After The Rain (One Pass Away #1)

by Mary J. Williams

  For all that, Logan didn’t know how Claire felt. Not really. He wanted to delve into her feelings. However, that would mean putting his on the table. He put his body in her hands every day. He didn’t know if he was ready to put his heart out there. The thought that she might not feel the same was terrifying. Scarier than a three-hundred-pound linebacker. Until he felt on steadier ground with his emotions, he wasn’t going to take any chances.

  “I know you trust me, Claire.” Logan patted her on the butt. “My career is tied with yours. If I fail, you fail.”

  “True.” Claire looked at Logan again. Something else was going on. Some hidden meaning beneath his words. For the life of her, she didn’t know what it was.

  “Almost finished?” Logan wanted to move the conversation along. That speculative look in Claire’s eyes made him nervous.

  “That’s it. Let me wipe off the last of the shaving lotion. There.”

  Claire stood back to get a good look.

  Logan waited for Claire’s reaction. He had never considered himself a particularly vain man. Women had always found him attractive. The last time he really looked at himself in the mirror was just after his injury.

  True, his frame of mind hadn’t been the best, and all kinds of drugs were still in his system. All that said, he remembered seeing a man that wouldn’t scare off animals or frighten young children.

  “Well?” Logan asked. “Say something. Is there some kind of hideous growth that I wasn’t aware of?” Logan ran his hand over his face. There were times when the thing itched like crazy.

  “What time do we have to be at the bar?”

  Logan frowned. What the hell did the bar have to do with his face?

  “In about an hour. Why?”

  Claire grabbed his hand, pulling him out of his chair and into the workout room.

  “That should give us enough time.”

  She disposed of the towel around his neck, and then jumped into his arms, her legs wrapping around his waist. Claire kissed him. Hard and long. When she finally pulled away, they were both breathing hard.

  “I guess you like the way I look.”

  “You’ll do.”

  Claire rained kisses over his freshly shaved face. It wasn’t just a good-looking face. It was gorgeous. She had grown fond of the beard. It made him look outdoorsy. Rugged. There was nothing wrong with that – there was a definite appeal.

  One look at him without it? Claire was ready to buy him a lifetime supply of razors – she didn’t want to take any chances that he would cover up his face again.

  “You have dimples.” Claire licked each indention.

  “I take it you’re a fan?”

  “I never thought about it before. I am now.”

  Claire tugged at his damp hair, angling Logan’s head. Now that was a jaw line. Her lips traced the firm line. Smooth. Sexy as hell.

  “It was a crime to cover this face.”

  “You liked it well enough before.”

  “I did. This is new. Different.” With a happy hum, Claire kissed him again.

  Logan loved all the attention. He’d had women tell him he was good looking. Claire’s reaction made him feel like a movie star. From now on, he planned to shave every morning without fail.

  “On the floor. Now. And lose the jeans.”

  Doing as she commanded, Logan waited on his back while Claire undressed. Happily, they had passed the condom stage. Since they were exclusive and Claire was on the pill, there was no longer a need for any barriers during sex.

  It was a first for Logan. He had been sexually active since the age of sixteen. Back then, it was all about making sure the girl didn’t get pregnant. With his ambitions, the last thing he needed was to be tied down. Later, staying away from STDs was added to his fastidious precautions.

  Sex without a condom was amazing. Or maybe it was sex with Claire. Either way, it was a heady, addictive combination.

  “What about my haircut?” Logan asked with a grin as Claire straddled his hips. He was ready and so was she. In one fluid movement, she slid down his length, her eyes locked with his.

  “We’ll have time for that.” She started to move. “This won’t take long.”

  WOLF WHISTLES GREETED Logan when he walked into Lefty’s Pub an hour later.

  “What the hell, Price?” Barney Todd called out from his usual spot at the end of the bar. “When did you take the pretty pills?”

  Logan took the comment in stride. Barney played center back in high school. He was now one of the most successful realtors in the panhandle. His work took him on the road a lot, but whenever he was in town, he made the bar his main hangout. Unlike Rafer, he was a friend, then and now. A little ribbing was natural, and it went both ways.

  “Jealousy is an ugly thing, Barney. Oh, sorry. That isn’t jealousy, it’s your face.”

  The other patrons whooped over Logan’s joke. Barney flipped Logan the bird, along with a smile. Logan sent a free drink Barney’s way.

  “I can’t believe my eyes.”

  Rhonda set her tray on the bar so she could run her hands over Logan’s face. Because he was fond of her, he didn’t protest. His eyes met Claire’s warm gaze. The memory of their fast and furious lovemaking brought a huge smile to his face.

  Claire had been right. It didn’t take long. But, oh, baby, it felt good. A naked woman taking her pleasure, giving it back. If there was a better way to spend five minutes, Logan didn’t know what it was.

  “I know that look,” Rhonda said, her fingers mussing what was left of Logan’s hair. “And it isn’t for me.”

  “Damn straight, it isn’t. Pug would have my hide if I ever looked at you that way.”

  “Pug isn’t a man easily riled.” Chuckling, Rhonda retrieved the tray. “Fooling with his woman will do it, though.”

  “Hey,” Logan called out. “That reminds me. Did Elmer sign the papers?”

  The whole custody bugaboo had been hanging on for months. Elmer was determined to cause as much trouble as possible for his ex-wife. He didn’t want their children. However, the idea of Rhonda having a happy life with another man drove him crazy.

  Every attempt to get Elmer to drop the lawsuit had failed. Pug talked to him. Which only made Elmer more determined, especially when Pug showed up in his uniform. The other residents of the trailer park gave Elmer grief for days over that.

  Logan attempted to reason with the man. Another dead end. Elmer saw Logan as the Denville elite – as if there was such a thing. No one in Denville had money. There were no grand houses. Weekly bowling and PTA meetings were what passed for society.

  The only thing that set Logan apart was football. Since he was never any good at it, in Elmer’s eyes, it was enough.

  Elmer’s mother finally got things moving in the right direction. Never a fan of Rhonda, the lawsuit was something the old woman encouraged – at first. Then it was pointed out that if Elmer somehow won, she would be the one looking after his children.

  That was enough for Abilene Sykes. She liked her cigarettes, her gin rummy, and her Jack Daniels. She did not like children. Not even her own.

  A few sharp words in Elmer’s ear and the suit was dropped. Rhonda had her lawyer draw papers not only getting Elmer to relinquish all claim to the children, but they also made it possible for Pug to adopt them. By Christmas, they would be one big happy family.

  “Look.” Rhonda waved her finger in front of Logan’s face.

  “Is that what I think it is?” Taking her hand, Logan dutifully admired the modest diamond ring.

  “It’s beautiful, Rhonda.” Logan kissed her cheek. “No one deserves a happily ever after more than you and Pug.”

  Rhonda held out her hand, admiring the little glint of light that reflected off her engagement ring. It wasn’t a big rock by any definition. For Rhonda, it was better than the one Elmer gave her. It certainly meant more. She was going to marry big, sweet, steady Stanley Doughtry. And she was holding on, no matter what. This time, she had found the true lov
e of her life.

  “Hey,” Logan lifted Rhonda’s chin. “What’s with the tears?”

  “I…” Rhonda choked out the word.

  “Men.” Claire joined them, slipping a comforting arm around Rhonda’s shoulder. “Why can’t they ever recognize happy tears? Come on, Rhonda. Let’s get away from all this testosterone so you can tell me every detail of how Pug proposed.”

  “I proposed,” Rhonda laughed through her tears. “Pug bought the ring months ago, but was too shy to ask.”

  “Even better,” Claire said, leading Rhonda to an empty booth.

  “What did I do?” Logan threw up his arms. He looked to the other men at the bar for commiseration. “Didn’t I congratulate her?”

  “Don’t try to figure them out, Logan.” Cyrus Welliver called out. Of all the men in the place, Cyrus had the most experience with marriage. He was on wife number five. “I can’t tell one tear from another. Angry. Happy. Sad. Greeting Card commercial. Who the hell knows?”

  While the rest of the crowd chimed in, including Cyrus’ wife, Logan checked the bar, making sure it was fully stocked for the evening. All the while, he kept one eye on Claire and Rhonda.

  Bent together over the ring, Claire’s blond head, Rhonda’s dark one, they laughed at something. As always, the sound made Logan smile. Claire laughed a lot. She was a naturally happy person, just one of the things that drew him to her.

  Even on his best days, Logan tended to keep his emotions inside. He could celebrate with the best of them. The day Denville High won the state championship. When he won that full-ride scholarship his sophomore year at Ohio State. Having his name called out during the NFL draft. Those were occasions. He was bound to be exuberant then.

  Logan thought about day-to-day life. There weren’t that many moments in a regular day that warranted smiles and laughter. He got up, he went about his business, and he went to bed. Was he happy? Sure. Did he smile at the sound of rain on the roof or laugh at the sight of a robin building its nest? Probably not. Claire did. And Logan smiled and laughed with her.

  How could he not want to have all that light and joy near him? Now that he’d had it, how could he contemplate life without it? Claire had become essential.

  Logan wondered. What did Claire think when she looked at Rhonda’s engagement ring? Was she simply happy for a friend? Or did part of her long for the same thing? Was she thinking ahead? Did she see a future with him or did she see herself moving on when they were back in Seattle?

  Too many questions for which Logan had no answers. Two months. The plan was for them to spend a few weeks in Seattle before training camp started in July. What had once seemed so far away now came at him like a bullet train.

  His body was in the best shape of his life. Fit, inside and out thanks to Claire’s hard work. She made sure he exercised properly. Ate right. Got plenty of sleep. Then there was the sex. Nothing loosened you up like a love life filled with passion and spontaneity.

  Today was a perfect example. Claire made every day an adventure. When she wanted him, she let him know. When he wanted her, she was more than happy to jump in with both feet. Intense, playful. The sex ran the gamut. Knowing he could have her whenever he wanted added one big fat cherry to his monster sundae.

  Logan was ready to make his comeback. He wasn’t ready to lose Claire.

  Since there was no stopping time, all he could do was ride this out. He had no idea what the conclusion would be. Would he make the team? Would Claire walk away?

  Stop thinking! Enjoy each moment. That’s what Claire would tell him if she knew the jumble going on in his brain.

  Enjoy me while you’ve got me.

  “Hey, Logan. How about another draft?”

  “Coming right up.”

  Logan grabbed a glass from the cooler. That’s what Logan would do. Enjoy Claire. He would take what she so generously gave him. And he would do his best to make her want to stay.

  CHAPTER TEN

  “THANKS FOR MEETING me.”

  “I’m honored that you asked. Picking out a wedding dress is a huge deal.”

  “Even if it’s online shopping.”

  Rhonda opened her laptop on the kitchen counter. She shared the house Pug inherited from his uncle about five years ago. Being busy, and a good old Oklahoma boy, little had been done to update the interior. It sported the same avocado green everything from back when avocado green was all the rage.

  Now that Rhonda was the woman of the house, things were going to change. Slowly. A little paint here. A throw rug there. She wasn’t in a hurry. She and Pug had the rest of their lives to get it right. Just in time for the next generation to come along and change it to their tastes.

  That was how it should be. The circle of life. Why that circle ever included avocado green, Rhonda would never understand.

  “I had the big, white wedding the first time.” Rhonda snorted. “Not that I walked down the aisle a virgin. That horse had left the barn long before. Here.”

  Rhonda pulled up a picture on the screen of her wedding day. All the pictures of Elmer were long gone. But she kept a few to show her children, then someday her grandchildren.

  “Wow,” Claire said, struggling for a diplomatic comment. “That’s…”

  “Go ahead and say it. I look like I was eaten by a cotton ball.”

  “A cotton ball with ruffles. Lots and lots of ruffles.”

  Rhonda laughed. “It was my dream gown. Looking at it now, I realize it was more of a nightmare. The dress and the marriage.”

  Claire gave Rhonda’s hand a sympathetic squeeze.

  “You got out. That’s what’s important. You have two beautiful children and a man who adores you. I’d say, in the long run, you came out the winner.”

  “I did,” Rhonda beamed. “This time, I’m going classic. Simple. Uncomplicated. Just like my man.”

  “Sounds perfect.”

  Claire sipped her coffee, watching as dress after dress scrolled by. Some were hard to look at without wincing. Apparently, ruffled cotton balls never went out of style.

  “Let’s try a different website.” Rhonda tapped away at the keys. “How about you and Logan. Any wedding plans.”

  Claire spat out her mouthful of coffee, barely missing the computer.

  “Why in the world would you ask that?”

  Rhonda handed her a napkin.

  “You’ve been here for quite a while.”

  “Four months,” Claire said. “That isn’t very long.”

  “You knew each other from before, right?”

  “Right.”

  Claire hated to lie. The story was one they settled on before she got to know Rhonda. Keeping the secret was Logan’s decision – one Claire respected. The day might come when she could come clean to her new friend. This wasn’t that day.

  “A blind man could see how things are between the two of you.”

  “How are they?” Claire was curious what Rhonda saw.

  “You fit. He’s back to the Logan we all knew in high school.”

  “That isn’t all on me, Rhonda. Logan wanted to pull out of his funk.”

  “But he didn’t know how until you came to Denville.” Rhonda’s earnest expression made Claire a little uncomfortable. Claire knew she liked Logan. No, that wasn’t fair. This had passed the like stage long ago. They had fun. They had sex like she never dreamed existed. Anything more? Claire wasn’t sure she knew what more was.

  Claire didn’t believe in blaming her parents for her hang-ups. So her mother left when she was in diapers. Her father forgot he had daughters most of the time.

  Sometimes she had to wonder why some people had kids. Her mother and father were prime examples. That said – they were who they were. By the time she had reached adulthood, it was time to find out who she was, not who her parents made her.

  So why did she have a lump in her stomach when she thought about a future with Logan? She would like to think it was because she wasn’t ready. After so many years focused on one goal, now
that it was a whisper’s breath away, did she want to get serious about anyone? Even Logan?

  The nasty little voice in her head that only came out when she felt vulnerable, told a different tale. A woman who was raised by loving, nurturing parents would jump if she felt half of what Claire did for Logan.

  Being honest with herself wasn’t always easy. In this case, Claire knew it was vital. She was a product of her upbringing. Her parents had screwed with her head. Right now, she and Logan neared the end of a huge journey. If there was more to them – together – the time to decide wasn’t now.

  Claire felt the knot in her stomach loosen. She wasn’t much of a put off until tomorrow kind of woman. However, in this case, it was all she could do. Logan didn’t need her drama added on to his own.

  After he makes the team. That would be soon enough to evaluate her feelings. And his.

  “I’m too nosy,” Rhonda sighed. “It’s my biggest failing.”

  “I like it when you push for information,” Claire said. Then she winked. “When you’re pushing someone else.”

  Rhonda laughed, relieved that she hadn’t offended Claire.

  “You and Logan are the only tough nuts in Denville. Anyone else, all I have to do is ask how ya doin’, hun? I get a rundown of every minute detail.”

  “Which you then share with me. I’m good with that.” Claire clicked on a dress, gasping when she saw it magnified. Excited, she turned the screen toward Rhonda. “Ta da.”

  With a gasp, Rhonda clapped a hand over her mouth. Her eyes met Claire’s, filling with tears.

  “That’s it. How did you know that was it?”

  “One look and it screamed Rhonda.”

  The pale pink floor-length gown was as far away from poofy ruffles as she could get. A simple lace sheath. Elegant. Perfect for Rhonda’s subtle curves and dark hair.

  “Pug’s chin will hit the ground when he sees me in this.” Rhonda was already pulling out her credit card. “We need something similar for you. Knee-length. Blue. To compliment your eyes.”