House of Belonging

by Andrea Thome

  “Morning, lad.”

  Logan had the strangest feeling that Van knew something he didn’t. Maybe it was his tone, or that hint of a smile that hovered on Van’s face.

  Logan nodded in return. “Van. Beautiful day. You and Laina ready for Thursday night?”

  They watched for passing cars, then crossed the street together, pausing short of the door to stand near the large front window outside of Laina’s restaurant.

  “We’re ready for the dinner for sure. Her concepts are going to blow you away. Don’t you worry about that.” Van hesitated before continuing. “Laina’s ready too. She just doesn’t know it yet. You’ll need to convince her a bit if you’re really interested.”

  Logan started at Van, momentarily stunned into silence. Laina’s ready. Ready. And Van is suddenly on Team Logan?

  As if he could read Logan’s mind, Van shook his head. “I’m actually not entirely sure you’re worthy of her, but you seem like a tenacious fellow, so I figure you’re a good chap for her to dip her toe back into the water with. Just don’t break her heart, and take it slow, or you and I will have a beef.”

  Van’s words had very little hang time, landing between them with a thud. It wasn’t a threat. It was a statement that had been delivered very matter-of-factly. With the message received, there wasn’t the opportunity for further discussion, as the doors of the restaurant swung open and Laina was standing there, inviting them in.

  Van entered first, and from the expression on Laina’s face, she was not exactly enthusiastic about Van having carved out some alone time with Logan.

  Logan’s head was still reeling from Van’s lukewarm endorsement, so he said the first thing that came to mind when his eyes met Laina’s. “Got any more of that fancy coffee? I haven’t been able to get you off my mind.”

  Idiot! What did I just say? Maybe she didn’t hear me clearly . . .

  He knew from her face, though, that she had.

  “I do indeed have coffee. I was making it when I saw the two of you chatting outside the front window. Care to share what that was about?” Her eyes stared back at him, unyielding in their probe. Logan hesitated with his answer, because he could feel Van behind him, their exchange still farm fresh in his mind.

  Thankfully, Wyatt and India had finished their brief tour and had walked up to join them. After everyone had exchanged hellos, they gathered around one of the large round tables to hear Laina’s vision for the evening. From the moment she began speaking, Logan knew he was in big trouble. Her passion for food and entertaining was captivating, making her even more attractive. Logan had no problem giving her his full attention. He loved the slight rasp of her voice when she spoke.

  “First of all, I want to thank you for trusting me with this incredible opportunity. India, I know you’re fully aware of how important food is to me, and the fact that the proceeds from this event will go toward promoting sustainable growing practices and local purveyors of food, well, nothing makes me happier.” Laina took a deep breath and continued, eager to share her ideas with the group.

  “I was thinking that I’d like to present our menu for this special event in the form of poems. Haikus, actually.” Glancing around at the group, she explained, “I know it’s a bit unconventional, but why not blow their minds? I’d like to try to present them with a culinary experience that they couldn’t dream up if they tried.”

  India was delighted. She’d known that if they only let their friend’s creative genius run wild, the results would be remarkable.

  Van jumped in, unable to contain his pride. “That’s just the beginning. Wait until you see what else Laina has planned. These people are going to leave here with pretty high expectations for the rest of the weekend.”

  Laina blushed, uncomfortable with the praise. She shared her menu for the different courses, her body language changing as she let herself relax and escape into the fantasy of it all.

  Logan was mesmerized. She was so poised, intelligent, deep, mysterious. He could tell by the way she talked about food that she wasn’t just a chef. She was an artist. He found himself longing to watch her create, imagining her hands handling the food efficiently with the precision of a surgeon.

  He caught himself staring at her slender fingers as she nervously held the pen she’d been using to make notes. Was there any part of her that he didn’t desire at this point? Logan shifted uncomfortably in his chair and cleared his throat before noticing that Van was giving him a pointed stare from across the table—as if he’d once again read Logan’s mind.

  “Did I miss something?” Laina had seen the exchange, and was looking back and forth between Logan and Van with a curious expression.

  Wyatt could sense the gnarly vibe between the men, and jumped in to change the subject.

  “I think Logan wanted to tell you about the auction item he’s put together for the evening. I’m not sure India had a chance to share that with you, but we thought it would be a nice touch, and another way to raise some additional funds. Logan? Did you and Buck get the campsite set up today?”

  Logan was grateful to call Wyatt a friend, because he knew he was a damned good one, especially in that moment. “Yep, we finished everything we could today, so now it’s just waiting for India, Violet, and Willow to add the finishing touches.” He turned to address Laina and Van. “The package is for four couples. We’ll take them by horseback on a half-day ride into the mountains up near Maroon Bells, where we’ve got a group of fancy tents waiting for them. We even hauled in some high-class portable restrooms and hid them just out of sight so they could feel like they were camping, but they won’t have to rough it too much.”

  Laina laughed. “So it’s a glamping experience. I get it. I don’t think it can be considered camping if you’re not worried about bears getting ahold of you while you’re doing your business.”

  Logan chuckled. “We’re calling it Luxury Survivor, and I’d have to agree with you. The winners are even going to have their meals cooked for them, chuckwagon style, thanks to Buck. It’s been years since he’s cooked over an open flame, but he’s confident he can throw something edible together.”

  Van had been watching them interact, and immediately recognized his opportunity when it presented itself. “I’ve got a better idea. I’m sure Buck is a fine cook, and I wouldn’t want him to think I thought otherwise. But cooking for ten people, including himself and you, Logan, well, that’s asking a lot of someone who’s not a professional.”

  Van knew the exact moment that Laina realized where he was headed with his train of thought because he could see the smile disappear from her face. It didn’t deter him.

  “What if we sweeten the deal, and offer up Chef Ming here as the camp cook for the evening? Buck can still make breakfast, but wouldn’t it be special if people knew that they’d be enjoying a Michelin star meal made over a campfire? I think they’d pay big bucks, especially after they experience the meal she’s going to make for them Thursday night. What do you say, Laina? Are you game? I will gladly take over for you on Friday in the restaurant during your sleepover—or campout. Whatever you’re calling it.”

  She could have grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and dragged him into the kitchen. Laina was well aware of what Van was doing, but he was clever. He knew she wouldn’t be able to refuse a chance at potentially doubling what could be made by throwing in her professional services. He was also well aware that, as a result, she would be spending a lot of quality time with a certain cowboy at the table. Just a week before, Van seemed to have softened toward the idea of her giving Logan a chance. Today, though, she hadn’t thought Van cared for Logan very much at all, from the looks they’d been exchanging. She’d love to know what had been discussed outside earlier.

  India chimed in before Laina had the chance. “Oh, Van, that’s a wonderful idea. I think it really puts our auction item over the top, and I’m sure it would go for top dollar.” She looked at Laina. “That is, if it works for you, Laina. I promise to make sure you have
a private tent with a bed that is every bit as comfortable as the one you sleep in every night. Violet has friends who run a luxury resort in Montana, and they’ve directed us on how to outfit these tents in supreme fashion. Between Vi, Willow, and myself, we’ll make sure you have everything you need for prep and cooking too. Give us the list and leave it to us. So, will you do it?”

  Laina loved the idea of a challenge, and this would most definitely fit the bill. If she was being honest, she’d already had a few cool ideas about what she could create fireside that would be special and memorable. With a flourish, she uncapped her pen and flipped to a new sheet of paper, writing Camping To-Do at the top in a bold stroke. Looking up, she smiled at the group. “How on earth could I say no?”

  Logan had been watching her as she’d worked the thought over in her mind. He was pleased to see that there hadn’t been much apprehension; instead, she seemed more than a little excited about the idea. He, too, had a whole new outlook on the adventure. Logan had a feeling that after the initial disappointment wore off, Buck would be grateful to be in charge of just one meal instead of two. Breakfast was well within his comfort zone. Dinner would have been a stretch.

  They buttoned up the rest of the details and concluded the meeting, promising to touch base with one another if anyone had additional questions. India and Wyatt had to rush out to make it back home before the twins woke from their afternoon nap, leaving Logan alone with Laina and Van, who quickly found an excuse to head downstairs to check on inventory.

  “And then there were two.” Laina sighed, hoping Van’s hasty exit wasn’t as obvious to Logan as she realized it probably was.

  Logan grinned, making a mental note to thank Van for everything he’d managed to do that afternoon. Who’d have thunk it? Logan was acutely aware that it would be a long while before he and Van would be bros, but this was a start. He was determined to exceed the Scot’s expectations. And Laina’s too, if she had any.

  “I promise to honor what you asked of me. This campout will be strictly business. I want you to feel comfortable and know that I’ll be there if you need anything, but only as a coworker and cowpoke.” He smiled, his dimple barely visible amid the thick whiskers on his face.

  Laina nodded, grateful he’d brought it up. “I appreciate that. I think that we should keep things professional, particularly where guests of both Walland House and the restaurant are concerned. There will be time for things to unfold later, between us, I mean, if and when it comes to that. Obviously, no pressure if things change.”

  She didn’t know what it was about being around Logan that made it so difficult to form coherent thoughts and then verbalize them. He stared at her now, his expression impossible to read, nonetheless causing the flutter in her stomach to tighten and shift ever so slightly to the south.

  “No pressure. Of course. I’ll see you on Thursday night.” He made a move to leave, then turned back around to face her. “I can’t wait to see who’s going to be accompanying us on our first sleepover. Besides Buck, that is.” Logan winked at her, stepping backward out the door without cracking a smile. The door closed behind him and he was gone, walking back down the street and out of sight.

  CHAPTER

  SEVEN

  The morning of any big event in Laina’s life for the past ten years had started off one way: yoga. Since she’d been living in Aspen, she’d fully committed to her practice and had managed to find time each day to squeeze in at least a few flows. She and Van had worked steadily all week to ensure that they were ready for the Walland House dinner on Thursday evening. They’d prepared so thoroughly, Laina was comforted knowing that she could walk into the restaurant late morning and have everything ready so that today could just be about the food. It was her favorite way to cook. Eliminate all the minutiae ahead of time and just vibe with the ingredients to create something beautiful.

  She turned the corner toward the studio. She loved practicing yoga alone at home, but she also enjoyed mixing in group classes a couple of times a week because the energy was so different. On important days, she always went to class, usually just so she could enjoy a walk and get rid of pre-event jitters. She’d found a favorite studio in town, and that day, her friend Sienna, who was also the owner, would be teaching the class, which made it even better.

  After signing in at the front, she slipped off her flip-flops, pushed them under the wooden bench, and headed through the doorway into the dark, warm studio. The room was already almost full, and a dozen or so people were in various forms of stretching on their yoga mats. Making her way to an open spot, she rolled out her own mat and sat down with her legs crossed. Taking a deep breath, Laina closed her eyes and tried to center herself in the quiet moments before class began.

  She attempted to use her breath to still her mind, but her thoughts were persistent. It was everything she’d been thinking about the night before while she struggled to fall asleep.

  Will the way I wrote the menu make me seem too far out? Had they cut the wicks on the candles? I know we discussed it, but now I can’t remember if that little detail got done. It will be a time suck if not. What will Logan think about my food? What will he be wearing? I’ve never seen him in anything but jeans and a T-shirt in the year I’ve known him.

  She hadn’t been able to chase the thoughts of him away all week long. The littlest things would conjure up his image. Every time Van asked her if she wanted a coffee, she’d glance over at her fancy espresso maker and smile, the image of his huge hands holding the tiny cup still so vivid.

  She was smiling softly at the memory when she opened her eyes in response to the instructor’s voice calling them to practice. Laina’s eyes had finally adjusted to the dimly lit space, so when she glanced across from her, she was startled.

  How long had Logan been staring at her? He had a smile on his face too. As if he’d somehow known she’d been thinking about him. He raised his hands up as if to say namaste before turning his attention to the instructor. They stood and began in mountain pose, raising their arms upward toward the ceiling to stretch before falling into a standing forward bend.

  “Allow your hips and hamstrings to do the work, friends. Open from the hips. Keep the tension out of your lower back by using your breath.” The instructor’s voice rang soft and clear throughout the studio, guiding everyone in the group stretch.

  Laina could hear Logan breathing deeply, and she had to physically restrain herself from looking over in his direction. She’d never seen him in a yoga class before. And there was no way he could’ve known she’d be there that morning. She rarely came to the studio on Thursdays. Also, he’d been there first. When she sat down, she’d chosen the only open space near the back of the room where she generally liked to sit. Does he think I specifically chose to sit by him?

  The teacher’s voice got her attention. “Remember to remain present in your practice. This is the only moment that counts. Ground yourself to the earth, and feel the beautiful energy we are creating together in this room. Let’s transition into a wide-legged downward dog. Feel free to flow down into it, or meet us there any way you’d like. We’ll hang out like that for a few minutes.”

  Just what she needed, a chance to get some blood flow back to her brain and get her head working again. Laina stepped her feet wide and reached her hands out to the floor in front of her, inverting her body so that her head was hanging comfortably between her hands. The stretch across her shoulders and spine felt incredible, and she allowed the weight of her body to rest back in her heels, opening up her always-tight hamstrings. A few deep breaths later, she relaxed into the work and was able to continue the practice with a relatively clear mind.

  Yoga had changed her life, even changed how she worked. Before, she’d always cooked with her mind racing two or three steps ahead of what she was doing, always planning, always strategizing about how to manage the clock. Now, as a result of her practice, when she felt herself rushing through the creative process, she’d stop and remind herself to stay presen
t in each methodical step. If she was chopping, she was focused on the dance of the knife against the cutting board, not mindlessly cutting and worrying about layering in other ingredients. She enjoyed the preparation so much more now, and it was reflected in the food. She had yoga to thank for so much in her life.

  An hour later, while in Savasana, or corpse pose, she was basking in the glow of having completed her practice when she could feel the room come back to life.

  “Join us when you’re ready in a cross-legged position with your hands in front of your heart.” Sienna, the instructor, waited for everyone to make their way to the pose before continuing. “Thank you for being here today and for your dedication to your practice. Feel the satisfaction that nurturing and caring for your body through your yoga practice provides. Go forward now in love and light, remaining open to any and all possibilities that will become a part of your journey. The light in me recognizes the light in you. Namaste.”

  There was a chorus of expelled breath and murmurs of namaste as everyone began the process of rising and rolling up their mats. Laina had managed not to look, but she knew that Logan was still sitting across from her. She could feel him. Turning her head now, she saw that he’d gotten up and was rolling his mat. He was wearing gray athletic shorts, and he reached to pull a faded white T-shirt back over his head. He’d paused just long enough for her to catch a glimpse of his ripped, sun-kissed abdomen, though, which sported a dusting of blond hair that matched the lightest strands on his head. It made her regret that she hadn’t snuck a peek during class after all.