Take Me To The Beach

by K. L. Grayson, Karina Halle, A. L. Jackson, Marni Mann, Monica Murphy, Devney Perry, Kristen Proby, Rachel Van Dyken

  There were some old shelves on the walls that I’d crammed full of my raw materials just waiting until the time was right and inspiration hit. Like my spoons. They were rejects from the school cafeteria, so I’d taken them two years ago before they could be trashed.

  Last week, I’d finally had an idea for how to use them.

  “So, you’re an artist?” he asked.

  “No, I’m a bartender. This is all just a hobby.”

  He nodded, coming closer to my table in the center of the shed. “What are you making?”

  “It’s going to be a bird’s nest made out of spoons.” I’d welded the base of the nest together already, but it just looked like a mishmash of broken spoons at the moment. When it was done, it would be a cool piece to hold jewelry or other small trinkets.

  “I’ll look forward to seeing it when you’re finished.”

  I smiled. “Thank you.”

  Logan was just being polite, but I liked it nonetheless. There were far fewer polite people in the world than one would hope.

  “Nolan, my business associate, gave me your address. I hope you don’t mind me stopping by.”

  “Not at all. I’m glad you’re here. We’ve got a lot to talk about.”

  He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry for running off earlier. I just needed—”

  “It’s okay. You don’t need to apologize. I get it.”

  “I should have taken that shot.”

  I laughed. “Probably.”

  He grinned and moved away from the table, leaning back against a row of cabinets on one of the walls. “I have a kid.”

  I nodded. “You have a kid.”

  Of that, I had no doubt.

  Charlie had always taken after Logan. They had the same part in their hair, the one that I couldn’t get to move on her head no matter how hard I tried. They had the same color eyes, a shade of brown similar to my own. Dark. The same shape of their mouth and nose.

  And that crooked pinky.

  “I don’t even know where to start.” He held up a finger. “Actually, that’s not true. We used condoms.”

  “A lot of them,” I agreed, hopping up on the table. With my feet swinging, I shook my head. “Except in the shower.”

  “The shower.” He closed his eyes and tipped his head back. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, letting the memory come rushing back. “I forgot about the shower.”

  Not surprising. The sex we’d had in the shower had been amazing, just not as good as we’d had everywhere else in his hotel suite. Still, I hadn’t forgotten.

  Logan had carried me into the shower after hours in bed. We’d both wanted to cool off and wash away the sweat and sex. But after he’d carefully lathered up my skin, I hadn’t been able to resist a long kiss. He’d hoisted me up against the tile and plunged deep, fucking me with abandon until he’d pulled out and shot his release all over my stomach. Soap and water and Logan all mixed together.

  Except he hadn’t pulled out soon enough.

  “I assume you’ll want a paternity test to be sure,” I said. “We can go up to Kalispell tomorrow if you want. I don’t need to tell Charlie anything until it’s done.”

  He stared at me for a long moment. “You’re sure she’s mine?”

  “She’s yours.”

  “Then that’s good enough.”

  “I—really?” I blinked. He didn’t want to verify paternity? He just . . . trusted me?

  He nodded. “Really.”

  “I swear, I tried to find you, Logan. On my life, I swear it. But the hotel wouldn’t give me your name no matter how much I begged. And you paid cash for your drinks and never mentioned your last name. I tried, but I just . . . didn’t know where to start.”

  “It’s not your fault. I believe you.”

  The sincerity in his voice made my throat burn. Goddamn it. I was going to cry.

  I’d worked so hard not to cry today. I’d fought to keep my emotions in check and my head from spinning out of control. But this was going to make me break.

  I wanted so badly for Logan to believe that I hadn’t kept Charlie from him intentionally. The fact that a man like him would trust someone like me without proof meant more than he’d ever know.

  “Thank you,” I choked out past the lump in my throat.

  “So, um, is Charlie inside with your husband? Or boyfriend?”

  The urge to cry disappeared and I barked out a laugh. “Smooth.”

  He chuckled. “It’s been a long day for me. Give me a break, will you? This morning I was in New York, then I came to Montana for a business meeting and discovered a daughter. I’m off my game.”

  “Fair enough. And no, I’m not married or dating. Charlie is inside asleep. We live with a friend who Charlie calls Gran.”

  “Do you have other kids?”

  I quirked an eyebrow. “Twenty questions?”

  “More like a hundred. Do you mind?”

  “Not at all. Ask away.”

  As much as I would like to learn more about Logan, my questions could wait. I’d tell him about Hazel’s “research” later and then ask the questions I had for myself.

  “Let’s start with the basics. What’s your last name?”

  “Landry.”

  “Thea Landry.” His deep voice saying my name sent a shudder down my back.

  He took his hands from his pockets and crossed his arms over his chest. The short sleeves of his polo stretched tight across his biceps. His jeans contoured around his bulging thighs.

  God, he is hot. He’d brought a heat wave into my workshop.

  Over the years, whenever I’d pictured Logan, he was always in a suit. Whether he was walking down the sidewalk or climbing into a limo, my mental image always had him in an Italian suit.

  It was different seeing him in casual clothes, but he was just as handsome. Though his suit held so much power, his jeans and simple white shirt showcased his muscled body better.

  And in jeans, Logan didn’t seem so far out of reach.

  Not that I had any intention of starting something romantic with Logan again. But for Charlie’s sake, he’d be easier to accept in jeans. I doubted she’d ever seen a man in a suit who wasn’t on television.

  Logan cleared his throat before his next question. Did he think it was as hot in here as I did? “My grandmother would cringe that I’m asking, but how old are you?”

  “Thirty-one. You?”

  “Thirty-three. And when is her birthday?”

  “August fifth.” I smiled. “She was ten days late in the heat of summer. I’d never been so miserable in my entire life. Hazel, Charlie’s Gran, rented me a room at the motel because I wouldn’t stop snapping at her to get air conditioning.”

  He smiled back. “Charlie. That’s a unique name for a girl.”

  “It’s Charlotte. Charlotte Faye Landry. But she hates to be called Charlotte. At four, she declared she was Charlie and that’s all she goes by now. I’m sure you could tell, but she’s a bit of a tomboy. She loves nothing more than to play in the trees or around the lake. She’s always building forts in the woods and finding animals to bring home.”

  “Hmm.” His eyebrows furrowed and his gaze drifted to the floor.

  I waited for another question but it never came. Instead, a heavy silence settled in the workshop, chasing away the heat. My arms broke out in goose bumps as he stared at his shoes.

  What was he thinking? Did he not like hearing about her? Charlie was my pride and joy, so I talked about her constantly. Had I said something to spook him? Maybe I’d misread his questions for interest in our daughter. Maybe he was here tonight to say he didn’t want to be a part of her life. That he had no interest in being a dad.

  How would I ever explain that to her?

  Please, Logan. Just give her a chance.

  He finally looked up and whispered, “Do you think she’ll like me?”

  The air whooshed out of my lungs and I wanted to cry again. He wanted to know her. Logan wanted Charlie.
“She’ll love you.”

  It would take some time. Charlie wasn’t outgoing like most of her friends and she was shy when it came to strangers. She’d put Logan under a microscope, making him prove he was genuine. But once she got past the initial hesitation, she’d love him completely.

  It would just take a little time.

  “Can I meet her?”

  I nodded. “Of course. How about tomorrow night? You can come for dinner. That will give me a chance to tell her about you first. She doesn’t do great with surprises.” That was an understatement, but I didn’t want to scare him away.

  “Tomorrow.” His face lit up, filling my heart with hope. “I’ll be here.”

  Logan

  I had no idea what to do with myself. Since leaving Thea’s art studio last night, I’d been a nervous wreck. Sleep had come late and short. I’d finally gotten tired of staring at the ceiling so I’d gotten up to shower.

  My face was shaved, my hair combed. I was dressed and ready for the day, but I had no idea where to go next. Now, instead of the ceiling, I was standing in front of the bathroom mirror, unable to look away.

  She’s going to think I’m uptight.

  Maybe I should just wear a T-shirt.

  Would that make me look more like a fun dad?

  I should have asked Thea more questions. I didn’t feel prepared at all to meet Charlie.

  Last night, Thea had calmed a lot of my nerves. Whether she knew it or not, the little things she’d told me about Charlie had put me at ease. There was no mistaking how much she adored our daughter. The glint in her eyes had made me excited about meeting Charlie.

  But the moment I’d left that garden shed, without Thea to reassure me, self-doubt had crept back in. What if Charlie and I had nothing in common? What if she didn’t like me? What if I was a bad father?

  By the time I’d walked the five blocks from Thea’s house to the motel, I’d all but convinced myself that Charlie was going to hate me.

  In the last decade—hell, two—I couldn’t remember being this nervous. Not about starting college. Not about taking the bar exam. Not about a date.

  I was terrified of meeting my five-year-old.

  Talking to strangers came easy for me. I was good at mingling and making conversation. But I had no idea what to say to my own kid. I tore my eyes away from the mirror to look at my watch. I had until six o’clock tonight to figure it out.

  Eleven hours didn’t seem like enough time.

  A knock at the door forced me out of the bathroom. I crossed the small space and freed the safety chain, not bothering to check the peephole.

  “Morning,” I told Nolan as I swung the door open.

  “Morning.” He gave me a sideways glance. “You okay?”

  I nodded but said, “No.”

  “Here.” He handed me a coffee to-go cup. “I assumed you didn’t sleep much so I got you a double mocha from the little coffee hut down the road.”

  “You’d be right about that,” I muttered and took a sip. “Thanks.”

  He leaned against the doorjamb, studying me. His short, black hair matched the color of his suit jacket and slacks. “So? What happened last night? Did you talk to Thea?”

  “Yeah.” I sighed, moving back into the room to sit on the edge of the bed. “I stopped by her house and we talked for a while. I’m meeting Charlie tonight.”

  “That’s good. Isn’t it?”

  “It is. If I’m only here a week, I can’t afford to waste any time. But . . .”

  “You’re nervous.”

  “Terrified.” I nodded. “I have no idea what to say. Do I introduce myself as her dad? Or just Logan? Should I shake her hand? Or give her a hug? And that’s just the first five seconds we meet. What do I do after that? If I fuck this up, she’ll remember it forever.”

  Other dads had it lucky. If they messed up their introduction, it didn’t matter. Newborns didn’t remember anything.

  “You need to relax, Logan. I’ve seen you charm entire rooms of people before. Just be yourself. If you go in there scared, she’s going to pick up on that. Kids can smell fear.”

  Then she was going to smell me coming from a mile away.

  This would all be so much easier if they lived in New York. I could see Charlie more often. I wouldn’t feel the immense pressure to make every day this week perfect.

  I stood and walked to the dresser, grabbing my phone and sunglasses. “We’d better get going. Are you ready?”

  Nolan let me change the subject. “Yes. I’m hoping I can get back in time to squeeze in a few hours at the office.”

  He was flying back to New York today, and I envied him for it. Not that I didn’t want to stay to meet my daughter, but I was jealous that he knew exactly what his day would entail. He’d fly home, swing into the foundation office for a few hours, then go home to his wife and son.

  “You should take the afternoon off. Go home and spend time with Kayla before Tyler gets out of school.”

  He chuckled. “She wouldn’t even be home. Her calendar is packed tighter than mine these days.”

  Kayla, Nolan’s wife, had invented an organic skincare line last year and it had recently been picked up by two high-end department stores. “Just promise me that when you quit to become her personal assistant, you’ll give me at least a year’s notice.”

  “Don’t worry.” He shook his head. “I love my wife, but we’d kill each other if we worked together. I think I’ll stick with the foundation.”

  “Good. We wouldn’t be the same without you.”

  “A compliment before eight? Normally you like to give me a hard time in the mornings. You really are nervous, aren’t you? And it’s messing with your head.”

  Yes, it was. I couldn’t think of a time when I’d wanted so badly for someone to like me. I had no confidence. Zero. And that feeling was more unsettling than the rest.

  Nolan’s face softened. “You’ve got this, Logan.”

  Do I? “Thanks. We’d better get you to the airport.”

  I appreciated that he had faith in me. I just hoped that over the next eleven hours, I could find some for myself.

  By five o’clock, I’d done everything I could think of to distract myself through the day. I’d driven Nolan to Kalispell and dropped him at the airport. I’d stopped at a small café for breakfast, then done something I avoided at all costs.

  I’d gone to a mall and shopped.

  The last time I’d shopped for myself had been in law school. Once I’d graduated, I’d delegated all shopping to my assistant. Whenever I needed clothes, I sent him an email and they were waiting in my closet when I came home. If they didn’t fit, a tailor came over to do alterations.

  But shopping today had been a necessity. Not only did I need more clothes, I also needed to stay busy. The last thing I’d wanted to do was to go back to Lark Cove and sit alone in my motel room. So I’d shopped for a week’s worth of casual clothes that, hopefully, would make me seem more approachable and dad-ish.

  With a week’s wardrobe in the back of my black rental SUV, I’d finally driven back to Lark Cove. I’d found a parking lot that overlooked the lake, pulled out my briefcase, set up a hotspot, and dived right into the best kind of distraction.

  Work.

  From the driver’s seat of the car, I spent a few hours arranging for my unplanned vacation. My team at the firm had marching orders to start drafting contracts for an upcoming merger. Both of my assistants knew to call me with urgent matters. And my parents had received a note informing them that I’d be missing the dinner we’d planned for Thursday.

  But as I hit send on my last email, I realized that I’d fucked up. I’d worked too fast. Efficiency, something that had served me so well, had become enemy number one.

  I still had an hour to kill.

  So instead of sitting in my car, worrying for the next hour, I went to the one place in Lark Cove I hadn’t planned on frequenting again.

  The Lark Cove Bar.

  “Hi.” I nodde
d to Jackson as I slid into a stool at the bar.

  The smile he had for the two customers he’d been talking to disappeared as he looked my way. “Thea’s not here. She’s at home with Charlie.”

  “That’s fine. I just came in for a beer.”

  “A beer?”

  “Yeah.” Why was that surprising? For a bartender, you’d think Jackson would be used to people asking for beer. “Whatever you have on draft.”

  He scowled and picked up a pint glass. But instead of going to the row of taps along the bar, he filled the glass with ice water.

  “That’s a little lighter than I normally drink.”

  Jackson didn’t think that was funny. The crease between his eyebrows deepened as he set down the water on the bar. “You’re meeting your kid for the first time tonight. Is walking into Thea’s house with alcohol on your breath really the first impression you want to make?”

  Shit. I’d just wanted a beer to settle my nerves, but he had a good point. I didn’t want to smell like beer when I met my daughter.

  “Jackson,” a raspy voice snapped from behind him. “Leave him alone.”

  From the back hallway that disappeared behind the bar, an older woman emerged. Her hair hung past her shoulders in thick white and gray strands. Her skin was tanned and leathery. The wrinkles around her lips were more fissure than fine line. All of the things my mother despised about age, this woman wore with pride. She was beautiful, especially her hazel eyes, which were light and full of life.

  “You work at the camp.” I’d seen her yesterday when Willa had toured us around the main lodge. She’d been working in the kitchen, but before Willa had been able to introduce us, she’d ducked out and disappeared.

  “That’s right. I’m Hazel Rhodes.” She extended a hand over the bar and past Jackson, bumping him out of the way.

  “Logan Kendrick.”

  “You probably don’t remember, but I was in here yesterday with Charlie too. During the Great Frog Escape.”

  “No, sorry. I was . . . distracted.”

  “Understandable.” She grinned and patted Jackson on the arm. “This is Jackson Page. I’m guessing he hasn’t introduced himself.”

  I held out a hand, but rather than shake it, Jackson crossed his arms over his chest.