One Moment

by Elizabeth Savino

  Its Ellie’s bunny.

  Chapter Twelve

  Really, I’m Fine

  Two hours later I am standing in my bedroom after waking from a much needed nap. Now that I am awake my head feels fine. Before taking my nap I checked out my body and found that I had no protruding bones, bad cuts or bruises. Suddenly, I hear my front door creak open. I stop breathing, my heart is beating out of my chest, as quiet as I can be I rush to my closet to grab my bat.

  Hiding behind my bedroom door I strain to hear what’s going on. Through the sound of my blood rushing thought my ears since my heart is beating so fast, I hear someone walking around the cottage.

  In my hiding spot behind the bedroom door I wait and pray it’s just my fat cat in from a stroll. Yes, I know that’s ridiculous, but I’m scared so it’s just really wishful thinking. Bat in hand ready to swing. My heart is racing, if it beat’s any harder it may bounce out of my chest.

  I see fingers opening my bedroom door. Fingers attached to a man’s hand. I get ready to swing when I hear Logan say quietly, “Laura?”

  I let out my breath I didn’t realize I was holding. Logan pushes the door open and see’s me standing there in the ready position to swing.

  He gently put’s his hands over mine and lowers the bat, not taking it. He then pulls me into his embrace.

  I go willingly.

  “Darlin’’, you all right?” He asks with concern.

  “No.” I tremble, and shake my head in his chest. “I thought you were a burglar. Some crazy Texan cannibal coming for his dinner!”

  “Darlin’’ eating you will not be a hardship.” Logan say’s while chuckling. He is stroking my back in a soothing way that I feel my body calm and melt into him.

  Wait.

  Did he just say that? I look at him shocked that he did just say that.

  “No crazed cannibal, just me. I have keys to the cottage in case of an emergency. I thought you would be sleeping still and was worried. So I wanted to check on you. Didn’t think I would scare you honey.”

  Feeling totally embarrassed now, I look down to hide my face mumbling, “It’s fine, just ingrained.”

  Logan gently tilts my head up so my eyes meet his narrowed ones. “Ingrained? Someone out to hurt you?”

  Quickly, too quickly I tell Logan “No.”

  Looking at me with disbelieving eyes he gently say’s, “Honey, I hope you would tell me. I can’t help you if you won’t let me in.”

  Let him in.

  Let him in!

  If only it was that easy. I would love to tell Logan all of my problems. Unload all of the hurt inside of my body that I hold bottled up. Tell him the uneasy feeling I constantly have about John. He looks like he can bear the weight of the world on his broad shoulders. But isn’t he already bearing enough weight? Who am I to him? No one. So why should I burden him with my problems. So I don’t let him in. Instead I smile up at him. “I’m fine Logan. But thanks.”

  “Fine. I hate that word. When a woman say’s fine, she is anything but fine. How’s your head feelin?”

  “Fine.” I giggle.

  Logan shakes his head, but the corners of his lips tip up in an almost there smile. I giggle some more, which is something I never do. But it assures him that I’m better. He smiles down at me as I’m still wrapped up in his embrace.

  Quietly, just above a whisper Logan admits, “I need to do something, I hope I’m reading you right and you want me to do this too.” Logan is staring at my lips. Oh my, is he going to kiss me? Instinctively I lick my lips. That’s all it takes.

  Logan growls, yes growls and then leans down and kisses me. It wasn’t a kiss, it was a kiss. It started off slow, almost as though he is giving me an opportunity to pull away. Hell no, I’m not going anywhere. I am going to enjoy this rare treat.

  I drop the bat and it hits the floor with a thud. Now that I have two free hands I let them roam. I slip one under the front of Logan’s tee. I feel his muscles ripple when my fingers lightly graze his six pack. Yes, this man is definitely built. Uh, delicious.

  I let my fingers explore. My other hand finds its way behind Logan’s neck, I grasp his hair. Its silky soft, just as I’ve imagined and I love that it’s long enough that I have something to grab onto.

  Logan’s hands respond by slowly playing with the hem of my shirt, just over the top of my shorts. My shirt lifts a little and then he touches me. His hand leaves a burning trail on my skin. It feel’s so good. And it’s good to finally feel again. My pulse is racing. Not from being scared this time, no, this time it’s from feeling good.

  Logan starts backing me up, neither one of us wanting to let go of the other.

  He is brushing his tongue along the seam of my lips. I gasp from the exquisite feel which gives him the opportunity to slip his tongue into my mouth. He explores every inch, with his talented thrusts. I keep up with him by stroking my tongue against his. The movements are almost like a promise of more to come. And I’d really like to come.

  Oh, I’m really looking forward to Logan’s mouth on other parts of my body. Logan has one hand grasping my hair in a fist, not hard, but holding me where he wants me to be. His other hand has moved up slightly and is lightly grazing the underside of my breast, teasing it.

  Damn bra, I want to just rip it off. I almost, almost grab his hand and place it where I want it. But I am not sure if I want him to grab my breast, or move his hand further south.

  As though reading my mind, he breaks the kiss and starts to trail hot open mouth kisses down my neck. I tilt my head to give him better access. My breath is coming as rapid gasps, which I can’t seem to control. It’s not because of panic, it’s because of pleasure.

  Logan pulls back and looks at me through hooded eyes. I know he is seeing the same thing on my flushed face. Reluctantly he pulls his hand out from my shirt. I don’t. I keep my hand on his back, enjoying the feel of his muscles bunching from my touch.

  I decide to push my luck and lightly scratch my nails down Logan’s back while removing my hand from his shirt. I watch his already half lidded eyes close fully.

  Logan shuts his eyes tight and puts his forehead against mine. We are both breathing heavy.

  With his head not leaving mine Logan states, “We’re having dinner tomorrow night. I’ll pick you up at six.”

  “Dinner?” This word comes out as a gasp, I don’t even recognize my own needy voice.

  “Yeah, you eat right?” Logan’s voice is gruff, sexy.

  “Of course I eat…”

  Logan cuts me off. Smiles his sexy half smile and reconfirms, “Good, then I’ll pick you up tomorrow at six. Dress casual, we’ll go to the Grill. It’s in town.”

  “I don’t think your girlfriend will like that Logan, or our kiss just now.” Why do I say this? I must have knocked something loose when I fell.

  “Girlfriend?” Logan look’s puzzled. Even if he had a girlfriend, how would I know? He must think I am loony. A loony stalker.

  “Yeah, I went for a walk” (why am I telling him this, mouth stop please….but it doesn’t, what the hell, I am already making an idiot of myself anyway) “I was admiring your ranch and saw your girlfriend leaving a few nights ago.”

  Something clicks for Logan. He smirks at me, yes smirks! How annoying. “Why Laura are you checking up on me?”

  “What? No. I’m not!” I feel my face flame red.

  Logan chuckles and it’s a nice chuckle. His body shakes a little. I’m losing my train of thought!

  “She’s not my girlfriend Laura. Her and her husband and two kids live a few miles from here. Her daughter has some physical difficulties. Together we’re starting a program with the horses to help children with special needs. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow at dinner. Deal?”

  “Uh.” Great, I’m back to one syllable comments. Again. I blame the kiss.

  Logan softly looks at me. He gets closer bends down with his bulking body and stares closely into my eyes.

  “You sure you’re alr
ight?”

  “Uh, well, um.”

  “Honey, maybe I should check yo….”

  “No, no, I’m fine, just dinner, well, um…”

  “Then dinner, six o’clock. I’ll pick you up here.” It’s not really a question at this point, Logan is basically telling me that I am going to dinner with him.

  I’m shocked. So my head nods on its own volition.

  Oh. My. God.

  I just agreed to go out to dinner with Logan. I try to calm my racing heart by telling myself that a girls gotta eat, right? So what if it’s with my handsome, hunky, landlord who makes me want to rip my clothes off and attack him. Side note: Wow, he can kiss really, really well.

  Lost in my thoughts before I am able to come to my senses, I’m left watching Logan’s backside walk away from me. It’s a really nice backside. He has a natural swagger as he leaves. Even that’s sexy. What’s wrong with me? A broken libido that decided to go into hibernation for years, and all of a sudden it’s awake and starving!

  And then he’s gone. Galloping away on his horse. Like in the fairytales. I touch my lips, I can still feel his mouth on mine. Yum.

  What did I just agree to?

  Chapter Thirteen

  Dinner with a Gentleman

  Logan seems to know everyone, and not only do they know him but they seem to respect him. I can tell this from the smiles from the women, and the chin lifts from the men. Although they are giving us privacy this non verbal hello was enough to convey that he was well liked in town.

  I myself got a lot of curious glances. Not hostile so much as inquisitive. That is except for one woman who was seated across from her date. I could only see the back of the man; the woman is attractive, not beautiful, but pretty. Unfortunately for her, the scowl on her face looks like it is there more often than not. By the way she is looking, or should I say scowling at me I’m surprised I don’t turn into an ice sculpture from the shards being thrown in my direction.

  Women like her don’t bother me, never did. For some reason I can always hold my own when having to have a confrontation with a woman. A man, not my forte. A woman, bring it on.

  I was able to tell the exact moment Logan saw her as I feel his body tense and quietly almost so quiet I didn’t hear him say, “Fuck.”

  The hostess guides us to a quiet table in the corner. Private, yet we could see the entire restaurant. I look around taking in the ambiance. It is a nice restaurant, not too fancy, but one would know not to wear cut off shorts and flip flops.

  There is an unlit fireplace in the middle that gives a cozy feel. It has been so hot since I arrived I can’t picture this restaurant ever needing to have a working fireplace. But I’m sure it gets cold here in the winter and it would feel nice to sit next to it when the weather changes. The tables are a dark cherry wood with thick cream linen napkins. There aren’t many empty tables, and everyone here seems to be enjoying themselves.

  I take in the attire of the other guests. I chose my outfit carefully. I didn’t want Logan to think I was trying to seduce him (wishful thinking). I also wanted to look nice. This is my first outing in town, and I want to at least dress like I fit in.

  I chose a silk white cap sleeve shirt with lots of pleats along the edges. It has a light lavender lace trim. I brought a matching lavender cardigan with white buttons, which is folded next to me on the booth. The lavender chiffon skirt gave a perfect flare around my knees, but fits to show my figure. It hugs me in all the right places, falling right above my knees.

  My favorite sandals adorn my feet. White with a little heel. Not too high for I didn’t know if this dinner went to hell, I would be walking home. And home was far from town. And like I’ve said before, I have yet to see a cab. My favorite part of my sandals are the crystals in the strap that make them sparkle. Every girl needs a little sparkle.

  I took extra effort with my hair and make-up, and let’s admit it, on the outfit too. My hair is down and I left the bottom with its natural curl. The front is pulled up in a clip, a few strands are not in the clip and fall nicely next to my face.

  I haven’t cared enough to make an effort in so long that I stopped and questioned my motives at least fifty times while getting ready for dinner, or was it a date? Did I want Logan to find me attractive? That answer is easy.

  Yes. Definitely.

  But more important upon pondering Logan’s situation last night, I feel like Logan doesn’t have it easy, being a detective must be hard work, along with a ranch and a son who obviously needs his attention and time. The reality is I don’t really know if he has it easy or not, but I’d like to find out.

  This is a feeling I am so unaccustomed to as of late, I don’t know why I have this pull towards him. I am thankful that he must feel the same way, especially if he feels as affected as I do from our amazing kiss.

  Logan is beyond handsome, built, tall and powerful. But it’s more than that. I don’t know what yet. But having said that, no matter if my feelings are reciprocated, I felt that Logan deserved a date that put in the effort. So I did.

  The heated look Logan gave me when he picked me up at my door, told me my effort was appreciated. He refused to take a step into the cottage stating, “I don’t trust myself around any furniture that can make you horizontal.” Well if that doesn’t say something, I don’t know what does!

  **********

  Once the hostess leaves us with our menus alone, I start to get nervous. I didn’t have a chance to get nervous on the ride over because first, it was not a long drive only about ten minutes. Second, Logan filled the silence telling me about the scenery we were passing which put me at ease. I know this was deliberate, which makes him even more appealing.

  Now that we we’re alone, just the two of us, I start to fidget. I don’t like divulging any personal information, and since I didn’t think about topics to talk about before being “forced” into saying yes to dinner, I start to worry that Logan is going to pry, or just bring up things I can’t talk about openly, yet.

  What if he doesn’t like who I am? What if he wants me out of the cottage? Why did I say yes to going to dinner with my landlord? Why did I kiss my landlord? Wait, he kissed me. Damn. Isn’t there a saying “don’t dip your pen in the company ink?” Does that apply to landlords too? I start to feel hot. Not in a good way, in a clammy way. Maybe I should excuse myself and make a run for it.

  Logan put his menu down, looks at me gently, “Baby, what’s got you thinking so hard over there?”

  I had to think of something quick, “What do you do on your ranch?”

  Logan looks at me for a second and smirks, obviously not believing that’s what I was thinking, but answers anyway, “Horses.”

  “Horses?”

  “We breed ‘em. I also have a secret weapon on the ranch. His name is Hank. He’s the best ‘horse whisperer’ there is. So if someone has an out of control animal, they bring it to us and he breaks ‘em in.”

  “So people come to you with broken horses, and also to buy them. Kind of like a pet store?”

  Logan gives me his half smile, which is sexy as sin, in his low deep voice, “Yeah darlin’, they buy horses from me. But no, not like a pet store.”

  Logan turns the conversation around to me. “So tell me Laura, what brings you to Texas?” Simple question, right? But no, not for me. Do I tell him I am running away from memories? Too heartbroken to stay anywhere that I would think about my sister. My niece. Not trusting a man who got my sister pregnant and who I think had something to do with their death. Wanting, no needing to get away from it all.

  I look down at my painted nails. Studying them like it’s going to give me the answers to the meaning of life. Then I start to wonder if they have nail salons here in town. I don’t mind painting my own nails, but going to get a manicure is a nice treat once in awhile. Then I realize that I should have taken the time to re-polish my nails. Which takes my mind to the path of thinking about how I used to paint Ellie’s nails.

  She liked when I pain
ted little flowers on them, or sparkly pink polish. I shut my eyes for a second mentally reminding myself, not to go there. Silently I decide to plead the fifth to Logan’s question. Which I think he kind of figured out on his own.

  “Darlin’?” Logan now gently has my hand in his. His hand is so large it engulfs my much smaller one. I look at where he is holding me and feel safe, protected. His fingers are making slow small circles on the back of my hand. It’s relaxing. So relaxing that I feel like if he keeps this up I will spill, and tell him all of my secrets. I press my lips together enjoying the feeling and helping myself remain silent. I wonder, silently, why he’s even wasting his time with me.

  “Honey, you have so many secrets behind your eyes. I know you don’t realize it yet, but you can trust me with them. I think we have a strong connection, and I know you feel it too. Especially if that kiss was anything to measure it by” (Yay, he felt it too) “that being said, I’d like to explore this with you. How ‘bout a safer subject? Cody told me you make jewelry.”

  Breathe. Yes safer subject. I love making my jewelry so I take a deep breath, finally look Logan in the eyes and answer in a semi aroused state from his hand rubbing, which he continues to do, “I love making jewelry. It used to be a hobby. But now it’s how I make my living. ”

  We are interrupted by our waitress taking our order. Conversation remains light until I ask how Cody is feeling. Logan tenses. I don’t know why he has this reaction to me anytime I ask about his son. I wonder if he’s just over protective because he has Down syndrome.

  “He’s better, thank you. He enjoyed himself with you, hasn’t stopped talking about you and that fat cat.”

  I smile, it feels good to use those muscles again. It seems like I have used them more often since I moved here.

  Logan’s hand stops rubbing mine, sighing he admits, “I gotta be honest, I can’t quite figure you out with that. That’s the one thing holding me back from you. But I need to give you a chance to explain, because how you were with him doesn’t add up to how you reacted in the mini mart.” Logan surprises me by speaking in a frustrated tone.