Chapter 5
Mia
I pause the music and drink some water before I check the time. I still have fifteen minutes, so there’s time to do the routine again. Grabbing my towel, I dry my hands and pat over my face.
I play the music and take a deep breath as I walk back to the pole. Movement catches my eye, and I glance at the door thinking it’s someone who might want to use the class next.
I stop when I see Logan, my eyes growing huge with embarrassment.
Shit! How long has he been standing there?
Ugh … now would be a good time for the ground to open beneath my feet, and swallow me whole.
Then I remember that I’m practically dressed in underwear, and my embarrassment quickly morphs to mortification.
This is not how imagined our meeting. Since he called, I’ve been dreaming up every possible romantic scenario under the sun. Hell, he’s always had the leading role in my fantasies.
Yeah, right. Like any of them will ever happen.
He smiles, which doesn’t make me feel any better. I turn back around and walk to where my bag is. I’m practically dying that he’s seeing me dressed in such a slutty outfit. I grab my shirt and yank it over my head then sit down so I can wrestle the boots off. It’s a pain getting them on and off but they are more comfortable than a pair of heels.
He crouches in front of me and I almost knock him out with my boot as it comes off. I shove the boots in the bag and reach for my shorts.
“It’s just something I do for myself,” I start to ramble. Jeez, he must think I’m a slut now. What if he thinks I’m stripping for money and lied about the job at the store? “I only started pole dancing because Beth talked me into it.”
“Don’t be embarrassed. It was amazing to watch.”
I stand and pull my shorts up my legs. My eyes start at his feet and work their way up his body. When our eyes meet, I’m surprised to see heat in them. It’s the same look he gave me when he taught me how to kiss. My heart starts to beat faster and for the millionth time, I wonder if he might feel something more than friendship for me.
I tie my hair back in a ponytail and chew on the inside of my bottom lip.
“Please don’t tell Rhett, or any of the other guys. I’ll never hear the end of it.”
“Your secret’s safe with me.”
“Did you bring the documents?” I ask to steer the conversation away from pole dancing.
“Yeah, they’re in the car.”
I make sure I have everything and quickly switch off the sound system. When I open the door, the classes around us start to leave. I quickly close the door again, not sure how all the women will react to seeing a man up here. The only men I’ve seen up here are usually gay and basically one of the girls.
I turn back to Logan, and I have to admit there’s nothing about him that’s even remotely gay.
“The classes are busy leaving. Do you mind waiting ten minutes?”
He smiles at me, and it makes all those familiar tingles come back with a heady rush.
“I don’t mind.” He comes to stand next to me and leans back against the wall. He places the bag on the floor and crosses his arms over his chest. I almost groan as the pose makes him look way too sexy for my poor heart to handle.
“Did Rhett speak to you about moving closer to us?”
I turn to my side and also lean against the door, looking up at him.
“He did, but I can’t ask Josie to move again.”
He turns as well, copying my pose, and resting his shoulder against the wall. It puts him so much closer to me, so close I can feel the heat from his body on my arms.
I wonder what his reaction would be if I were to lean in and kiss him, but shove the crazy idea to the back of my mind for now.
“It would be a better area for both of you, and you know how Rhett is, he’ll pack your stuff and move you himself if he has to.”
“I know. I just need time to talk to Josie about it.”
The second I smile, his eyes drop to my mouth, and it sends a rush of heat straight to my core.
I’ve only slept with one guy and he never made me feel the way Logan makes me feel with just one look.
The door opens, shoving me right into Logan. His arms wrap around me, helping me keep my balance, as he moves me away from the door. My hands are flat against his abs, and feeling his muscles ripple under my fingertips, almost makes me moan.
I struggle to keep a hold of my composure as Beth peeks inside. When she sees us, she smiles as if she caught two kids sneaking around, which only makes me blush.
“How was the session?” she asks me, her eyes darting between Logan and me.
“Good,” I blurt out. I grab Logan’s hand and pick up the bag. “We were just on our way. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I know it’s rude that I don’t introduce Logan but I’m uncomfortable as it is with him knowing that I take pole dance lessons.
Only once we’re outside do I slow down and take a deep breath. The night is nice and cool, which is just what I need right now to cool off my overheating hormones.
The sidewalks are filled with people, which is awesome, because I have a reason to stick close to Logan’s side. He doesn’t pull his hand from mine but instead weaves our fingers together. I glance up at him as we walk to where he left his car, and seeing the corner of his mouth pull in a sexy grin makes me wish I could have just one night with him to act out my fantasies. Damn, I wouldn’t waste one second.
The only other time he’s held my hand was when he took me to the prom. Even though we haven’t had contact for so long, I still love him. I think everybody has that one person they never stop loving. Logan is my person.
~
Logan drives the short distance to my apartment and we go up so I can sign the documents and change for work.
It’s quiet when we walk into the apartment and I’m a little relieved that Josie’s not home. She made it clear she’s not happy with the guys suddenly being back in my life. I try to understand and see things from her point of view. She doesn’t know them the way I do.
“Take a seat. Can I get you something to drink?” I ask as I walk to the kitchen.
“Water please,” he says as he sits down on the only couch we have.
I know the place looks like a dump compared to Rhett’s apartment. I try to see it through Logan’s eyes. The secondhand couch and coffee table doesn’t look too bad. The walls can do with a fresh coat of paint. I scrunch my nose, thinking it looks okay.
I pour him a glass of water, and when I walk back to where he is, I almost lose my breath at the sight of him looking all business like. He’s still dressed in his work clothes minus the tie and jacket. He rolled up his sleeves at some point, but as he leans over the documents, I can only drool at the sight of him. Arm porn at it’s best. My eyes follow the veins from his arms to his hands, and I quickly suppress a happy sigh.
I place the glass on the table and sit down next to him.
“It’s just new copies of the original documents for you to sign. Rhett is still your beneficiary should something happen.”
He takes a pen from his pocket and holds it out to me. As I take it he doesn’t move away but instead leans closer to me while pointing to where I must sign. Every time either of us moves, our arms brush, sending tiny sparks racing over my skin.
When I’m done signing everything, I hold the pen out to him. He takes it as our eyes meet. Usually I’m quick to look away, but having Logan in my own place for the first time, gives me a new perspective on us, and what I want. I’ve done so many brave things in the past four years, why can’t I be brave and make the first move?
“Has Rhett talked to you about working at Indie Ink?” His voice is low, sending more of those delicious shivers racing over my body.
It’s so amazing sitting here with him that I have to focus hard on the actual conversation we’re having.
“He has, but I’m not sure it’s what I want to do.”
He rests his forearms on his thighs, giving me his undivided attention. I copy his position and it makes our arms touch from shoulder to elbow. When he doesn’t move away, I take it as a very good sign.
“Have you thought about going back to college?”
“I’m not sure what to do. A week ago I was just hoping to get a better job that’s during the day.”
Logan moves, bringing his right hand to my arm. The second his fingers brush lightly down my arm, I lose all train of thought.
“Why did you stop using the trust account?” His voice is even lower than before, not quite a whisper, which makes it sound deep and oh so sexy.
I drop my eyes to where he’s touching me and stare at the goosebumps breaking out over my skin.
“I was hurting and not thinking. I wanted to prove to myself that I’d be okay on my own. Looking back I know it was stupid of me to do.” It’s so easy being open with Logan. Right now, it really doesn’t feel like we’ve spent any time apart. I actually feel closer to him now. Maybe it’s because we’re older.
He brings his hand to my face and tenderly cups my cheek. I can’t fight the urge and I lean into his touch, soaking it in. Our eyes lock and I’m so caught up in the moment that I start to lean towards him, throwing all caution out the window. He moves his left arm from between us and places it behind me, and I take it as a sign that he’s giving me full access.
His eyes drop to my mouth and my heart starts to beat wildly from the look of desire I see on his face.
This is happening. I’m not imagining things. Logan has to feel what I feel. This can’t be one-sided.
The front door opens and I jerk away from Logan. I stand up when Josie comes in, feeling like I just got busted having sex.
“You’re still here?” She looks at her watch and frowns. “It’s almost nine, shouldn’t you be at work?”
“Crap.” I rub over my face, knowing someone else already took my place.
“It’s funny how I had to beg you to go out with me the other night, but for him you don’t mind missing work,” she snaps and walks to her room. She slams the door shut.
What the hell just happened?
I’m just about to apologize to Logan for Josie’s rude behavior, when he says, “Can I give you some advice?” He gets up and places the documents back in the folder. “As a friend, who cares a lot about you, and as your attorney.”
For a moment all my mind can focus on is the part where he said he cares a lot about me.
Logan West cares about me. It’s an upgrade from like, right?
“My attorney?” I ask, and even though I’m missing work and my best friend is clearly pissed at me, I smile.
“It’s a package deal.” His smile fades and a serious look settles on his face. It’s one I haven’t seen often. “Right now you’re renting this place while working a dead-end job. I understand that you’re not sure about what you want to do, but that doesn’t mean you have to live here. Your share of the trust account is all there. You can buy a place, Mia. Right now you don’t have to work, but why don’t you come to Indie Ink even if it’s for a couple of months?”
I hear what he’s saying and I agree with it, but I feel guilty for even thinking it.
“Josie didn’t want to come to New York. She wanted to go to LA. She moved here for me.”
He brings his arm up and slips his hand behind my neck. Leaning down, he makes sure I’m looking at him.
I fight the urge to kiss him, and try to focus on what he’s saying.
“You can’t build your life around another person, Mia. You have to always do what’s best for you. If you make decisions based on what you think other people want from you, you will never be happy.”
“It’s hard, Logan.”
“I know, Sweetheart, but the hardest things in life will end up bringing you the most happiness.”
I should be listening to the advice he’s giving me but I got stuck on sweetheart. That’s the first time he’s called me anything else other than Mia.
When he leans in to hug me, all I can think about is kissing him. At the last second I chicken out and my lips skim over his cheek. I hug him tightly, and standing on my toes I bury my face in his neck.
“I want what’s best for you, Mia, and this is not it,” he whispers and it makes me tighten my hold on him.
He doesn’t let me go and we stand wrapped in each other’s arms for a few minutes longer.
I was in love with the boy but after tonight it’s clear that I’m obsessed with the man.
As I walk him to the door, I’m already thinking of ways to see him again.
“I left my business card on the table. It has my number and address on the back. If you need anything phone me.”
“I will. Thanks, Logan,” I say, meaning every word. “Thank you for always listening to me.”
“Anything for you.”
He always says the right thing. My heart never stood a chance. From the first moment I saw him, he owned it.
Before he leaves he presses a soft kiss to my cheek. His lips linger longer than it’s socially acceptable. The tingles remain long after I’ve closed the door behind him.