As for her making her own mark beyond the family’s reputation, the Harrison Foundation Holiday Ball was one of the biggest annual social events in Manhattan society, and Tess was the powerhouse behind it. This year’s ball, only two weeks ago, had raised millions more for their affiliated charities than ever before. She’d done that. She’d both made her family’s legacy continue to shine and forged her own in the process. As far as he was concerned, based on that alone, Tess Harrison was a force to be reckoned with. He absolutely respected and admired her.
Now, sitting across from him in the dimly lit coffeehouse, with Christmas lights from above casting their glow over her and her long mane of dark curls framing her heart-shaped face, she looked both devastatingly alluring and easily approachable. He could see why everyone was taken with her. Smart, driven, friendly, drop-dead gorgeous . . . How the hell was she single? It confounded him.
Was she too busy to date in New York? Could be. Or more likely, he suspected, men were intimidated by her. Hell, even if she wasn’t a successful businesswoman and society sweetheart, her towering beauty alone probably made lesser men quake. Curiosity burned in him now. How was Tess not taken? As it was, he had to admit he felt a tiny swell of masculine pride tonight at not just being out with a truly admirable woman, but also being with the most beautiful woman in the place. And Jesus, she really was. He couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“You’re zoning out,” she said, making him jolt. “I must be boring you now. I’ll stop talking about work.”
“No, not at all!” Logan said, sitting up straighter. “I asked about your job because I really wanted to hear it from you. But I have a confession to make.”
One of her thin brows arched, making her seem regal. “Go on.”
“I looked you up online last night. Wanted to know more about you.”
Her gaze held. “All right.”
“That’s not all. The other part is . . . these pictures came up of you at that big holiday ball you hosted a few weeks back.” He let a slow grin slide as he recalled the photos. He’d been knocked flat by them.
“. . . and?” she coaxed with an answering playful grin, waving her hand for him to continue.
“And I saw pictures of you in that fancy designer dress. Ruby red, sparkling to your toes, all done up . . .” He gazed at her as he said earnestly, “You were stunning. Absolutely breathtaking. Really.”
Her smile went soft. “Well, thank you.”
He tipped his chin in a respectful nod.
A moment of silence settled over them, but it wasn’t as awkward as he thought it would be. He reached for his mug and stole a sip of cocoa, which was almost cold now. “I wasn’t stalking you, mind. I just . . . You blew me away with what you did with Terrence. It made me want to know more about you. So yes, I looked, and I’m just fessing up.”
She cocked her head to the side, assessing him. “You’re telling me flat out you looked me up, so I think we can say it was an info dig, not stalking.”
“Is that how it works? Oh good.”
She giggled, the light sound sparking warmth in his chest. But then she said, “So, fair’s fair. If I looked you up online, what would I find?”
His grin faded. “Not much. And I’d appreciate it if you didn’t. I know that’s not fair, since I just confessed to looking you up, but . . .” He shook his head, stroked his beard, and looked away.
“Logan . . . ?” She moved in closer. Their knees touched; both of them had such long legs, he was shocked it hadn’t happened before, but now the slight touch had his nerves tingling. She looked at him from beneath her long lashes and said, “We all have pasts, Logan. If you dug up enough on me, you’d find things I don’t want to talk about too.”
“Your past’s not like mine,” he murmured. Shit, he’d opened himself up for this without seeing it coming. Might as well just tell her some of it. “Look, Tess . . . I started out okay, like anyone else, and then messed up pretty bad. I went through some serious shit, and I didn’t handle it well.” He scrubbed a hand over his face, then his beard. Just say it. Nothing to lose. “In my midtwenties, as a result, I ended up with a serious drinking problem. That’s why I don’t drink now. Not to be a saint, but because I’m a recovering alcoholic, Tess.” He repressed the sigh. Well, there it was. Now she knew. He steeled himself for her withdrawal.