“You’re probably right.” Logan went up for another shot. “I’m probably over—thinking it. It’s only the song to make or break my career.”
“See? That’s what I mean man. Think of it as just another song.”
“That’s almost impossible to do.”
“Almost, but not all together impossible. Sing about what you know, what you feel—isn’t that what you’re supposed to do?”
Logan caught the ball and held onto it. He spun what Samuel said over in his brain before looking over at his friend. “I don’t know what I’m feeling. I mean sometimes I’m angry as hell at my parents. Other times, I just feel kinda lost. Mostly, lately I’ve had a mixture of loneliness and anger—but, then again…” He sighed and tossed the ball to Samuel. “I’d better get home. You lock up when you leave?”
Samuel nodded. “Sure man.”
* * * *
Logan didn’t feel like going home and cooking. He decided to stop by his favourite Soul Food restaurant and grab something. He had a strange craving for fried dumplings and jerk chicken—Jamaican style. He used to eat at Black Magic all the time when he was in high school. Samuel would often joke how he was stunned Logan didn’t grow up to be some morbidly overweight man with five chins. A chuckle left his lips and Logan pulled into the parking lot. He switched off the ignition of the truck and entered the building to tiny bells chiming over his head.
“Hey! It’s my favorite war vet,” Ana, the owner, called. She rushed over to give him a hug and a quick tap on the behind.
“Careful, Ana. I don’t want any trouble with your husband.” Logan grinned.
Bolton, Ana’s husband made a face before reaching over to shake Logan’s hand. “She’s the boss, you know.” The older man smirked. “How you doing?”
“Just stopped by to get me some of Ana’s Jerk chicken and fried dumplings.”
“Oh yes. Can’t stay away eh?” Ana grinned cheekily.
Logan leaned over the counter to growl at her softly. “Are you kidding? Lady, I dream of you.”
Ana laughed and touched his cheek before disappearing into the kitchen. She always made his food herself―ever since he was a boy. Logan took that moment to sit down beside Bolton to have a serious conversation.
“So how you been, B?”
The older man shifted on his seat and lifted his cane. If he hadn’t taken a bullet to the hip during his time on the force, Logan knew Bolton would be jogging or doing some kind of adrenaline-filled sport. There was no slowing the man down before.
“It acts up every time it rains,” Bolton explained. “Ana says she doesn’t mind me being hobbled, but I don’t know. Sometimes I just feel like I’m a burden you know?”
“I know how you feel.” Logan nodded. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure Ana wasn’t back. “But you know that woman loves you. Ain’t nothin’ gonna change that. I’m sure she still looks at you with that silly little grin on her face the same way she did back when the two of you would flirt in the parking lot. Doesn’t she?”
Bolton laughed. “Yeah... But she deserves a real man.”
“Trust me, B. You’re as real as any man can get—”
He meant to say more, but Ana came back with a container in a plastic bag and handed it over. Logan tried to pay for his meal, but Ana would have none of it and Bolton threatened to kick his butt. Logan laughed, dropped a kiss against Ana’s cheek and gave Bolton a meaningful look. “Remember what I said, huh?”
Bolton nodded and Logan was exiting the Black Magic when he almost balled over a woman entering. He grabbed her arm to keep her from hitting the ground, but he pulled a little too hard. She fell against his chest with a gasp.
* * * *
She remembered the day William came to take his things about three months after he’d left. Allison had just returned from visiting Emily at school. She spent the weekend in Emily’s dorm room and her aching back was proof those beds weren’t good for anyone’s health. He’d brought the bimbo with him, but she had enough class to stay in the car while he got his things packed up. Allison was still in denial about him coming back home, but Ashton had a conversation that convinced her he wasn’t coming back and life would go on. While William moved out his things, Ashton suggested she get out of the house. She was dressed by the time William got there and though seeing him ripped apart something inside her all over of again, she didn’t show it. She strung her purse over her shoulder, grabbed her car keys and her cell phone before sticking her feet into the sexiest pair of stilettos she could find on such a short notice. Before he showed up she’d showered and pulled on a black pair of tight jeans along with a red off the shoulder top with matching earrings and bangles. She’d curled her hair and applied makeup to remind him of what he had thrown away.
She flicked a lock of black hair over a shoulder and rested her hand on the door knob. “I’m giving you time to get your shit and get out,” she spoke, lifting her chin. “When I come back you’d better be gone and don’t touch any of my things.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“No, William. I’m promising you if I come back and any of my belongings are missing you’ll be hearing from my lawyer.”
With that, she swung her hips, strutting her stuff out to the car. She didn’t tarry. She started the ignition, checked her mirrors and pulled from her parking spot and down the driveway. Once she was through the gates, Allison suddenly had the overwhelming craving for something spicy—so hot it blistered her mouth—Jamaican food. A smile past her lips because that same craving she had a year before, she was having at that exact moment. The memory of William came to her because of the hunger for something she didn’t know how to cook. She wanted some jerk chicken or perhaps some okra and salt fish. Emily had gotten her hooked on okra and salt fish. It was absolutely delicious. The only down side was, for the life of her, she just couldn’t seem to make it at home. All attempts ended horridly so she gave up. She stuck to getting it at the local diner since theirs was just so mouth—wateringly good.
She crashed into a man as he was exiting the diner. He was sexy as sin, but he looked on the younger side. He had beautiful, dark skin and big brown eyes, a chiselled face with a proud nose and stood at around six foot two. When she fell into his chest she knew he was built like a brick house underneath the I Let the Dogs Out—Stop Asking tee he wore so proudly. He had a bag in one large hand and was holding her with the other.
“I’m sorry,” she muttered, stepping back from him and pushing her hair from her face. “I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
“That’s alright...”
Her gaze slipped down his face to his lips as they moved. They were full, luscious, the kind of lips she would love to wake up to in the mornings. That thought made her gasp and she covered her mouth.
“Are you okay?” Concern dripped from his voice.
She nodded frantically.
“I’m fine.” She gave him a smile. “Since we crashed into each other—I’m Allison Moo…Jackman.” She had almost used her marriage name there. She was no longer married and had no right using that jerk’s name. She took a deep breath and offered him her hand.
“Well, Miss Allison Moo…Jackman, I’m Logan Montgomery. It’s nice to crash into you.”
She laughed then―truly laughed and nodded her head. “I deserved that. It’s been a while since I’ve gone by my maiden name. But I am Allison Jackman.”
“You don’t have to explain. I should—” he pointed toward the parking lot, “get going. Don’t want dinner to get cold by the time I get home.”
“Right.” Allison pushed some hair behind her ear and nodded with a nervous laugh. “It was nice meeting you, Mr. Montgomery.”
“Same here.”
She stepped from his path and turned to watch him walk away. His steps were long and powerful. They spoke of a man who knew what he wanted, when he wanted it and how. He was nothing at all like William.
Allison mentally kicked herself. She forced hersel
f into Black Magic and stood at the counter. When Ana took her order she turned and flopped down in a nearby seat to wait.
Had she truly flirted with the ebony man at the door? What was wrong with her? She was going through a bad breakup; a split that killed eighteen years of her life and she was already eyeing some other man? Not just any other man either, a black man who was probably younger than she was. The thought of getting older hadn’t been bad for her since she thought she would do so with William by her side. After he left, she felt irritated every time her age came up. The big four oh was staring her in the eye-balls. Each time she thought of it, she felt utterly and completely alone.
Chapter Two
In the attic, Allison allowed her finger to trail over the delicate features of the high powered camera. Ashton was right. She was good at taking pictures. Could she really pick up something she hadn’t done for so long? She placed the camera gently back into the box and picked it up. She carried the box down the stairs and into the living room where she placed it on the table. She removed everything to the table, then started setting up the camera once more. Perhaps if she took some good test shots she may be able to do something with them. The ringing phone pulled her from the small hope she had been feeling.
With a startled gasp she grabbed it. “Hello?”
“Hi, Mom.” Emily’s voice was crisp and clear. “Sorry I didn’t call yesterday, but I was testing my new toy. Thanks by the way.”
“Oh you’re welcome, sweetie. You deserve it.”
“How are you doing?”
“Better.” Allison pressed her lips into a thin line. “I’m not going to lie and say it doesn’t hurt because it does. But I took my camera out from the attic.”
“That’s good! It’s about time you started that again. I’ve seen some of the pictures you’ve taken and they are lovely.”
Allison grinned. Pride surged through her. It meant a lot hearing praises from her daughter. She bowed her head and let the tears she had been fighting back fall. “I thought you hated me. I thought you thought I was weak for not holding on to your father.”
“Mom, it’s not your fault. He wants out. He broke up our family.”
Allison went silent then. She knew she should say something like don’t blame your father or something like that, but she couldn’t get herself to say those words. It was William’s fault. He was the one that wanted to leave and he hadn’t even discussed it. He had simply gone out, made his preparations and served her with divorce papers. She smiled. “I’ll be fine, hon. Just worry about studying.”
“You have to date.” Emily blurted out. “You can’t just sit around. If he can find some new trash to be with, you can find a real man who will love you.”
“No promises, kid.” Allison managed a laugh. “I don’t know if I want to be with anyone after your father.”
“Then he wins! You can’t let him win!”
Allison spent most of the rest of the conversation trying to explain to her daughter sometimes people just grew apart, but Emily wasn’t buying it. She could understand Emily’s anger toward her father, but Allison didn’t want her daughter to be so consumed that she did poorly in school. After getting a promise from Emily that she would focus on having a lovely university life, Allison hung up, rested her hands on her hips and stared at the camera on the table. Her mind drifted back to Emily telling her to date again and to the man she had crashed into at Black Magic. If she was ever going to even contemplate dating again, Mister Logan Montgomery would have been the perfect candidate.
* * * *
Logan spent the evening eating and digging through the internet. He knew he had seen the woman before, but he couldn’t quite remember where. When her picture finally popped up onto the screen he stared wide-eyed. She was breath-taking and very married. He bowed his head in irritation and chewed on the piece of chicken he had bitten off. When he looked at the screen again he continued reading.
“Socialite from old money Allison Jackman was born in—” He trailed off and did the math in his head. She was eleven years his senior, but she was hot. With long black hair, big blue eyes and a body that made him shiver. He remembered the way she felt against him at the restaurant and couldn’t help the groan that left his throat. But her eyes weren’t as bright as they were in the picture. In the picture business mogul William Moore had his arm wrapped possessively around her waist. She had her hand pressed against his chest and was looking at the camera as though she was the happiest woman in the world.
Whatever happened to that woman?
He pressed his back against the seat and picked up the fast food container. He used his fork to push a dumpling into his mouth while his mind ran a mile a minute. He thought of going to her, telling her he could do what her husband wouldn’t. But Logan was no home wrecker. He didn’t let his penis think for him. He knew that could only end in tears. He shut down the laptop and exited the den. He made his way through the kitchen―stopping only for a beer―then proceeded onto the balcony.
When he leaned against the rail something dug into his flesh. He stuck his hand down his shirt and pulled out the object. One of his eyebrows shut upward.
An earring?
He turned it over in his palm in the balcony light. It was pearl, set in white gold. The stud was expensive since the pearl was no ordinary one. It was a black pearl―rare from what he knew. It must have fallen off Mrs. Moore―but she said her name was Jackman? Was there trouble in paradise?
There goes any thought of not seeing her again.
He couldn’t keep the earring. It was probably some kind of family heirloom or something. He drank greedily from the beer entered the house again. He placed the half empty bottle on the counter to grab the phone book. He hoped she was listed. When his finger found her he smiled and dialled her number. He knew it was late, but the sooner he could get it back to her the better.
“Hello?” A sleepy voice answered.
“May I speak with Allison Jackman please?”
“Speaking.”
“Hi Allison, its Logan Montgomery. We bounced into each other today?”
“Uh… hi? Are you stalking me, Mr. Montgomery?”
Logan laughed softly. “Not quite. But I think I have something you may need.”
“Is that right.” Her voice took on a curiosity that turned Logan on.
He licked his lips and pressed his back against the nearest wall.
“That’s right. It’s black, hard and worth a lot.”
Silence reigned from the other side of the phone. He didn’t even think she was breathing.
“Are you alright over there? Need some mouth to mouth?”
Her reply was to cough and Logan smirked to himself. “I was referring to a rather expensive looking, black pearl earring. It got lodged in my clothes during our little scuffle.”
“Oh! That! I was wondering where I had dropped it. Yes, I need that back.”
Logan thought about it. “Well I work at the recreation center in the evenings. You could meet me there and I can give it back to you tomorrow. Deal?”
“Deal,” she replied.
After giving her the time, he hung up. His heart was racing like never before. He felt as though he had just called his girl to ask her on a date and that scared him. She was a married woman and he had no right in feeling anything for her. All he was going to do was meet her the next day and hand over her earring. Then he wouldn’t have to see her again.
Simple.
But deep down Logan knew nothing in his life was ever that simple. He prayed there was indeed a first time for everything.
* * * *
Allison sat in the darkness of the guest room with the television on mute and the phone in one hand. She still couldn’t get herself to sleep in the bedroom since that was where she had spent eighteen years with William. She made a mental note to completely gut the room to leave no trace of him, but that would take time. She felt her ear absentmindedly and to her shock only one earring came off in her hand.
But that wasn’t what was truly making her body tremble—it was the thought of seeing Logan again. It excited her like it was forbidden. With a deep breath she pushed from the bed and walked over to the light. She flipped it on and jumped back on her bed.
All she was going to do is get her earring and go back home—perhaps she would bring her camera.
“Ally?” Ashton yelled from downstairs. She made a mental note to take his key. He always showed up and scared the crap out of her.
“In the guest room,” she hollered. She heard his footsteps coming up the stairs. She pinched at her cheeks to give them some colour, pushed her hair back and straightened her clothes. The last thing she wanted was for Ashton to see she was still upset over William and his tramp.
He walked into the room and climbed into the bed beside her. He kissed her cheek. “How you feeling?” He wanted to know.
“I went to Black Magic today,” Allison reported.
“You’re blushing.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Ally, you’re blushing—trust me. What happened at Black Magic?”
Allison climbed from the bed and stood by the window. She stared out for a while before turning her head to look at Ashton. “Is it too early to think of another man? I mean I’m still not over what William has done to me and Em but this man—”
“You met someone?”
Allison turned to the window again and sighed. She stared into the darkness wishing it would open and swallow her up. “Not really, I mean yes. I mean I don’t know. He was friendly and funny, but I am terrified. I don’t know what the correct length of time after a marriage falls apart before I should date again. I am not even divorced yet!”
“But you’re forgetting that this man started dating even before he told you your marriage was finished.”
“Yeah but what’s good for him isn’t necessarily the best thing for me, Ash. Emily says I should date again but I don’t know if I can open myself up to that again.”
Comforts of a Man (The Panty Droppers Series) Page 2
