by Claire Adams
Those dark eyes of his watched me, summoning a pulse of warmth from my center. I swallowed and fanned myself for a moment.
“Maybe… maybe we could go out to eat again sometime, all three of us,” I said softly. “Not tonight,” I added quickly. Logan’s face dropped.
I regretted it as soon as I said it. It was true. It was a school night, and I didn’t want to set up bad habits in my daughter, but when I replayed the comment in my head, I knew it sounded like a brush off.
“I’ll give you a call here in a couple of days,” Logan said. His grin from before was gone, replaced by a guarded smile. “I’m sure we can work something out.”
“Mama, why can’t we go out tonight?”
“School tomorrow, sweet pea.”
“I promise to go to bed right away when we get home.”
I stared down at my daughter, her wide, innocent eyes pleading with me to go out. How could anyone say no to that kind of look?
Logan’s sweet kiss from earlier drifted to the top of my thoughts. I didn’t know if it was that or my daughter’s pleading that made me say what I said next.
“There is a nice little diner near here.” I shrugged. “If we go right away, I guess it wouldn’t be a big deal.”
Juniper jumped off Logan’s leg to let out a squeal of delight. Logan’s restrained smile turned into a wide grin.
Chapter Fourteen
LOGAN
Two days later on Friday, I was sitting in my office looking through documents. For all the power and wealth that came with my job, it mostly consisted of me spending my days reading very boring documents and e-mails. Heavy lies the crown, I suppose.
As I sorted through the details of buying controlling interesting in a company specializing in the mining of rare earth metals, my mind kept drifting to something very different: little children singing about spring at Juniper’s school festival.
I liked Juniper. She was a sweet girl, full of life. Innocence was something I didn’t see much of in my line of work. When millions and billions were on the line, people couldn’t afford to be happy and innocent. It’d been a long time since I was.
My memories of Juniper turned to thoughts of her mother.
When we’d gone out to the diner, we’d had a fun time discussing the rest of the performances that night and Juniper’s detailed analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of everyone in her class. She might be a little thing, but she had a good mind for analysis, and she was also realistic about her own abilities. Someday, she might make a good financial analyst. I even told Emily such, and she’d laughed. Then again, she was a risk analyst herself.
For all the entertaining conversation about Juniper’s possible future in the financial services sector, we didn’t talk about what I thought was the most important. We didn’t talk about what Emily and I actually had together. A relationship? A friendship? Something in between?
I didn’t understand Emily or what was going on inside her head. All I knew for certain was that I wanted her, and every second I spent with her, I wanted more than just a friendship.
The chemistry was there. The memory of that first kiss with her haunted me at night, left me awake and hard, yearning for something more than a mere kiss. Even then, sitting there in my office remembering her in that dress, I couldn’t help but want to see what that curvy, perfect body of hers would be like without those distracting clothes.
Even during that sweet kiss I laid on her at the school, a spark of passion singed me. It wasn’t just attraction. It burned hotter than that and had for some time.
It was from the fire kindled by our first kiss at the fundraiser dinner. Each time I’d met with her fed that fire until it burned intensely hot.
I didn’t know what this all meant for the future. My body craved Emily—that much was for certain—but it went deeper than that. Her smile lit up my heart, and I laughed when chatting with her. It relaxed me in a way that even playing with my boys couldn’t achieve.
I sucked in a breath. My mother’s little plan looked like it was starting to work. Annoying but still true. Not to say I was ready to ask Emily to marry me, but I was hooked on her. I needed to do something to make things clear to both of us.
A nice dinner, spending time with her daughter, those were a start and fun, but they were just the beginning.
My phone rang, breaking my concentration, and I picked it up, muttering. I was at work, after all, so it wasn’t like I could spend all day thinking about a woman.
“Logan,” my secretary said over the line. “Just got a call from a representative of Mr. Ishida. They want you to come to Japan after all.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. They were very insistent on that point.”
“Were they now?” I chuckled. I’d been working the Japanese deal for six months, and they’d been dragging their feet that entire time, acting like they weren’t interested in my investment deal. “I’m guessing they want me there sooner than later, then?”
“They said they wanted you there by Wednesday.”
I burst out laughing. “They are really trying to control things now, aren’t they? All right. Go ahead and contact them and let them know I’ll be there.”
“Really? Are you sure?”
“Oh, I’ve dealt with quicker turnarounds than this before. The key is to let them know that just because they want me there sooner doesn’t mean they get to call all the shots.” I scratched my chin. “When you contact them, tell them I’ll be flying in and arriving on Tuesday afternoon Tokyo time. If they want an earlier meeting, I’m fine, but if they want to wait until Wednesday, I’m fine with that. Plenty to do in Japan.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll take care of it right away.”
Hanging up, I shook my head. I hadn’t intended to go on another international business trip so soon, but hundreds of millions of dollars were on the line. I could suffer a little jetlag for that much money for my company.
Really, though, it wasn’t about the money. I had more money than I could ever spend, especially with my modest tastes. The money was just a way of reminding myself I was doing something important that influenced a lot of people.
My job was interesting and enjoyable. The only thing I was missing was someone to share it with.
I turned in my chair, staring out the window. My mother had been filling my head with that idea for years, but I’d always brushed it off. Now the absence of a woman felt like a gaping void in my soul.
Or maybe it was just the absence of a particular woman.
I shook my head. It didn’t matter. A trip to Japan would be fun in the meanwhile. It’d been a while since I’d last made it there.
I wondered if Juniper and Emily would like it. I blinked, processing the thoughts. I wouldn’t lie to myself by rejecting what my instincts told me.
Emily seemed like she wanted to travel more, and her daughter would love a lot of the colorful and exciting places we could visit in Tokyo. A man could go on a dozen trips there and still not see everything.
Emily had mentioned not being able to travel much. I wasn’t sure of the reasons, but from what she said, I suspected her ex-husband was the main reason. And I could understand why a single mother wouldn’t want to travel around a foreign country by herself with a young child.
But what if she didn’t have to travel by herself?
I nodded. The more I thought about it, the more I became convinced they’d both have a great time. Only one question remained: Would it be too forward to ask?
I still didn’t know what Emily and I even were. Were we dating? We’d kissed several times. That seemed like something that couples dating did, but the first time she’d been drunk, and the second time I’d surprised her with it to annoy Lionel.
Half the time, Emily seemed to want to spend more time with me, and the other half she seemed uncomfortable; it was almost like she was looking for a reason to not go out with me.
I rose from my chair and moved over to the window, looking down at the people and
cars moving so many stories below. Several deep breaths later, I returned to my chair.
Maybe Emily was only grateful for me helping her out with ex-husband. I’d given her the upper hand a few times in dealing with Lionel. I didn’t want to believe that our spark, our connection, was one-sided, but I couldn’t be sure.
No. I couldn’t keep this up. If I wanted the woman, I needed to pursue her. I needed to prove to her that I saw her as a woman and that I was a good man and not a bastard like Lionel.
A great opportunity sat in front of me, a way to prove to Emily I could offer things a lot of men couldn’t. It was good to be a guy who cared, but it was better to be a guy who cared who also had money. And I had a lot of money.
I grabbed my phone and sent a text to her.
Emily, you interested in a weeklong trip to Tokyo?
A few seconds passed. My phone dinged. I glanced at the text.
Haha. Very funny, Logan.
I frowned at my phone for a moment, but I could understand her reaction. It was time to push forward.
I’m serious. A trip to Japan.
Japan?
Yes. Tokyo.
Is this a serious offer?
Serious as a heart attack.
And Juniper?
I grinned. I’d worried that she’d reject me out of hand. It wasn’t like flying halfway across the world with a man you’d only recently met wasn’t a little strange.
I needed to keep the momentum going. So, I texted back right away.
I’m sure Juniper can miss a week of school for an adventure overseas. There are lots of parts of Tokyo I’m sure she’d love. Maybe we can even find some Japan-exclusive LEGOs.
I stared at my phone and waited for the reply.
Emily didn’t respond right away. Not even a bit later. Seconds ticked into minutes, and I decided to return to looking at documents on my computer. No matter how badly I wanted Emily to go on the trip with me, I couldn’t sit around like some lovesick teenager in his bedroom waiting for his prom date to say yes.
My phone dinged. I snatched it up immediately to check the text. Okay, apparently, I was a bit more like a lovesick teen than I realized.
A snicker escaped my mouth as I read the text.
When?
I thought about making her wait, but figured it’d be better just to hammer the details out right away when she was paying attention. Assuming she responded quickly.
Next week. We’d fly out on Monday.
Juniper’s with Lionel next week. Can we reschedule?
It’s for a business trip, so no. Still, plenty of time for us to sightsee even with the business stuff.
Okay. Just you and me, then?
Yes. Don’t worry I’ll pay for everything. I think you’ll have a great time. This way you can add a country other than Mexico to your travel list.
A couple minutes passed. I wondered if she was thinking about it or busy doing something at work. This time, though, I didn’t return to my own work. I sat and waited for her response.
Lucky for you I still have a valid passport. I’ll call you later to talk about it. Gotta work now.
A broad grin took over my face. I’d wanted Juniper to come, but her not coming might be better.
A little girl on a trip with us was a natural barrier. She’d keep us from doing anything stupid or too enjoyable, depending on how you thought about it.
Just Emily and me, though, meant we had a chance of something more. I’d kissed her when she was drunk with passion. I’d kissed her sweetly to surprise her ex. But I wanted more. So much more.
I felt no shame in that. I just wanted to kiss her when she knew what she was doing, hearing her moan a little as I ran my hands over those wonderful breasts of her. Not that I would demand it, but our first kiss proved she wanted me as much as I wanted her.
I shook my head, glad that I was alone in my office. I wasn’t inviting Emily with the expectation of anything more than sharing an interesting city with a woman I liked, but the trip was a good way to move us to the next level. No problem with hoping for a best-case scenario.
The more time I spent with her, the more I knew I didn’t want just another friend. I wanted a woman who wanted me as a man and not only as a tool to annoy her ex-husband.
Japan would be the key. We’d either come back as a couple, or I’d move on. This wasn’t about my mother, our agreement, or anything else.
Damn it. I wanted Emily. I wanted her far too much.
Chapter Fifteen
EMILY
I bit my lip as I stared at my suitcases sitting in front of the door. Monday had seemed so far away when I’d read that first text from Logan, but now that the day of reckoning was here, my heart pounded furiously and sweat coated my palms.
All weekend long, I’d bounced back and forth over going on the trip with Logan. I mean, it was insane. He wasn’t a weird stranger, so I knew he wasn’t a serial killer, but we’d gone out a few times, and now we were taking a trip across the world.
True, he was already going there anyway, but it wasn’t like he had to invite me. No matter how I looked it, this little jaunt to Japan meant our relationship, whatever it was, might becoming something more, and I didn’t know how I felt about that.
“Stop with that face,” Mama said.
I sighed and looked over at her. She’d come to see me off. She said it was about making sure I had everything, but I suspected she wanted to make sure I actually left.
“And you think this is a good idea?” I said.
“Of course, I do.”
“Logan. Me. All alone in Japan?”
“You told me he reserved you your own room.”
“He did.”
A faint smirk appeared on her face. “Then you don’t have to do anything you don’t want, dear. Besides, even if you’re not interested in Logan, you can see the country. You’ve always complained to me about how you didn’t get to travel much when you were married to Lionel.” She gestured vaguely toward my front door. “Now’s your chance.”
“But I don’t know what I feel about Logan.” I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck. “I’m not going to say I don’t like him. I do. But our kisses weren’t about each other. They were about making Lionel mad.”
“Hush, you.” Mama wagged a finger at me. “There’s something there. You’re just afraid of it because you think everyone is Lionel.” She narrowed her eyes. “Not every man is Lionel. Your father was loyal to me his entire life. You need to give Logan a chance.”
“Just because I’m going on a trip with him doesn’t mean I’m going to marry him.”
She laughed quietly. “Of course not, Emily, but it at least it means you’re trying.”
A loud knock came from the door. I swallowed and looked over at it. “It’s him.”
“Too late now to run.”
“But what if there’s a problem with Juniper?”
“I will handle it.” She shook her head. “I can handle my granddaughter if her foolish father can’t.”
Another knock sounded. Mama hurried over to throw open the door. Logan stood there, a smile on his face, handsome as always. This time he had on a pair of dark slacks and a cream-colored shirt. I realized it was the first time I’d seen him in something more casual.
I liked it. For one thing, it better showed off his arms.
“Good morning, Logan,” Mama said, beaming at him.
“Good morning, Mrs. Jolie.”
“She’s all packed and ready.” She nodded my way. “And she’s been talking about how much she’s been looking forward to this.”
“Really?” He shot me a grin. “I’ve been thinking about this all weekend.”
“So have I,” I said. It was the truth, after all. He didn’t need to know I was panicking about the trip the entire weekend.
“Ready to go?” Logan said, heading over to grab my suitcases. He nodded toward the front.
I peered out the front door. A black limousine waited on the street. Maybe I s
houldn’t have been so surprised, but I guess I’d gotten used to him driving himself everywhere. He’d save money on long-term parking, at least. Not that it would be more expensive than a limo.
Mama walked over and pulled me into a tight embrace. “Don’t overthink it, Emily,” she whispered into my ear.
Logan headed toward the limo with my bags. I hugged Mama back and then hurried after. The chauffeur popped the trunk and then stepped out to grab the bags from Logan.
Lord help me, I was about to fly to Japan with Logan Hawkins.
* * *
The trip through the airport security went swiftly. Logan had some sort of expedited approval already set up. It made sense for him, as he traveled all the time, but I didn’t understand why I got through as quickly, but I also wasn’t going to complain.
As we pulled our bags through the terminal, I watched Logan, my heart thumping the entire time. Could I still run? What would he think if I did? Once I got on the plane, it’d be a long time to think over my choice. Sixteen hours with only one stop in Chicago.
I’d never been on a plane for so long. We hadn’t talked much about the actual flight. I hoped he sprang for First Class, but I wasn’t about to ask and seem like some sort of greedy gold digger.
He turned a corner, and I realized we were heading away from the main terminal area.
“Is this the right way?” I said.
“Yes. I fly out of this terminal all the time.”
I let the matter drop, not wanting to seem ignorant.
Five minutes later, I found myself in a much less busy part of the airport. I saw a pretty dark-haired flight attendant and a weathered-looking older pilot waiting near a doorway. They waved to Logan in the distance, bright smiles on both their faces.
A small jet sat outside on the tarmac. The size surprised me. For a cross-world trip, I thought we’d be flying in some huge jumbo jet, not something that looked like it probably could hold fewer passengers than Juniper’s school bus.
We closed on the flight attendant and the pilot, who shook Logan’s hand.
“Good to see you again so soon, sir,” the pilot said.
