The waitress reappeared and I couldn’t have been happier. Sipping my water, I asked, “So, what’s Oliver up to tonight?”
“Home. Sleeping I would presume at this hour.” He set his drink on the table. “So tell me, how long have you been a teacher, Cassandra?”
How the hell did he know I was a teacher? He was definitely talking to someone about me.
“This will be my first year,” I replied, before quickly adding. “Oliver seems like a great kid. I bet you guys have a lot of fun hanging out.”
Logan squirmed in his chair his expression unreadable. I wasn’t used to seeing him uncomfortable and considering it was about his own son I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Was he being overprotective of Oliver or truly didn’t enjoy talking about him? I had yet to even see him with his son. I was left unsettled with my thoughts when he spoke.
“Yes, we do.” His voice strained and distant. “Now tell me, sweetheart, how long have you lived in this small town?”
“Why don’t you like to talk about your son?” I asked, looking him straight in the eyes. Frustrated by my evening thus far, I didn’t care about overstepping. The alcohol in my system fueled my courage.
Logan took a slow, deep breath as he downed the rest of his drink and looked up at me. “I’m sitting in a bar on a Saturday night with a stunning woman. I’d rather not talk about my son right now.” His lips pursed, telling me the subject was off limits.
As I opened my mouth to speak, the bell went off. It was for the best. I took a drink and waited for him to stand up and move to the next table. “Have a good night, Logan.”
He continued staring at me with an impish smirk and I couldn’t help but notice, he was not getting up. The man at Vanessa’s table went around him and everyone began at their new spots. “I think I would like another five minutes.”
I sighed, rolling my eyes. Seriously!
“Fine, what do you want to talk about?” I asked, irritated.
“I want to talk about you.” His tone was soft, seductive.
Picturing him saying that to multiple women, I huffed.
“Wow, does that line ever actually work?” I grumbled.
“You’d be surprised.” He chuckled, amused at my mood.
“How about this, I’ll answer a question if you answer one of mine,” I said, raising my brows.
Logan appeared to be thinking it over. “All right, ladies first.”
“Why move to Harmony?”
“The local newspaper, I bought it. I would have thought you knew that already, sweetheart.” His eyes brightened.
“Oh, was I supposed to ask around about my mysterious new neighbor that enjoyed lurking behind me like some creep?” I rested my elbows on the table, distracted by the soaked napkins still resting on the edge.
He chuckled under his breath. “We both know you don’t think I’m a creep, Cassandra. I’m insulted.” I sat quietly, my eyes down as he continued. “Now, I believe it’s my turn. Have you always wanted to teach?” he asked, sipping his drink.
I was surprised his question was both easy and painless to answer. “Yes. Why buy the paper?”
“As a graduation gift for my sister.” He smiled proudly.
“She’s just now starting college.” Confusion heavy in my voice, I made a face at the absurdity of buying an entire newspaper for a freshman.
His brows pulled together. “Yes, and by the time she graduates she’ll have a job at a well established and reliable newspaper.”
“Right,” I whispered, growing bored and bitter at not having my own big brother to look out for me. “Lucky girl.”
“My sister has been very loyal to me the past few years.” His tone grew serious.
“Helping with Oliver?” I looked up, gauging his expression.
Logan sighed. “Yes, helping with Oliver.”
The air grew thick and heavy. I cleared my throat and changed the subject. “So you bought the newspaper, does that mean you own others?”
Relaxing back in his chair, he smiled. “No. But I have many ventures as does my family. Julia is going to school in hopes of becoming a journalist and I happened to stumble upon an opportunity to buy the Harmony Tribune. I couldn’t pass up the offer.” His voice grew huskier, a smirk playing on his lips as he added. “I have a very hard time resisting temptation, Cassandra.” His eyes seared into mine confirming we were no longer talking about the paper.
I sat dumbfounded. Damn it! I struggled to think while heat settled into my cheeks. The longer we sat the more his smile grew. He could see right through me and it left me paralyzed.
The bell rang through the air and Logan remained in his seat while the other men went around him once again. An annoyed growl escaped my gritted teeth.
“Seriously, have ten minutes not been enough for you to see that I’m not interested?” I snapped.
“I have one last request, sweetheart.”
“Let’s hear it,” I replied, rolling my eyes.
“Dance with me.”
My breath caught. His words were demanding yet irresistible, and for some reason I’ll never be able to explain, I dumbly nodded my head.
He stood with a hint of a smile, and held out his hand. With my hand in his, he led us to the dance floor. Only two other couples were there, looking completely smitten with their partners. Logan’s arm snaked around my waist, pulling me in close while his other hand locked around mine. Our bodies slowly began moving together as Michael Buble crooned his version of “Always on My Mind.”
Caleb’s playlist tonight included every soft, romantic song ever written. It set the mood for finding love. No doubt Hilary helped choose this one; it’d been one of her favorites for years. Not mine however, not for a long time. The memory of the only time I ever saw my parents dancing was to Elvis’s version at a friend’s wedding. It was a year before my father left. They looked so in love, so happy. I closed my eyes, burying the painful memory back in its dark place. They weren’t in love, at least my father wasn’t. I was just too young to realize it.
“Are you nervous?” he asked, looking down at me giving nothing away.
“No.”
“You’re a terrible liar, Cassandra.”
I rolled my eyes. His hot breath caressed my ear as he leaned in. I inhaled sharply, heat scorching my ears with every breath he took.
“Tell me, Cassandra, did you enjoy my pool?” he murmured so delicately my insides melted. “Because I sure enjoyed the view. Although I was a bit disappointed to find you were more of a tease than I’d originally thought.”
I winced. Tease! I narrowed my eyes, acid in my voice as I hissed. “Don’t worry, it’s the last time you’ll see me anywhere near your pool.”
He chuckled, a hoarse throaty laugh. Anger bubbled up inside me. A tease! How dare he? Reality crashed over me like a splash of ice water. My body tensed as I halted my feet from swaying with him.
My head cocked to the side. “How many women in this bar tonight, have you slept with?”
He held my gaze, a small grin spreading across his face. “Oh come now, sweetheart. What do you think I am?”
With pursed lips, I narrowed my eyes. He was in for a surprise if he honestly thought I was buying his crap. “So you have not been flirting with me tonight in hopes of sleeping with me?”