Logan,
While I’m pleased you “wanted” to, I would prefer you didn’t. In the future, I really can’t accept such over the top gifts.
Emilia
__________
From: Logan Prescott
Subject: Get used to it
Date: Monday, October 15, 2012 9:55am
To: Emilia King
Emilia,
I have more money than you can imagine so if I want to buy you “over the top gifts” I will.
End of discussion.
Logan
__________
From: Emilia King
Subject: Last word
Date: Monday, October 15, 2012 9:58am
To: Logan Prescott
Logan,
Anyone ever tell you that you are bossy?
Emilia
__________
From: Logan Prescott
Subject: My last word
Date: Monday, October 15, 2012 10:00am
To: Emilia King
Emilia,
Yes, someone has told me…YOU.
When you refused to accept a ride after you were just released from the hospital. You need to free your mind and not feel guilty about accepting help as well as gifts.
While I’m enjoying your emails, I need to head to class. Some of us have work to do.
Logan
I’m giggling at Logan’s last sentence when Bryn calls for me at the bottom of the stairs.
“O, Emilia, Emilia, where art thou?” She giggles.
“Very funny. I’m coming.” I call after I shut down my computer and grab my books and bag.
She looks at my necklace and gently touches the heart. “Romeo has good taste.” She smiles. “In jewelry and you.”
“You are becoming quite Shakespearean.” I giggle.
“When in Rome.” She winks.
Luke is leaning against the tree outside of Studio One. It’s the same tree he was leaning against the last time he asked me out.
“Hi, Luke.” I say quickly and I hurry inside the studio. The door slams behind me before I can hear his reply.
“Emilia, how are you?” Professor Hastings asks.
“Good. Thanks. You?” I ask.
We make small talk about the upcoming stories he wants us to report on: how SBU is one of the greenest campuses in the country, our researchers breakthrough research on Neuroscience, and the campus’ new security chief is a police captain with completed FBI training.
Luke comes into the studio. He’s wearing skinny jeans and a crewneck sweater. He walks towards Professor Hastings and I while we are still chatting about the new security chief.
“What’s new?” He asks.
“Just talking about upcoming news stores. You ready to start rolling in five?” Professor Hastings says to us.
We hurry to take our seats behind the desk that could use a fresh coat of paint. It’s old and the brown wood is almost beyond repair. Fortunately, it’s only noticeable in person; on camera it surprisingly looks fine.
“You have a good weekend?” Luke asks.
“I did. How about you?” I say as I clip on my mic.
“It would have been better if I had run into you.” He smiles. Oh brother, here we go again.
I’m looking down at my notes in front of me, acting like I didn’t hear his last remark.
“What did you do?” He asks.
“Um. I worked, had a meet, nothing too exciting.” I smile.
“Do you have plans for next weekend?” He asks.
I giggle. “It’s only Monday. I haven’t really thought much about it.” Isn’t it time to get this show on the road?
“Maybe I could take you out. I know this great new Thai restaurant. Do you like Thai food?”
“No, actually I don’t.” I giggle, thinking about my conversation with Logan and food.
“What kind of food do you like?” He asks. Ugh. He’s not going to let this go.
“You know I just don’t think it’s a good idea to date someone you work with.”
“Work with?” He sounds confused.
“Yes.” I say as I wave my hand in the air. “This, this is working together.”
“No. This doesn’t count.” He says.
“It does in my book.” You’d think he’d get a clue.
“Not in mine.”
“It’s a bad idea. It would be too much of a distraction.” I say this more in hopes that the rejection will at least appeal to his ego a little bit.
Finally, I’m saved. “Okay, kids. You ready to roll?” Professor Hastings says and I can hear myself sigh in relief.
When we finish the taping, I practically make a run for it out the door. I pull off my mic, grab my bag and swing the door open.
“Thanks, Professor Hastings. See you later.” I scurry out, looking down so I don’t make eye contact with Luke.
But my frantic rush to get away from Luke is to no avail.
“Hey, wait up.” He says and he catches the door just before it slams shut.
I glance at him and then look away. Maybe if I completely ignore him he’ll get the picture. It’s really getting annoying. He’s usually given up by now but this time he is unrelenting. What’s it going to take? So my last resort, I turn a deaf ear to his nagging.
We make our way away from Studio One and although I act like I can’t hear him, I do.
“But I want you to be a distraction at work. Just go out with me once. When the camera is rolling we make a great team and I’m sure we’d make a better team off-camera.” Seriously?
I am trying hard not to laugh because that would be rude. Keeping a straight face, I hurriedly walk ahead. Luke quickly picks up his pace to keep up with me.
“Come on, just one date.” He pleads.
I can’t take it. “Luke, sorry. No.”
“Emilia, stop playing hard to get.” What?
It’s then that I feel a firm hand wrap around me and grasp the small of my waist. I turn and see Logan gazing down at me. He leans over and softly kisses my forehead.
“Hey, baby.” He says in a sexy way that make my insides melt.
I feel pleased and relieved to see him. Looking up at him, I see him sizing up Luke.
“I believe I heard her say no.” Logan says firmly.
Luke is dazed, speechless. Finally his relentless hammering is put on the brakes.
“You heard her say no then?” Logan says, staring at Luke, his eyes not blinking.
Logan uncomfortably steps back. “Yes. I heard her.” He looks nervously toward me. “Okay. Well, see you later, Emilia.” He turns and briskly scampers away from us.
“Hi.” I say shyly, gazing up into Logan’s eyes. Both his hands are around my waist and we are turned towards each other.
I lightly touch the gold heart on the delicate chain around my neck. “Thank you for the beautiful necklace.” I say while I warmly smile up at him.
“It looks lovely. But you already thanked me.” His head cocks to the side and his mouth curls up into a slight smile.
“Yes, but not in person.” I reach my hands around the back of his neck, pulling him closer. He leans down to kiss me. My hands move into his silky hair. His one hand moves from my waist to my lower back while the other is in my hair, pulling me closer. Our kiss deepens and he presses his lips harder against mine.
“I like how you say thank you.” He whispers between kisses.
I giggle.
“Maybe I should give you more gifts.” He teases.
I pull back. “No. Please. Don’t.”
“Here we go.” He sounds exasperated.
I smile and decide to drop the subject. “What are you doing here anyway?”
“Besides helping you fight off unwanted advances?” He smirks.
“Yes. Well, thank you for that but I can fight my own battles.” I smile.
“Well, from what I overheard it looked like you were losing that battle. You really need to just be more up front with guys like that, ig
noring them doesn’t help.”
I roll my eyes at him. “Thank you Mr. How to Turn a Date down. For your information, Luke was hounding me all morning. It’s not my fault the guy can’t take a hint. I only started to ignore him as a last resort. But I’ll try and remember your advice for any future unwanted advances.” I smirk.
“Just trying to help.” He laughs.
“Laugh all you want. I had it under control.”
“Whatever you say.” He smiles and changes the subject. “I knew you were taping so I thought I’d stop by and see if you wanted to grab a bite to eat before class.”
“No, thanks.” I say, struggling to suppress a smile.
“No? You playing hard to get again?” He teases.
“Maybe.” I tease.
He puts his arms around me and pulls me close. “How can I convince you?” He whispers as he leans down, kissing me softly on the lips.
“Maybe.” He kisses me softly again on the lips.
“With.” He breathes and kisses me lightly again.
“Kisses.” He whispers. He then pulls me closer and this time his kiss is more demanding. I cannot pull away.
He steps back. Gazing down at me, he says, “Maybe more jewelry.”
Still caught up in his charming, alluring ways, I am silent for a moment, trying to regain my composure.
“I’ll take the kisses over jewels.” I murmur.
Logan laughs. “You are my kind of woman. Now how about something to eat before I devour you here.”
“Come.” He takes my hand in his and leads me to his car in the parking lot behind the studio. The door closes behind me as I slide onto the seat. In a minute he’s sitting next to me, starting the engine.
“Shoreline, okay?” He asks.
“Sounds great. It’s a perfect day for the beach.” I say as I look up at the blue, cloudless sky.
“I couldn’t agree with you more.” He smiles as he pulls the car out of the lot and towards the coast.
I giggle. “That’s a first.”
“What?” He quickly glances at me with a confused expression.
“You agreeing with me.” I tease.
“What ever do you mean, Miss King? I agree with everything you say.” His voice oozes with sarcasm.
I laugh. “Sure.”
“I think it’s you who likes to disagree with me. Miss How to Turn a Date down.” He shakes his head and laugh.
“That’s not funny.” I stifle a smile. “I was handling it fine until you came along and scared poor Luke away.”
“Yes, fine.” He smirks. “You should be happy I came along and scared him off. He was just going to continue to hound you.”
“I am happy you came along.” I smile sweetly at him. “But I was fine.”
“There’s that word again, fine. One day I will figure out why you always insist that you are fine.”
We pull into a parking spot in front of the café. The café is only half full; the lunch crowd hasn’t fully arrived. Taking off our shoes, we make our way into the sand to find a table.
Our waitress arrives and she is the same cute blonde from yesterday. She glances at Logan and immediately blushes, just like last time. Unlike last time she doesn’t look away, she stares at him.
“Oh. Hi.” She says slowly, sensually, as if they are long lost friends. I’m sure she would like to be his good friend. I can’t help but roll my eyes.
Logan doesn’t return her greeting and instead looks at me and says, “Corona?”
“Sure.” I answer.
“Two Coronas.”
Logan is watching me while I look up at the waitress. I notice that she looks wistfully disappointed.
“Okay. Two Coronas coming up.”
“Poor girl, she’s still swooning over you.” I tease. “She was very disappointed you didn’t say hi to her.”
Logan rolls his eyes. “Poor Luke. I’m sure he’s still swooning over you too.”
“Oh, please.” I say.
The waitress returns with our Coronas, each bottle has a sliced lime stuck at the opening. Never taking her eyes off Logan she places them on the table. I definitely prefer her alter ego from yesterday, the one that couldn’t look at him.
“You ready to order?” She says staring at Logan.
Logan is ignoring her and looking at me. “Emilia?”
“I’ll have the fish tacos.” I take a sip of beer.
“Two fish tacos.” He says without taking his eyes off mine.
Looking thoroughly annoyed, the waitress turns on her heels and quickly rushes off.
“Now you’ve really pissed her off.” I tease. “You know you should really be more up front with her, ignoring doesn’t help.” I giggle, repeating his earlier words.
“Good advice, baby. You should follow that too.” He smirks.
“I really do love the necklace.” I say as I delicately touch the heart locket with my fingers.
“I’m glad.” He smiles.
“You were very sneaky.” I tease.
“Yes. Well, I know you don’t like surprises…”
“I love this surprise.” I smile.
“See, you do like getting gifts.” He takes a sip of beer.
“You know I don’t mean it like that. Honestly, if you put the photo in a necklace from a gumball machine I would have been just as touched. You can ask Bryn, that’s what I told her.”
“A little blue box from Tiffany’s never hurts.” He says.
I giggle. “That’s what Bryn said.”
“Of course she did.”
“What does that mean?” I say in Bryn’s defense.
“I think it’s safe to say that most girls feel that way, you would be the exception.” He smiles.
The waitress returns with our baskets of fish tacos. She places them on the table without saying a word. Then she hurries off to another table.
We eat in silence for most of the meal. I chew on a small bite of fish and wash it down with a sip of beer. Logan leans back in his seat, looking at me.
“I like watching you eat.” He smiles. “Have you always been so petite?”
“I’m not petite. I’m almost five feet, six.” You are just tall and so… muscular.”
“Okay. Maybe I used the wrong word. You say petite like it’s a bad thing. How about slender? Is that a better word? Have you always been a runner? Is that what keeps you so fit?”
“Slender?” I say never giving my body type much thought. “I’ve never had to worry much about weight; I suppose I was just blessed with good genes.”
“I always liked running but didn’t really get into it until sixth grade. My school had a team and I joined it. In high school I did track and cross country.”
“How about you? What do you do to stay in shape?” I say, remembering him shirtless in Montecito.
“I work out. I like to go surfing.” He smirks. “Or as you like to call it tea bagging.”
“Oh. I forgot to Google that.” I smile. “Why do I sense that your definition is quite different from mine?”
“Hmm.”
“Something sexual?” I ask.
“Maybe.”
“That’s not fair. You have to tell me now.” The curiosity is killing me.
“I’m afraid it would make you blush.”
“I’m a big girl.” I smile.
“I don’t think you want me to tell you over lunch.”
“You think it would make me squeamish?” I ask wide-eyed.
“Yes and we all know you are prone to fainting.” He teases.
Fainting makes me think of Shakespeare. I remember that it’s Monday and I not only have a class I need to get to, but I need to finish a paper.
“You ready to go?” I ask.
“You feeling faint at the thought of being squeamish?” He teases.
“No. I just have to get to class this afternoon and I have to finish an essay.”
Logan signals the waitress for our check. She pulls her pad of paper out of her pocket, qu
ickly scribbles on it and hurriedly drops it off on our table.
“My treat?” I ask.
“Uh. No.” He says.
“But we aren’t celebrating anything? You treated yesterday because you said we were celebrating my win.”
“You think I should only pay when we are celebrating something?”
“Yes. So let me treat. I’m a working girl I can afford some fish tacos.” I smile and snatch the check from his hand.
He grabs it right back. “Don’t be ridiculous, Emilia. If you feel better about me paying when we are celebrating something. I will always come up with some sort of celebratory occasion.”
“Oh?” I say and I lift an eyebrow.
“Sure. Today we are celebrating you ignoring that boy…”
“Luke?”
“Yes, him. Next time we will celebrate you being more up front with who ever is trying to get into your pants.” He smirks.
Logan places some cash on the table with the check. The waitress appears again. She takes the check and money.
“Hope to see you soon.” She says to Logan with her back to me.
I roll my eyes. “She definitely wants in your pants.” I laugh.
“She can want all she wants but I’m never going to want her back.” He says, repeating my words I said about Sebastian.
We stand and he takes my hand as we head to his car.
“That reminds me, does Sebastian know I’m still after you and your money?” I giggle.
He opens the passenger door for me. “I don’t care what he says or thinks.” I slide into the seat and he slams the door shut.
Logan slips into the car. “Ok?” He says as he leans back wearily in the driver’s seat.
I know he wants to change the subject but I can’t, I’m too inquisitive. “He said something about me, didn’t he?”
“Why can’t you just drop it?” He’s glaring at me. I haven’t seen him this annoyed since I called him cocky and pampered when I interviewed him.
My face drops, surprised by his anger. “Sorry.” My voice is quiet.
His mood shifts, his eyes soften. “Look, I don’t want you to worry about what Sebastian says or thinks. I don’t. You shouldn’t. It’s our senior year and he just wants it to be a wild, fun, last year. I had that for three years with him and we would have had another year like that but I met you.”
Running from Romeo Page 15