House of Belonging

by Andrea Thome

  Logan: Pardon the pun.

  Laina: !!

  Logan: I guess the question is, do you want me to bring my jammies? I don’t want to upset your delicate sensibilities.

  Laina: Leave the pj’s at home.

  Logan: Now you’ve got my attention.

  Laina: Just wait. You haven’t seen what I wear to bed.

  Logan: I can only imagine. And if I’m being honest, I have imagined that.

  Laina: Is it tomorrow yet?

  Their banter was so easy, and Laina loved Logan’s sense of humor. But once they were safely ensconced in the back of the car she had waiting for them outside of baggage claim, laughter was the furthest thing from their minds. Laina suspected that the fire between them would ignite immediately, so she had closed the frosted glass partition in the Bentley sedan before she got out to meet Logan in order to ensure their privacy on the way up the coast. Her parents had used this luxury car service for years, and they had insisted she take it today to LAX.

  Logan climbed in first, practically pulling Laina down after him. She reached back to slam the door behind her, climbing over her seat to straddle him, his face in her hands. She dipped her head down, but instead of kissing him, she leaned forward to whisper into his ear.

  “Was this what you had in mind when you mentioned your back-seat fantasy the other night?” She let her tongue flip the tip of his ear before nipping at it gently with her teeth. Logan responded by grasping her hips in an attempt to reposition her over his lap. She could feel his desire, and it fueled her own. Sitting back to look at him, she could see that his eyes were opaque and full of need. It was clear he was doing everything he could to maintain some semblance of control. Laina leaned forward again, using her tongue to part his lips gently, brushing back and forth with soft strokes, curious as to how long he’d be able to resist.

  Not long, it turned out. Logan pulled her up against him, and the energy between them quickly turned frenetic. Kissing was just a futile attempt at satisfaction. Laina reached down, deftly unbuttoning the top of Logan’s jeans with her fingers. She felt him shudder at her touch as she pulled his shirt up, letting her fingers slowly trail along the skin that lay just underneath his waistband.

  Close, but not yet.

  Laina wanted to take him to the brink of desire but knew she’d stop short of anything too naughty in the back of a speeding car. This was just a taste of things to come. The thought produced a tightening in her belly, ramping up their passion once again.

  They whizzed by cars lined up to turn left into the beach parking lots but never noticed, completely engrossed in each other. Laina recognized the need to slow things down, but she was having a hard time commanding her body. She wanted Logan with a ferocity she’d never experienced before with anyone. It was as if he were a magnet, and she couldn’t ignore the pull. She already knew how they’d fit together; she could feel him against her now. Another crescendo at that thought, and now Logan’s hands were slipping inside the back of her jeans, cupping her and grinding her against him with a new, more urgent rhythm. Laina thought she could stop, but she’d lost all ability to reason with herself, settling into a frenzied pace that almost sent them both over the edge.

  In the end, Laina had traveled solo, but watching her face while she peaked was enough for Logan. Almost. He had big plans for the weekend. And they had nothing to do with speeding cars or rushing through anything at all.

  They arrived at her parents’ house a short time later, having finally managed to pull themselves apart and put Laina back together. The ladies had an appointment to get mani-pedis at noon, so Laina reluctantly left Logan behind with her father.

  “Don’t worry, darling. Logan’s in good hands with your father. I heard him say he waxed an extra board this morning.” Serena winked at her daughter, both of them hiding their laughter at Logan’s terrified expression.

  “Uh, I haven’t surfed in a long time. I mean, I used to get out a little bit with my buddies at the Jersey Shore, but that was years ago.”

  Bo Ming slapped Logan on the back good-naturedly. “Son, I think the ladies are just having a little fun at your expense.” Logan looked relieved, but only momentarily, until Laina’s dad decided to finish his thought. “It’s the perfect day to get out there. The waves are just right. You’ll do just fine. Come on. I’ll show you to the guest house so you can get changed, and we’ll meet by the pool to head down to the shore in ten minutes. A few minutes in the water will do us good before we climb into our formal wear for the evening. Make sure to wear sunscreen.”

  Logan looked over his shoulder, mouthing the words “help me” to the ladies as Laina’s father led him away. Laina and her mother giggled all the way to the salon. They were settled into their pedicure chairs when her mom asked Laina about Logan.

  “You really like him, don’t you, Carina?” Her mother had used the Italian endearment with Laina since she was a child. Beloved. It was one of the little things that Laina cherished most about her mom. She wished sometimes that she could take all her parents’ little affectionate words and stitch them together to make a quilt she could wrap around herself in their absence. Being with them made her dread having to say goodbye again. They would always feel like home to her.

  “I really like him, Mom. A lot. There’s no point in hiding it from you. Logan has surprised me from our first date. I’ve yet to find his weakness, though, and I’m starting to believe he doesn’t have one. But he must, right?”

  Serena smiled. “No one is perfect, Laina, but some people are closer to it than others. Like your father. He’s put up with me for all of these years, never batting an eye when I dragged him off to a sound healing workshop or a class on sacred geometry. He’s open to experiencing life, and even though Logan was teasing you about being scared to surf earlier, I see that same quality your father possesses in Logan. They say yes more than they say no. That’s a wonderful trait, Laina. I hope you can allow yourself to feel worthy of Logan, because you are.”

  Laina listened, hopeful too that she could feel worthy.

  Her mother hesitated before changing the subject. “Have you made a decision about Jeremy? Will you see him while you’re in town? And have you told Logan?”

  Laina sighed. “Jeremy and I are going to meet tomorrow afternoon. At home, if that’s OK with you. I feel more comfortable with it being on my turf. I was hoping Dad could take Logan surfing, provided he makes it through his first attempt this afternoon. I haven’t told Logan that Jeremy is here in California, but only because I’m not sure why he’s insisting we meet. I plan to tell Logan everything. I just don’t want to ruin this evening. For you and Dad, or for us. We’ve been so looking forward to it.”

  Her mother agreed that it was probably OK for Laina to table any further Jeremy-related discussions with Logan until after the weekend, but she urged her daughter to fill in the missing details soon.

  When they arrived home, the guys were still not back from the beach, so Laina took the spare key off the hook by the back door and headed down the path to look for them.

  She’d just stepped through the final gate out onto the beach when she saw Logan catch a good-size wave. The sun was still high overhead, but it had started to dip behind the cliffs that served as the backdrop for the east-facing cove, lighting up the dozen or so surfers in the water. Laina swallowed, mesmerized by Logan as he expertly rode the crest of the wave almost all the way into the shore. He was one of the few who weren’t wearing a wet suit, likely because her father hadn’t had one big enough to loan him. The muscles in his broad torso contracted as he used his core strength to balance himself on the board. Just before he sank back into the water, he spotted Laina, giving her the “hang loose” sign with his hand. He stood up out of the surf, tucking his board under his arm, and walked toward where she waited on the edge of the beach. Laina thought he looked like an advertisement for virility.

  Logan glanced down at Laina’s feet, her gleaming whitepainted nails covered with a dusting of
sand. “White. Nice choice. Is that sand going to ruin your pedicure, though?” Logan set his board down, shaking the water out of his hair with his hands.

  Laina shook her head. “First rule of the mani-pedi: always get the toes done first. That way, they’re dry when you leave the salon. It’s not my first rodeo. Speaking of firsts, let’s talk more about your surfing. You’re no novice. You look like you’ve done that a time or two.”

  Logan grinned. “Well, I told you I had some Ranger buddies who used to drive over to the Jersey Shore to surf any chance they got. I tried it a few times but wasn’t very good. Your dad gave me some great pointers, though, and today I feel like I got a whole lot better.” He turned to scan the water. “Speaking of your dad, that man is incredible.”

  They watched together for a few minutes as Laina’s dad started paddling his way into the crest of an epic wave. Standing, he was poetry in motion, his body covered in the wet suit that made him look even more physically fit. Bo rode the wave as it barreled across the length of the beach all the way to the shore, stepping gracefully off his board and making his way toward his daughter and Logan.

  “Logan did all right today, Laina. You should have seen him. Really comfortable in the sea. Fellow’s got my vote.”

  They gathered up the surfboards and headed back up the path to prepare for the gala, for which they were leaving in just under two hours. Laina had moved her things into a spare bedroom in the main house to get ready so Logan could have the guest house bathroom to himself. She’d also made up the sofa bed. Just to keep him on his toes.

  An hour later, Logan was pacing the guest house, waiting for her to return, when Laina knocked softly on the door before entering the room.

  She was wearing a black silk dress that looked like it was made out of liquid. It skimmed her body and was somehow defying gravity in the way that it was being held up by two of the thinnest straps Logan had ever seen.

  Logan noticed the expanse of a bare leg through a slit that started at the floor and ended near a place that he was desperate to explore. Laina’s white toenails gleamed now, peeking out of a sexy pair of black stilettos that made her appear a great deal taller than usual. Logan’s gaze traveled back up, finding Laina’s eyes twinkling in appreciation of his response to her.

  “Well, it’s a simple black dress, but it’s OK, right?”

  Logan cleared his throat. “Simple? No. OK? Definitely not. Laina, you look good enough to eat.”

  Laina blushed, closing her eyes at the brazen compliment. “You look pretty good yourself. I have to say, I’m not sad that you picked the tux. I was picturing how you’d look in one, and you do not disappoint.”

  Logan had chosen a black peak-lapel tuxedo with a classic bow tie at the advice of the tailor who said the look was never out of style. He had to admit that he felt good in the garment, and now that he saw Laina, he was glad he’d erred on the formal side. He reached out his hand to her, and she took it, allowing him to twirl her around slowly in admiration.

  The back of the dress was even more magnificent, dipping down into a low V, revealing her toned back and shoulders. Logan let out a low whistle.

  “My, oh my. You look spectacular, Laina. I’m so proud to be with you.” Logan reached down, clicking the remote on the table to turn on the sound system. He’d cued up some music for later but figured it would be OK to play one of the songs now. The wail of a harmonica floated out of the speaker, followed by Bono’s telltale voice.

  Logan extended his hand to Laina. “May I have this dance?” He didn’t wait for her to answer, pulling Laina into his arms, swaying with her to “Trip Through Your Wires.” Logan tucked his head down, his chin resting on her forehead as they moved in sync with the music. It was just a simple dance, but it was arguably the most erotic thing they’d experienced together so far. Mostly because Logan could feel his resolve crumbling. It was terrifying to think that he could feel this way for Laina so soon, but he supposed he’d known it would be like this with her all along when she finally decided to open her heart.

  If there’d been any shred of doubt remaining, it vanished as they moved together. Logan knew without question that he’d fallen in love with her.

  CHAPTER

  EIGHTEEN

  The gala was being held on the grounds of the wellness center, which was a fifteen-minute drive up into the mountains from the Mings’ home. They were about to make the final turn into the property when Laina’s father glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “Laina, close your eyes. Your mom and I have a surprise for you.”

  The car slowed to a stop, and Laina could hear the two front doors open and close, indicating that her parents had gotten out. Logan, who was still sitting with her in the back seat, squeezed her hand.

  He waited for the signal from Laina’s dad. “OK. Let me help you out of the car. Hold on to me.” Laina could feel the finely crushed gravel under her stilettos as she exited the car, her hand over her eyes.

  “OK. You can look now.”

  Laina lowered her hand and opened her eyes. Her parents were standing together a few feet away next to a carved wooden sign surrounded by purple flowers. “Karina Wellness Center.” Logan heard Laina gasp and turned in time to see her eyes fill with tears. Laina stepped forward and embraced her parents one at a time.

  “I can’t believe this. No wonder you’ve been so secretive about the name. I don’t even know what to say.” Laina wiped her eyes and stared at the sign in amazement before she turned back to Logan. “Carina means ‘beloved’ in Italian, which is my mother’s language, but when it’s spelled with a K, it’s a Nepalese girls’ name. It’s my middle name, given to me by my parents on the day they were finally able to bring me home.” She smiled at her mom, taking Serena’s hands into her own. “This means so much to me, Mom. I’m honored that you’d include me in your beautiful center in this most auspicious way.”

  Logan was touched and even felt a tiny twinge of jealousy. He would have loved to have had this kind of relationship with his mother, or to have even known his father at all, but he was happy for Laina and honored to be a part of such a special moment for their family.

  The foursome got back into the car and traveled along the banyan-tree-lined driveway up a sloping hill. At the top, they stopped to check in at the guard gate before driving a little farther, finally parking in front of a cluster of established white buildings that looked like they had recently been restored. Laina’s father told them a little about the history of the property as the valet helped them out of the car.

  “For almost sixty years, this place was a well-known resort, so these buildings here are original. They were in surprisingly great shape when we took over, but of course your mother wanted to put her spin on things, so while we kept the integrity of the architecture, everything has been completely modernized and updated.” He pointed toward the various buildings enveloping the circle drive where they stood. “This is the guest reception house, and that’s the restaurant. The building behind you is the oldest we have on the property. It was built in 1835, so we left it exactly as we found it, and we filed to have it listed on the National Register of Historic Places.”

  Laina turned to examine the old structure more closely. She could see that the roof shingles had been laid directly on the ceiling beams, but because of the California weather, they’d managed to hang on for almost two hundred years that way. It was remarkable, and she was so glad her parents had chosen to leave it intact as a nod to the area’s history. They’d even displayed some information about the families who’d previously lived in it and about the resort that had thrived in this spot for so long.

  Laina’s parents stepped away to greet their other arriving guests, leaving Laina and Logan to mingle on their own for a while. They took two glasses of champagne from a passing tray and strolled around toward the back side of the reception house. Each of the buildings was dripping with flowers. There were thickets of coral honeysuckle growing up the sides of the reception house in vines a
nd luscious overstuffed baskets hanging from the eaves of the restaurant. Windows in both of the structures were framed with California lilacs, and hummingbirds danced from one delicious offering to the next, their collective buzz energizing the early-evening air.

  Looking around at the acres of gardens, Logan was impressed. Crushed granite pathways separated the chefs’ organic garden from the flower beds, and from their location on the top of the hill, they had a great view of the labyrinth down below. Small white cottages framed the property in the shape of a horseshoe, each with private front gates, adorned with customizable plaques used to declare the last name of the guests in residence.

  “This place is impressive. Your parents really spared no expense. I mean, it’s obviously been updated, but it also feels like it’s been here forever, which is part of the charm of the place.” Logan raised his glass to Laina. “Cheers to you, Carina. With a C, for beloved.” He paused, looking at her. “I think that might stick.”

  Laina smiled, stepping in to kiss him softly. “I hope so. Come on, I hear the music. We don’t want to be late for dinner.”

  The evening’s meal was being held alfresco in a big open field at the rear of the reception house. Logan and Laina were seated near the front next to an oblong reflecting pool filled with floating lotus blossoms. The air smelled like jasmine and eucalyptus, the scents wafting down across the yard from a large grove of nearby trees. The tables were swathed in hemp linens and anchored with low vases packed tightly full of white- and blush-colored hydrangeas. Bistro lights hung in the open space overhead, and a full orchestra was playing classical music while dinner was served.

  Logan and Laina were seated with her parents’ good friends and their daughter and son-in-law, Sara and Cole, who had driven down for the weekend from their home in Montecito. The four young people gravitated toward one another, chatting during dinner about their lives and work.