Logan & Kayla Duet

Chapter 3-2

“Come on, Skylar, we’re going to see Grannie and Papa,” Maggie says. Skylar immediately starts to revolt. She runs to me and grabs my hand, which I know Maggie hates.

“Come here right now,” Maggie demands.

“No!” Skylar yells and it’s quickly becoming a scene in front of the other dance parents.

I kneel until I’m eye to eye with her and wipe the tears from her cheeks. “Skylar,” I say softly, “listen. Grannie and Papa really, really want to see you today.”

“But we were supposed to build a blanket fort and eat ice cream.”

My heart is tearing in two. I f*****g hate this. “I know and I pinky promise next time we’re going to. But you have to go with your mom. Okay?”

At first, she doesn’t answer, but then she slowly nods and wraps her arms around my neck and I give her a hug. “I love you, baby.”

“I love you too, Daddy. I don’t want you to go.”

“I know, baby.”

I stand up and look at Maggie and the distaste in my demeanor is not lost on her. Taking every extra moment I can, I walk Skylar to Maggie’s car and buckle her in. I give her another hug and make promises I intend to keep. After I shut the door, I walk around to Maggie before she can get in the car.

“Here’s the deal. You find a job in Sacramento and move closer to me and our parents or I will call my lawyer. I’m not playing this game anymore, and before you start, this isn’t a threat. So, figure out the time line and let me know when you’re moving. The sooner, the better.”

I don’t give her a second to respond before I walk away. Right now, I’m so furious that my precious time with Skylar was stolen that I can barely think straight.

It’s been almost a week since the kiss that saved me from one of the worst dates I’ve ever had, and I still feel it lingering on my lips. I know it wasn’t supposed to mean anything, but I can’t get it out of my mind. The way his hand greedily touched my cheek, the way his body pressed against mine, and the way his mouth captured mine. It’s not something a girl like me easily forgets when it’s with a guy like Logan Knight. And my body certainly as hell hasn’t forgotten it either. Just thinking about it and picturing it in my mind sends shivers down my spine.

Walking into work, I’m greeted by my co-worker, Lucy. She’s holding a mug the size of her head filled with hot coffee, as she does every morning, but the messy topknot on her head is a new look.

“Rough night?” I inquire as we both step onto the elevator.

She snorts. “Rough weekend.”

Laughing, I press the button to our floor and watch as she hangs onto the railing.

“So that must be what a social life looks like.” I sigh.

“Or wild s*x,” she blurts out, perking up.

I pretend to gag at her amazing s*x life. Considering the last guy I dated, Tyler and I didn’t have a great s*x life, it’s been a long, long time since I’ve had wild s*x, or just good s*x in general. He was a decent guy, but there were no sparks there. I didn’t want to lead him on any longer into thinking my feelings matched his when they didn’t.

“Please, spare me the details,” I say, dryly. “I’ve had nothing but one failed date after another, and I’m ready to just call it quits. I’m going to be that old lady who dies in her house with her seventeen dogs and no one even notices because they end up eating my corpse.”

“Geez, Kayla.” She flashes me a look. “A little morbid for eight a.m. on a Monday, don’t ya think?”

I sigh and blow out a slow breath. “Sorry. I’m PMSing. Doesn’t help that I’ve legit had zero success on that stupid dating website. Either it’s broken or I am.”

The elevator doors open and we both walk toward our offices.

“Don’t worry, Kay. The right guy will come along.” She flashes a genuine smile and even in her s*x-crazed daze, she sounds sincere.

I huff at her words, because I don’t believe them for a second. “Easy for you to say. You’re married to the perfect guy.”

She releases a slow sigh and her lips part in a giddy smile. “Yeah, he really is perfect. His hair. His lips. His abs. His co—”

“Okay!” I interrupt. “I get it. He’s Mr. Wonderful.”

“Oh, stop it. Whatever happened with Mr. Knight in shining armor?”

“Absolutely nothing.”

I told Lucy about our impromptu kiss last weekend and she knows all about our non-relationship relationship since the day Logan and I met. I’ve told her little details about how I thought maybe something could form between us and how he’d slow danced with me at the wedding and how it was much more than just two friends dancing, yet he refuses to date. She thinks it’s because he swings for the other team, but knowing what I know now, I’m pretty sure it’s because of his daughter.

Speaking of which, I need to text Courtney and update her. She’s still in Hawaii, but they come back in a few days, and I’ll need to catch her up pronto.

“Well, I guess you’ll just have to show him what he’s missing.” She winks as she slows her pace and stops in front of her office.

I head down to my office and decide I should text Courtney although she won’t get it until she lands on Thursday.

Kayla: I hope you’re having a great time on your honeymoon! I miss you! I have SO much to tell you! But it’s probably a good thing you aren’t here this week because I’m super PMSing and it’s not a good look for me. My cramps are a b***h and the dogs nearly killed me this morning when they saw a rabbit and decided they needed to chase after it. Really did wonders for my bleeding uterus. Anyway, come back pregnant! Love you!

I smile as I hit send and turn on my computer. My work back load is ridiculous right now and taking those few days off the other week only added to it. I create a checklist for myself so I can have the satisfaction of marking off tasks although it’s going to be a mile long before the day is over.

By lunchtime, I’m starving and have checked four lousy things off my list. Lucy and I meet for a quick bite in the shopping center next to our office building.

“If I have to do another bedroom makeover for a spoiled teenager’s sweet sixteen, I’m going to vomit all over their Prada shoes,” I groan as we take our seats.

“Hey now. Leave Prada out of this,” she tells me seriously.

I snort and roll my eyes. “I love my job, I do. But there are days that make me second-guess my decision.”

“Are you sure that’s not the PMS talking?” she teases.

I throw a French fry at her. “Oh, more than likely, but I really am annoyed with all these kids getting bedrooms that cost more than my entire house, car, and life savings. Like what happens when they move out? Or go to college? You did all that for two years of use?”

“You’re giving it way too much thought. Trust fund babies live at home until they get their trust funds—usually at twenty-one or twenty-five—and then take everything with them to their new penthouse.”

I frown. “That’s even more depressing.”

She pats me on the shoulder with a snarky grin. “Chin up, buttercup! These Prada-wearing rich teenyboppers are what keep us in business.”

“Don’t remind me,” I groan.

When I first decided to go to school for interior design, it was because I loved the thrill of putting something new together. It felt like art to me. Taking a blank canvas and designing it to fit the person’s personality. Every new canvas is a challenge and I love that aspect of the job. Nothing’s ever the same. Every client is different, which keeps my job interesting. Lately, my passion for animals and volunteering at the shelter weigh heavy on my mind. I believe working with animals is my true calling, but if all I can offer is my volunteer services to wash dogs, play with them, and help find them new homes, then I’m okay with that for now.

Once Lucy and I finish lunch, we head back to our building, and I’m surprised when I see a vase of flowers and a small box sitting on my desk.

“For a girl with crappy dating skills, you sure got some nice flowers,” Lucy says, following me in. “Who are they from?”

I’m wondering the same thing.

“I have no idea. It’s probably a misdelivery,” I say, jaded.

“Read the card, dummy.” She picks it off the card holder and hands it to me.

Grabbing it from her, I try and think of who would’ve sent me these. After the way my date with Fred ended, I’d highly doubt they’d be from him.

Sorry to hear about your lady troubles. Hopefully chocolates and flowers cheer you up!

-Logan

P.S. I think you meant to text Courtney ;)

“Oh my God,” I mutter, staring at the words on the card. “Oh. My. God.” I close my eyes.

“What is it?” Lucy asks, but I ignore her as I dig around for my phone.

Searching through my text messages, I see the message I sent to Logan instead of Courtney. He was the last person I texted and without thinking I clicked on it and started rambling off about my period like a crazy person.

“Oh my God,” I whine as I sit down in my chair. “They’re from Logan,” I tell her.

“Really?” Her eyes widen and her lips part in a smile.

I hand her the card and within seconds, she bursts out laughing.

“This is not funny.” I scowl at her. “I sent this whole long message to Courtney about PMSing and how crappy I feel, except I texted it to Logan.” I slam my head into my desk and groan.

“This is pure f*****g gold.” She continues laughing at my humiliation.

“Do you understand why I suck at dating? I texted the one guy I’m interested in about my bleeding uterus.” I lift my head and see she’s narrowing her eyes at me.

“Oh, sweet Jesus, Kay.” She’s shaking her head at me, pursing her lips together as she fails to hold in more laughter. “At least he was thoughtful enough to send gifts.”

“I’ll never be able to look him in the eyes again.”

“Stop being dramatic. He obviously found it funny and wanted to make you feel better,” she says sincerely, but I’m too mortified to take her seriously. “Maybe he’s not as off the market as you think?”

Doubt it.

Once I finally get her out of my office and can be humiliated privately, I text Logan in hopes of redeeming myself.

Kayla: I’m a freaking i***t. I’m so sorry for sending you that message and burning those images into your brain. You probably want me to lose your number now, right?

Logan: Well once I bleached my eyes and watched an hour of amateur p**n, I was good. Then I figured since Courtney wasn’t here to console you, I’d send you some reinforcements to help you get on the mend.

Kayla: Glad I could help feed your p**n addiction.

Logan: I had to get the images out of my head somehow.

Kayla: But seriously. Thanks for the flowers and chocolate. It was really sweet.

Logan: My pleasure. Hope you feel better soon, Kayla.

I’m practically swooning in my office chair just from reading his words. I hear his deep, gravelly voice in my mind, and it takes all my willpower to put my phone down and get back to work.