Chapter Twenty-Three
Charmed
I stood in front of the familiar oak door, where a fresh wreath with a bright-red bow hung proudly. It was just before noon on Christmas Day. Logan had told me to come over as early as I liked, but I wanted to give him and Oliver their morning alone together. He had spent the two previous days in the city with his family, but did not fail to deliver his morning texts as well as an occasional one throughout the day before. I couldn’t get to the phone fast enough, eager to read what he was up to, but with each smile or laugh I had his quip, the more I realized I was getting in too deep.
At my feet, Scout stood between my legs, tail wagging, yapping to be picked up. The pup was completely spoiled.
Even being here at Logan’s home a handful of times in the last few months, my stomach still fluttered to life when I leaned in, and pressed the small buzzer. It wasn’t an uncomfortable feeling. I’d never been more at ease with a man before, even Mark, but the more time we spent together, the harder it was to remember why he was all wrong for me.
Within seconds, the door swung open.
“Cassie!” Oliver stood in red and white striped pajamas, his wavy hair still tousled from sleep. “You came!” He opened the door wider for me to enter.
“Of course I came. I promised you I would, didn’t I?”
“Scout!” Oliver reached down and scooped up the pup, rocking him in his arms.
“I hope your dad doesn’t mind I brought him along. Thought you might want to see him again. He misses you.”
“I missed you too, buddy.” Oliver placed a small kiss on the puppy’s head, then turned and began skipping happily back inside.
With a soft laugh, I closed the front door, and followed behind him. The perfect aroma of fresh pine and cinnamon filled my nostrils. I smiled. Green garland covered with glass balls and bright colorful lights flowed down the banister, and a small tree decorated with homemade ornaments sat in the corner of the foyer. I never dreamed Logan would decorate his home so lavishly for the holidays.
He had told me it was his favorite time of year as a child, but I never realized just how much he truly enjoyed celebrating it.
My eyes widened and smile grew into an excited grin when I stepped into the enormous living room. Torn pieces of wrapping paper, in every imaginable color, completely littered the plush beige carpet. Toys of every shape and size were surrounded by the scattered about ribbons and bows. And in the corner, stood the most magnificent tree I had ever laid eyes upon. My gaze traveled to the top of the tree where the mercury glass star rested only a mere inch below the ceiling.
My feet led me closer to the glorious sight as if in a trance. It was decorated with a remarkable eye for great taste with a mix of fragile antique ornaments, glittery glass balls, and simpler items made by a child. It was in every way, my dream Christmas tree.
I stood in front of it and reached out, running my fingers over a small glass frame that held a picture of Logan. He was holding his newborn baby, Oliver. The soft look in his eyes, and relaxed blissful smile on his lips was something I’d only seen once or twice before. He looked years younger, still baby-faced himself, with his gaze focused intently on his young son. The joy in the photo was undeniable.
“Daddy chopped it down himself!”
Startled, I jumped. The ornament fell from my hands. I inhaled a sharp breath and watched as it swung back and forth on the wide branch.
“It’s perfect.” I blinked a few times and stepped back away from the tree to take it all in, smiling at the thought of Logan chopping down such a massive tree. The image of him out in the woods with his son, searching for the right one made my heart swell.
Against my own control, my brain somehow turned the sweet image into something much more lustful. My tongue darted out, moistening my dry lips as I pictured Logan’s firm, toned muscles bulging deliciously through his snug shirt as he swung the ax down to the trunk of the tree.
I shook the thought from my head when Oliver started laughing at Scout rolling around with a long piece of velvety ribbon. I crossed the room, feeling light and happy, and sat on the long sofa.
A few days earlier, Logan had invited me to go with them to help pick out the tree. It seemed lately he was inviting me to hang out more times than not, but I had been busy with Hilary finishing up our Christmas shopping. It worked out for the best. I wasn’t positive I would have had the restraint to keep my hands to myself if I had to watch him perform such a masculine undertaking.
Instead, Hilary and I endured a long day of pushy shoppers and rude clerks that ended with dinner at Haven. A dinner that I presumed would be her and I, alone, but to my surprise, Caleb and Luke joined us.
It was a setup. That much was clear the moment they approached our table and Luke slid in the booth beside me. Caleb shot me a small smile and impish wink, his hand quick to wrap around behind Hilary.
Luke was a great guy. Cute and sweet, with a reliable career. Yet there was something missing when I was with him. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but that mind-blowing, all-consuming hunger devouring me from the inside out when Logan was around, left any other man, unexciting. It was the feeling I experienced each and every time I was around Logan and as much as I denied it, I secretly yearned for more.
No matter how much I fought against it, there was something primal in the way I craved him. It was the most exhilarating, yet scariest thing I’d ever felt.
I decided at the time not to tell Logan about Luke. Since the day I watched Oliver, we had only communicated via text. The Luke conversation was one I would wait to do in person, not that there was anything really to talk about. I just didn’t want him to think I was dating someone when I wasn’t. It was irrational thinking. Logan was only a friend, but I still worried about his reaction. It had nothing to do with the sick feeling in my gut when I thought about Logan dating lately. No. Nothing at all.
“Will you come with us next year to help pick out a tree?” Oliver lifted Scout in his arms and plopped down in front of his new train set. “It was so much fun. You should have seen all the trees in the forest to choose from.” He clicked a switch on the large black train and watched it speed around the giant circle track in the center of the room. Scout leaped from his lap and began chasing after it.
“Sounds like a lot of fun. We’ll have to see.” Would I still be a part of their life a year from now? The thought filled me with soothing warmth.
My body relaxed back into the sofa as I watched Oliver giggling while he tried to yell at Scout to get off the track. I laughed. I couldn’t imagine not being around Oliver or Logan. We spent so much time together whether it was hanging out in my backyard or cuddled up watching a movie. They had somehow become more than just simple friends to me. We had developed a connection that pained me to think it could be gone one day.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
My body remained pressed into the sofa, relaxed. I craned my head back to greet him. My breath instantly caught at the sight of Logan’s bare chest. A pair of black cotton pajama pants hung delectably low on his hips.
My eyes blinked involuntarily, blood rushing to my cheeks and I quickly turned back to face the rumbling train on the floor. I tried to clear the inappropriate thoughts racing through my head. Logan always knew exactly the right thing to do, to catch me off guard, and get me flustered.
Damn him.
Finding my bearings, I shifted in my seat and gave him an unimpressed eye roll.
“Too late, sweetheart, we both know you like what you see,” he teased, eyebrow cocked. He threw on a white cotton shirt and I swallowed at how it clung to his sculptured chest and chiseled abs in all the right way. Or more like wrong way. It was so wrong to feel this attracted to someone you knew could never give you what you wanted.
“You wish.” I chuckled, narrowing my eyes at him. “Since when do you greet your guests shirtless, anyway?”
“Oliver woke me up at five this morning wanting to open gifts. I was jus
t about to go take a quick shower when you arrived.”
“Well, don’t let me stop you. I’ll play with Oliver while you’re in there.” I turned back to face Oliver. His face was twisted in frustration as he tried to change the track shape.
Logan chuckled lightly, no doubt at his son’s determination, and watched me as I stood from the couch and walked over to help.
A half hour passed and I was still sitting on the floor, playing with the train set Oliver had received from Santa as Scout chased behind it.
Oliver let out a deep hearty laugh when Scout jumped in front of the train, blocking its path. I began laughing as well, when Scout let out a small yelp and leaped out of the way after getting run into by the large caboose.
A sudden prickle tingled over my skin, pulling my attention away. I lifted my head and found Logan leaning against the entryway, a faint smile on his lips, watching us. His hair was still damp and he was wearing a pair of dark wash jeans and fitted V-neck black shirt. He looked perfect and I had a feeling he knew it.
I smiled, feeling what I could see he was, peaceful.
Logan stepped into the room, his lips pressed in a relaxed line, and sat a few feet behind me and Oliver on the sofa.
“You’re gonna stay to watch a movie with us tonight, right?” Oliver asked, not looking up from the package of cars in his hand. Scout sat in his lap, exhaustion settling in.
“Of course.”
Not only did I have nothing better to do since I was alone for Christmas, but truth was, I loved spending time with Logan and Oliver. It was slowly becoming one of my favorite things to do.
“Great! Daddy wanted to watch Rudolph. I told him we already saw it last week though. I think he wanted to come with us.” Oliver ripped into the package, removing each car one by one. “It was so much fun and Luke was the coolest.”
I nodded nervously and chanced a glance at Logan.
“Perhaps next year we can all go together,” Logan said, his tone even, giving nothing away.
“Oliver, this is for you.” I grabbed a small gift with a bright-green bow from the small tote I brought. I wasn’t in the mood to discuss Luke.
Oliver sat up straight, dropping the toy in his hand, grinning.
“Wow, thanks!” He ripped into the paper and I watched as his smiled melted into a bored frown when he saw what was inside. “A book?”
“Oliver,” Logan scolded and offered me an uncomfortable smile. I smiled back with a shrug. I expected the reaction.
“Thanks.” Oliver pouted, setting the book aside and crumpling the wrapping paper to toss at Scout.
“Forgive him, sweetheart. He’s—”
I began to chuckle, ignoring Logan’s apology.
“Of course I got you a book. I love Dr. Seuss, plus I want you to be the best reader our school’s ever had. But I also got you this.”
With my hand still in the bag, I pulled out a larger gift. Oliver beamed, excitement dancing in his eyes, as he ripped it open.
“Legos!” Oliver squealed. “Thanks!”
A satisfied smile pulled at my lips as he tore into the box, and began scattering the tiny bags of small pieces in a circle around him.
“Are you going to help me?”
I nodded, reaching back into my bag and found the small gift wrapped in silvery-grey paper and topped with a blue bow. “Give me a minute,” I whispered, leaning forward.
I stood, and took a seat next to Logan on the sofa. “This is for you.” I smiled coyly, handing him the gift.
After endless nights spent searching online for the perfect gift, for the guy that had everything, I found my answer when Hilary and I went to the book store.
Logan raised his brows. “You didn’t have to, Cassandra.”
“Yes, I did. I’m not sure how, but you seem to have wormed your way into my life against all my reservations.” I laughed once, nibbling my bottom lip.
Logan flashed a smile, and then looked down at the gift.
I sighed, looking down at my hands. “Seriously, over the last couple of months you really have become a good friend to me.” I looked up, meeting his gaze. “Plus, I’d be sitting home alone eating my last box of Twinkies if you hadn’t invited me over today.” I grinned, nudging his arm, lightening the mood.
Logan’s expression remained stoic, his gaze searing into mine as hot and confusing as earlier. His hand reached out and my body flooded with the warmth that only he seemed capable of filling me with. I flushed from the heat as the back of his hand delicately brushed over my cheek for the briefest second.
“Thank you,” he murmured.
There was no doubt that we both felt the undeniable electricity that flowed between us. I could see it in his eyes, in his soft expression.
“Open your gift.” I breathed, desperate to break the tension.
Without another word, Logan slowly unwrapped the gift, as if he were savoring the moment.
“A book.” He smiled genuinely. “Thank you, Cassandra, truly.”
“I know how much you love to read.”
Logan held the book in his hands, his laughter filling the room as he read the title aloud. “How to End Your Player Ways in Thirty Days or Less. How thoughtful, sweetheart.”
I shrugged. “I figured you might be interested in…” I leaned in closer to whisper, “slowing down on the number of women you bed every weekend.” I giggled when out of nowhere a pang of jealousy ripped through my chest, surprising me.
Logan held the book in his hands, looking down at it in thought. I sat there, no longer able to laugh as I watched Logan flip through the pages. His lips pulled into a thin smile but there was something deeper in his expression. Did I offend him? I pushed away the thought. Logan was impossible to insult.
I reached for the book, flipped it open, and whispered, “You should check out chapter four, ‘How to Properly Let a Girl Down After a One-Night Stand.’”
Logan slowly raised his head; his hooded eyes looked almost disappointed. In an instant his expression smoothed into a broader smile, covering it, but it was too late. I could tell he hated my gift to him.
He cleared his throat, tilting his head toward me. He sat there, staring at me for a long moment, before finally speaking.
“You know, I’ve actually been so occupied with business and all, I haven’t entertained any women lately.” His was voice rough, serious.
I wasn’t sure how to respond. I bobbed my head up and down, unable to find my words. What did it mean that he wasn’t sleeping around anymore. Was it wrong to feel relieved?
He set the book on the couch between us and the sting of regret filled my chest.
Hilary had told me that Caleb commented on Logan not going around banging any so called ‘hotties in heels,’ but I didn’t really believe it. Why would he stop?
“Oh,” I muttered, coyly. “Well, perhaps you’ll find something useful in the book anyway.” I swallowed the large lump that had suddenly formed in my throat and slowly moistened my dry lips. I felt horrible. He looked defeated, like I just slapped him across the face. I expected it to be a funny gag gift with him making some snide comment, or perverted remark. We would tease each other about it and move on with a good laugh. So far, the complete opposite was happening. I never felt like more of a bitch.
I reached back into my bag, staring down at Oliver who was lying on his stomach, elbows propping him up, feet dangling in the air. His full attention was on building his Legos, completely oblivious to the adult conversation and thick tension a few feet behind him.
“I got you something else as well.” I pulled the gift from my tote beside the couch, feeling suddenly awkward.
Logan smiled but it still didn’t reach his eyes and untied the ribbon on his gift. “Let me guess.” He shook the box, and then whispered, “Condoms?”
I slapped his arm, and rolled my eyes.
He chuckled, taking his time opening the package. The moment he had the box opened, his smile melted into something dark and secretive. Did he ha
te this as well? My stomach dropped.
“Sweetheart…this is—” he started, staring down at the mahogany frame in his hands.
“I took it myself. Do you like it?” Why was I so nervous all of a sudden?
He set the frame—holding a photo of he and Oliver in the midst of their straw fight at the farm—on the table beside the couch and looked back at me, smiling. It was my favorite picture and one that now hung proudly in my kitchen. In it, both of their faces were relaxed and lit with humor. It was peaceful and made me smile every time I walked past it, which is why I knew it was the right gift.
“It’s perfect. Thank you, truly.”
He stood, picking up the book I got him and placed it on the coffee table, with a thoughtful sigh. I swallowed, watching him walk across the room to the tree, where he bent down to retrieve the lone present on the thick quilted tree skirt.
“This is for you.” Logan smiled softly, handing me the snow-white gift bag filled with silver tissue paper. He sat back down beside me, staring over at Oliver.
“Thanks, but…you really didn’t have to.” I pressed my lips together in a tight awkward smile. “I’m thankful you invited me over today. That was more than a gift in itself.” I sighed heavily, my shoulders slumping forward. “I’m sorry about the book. It was stupid,” I mumbled, running my fingers over the tips of the tissue paper.
He looked up from Oliver with his eyebrows raised, his lips pulled up in a reassuring smile. “Open the gift, Cassandra.”
I bit my bottom lip and gazed back down at the stunning gift bag. It was almost too beautiful to open. Feeling no rush, I slowly pulled out the sparkling tissue and sucked in a ragged breath as I pulled out a long, black velvet box.
Hesitantly, I glanced up to find Logan watching with curious eyes. His usually confident demeanor wavered when I noticed his lowered brow.
With bated breath, I opened the lid.
“Oh my G—Logan, it’s…” My eyes grew wide, jaw falling lax at the sight of a stunning charm bracelet with diamonds set in what looked like platinum between each charm. I exhaled, my fingers ghosting over of a little silver tennis shoe.