by Lucy Clark
Logan paused just outside the canopy. ‘Trin?’
‘Go away.’
He stepped through and his heart constricted when he saw her sitting at the base of the trunk, her knees pulled up tight against her chest, her arms hugging them close. She looked up at him, her face tearstained.
‘Oh, sweetheart.’ He wanted to gather her to him, just as he had for the last five years every time something or someone had hurt her. At the same time, he also knew he needed to respect her privacy. Instead, he sat down next to her and stretched his legs out in front of him, crossing them at the ankles. He stayed silent, waiting for her to talk.
‘You kissed her.’ The words tumbled out and she tried to edge away from him.
‘Yes.’
‘Are you going to marry her?’
Logan exhaled sharply, knowing she needed answers but not sure he could give her any. ‘I honestly don’t know, Trin.’
‘Are you going to leave me? Leave me and Owen?’ A fresh bout of tears accompanied her words and Logan felt his own eyes fill with tears.
‘Oh, Trin.’ Unable to resist any longer, he dragged her into his arms and held her tight. ‘Of course I’m not going to leave you—or Owen. You’re my kids. You’re my family. You mean everything to me, sweetheart. I love you.’
‘But we’re not your real kids. If you get married, things will change and you might have some more kids and then there’ll be no room for me and Owen.’
Logan took a breath. He might not know the answers to some of her questions but he knew the answers to these ones. ‘You and Owen are as real to me as if you were my own. You’re both my family, my flesh and blood. I’m not going anywhere, Trin, and if things begin to change in our life, then we’ll talk about it. We’re a family and we do things together, and that includes Grandma and Grandad.’
‘But you were kissing Charli.’
‘Yes.’ Logan brushed away her tears. ‘Yes, I was.’
‘So do you love her?’
Logan thought about that question. Did he? ‘I don’t know. I like her and I’d like her to stay for a while so we can all get to know her better, but I don’t think she can.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because this isn’t her home, sweetheart.’ Logan tightened his arms around his girl. ‘Charli lives in another country, in America. She has a home, a job, and her mother’s there.’
‘But she can’t remember any of that, can she?’
‘She’s starting to remember more and more each day.’
‘So, when she remembers, she’ll go back?’
‘She might need to go back so she can remember.’ He thought of the best way to explain it. ‘Charli has what the doctors call hysterical amnesia. Something has happened to her which has made her brain block out her memories. Being here in Halls Gap, nothing is familiar to her because she’s never been here before, but if she goes back to her home and sees her mother again, maybe she’ll remember.’
‘So she’s going to go away? Even though we like her?’
‘Yes, princess.’ He kissed the top of her head. ‘She needs to go. Once Wil gets in contact with her mother, things should move pretty quickly.’
Trinity pulled back a little and looked at him. ‘Are you going to kiss her again?’ The look of disgust on her face made Logan laugh.
‘Probably. If she lets me.’
‘Do you like kissing her? It looks yuck.’
He laughed again as he stood, holding her tightly in his arms. ‘You might not think so when you get older.’
‘I’m never going to kiss a boy,’ she declared. ‘Except for you and Owen and Grandad. That’s all.’
‘Can I get that in writing?’ Logan carried her back into the house. ‘Let’s go find Charli and Owen because I know she was very worried about you.’
They found them in Owen’s room, sitting at the computer. ‘This is how you jump up and down and this button helps to make you go faster and then you get more points.’ Owen was giving Charli instructions on how to play the mathematical pirate game he loved so much.
Charli turned when she saw them and Owen did, too. He paused the game and faced his sister. ‘Guess what? We’re going out to dinner tonight in Ararat.’
‘Cool.’
Charli’s gaze met Logan’s and he smiled, watching as she visibly relaxed. Trinity walked over to her.
‘I’m sorry I yelled at you.’
Charli was surprised but smiled. ‘That’s OK. I’m sorry if I upset you.’
‘Dad told me he likes kissing you so he’ll probably do it again, but that’s OK, even though I think kissing is gross.’
Logan looked away and cleared his throat before raising his gaze to meet Charli’s once more. His smile was sheepish and he noticed Charli was slightly embarrassed at Trinity’s forwardness.
‘Look at this, Trin. I’m through to the next level. I can do this all by myself.’ It was Owen who broke the awkward moment and Logan was able to remember to drag air into his lungs.
‘Five more minutes, mate, and then we need to get ready to go out and celebrate.’
‘Yahoo!’ both kids said, but their faces were glued to the computer screen. Logan turned and walked out of the room, unable to believe Trinity had said what she had. A minute or two later Charli joined him in the kitchen, where he was waiting for the kettle to boil.
‘Coffee?’ he asked.
Charli nodded. ‘I think we both need one.’ She smiled shyly at him and came around the bench to stand in front of him. ‘So…you like kissing me, then?’
Logan leaned back against the cupboards and crossed his legs at the ankles. ‘Wasn’t it obvious?’ He folded his arms across his chest, trying to block out the surge of awareness coursing through him.
Charli began to feel that now familiar pounding in her chest as she edged a little closer to him. Her tongue came out to wet her lips and she watched as Logan’s eyes darkened as his gaze took in the action.
‘You know, I’m not sure I can…remember.’ She raised her eyebrows suggestively and placed her hands on his arms. They unfolded instantly and he dragged her closer. ‘Maybe you’d better…um…refresh my memory.’
‘With pleasure.’ Logan enveloped her in his arms and brought his mouth down to meet hers. This time the sensations were full of reciprocated pleasure and familiarity, which instantly set him ablaze.
Her fingers came up, threading through his hair, lightly massaging his scalp, and Logan groaned. She was becoming far too important, far too addictive. His peace of mind was being threatened…and he loved it!
Never had a woman been so direct with him, so giving and inviting. The way their lips met, the way they instinctively knew what the other needed, the way they seemed so in tune with each other. He was going under—way under—and it wasn’t as frightening as he’d once thought it might be.
She broke away, gasping for air, but continued her assault on his senses. Light, nibbling kisses were spread along his jaw, around his neck and up to his ear. He shuddered as her teeth nipped lightly at his earlobe, stirring every primal instinct in him to life.
The kettle, the coffee, the kids—everything was forgotten. There was only the two of them, in their own universe, and nothing else mattered. Unable to take her nibbling torture any longer, he shifted his head so their lips could meet once more—both of them impatient for the way they made each other feel.
Finally, they broke apart, their breathing intense as they held each other tight.
‘Hmm.’ Charli leaned her head against his chest. ‘That’s what I remember.’
‘Does that mean you’re cured?’
‘Oh, no.’ She pulled back to look at him. ‘Far from it.’
A small smile spread across Logan’s face. ‘Glad to hear it.’ He heard footsteps coming down the corridor and reluctantly let her go. Moments later Trinity came into the room.
‘When are we leaving, Dad? Can I watch the Nutcracker?’
‘The Nutcracker?’ Charli looked at Trinity. �
�Do you like that ballet?’
‘Yes. I have it on video. Well, it’s a cartoon one, not with real people. Do you like it, too?’
Charli smiled. ‘It’s my favourite.’
‘Clara is the best,’ Trinity said, climbing onto a stool. ‘She is so brave but she’s scared at the beginning but then she believes in herself and then she is the sugar plum princess who can do anything.’
Charli gasped, the smile slipping from her face as Trinity talked.
‘What’s wrong, Charli?’
‘Nothing,’ Logan answered for her. ‘Sorry, Trin. You don’t have time to watch TV now. We’ll be going soon but perhaps you and Charli can watch it tomorrow.’
‘Can we, Charli?’
Charli looked at the bright eyes of the child before her. ‘I’d love to. Tchaikovsky is my favourite composer.’
‘Who?’
‘He’s the man who wrote the music for the ballet,’ Logan explained. ‘Go and get ready and tell Owen to close down the computer.’
Trinity gave a whoop of delight and raced off, calling to her brother as she went.
‘Believe in yourself. Well, at least that’s one mystery solved.’
‘One down, a few thousand to go.’ She chuckled and smiled at him.
‘I’m sorry we don’t have time for that cup of coffee.’
‘That’s all right. I didn’t mind its replacement.’ She smiled at him, wanting nothing more than for him to repeat the kisses they’d shared before Trinity had interrupted them.
‘Don’t look at me like that,’ he warned. ‘We have to get going.’ Logan stood, his gaze still flicking between her eyes and her lips.
Charli laughed, amazed at the surge of empowerment that coursed through her veins. What was it about this man which made her feel so free? She felt giddy with excitement but she wasn’t quite sure what she was excited about.
‘Go!’ She laughed at him. ‘Or we’ll never get out of here.’
‘OK.’ He smiled and headed out of the kitchen, calling to his children as he went. Charli hugged herself, feeling a happiness she knew to be pure. Logan liked to kiss her! She liked to kiss him! Surely this was good—wasn’t it?
Logical thoughts began to intrude on her euphoria and she instantly pushed them away. She didn’t want to be sensible, she didn’t want to be in control. She wanted to be reckless, to live in the moment, to listen to her heart and do the things she wanted to do. She wanted to believe in herself!
The necklace from Chuck—whoever he was—was in a drawer by the bed. She hadn’t felt right wearing it, especially when all she’d wanted to do was to kiss Logan. Her smile increased again and she sighed, recalling how wonderful it felt to have his lips pressed firmly against hers. She knew she had a life back in America and she knew she might be setting not only herself but Logan up for future hurt, but she was following her instincts and believing in herself.
What about Logan? The question popped into her head and she opened her eyes, the euphoric feeling disappearing. Was she important to him? Was she just another person on his long list of people to help? She knew he couldn’t help but give, it was who he was, but what happened when she no longer needed him any more? What would happen when she finally recovered her memory, which, as she was remembering more and more, was almost a certainty. Would Logan need her then? Would he move on to someone else who needed him more? Was he attracted to her because of her vulnerability?
Questions. Too many questions. Charli sat down at the table and rested her head in her hands, closing her eyes tightly.
A flash appeared and she once more saw the Monet painting. This time she was able to recognise the room. It was in an office, her office. No. She couldn’t see a desk. She saw a lab bench and testing equipment and realised it was a research lab.
‘Charli?’
She opened her eyes to find Owen standing beside her.
‘Come on! It’s time to go. Dad says to get a coat because it will turn cold later, and he said that before we go to dinner we get to go to the flower show that’s there. It’s going to be boring and I’d rather go to the park but Dad says you haven’t seen the flowers so we should go and look at the flowers, but come on, Charli.’ Owen had taken her hand in his during his speech and was all but tugging her out of the room. ‘Get a coat. Dad’s ready to get in the car.’
‘OK.’ She smiled down at him. ‘Come and help me find a coat.’
‘Just put any one on. Come on,’ he said impatiently.
‘Don’t listen to him,’ Trinity said. ‘I’ll help you choose a coat.’ Trinity took custody of the hand Owen had been tugging on. ‘Owen, leave her alone and go and get in the car. Come on, Charli.’
Charli found herself tugged along by Logan’s other child, into the room she was staying in. Trinity threw open the cupboard and looked at its contents. ‘Nope.’ She headed over to one of the boxes and opened the lid. She looked through. ‘Not that one.’ She pointed to the box below. ‘Can you get this one for me, please?’
‘Sure.’ Charli was too flabbergasted at the request to do anything other than obey. She moved the top box off and Trinity opened the one below. ‘This is it.’ She pulled out a few clothes and then held up a warm coat. ‘I have a photo of my mum wearing this coat and I think it’s pretty. I’m keeping it for when I can wear it, but you can wear it tonight if you like.’
Charli was touched and met the girl’s gaze. ‘Thank you. I’d love to wear it.’
‘There’s also a nice skirt hanging up here and that light blue top goes really nicely with it.’
Charli looked at Trinity in surprise. ‘Do you like clothes?’
‘Yes, and shoes. My grandma does, too, and sometimes we go shopping together and that’s so much fun. Grandma says that Dad just doesn’t understand the shopping thing.’ Trinity pointed to the skirt and top, eager for Charli to remove them from the hanging rail. ‘Sometimes I come in here and look at the clothes and sometimes I try them on, although I can only do that when Grandma’s here. I had this skirt and this top on the other week so Grandma’s washed and ironed them because I spilt my drink on them and got upset, but Grandma wasn’t even cross!’
Charli had taken the clothes down and removed them from the hangers.
‘Go on,’ Trinity urged. ‘They look really good with the coat, too.’
Making sure the door was closed, Charli slipped out of her clothes and pulled the skirt and top on. The skirt came to just above her knee, revealing her legs, and was made of a soft, feminine fabric. The fact that the skirt felt foreign against her skin made her wonder if she’d ever had time for frivolous shopping in the past or whether the business suit she’d been pictured in at Logan’s medical conference was all she ever wore.
‘It’s a twirly skirt,’ Trinity said, sighing in envy. Charli laughed and obliged with a twirl. She looked at herself in the mirror and realised the blue top brought out the colour of her eyes. Pulling the band from her hair, she shook her head, the blonde strands falling around her face and shoulders.
‘You’re so beautiful, Charli. I want to be beautiful like you when I grow up.’
Charli smiled at her. ‘You’re beautiful now.’ She did another twirl. ‘Think this will do?’
‘Yes. Now put the coat on. Oh…shoes.’ Trinity ducked into the cupboard again and pulled out a pair of strappy sandals. ‘These are my favourite.’
‘Then I’ll wear them,’ Charli instantly responded, and slipped her feet into the two-inch heels.
‘Make-up. You need make-up.’ Another search revealed make-up and after Charli had applied some mascara and lipstick to herself, she put some on Trinity as well.
‘Grandma doesn’t let me wear make-up. She says I’m too young.’
‘Well, tonight’s a special occasion. Besides, I’m sure your dad won’t mind.’ Charli ran her fingers through the girl’s long brown curls. ‘Your hair is so gorgeous. Mine hardly ever curls.’
‘I like yours.’ Trinity giggled. ‘We can both wear our hair down a
nd be the same tonight, but first I need to put on a skirt, too.’ She raced out of the room and came back quickly with two different skirts. ‘Which one do you think?’
Charli smiled brightly at the way they were doing the full-on ‘girly’ thing. ‘The red one.’
Trinity held it against herself and then nodded in agreement. ‘Yes. You’re right. I have shoes that go perfectly with it.’ She slipped out of her pants and pulled the skirt on. ‘I’ll just get my shoes—Oh, and what about jewellery?’
‘Trin?’ Logan’s voice sounded through the house. ‘What are you girls doing?’
Charli giggled. ‘I think the jewellery will have to wait for another time. The boys seem impatient to go.’
‘Yeah, they always are. I’ll get my shoes.’ She raced off again and Charli stood, smoothing her hand down the foreign clothes. She looked at her reflection again, amazed at how happy she looked.
‘Wow!’ Logan stood in the open doorway and literally gaped. Charli turned and smiled when she saw him. She did a little twirl, showing off her new outfit.
‘You look…’ He swallowed, unable to finish his sentence. He didn’t need to as she read the answer in his darkening gaze.
She cleared her throat. ‘Trinity’s letting me borrow them for tonight.’ His daughter came back into the room, her shoes on her feet, and crossed to Charli’s side.
‘What do you think, Dad? Don’t we look beautiful?’
‘Uh…’ Logan swallowed again, looking from one to the other. Trinity had her arms around Charli’s waist, smiling brightly. ‘Yes.’ He nodded. ‘You both look…breathtaking.’
Trinity beamed at her father. He knew his children were coming to enjoy having Charli around as much as he was, and he sincerely hoped he wasn’t setting them all up for a huge fall when she left…as he knew she must. The need to keep Charli with him strengthened once more.
Get a grip, Logan. Your daughter is in the room, your son is the car waiting for you, and all you can think about is kissing Charli senseless. He closed his eyes for a moment and then looked at his daughter again. ‘Are you wearing makeup?’
