AT LONG LAST (The Playas Series - Book 4)

by Brenda Jackson

  “Why? You have something to do here?”

  She shook her head. “Not really, but--”

  “Then you should consider joining me. I’ve never sky-hopped before. It will be fun.”

  “I’m sure it will. But what I was going to say is that I don’t know what kind of company I will be.”

  “You’ll be fine. Besides, if you stay here, I bet Asia is going to show up at some point. And that means Lance and the baby as well. Then I can see your Mom flying in to see you, too. In the meantime, I bet your phone will start blowing up, regardless of what you’ve told them about needing time to yourself. Do yourself a favor and escape from it all. Come with me.”

  Claire was so tempted to run away for a while but wasn’t sure she could just fly away like that with Logan. Instead of wasting his time with her, he should be inviting a woman he could be getting serious about. He was a very handsome man and she’d seen the way single women reacted to him.

  Most recently, she couldn’t help noticing the attention he’d attracted at his brother Lyle’s wedding. It had been a grand affair and Lyle and Monique had looked beautiful. Claire had watched as a number of the bride’s friends had checked out Logan. A few had even openly flirted with him, but he hadn’t returned their interest.

  At some point during the wedding reception, she’d asked Asia why Logan wasn’t seriously involved with anyone. Her sister’s answer had made sense, and it was what Claire had pretty much figured. For most of his life, Logan had taken his big brother role seriously…and he still was. However, now that Carrie, Lance and Lyle had found love, Asia thought they’d soon see Logan start dating. Evidently, he hadn’t found any of the women at the wedding interesting enough.

  That conversation with Asia had taken place nearly six months ago. Logan still had to be playing his “big brother” mode; otherwise, he wouldn’t be here. Umm, maybe she needed to consider the possibility that she could help Logan a lot more than he could her. What she was going through would take time. However, his problem would only require him to meet the right woman. And she had a number of girlfriends in DC who would jump at the chance to meet a man of his caliber. Logan was good looking, a doctor with a well-established medical practice, intelligent, and kind. Although she’d never visited his place in Tampa, she’d heard from Asia that Logan had a gorgeous home on the bay.

  But who would be right for him? The first woman who came to mind was Mindy Highgrove. Mindy also worked for the State Department but as a foreign diplomat. Like Claire, Mindy lived abroad most of the time and never stayed in the same country more than two years. Last time Claire had spoken to Mindy, though, she had broken up with a guy she’d dated for a while because he was thoroughly against marriage. At thirty-three, Mindy was ready to settle down and start a family.

  “How do you feel about long-distance relationships, Logan?”

  Was she imagining it, or was he staring at her oddly before asking, “Why do you want to know?”

  “Just curious.”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “I’m not sure how I would feel since I’ve never given something like that much thought. I guess if I were to meet the right woman and she didn’t live in Tampa, I’d have to give it some serious consideration. But then, there’s something she would need to think about as well.”

  “What’s that?”

  “That I intend to marry one day, and I’d want any woman I’m involved with to have marriage on her mind as well. In other words, we wouldn’t be involved in a long-distance relationship just for fun. The relationship would have to be moving toward something. For me, it would be the altar.”

  She nodded. She could think of a lot of women who would want to become involved with someone who thought that way. Most guys she knew were commitment-phobes.

  An idea popped into Claire’s head and she smiled. Mindy was back in the States. She’d been one of the first people to call Claire to make sure she was safe after hearing about the bombing. Claire had promised to give her friend a call so the two of them could hook up once she returned to DC. There was no doubt in her mind that Mindy would appreciate a man like Logan.

  “Are you sure you’re just asking out of curiosity?”

  She gave him an innocent smile. “Yes. What other reason would I have?” Obviously, he was suspicious of her motives, so maybe this wasn’t a good time to tell him of her plans to set him up on a blind-date with Mindy. Of course, she would need to talk to her friend first, to see if she was even interested. Still, Mindy had mentioned, more than once, that she was looking for Mr. Right. Claire couldn’t think of anyone more right than Logan Montgomery.

  “So, Claire, what do you say? Want to go explore the country with me?”

  Chances were, he wouldn’t want her company after he met Mindy. Her friend was gorgeous but unfortunately, she attracted men who weren’t interested in anything long-term. Logan would be different.

  “Can I think about it?” she asked, stalling for time.

  “Sure. I plan to stay in this area for a few days, before deciding where to go next.” He checked his watch. “I’m starving. Have you eaten yet?”

  “No, I haven’t.”

  “Aren’t you hungry?”

  Yes, she was. “Yes. I was about to warm up a can of soup when you rang the doorbell.”

  “Forget about the soup. Let’s go out and grab something to eat. I noticed a number of nice places to eat in the area.”

  The thought of going to a restaurant caused jitters to flow through her. She was back in the United States, she understood that. However, all she could think about was that her four friends had lost their lives while out enjoying a meal.

  “Logan?”

  “Yes?”

  “Would it bother you if we did take-out instead? I’m not ready to go to a restaurant yet. I’m sure the anxiety I feel about it will pass, but I’m just not comfortable with the idea yet.”

  He nodded, then reached out and took her hand in his. “I understand, Claire.”

  She released a deep sigh. A part of her truly believed that he did.

  3

  Logan glanced across the kitchen table at Claire. He had left for a short time to go pick up dinner from a Thai restaurant a few blocks away. It hadn’t taken him long since he’d rented a car at the airport that morning. She wasn’t saying much, but was digging into the meal with gusto, which meant she had been hungry.

  He couldn’t dismiss the conversation they’d had earlier about long-distance relationships. Could he have read her wrong all this time? Was she as interested in him as he was in her? Okay, probably not as interested, since he knew for a fact that he was in love with her. He doubted very seriously that she harbored such feelings for him. Should he take her question as hope? Whether he should or not, he knew that he would. Why else would she have asked?

  Deciding it had become too quiet, he said, “I didn’t tell you how much I like your place. How long have you had it?”

  “Umm, close to eight years now. It was one of the first things I bought when I began working for the State Department. Although I knew I’d be living abroad most of the time, I figured it would be a good investment, especially with a Dupont Circle address.”

  “I like this area,” he said.

  She took a sip of her drink and then added, “Me, too. When I first got it, I tried leasing out while I traveled. At the time, it made sense and it helped pay for itself.”

  “You don’t lease it out anymore?” he asked, finishing off the rest of his meal.

  “No. I stopped around four years ago for a couple of reasons. First, I discovered that nobody takes care of your stuff like you do, and I got tired of replacing items. My last tenants got into a brawl and ruined a lot of my things--mainly souvenirs I’d collected over the years, stuff that couldn’t be replaced.”

  She took a sip of her iced tea and then continued. “Second, whenever I come home, it’s almost never for less than thirty days. I always wanted to stay in my own place instead of a hotel, but could n
ever coordinate with a tenant to be gone whenever I arrived. So, I decided to keep it empty. That way, it’s here, waiting for me, whenever I decide to return home.”

  He nodded. “When you had tenants, where would you stay?”

  “At hotels. Or I would visit Mom in Charleston or Asia in Chicago. But once Mom began dating again, I felt like I was cramping her style. And, of course, Asia had hooked up with David, whom I couldn’t stand.”

  “And how is your mother?”

  Claire wiped her hands on her napkin. “Mom is fine and I’m happy she has Timothy. Otherwise, she would have been camped out on my doorstep waiting for me to arrive home from Algiers, regardless of what I said.”

  “You like the man she married?” He knew her mother had remarried at the end of last year.

  “Yes. Timothy’s a nice guy and he’s making Mom happy. I admit I was worried at first, though.”

  He lifted a brow. “Why?”

  “I’m sure you know our dad died in a work-related accident when I was seven and Asia was five. After we left home for college, Mom decided to go back to school to get a degree in nursing, putting all her time into studying. It was only after she turned fifty that she decided to start dating. Timothy Pringle was the first guy she went out with…and the last. I was concerned that she hadn’t really experienced being with anyone else.”

  He didn’t say anything for a minute, knowing he had to be careful with his words. “Evidently, at some point, she decided she didn’t need to date anyone else, Claire. I guess she saw Timothy and decided he was the one she wanted.”

  “Yes, but how often does something like that happen? That a person finds their true love right away?”

  “I’m not sure. But you have heard of love at first sight, right?” he asked.

  “Of course, although I honestly don’t believe such a thing is possible. I think Mom felt comfortable with him and recognized right off the bat that he was a good guy. Love came later.”

  He wondered what Claire would think if she discovered he’d fallen in love with her the moment he’d seen her. “How did they meet?”

  “His first wife died around twelve years ago. He has two sons, one of whom happens to be a doctor at the hospital where Mom worked as a nurse. He persuaded Timothy to move to Charleston from Buffalo, then made sure the two of them met.”

  “I understand she’s retired now.”

  “Timothy had just retired before he moved to Charleston and Mom retired when they married. Since then, they’ve become cruising addicts,” she said, laughing. “That’s the reason she didn’t make it to Lyle’s wedding. She and Timothy were seeing the glaciers in Alaska.”

  She took a sip of her drink. “What about your father? Do you think he’ll ever remarry?”

  Logan had often wondered that himself, and figured that his dad probably never would. Now that Carrie was expecting, Logan could see his dad devoting all his time to his grandchild; especially since Carrie only lived a few miles away. “I’m not sure. My mother really did a number on him. I can’t see him ever giving marriage another try.”

  “I like your father. He’s such a nice man.”

  Logan had to agree. “You’re right. They don’t make them like Jeremiah Montgomery anymore.”

  They gathered up their trash off the table. “So, what would you like to do tomorrow?” she asked. Obviously, she’d accepted the idea of having him around, at least for a few days.

  He glanced over at her. “Do you honestly think you’ll be up to doing anything? What about jetlag?”

  “As long as I get a good night’s sleep, I’ll be fine. I slept a lot on the plane coming here.”

  “If you’re sure, then I’d like to check out the African-American Museum.”

  She nodded. “You’ll love it. But don’t try to see it all in one day. I would stretch it over three days.”

  “Three days?”

  “Yes.”

  “Will you be available to join me those three days?” There. He had let her know he wanted her with him while he was in DC. Hopefully, by the time he was ready to leave, he’d have talked her into joining him to see those others places, as well.

  “If you’re sure you want my company, then yes, I’ll go with you. I’ve been there before, but I would love to experience it again with you.”

  I would love to experience it again with you. He liked the way that sounded. “I appreciate that. Do we need to book it in advance??”

  “No. And I have a special pass to get in.”

  He leaned against her kitchen counter. So far, so good. He planned on taking things day by day. “That’s great. What time do you want to leave?”

  “Eleven o’clock should work.”

  “I’ll come a little earlier with breakfast.”

  “You don’t have to do that, Logan. You fed me dinner today. Thanks, by the way.”

  “You don’t have to thank me. Feeding you is the least I can do in exchange for you agreeing to spend time with me, so I’m not walking the streets alone. Now I need to be a nice guy and leave so you can get some rest,” he said, moving toward the door.

  She followed to see him out. “You are a nice guy.”

  Logan hoped she still thought that once he started turning up the heat. He opened the door, overwhelmed with the urge to pull her into his arms. Instead, he turned to her. “Get some rest and I’ll see you in the morning.”

  She nodded. “Although Asia talked you into coming to check on me, I’m glad you did. I enjoyed your company today, Logan. You’re a good friend.”

  Friend… He’d change that, and soon. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  And then he left, closing the door behind him.

  Claire paused a moment, not sure why Logan’s departure made her feel such a sense of loss. Drawing in a deep breath, she moved away from the door. The only answer she could come up with was that while he’d been there with her, she had been able to momentarily suppress the tremendous amount of grief she felt. A special memorial service for all the slain government workers would be held at the end of the week and she intended to go.

  At that moment, her phone rang and she figured the caller was either her mother or Asia. But when she picked up her phone off the table, she saw that it was Mindy, returning her call. She’d left a voicemail for her friend when Logan had left to pick up their dinner.

  “Hi, Mindy,” she said, clicking on.

  “Hi, yourself. Have you gotten back to DC yet?

  “Yes, I’m here. I arrived a little after noon.”

  “How are you doing, Claire?”

  “I’m okay, although I’ve been better. I asked Mom and Asia to give me some time to myself and they promised they would. Of course, Asia sent someone.”

  “Who?”

  “Asia’s brother-in-law. His name is Logan. He’s the reason I called you earlier. I was wondering if you’d be interested in going out with him.”

  She heard Mindy chuckle. “Why are you so interested in setting us up?”

  “Because he’s everything a girl could possibly want. He’s forty, but doesn’t look it. And he’s handsome—very handsome. Besides, he has a good heart and isn’t afraid of marriage.”

  “Sounds good, so far. What does he do for a living and where does he live?” Mindy asked, obviously intrigued.

  “He’s a doctor, a plastic surgeon, with a thriving business in Tampa. And he doesn’t have a problem with long-distance relationships.”

  “He sounds too good to be true. And you want to introduce him to me?”

  “Yes. I think the two of you would get along great.”

  “I can’t see why we wouldn’t. But before I agree too quickly, I have a question for you.”

  “What?”

  “If he’s such a great catch, why aren’t you keeping him for yourself?”

  “You’re kidding, right?”

  “No, not kidding. So, what gives?”

  Claire thought about Mindy’s question for a moment. “We don’t think of each other
that way.”

  “Romantically, you mean?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why not?”

  “I told you. He’s Lance’s brother.”

  “So, what is that supposed to mean? There’s no law against sisters marrying brothers—as long as they don’t start off in the same family,” she added with a laugh.

  “I know but he’s more like my guy-pal. I don’t think of him like that.”

  “Umm, if he’s all those things you said, then maybe you should.” Mindy paused, then admitted, “I’m going to have to decline anyway. I wasn’t going to say anything, just in case it didn’t work out, but I’m seeing someone. He’s a guy I met last month in Sydney. I really like him, Claire.”

  Claire smiled, hearing the happiness in Mindy’s voice. “I’m happy for you.”

  “Thanks.” Another pause. “And you’re sure you’re okay?”

  “Yes, I’m sure.”

  “Hmm, I don’t know. You have a nice guy within reach and you’re trying to pass him off to someone else? Sounds like you need to have your head examined.”

  “I told you, Logan and I don’t have that kind of relationship.”

  “Then maybe you need to ask yourself why. And don’t hand me any crap about him being Lance’s brother. I’ve met Lance. If you recall, I was over to your place one day when he and Asia came to town. He’s drool-worthy eye-candy, so I can just imagine how his brother looks. Sounds to me like you need to slow down and smell the roses that are growing right in your own backyard.”

  Claire frowned. “I don’t need a lecture, Mindy.”

  “You got one anyway. Love you.”

  “Love you, too. Call me later in the week. I want to hear all the blow-by-blow details of how you met your guy.”

  “I will, and Claire?”

  “Yes?”

  “Think about what I said. If nothing else, that explosion in Algiers should serve as a reminder that tomorrow isn’t promised. All we have is today.”

  A sad smile touched Claire’s lips. “Goodbye, Mindy.”