The Billionaire's Kiss(68)

“You sound like you’re starting to come around to my way of seeing things. Are you ready to admit that true love is possible?”

“I was very careful not to make that our bet. Our terms were simple: I bet that you would introduce me to the unhappy old people, and you’ll do so once you realize that I’m right about love and marriage and all the rest of it.”

“They were the happiest people I’ve ever seen!” Callie said. She watched Logan grin. “You’re just trying to annoy me, aren’t you?”

“I’d say I’m doing better than just trying.”

“That’s something we can agree on,” she said. “Keep this up, and I won’t bring you on any date.”

“Skipping right to the good part? Is that the idea?” Logan joked,.“You’re just using me for my body aren’t you?”

Callie leaned in and gave him a quick kiss, just long enough to feel the rush of warmth as Logan kissed her back. Then she pulled away. “And your money.”

“Well, I figured that one was a given. So what time will you come pick me up?”

“I’m picking you up?”

“Isn’t that part of the process? You show up with flowers and tell me how pretty I look. We stand there in the doorway for a little too long and then we head off to your car, pretending we don’t want to skip everything and just make out.”

“That sounds wonderful, but there’s a problem: you live on a boat,” she said.

“Right.” Logan thought it over for a moment. “So I’ll meet you here tomorrow then. Does early evening work for you?”

“Make it morning,” Callie said. “I already have a few ideas.”

“Apparently none of them involve letting me sleep,” Logan offered.

“Where would be the fun in that?” Callie said.

“I worry about you, Callie. Some of my best days have been spent in bed.”

“Yeah, but I bet you weren’t sleeping,” she said.

“You do have a point,” Logan said, a wry smile on his face.

“Tomorrow morning. Be here by ten.”

“Should I bring anything?” Logan asked.

“Just yourself. Oh, and dress nicely.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Logan leaned in and kissed Callie one more time, sending that warm, familiar rush through her body one more time before heading out the door.

As he headed off into the night, Callie flopped down onto the couch. Great, she thought. What am I going to do now?





Seventeen

Callie had planned out every detail of her day with Logan. For the first half of their date, she had picked a vineyard halfway up Aquidneck Island just outside of Newport. It seemed like the perfect choice. And so, in the early afternoon, Callie and Logan toured the vineyard under the bright summer sun, walking up and down the rows of vines, listening to the husband and wife tour guides explain each step in the winemaking process. By the time they got to drink the wine, Callie could feel the sheen of sweat beginning to form on her skin. She listened to the wind rustling through the vines. Everything felt just right, everything except for Logan. He just seemed off somehow. Again and again, Callie tried to gauge whether he was enjoying himself, but she just couldn’t tell. He had been affectionate through the date. He kept his arm around her, he laughed at her jokes, but something was missing, something was off about him, and she could tell. There were still unresolved issues. She should have known that their roll in the grass hadn’t solved their deeper issues.

After they got out of the tasting, Callie took Logan’s hand and led him over to a shady hill. Before the tour, Callie had convinced one of the tour guides to lay out the blanket and set up the picnic basket for her and Logan. From the blanket, she could see the entire vineyard as it sloped down toward toward the broad blue width of the Sakonnet River, and she could hear all the sounds of the vineyard and the water beyond it. Speedboats off in the distance, birds squawking overhead, and the leaves in the tree rustling in the wind, yet she and Logan sat in silence.

“Is everything alright?” Callie asked. “Was this a bad idea?”

“No, I mean, yes, everything’s fine,” he said. “I’m sorry, Callie. I like you. I like you a lot, but if there’s going to be anything between us, we have to be honest. Do you think we can do that?”

“Of course. I’m an open book. Ask whatever you want,” she said.

“Ok, why did you come here?” he asked.

“I came across a tape of you while working on another case for another client. That case got to me. I put myself in a really bad situation with an even worse guy. It rattled me. I decided I needed some time off. When I asked for it, I got sent here instead. In a funny way, I think I’ve gotten exactly what I needed.”