31

Logan read the text that came across his phone from Lance for a second time.

Sorry, but a situation has come up that needs our immediate attention. We’ll be back in a day or two. You know where to find the door key. Make yourself at home.

He rubbed his hand down his face. The only way to the island was by boat, or seaplane. Lance was in the process of adding an airstrip, which he hoped would be completed by early spring.

“You need help with your luggage, Dr. Montgomery?”

Logan glanced over at the man who’d piloted the seaplane which had brought him to Paradise. John, the fifty-something-year-old man, stood well over six feet with sun-bleached blond hair and tanned features. Over the years, he’d delivered a number of family and clients to this island for Lance and Asia and was someone Logan had gotten to know. He had a good mind to tell John to leave his luggage on the seaplane and take him back to the airport. Honestly, he wasn’t in the right frame of mind to visit with Lance, Asia and the baby anyway. But then, maybe being around them was what he needed, although from the text he’d just read, they weren’t here. Maybe that was a good thing. He would have a day or two to get himself together and think what his next move would be regarding Claire. Because he wasn’t giving up on her.

The sun was shining bright and Logan used his hands to shield his eyes as he stared across the white sand at the two-story villa owned by his brother and sister-in-law. The huge structure sat under a bevy of palm trees and was surrounded by a wrought-iron fence with a brick-paved courtyard in the front. It was breathtaking and had such a welcoming effect. He knew, at that moment, he would definitely stay.

He glanced back at John. “No, I can handle things from here. Thanks for the ride.”

“No problem. Just give me at least two days’ notice when you’re ready to leave.”

“I will.”

A couple hours later, Logan had done just what his brother had suggested and made himself at home. Asia had left a note telling him which bedroom to use and that the refrigerator was stocked. She hadn’t been kidding. He’d changed into shorts and a t-shirt and was now sitting on the patio nursing a glass of scotch. What he liked most about this place was that every angle of the house offered a breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean. At the moment, he appreciated the breeze. He needed it to clear his head and Paradise was the perfect place to do it.

His talk with Claire, his confession of love, had gone all wrong. He wasn’t sure if it was the timing, or the vocabulary he’d used. Or maybe it had just been the woman. Yes, she was complicated and the whole idea of her never wanting to love because of something that happened years ago was problematic. But nothing was hidden so deep it couldn’t be overhauled with tender loving care. And if she needed more time, he would give her that, too, although forty-one was approaching fast. But if it took him to the ripe old age of fifty before getting the woman he wanted, the only woman he would ever love, then he was willing to be patient. But she hadn’t wanted to hear what he had to say--none of his compromises, concessions or acceptances. Instead she’d asked him to leave, denying him the chance to negotiate. Instead, he’d conceded…and he hated himself for doing it.

So today, he would wallow in self-pity. Then, tomorrow he would go fishing and come up with another plan. And he would continue to come up with plans until he found one that was acceptable. The bottom line was that he loved Claire with all her complications and problems, and he intended to make sure she knew it—really believed it--before she returned to Algiers. But first, he needed to just relax, finish off his scotch and clear his mind.

He heard the bing on his phone, letting him know he’d gotten a text message. He stood, quickly took the phone out of his pocket, hoping it was Claire. It wasn’t. It was Carrie.

U back?

He texted her back.

Yes.

When will U come home? Can’t wait for U 2 meet Thea. U R going 2 like her. Things getting serious. Happy 4 Pop.

Logan drew in a deep breath, truly glad things were going well for somebody at least. He texted her back.

On Paradise now. Will visit soon.

He then clicked off the phone, and replaced it in his pocket. He’d sent Lance a text earlier to let him know he’d arrived and was making himself at home. He hadn’t gotten a response yet and wondered what had come up that had needed their immediate attention. It was probably something involving a client.

Logan sat back down and stared out at the ocean for a long time. When dusk settled, he decided to go in, shower and hit the sack. He’d been tempted to call Claire but remembered she would be visiting her mother for the next couple of days. Besides, he wanted to give her the space she needed.

Claire might be intent on hanging onto the past, but Logan was determined to find a way to corral her into the future. No matter what, he wouldn’t give up.

I wish I had a plan, Claire thought as she climbed out of the seaplane onto the sandy beach and glanced around. Nobody was expecting her. Not Lance, Asia or her darling nephew, Leland. And definitely not Logan and this woman named Susan. Had she arrived yet? Had she and Logan met? If so, did he think Susan could replace Claire in his heart so easily?

It had taken Claire longer to get here than she’d planned because of bad weather in Charleston. But she was here and intended to make her presence known, regardless of how perfect Logan and Susan might be for each other.

She’d decided not to text Asia before arriving, because her sister would only have told her not to come. Asia would tell Claire that she’d had her chance with Logan and she’d blown it.

But the way Claire saw it, Logan had declared his love for her, and she would not let any woman come between them. She would convince Logan she loved him back and then hopefully, someone would send this Susan packing. If Claire had to do it, then so be it. Like Asia, she didn’t like it when things got messy, but there might not be any way to avoid messiness now.

“You picked a great time to come, Ms. Fowler,” John, the pilot of the seaplane, said. “I delivered Dr. Logan Montgomery here two days ago.”

“Yes, I know.” She was tempted to ask John if he’d brought anyone else here, like a good-looking female pilot, but decided against it. She would deal with that when the time came. First, she would have a private talk with Logan and then she would talk to her sister. She owed Asia an apology for just showing up and messing up whatever plans she’d made—especially since those plans wouldn’t be happening.

John carried her luggage across the sandy beach to the huge villa. Claire followed behind him, wondering what she would say to Logan when she saw him. “Thanks, John,” she said, when they’d reached the front door.

“You’re welcome. Have a nice visit.”

She watched John head back toward the seaplane. Then, she took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.

Logan heard the sound of the doorbell as he was getting out of the shower. He knew Lance and Asia had a state-of-the-art intercom system but he decided by the time he figured out how to operate the thing, he could make it downstairs to open the door.

He wondered who could be visiting. It wasn’t as if they had neighbors within twenty miles. And the only way to get here was by boat or seaplane. Quickly putting on a pair of shorts, he rushed down the stairs, hoping it wasn’t a client they’d forgotten to cancel. He’d been here two days and figured Lance, Asia and the baby should be returning sometime today.

He opened the door. Claire was standing there and she seemed as surprised to see him as he was to see her. Why? She’d known he would be here. Chances are, she’d thought he had left already, and that was the reason she seemed surprised to see him. Or maybe she just hadn’t expected him to answer the door. Whatever the reason, considering how their last conversation had ended, he doubted she wanted to see him at all.

When she didn’t say anything, he said, “Something came up and Lance, Asia and the baby had to leave the island. I’m expecting them back sometime today.”

She lifted a brow. “So, they left you here with Susan?”

He shot her a bemused look. “I don’t know any Susan. When I arrived on Sunday, no one was here. Lance texted that something had come up and that I should make myself at home. So, I have.”

He paused. “I thought you weren’t coming until after you’d visited your mother.” He moved aside to let her enter. There was no need for her to stand out in the bright morning sun.

She walked by him, pulling her luggage behind her and leaving her luscious scent in her wake. She turned around when she reached the middle of the room. “They were expecting some woman named Susan,” she said.

Logan shrugged and figured he would have done a better job keeping up with what she was saying if he hadn’t been checking her out in her very short shorts and top. Her long legs got to him each and every time. “I don’t know anything about that. Lance didn’t mention it in his text.”

He closed the door and leaned against it, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “So why did you decide to come here? Is it because you thought I’d left?”

She shook her head. “I wasn’t sure if you had, but I was hoping I’d be able to catch you.”

He was definitely surprised to hear that. He straightened his stance and removed his hands from his pockets. “Why?”

Claire drew in a deep breath. She would answer his question, but first, she needed a drink. Her throat suddenly felt dry. “May I have something to drink?”

He slowly nodded his head. “What would you like?”

“A glass of wine would be nice.”

He moved away from the door. “We can sit outside on the patio, if you’d like. It’s not too hot out there now.”

“Alright.”

By the time Logan returned with two glasses of wine, Claire had taken a chair facing the ocean and was enjoying the breeze. But she hadn’t come up with what she wanted to say. In the back of her mind, she could hear her mother’s voice saying, Speak from your heart, Claire. Speak from your heart. So, she would and she hoped Logan would understand.

“Here you are,” he said, handing her a glass filled with wine. “And I decided to have one myself,” he said, taking the chair across from her.

She took a sip and at first, she didn’t say anything, even though she knew he was waiting. Finally, she started. “I told you I deliberately came here hoping you’d still be here and you asked me why. The reason is Susan.”

She watched his brow lift. “Susan?”

“Yes.”

He shrugged his massive shoulders. “You mentioned her before and said Lance and Asia were expecting her. Who is she and what does she have to do with me?”

Nothing I hope, Claire thought. I hope she never has anything to do with you. Instead, after nervously smoothing a hand over her pale-yellow shorts, she added, “Susan is someone Asia knows. You two have a lot in common. She’s a pilot in the Air Force and she’s ready to settle down, get married and have babies. Asia was going to fix the two of you up during your pit stop here.”

Logan stared at her, as if he thought she was joking. At some point, he undoubtedly figured she wasn’t. “Are you serious?”

“As a heart attack. So, don’t be surprised when Susan shows up.”

He took a sip of his wine. “Asia never gave me the impression she’s the matchmaker type.”

“Typically, she’s not. But she wants you to be happy and she understands that you’re ready to settle down.”

“Yes, but…”

“But, what?”

“Nothing. Please continue. I find all this rather interesting.”

Claire didn’t say anything for a minute. “Asia told me about the plans she had for you and Susan even before we left DC. Of course, it didn’t matter to me because we were just friends. I wanted you to be happy too. I even thought of fixing you up with my friend Mindy, but she was involved with someone already. But then on our trip, things changed and we became intimate.”

She could no longer sit still and had to stand. Had to start pacing, then stopped for a moment. “And after we had our talk and you left, I knew you were coming here and would meet Susan. I admitted to myself that I didn’t want Susan to have you, even if you two have a lot in common and want the same things.”

Claire took another sip of wine. “It took Mom to help me sort out a few things. I know my not wanting to love another man for fear of losing him isn’t just about Walter. It’s also about my dad. I also know I have to admit my feelings for you too, Logan.”

“And they are?” he asked, getting up to stand in front of her.

She tilted her head back to look up at him. “That I love you, and that I have to move on, whether I want to or not.”

He reached out and gently caressed the side of her face. “And how do you feel about that?”

“Scared.”

He took her glass out of her hand and placed it on the nearby table. Then he drew her into his arms and held her. “Don’t be afraid, Claire. You should never be afraid with me.”

She didn’t say anything at first, just rested her face in his chest and absorbed his scent, shared his strength. Moments later, she pulled back slightly and looked up at him. “I do want the things you want, Logan. I can see that now. But it took the possibility of me losing you to Susan that opened my eyes.”

He tightened his arms around her. “You could never lose me. Asia was right in assuming I want love, marriage and children. But I only want them with you, Claire. I thought she knew that.”

“Evidently, she didn’t.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter. Now you know it, too. I didn’t want to rush you. The reason I invited you to go on vacation with me was for you to get to know me.”

And she had gotten to know him. She had fallen in love with him. “So, you love me and I love you. What’s next?”

He chuckled. “What’s next is whatever we want.”

She leaned up on tip-toe and whispered, “I want you to make love to me, Logan.”

So, he swept her off her feet and carried her into the house.

The ringing of Claire’s cell phone awakened her, and when she stirred, so did the man beside her in bed. “Sorry,” she whispered to Logan before grabbing her phone. She glanced over at the clock. It was close to midnight. “I hope it’s Asia.”

Claire hadn’t heard from her sister and brother-in-law since arriving on Paradise two days ago. And she knew Logan hadn’t heard from them either and he’d arrived two days before she had. “Hello?”

“Claire? You made it to Paradise, I see.” It was Asia.

“Yes, I made it. Logan was already here. Where are you guys? Is everything all right?”

“Yes, everything is fine. We’re at our cabin in North Carolina and decided to hang out here for a few days.”

Claire lifted a brow thinking that didn’t make sense. “Your cabin? Why did you leave when you knew Logan was coming?”

She could hear Asia giggle before saying, “Because I figured the two of you needed some time to yourselves.”

Claire sat up in bed and placed the phone on speaker. “Asia, Logan is here with me. Could you repeat what you just said, because I’m sure I missed something?”

“No problem. Hey, Logan!”

Claire glanced over at Logan and watched him smile. “Hey back at you, Asia. Where’re Lance and Leland?”

“Lance is right here beside me in bed and Leland is in the other room asleep. I just told Claire that we left Paradise to give the two of you some privacy.”

Logan pulled up in bed beside Claire. “Privacy? You were expecting me but not Claire,” he said.

“Oh, yes, we were expecting Claire as well.”

Claire frowned. “Asia, that doesn’t make sense. You all but told me not to come to Paradise because you’d fixed Logan up with this Susan person.”

“Yes, I did say that, but honestly, I never thought you would do what I said. In fact, I knew you wouldn’t, since you never have. I was counting on you staying true to form. I was also counting on you coming to your senses about how you really felt about Logan.”

Claire glanced over at Logan and smiled. “I did come to my senses. But how did you know I would?”

“Because I know you. I also figured dangling Susan in your face would provide motivation.”

Claire chuckled. “It did. I’m glad you decided not to invite her.”

Asia laughed out loud.

Claire wondered what Asia thought was so amusing. “And what’s so funny?”

“Haven’t you figured out, Claire, that there never was a Susan. She was someone I made up to make you jealous enough to come to your senses.”

Claire nearly dropped the phone. “You made it up? You lied to me?”

“Yes. Guilty as charged. But please stop screaming. Leland is asleep, and your shrieking might wake him.”

“But why?” Claire asked.

“Because I owed you for sticking your nose into my business with Lance, making sure we got together. When Logan made a stop here on his way to DC to see you, he told me and Lance how he felt about you and I knew you could feel the same way…with a little push.”

“More like a shove, you mean,” Claire said smiling, snuggling closer to Logan.

“Okay, a shove. Whatever. It worked.”

Claire laughed. Yes, it had worked. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. I just wanted to let you guys know you’ve got two more days. Then we’ll be back. I hope you’ve made some serious plans by then.”

It was Logan who spoke this time. “We will have. And thanks for interfering. I owe you one.”

“Umm, a niece named after me would be nice.”

Logan laughed. “We’ll keep that in mind.”

“Okay, guys, I’ve heard enough.” Lance, who’d been quiet all this time, interrupted to say. “It’s time to end this call. We’ll see you in two days. Bye.”

“Bye.” Claire clicked off the phone and placed it back on the nightstand, then wrapped her arms around Logan’s neck. “Can you believe there never was a Susan?”

“It doesn’t matter. You’re the only woman I want. The only woman I’ve ever wanted.”

Claire knew there were plans to make and more talking to do but she had time. In fact, she intended to call her boss tomorrow and request a thirty-day extension of her time in the States. Logan had invited her to spend some time with him at his place in Tampa, and she couldn’t wait.

“Claire?”

“Yes?” She looked up at him.

And Logan lowered his mouth to hers.