by Kate Hardy
He nodded and reached for her hands, enclosing them in his. Her impulse was to pull them away. She and Logan had broken up. But something about the soft light in his eyes prevented her from moving.
He said, ‘Michel was over-the-top excited about your soup.’
‘Really? Why?’
‘You know what he’s like. When he realised I was taking food to your sick bed, he started rattling on about catering for my wedding.’
Zap! Sally’s poor heart almost shot out of the window. She felt the sudden threat of tears and she squeezed her eyes tightly shut to hold them back. ‘What a weird thing to say.’
‘Not so very weird. Just romantic.’
‘I suppose Michel knows he’s going to have to wait five years? At least he’ll have plenty of time to refine the menu.’
‘Perhaps not.’
Was she delirious?
Not daring to open her eyes, Sally sank back against the pillows and lay very still. Her head was fuzzy and she knew she was terribly confused. Why was Logan talking about weddings and caterers who didn’t have to wait and—?
‘Sally, look at me.’
No. She couldn’t. If she opened her eyes, her tears might spill and she couldn’t bear that humiliation.
‘Sally, darling.’
Darling? Her eyes shot open.
Logan’s smile was terribly worried and his eyes were shining with a suspicious dampness. He swallowed. ‘I want you to know that acting on the best advice available, I’ve binned the five-year plan.’
‘Who—’ Sally swallowed to get rid of the strangled feeling in her throat ‘—who told you to do that?’
‘A little bird pointed out some important home truths.’
‘I don’t understand. What are you saying?’
‘A very brave little golden Finch pointed out that I was an ostrich with my head in the sand, avoiding the truth.’
‘The truth?’
‘Yes, the truth that you, Sally, are without question the most wonderful woman I have ever met and I can’t imagine trying to face life without you.’
Miraculously, all at once, the hollow pain around her heart began to ease.
‘I should have told you this on Friday night after the ball,’ Logan said, ‘but I stuffed up and did the exact opposite.’
The mere mention of that terrible night made her shudder. ‘I didn’t help. I threw you out.’
‘I deserved it, Sally. I thought I was being honest with you, protecting you. But I was being totally dishonest about how I really feel. When I was standing out on the street, I knew that I was losing you and I couldn’t bear it.’
Yes, she’d seen the loss in his eyes and it had nearly killed her.
‘It was the worst night of my life,’ Logan said.
‘Mine, too.’
‘I came around early the next day and knocked on your door. I telephoned a couple of times. I drove past your house countless times, but there were no signs of life, so I assumed you’d taken off for the weekend. I was petrified when you didn’t turn up at work this morning. I was sure I’d lost you.’
‘Poor thing.’ Reaching up, Sally touched his face with her fingertips, savoured the masculine rasp of the skin on his jaw. ‘There’s no need to look so worried.’
He smiled crookedly, then drew her into his arms and kissed her beautifully.
‘I hope I don’t give you the flu.’
His lips were warm as he nuzzled her neck just below her ear. ‘If I catch the flu, you can look after me.’
‘I’d love to.’
He kissed her again. And again.
And again.
EPILOGUE
WITH his white shirtsleeves rolled up and a long apron loosely tied about his hips, Logan stood at the stove in Sally’s kitchen and stirred a mint sauce while he kept an eye on steaming peas. He’d taken quite a liking to this cooking caper.
A wintry wind whistled outside, knocking at the windows and buffeting the doors, and he hoped the forecast rain held off until their guests arrived and were safely inside. Hattie, Carissa and Geoff, Sally’s brother, Steve, and his wife were all due any minute now.
Everything was ready. Sally had set the table in the dining room with the best silver and china and she’d done clever things with flowers and candles so that the room looked enchanting and perfect for their first dinner party.
Now she was upstairs, touching up her lipstick and tidying her hair. For a wistful moment Logan pictured her up there, applying colour to her soft lips, tweaking a golden curl, spraying scent on her wrists and her cleavage.
He closed his eyes as desire pounded through him. Easy, man. Keep your mind in the kitchen.
Here in the kitchen, the air was warm and fragrant with the scent of roasting lamb and rosemary and sizzling potatoes. Copper-shaded lights warmed the whitewashed walls and terracotta tiles and picked up the honeyed tones of the timber cupboards. With the wind roaring outside, everything in this room looked especially cosy tonight.
Logan was glad that he and Sally had finally decided to live here rather than in his penthouse. They’d spent the past six months dividing their time between both places and it had been fun for a while, but it was good to be settled.
He liked the sense of permanence the decision had brought. Besides, Sally was very emotionally attached to this house and they were renting out his penthouse for an outrageous sum.
Everything was working out amazingly well. In spite of ditching his five-year plan, his business was going from strength to strength. He’d tried to coax Sally into taking his PA’s position, but she’d vetoed that idea. In the end, he’d known she was wise to leave Blackcorp and get a new job in Chloe’s favourite art gallery.
Now, they both shared an interest in his business but, at the end of the working day, they came to each other as lovers rather than co-workers.
Life with Sally was, as Logan had always suspected, incredibly romantic and an enormous adventure.
‘Oh, no! That apron has to go. It makes you look far too sexy.’
At the sound of Sally’s voice Logan spun around. She was wearing a cream silk blouse with black velvet trousers and she’d done something with her hair to make it look sophisticated, yet casual and utterly gorgeous.
He grinned at her. ‘You look good enough to eat.’
‘I’m afraid fiancées aren’t on the menu tonight.’ She smiled as she waved her left hand at him, making the solitaire diamond flash and sparkle. ‘Just roast lamb, followed by poached pears with Mascarpone.’
‘But I can have you for hors d’oeuvres.’
‘Of course you can.’ Laughing, she crossed the kitchen and wound her arms about his neck. Her slender curves pressed close and she touched her lips to his jaw and a soft groan escaped him. Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea after all. With Sally in his arms, he feared he’d be in no fit state to greet their guests.
‘I hope they don’t stay too late tonight,’ she said, grinning cheekily. ‘I can’t wait to tell our families the wonderful news about our wedding, but by the end of this evening I’ll be desperate to be alone with you.’
They shared a smile, a private and intimate smile, brimming with promise, and Logan gathered her close again.
Two nights ago, right here in this kitchen, this wonderful woman had agreed to marry him. Now he created havoc with her lipstick just as the front doorbell rang.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-3207-9
Copyright © 2009 Harlequin Books S.A.
The publisher acknowledges the copyright holders of the individual works as follows:
In Bed with Her Italian Boss
Copyright © 2007 by Kate Hardy
Taken by Her Greek Boss
Copyright © 2007 by Cathy Williams
Blind Date with the Boss
Copyright © 2008 by Barbara Hannay
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