“Come on, it will make it interesting. I bet that within two years, you’ll be madly in love and engaged to my brother. I should clarify, though—to my brother Logan.”
My brow shot up. “You needed to clarify this why? In case Jax grew into a man I couldn’t resist?”
“Believe me, I don’t get it, but the girls love Jax. I have never had a single friend who didn’t want to sleep with at least one of my brothers. In high school, a friend slept over and snuck into Logan’s room when he was home visiting. He turned her down, of course—he never slept with my friends—and she ended up in Jax’s bed. Disgusting.” Her eyes rolled back and tongue choked out.
“Logan never slept with any of your friends? Not even one?” Why was that so hard to believe?
“God, no! He’s seven years older than me, although most of the girls I hung around with would still try. Jax, on the other hand, couldn’t get enough.”
“How old is Jax?”
“Nineteen, same as me.” Her eyes lit up. “We’re twins! I thought you knew.”
“No, but I should have guessed.”
“So, what do you say? The bet’s on?” she pressed, reminding me of the silly wager she insisted on dragging me into.
“Fine. And when I win, what do I get?”
“You won’t, but if for some reason you do, then I’ll…hmmm.” She looked thoughtful for a moment until her face beamed, staring at me with a renewed eagerness. “If you win, I’ll tell you what Logan said in his sleep this morning.”
“What?” Did I want to know?
“Logan was sleeping on the couch when I came over, and I heard him talking,” she explained, grinning with an I’ve-got-a-secret elusiveness.
I sighed. “Why would I want to know that two years from now, especially if I’m not even with him then?”
Her smile faltered as she thought it over. “I guess if it were me, I’d want to know.”
What the hell did he say? She was right—I did want to know, and now I’d have to wait two long years to find out. I sucked in a deep breath and blew out a heavy sigh. “All right.”
Julia sat up straighter, unable to control her excitement. “Great, and when I win, which I will, you have to name your first daughter after me.”
“What!?” Oh, she had to be kidding!
“Ahhh.” She wiggled her finger at my flabbergasted expression. “See, you are a little worried I’ll win this.”
“No, it’s just…” My first daughter? A child? With Logan? My head began spinning.
“Come on, at least the middle name,” Julia drawled.
“What’s your middle name?” Why did it matter? Logan and I were not having a daughter—or any kids, for that matter.
“Not telling.” She gave a cheeky wink. “Got to be able to trust your future sister-in-law,” she teased.
“You’re positively insane!” I giggled at her antics. “But why not?”
We shook on it, and I slurped down the rest of my cold cocoa.
“So, any plans for tomorrow night—the big V Day?” she asked, leaning back in her chair.
“Luke, Caleb’s brother, called earlier and asked me to hang out for the night. He’s bringing over pizza.” Her head snapped back in my direction accusingly. “As friends. He’s dateless as well,” I clarified, not that it was needed. I was very much single, although I felt far from unattached.
“Really?” I noticed the pink of her cheeks deepen. God knew Luke liked her, and he hadn’t even been officially introduced. Did she have an eye for him as well?
With an inquisitive stare, I regarded her with a crooked, knowing smile. She caught it, then looked down at her lap sheepishly. Who was this girl, and since when was she bashful?
Picking a piece of invisible lint from her jeans, she added, “I mean, he’s cute. I guess I expected him to be in a relationship.”
Yeah, she was interested, all right. It was a shame she was still dating my ex-dumbass. Or was she?
“Nope, he’s single. It’s a shame, though, because he’s a really nice guy. He just needs to find the right girl,” I said.
“Yeah. So, does Logan know?” She looked up and out at the row of trees across my backyard.
“That Luke’s single? Not sure he’d care.” I lifted my shoulders and made a face.
Julia shot me a smile and giggled. “That you’re not his date for Valentine’s.”
Oh, that. He might care about that, but then again, he hadn’t asked. “No, but he never asked.”
“You wanted him to.”
“I never said that.”
“You didn’t have to.” With a wider smile, she added, “Next year, he’ll make up for missing it.”
“Next year, he’ll be moved on to another girl,” I retorted immediately.
The moment she opened her mouth to reply, Logan appeared from around the corner of my house.
“Oliver’s ready to go,” he said, interrupting our challenging stares.
Did he hear us? He had to have heard at least my last statement.
Julia stood. “I’ll be calling Katie to set up a night out, or maybe a girls’ weekend to Vegas this summer.”
I didn’t have a chance to do anything other than laugh to myself before she was skipping away happily, humming to herself.
“Hi,” Logan said softly, looking down at me wrapped in a flannel blanket on the porch chair.
“Hi,” I repeated with the same thoughtfulness. He looked amazing as always in his black wool pea coat with a dark work suit underneath.
“How are you feeling this morning?” His blatant glance to my crotch heated the blood in my cheeks.
“Better,” I replied softly, regretting looking up to meet his humorous gaze.
“That’s good to hear.” The corner of his lip twitched. “I wanted to ask about Valentine’s, but I overheard you have plans already.”
I took in his intimidating stance in front of me. He held himself with such grace, strength, and power, and here I sat with bedhead and a crotch slathered with balm. It suddenly felt like we were polar opposites, defying the odds by enabling our attraction.
He was watching my every uncomfortable move as my mind reeled back to wondering how long he’d been listening to his sister and me. The idea of him overhearing us put me back on track with words ready to aim his way.
“You were eavesdropping? How shady is that!?” I said, clearly offended and overly appalled.
He caught the amusement in my eyes. “I came out just as you mentioned Luke’s name.”
Thank God he didn’t hear the bet I placed.
“So what do you have planned for tomorrow? Maybe finding a waitress to seduce?”
His smile grew, eyes twinkling. “No, I have other ideas.”
Other ideas? I didn’t want to think about what they were, and the longer I sat there with him staring down at me, waiting for me to respond, the harder it was to ignore the throbbing between my legs that had nothing to do with the waxing. He’d been there, and my body was begging him to return.
“I have to go shower. I have an appointment at noon.” Setting the mug on the small table beside me, I stood. A shower was exactly what I needed—a cold one.
“Can I ask a favor?”
“I guess.” My heart raced faster as he stepped closer.
“Jax is supposed to be over in the next couple hours to watch Oliver for the afternoon. Can you see to it that this gets to him when you return from your appointment?” He pulled a white envelope from inside his coat.
“Can’t you just leave it on your counter for him or something?”
He shook his head once. “No. It needs to go in his hands today. It’s extremely important that he gets it, and I can’t risk anyone—meaning you-know-who—getting ahold of it.”
Natasha? “Um… ok.”
He trusted me. I saw it clearly in the deep-blue pool of his eyes. My heart skipped a beat as his hand placed the envelope in mine, then he kissed my knuckles before releasing.
“Th
ank you,” he murmured, hooking me in with his minty warm breath and intoxicating scent of clean, soapy perfection.
We were so close, standing face to face, our eyes interlocked together, searching.
“Logan,” I breathed. What was happening? Why couldn’t I move away—step back and go inside? I was locked in place, inhaling his virility.
“Yes?” he crooned, his breath caressing my lips.
I closed my eyes. What was I trying to tell him?
“Please.” It was said in a breath, and I had no idea what I wanted.
“Please what?”
My eyes fluttered, unable to hold his gaze much longer. On cue, his tongue poked out, moistening his flawless lips, pulling my eyes straight to the movement. It answered the question.
“Kiss me,” I panted, barely above a whisper.
My eyes were still on his lips when they pulled up in a charming smile.
“Gladly.”
Instantly, I was in his arms, his lips claiming mine, our tongues dancing together. My hands encircled his neck as I fell into the moment, with no questions or insecurities. I just went with what felt natural—what felt right.
It was Logan who pulled away first, looking undeniably pleased when he placed one more soft kiss on my lips and then my hands after he slid them down from his neck.
“Cassie!” Oliver yelled, running around the corner with a cheerful grin covering his face. He raced straight toward me and didn’t stop until his tiny arms were hugging my waist.
“Hey, how have you been?” I asked, hugging him tightly. Logan watched, a relaxed smile on his lips.
“I’m gonna see a big movie!” Oliver buzzed with excitement as he stepped back. “You can come too.”
“She sure can,” Julia chimed in, walking over with Natasha.
I shot her a tight, contrived smile, keeping my eyes off Natasha.
“I would, but I have an appointment today. Maybe another time,” I replied, my smile turning up into a genuine one when I looked down to Oliver.
Natasha walked closer and took Oliver’s hand. “We don’t want to be late, baby. Let’s go so we can get you a giant popcorn before the movie starts.”
“I love popcorn. So does Cassie.” He snickered, and I knew what he was remembering. How could I forget that night? I still felt bad for the housekeeper who was faced with cleaning the theatre room the next day.
The bittersweet laugh that caught in my throat couldn’t be helped as I glanced at Logan, his expression pained, staring down at his son.
“I sure do,” I replied. “You have fun today, and I’ll come see you soon.”
“’kay, bye.”
“Logan, can you walk us to the car?” Natasha asked, her eyes on him.
He nodded once. “I’ll be right there,” he answered to Oliver, not her. I watched them walk away, leaving Logan and me alone.
“You’re so good with him,” Logan said, stepping closer to me.
“He’s a great kid.”
His smile grew. “I wish I could stay. I could spend all day just standing here with you, but I have back-to-back meetings that can’t wait and you, sweetheart, are not ready for what I want. I want all of you.”
He was right—I wasn’t—but I couldn’t continue to push him away, either.
He leaned in and gave me one last kiss.
“Have a good day, Logan.”
“I will now,” he replied, earning him a soft, blushing smile. “Good luck with your appointment, sweetheart. And thank you again for seeing to it that Jax gets that envelope.”
I nodded, holding the thick mystery packet in my hand as I watched him disappear back the way he came.
Chapter Twenty-One
Interest
My appointment at the bank had my nerves on the fritz the entire drive there, and the longer I waited past the hour for a so-called Mr. Jefferson to call me back into his office, the more my thoughts drifted to Logan, as always. I wondered if he was still thinking about the kiss we shared only an hour or so earlier. Could he still feel the tingle over his lips as I could over mine?
Blinking twice to shove the memory back in its secret box to pop out later in my dreams, I shifted in the uncomfortable blue upholstered chair surrounded by three other men, all waiting impatiently as well. A row of customers in line for tellers stood off to the side, and I smiled, watching a young girl snatch a lollipop from the same fishbowl I had done so from growing up.
I couldn’t help but wonder what Logan would have to say about me coming down here, pleading with the bank for a loan, when he had more than enough money to help me himself. I didn’t want to know, and was going to make sure he never found out. I didn’t tell anyone other than Hilary, and I trusted her with my life to keep the secret.
A woman in a grey suit with bluish grey hair walked by with a stack of papers and smiled. I smiled back, but it was bittersweet. The old woman reminded me of my grandma, and just like that, my guilt trip began. What would my grandma think of me being down here, using her home to pay my bills and buy a car? She was a strong woman, and I’d like to believe she’d understand. “You got to do what’s best for yourself,” she’d once told me.
“Miss Clarke?”
With a deep inhale through my nostrils, I plastered on my sweetest smile. Here goes nothing.
I looked up in the direction my name was called to see a silver-haired man walking toward me, glancing down at his watch. I stood, grabbing my purse, and approached him.
“Hi, Mr. Jefferson?”
“Yes, sorry to keep you waiting.” He shook my hand with a firm grip. “A board meeting ran late. Please, follow me.”
He led me to his office, a room with a giant glass wall that overlooked the front of the bank, complete with a massive desk and two upholstered chairs matching the one in the makeshift waiting room, facing it.
“Please, have a seat.” He held out his hand, gesturing to one of the chairs, then walked around his desk and sat, typing something into his computer. “So you’re here for a loan. Can I ask what it’s for?”
My pulse quickened at remembering the night that started it all, but none of that mattered. It wasn’t about the why—only the outcome.
“I was involved in a car accident last month and am unable to return to work for a few more weeks. I need to purchase a car, and just need a little help putting things back together.”
He glanced up from the monitor. “I’m sorry to hear that. Well, we can definitely see what we can do to help. It says here you own your home.”
“Yes, I inherited it from my grandparents.”
“Do you have any other collateral?”
“No, just the house.” I swallowed, sweat beading over the back of my neck. Could I really do this—risk losing the home my grandfather had built with his own two hands?
“That should be more than enough,” he said, offering a warm smile. “We’ll need some information, and I—”He looked past me, his brows knitting together. “I’m sorry, would you excuse me a moment?”
“Of course, take your time,” I said, wiping my hand over my forehead subtly. The room was getting hotter, my breathing harsher as my throat began to close up.
It felt wrong being there, sitting there. If only my grandparents could see me now. They’d understand I had no choice, right?
Fidgeting in the chair, struggling to get comfortable, I heard Mr. Jefferson reenter the room.
Okay, I just need to stay focused and get this over with. They left me the house to look after me. I need to calm down.
Pulling my smile back into place, I looked back, my lips melting into a confused frown when I saw it wasn’t Mr. Jefferson. The man standing behind me wore a dark scowl, with anger radiating off of serious, tense shoulders.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, standing up, stunned to see Logan.
“I told you I had meetings today, one of which was here at the bank.” His voice was hard, with a menacing edge I didn’t recognize. “Now, let me make this very clear, Cassan
dra: you are not getting a loan.”
“What? How did you…”
I backed up as he stepped closer, the backs of my legs smacking against the chair I’d been sitting in.
“And you sure as hell are not putting your house up for collateral.” The darkness in his eyes brought a tremble to my knees.
Why was he so pissed? It wasn’t his business. My chin jutted out, ready to take on the beautiful man staring me down.
“Mr. Jefferson told you? That is completely unprofessional. I should report him—”
“Mr. Jefferson knows his place, and you, sweetheart, need to see that you have a man willing to help you in every way possible. If you need money, tell me—don’t run off to the bank behind my back.”
“Screw you, Logan! You don’t get to tell me what to do! You’re not my boyfriend, so back off!”
It felt wrong yelling at him after our memorable exchange earlier, but he was out of line getting involved in my personal affairs.
Frown lines etched over his forehead as he did just that—he backed off, running his hands through his hair, a soft growl rumbling in his throat.
“Why are you doing this?” he asked a moment later. His voice was barely above a whisper, eyes soft and rueful. “It’s my fault you’re here. Let me take care of this for you.”
My anger melted at his kindness, and my shoulders relaxed with a heavy sigh. “I need the loan, Logan. Don’t make this any more difficult for me than it already is, please. You think I want to be here? You don’t think I feel horrible using my grandparents’ home?” I sucked in a sniffle and urged the tears beckoning to stay at bay. “I need to buy a car and pay to keep my house heated. I’m down to my last twenty dollars. I barely had the gas to drive here.”
“You don’t need a fucking bank for that!”
“Yes, I do!” I yelled back.
He stood there in silence, his jaw clicking. “Twenty dollars? Tell me you did not just say twenty dollars!” he all but roared. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me sooner? Huh?”
He stared at me, waiting for me to respond, but his strong voice had silenced me. He walked over to the office door and slammed it shut, giving us privacy, but through the glass window, I could see most of the people in the bank were staring. With a flick of his wrist, he yanked the blinds down, ending the free show for the gawkers.
Irreplaceable (Harmony) Page 21
