Hearts Aflame Collection III: 4-Book Bundle (8 page)

“
What
? Did I just hear you say that
you
want to be the
captain
for this shipment, Mr. Logan? And what type of credentials do you have? Do you realize I am staking my family’s name on this? Everything my family has spent their lives building since the end of
World War II
? Sir, I mean no disrespect; I do know my father knew you better than I or he would not have sold part of the business to you. But you must understand, Mr. Logan,
I do not know you, or anything about you!
I have seven days to research and find a captain and I do not have time for
wannabe captains.
I do not see how you could possibly fill this contract, Mr. Logan. I think it would serve the company better if I found a more suitable captain. I hope you understand.”

Jake pondered this for a moment, trying to use this outcome from every angle. “Ms.
Smith, I agree, you do not know me yet, but I cannot help think this is going to change very quickly. Yes, your father knew me as well as any person on this earth and I can assure you that if he were here right now, I would be the first person he called for this shipment. Now, as for my credentials and experience, I will explain them to you over dinner tonight.”

“What?”
Lucy had never been so flustered in all her life. She felt this deal sinking fast and was dumbfounded that its success fell on the hands of this man and his signature. What do you mean over dinner? I need this signed now, this morning. I will be spending this whole day researching captains and do not have time for this. I see no reason why we should not settle this here and now. I have stated my position on this and do not see any reason to repeat myself. Now, if you will please sign on the dotted line, I can go about filling the position of captain!”

Jake could not help but notice how beautiful she was when she was mad. Her chest heaved with indignation and her cheeks reddened. At this moment, he knew he had to act to make her his. “Ms.
Smith, I have stated my position as well. I have a prior engagement I must attend to. I will send a car around for you at 8:00 p.m. sharp. Where shall it collect you from? Will it be your office or home?”

“Mr. Logan
,
I must protest, I see no reason for this!”

“Ahh, Ms.
Smith, if you think about it, you have every reason to see this through. You have a proposal you need me to sign and I need you to ensure me the position of captain. Now, once again, your home or your office?”

With as much indignation as she could muster, she arose to her full height and looked him square in the eyes.
“
I must first remind you, sir, that it is my family’s name on this company heading, and at the end of the day I get what I want. I will hear your qualifications, Mr. Logan, and that will then be the end of it, but I will be driving myself. I need no man to
collect
me. I will expect to hear from you by 4:00 p.m. as to the location of this meeting. Good day, sir.” And with that, she walked out the door.

Jake smiled as he enjoyed every second of watching her walk away.

“What was that about?” Landon inquired. “I thought you were just going to run it by her and if she said no then that was the end of the deal?”

“Landon, I have a new plan, and with this one, the stakes have never been higher.”

***

Lucy sat at her desk the rest of the morning, researching captains and making calls. One disturbing coincidence after another kept popping up. Either Mr. Logan had contacted every person before her, or he really was not only a shipping captain, but the most qualified and respected one she could find. Every person she spoke with had given her the name Jake Logan when inquiring as to who was best suited for the job. Lucy had now spent the better half of the afternoon researching Mr. Logan and his qualifications and she had to admit she was rather surprised at her findings. She had her report on her desk, and she was going to go over it with a fine-tooth comb.

By 6:00, Lucy was thoroughly exhausted. She could find no flaws in Jake’s professional resume at all. His education was top of the line, his credentials all up to date. His record of being on time was superb and he had zero losses in his years of being a captain. All in all, Lucy had to admit his resume was better than any she had researched yet
. Shoot!

She had so looked forward to telling him no when confronting him with his lack of experience, but in the end, he was exactly what she had been looking for in this endeavor. Well, it still would not hurt to make him squirm a little before she accepted his terms.

He would get to see this through as captain, she thought, as she headed out the door with the address in hand that her secretary had laid on her desk earlier. But it was not going to be served up on a silver platter.

***

Jake was standing over the stove, adding the finishing touches to dinner. The delectable Lucy Smith had no idea she had been in the presence of a gourmet cook today. Cooking was a second passion and one he enjoyed immensely, although he did not get the chance to do so very often anymore; between being out to sea and then being alone when home. He relished the chance to show his prowess in the kitchen; even Gordon Ramsey himself would have no complaints. Yep, when it came to this night’s meal, he had to admit he had outdone himself, but he had his whole future at stake. For he was bound and determined to win not only the position as captain of this barge; but also as the man who won the heart of the beautiful Ms. Smith.

He started out with a slow-cooked Chicken Cacciatore served with a spinach salad with cranberry raisins, sprinkled with blue cheese crumbles and served with blue cheese dressing. And on the side, Zinfandel wine followed by a homemade key lime cheesecake.

Jake, old man, you have outdone yourself.

If this did not impress Ms.
Smith, he hoped to god that his charms and dimples did.

***

Lucy pulled into the address provided, totally confused. Jake had said he would be taking her to dinner; yet this was obviously a house,
his house
as the name on the mailbox stated. This was not what she had hoped for. Lucy had been looking forward to a quick getaway in a public place where Mr. Logan would not dare make a scene.

Lucy prided herself in thinking quick and changing plans at the last moment, so as she reached up to ring the doorbell, she decided to re-access the situation from inside and see what the evening would bring her.

She was not expecting the electric jolt her body felt when Jake opened the door; she had thought he looked good in a suit and tie, but that was nothing compared to
this
Jake, with a five o’clock shadow, tight jeans and a flannel shirt. She was afraid to speak for fear her voice would give away her thoughts,
Yep
, Lucy was afraid that her voice would be as shaky and muddled as her body and mind were at that moment.

Jake was speechless. Lucy was the most gorgeous creature he had ever seen. She had obviously changed clothes, but with only a light brushing of make-up and her jeans and a sweater that hugged her in all the right places, she was beautiful, and he could not stop staring at her. While Jake had a smooth line ready for this moment, the effect of seeing her stand in his doorway with the sun gently setting behind her left him speechless; which had never until this moment happened; he always had word ready with a smooth delivery. Right now he couldn’t remember his own middle name.

They stood and stared at each other for a few moments, neither speaking until Lucy had cleared her head enough to think. “I thought we were going out to eat?” she stated a little put out.

“Change of plans,” Jake stated as he moved out of the door frame and invited her in. “I rarely get the chance to cook, so I thought I would give my culinary skills a whirl, seeing as they were starting to get a little rusty, I hope you don’t mind.” Jake poured two glasses of wine and handed one to her. “Cooking has always been a passion of mine, one which I have limited time to pursue. I think you will be quite surprised and delighted tonight, Ms.
Smith.”

Lucy took a moment to collect herself, trying not to show surprise at this awareness of him. Lucy had a plan and she was going to stick to it. Stay calm, cool, collected and in charge. Never let him get the upper hand in the conversation, guide it in the direction she wanted it to go, and then leave. Assert her authority in the process and make him realize she held all the cards, well, except for the small detail of needing his signature to finish this proposal.

“Well, Mr. Logan, I am quite surprised,” Lucy stated as she took a sip of wine. She used this moment to decide where to take this conversation next. “Would you please share your experience and credentials in the shipping industry with me?”

“We do not have to proceed with such haste, now do we? Come, sit down and I shall answer all your questions over dinner.”

As Lucy entered the dining area, she was taken aback at the grand display before her. From the looks of it, she expected a maid and chef to come out of the kitchen any moment. The table was aligned with a beautiful lace cloth, with a gorgeous bouquet of flowers as the centerpiece. Not so high that one could not see the person across from them, but just enough to draw attention to the table. Candles sat at both ends lit the table and the overhead lighting was set to dim.

Trying not to show the surprise and approval on her face, she took a seat at the head of the table. Jake served them both and refilled their wine glasses. She would have to be careful, wine made her tipsy a little quickly and muddled her thoughts. She couldn’t help but remember a few of her days in college she would like to forget, thanks to a bottle or two. Oh, the crazy things youth will make you do. And she was already feeling the first glass.

“Mr. Logan, how is it that you came to know my father?” Lucy asked. She had always been a little curious of this since learning of his ascent into the family business.

“Well, Ms.
Smith, I was young, twenty-one in fact, and had dropped out of college,” he said, his voice like silk, vibrating off every nerve ending in her body. Lucy was sure she
felt
him speak more than she
heard
him. “I was on the dock one day and sat speaking to a man who reminded me of my father. He listened to me and my dreams, asked questions and was genuinely interested in my answers. After about two hours of bantering back and forth, I excused myself, told him I was running short on time and had to finish looking for a job. That is when he introduced himself. ‘Jake, young man, my name is Charles Smith, you are standing on my dock and this is my shipping line,’ he stated as he pointed toward the fleet of ships. ‘I see a lot in you that reminds me of myself, and I would like to extend to you an offer of employment. How about it, son, a chance at a well-paying job while you see the world? If you like it, I will even pay your way through college so you can work your way up. You see this large ship here? This is the third largest cargo ship in the world. How would you like to be at the helm one day?’ I, of course accepted your father’s offer and never looked back. I felt at home on the decks of a Smith ship, and I have thanked god every day for your father. He was like a second father to me. You can rest assured that I will
never
do anything that would have shaken the faith your father had in me.”

Lucy listened intently, as Jake refilled her glass twice. “Well, I must say that sounds exactly like my father; he never doubted his own instincts and never second guessed his decisions. And yes, he was a wonderful, warm man, I miss him terribly. You say he paid for your education to further yourself in this business? Please, fill me in on your qualifications.”

“Well,” Jake began as he filled their glasses yet again. “I am a graduate, with honors I may add, of the West Coast Maritime College; I am skilled in all areas, not just marine transportation, but also in facilities technology, mechanical engineering, as well as global studies and international business.”

Lucy knew all this, of course, but hearing it come from him, seeing the pride on his face, hearing the sense of accomplishment that came through when he spoke of his degrees made it all seem new, like she was just finding all this out for the first time. Lucy tried to remember her game plan.

“Mr. Logan, why do you want to captain
this
particular run? What is so important that you feel the need to be the one in control?”

Jake thought for a moment, there was so many reasons, he was trying to narrow it down to the few most important. “Ms.
Smith, not only am I the most qualified captain in the fleet, but as you know I have a monetary and personal investment in this. If all goes well with this proposal and we do indeed win the contract for this shipment, I am well aware that this moves Smith Shipping to the second largest in the industry, a position that I am sure your father would be very proud of, especially since it his daughter who took the company there. I, for one, made a promise to your father that I plan to keep. Trust me, there is no other person on this earth that could come as close as you in wanting to preserve the integrity of the name Smith as I do.”