Your Captivating Love (3 page)

After I shower, I inspect my business plan for a while then dress in a suit. I still have some time left before I have to leave, so I call my mom. She picks up quickly.

“Hi, Mom!”

“Morning, sweetie.”

As always, I breathe a sigh of relief when she sounds happy. For as long as I remember, Mom has suffered from depression, coming in episodes. Sometimes she was happy, and sometimes she wouldn’t rise from her bed, or even talk. When I was five, my father left us. We never heard from him again, and sorrow crippled Mom for years. Between the lack of access to medication and the stigma associated with the illness, she could barely hold a job.

Friends and family helped for a while then stopped, saying Mom should “get over herself,” as if she was bratty, not sick. Growing up, I worked odd jobs in our small town in North Carolina. I did everything from mowing lawns to carrying mail or bagging groceries. I took care of us the best I could. When I was a junior in high school, things changed. Mom sought out treatment. Then she married Brian, and he’s the best man I know.

“Hun, are you there?” Mom’s voice resounds.

“Yeah, sorry. I got lost in my thoughts. I wanted to tell you that I’m seeing a realtor today. He’ll help me find a space for my shop.”

“I’ll keep my fingers crossed.”

“Thanks. I’m excited, but also scared.” This is something I wouldn’t admit to anyone but Mom. “What if it doesn’t work out?”

“You can always come back home. Jack said you could always have your job back if you wanted to.”

I gulp. “Yeah, that’s right.” Jack is my last boss. He said he’d hire me back in a second if I wanted to. That’s my fallback plan. If I can’t make the store profitable enough to be able to take care of Mom and Brian after they retire, I’ll return to North Carolina and take Jack’s offer. My soul would die bit by bit in that job, but at least I have a plan B.

“I’m sure it’ll work out, though,” Mom says. “You worry too much.”

“Yeah. I’m a professional worrier.”

Worrying was all I did before Mom started taking medication, found a stable job, and Brian. It was the first time in forever that I didn’t have to worry about going to bed hungry, or about sleeping without heat. It’s been more than a decade since Brian entered our lives, and a small part of me still fears he’ll bail on Mom eventually, like Dad and the rest of our family did.

I’ll never be able to shake off those hard years when I took care of us, when there was no one to count on, and I never felt safe. I learned my lesson... or at least, I thought I did. I let my guard down with Thomas, and that was a big mistake.

“I’ll let you know how it goes, Mom. I have to leave now. Say hi to Brian for me.”

“Will do.”

An unpleasant knot settles in my throat as I leave my apartment. Shaking my head, I push away the negative thoughts, bringing back the smile I promised to Logan.

This better work out. I simply can’t fail.

***

A
lovely early autumn morning greets me outside. The sky is a beautiful pink, interspersed with stripes the color of amethyst. I take the weather as a good omen. Smiling, I head toward my destination. My smile morphs into a grin as I approach the realtor’s office downtown, and an amalgam of smells overtakes my senses: magnolias, cypress, and the occasional whiff of Chanel.

I’m supposed to meet Logan in the park in front of the realtor’s office. I arrive with a few minutes to spare and find Logan sitting on a bench. Sweet Lord, he’s wearing a suit again, and he is
perfect
. I’m sure he’s mouth-watering no matter what he wears, but something about seeing him in a suit and cufflinks turns my knees weak. He exudes power, without losing the mouth-watering factor.

“You’re here early,” I tell him. He looks up from his smartphone, his dark eyes scanning me, resting on my mouth for a brief second. I wet my lower lip, averting my gaze when heat creeps up my cheeks. I haven’t blushed in ages, yet here comes this man, making me feel like a college girl with nothing but his eyes. Rising to his feet, he hands me a small paper bag and a coffee cup I hadn’t noticed.

“I bought you a coffee and a chocolate croissant.”

“Wow, thank you,” I say. “I love chocolate croissants.”

Opening the bag, I take out the pastry and bite into it then sip from my coffee.

“I know. I asked Ava.”

“That’s very considerate of you, Logan.” Warmth fills me, and it has nothing to do with the hot liquid I downed. It’s been a long time since a man bothered to do something this nice for me. He nods, clearly proud of himself. “Is this part of your plan to show me you’re safe and trustworthy?” ‘
Cause the safe part isn’t working.
My body hums in his presence, and he hasn’t even touched me today. I hope he doesn’t, because I’m not sure I can take it.

“That too, but I thought there’s no better way to start this day than by eating your favorite breakfast. After all, today your dream will go from the planning stage to the real stage.”

I can’t believe he grasps how important this day is for me. I want to hug him but control myself, offering him a smile instead. Logan Bennett isn’t just eye candy. He’s a sensitive, kind eye candy.

I’m doomed.

I stand in front of him while I nurse my coffee. Logan’s eyes travel up and down my body with appreciation, resting on my hips and breasts longer than polite. Something tells me he doesn’t do polite, or anything anyone would expect of him. I’m convinced Logan only does what he wants, and I find that incredibly sexy. Still, I wish he’d disguise his flirty look. I’ve been squirming since I arrived, my chest heaving up and down with labored breathing, and I need to compose myself before we go in.

At five to eleven, we enter the realtor’s office. He is all smiles while Logan introduces us.

“Nadine Hawthorne,” I say, shaking hands with Alex briefly.

Alex must be in his mid-thirties, and he’s an attractive man, but as he gawks at me, his predatory eyes make my skin crawl.

“Have a seat, both of you,” Alex offers. “Logan told me a bit about your idea. I need more details. Have you already thought about an area? Do you have any specific requirements?”

I tell him that I’d like the shop to be on a central venue—maybe Union Square or Sacramento Street—and describe the size I’m thinking about. He prods me with more questions, and then shows me pictures of some available spaces on his computer. It’s clear he knows what he’s doing.

My heart beats faster as I imagine my beautiful shop coming to life in one of those places. When Alex mentions the price range, my enthusiasm plummets. Shifting in my seat, I take a furtive glance at Logan, and then tell them my budget. Alex raises his eyebrows while Logan’s lips form a hard line.

“I’ll be honest with you,” Alex says. “It’ll be hard to find something in good shape with your budget, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try. I have some cheaper options, but I warn you, they’ll need some renovations.”

“I was expecting renovations. Owners can be persuaded to agree to a lower rent if the place is rundown.”

We spend about an hour admiring more spaces on his computer, but nothing fits my requirements.

“Let me do some more research,” Alex says eventually. “I can come up with a few options by tomorrow morning.”

“Excellent.”

“Now, it’s twelve thirty. I say it’s lunch time. Logan, I suppose you’re busy as always, but Nadine, would you like to eat with me?”

I open my mouth to say no, but Logan answers for me. “Actually, I promised Nadine to take her out for lunch. Just the two of us.”

The two men engage in a battle of stares, and I’m torn between laughing at Alex and scolding Logan. Amazing how a hot look from Alex makes my skin crawl, but one from Logan has an entirely different effect on me; like making me want to unbutton his shirt, and check if his abs are as chiselled as I imagine, his arms as strong. All very appropriate thoughts to have in a realtor’s office, of course. I swear to God, the alpha vibes coming off Logan turn my brain to mush.

Alex backs down. “I’ll email you tomorrow, Nadine.”

When we’re out, I elbow Logan. “Why did you tell him we’re having lunch?”

“First, because I was going to ask you to have lunch with me.”

My heart bounces at his invitation. Spending more time with him than I thought is a definite bonus... or a dangerous move, depending how you look at it.

“Second, because you should stay away from him. I told you he was a womanizer.”

“I wasn’t going to go with him, but I don’t appreciate you answering for me.”

He nods, running his fingers through his hair. It gives him a disheveled appearance, as if he’d just woken up... or did something else in bed. I let out a sigh, remembering how long it’s been since I’ve been intimate with a man.

“I’m sorry, I can be overbearing sometimes,” Logan says.

I blink, jerking my head back. What is this? A man who admits when he’s wrong? Well, that earns him a bonus point in my books, which isn’t helping, because he already has too many points. Not that I’ll tell him that. Not yet, anyway.

“Apology accepted. So, where are you taking me to lunch?”

Logan grins. “I still get to take you out? I’m a lucky guy.”

“I like a man who’s confident enough to admit his mistakes.”

Tilting his head to one side, he leans forward slightly. “And I bet you love a man who gives you good food.”

“Awfully presumptuous of you.”

“Not really. I saw you eat last night and this morning. Your appetite is delicious.” He leans in to me until his lips are only inches away from mine. His scent invades my senses, jumbling my thoughts, and I take a step back to clear my head. Logan pins me with his gaze, raising the corners of his mouth in a challenge. This man is intense and, by God, I can’t get enough.

“Let’s see what you’ll feed me, Mr. Bennett.”

“You like French food? Besides croissants?”

“I love it.”

I remind myself of all the reasons I should keep my distance. For one, he’s going to be Ava’s brother-in-law. If things between him and me turned weird, that could make family gatherings unpleasant, and I
really
like the Bennetts. The most important reason, though, is that I need to focus on my business. There is simply too much at stake. I can’t let anything—or anyone—distract me, much less a man. Last time I did, I lost everything.

I shouldn’t flirt back; I really shouldn’t. Then I notice Logan’s dimples, and I know I don’t stand a chance. I’m a goner.

***

A
fter a short drive in Logan’s car, we arrive at a cozy restaurant. The inside walls are covered almost entirely in wood paneling displaying intricate carvings. Small crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling, spreading a warm light throughout the restaurant. Pictures with various French sights hang on the walls.

Our hands touch briefly as we walk to a table. A jolt of need courses through me and my nipples grow sensitive, pressing against my soft, sheer lace bra. I peek at Logan, searching for any signs that I’m affecting him as powerfully as he does me. He seems completely at ease at first sight, but when we sit down, his eyes are darker than before. I draw in a sharp breath, averting my gaze.

Thankfully, the waiter arrives, cutting the tension. We order drinks quickly, but since it’s a French restaurant, they boast an impressive list of quiches. I can’t decide which one I want. In the end, we order four different types, even though it’s just the two of us.

“Tell me about your love for fashion. How did it start?” Logan asks after the waiter leaves. The tension clears from the air, even though I’m quite aware of the continued throbbing in the peaks of my breasts. Logan’s eyes are still dark.

“Like most girls, I liked to dress up my dolls. I guess I never outgrew the phase. When I was in high school, I started sewing my clothing. I didn’t have a style, and went through several experimental stages until I found it.” Sewing was also an escape for me during those hard years. I could pretend I was someone else when I was creating a new piece of clothing.

“I’d love to see pics of that.”

“Oh, no, trust me, you don’t. Anyway, eventually I realized I wanted to make evening dresses, and I’ve stuck with that ever since.”

“It’s a great niche,” Logan comments. “High price, low volume.”

I laugh. “You sound like Ava. She gave me a lot of insights as I put my business plan together, and she’s my very first customer. I’m designing her wedding dress.” I’ve been bursting with pride since Ava asked me to do it. Not only will I be her designer, but also her maid of honor.

“She told me. If you want a second opinion on that business plan, I’d be happy to look over it.”

“Thank you. I’ll be displaying my designs, along with some well-known designers. If I only sell my dresses, no one will come.”

“That’s smart.”

“Yeah, and also costly. The inventory alone will be a fortune. I can’t believe my childhood dream is finally happening.”

“Great to see you stuck with it. Did you ever want to give up?”

I remain silent, debating whether I should tell him about Thomas. Except for Ava and my parents, I haven’t told many people. Logan seems so easy to talk to, though.

“I almost gave up twice.” In quick words, I tell him my story. “I waitressed while studying in New York, and had a nice sum by the time I graduated. The plan was to open a small shop there. But my mom and stepdad lost their jobs, and they needed my help, so I gave it to them. My stepdad had used all his savings paying my college so I wouldn’t get in debt. I couldn’t afford New York anymore, so I moved back to my small hometown in North Carolina, and got a job there. That was the first time I flirted with the idea of giving up.” Remembering that terrible time, I can’t help but feel proud of myself. “But I manned up, got a second job—waitressing again—and started saving once more.”

“You’re tough.” He doesn’t say this with surprise, but with a mix of awe and curiosity.

“Afterward, I met Thomas, my ex. We were working at the same company. They started downsizing, and they fired him. He couldn’t find a job, so he decided to open his own business: a car wash.”

“Tell me you didn’t give him your savings.” Logan’s harsh voice makes me flinch.