The White Witch (11 page)

“You won’t ruin them. Come on.” Logan nudges me forward and we walk toward the stairs. I barely remember the steps it took for me to get to the top. Once there, Logan leads us down a hallway to the left until it dead ends at a door. He turns the handle and when we walk in, I see a seating area with two loveseats, a leather recliner and a fire place. He leads me in, closing the door behind us.

“You can lie down in my bed.” Logan stretches out his arm to the wall with the door to our right.

You’ve got to be kidding. He basically has his own living room!

I shake my head “No, It’s starting to subside. I’ll be fine.”

Logan smiles. “I know exactly what might help.”  He walks to a set of french double doors next to the entrance to the bed area and we step onto a balcony that wraps around the corner. There is iron furniture with burgundy cushions that he leads me to, but instead I grab hold of the rail and take in the beautiful ocean view. Below us you can see a glorious flower garden with a small fountain in the middle. Behind it, a set of trees leads directly to a drop off to the ocean. The view is breathtaking and I allow the scents of the flowers and the ocean to overcome me. Logan stands beside me and wraps his arm around me. I lean in closer, placing my head onto his chest and breathe deep, the pain slowly releasing it’s grip on my mind.

“Better?”

I nod.

“I’m sorry Angel.” He sighs and brings one of his hands to caress my cheek while the other stays wrapped around my back. “I had no idea my mom would invite you to meet my dad, and even less that Erebos would be here. I thought he had more sense than that.” He pulls me tight. “I didn’t like the way he looked at you at all. It took everything I had to keep from punching him.

“It’s ok. Like I said, I still can’t prove that it was him I saw, so I can’t say anything, but damned if I was going to let him intimidate me.” I turn to face him. “ I hope your mom doesn’t think I’m too forward or something.”

“No. My mom doesn’t like Erebos too much either. She deals with him because he is my dad’s uncle.”

“Oh.” I feel bad momentarily for possibly starting trouble between family again but it doesn’t last long. Something is off with Erebos and if trouble will keep him away from them, then that would be a good thing.

Logan keeps his hand on my cheek and I press into his palm. “You have the strangest effect on me.” He pinches his eyebrows at me and gives me a wicked smile, suddenly making me think I should have chosen other words. “Well, I guess I should say effects because first you make it very hard to keep my walls up because you just walk in and barrel them down. Secondly, every time I am around you, and I’m upset, you just hold me, and I start feeling calm.”

“Well, that’s a good thing, right Angel?” He leans down and presses his forehead to mine. Taking my locket in his hand and turning it over.

“Yes.” I say lowly, my gaze on his remarkably blue eyes.

“This looks beautiful on you.” He runs his thumb over the front of the locket.

“My dad and Liz gave it to me this morning as a graduation present. It has his family crest and my birth mother’s family crest inside. He figured pictures would be kind of cheesy and not my style.” Logan steals a glance at me raising an eyebrow. “Oh, he was right of course.”

He laughs out loud and I realize how much I like hearing it. “Are you feeling better?” He places a short and gentle kiss on my forehead.

“Always, when I’m around you, Polo.”

Logan laughs again and takes me by the hand. “Then I get to show you one last thing before we go.” His lips curl in a mischievous smile as he pulls me inside, closing the door behind us. He walks me past the sofas and the fireplace and up to a bookshelf that covers the entire wall. The whole thing is made of sectioned smaller bookshelves, each about three and a half feet wide and reaching from the floor to the ceiling. Beautiful carved molding surrounds each individual bookshelf, but is cut so that side by side they create a grander piece. Logan walks to the last shelf and I see several books with old covers, some worn, some looking rather new.

“Have you read most of these?”

I see him blush for likely the first time in front of me and I feel I have discovered a secret. “Yes, pretty much all of them. I have an e-reader, but it’s just not the same to me as holding a book in my hand and having the feel of turning the pages.”

Just then, my heart swells a little knowing that I had given a similar reason to my dad and Liz for not wanting an e-reader of my own. “I know exactly what you mean.” I say, sounding a bit breathier than I would have liked.

He looks at me for a moment, then turns his attention back to the last shelf. Shakespeare’s works, The Greatest Works of Edgar Allen Poe, Sherlock Holmes, Dracula, this entire section was strictly classic works. He reaches for The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett, pulling it out almost completely, then pushing it down and back into the shelf. Immediately I hear the sound of several locks coming undone. The shelf unhinges and swings forward just enough and the book pops back up into place. Logan reaches over and takes the now exposed door, pulling it open.

My mouth drops open and I just gape at the secret passage he’s just revealed.

Logan laughs out loud and gently pushes my mouth closed. “Yeah, I kind of thought you would like this.” He takes my hand and pulls me in. He reaches over and grabs a latch, pulling the door shut and plunging us into complete darkness. I hold tighter to his hand as I press my back against the wall for stability. “Just need to get my phone.” I hear his clothes rustling and suddenly a light comes on, giving the eerie room a more romantic feel. I look at his lips and wish he’d kiss me, but he just looks at me and slightly shakes his head, letting out a sigh. “Come on.”

About five more feet in front of us is a winding staircase that leads to another small closet sized room with two doors. He reaches in and turns the latch on the door to the left and sunlight begins to pour onto us as we step outside.

He closes the door behind us and it blends so seamlessly with the building you begin to wonder where you came out of. “Wow. That is just like from the pages of a book.” I say as my eyes dart around us, finding the beautiful garden to our right.

“That’s what I thought when I first discovered it. I was unpacking my books and rearranging some of the books that were already there when I came upon it. I have a funny feeling there may be a latch around here somewhere to get in, but for now, I haven’t found one.”

“Where does the other door lead?” I ask with a big smile on my face and an itch to go back in and find out myself.

“Oh, that leads to the den.” He says matter of factly.

Sure, the den, you know, the room that everyone has… pft
.  “So where to now? Mister Full of Surprises?”

Logan gives a cute crooked smile. “To your car.”

“And then?” I ask excitedly, hoping he will finally give in and tell me.

He glances at his watch. “You will find out soon enough.

When we arrived at my car, Logan asked if he could drive so he could still keep as much of his plans a surprise as he could. I relented and tossed him the keys to my new baby. As soon as we pulled out of his driveway he pulls out his phone and makes a call.

“Are we ready?” His tone is very business-like, and I can’t say I mind hearing him talk like that.

I try to lean over, to see if I hear anything, but he switches to his left ear so that the phone is further from me. I squint my eyes at him and pout a lip and he only shrugs his shoulders in return.

“Very well, we will be there shortly.” He smirks and hangs up his phone. “Slick, but not slick enough.” He chuckles.

“Hey, the worst effort is the one never made!” I say as he takes my hand and plants a kiss on it.

“I hope you like it.”

“I like just being with you. Anything else, is a plus.” I astound myself with the sudden confession and wonder if I should have said that.

Within a few minutes, Logan is turning into the Shippan Yacht Club and I quickly assume that he made reservations at the restaurant at the top of the building, though I have heard that reservations for that restaurant need to be made weeks and sometimes months in advance.

“So, do you think you know yet?” He says as he pushes the shift into park.

“Maybe.” I squint my eyes at him and press my lips together.

“I doubt it.” He says chuckling as he opens the door.

“Ugh! The suspense is killing me already.” I blurt before he exits the car and as the valet opens my door, prompting a smirk from him.

“Trust me, you won’t have to wait long.” He puts his hand out and helps me down, ensuring that I’m not flashing the valet as I slide off the seat.

We walk in through the sliding glass doors and I see shops lining the hallways to the left and right with marble floors leading the way. We don’t go into any of the hallways or stop at the elevators before walking out the exit leading to the Marina.

“Good Evening sir, my name is Ronald, is there anything I can help you with?” We are greeted by an enthusiastic and very well mannered gentleman probably in his late twenties, dressed in white slacks and a navy polo shirt with the Yacht Club insignia on it. His high and tight haircut and precise movements make me wonder if he was in the military at one point.

“Yes, I am Logan Blackwell the third. I spoke to you earlier?”

Ronald smiles as he looks at me and then back to Logan. “Indeed you did sir, one moment.” He walks over to a small desk and pics up a phone, punching in only a few numbers. He has a very short conversation and returns to us. “Follow me.”

Ronald leads us down the main path until we reach a sign that reads Dock 3. He steps to the side and puts his hand out indicating for us to continue. We begin our walk and a swarm of butterflies make their way into my stomach. At the end of the dock stands a man at attention, his hands clasped behind him. He is also wearing white slacks, but his polo is black and has the name of the boat he is standing next to, Lady of the Sea, scrawled across the left breast.

The enormity of what Logan may have planned begins to sink in and I am overwhelmed. I stop before we reach the man that is waiting for us.

“What is it?” Logan stops and moves to stand in front of me. “Angel?”

“I can’t.” Is all I could say.

“I asked your dad and Liz and they said that you don’t get sea sick.”

I shake my head. “No, I mean, this is too much.” I sigh. “I can’t let you do this.”

His furrowed brow releases and pain and disappointment take its place. “Seriously? Now? You’re going to push me away now?” He takes my hands in his. “Angel, we have had an amazing week and I just wanted to do this as a graduation present and a birthday present too.”

I cock my head to the side as I realize how much planning must have gone into it. “I don’t mean that I don’t appreciate it, it’s just that … well, I’m not used to…”

“I’m sorry if this is too much, too soon, I just wanted to do something I know has never been done for you before.” He puts his palm on my cheek. “Let me do this for you.” Please.”

I bite the corner of my bottom lip and stare into his eyes. “Okay.” The corners of his lips rise until the smile reaches his eyes.

He moves beside me again and we walk toward the red-headed man awaiting us.

“Good Evening Mr. Blackwell, Miss Miller. Welcome to the Lady of the Sea. I am Mr. Brody and I will be your captain this evening.” His irish accent is light, but still noticeable.

“Thank you Mr. Brody.” Logan begins.

“Right then, if you will follow me.” Mr. Brody turns and begins walking up the gangplank. The Yacht that we are boarding is easily eighty feet in length if not more. As we walk up, there is a group of people wearing the same uniform as the captain waiting for us. They each greet us as cordially as the Captain and advise us that they are there for anything we need.

“I only need to verify a few things Mr. Blackwell, and we can set sail.”

“Thank you Captain.” Logan says over his shoulder.

He walks me to the front of the amazing vessel as we grab hold of the railing.

It’s not long before we begin moving and soon we are on the open sea, with the wind making its way through my hair. The pain in my feet from wearing the heels all day begins to bother me, so I walk over to a bench that sits along the open railing and close my eyes, allowing the wind and the salty air to consume me. Logan comes and sits behind me putting his arms around me. I lean back onto him and tilt my head so that my lips are near his ear. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” He asks lowly but doesn’t move to look at me.

“For seeming ungrateful earlier.” I push up and snuggle closer to him. “No one has ever done anything for me so amazing except my dad and Liz, and certainly not something to this scale.”

“I know, it’s probably because you always push everyone away.” He leans his head to the side so that my lips are now grazing his ear. “I guess, in a way, it’s not an entirely bad thing, because I may not be here if that wasn’t the case.”

“You have a point.” I whisper into his ear and I can feel the goosebumps on his arms. “I still don’t know how you did it. How you managed to knock down those walls.”

“Well, I can be pretty stubborn.” He chuckles. “Plus, I don’t know. There was just something about you. That first day I met you. Something that said if I didn’t find you again, if I didn’t push my way in, I would regret it.”

I lift my head away from his and turn to face him, sliding my legs to sit right over his, Logan’s strong arms still tight around me. After I adjust my legs and body I look up to find his face no more than an inch from mine. This time I bring my hand to his cheek, and he presses into my palm. I inch my face closer until our noses touch. I can see the shimmering light blue in his eyes and the dark blue rim surrounding it.

He lifts his hand to my jaw, caressing my cheek with his thumb, bringing his lips to lightly brush against mine. I lean in, wanting more, and he presses his soft lips to mine. My hand makes its way to the back of his head and my fingers entangle themselves in his tresses. The wind blows my hair all around us, and it seems that there is nothing in this world at the moment but us, but this amazing feeling of his lips on mine.

He pulls back for a moment, but our noses are still touching. “You have no idea how long I have wanted to do that.” He kisses me again, this time, stronger, and with more passion.

Now I pull back, grazing his lips once with mine. “Why didn’t you?” I skim his lips again with mine, feening him.

“I wanted it to be perfect for you.” He whispers onto my lips.

I pull tight on him and press my lips against his, opening just slightly to let him in. Every nerve in my body cries to be closer to him, to pull him nearer to me.

He entangles his fingers in my hair while his soft lips continue to caress mine.

The winds whip around us hard. I focus on only my feelings for him and accepting my emotions. Within seconds the winds begin to slow down.

We stop, but neither of us are willing to move and release ourselves from the closeness we have achieved.

“I was starting to worry that I was going too fast for you.” Logan whispers onto my mouth.

“I thought that we were moving fast too, but nothing about this feels wrong. I’ve never had such a desire to be near someone the way I do when I’m with you.” I brush my lips to his quickly but softly. “I never thought I would say this to anyone, but I’m glad you didn’t let me push you away. I’m glad you broke down those walls.”

Logan kisses my nose and I drop my head to his neck, snuggling with him, loving that there is nothing around to bother us or take us out of this moment. We sit that way for another ten minutes until one of the staff comes to tell us that dinner is ready.

We follow the girl across the deck and down a couple of steps into a cabin where there is a round table with a white table cloth laid out over it, white plates with silver detailing and silverware sitting next to it. On one of the plates sits a long silver box with a black bow around it.

An older gentleman walks over and pulls out the seat for me to sit in front of the box.

“More?” I pinch my brow.

“Last one for tonight, I promise.”

I smirk at him and shake my head.

“Well, open it.” He says as he leans forward on the table and smiles wide.

I take the silver box and unravel the bow, letting it fall to the plate. I pull open the box as far as its little hinges will allow, exposing a black velvet cushion holding a platinum bracelet. In the very center of the bracelet is a ruby, my birthstone, with an angel wing linked to the left and one linked to the right. The end of the angel wings connect to a beautiful chain mail bracelet that alternates between large and small rosettes that lead to the clasp.

“Logan.” I whisper as I run my finger over the beautiful and certainly custom made bracelet.

He stands from his seat and moves to be next to me. “Do you like it?”

I look up at him with my eyes filled with tears I am trying not to allow to fall. “I love it.” I say, standing up and taking his face in my hands as I place my lips on his.

“May I?” He asks as soon we stop.

I shake my head and he reaches for the silver box, taking the delicate jewelry out. He brings it up and over so that it is sitting perfectly on top of my wrist with the ruby in the center and the angel wings, curving around. It is a stunning bracelet. “My Angel.” He says as he clasps it shut and gives me a soft kiss before returning to his seat.

“Wow, today has truly been an unreal day.”

Logan cocks his head slightly and smiles.

“First the locket.” I reach up to my necklace and open it, showing him the crests inside. “Then the car. Finally graduating that wretched school, then hearing you call me your girlfriend, meeting your mom, you renting a yacht for the evening and a custom bracelet?”

Logan laughs loudly. Not just a casual laugh, but from his gut, laugh.

“What?” I ask as I run my finger along the bracelet, not sure what was so funny.

“You listed all these big gifts and nerve wracking events and in there was me calling you my girlfriend?”

I feel the blush hit instantly. “Well, yes, I mean… with us moving so fast, and not knowing if we should be, I wasn’t sure if I should consider myself that or not, let alone be the first to say it, or-” I drop off as Logan reaches across the table and grabs my hands.

“You are adorable when you ramble.”

There’s that damn blush again.

“And when you blush.”

I knew it!

I drop my gaze to my plate for a moment and then back to him. “Thank you for not giving up on me so easy, for calling me out, for this week, for today…” I sigh and smile. “Just…Thank you.”

“Believe me when I say it is my pleasure.” His blue eyes sparkle under the lights.

After a few moments of conversation regarding the immensity and beauty of the sail boat, the servers bring us our dinner of lobster and filet mignon. It isn’tuntil we are having the delicious chocolate cake for dessert that Logan asks about my head.

“Oh.” I say, swallowing the decadence in my mouth. “It’s much better. It was almost gone when we were leaving your house.”

“Wow, that’s kinda strange. Do you get those often?” His brows come together slightly as he takes my hand.

“Recently.” I put my fork down, unable to fit another bite.

“Like since your disappearance, recently?” His head tilts to the side.

“Yes.” I answer lowly.

“Like whenever Erebos is around.” He says plainly, finally saying what I think he wanted to say.

I bite my lip. “Maybe.”

Logan releases my hand and leans back in his chair, one arm laying across his chest while his other hand reaches up, rubbing his chin. His gaze fixed on me.

“What?” I ask cautiously.

“I’m wondering if you will tell me what it is you couldn’t tell me Tuesday at your house.”