qualities aren’t gender-specific and they apply to all parts of life, including work and business.”
“I’ve met too many people who are ruthless in business.” He glanced at her. “But that isn’t my style.”
Jessica didn’t believe Logan was ruthless, but he still wielded a huge amount of power over the Crystal Connection, and by extension, her future.
He bit into a loaded celery stick and
chewed thoughtfully. “I wonder who thought of combining peanut butter and celery. They don’t seem like a natural combination.”
“Who knows? I’ve always wondered who was brave enough to eat a raw oyster the first time. They don’t look appetizing.”
He laughed. “Probably somebody who was extremely hungry.”
“Yeah. I bet they never imagined they’d become so expensive. Even if I loved oysters, the price would keep me from eating them.” Jessica abruptly wished she hadn’t mentioned cost as a factor. Logan had ordered oysters as his appetizer the night they’d gone out to dinner.
“So, what are the treats you dream about having?” Logan asked.
She thought for a moment. “Dark chocolate, root beer floats, nachos...that kind of stuff. How about you?”
“Barbecued hot dogs with lots of mustard.”
“Seriously?”
“Absolutely. They weren’t common in the countries where we lived, but one of the ambassadors threw a birthday party for his daughter and that’s what she wanted. He had them flown in on dry ice. They’re exotic when you’ve never eaten one before. To this day, I can’t resist a street vendor selling hot dogs.”
“Wow. I figured it would be something like caviar, champagne or truffles,” Jessica said, thinking how different his life had been from that of everyone else she knew.
It was a reminder of how far apart perception and reality could be. She’d always recognized Logan worked hard, but she’d also seen him as a guy who preferred fancy foods and exclusive parties. Yet inside the sophisticated man was a little boy who craved ordinary treats. The image was more endearing than she would have expected.
CHAPTER TEN
LOGAN DIDN’T SEE judgment in Jessica’s eyes, merely curiosity. “I never drank champagne as a kid, but I ate my share of leftover caviar and truffles,” he admitted. “They were on my mother’s favorite menu for formal dinners and if something was in the refrigerator, I ate it.”
“The way kids in the United States eat peanut butter.”
He smiled. “Something of the sort. My folks didn’t try to give me the normal childhood they’d known, so I didn’t realize what I was missing until I was twelve or thirteen. I craved it after that.”
“But you didn’t choose to lead a nine-to-five kind of life as an adult.”
“Ironic, right? My career got in the way.”
“People can end up in circumstances beyond their control, but our choices usually reflect what we want or what makes us comfortable,” Jessica said. “You chose to be a globe-trotting fashion photographer.”
“Actually, it was supposed to be a stopgap until I could get work as a globe-trotting photojournalist.”
“You never had an opportunity to change direction?”
It would be nice to offer a simple explanation about why he’d continued working in the fashion industry, but he couldn’t. Little decisions had piled up until it wasn’t just one reason but many. The money had been great. He’d earned a reputation and it was flattering to be in demand. The challenge of filming in the range of diverse locations chosen by designers and advertisers had appealed to him. And he’d made friends, the first real friends of his life.
“I discovered I was good at working with models in difficult settings,” he said at length. “So I stayed.”
“Then maybe you aren’t as bad at working with people as you’ve claimed.” Jessica made a face. “I must be the one who brings out the worst in you.”
Instant denial leapt to Logan’s lips. How could Jessica bring out the worst in anyone? She was kind, beautiful and a devoted mother. It was his sense of guilt that made their interaction difficult. From their very first discussion about the Crystal Connection moving, he’d felt like a villain.
“It isn’t you,” he said. “I’m adjusting to my new career as an agent, that’s all. Instead of bouncing around the world constantly, I hope to develop ties with this area and make new friends. I also want to build something to be proud of at Moonlight Ventures. That’s why we’re looking for a way to expand, without hurting your business.”
Her eyelids flickered and then half closed as if she was concealing her thoughts. Logan mentally slapped himself. It was one thing for Jessica to refer to their conflict over the store, quite another for him. He was here on Cyndi’s behalf, not as a landlord.
“So, tell me more about chocolate,” he urged.
“Researchers say it’s loaded with antioxidants. The darker, the better.”
“I’ve heard that, as well. Anything else?”
A deeper pink crept into Jessica’s cheeks. “I once saw a health insurance tip sheet that said chocolate mimics how it feels to be in love. Temporarily. It could be why chocolate is popular on Valentine’s Day. Have you ever noticed getting that kind of reaction?”
“I’ve never been in love, so I wouldn’t know. But I enjoy chocolate.”
“Most people do. Perhaps you’re more like the rest of us than you think.”
“So, a longtime ambition fulfilled by a candy bar.”
Just then parents started arriving to pick up their daughters, pulling Jessica away. Logan swiftly finished the contents of his plate, tucked the laptop he’d brought into a carrying case and went to say goodbye, as well. Cyndi astonished him by throwing her arms around his neck.
“Thank you, Logan. You were fantabulous.”
“Better than the plumber?” he teased.
She giggled. “Bunches.”
Her approval gave Logan a warm sensation in his chest, and it lingered as he went out to his car and called the real estate agent for the Satterly House.
“Ms. Foley? I’m Logan Kensington. I have your flier for the Satterly property. Is there any chance I could see it right away?”
“Of course! I can be there in twenty minutes. And call me Carol.”
“I’ll see you then.”
Logan got there first and had a chance to look around the exterior. The building seemed to be in good condition and the yard was more casual than neglected. When Carol Foley arrived, they went inside.
“Only two bedrooms, I see,” he said after going through the house. It was just as interesting inside as out, reminiscent of iconic Frank Lloyd Wright designs.
“The square footage is wonderful, but I can’t deny the limited number of bedrooms has discouraged house hunters with families. More could easily be added, though,” Carol continued gamely.
Logan shrugged. “I don’t have a family, but I need both a studio and a home office.”
The agent’s face lit up. “A studio? This is a perfect retreat for an artist. Every window has an attractive view and the natural lighting is perfect. The property is quite large. You could build a stand-alone studio away from the main structure or add to the existing building. Whichever would work best for your needs.”
“I’m a photographer, actually.” Logan restrained a smile. He didn’t blame her for being anxious to make a sale, especially if the house had been on the market for an extended period.
“You’re still an artist. I think the original blueprints included a plan for additional rooms on the north side. They might still be available if you’re interested.”
She continued chattering about architects, city permits and local contractors. Logan nodded politely at appropriate moments, but he’d already made up his mind. The house felt right and the drive into the city was well within his acceptable commute time.
He was also eager to get the house hunting over and be free to spend his weekends as he pleased. The closer it got to summer, the higher in elevation he’d be able to trek. If his work at Moonlight Ventures permitted, he even hoped to spend a couple of weeks hiking in the back country, getting pictures for the book he wanted to do.
Logan focused on the agent when she stopped to draw a breath. “I want to make an offer.”
She l
ooked dazzled. “Wonderful.”
“My lease will be up soon on my apartment, so if they accept, I’d like to move in as soon as possible.”
“We can negotiate an interim rental agreement if necessary. I have the papers in my car. Wait here, I’ll get them.” Carol rushed out, probably afraid he’d change his mind if given too much time.
Logan could have assured her it wasn’t going to happen, though he did wonder what Jessica would say about his swift decision...then wondered why it mattered.
* * *
BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON, Logan’s offer on the Satterly House had been accepted. First thing Monday, Carol Foley called to say a home inspection had been scheduled for late that afternoon.
Did he want to be there for it?
He did, and was pleased when the inspector confirmed that the building was solid, with no major issues except for a problem with the circuit breaker panel. A small negotiation ensued, with the owner agreeing to make the repairs. Logan would have paid for an electrician himself, but he didn’t want to be seen as a pushover in case a larger problem loomed.
He’d soon be a homeowner.
In the interim, he was going to rent the house for a remarkably low amount. He reminded himself that Regen Valley wasn’t Los Angeles or even downtown Seattle, so rents were bound to be more reasonable.
The cramped studio apartment—which had been such an improvement on hotel rooms during his visits to Seattle—would soon be a thing of the past.
Another benefit?
He wasn’t impacting anyone else’s life, unlike what the expansion of Moonlight Ventures might do to Jessica’s livelihood.
* * *
ON TUESDAY MORNING Jessica paced around the Crystal Connection, rehearsing what she wanted to say to Logan. She’d arranged an appointment with him through Chelsea Masters, the agency’s office manager, but he hadn’t said anything about it when getting coffee.
“Slow down,” Grams urged. She’d come into town to cover the shop in her granddaughter’s absence. “You’ll wear a hole in the floor and you’re making me nervous.”
Finally, a Family--A Clean Romance Page 12
