If only he would take a small step to the left, he could’ve stepped between her legs and been at eye level with her. He could’ve leaned forward and cradled her head in his hands and placed his lips against hers. She wanted that, more than anything.
The same desire seemed to burn in his blue eyes at that moment. Her heart thumped against her ribcage as she anticipated his move. Instead, he turned away and took three steps to the stove top to turn on the gas for the skillet. She bit her bottom lip, biting back her disappointment.
“My mom keeps telling me she’s proud of me, but she’s never even seen the restaurant,” he said with a chuckle. “I hope to fly her and my dad in sometime. They’re probably more comfortable in a Denny’s than in a place like mine, but I think they’ll like it.”
Rachel took another bite of the sweet pepper and allowed her gaze to caress the back of his neck. “That’s great. Do you see your parents often?”
“Not since they moved to Colorado.” He turned to look at her, seeming more comfortable with the distance between them. His eyes flickered over her bare legs when she crossed them. Clearing his throat as his cheeks reddened, he looked up to her face. “I bought them their dream home three years ago in the mountains after my mom retired from teaching. It overlooks a lake. There’s skiing year round. They’re basically in paradise. I make sure to visit at least every Christmas.”
“Christmas in the mountains with the family.” Rachel wrinkled her nose and then exhaled with a reverent sigh. “That sounds magical. I’d give anything for a Christmas like that.”
Logan huffed and then grinned. “Excuse me, but I believe when Michael and I were in high school, your family went to the Swiss Alps for Christmas. That’s nothing to sneeze at.”
“Trust me, it wasn’t much to remember,” Rachel replied, casting her eyes down toward the ground. She gripped the remains of the pepper in her hand, crushing it. “My father invited the families of two other businessmen he was trying to partner with at the time. They spent the entire holiday in conference together while Michael and I got to spend it with their bratty children. Not much of a family Christmas, if you ask me. I probably would’ve traded you, if I could. Your family always seemed so happy.”
Logan watched her for a long moment, seemingly unsure of what to say to that confession. She chewed on her tongue, wishing she hadn’t been so forthright, especially on a first date. Pity parties did not guarantee second dates. But Logan seemed to bring that out of her. There was no fear of being herself around him. He made her feel safe and free from judgement.
“Is that why you left home right after graduation?” he asked, his voice low. “Because of your dad?”
“Pretty much.” Rachel tried to smile through the sadness in her eyes. “I knew that life wasn’t for me. I wanted to experience the world. Have real friends and make real connections that didn’t depend on a contract and a handshake. Paris was that and so much more. I miss it.”
He frowned, taking a small step toward her. “Why did you come back home?”
She shrugged. It wasn’t much of a story. “The jobs stopped coming and the money ran out. I was down to my emergency fund I’d set aside years ago. Just enough for a plane ticket. It was a sign that things needed to change. So I hopped on a plane for home and tried not to look back. I was sad for a while, but this month has changed everything. Reconnecting with you has made up for it.”
She smiled at him, honestly thankful for Logan’s presence. She’d been trudging through life ever since she got back to San Jose, but Logan had changed all that. Not only did she feel like she had a sense of direction again, but she wanted it to be by his side. She’d fallen fast for her brother’s blue-eyed best friend during their weeks together. She could only hope he felt the same way.
Logan stared at her, his eyes shining with emotions she couldn’t name. He worked his strong jaw and a tiny thought line appeared between his eyebrows. It was like he was assessing and calculating the risks of being with her. As if she were another restaurant opening. Rachel tried not to throw him a teasing smile. Relationships weren’t something you could assess in a spreadsheet. They would just have to play along and see if this was meant to be.
The heart had no logic. It was something her father had never managed to figure out.
“Enough of that depressing talk,” Rachel said, her eyes glinting with humor. “Let’s talk about the gala. Got a date lined up?”
Logan snorted. “You know that I don’t.”
She clicked her fingernails on the counter and grinned. “What a coincidence. Neither do I.”
“Rachel...” Logan grimaced and shook his head. “I made a deal with your brother to keep you focused on work and school. It already feels like this dinner is breaking that promise. I’m not sure it’s a good idea to let things continue.”
She closed her eyes, pain lancing through her chest. Logan’s hang-ups had seemed so minor only yesterday. She wasn’t a child and her brother didn’t rule her life, but if Logan couldn’t see that, maybe it was best to end it right here.
“You know, I thought there was something between us,” she said, grasping the top of her legs and staring down at the floor. “Something real. But maybe I was wrong.”
She waited for him to say something. To tell her she was crazy and that she hadn’t imagined the sparks between them, but only silence answered.
“I should go,” she said, breaking the painful quiet.
If he didn’t want to be more than friends, then she wouldn’t push him any further. She knew what it was like to be pursued by someone who wouldn’t take a clue. She slid off the counter and started walking toward her purse sitting on the entryway table.
“Rachel, wait.”
A warm hand enclosed around her upper arm and tugged her back, causing her to collide with a solid chest. Strong arms wrapped around her and she melted into his embrace, relishing in the cool masculine scent of his cologne. Logan sighed into her hair, his cheek resting on her temple.
“There is something between us. Something unbelievably strong,” he whispered in a hoarse voice. His trembling hand worked its way up her shoulders to the back of her neck, sending goosebumps down her spine. “You’re not wrong. I just don’t want to mess things up.”
She pressed off his chest just enough to look him in the eyes. “You won’t.”
“But your brother...”
“My brother will come around.” She smiled sweetly. “I’m pretty sure he couldn’t think of someone better for his baby sister. He’s always telling me I need to date a guy with a solid career.”
Logan huffed, although the right side of his mouth twitched in a grin. “I suppose I have that going for me. But I don’t like going behind his back.”
“Tell you what.” She splayed her right hand on his chest, feeling the thumping of his heart. “Go with me to the gala tomorrow and we’ll figure out a way to break it to him before the end of the night.”
His eyes glinted with hesitation. “You’re saying I’ve got to ask your brother’s permission to date you?”
“Yes, I suppose so...” She placed a fingertip to her lips, her mouth curling into a teasing grin. “And if you’re lucky, I might just save a space for you on my dance card.”
He threw his head back in laughter, the sight bringing a wide smile to her face. She liked the sound of his laugh. It was something she could listen to forever.
“All right, you win, Rachel Knight.” He looked down at her and brought his hand to her cheek, caressing it softly with the pad of his thumb. “You are irresistible. I hope you know that.”
She smiled, although her insides were turning to jelly.
“I’m glad to hear you say that,” she answered, her eyes narrowing. “Because you should see me in my red dress. If you think I’m irresistible now, wait until tomorrow night.”
She could’ve sworn she heard him gulp as his Adam’s apple bobbed. He dropped his hand from her face and took a quick step away. Disappointment blossomed insid
e her chest. She’d wanted so badly for him to take that next step. To press his lips against hers.
“Just so that there are no misunderstandings tonight, I think I should tell you that I really want to kiss you right now,” he said, his voice low and throaty. It was her turn to gulp. She pressed her lips together, willing him to continue. “But, until I have Michael’s permission to see you, I have to hold myself back. It’s the only way I can make it through this deal and still feel like I have some bit of honor left.”
Her throat went dry and she nodded slowly. He really was a good guy. Her brother couldn’t possibly turn them down.
“Tomorrow night, then,” she said, taking a step toward him to place a soft kiss against his cheek. He closed his eyes, the muscles in his shoulders tensing. “I’m counting down the minutes.”
“Tomorrow night,” he repeated, piercing her with an intense gaze.
Rachel couldn’t wait to finally melt into Logan’s arms without the pressure of the world upon their shoulders. Michael would see how much better they were together. She’d waited all her life for something as real as this. Something that wasn’t constrained by greed or a checkbook. And someone who would put her first.
Logan was the real deal and tomorrow night, he was all hers.
Chapter Nine
Logan shifted uncomfortably next to Darren while the crowded room swirled around them. The Whitmore Mansion had been decked out with white and silver balloons, strands of white tulle wrapping around the banister of the grand staircase, and delicate papier-mache balls hanging from the ceiling. Its grand ballroom had been set with two dozen round dining tables and a small stringed quartet playing in the corner.
So far, there had been no sign of Rachel. She’d texted him, telling him that she was spending all day at the mansion to prepare the catering team and for him to meet her there. Her absence had only made his longing for her grow stronger.
Logan wasn’t even sure how he was going to behave when he saw her. His brain screamed at him to keep his cool. They didn’t know how Michael was going to react to their news. But his heart swelled with the knowledge that she was somewhere in this building, wanting him.
“Think they’re going to serve the good booze tonight?” Darren asked, rubbing a hand across his red hair. He’d worn a brown suit that made his freckles pop out on his face. “The last one I went to didn’t even have beer.”
“I’m not sure,” Logan muttered, tugging at his black tux.
He sincerely hoped that Darren wasn’t planning on getting wasted tonight. That was the last thing he needed on his mind. His old teammate had a way of becoming nasty when he got too much alcohol in him.
As he scanned the crowd for a sign of Rachel, his eyes fell on a familiar sight, making his whole body clench with nervousness. Michael had just arrived in the well-lit ballroom with Emily, who was wearing a cream chiffon dress, on his arm. Michael spied them and waved, immediately directing his fiancé across the room toward them.
Logan worked his jaw, hoping he didn’t have guilt written all over his face.
“Logan,” Michael said, patting him on the back and taking his hand to shake. “I hear the restaurant is going very well.”
Emily gave him a beaming smile and did a little jump. “We heard you’ve even managed to snag Mary Prescott for a review. She’s my favorite southern queen of food!”
Michael nodded his head toward her. “Yes, it sounds like things are looking great. Rachel told us everything.”
Logan resisted making a face. He very much doubted Rachel had told her brother everything.
“Yes, it’s gone better than I even imagined,” he replied, trying to smile. “I keep waiting for the floor to drop out on me, but so far, we’ve been very blessed.”
“Lucky by my accounts,” Darren interrupted, his voice too loud even over the noise of the crowded room. “This boy has some kind of lucky charm, I tell you. For some reason, everything he touches turns to gold.”
“Not luck.” Michael set his jaw into a grim frown. “Hard work and determination. He’s had it since we were kids. That’s what separates the boys from the men. The winners from the failures.”
Darren scoffed and rolled his eyes. He turned to stalk off into the crowd, no doubt in search of the bar.
“Sorry about that,” Logan said to his friends. “He gets weird around crowds. I shouldn’t have invited him.”
In truth, he’d invited Darren to act as a sort of buffer between him and Rachel. Someone to help him stay cool and collected, just as he should, until the time was right to take her into his arms. But he could see now that his friend was going to be no help.
“It’s fine,” Emily said, lightly touching his arm. “Frankly, I can’t wait for dinner to sample some more of your fare. Did Rachel really handle all of the arrangements?”
“Yes.” His eyes shone with pride. “She took to this job like a fish to water. She’s a natural.”
Michael cracked a smile on his stern jaw and stood a little taller. “I’m glad to hear it. I knew pairing her with you would be a good deal. I told you, I was a natural matchmaker.”
“Of course you are,” Emily replied, trying to suppress a smile. She poked him in the stomach. “You just have to excel at everything, don’t you?”
Out of the corner of his eye, Logan caught a flash of red. As Michael teased his fiancé about his many skills, Logan leaned slightly to the left to peer over his shoulder. There was the flash of red again. Except this time, he could clearly see the woman wearing it.
Rachel stood framed by the door to the ballroom, her chestnut hair cascading down her bare shoulders in soft curls. Her narrow curves were wrapped tight in a gorgeous crimson satin gown that trumpeted at her knees toward the ground. A hint of silver heels peeked from below the hem of the dress.
Logan felt his pulse quicken as his jaw slackened. His eyes trailed back up her body and met with her gaze. She was looking at him, her crimson lips curved into an alluring smile. Pressing a single finger to her mouth, she nodded toward the hallway and disappeared, taking with her any self-control he had left.
“I just saw someone I need to talk to,” Logan said distractedly, interrupting Michael and Emily’s flirtation. He squeezed his friend on the shoulder and started in the direction of the hallway, missing their silent exchange of confused expressions. “I’ll see you at our table in a few minutes.”
He followed in the direction Rachel had indicated, ending up in an abandoned hallway with old gilded paintings of long deceased Whitmore relatives. Unsure where to go next, he paused and did a one-eighty turn. Several thick wooden doors led off to other rooms, but there was no sign of Rachel. She’d disappeared into thin air.
Suddenly, a hand grasped his wrist and tugged him backwards. He stumbled a few steps and caught himself on the back of a vintage settee in the middle of a study, filled to the brim with old hardbound books on dark wooden shelves and a small fireplace. Next to him stood Rachel, a vision in the low light of the floor lamps on either side of the sparse furniture. She smiled at him, her long, dark lashes brushing against her cheek as she looked down at his tux and the ridiculously expensive leather shoes he’d purchased last month in Italy on a whim.
“I’m glad you made it,” she whispered, leaning in to kiss him gently on the cheek. He trembled under her touch, closing his eyes against the knowledge that had suddenly become crystal clear.
He really didn’t care what Michael thought — he was totally wrapped around Rachel Knight’s little finger and that’s where he’d gladly stay.
LOGAN TOOK HER HAND in his and pulled it gently toward his mouth. He pressed his lips to the top of her hand and left a scorching kiss there. Rachel shivered, despite the cozy heat of the study. The way Logan was looking at her, his blue eyes smoldering with desire, made her want to never leave this room again.
“I couldn’t wait any longer to see you.” She interlaced her fingers with his and stepped closer, until only an inch separated them. “I’ve been
looking forward to this all day.”
A smile quirked on his mouth as his gaze traveled from her eyes down to her red painted lips. She wanted him to kiss her. Needed it. But he had his honor to protect, so she knew they had to wait.
“Your brother is here,” he said as his other hand found the curve of her waist.
“That’s good.” She placed a hand on his chest, reveling at the strength apparent beneath the lapel of his suit jacket. “We don’t have to tell him anything until later. Let’s just enjoy this night and the fact that we get to be here. Together.”
Calm seemed to come over him and his gaze softened. The soft tinkle of music flowed through the walls from the ballroom down the hall. He tightened his grasp on her waist, pulling her closer until their bodies collided and began to sway. She followed his lead, inhaling sharply when he buried his head in her neck and wrapped his arms around her back.
“You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to do that these last few weeks,” he whispered hoarsely into her hair. “It’s been torture.”
“Oh, really?” She bit her bottom lip, her eyes lighting up. “I was too busy worrying that you didn’t think of me that way. Or worse, that you thought of me like a little sister.”
“Not a chance,” he grumbled, his hands spanning her back.
Blood rushed to her cheeks and she pressed a hand to her throat, feeling her pulse race. With a nervous laugh, she smiled at him, her eyes softening. “Well, I’m glad I could put you out of your misery.”
“Yes, please do,” he replied, pulling back to make a face at her. “I can’t stand it anymore.”
The music stopped and the low buzz of someone speaking on a microphone entered the room. Logan released her waist, looking at the closed door.
“I guess we should get back,” he said, squeezing her hand one last time before letting it drop. “The dinner is starting.”
“I guess we should.” Rachel took a deep breath and hoped her neck and chest weren’t splotchy. She could hear the whooshing of blood in her ears. Her heart still raced from the scene that had just unfolded between the two of them.
The Billionaire and the Waitress: (Billionaire Matchmaker - Book 2) Page 6
