Finally, a Family--A Clean Romance

by Callie Endicott

  Penny fretted until Kevin arrived and she could explain what had happened. “Do you think something is wrong?” she asked. “Her face... I haven’t seen her look that way in years.”

  He’d been holding her hand and gave it a squeeze. “We both know there are a number of possibilities. She may not be ready to discuss it, especially where Cyndi might overhear.”

  “You’re right.”

  “We’re so much alike. Given the chance, we’d rush in and fix everything for everyone, but people mostly need to sort out their own lives.” He heaved a sigh. “Lately I’ve been wondering if I was too overprotective as an agent. It might have been better for my clients if I’d encouraged their independence, the way Logan and the others are doing.”

  He sounded melancholy, so Penny nudged him with her elbow.

  “That’s the problem with hindsight—you can torture yourself over what you could have done better or differently. But your clients loved you and you helped them in the way that worked for you. Besides, Logan and the others wouldn’t have bought Moonlight Ventures if they hadn’t respected you and the work you’d done. It meant they got an agency with a reputation for honesty and integrity.”

  Kevin smiled. “You’re good for me.”

  “And don’t you forget it, either.” She left him in the living room while she got a pitcher of iced tea from the refrigerator. Their discussion at the wedding had relieved the strain she’d felt. Everything was out in the open and they had time to make sure they were both ready to move on and wanted the same thing.

  Kevin settled on the couch with his tea. “I told my daughter about your idea of doing volunteer work. She suggested looking for a grandparent program, where they match you with a kid who needs extra attention. What do you think? I like the idea of doing something that helps children.”

  “That’s the spirit. You wouldn’t have any trouble passing a background check. But you can do more than that. Docents are needed at museums or historical sites, and I already plan to take you to the animal refuge center where I volunteer. They can always use a helping hand. There are lots of ways to make a difference in the world.”

  “Hmm. I may be busier in retirement than when I was a talent agent. Sounds great.”

  His delighted expression made her feel warm all over.

  * * *

  ON FRIDAY LOGAN presented the information he’d assembled to his partners. He didn’t want to make his feelings for Jessica part of the equation, so he laid out the proposal in simple financial terms.

  The discussion went on for over an hour and Logan’s partners looked puzzled when he didn’t want to express his opinion.

  “I’m too close to the situation to be unbiased,” he excused himself. “I’d rather hear what you think.”

  “It’s expensive,” Nicole said finally, “but we’d be getting a huge amount for our money.”

  “I agree.” Adam tapped the chart showing the increased space they’d have at the back of the building. “We can have everything we want there. Besides, we could reduce the initial outlay by simply renovating the space needed for ourselves and two or three new agents, and do the rest when it’s required. Though I have to admit a genuine meeting room would be helpful right away, not to mention a place to do training.”

  Rachel nodded. “The Crystal Connection location would only give us enough space for two more offices and a smallish meeting room. Future expansion would require us to move eventually, or displace more tenants. On top of that, the projected rental income for our current space would eventually pay for the remodeling cost since the units at the back are usually empty.”

  Adam looked around the room. “All right, let’s vote. Who is in favor?”

  All hands went up, Logan’s lagging a second behind the others’.

  “Then we’re in agreement,” Nicole said. “But, Logan, why wouldn’t you tell us what you thought until we voted?”

  “It’s exactly what I said—I’m biased. I can’t be objective and I didn’t want to unduly influence the decision.”

  Adam seemed to choke down a laugh. “Ah, so the mighty have fallen. I knew you’d succumb sooner or later, but I didn’t realize it would be this soon.”

  Logan should have realized they would guess; they’d been friends for too long.

  “What happened to ‘I’m leaving romance to the rest of you?’” Nicole’s eyes danced as she quoted him.

  He held up his hand. “It’s okay if you tease, but please don’t say anything to Jessica.”

  “You haven’t told her how you feel?” Rachel asked.

  “No, I mean yes, but nothing is settled.”

  “Not a word,” Adam promised, and the others nodded. “But we reserve the right to continue giving you a hard time about love and marriage in private.”

  Logan didn’t mind. He’d been outspoken about his intentions to avoid commitments, so his friends were entitled to their fun. The only thing that worried him was convincing Jessica that he was worth the risk. Giving her time to think had been hard, but it was the right thing to do, so while he’d continued going for coffee, he hadn’t pushed for an answer.

  The question was, when should he properly propose? Was it best to tell her first about the decision on the building? He didn’t want relief or gratitude to be part of her choice. And he didn’t want her decision colored by knowing he had power over her future as a landlord.

  In his office he stewed about it before shoving the question aside. Jessica was a mature, intelligent woman. He’d simply have to trust her.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  AFTER CLOSING THE Crystal Connection on Friday, Jessica hurried to her car, not wanting to give Logan another opportunity to seek her out. He had been attentive all week, reminding her in a hundred different ways that he loved her.

  It was confusing. She wasn’t used to being pursued. For that matter, she wasn’t used to romance, either.

  Recovering from her failed marriage had been painful, but it had helped her realize that she was responsible for her own mistakes. She’d decided to do her best to be Cyndi’s mother and forget the happily-ever-after stuff.

  But now Logan was offering her a forever kind of love. He wasn’t the kind of man who to declare something he didn’t feel and she knew if it didn’t work out, the hurt would last forever, as well.

  At least Logan’s declaration had put everything with the Crystal Connection into perspective.

  When she got home, she sat down with Grams for a cup of tea. Cyndi was in the backyard playing, and they watched her through the sliding glass door.

  “I still don’t know what will happen with the store,” Jessica said finally. “I don’t have to move right away, even if they say no, but it’s tricky. I’m not worried about supporting us. Internet sales are starting to pick up, and I can always get a new job. But the Crystal Connection is especially important because of you and Granddad.”

  Penny sipped her tea. “It upset me when I found out what Moonlight Ventures wanted, but even if the shop closes eventually, the memories will remain. Your grandfather believed in focusing on the present and the future, and that’s what we need to do.” Grams stared into her cup as if she was trying to find answers in the contents.

  “I’ve been meaning to tell you something,” Jessica said.

  “What’s that, dear?”

  “It’s just that if you find someone else who makes you happy, I’ll be happy, too.”

  “Is it that obvious?” Penny murmured.

  “No, but I’ve known you and Uncle Kevin all my life.”

  “I’m still exploring how I feel about him and I’m not ready for such a big change. This isn’t the same as with Eric—it’s gentler, and I’m figuring it out, a little at a time.”

  “Of course it isn’t the same. Uncle Kevin is a different person and should be loved in his own right. Besides, didn’t Grandd
ad always say that one good love deserves another?”

  Penny chuckled. “He certainly did. Well, nothing is decided and we’re biding our time.” She looked up. “What about you? I keep getting the feeling you and Logan have become more than just business associates.”

  * * *

  DISMAY HIT PENNY as her granddaughter’s eyes brimmed with tears.

  “I’m sorry, honey, I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  “No, it’s fine.” Jessica’s voice was choked. “He says he loves me and I believe him, but it’s a big step and it affects Cyndi.”

  “Logan is a good man.”

  “No question, but even good men can get tired of routine when they’ve spent their lives avoiding it.”

  Penny didn’t want to push Jessica one way or the other. “Do you love him?” she asked gently.

  “Yes. But we come from completely different worlds.”

  “That makes a relationship a challenge, but no one said marriage was supposed to be easy.”

  Jessica pushed her cup aside. “He hasn’t asked me to marry him. Not exactly.”

  “A man like Logan? He wouldn’t say he loves a woman without intending to make it permanent.”

  “Maybe.”

  Penny reached over and patted her granddaughter’s hand. “You’ll figure it out. Now, why don’t I order a pizza and we spend the evening playing a game with Cyndi?”

  “That’s a good plan. I’d rather think about something else tonight. Anything else.”

  It seemed unlikely to Penny that Jessica’s plan would work. A woman’s brain chewed on love no matter how hard she tried. Perhaps a man’s brain did the same, but she only knew about women.

  She’d have to ask Kevin his opinion.

  * * *

  LOGAN HAD BEEN disappointed to find that Jessica had already closed the shop and left. He’d wanted to tell her that his partners had voted for Moonlight Ventures to move. With that issue out of the way, he could work on the most important one—their relationship.

  After calling her home number several times without getting an answer, he sat back and considered his next move. He’d never gotten Jessica’s cell number and didn’t want to leave a message on the home voice mail and risk Cyndi overhearing it. Email wasn’t the best solution, but he finally sent a message asking Jessica if she was free for dinner the next evening for a private discussion.

  Several hours later he got a reply saying she could do dinner, but if it was more convenient, they could talk on Monday over coffee.

  Logan frowned at his computer screen. She made it sound as if he just wanted to talk business. Granted, he needed to let her know about his partners’ decision, but he’d made his other intentions clear during the past week.

  He walked to the back of the house and looked out on the moonlit scene. It was different viewing nature through a window instead of lying covertly under bushes or on a rocky ledge to get a photo. A movement at the edge of the garden made him peer intently, but despite the full moon, he couldn’t tell what animal it might be.

  He hadn’t asked Jessica if she returned his feelings, though she’d expressed doubts about him being able to handle domesticity and routine. It was a valid concern and he needed to show her how committed he was.

  True, as a photographer his jobs had been varied, but no matter where he was or what he was doing, there had been moments when he’d wondered how often he could keep doing the same thing before getting redundant. But all jobs and lives had routines, and that included marriage and family. He’d just never recognized the upside of domestic life.

  An image filled Logan’s mind—of Jessica at the wedding, looking at Cyndi’s bright, excited face as the little girl showed her mother the pictures she’d taken.

  Nothing negative about that.

  He’d take routine with Jessica any day. There would always be the challenge of getting to know each other better, watching their children develop and grow, and building memories they could share over a lifetime. Those memories would ideally include travel, sometimes just the two of them, sometimes with their children. He could easily see himself teaching Cyndi how to get a panoramic picture of the Grand Canyon.

  Logan typed back a message saying he’d pick her up at 6:00 and they would go to the same restaurant where he’d taken her a few weeks ago. But as soon as he hit Send, he reconsidered the location. That night they’d talked extensively about the Crystal Connection moving. And he had a feeling she really didn’t like the place.

  He needed to come up with a better plan.

  * * *

  THE NEXT EVENING Jessica came to the door wearing a basic black dress. Logan’s experience on fashion shoots told him it was the kind of outfit a woman wore when she wasn’t sure what garb was appropriate.

  “You’re beautiful,” he said. She’d look great in anything, but he was no longer a dispassionate judge.

  Emotion flickered in her eyes, but he wasn’t sure if she was flattered or doubtful. “Thank you.”

  He helped her into the SUV, but when he turned left instead of right on the main road, she frowned. “This isn’t the right direction.”

  “I thought of a better place.” He drove to a quiet spot he’d found that overlooked Regen Valley. The evening sunlight shone across the trees and rooftops and hills beyond; it seemed an appropriate location for a discussion about the future.

  “Alfresco?” Jessica asked, a smile growing on her face.

  “Dining alfresco has its advantages. The service may be a little lacking here, but the privacy and view can’t be beaten.”

  Logan set up the table and chairs he’d brought. It would have been a nice touch to cook for Jessica, but he didn’t want her getting a bout of indigestion.

  Before unpacking the food, he sat forward. “Let’s get business out of the way. My partners and I have carefully gone over everything. It’s unanimous. We love your idea of Moonlight Ventures moving and apologize for the stress we’ve caused you and Penny.”

  He expected to see relief and happiness instead of the concern that crowded Jessica’s eyes. “Are you sure the financial risk is acceptable? I can guess how much the agency means to all of you—a new beginning and proving yourselves in a second career. Not to mention your initial investment. Uncle Kevin is a sweetheart, but he wouldn’t have sold it to you for a pittance.”

  That was Jessica, a woman who cared about people, instead of blithely expecting them to make way for her.

  “It’s fine,” Logan said firmly. “Mostly we wish that we’d thought of doing it from the beginning. But we’ve weighed the options and think this will serve us best in the long run.”

  * * *

  JESSICA WAS GLAD she wouldn’t have to make a decision about the Crystal Connection moving, yet the glint in Logan’s eyes told her that the discussion was only beginning.

  “I wasn’t sure when to tell you about our decision because I know how important the shop is to you and Penny and Cyndi. It’s more than just a business to you. It even seems like more than just a store to many of your customers.”

  She nodded. “I’ve been torn between the needs of three generations. But Grams and I have talked about it and she’s made peace with whatever happens. As for Cyndi and myself? I’ve always supported us, and could find another job if necessary.”

  “Fortunately, you won’t have to do that. I’ve been torn, as well. For that reason, I didn’t tell my partners what I wanted us to do until the final vote.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because while Nicole and Adam and Rachel are my closest friends, you’re the woman I love.”

  Jessica’s heart thudded. Though he’d already told her that he loved her, it was breathtaking to hear him say it again.

  “Anyway,” he continued, looking at her intently, “I didn’t want conflicting emotions to interfere with us talking about the future. Then I deci
ded you’re much better at understanding yourself than I am, and if you need more time or breathing space, you’ll simply say so.”

  There was something dynamic about the way he was opening up to her. It was the way people should relate to each other.

  Could they really make things work?

  “I’m glad you’re being open about it,” she managed to say.

  “We need to discuss things like that.” His eyes were serious and intent. “I may not have your gift of understanding people, but—”

  “You’re better at it than you think,” Jessica broke in. “If you weren’t, then Laurel would never have sought you out.”

  A broad, embarrassed smile suddenly split his face. “Thanks for saying that.”

  “It’s the truth.”

  “Anyhow, I know some of your concerns are whether I’ll get restless with the routine of family life and work. But don’t you ever feel that way?”

  Jessica shifted uncomfortably. Of course she did. She loved her life, but it was human nature to think about paths not taken.

  “Yes,” she admitted. “But mostly I’ve been leery of being too spontaneous, considering my mistakes.”

  “That’s understandable. Who we are today is partly built on what happened in the past. I can’t deny there will be times that I’m restless and want to travel or have some sort of adventure. But that won’t mean I’m unhappy being married. I’ll just want to have those adventures with you and Cyndi, along with any other kids we might add to the family. Isn’t it good for children to have new experiences?”

  The doubt began easing in Jessica. Logan wasn’t just throwing out offhand comments; he’d spent a great deal of time seriously reflecting what it meant to be a family man.

  * * *

  “THEN YOU’RE INTERESTED in having more children?” Jessica asked. The expression on her face was encouraging to Logan. She seemed open, instead of erecting her usual defenses.