by Claire Adams
“Is everything okay?” Logan asked. “You kind of spaced out there, and you don’t look so good.”
My face heated. A good fifteen minutes had passed, but I’d barely been paying attention to anything Logan had even been saying. Something about his dogs and an old business partner, maybe?
I shook my head fiercely. “Nothing, just thinking about everything that has happened.” I put on a fake smile. “I guess I let my mind wander. I’m really sorry.” I let out a strained chuckle. “What were we talking about again?”
“I was just wondering if you were having any trouble with work because of having to take the surprise time off. I don’t know if there’s anything I can do, but if there is, let me know.”
I waved a hand. “No, I’m fine. My boss is very understanding, and I had plenty of days saved up.” A shrug followed. I glanced up at the clock. “We better get going.”
Logan frowned. “Really? But it’s still pretty early.”
I stood abruptly, my heart pounding. “She’s not recovered all the way, and it’s still important she gets her rest.” I hurried into the living room, not waiting for him to respond. “Juniper,” I called. “We need to get going.”
Juniper stopped chasing one of the dogs around to pout at me. “But I don’t wanna go.”
“Juniper Blue, when I say we need to get going, it’s time to get going.” I regretted my sharp tone. It wasn’t her fault her daddy was a bastard.
She sighed and nodded, though she kept her bottom lip out.
“You’re welcome to come another night,” Logan said from behind me. “Or on the weekend.”
“Yay,” Juniper said.
I grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the door. Logan trailed after us, a confused look on his face. I could only glance at him for a second before looking forward. I could feel the tears trying to well up in my eyes, no matter how much I tried to resist them.
We walked to my car, and I helped Juniper get into her car seat. I moved back, and Logan moved in to give Juniper a hug. He then turned and gave me a hug. I quickly pulled away.
“I’m going to go talk to Logan for a second, sweet pea,” I said. “You just wait here.”
“Okay, Mama.”
I closed the door and walked to his porch. Logan followed along, a confused look on his face.
“Emily, is something wrong?” Logan said.
I took a deep breath and then turned to face him. “This is it.”
“What’s it? I don’t understand.”
“I can’t do this anymore.”
Logan furrowed his brow. “You’re not making any sense.”
“I don’t want to see you anymore, and you can’t see my daughter.”
He stared at me, disbelief on his face. “What?”
I locked eyes with him. “You heard what I said. We’re done.” I let out a nervous laugh. “Not that we were ever together, but we’re done as anything. Not just as friends with benefits but as friends. I don’t ever want to see you again.”
He shook his head. “I don’t understand where all this is coming from. Why are you saying this, Emily?”
Tears welled up in my eyes. “I have my reasons.” I cleared my throat. “And I don’t need to explain them to you. I’m only sorry it had to work out this way.” The tears leaked down my cheeks. “I never meant to hurt you.”
I spun on my heel and strode off, wiping my tears on my sleeve.
“Emily,” Logan yelled.
I spared a glance over my shoulder. His face was red, and his expression hurt, but I didn’t say anything more.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, I sniffled and wiped more tears from my eyes.
“What’s wrong, Mama?” Juniper said.
“I stubbed my toe,” I lied.
“Sorry, Mama.”
Chancing one look at Logan, I could see he hadn’t moved. He just stared at the car, his body still. I pulled away before he recovered, and I lost my nerve.
* * *
After tucking in Juniper in that night and taking a shower, I sat on my bed with my phone in hand. I pulled up some of the pictures I’d taken in Tokyo.
I had tons of selfies of me in Odaiba, but it seemed like I had even more of Logan and me at karaoke.
My tears ran freely now. They dripped from my face onto the face of my phone.
I’d spent all this time trying to convince myself I couldn’t be with Logan and that it’d be better for Juniper.
Logan had been so caring in the hospital, and he really cared for Juniper. I knew that. He made her happy. He’d be a great man to have around her.
More to the point, he made me happy. Japan showed me the truth. I loved him.
Sobbing, I dropped my phone and lowered my head to my pillow.
Yes. I loved him. Before Juniper got sick, I felt something, but the last week had finally let my heart win over my head.
But it didn’t matter. It was too late. I couldn’t risk losing Juniper to Lionel. He’d ruined my chance at happiness like he’d ruined our marriage.
“I’m sorry, Logan,” I whispered into my pillow. “I’m so sorry.”
Chapter Thirty-two
LOGAN
Wednesday afternoon, I was sitting at my office computer reviewing a very long report on cryptocurrency growth potential and possible investment opportunities. I didn’t trust the asset class, but part of staying ahead in finance and investment was exploring all the opportunities. I’d made as much money as I had by taking calculated chances.
The problem was that trying to do a detailed analysis on a potential investment was hard when my mind kept drifting away from blockchains and initial coin offerings to a certain brown-haired, hazel-eyed beauty.
I groaned and rubbed my eyes. I needed to stop thinking about Emily, at least at work. It’s not like it was doing me any good to obsess over how she pushed me away. She’d made herself very clear the other night.
That didn’t stop me from feeling uneasy about the whole thing. Something didn’t sit right. I wasn’t exactly an impartial and unbiased observer though.
It had taken me two days to go from hurt to angry, not so much at Emily but at the entire situation. I wasn’t used to feeling so powerless and out of control, not a comfortable feeling even when you’re not talking about a woman you love.
Yes. I loved her. I knew and accepted that. Even her pushing me away hadn’t changed that. I wanted to understand what the hell had even happened.
I kept replaying Emily driving away in my mind. Rejection was one thing. A clean break after trouble, I could handle, but none of this made any sense.
It’d be one thing if she told me to stay away right after we got back from Tokyo. It would have been a natural point to push me away, especially after what we’d shared, a way to make it clear she didn’t want more.
She’d told me our relationship would stay in Tokyo, but she didn’t mind me spending time around her and Juniper. For all my offers of help, I’d not done much but bring some treats and movies. It’s not like it would have hurt her daughter’s recovery to send me on my way. She had nothing to lose.
Instead, Emily made it seem like the time in the hospital had changed everything between us. Or so I thought and not only because she kissed me. I believed she was opening up to me, that she accepted we could have more than a friendship. If she’d felt differently, why wouldn’t she have said something at her house?
I leaned back in my chair and let out a long sigh. What was I missing? Something was there, poking at the edge of my mind.
Her behavior didn’t follow from what had happened earlier. Something had changed. Something other than just Emily thinking over a couple of days. That was the only logical explanation.
The look on her face when she told me ate at my heart. She didn’t look like someone angry or disappointed, but distraught, as if she were doing something she didn’t want to do. Like someone was forcing her to say those things to me.
But who? Certainly not Sally Jolie.
I needed to figure out what was going on and who was behind it.
* * *
“Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?” I said over my phone a couple hours later. I only barely kept from yelling at my mother.
For all that I’d worried and complained about my mother being involved in my personal life, I wasn’t about to pass up the chance to glean some useful information. I hoped she’d heard something, so I had called her up.
“I didn’t know until an hour ago myself, Logan,” my mother said, sounding exasperated. She sighed. “I hadn’t had a chance to talk to Sally, and even she just found out herself. I was shocked; I can tell you that.”
“But why would Emily listen to Lionel? She hates the guy, but she’s going to listen to him when he tells her to stay away from me? That doesn’t make any sense. That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“I don’t know why she’s doing what Lionel wants. Sally doesn’t even know, other than to note that Lionel always did have a way of manipulating her. Emily only told her that Lionel made it clear it’d be a good idea, and Emily agreed, and that’s why she pushed you away. She feels bad about it, but she says done is done.”
“And that’s all her own mother could get out of her?” I gritted my teeth. At least I knew that bastard Lionel was involved, but something terrible must be going on if Emily wasn’t even willing to tell her mother the entire truth.
The guy had made her marriage miserable, and now he was making her life after their marriage miserable. If I knew how, I could use my resources to stop it. Lionel might be many things, but in the end, I had a lot more money than he did. And money was power.
“Emily made it clear to Sally to leave it alone,” my mother said. “Something’s got that poor girl spooked, and she’s not saying. Maybe…” She sighed. “I don’t know what I should do.”
“You don’t need to do anything. I do. But first I have to understand what I’m up against.” I turned in my chair and glared at the city as if it was somehow Nashville’s fault that Lionel was messing with Emily. “Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll find out why, and then I’ll take care of it. You have my word, so help me God.”
* * *
It’d been a good two months since I’d last visited the country club. Not like I didn’t like the place—the prime rib alone was a reason to visit—I’d been busy, first with business matters and then with romantic matters as it were.
I sipped on a nice Merlot as I looked around, loving the earthy flavor. The club was a great place to make and strengthen business contacts. Earlier in my career, I’d spent almost every day there, but I’d long advanced beyond needing to mix too much with the local business scene. Not arrogance but simple truth.
The good thing was that the social circles for a person in my position, or even Emily’s position, was pretty small. Even though it could get very stifling, and that fueled my desire to spend less time at the club, it’d now serve as a useful tool in my investigation.
I picked up my fork and knife to cut off a piece of my prime rib. I’d just chewed and swallowed when a familiar face showed up: an old acquaintance, Charles Worthington. Perfect. The guy gossiped more than a 1950s housewife.
He arched an eyebrow and stared at me like I was a ghost. “Well, well. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you at the club, Logan Hawkins.”
I nodded toward the seat across from me. “Join me. Have some of the Merlot. Great vintage.”
Charles slid into the chair, grabbed the bottle, and poured himself a glass. He downed half of it before offering me a smile. “I heard about that deal your company signed in Japan. You son of a bitch, how do you keep doing it?”
I shrugged. “Dogged persistence. I just don’t let myself be satisfied. The fire keeps me going.”
He laughed. “I’m not satisfied, yet somehow I still didn’t end up a billionaire, and I got started a few years earlier than you.” He wistfully ran a hand over his bald head. He shook his head, and then his face darkened.
I pulled my attention from my food to lock my gaze on my conversation partner. “Problem, Charles?”
“Just thinking about how you’ve ridden out both the dot-com bubble and the 2008 crash.” He whistled. “And you managed to not only survive but to prosper. You’re like a damn wizard when it comes to making money. Did you sell your soul or something?”
“I still work the nice guy, not the guy downstairs. Besides, you know what they say. Luck is where opportunity meets preparation.” I offered him a faint grin. “And I really liked to be prepared.”
A waiter stopped by. “Mr. Worthington,” he said to Charles, “what would you like?”
“I’m fine for now,” he said. “I was just chatting with my old friend Logan here.”
“Very good, sir.” The waiter turned to me. “Did you need anything else, Mr. Hawkins?”
I shook my head. “No, thank you.”
The waiter offered a polite nod before heading to another nearby table.
“Are you getting at something with all this talk of my past successes, Charles?” I said.
The impish look on the other’s man face suggested he was dying to tell me something, so I decided I’d give him the hook he needed.
“A lot of guys who’ve made as much money as you haven’t been as clean as you. Not just with you avoiding some bad investments but with you not getting within a mile of shady stuff.”
My brow furrowed. “This is America. Plenty of opportunities for honest men to make a lot of money. If you have to do something illegal to make money, it means you’re not very smart.”
“Yes, you’d think, but not everyone I guess is as lucky or prepared as you.” Charles chuckled darkly.
“Oh? You have someone particular in mind?”
“I’ve heard here and there that you’re seeing Sally Jolie’s daughter, Emily.”
My face twitched. “We’re just friends.” That was true and neutral enough.
“Uh-huh. What I don’t get about that woman is how she still lets her ex push her around. Everyone knows Lionel cheated on her, but when they divorced, it’s like she pretended it didn’t even happen, at least to the judge.”
I picked up my wine and took a sip to hide my frown. “What’s this have to do with anything?”
“Just saying Lionel can’t ever seem to change his ways.” Charles glanced around before leaning in. His voice dropped to a near whisper. “They say he knocked up that little twenty-one-year-old he’s been parading around town.” He clucked his tongue. “Idiot. It’s one thing to have a little fun, but now he’s in for it. Can’t respect an idiot.”
“Really, now?” I did my best to keep my expression and my tone neutral.
“Oh, it gets even better,” Charles said with a grin. “I’ve also heard the SEC is investigating him for massive insider trading and financial fraud.”
“Tough break.” I couldn’t help but grin.
Maybe, just maybe, if it had been anyone else, I might have felt a little sorry for the man. But even barely then. Getting a woman pregnant and crimes were self-inflicted wounds, and even the mere thought of seeing Lionel’s smug face made my face twitch.
“Just thought you might be interested in those tidbits.” Charles finished his wine and stood. “Even if you’re just…friends with his ex-wife.” He glanced at this watch. “I have an appointment, so I must get going. We should have dinner some time. It’d been too long.”
I nodded. “We should. Good night, Charles.”
“Good night, Logan.” He headed away from the restaurant to the back rooms.
So, Lionel had knocked a girl up and had the government breathing down his neck. All in all, it seemed like he was having an awful week. The question remained what any of this had to do with forcing Emily to stop seeing me.
I shook my head. There was still something I was missing, some piece of the puzzle.
I pu
lled out my phone and dialed my mother.
“Good evening, Logan,” she answered.
“Mother, I need you to set up a meeting.”
“A meeting?”
“Yes, between you, me, and Sally Jolie.”
I could almost hear her grin over the phone. “I presume this is about Emily?”
“I’ve come across some new information.” I sighed. I was about to inflate my mother’s ego to a dangerous level. “You two mothers wanted us together, and I want to be with her, but she says she doesn’t, so now I need your help understanding what I’ve learned.”
“I’d be delighted to help, and I’m sure Sally will. But what do we need to meet about?”
I stared down at my half-eaten prime rib. “Figuring out what Lionel Blue is up to.”
Chapter Thirty-three
EMILY
Nothing like having your ex-husband harass you over speakerphone when you’re on the way to pick up your daughter from school. It’s not like he couldn’t have waited an hour until I was sitting comfortably on my couch. Maybe he was hoping I’d crash.
“I don’t understand you,” Lionel said over the speakerphone. “I just don’t understand how you don’t think us getting back together wouldn’t be better for Juniper.”
I scoffed extra loud, wanting Lionel to hear it over the phone. “Are you kidding me? You went to Mexico with your little girlfriend last week, and now you’re talking about getting together again? You complained about me doing some things with Logan Hawkins, but he’s the first man I’ve spent any time with since our divorce. That girl wasn’t the first woman you’ve been with since our divorce. Or even the second or the third.”
Lionel fell silent for a few seconds before finally responding. “I told you already the trip made me realize a lot of things. Same thing with your trip to Japan and Juniper being in the hospital. We should be together. For our daughter’s sake. Remember that when you’re too busy being self-righteous.”