Finally, a Family--A Clean Romance

by Callie Endicott

  She gulped down a knot in her throat. “We worked together for so long. Right here. I have countless memories in this place.”

  “I know.” Jessica gave her a hug. “I think of Granddad all the time when I’m here. But remember, the building doesn’t belong to us. As it is, your name will need to stay on the lease because I’ve been told it isn’t transferable. We can work out a sublease arrangement.”

  “That’s fine, but Kevin always said we could stay as long as we wanted.”

  Jessica took a deep breath. “That was my first thought, too, except Uncle Kevin doesn’t own the building any longer and the new owners have a right to consider their needs.”

  “What needs?”

  “They want to expand and because we’re next door, this is where Moonlight Ventures needs to go.”

  “I see.”

  Penny glanced around the shop. Despite the changes her granddaughter had made, it was still the place where she’d spent years with Eric. With every step it was as if she was crossing paths with her husband’s spirit. Sometimes she could sense him next to her or hear his voice and laughter.

  How could the Crystal Connection move?

  They’d poured themselves into creating a place that reflected their travels. Most of their stock came directly from friends in South America, Africa, the South Seas and Asia. With the shop they’d helped open up markets and create cottage industries for people they cared about.

  “Nothing has been decided, Grams.”

  Penny tried to slow her racing thoughts. This might be hard for her, but it was also tough on her granddaughter.

  “Please don’t make any promises or commitments until we’ve discussed everything,” she urged. “That is, the Crystal Connection is yours now, but I hope you’ll talk with me first.”

  “I will,” Jessica promised. “But please don’t worry about it. And remember that no matter where the store is, Grandpa’s counter goes with us.”

  Penny let out a choked laugh. “Good. You know, we could probably get his DNA off that thing. Eric cut himself and skinned his knuckles more times than I could count when he was cutting and polishing the wood.”

  “So when you used to say there was blood, sweat and tears in this place, you weren’t kidding, right?”

  “Right. Now I’d better go pick up Cyndi.”

  * * *

  JESSICA’S HEART ACHED as her grandmother left, seeming more lonely and lost than she’d ever seen her. For the first time Penny looked her age.

  As a rule, no one would guess she was seventy-two years old. With few wrinkles and brown hair barely streaked with gray, she could pass for fifty or younger. Granddad had been more than a decade older than her, but he hadn’t looked his age, either.

  Grams’s first thought had been about losing the place where she’d worked with her husband, and it bothered Jessica that she hadn’t considered that before. Was she more consumed by business success than she’d believed?

  Swell. Now she had something else to keep her awake at night.

  * * *

  AT HOME THAT EVENING, Jessica tried to conceal her churning thoughts as she tidied the house. Her side of the duplex was roomier than their apartment back east had been, and it even had a small backyard.

  A healthy dish her daughter actually liked was pasta primavera, probably because of the noodles, so after vacuuming, she cut up chicken and vegetables.

  “Momma, do you think Logan would show me how to take pictures?” Cyndi wanted to know as they ate at the dinner table.

  Jessica’s first instinct was to say no and to tell her daughter not to ask. But it was a selfish reaction and she didn’t want to discourage Cyndi from being excited about new things.

  “I suppose it’s possible,” she answered. “But he might not have time. He’s very busy.”

  “I was hoping he could help me get a hobby badge. Photography can be a hobby, right?” Cyndi had just joined a girl rangers’ troop and was determined to earn every single badge they offered.

  “Uh, yes.”

  Jessica had a sweet vision of siccing the entire group of giggling girl rangers on Logan. It might partially even the score for his having ruined a night’s sleep for her. On the other hand, a few of the older kids had already developed romantic natures and they might get a crush on the handsome photographer. Then she’d have to listen to a steady diet of lovelorn commentary about a man she’d rather forget ever meeting.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  IN THE SMALL restroom off the shop’s stockroom, Jessica studied her reflection in the mirror. Logan would arrive soon for their dinner together and she wanted to look calm, professional and not at all as if she was trying to catch his attention. She just wished her grandmother hadn’t pointed out the obvious...how gorgeous he was. She didn’t need to be reminded.

  Grams believed Logan was a nice man, and he probably was. Of course, Penelope Parrish usually assumed people were nice unless they did something that proved the opposite.

  But no matter how attractive Logan might be, Jessica wasn’t interested in getting involved with anyone, not after making such a huge mistake with Cyndi’s father.

  For her daughter’s sake, she’d gone to counseling to better understand herself and the decisions she had made. It had helped her realize that the way she’d grown up had left her hungry for love and attention. The counselor had chuckled when Jessica threw out the cliché, “looking for love in the wrong places,” but it was what she’d done.

  Despite it all, she had never regretted having Cyndi.

  The old hunger for love still burned inside; only now she understood how it could lead her into making another mistake.

  With a snort of disgust, Jessica ran a quick brush through her hair and clipped it back. Even if she met the right guy, she’d probably mess it up by being too needy. Neediness was death to a healthy relationship.

  The shop’s doorbell buzzed and she went to find Logan waiting.

  “Ready?” he asked when she opened the door.

  “Except for setting the alarm.” She went to the back, punched in the code and locked the shop while he waited.

  “My car is over there,” he said, pointing to the opposite side of the lot.

  “Perhaps I should follow you,” she suggested. “That way I can head home right after we’re finished.”

  A pained look crossed Logan’s face. “One car is best. Parking is limited at the restaurant where I made the reservation.”

  “All right.” Having her own vehicle would make her feel freer, but she had a sneaking suspicion that Logan preferred driving because it gave him the upper hand. But if she wanted to end the conversation or if things got awkward, she’d simply get a taxi.

  Logan’s car confused her. It was a small, two-door sedan, which made it a lousy family vehicle, but it also was a hybrid, so it wasn’t a stereotypical bachelor’s ride.

  “You seem surprised by something,” he commented.

  “I just figured you’d drive something sportier.”

  He shrugged. “I traded my sports car for this one. A hybrid makes more sense in today’s world—better for the environment and less time in line at the gas station, which is appealing. That said, I have an SUV to use when I’m doing photography.”

  Jessica settled into the passenger seat and buckled the seat belt. “Do you miss the sports car?”

  “You bet,” Logan said. “It was great for running around the city.”

  Even without a sleek, sporty vehicle, he maneuvered through traffic with the ease of a race driver and soon pulled into a parking area.

  “I chose a restaurant that does a cross section of foods. Is that all right with you?” he asked.

  “Sure,” Jessica said, despite her doubts. She didn’t care what sort of food the restaurant served, but this place was small and exclusive. While she had little experience with
that kind of establishment, she knew her outfit was far too casual.

  It was yet another reminder, as if she’d needed one, that her world was very different from that of her landlord’s.

  * * *

  LOGAN GLANCED AT JESSICA. “You sound doubtful.”

  “I’m not dressed for this sort of restaurant. That’s all.”

  “You look fine to me.”

  Actually, he hadn’t considered whether casual clothes were unsuitable. The restaurant was quiet and the tables didn’t bump up too close to one another, so he’d figured it would be a good place for a business discussion.

  On the other hand, he sincerely thought Jessica looked nice. Her clothes weren’t sophisticated or the latest fashion, but she wore them with grace. Besides, he wasn’t dressed any fancier, himself.

  The maître d’ showed no hint of disdain about their appearance, conducting them to a table with a view of the water. “Do you wish for anything from the bar while you look at the menus?” he asked.

  “Thanks, not for me,” Jessica said.

  “Just water, please,” Logan added.

  Once they were alone again, she looked up from the menu. “What do you recommend?”

  “Everything I’ve sampled is excellent, especially the seafood. The oyster appetizers are popular.”

  “I’m not much on shellfish. Or any type of seafood, for that matter. I’ll just take the fettuccine Alfredo entrée,” she said, “with the house vinaigrette on my salad.”

  “Please get an appetizer,” Logan urged. “I’d like one and don’t want to eat in front of you. How about the mushroom sampler?”

  Her eyes were hard to read, but she finally nodded. “All right.”

  The server brought elegant goblets with water and lime wedges and Logan gave him their order. When they were alone again he wondered if it was okay to launch immediately into business, yet that was the purpose of the evening.

  “Have you given any thought to moving the Crystal Connection?” he asked finally.

  “It’s been hard to think about anything else,” she replied in a dry tone.

  He suddenly realized the dark smudges under her eyes might be from lack of sleep. Was that his fault? It was an uncomfortable reminder that the business world had rocky aspects. Fashion photography had complications, as well; everything did, but he’d been accustomed to those problems.

  “We truly want to find a good solution. Something that works for both our businesses,” he said cautiously, hoping it didn’t just sound like a platitude.

  “I’m not sure that’s possible. Anyhow, it’s more than just a business to me.”

  “Oh?”

  “For one thing, my grandmother is upset that the store might be moving from where she and Grandpa worked together for so long. And please don’t say it’s just another part of the building and you don’t understand why it should be a big deal for her.”

  Logan’s brow creased. “I wasn’t going to say that.”

  He and his partners hadn’t discussed sentimentality as a potential issue and it hadn’t occurred to him on his own. His parents had moved around the world so often he’d never developed emotional ties to places or objects. It was a good thing, too, since his career had required frequent travel.

  “I know her feelings aren’t your problem and I didn’t even consider it myself until she mentioned it,” Jessica said with a hint of self-recrimination in her voice.

  “That seems to bother you,” he ventured.

  Earlier in the day he’d managed to have a phone conversation with Kevin, who’d been surprisingly cagey about his surrogate granddaughter. So Logan still wasn’t sure how best to respond to Jessica. But it was clear that the decisions she’d be making were as much about family as straight business, and he needed to accept it as part of the situation. If providing a sounding board for her was helpful, then he was prepared to do it, even if his efforts proved clumsy.

  Her shoulders lifted and dropped. “Yes, it bothers me. The only thing my folks are passionate about is financial success. I’ve prided myself on choosing a different path, but in this case, the first thing I thought about was whether the Crystal Connection could survive a move, not about the emotional impact on my grandmother.” Her face abruptly reddened. “Sorry, that isn’t your problem, either.”

  “Hey, I’m new to business,” Logan reminded her. “We can make up our own rules about how to get this done. It’s natural the impact on the shop is a primary concern because you have a child to consider. No one can blame you for that.”

  Her face relaxed. “Maybe.” She looked as if there was more she wanted to say but had decided not to open up any further.

  “What sort of work did you do before taking over the Crystal Connection?” he asked, thinking it might help if he knew more about Jessica.

  “I was a shift supervisor in a department store.”

  “Has your retail experience been helpful at the shop?”

  She smiled wryly. “In a way, but department stores are quite different from a small shop, where one person does everything from choosing stock to sweeping the floor.”

  “I guess I was lucky to be the last to arrive in Seattle,” Logan murmured reflectively.

  “How so?”

  “As you know, there are four of us who bought Moonlight Ventures together. But when the sale was finalized, three of us were still tied up with other commitments. Initially, Nicole was the only one who was free to move here, so she took the lion’s share of work in the beginning. She oversaw all the remodeling at the same time she was juggling the original client list and taking on new ones.”

  “You’ve mentioned the remodeling. How extensive was it?”

  Logan thought about the endless blueprints and design options they’d had to choose from, plus decisions about wiring requirements for the high-tech equipment they wanted. They’d had long debates over the expense of moving plumbing versus changing the floor plans, ultimately agreeing the cost was worthwhile. Then had come the decision to pay the contractors a bonus to have the work completed faster. Nicole had spearheaded the process. In his opinion, she deserved a medal for patience, grit and sheer willpower.

  His laugh held a rueful note. “The place was completely gutted. I got off lucky, aside from writing some very large checks. By the time my last photography contract was satisfied, I was able to enter a smoothly functioning agency. That’s why it was only fair that I take the job of, uh, working out everything with you.” Too late he realized his last comment might sound offensive.

  Jessica’s expression was hard to decipher. “So you drew the short straw?”

  “That isn’t quite what I meant, and I’m not suggesting that working with you is unpleasant,” Logan said hastily.

  “Only that it’s something none of you wanted to do.”

  “Exactly,” he agreed, latching onto her statement as a way out of the dilemma. Then he winced. “On second thought, let me rephrase that.”

  * * *

  FOR THE SECOND time Jessica wished her grandmother hadn’t said anything about Logan’s more pleasing qualities. Right now he looked like a little boy caught with one hand clutching a frog and the other on the teacher’s desk drawer. Chagrin was an appealing expression on him—she’d almost call it endearing, but she wasn’t going there.

  “Feel free to rephrase once again,” she offered. “I’m eager to discover how deep a hole you can dig.”

  Logan’s mouth twitched as if he wanted to laugh. “Uh, it’s simply that being landlords is new territory for us. We don’t want to do anything that upsets you or makes it hard for your business to continue being a success. Who’d want or look forward to that?”

  Pointing out the truth wasn’t a job Jessica wanted, either, but she didn’t have the luxury of staying silent. “Your hole just got deeper. Basically, you’re acknowledging Moonlight Ventures expects t
o do something that will negatively impact the Crystal Connection.”

  He closed his eyes for a brief moment. “Didn’t I mention a chronic problem with sticking my foot in my mouth? Please try to hear the spirit of what I’m saying. We want to find a way where no one will be hurt.”

  She decided to relent, temporarily at least. “Fine, I’ll concede the four of you aren’t bad guys joining together to gleefully destroy my business.”

  “Thanks, I think. So you haven’t assigned an evil persona to me?”

  “I didn’t say you were evil. You might even turn out to be a hero.”

  An ambiguous hero, she added silently, but a hero.

  Logan lifted an eyebrow. “You don’t sound confident.”

  “I barely know you, but I’m trying to be open-minded, even if so far you’ve mostly caused me headaches and two sleepless nights.”

  He looked contrite. “I’m sorry. Once again let me emphasize that we want this to be a win-win scenario. We have a number of things to offer that could make it beneficial for you.”

  Jessica was skeptical because anything too good to be true usually was.

  The appetizers were delivered, offering a breathing space to regroup. The menu hadn’t listed prices, something that filled her cautious mind with apprehension, and she wondered if the plate in front of her cost enough to pay for a trip to the grocery store. It was why she’d originally said no to the appetizer and chosen the fettuccine entrée, hoping it might be one of the less expensive items on the menu.

  Pushing the thought away, she tried a stuffed mushroom. It was delicious, though the rare treat was difficult to enjoy under the circumstances.

  “What are your biggest concerns about moving to another location?” Logan asked after he’d eaten one of his oysters.

  Jessica sat straighter, trying to appear reasonable and professional. “For one, as I’ve already mentioned, drop-in business would suffer and I’m not convinced that advertising or signs would have the same draw with passersby as seeing my display windows. I’ve considered ways to increase the store’s profile through a website and social media, but that takes time and would have little impact on drop-in trade.”