by Sierra Rose
“Relax.” While she had turned to face him, she had yet to step out of his arm. Instead, she looked up at him with a little smile. “I love pie...”
Chapter 22
After a quick search of the kitchen came up with nothing but baking soda and alcohol, Lacy and Logan headed to the grocery store to pick up what they needed to make a pie. At first, he’d suggested that they just buy a read-made approximate, but after discovering that he’d never actually baked anything in his life, Lacy nixed that idea and said they’d do it from scratch.
Which turned out to be...interesting.
“I said sugar—not flour! Sugar!”
Lacy was perched atop the kitchen counter, wearing an apron and a self-fashioned chef’s hat. From the second they’d gotten back to the house, she’d promoted herself to management, and had been having the time of her life ordering Logan around the kitchen.
“One cup of sugar,” she said again, squinting down at the recipe book, “followed by two eggs—thank god we bought a spare carton, I can’t believe you dropped the first one.”
Logan glared up at her, his eyebrows whitened with flour. “Well maybe I wouldn’t have dropped it, if you hadn’t picked that exact moment to scream in my ear.”
“I thought I saw a spider!” She giggled at the scowling look on his face. “And it’s a good thing I did! What if I’d been right? That scream could have saved your life.”
Logan turned back around so she couldn’t see him grin. It was something he’d been doing rather a lot of lately. “So this potluck...you’re really down to go? If you were just saying that as some kind of escape from Paul and Susy, I’d completely understand—”
“No, I’d love to go.” She hopped off the counter, coming up behind him to peer into the mixing bowl. “It sounds cheesy, but I actually love stuff like that. Cleveland’s a big city, but it separates well into smaller neighborhoods. Kind of makes it feel like a small town, you know?”
Logan glanced over at her, staring for a second, before lowering his eyes quickly to the bowl. “Have you ever considered living somewhere else? Another big city? Another place?”
“Like New York?” She shook her head quickly. “No—the east coast’s too cold for me, a different kind of cold than what we have here.”
“Not all of it’s cold,” Logan said innocently, sprinkling a hint of nutmeg into the bowl. “A lot of it’s really warm. Places like Florida—”
“Nutmeg?” She scooped it out with a grin and held up the book. “Do you see nutmeg listed amongst any of these ingredients?”
Logan’s eyes scanned quickly down the list, before he lifted his chin defiantly. “I was improvising...”
“Oh, I see.” She laughed again, easing the bowl out of his hands so she could stir it herself. “Well judging by the state of your kitchen, how about you don’t improvise, okay?”
She was right. Logan had been shocked when they’d opened up the cupboards to find them almost completely bare. What did Dylan eat? Did he always just go out? It had been a little embarrassing—given that Lacy thought the house belonged to him. But she hadn’t said one word about it. She’d just smiled that sunny smile, and suggested they go to the store.
They worked in a comfortable silence for a while longer, laughing occasionally as they spritzed each other with cinnamon and pinches of flour. The pie was put into the oven, and before long, the delicious aroma of sugared apples was wafting through the house. They opened a bottle of wine as they waited—something else they had purchased from the store. Talking, and laughing, and swapping stories until the buzzer went off and it was time to go.
He reflected on all his time here in Cleveland. Logan took the time to slow down...and smell the roses. He was enjoying the simple life. He’d actually enjoyed being off work, not bogged down in board meetings and paperwork, no stress. He was happy and smiling. He slept like a log. Even slept in. Enjoyed his leisurely strolls. Enjoyed talking care of a pet. Enjoyed walking the dog on the beach, and staring up at the stars at night. Read a book.
Life was sweet.
If Logan had been concerned about where exactly the cookout was, he needn’t have worried. It wasn’t in some random neighbor’s backyard, it was right there in the middle of the street. Someone had stolen two traffic cones to block off the road, and everyone who lived inside was milling about on the street.
The smells of smoked barbeque and apple cider hung heavy in the air, accompanied by the shrieks and squeals of little kids as they zigzagged delightedly across the lawns. Men were drinking beers, standing beside the grills. Women were chatting happily amongst each other, looking over every now and then to yell a word of caution to their kids. An amateur speaker system had been set up to play some lively bluegrass mix, and to top it all off, someone had even managed to procure a cotton candy machine. (Which helped to explain the sugar-high children.)
“This is awesome.”
Logan spoke without thinking, staring in wonder across the street. It was exactly what he’d wanted when he’d agreed to make the switch. Exactly what he’d been hoping for when he shed the perpetual spotlight of an international billionaire and took on the regular persona of his twin.
He felt immediately embarrassed, of course. What kind of grown man was tickled by the novelty of a neighborhood cookout? But Lacy was right there with him. She slipped her hand into his with a little smile—gesturing to the party up ahead.
“Shall we?”
For the next few hours, Lacy and Logan were the perfect neighbors. They feasted with Paul and Susy on the messiest barbeque ribs Logan had ever seen—taking turns to wipe sauce from each other’s blushing cheeks. They released Spartacus—much to the delight of the children—and watched as he chased after them up and down the road. And when the sun went down and the grills turned off, they danced with the other couples under the light of the stars.
When it was over, Logan could honestly say it had been the perfect night. But the night wasn’t finished with them yet...
“So you’ve really never seen Titanic?” Lacy asked incredulously, as she popped another bite of cotton candy into her mouth. “How is that possible?”
Logan made a swipe for the candy, tearing off a handful for himself.
“I don’t know—I’m not a fourteen-year-old girl?”
She giggled as they headed up the steps to the front porch, Spartacus trotting obediently by their side. “Could have fooled me. I heard some pretty girly shrieks when you were trapped up there on the fridge.”
“Oh yeah?” Logan’s eyes cooled sarcastically as he pulled open the door. “And later, in the shower? Did I strike you as a fourteen-year-old girl then?”
She bit down on her lip, and wisely conceded the point. The dog rushed in ahead of them, but instead of following along, Logan cocked his head towards the swinging bench on the porch.
“You want to hang out here for a while?”
She glanced at him for a split second, before nodding with a shy smile.
“Yeah, that sounds perfect.”
He procured a blanket from the house, along with a few throw pillows, and together, the two of them cuddled up under the stars. The street was deserted, the crickets were chirping, and two mugs of hot chocolate were steaming on the bench by their side. They kept it their distance for a little while, maintaining those social boundaries, before she scooted suddenly closer and rested her head upon his shoulder.
“Thanks for letting me come with you tonight. I had a lot of fun.”
Logan’s breath caught in his chest as he glanced down at the top of her head, surprised by the sudden proximity. At first he just sat there, afraid to move and frighten her off. Then, slowly, he extended his arm and wrapped it around her tiny shoulder.
A rush of warmth swept through him, and he closed his eyes with a little smile.
How long had he wanted to do this? How many times had he imagined it? From the first moment they’d met, he knew this was exactly where he wanted to end up.
“Th
ank you for coming,” he breathed. “It wouldn’t have been the same without you.”
He felt her stiffen slightly in his arms, before she twisted up her head to see him.
“You know, you’re not like how I thought you’d be.”
“Oh yeah?” He gazed down at her with a gentle smile. “And how’s that?”
She paused thoughtfully, staring into his eyes.
“...you’re sweet.”
He froze for a second, looking down in surprise, before shifting her closer with a playful grin. “You’re just saying that so I won’t strangle you for bursting in on me in the shower.”
Her sparkling laughter rang out over the garden, and she nestled deeper inside his arms.
“That might be true.”
They sat there for a long time. Bathed in the silver moonlight. Swinging gently in the breeze. It was quiet for so long, that Logan thought she must have fallen asleep.
Then a soft voice piped up from the darkness.
“Goodnight, Dylan.”
The name hit Logan hard—like a punch to the gut. His muscles tightened as he looked down at her in surprise, before wilting again with a quiet sigh.
“Goodnight.”
Chapter 23
Logan and Lacy spent the entire night sleeping on the porch. He woke up once to tuck the blanket around her when she started shivering. She woke up once to marvel at the fact that she’d fallen asleep in the man’s arms. But other than that, they slept peacefully until morning.
At which point...everything started to fall apart.
How the dog got out—Logan would never know. He half-believed the thing had developed opposable thumbs and was just waiting for him in the tall grass. All he knew was that he wasn’t remotely surprised to wake up and discover Spartacus drooling on the side of his face.
“What...” he shifted in his sleep, bringing a hand to his cheek, “what’s going...FUCK!”
He pulled back with a gasp—his arms tightening automatically around Lacy as he shifted her away from the dog’s massive teeth. She woke up a second later, gripping onto his arms and blinking in disoriented surprise. Meanwhile, Spartacus pranced back and forth in front of them—thrilled that they were awake. So thrilled, that his wagging tail knocked over the half-empty mugs of hot chocolate, shattering them on the porch.
For a second, they both just sat there. Then Lacy started shaking with silent laughter. It was harder for Logan to find the humor, but her smile was contagious. After just a few seconds, he gave in—alternating between chuckling, and cursing the dog under his breath.
Finally, after they quieted down, Logan looked down at her with a warm smile.
“Well...good morning.”
She peered up at him, still nestled in his arms.
“Good morning yourself.”
It was very strange—waking up with someone that he hadn’t had sex with the night before. Logan didn’t know whether to follow his instincts and give her a kiss, or if they were simply two people who’d passed out after a neighborhood potluck, only to be woken by his dog.
“Can I get you some coffee? Maybe some breakfast?”
He watched her very closely, hoping to pick up on some kind of behavioral clue. But she seemed just as out of sorts as he was. That signature confidence had turned suddenly shy and she shivered slightly in the morning breeze, leaning subconsciously into his chest.
“That sounds great. Thanks.”
The blanket came down, and there was a good deal of awkward shuffling as they tried to untangle themselves from each other. A slipped hand here, a self-conscious blush there. At one point, her hair got stuck on his jacket, and he was painfully reminded of the woman next door. A woman who he’d been nervously keeping an eye out for at the cookout last night.
“Sorry, I’ve almost—”
He hastened to unloop a lock of her wavy hair.
“No, it’s okay,” she reassured him. “Take your time.”
Her face tilted up as he readjusted the angle—gazing with that twinkling smile into his eyes. He tried not to look. He tried to keep his eyes on his work. Tried very hard not to smile, or swoon, or sweep her off her feet right then and there.
“Got it.”
The hair pulled free, and he tucked it gently behind her ear. She was still looking up at him, waiting with baited breath. Just as out of sorts as him.
Just do it. She wants you to. You sure as hell want to.
She started to take a step back, but he held her close—cupping the side of her face as he stared down into her eyes. His thumb grazed along the top of her cheek, marveling at the softness of her skin. His heart was pounding as he closed his eyes and leaned down...
“Spartacus!”
Lacy pulled back with a shriek and Logan cursed aloud as the dog crashed in between them. Panting, licking, and generally just thrilled to be alive.
“I’m so sorry,” Logan apologized, glaring daggers at the dog. “Don’t worry, I have great plans to drown him in the bath...”
Lacy only laughed, shaking it off with an easy smile. A smile that left Logan as baffled as he was relieved. She truly wasn’t like any other girl he’d ever dated. The prissy, vain narcissists that paraded along the Florida promenade in the skimpiest bikinis they could muster. She was able to find the humor in things. Able to see the fun. Able to have her own opinion.
Not that he wouldn’t mind seeing her in a skimpy bikini...
“He and I have a bet going,” she teased. “To see who can annoy you the most.”
Logan chuckled, unlocking the front door. “Who’s winning—” A blast of cold air hit him right in the face, catching him off guard. He stared inside with a frown, as Lacy came up behind him, wrapping her arms around her chest and shivering. “What the hell?”
Together, the two of them walked inside. Spartacus bounding happily by their side.
The house was freezing. Somehow, even colder than the outside. Logan’s breath billowed out in a frosty cloud, as he paced quickly down the hall to look at the thermostat. Maybe the dog had nudged it by mistake. He was certainly tall enough...
Logan looked down at the little box with a frown. The screen was completely black. Not some encouraging shade of it—just black. He tried hitting it a few times, but nothing happened.
“I think the heater broke,” he called.
Lacy stood in the kitchen, flipping on and off the light switch. Nothing happened.
“It’s not the heater,” she called back. “It’s the electricity. Maybe there’s an outage?”
Logan glanced outside to see the lights on in Paul and Susy’s house. Next door, Mitch was shutting his garage door on the way to work. Nope, not an outage. Which must mean—
“Did you forget to pay the bill this month?”
Logan’s head snapped up to see Lacy leaning against the doorway, eyeing him with concern. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but there wasn’t an ounce of judgement in her eyes. Just a sincere sort of sympathy. One she paired with an automatic smile.
“Come on,” she didn’t wait for him to answer, she merely held out her hand, “I’m taking you out to breakfast.”
Chapter 24
Logan stared across the table in awe, watching as Lacy scarfed down a stack of pancakes that probably weighed at least as much as she did. This was only after she’d made sure to douse them in about a gallon’s worth of maple syrup.
Nope. Not like any girl I’ve dated. The kind that avoided sugar, and carbs, and...pretty much all types of food. The kind that would have lost their shit if a giant dog even looked their way. The kind that would have run for the hills if a guy didn’t have the money to pay his bills.
“What?”
He snapped back to the present to see her staring at him, the fork frozen halfway to her mouth. He shook his head quickly, looking down at his plate.
“Nothing.”
She set down the fork, cocking her head with a curious grin.
“Tell me.”
Tell you what?
That you’re perfect? That I can’t stop thinking about you? That it’s taking all the strength I have in me not to jump over this table and kiss you right now?
...that I’m leaving in two weeks?
“Do you want to go hiking?”
He was just as surprised to have asked the question, as she was to have heard it. There was something innately disarming about her, and like so many other things, it just popped out.
“Hiking?” She set down her cup of coffee slowly. “Like...today?”
Logan nodded hastily, trying not to make it sound as random as it was. “There’s this great trail. It’s supposed to be beautiful. There’s hiking—”
“Yeah—I know the place. Everyone here does.” She stared across the table with a curious frown. “It’s a rite of passage. We went every summer growing up.”
“Right, of course.” Logan nodded again, trying to play it cool. “Well, it’s only a few hours away, and I know you played hookie yesterday, but I was wondering if—”
“Yeah. I’d love to go.”
Logan stopped short, looking up with a hopeful smile.
“Yeah?”
“Absolutely,” she beamed, “just not today, alright? Whether I’m the boss or not, I can’t just take off at a moment’s notice. Can we go tomorrow? Leave in the morning?”
Logan bit down on his lip, trying to contain his smile.
“I’ll pick you up at eight.”
AFTER ENJOYING A LEISURELY breakfast, Lacy headed off to work while Logan headed back to the house. There were some things he had to get sorted. And there wasn’t another second to lose.
How can I have this life?
The question came back to him again and again, echoing with every step as his feet pounded the pavement on the way home. Yes—it was sudden. Yes—it was a huge change. But he didn’t care. For the first time in longer than he cared to admit, he was happy. For the first time since he’d gotten his company off the ground—he knew exactly what he wanted.