Inevitable (17 page)

“Hi, Cassandra,” he said as he stopped in front of us.

“Hey buddy, this is Hilary. You met her at the carnival last week.”

“I remember, Caleb is your friend, and he’s awesome!”

She giggled, nodding in agreement with him.

“So how have you been?” I asked, placing my glass of water on the table beside me.

“Great, sorry I couldn’t come back over last night. Daddy had an important meeting so I had a sleepover at my cousin’s.”

“You stayed over on a school night?” My voice came out as disturbed as I felt about it.

“Yeah, Daddy said his clients were from out of town.” His face melted into a slight frown. He looked down and instantly the smile was back when he held up a paper bag he’d been holding. “But I brought over my artwork now, and Daddy even helped me pick out awesome frames to hang them.”

I couldn’t help smiling. Logan was a grown man, who was I to care what or who he did in his free time. His clients, as he called them, were definitely from out of town, so at least it wasn’t a full lie.

“All right, let’s go hang them up.” I stood up. “I’ll race you!” With a playful grin, I ran past him.

Chapter Eleven

Lowered Inhibitions

I
stood outside Haven for what felt like forever, my entire body painfully alive and rigid. My hands were clammy and trembled as I ran them down my short black dress and pulled on my best confident smile. My feet carried me at a snail’s pace through the door, the unnerving need to turn around and run was echoing through my mind. This was a giant step for me, enormous, but one I needed to take in order to put myself back out there in the dating world. Just the word—dating—terrified me beyond justified reasoning. Mark had been my first and only boyfriend. What was I supposed to know about dating and about what men expected?

“Cassandra?” A tall, dark-haired man stepped away from Caleb, who was leaning against the bar with a clipboard in hand.

Caleb winked with a soft smile and headed off behind the bar.

“Hi, you must be Kurt,” I said, holding the smile on my face as smoothly as possible. My cheeks stung from the force it took, but it was the only way to control the bundle of nerves racing through me as he drew closer.

I was going to kill Hilary for this. The man was at least thirty-five, and considering this was my first real date ever, he was not what I was expecting. I’d never even considered dating someone more than five maybe ten years older, let alone almost fifteen years. I had to admit though, she wasn’t lying. He was handsome in a rugged sort of way.

His hair was long, hanging just past his jaw, tucked behind his ears and I couldn’t help noticing his eyes, an intense, deep-grey shade that clouded with a dark glimmer when he did a quick once over of my body. He was dressed in simple beat-up blue jeans and a plain white tee. The man was all muscles with a large amateur looking tattoo running up his forearm.

I knew Hilary’s intentions were not to help me find a steady boyfriend, but more to help dip my toes back in the water. The condoms sitting on my kitchen table right now proved that point. Judging by Kurt’s cool demeanor, he looked plenty experienced in helping a girl do just that.

“Wow! I knew you were pretty but—” He titled his head to the side, his lips curling up into a crooked smile. “seeing you up close, gorgeous is be a more fitting description.”

I smiled, biting my lip as heat spread over my cheeks. “Thanks, you’re not too bad yourself.” Okay, I could do this. Taking my hand, he placed a small kiss on my knuckles. I felt my confidence grow as Kurt guided us over to a small table in the corner.

He was making tonight even easier than I expected. He was sweet, attractive, and with a few drinks, I would have the courage to open up and try to get to know him a little. One fun date could possibly be the best thing for me. Part of me wanted to hit it off with Kurt just so I could officially move on from my past with Mark. The bastard would no longer be my only lover.

If we heated things up tonight in
that
department it would also help soothe some of the ache I felt whenever I spent time around Logan. As much as I hated to admit it, Logan did things to my body I couldn’t explain, and until I put out those flames he kept igniting, I was bound to attack his perfect body sooner or later. That was not an option.

Against all rational thoughts, in the back of my mind, I found myself thinking if all I wanted was a night of passion, maybe giving into Logan could be done—with a mutual agreement that it never be spoken of afterward. Just sex. Nobody would have to find out, and nothing would need to change.

I shook my head clearing the absurd idea.
What the hell was the matter with me?
I couldn’t stand the complication that would cause, us being neighbors. Not to mention, I was completely repulsed at his little
ménage à trois
the other day. I was definitely not his type.

Sitting across from Kurt, I held up the menu debating what I was in the mood for. Well, beside a careless one-night stand, preferably with my arrogant neighbor.

“So, what made you want to work here at Haven?” I asked, lowering my menu to catch his gaze. It wasn’t the most appealing job in town, not like Logan’s anyway. I inwardly berated myself for thinking of him yet again.

“I um, recently moved to town. Needed a job and Caleb was nice enough to offer. It’s nothing permanent, just until I find something else.”

I nodded with a small smile. The waitress came over to take our drink order and Kurt ordered a bottle of wine. The man was reading my mind.  

“So, I hear you’re a teacher.” He pushed his menu to the edge of the table. I caught his gaze and found myself being drawn into him.

I swallowed; something in his expression was sexy, but dangerous. It was new and exciting. “Yes, kindergarten.” My voice cracked. Where was the damn waitress with our drinks? I needed that wine to help me relax,
pronto
.

“That sounds…interesting,” he chuckled.

Finally the waitress appeared, setting down the bottle and two wine glasses.

“Thanks,” I mumbled, watching as he filled my glass. Quickly, I downed the entire thing, looking up through my lashes, slightly embarrassed. He gave me an impressed look before refilling it for me with a smirk dancing across his lips. It was nothing like the smirks Logan threw my way. I looked away, annoyed he was still in my thoughts and took another sip of the sweet wine.

I really needed to stop thinking about Logan. It would never work and based on the reputation Logan had built in the short time he’d lived here, it was painfully obvious he wasn’t capable of having a meaningful relationship. There would never be anything between us, not the way I would need it. I’d only end up with a broken heart. I wouldn’t do that to myself.

Here I was with a handsome, mysterious man sitting in front of me, giving me compliment after compliment throughout the night; I needed to focus on him. I could tell Kurt was attracted to me, he made it obvious and I had no doubt he would come home with me and show me everything I’d been missing sexually if I gave him the go ahead. It could be an enjoyable night, I reasoned, lifting my glass and taking another large sip to dull my screaming conscience. I was going to need a lot more to drink before this night was over.

By the time dessert was resting in front of me, I was feeling free as a bird flying high in the clouds. Nothing mattered, and for the first time in weeks, Logan was out of my head. Kurt was full of ridiculously silly jokes that kept me giggling as I downed drink after drink of wine. In all my life I never experienced more than a mild buzz from drinking, always the responsible one. But tonight I could see the appeal of alcohol.

Kurt seemed nice, and the longer we sat there chatting about frivolous nonsense, the more I was fighting with myself as to why this was a bad idea. I deserved it after everything that had happened with Mark. I spent so much of my life dedicated to him only to be let down. Everyone around me easily let go of their inhibitions the second an attractive person entered the room. Why not give it a try for once in my life? Time to live a little.

With another sip of wine to settle any remaining nerves, I reached across the table, and boldly placed my hand over his, running my thumb across knuckles. His face instantly lit up, smiling, and he responded by brushing his fingers against my palm and gave my hand a gentle squeeze.

“Can I give you a ride home?” he asked after the waitress collected our plates. I had told him earlier a friend brought me due to car trouble, which was not entirely true but made it easier. At least that’s how Hilary explained it when she dropped me off. Tonight I was a different person. Taking a new Cassandra out for a test drive and hoping I didn’t crash and burn.

“Yeah, that would be nice.”

He released my hand to pull out his wallet, placing some cash next to the bill while I finished off my fourth glass of wine.

“Hello.”

My jaw went slack, all air spilled from my lungs as the familiar husky voice hummed through me.

“Logan.” Kurt twisted in his seat, noticeably irritated. “How are you doing?”

Logan’s gaze burned into me from above but I kept my head down, eyes focused on my empty glass twirling in my fingers.

“Hello, Cassandra. How are you tonight, sweetheart?”

Closing my eyes, I inhaled a deep silent breath and put on the best smile I could muster before looking up. My breath caught at the intensity in his hazy-blue eyes.

“Hey, what are you doing here tonight?” I narrowed my eyes, not wanting to be interrupted by him of all people while on a date. Grabbing the bottle, I attempted to pour myself another glass of wine with shaky hands. I was officially drunk and slowly feeling the effects.

Kurt quickly took the nearly empty bottle and poured the remainder into my glass. Both men watched expectantly as I wasted no time tipping it back in one large gulp.

Kurt cleared his throat. “Logan is here most nights,” Kurt snickered, “good for business Caleb says. You should see all the women that flock to this guy. They can’t seem to get enough of him.”

“I’m sure,” I mumbled, gazing back up at Logan, his eyes still holding me in their sight. “Well, don’t let us keep you. I’m sure there’s some pretty little tramp hanging around here waiting for you to take her home tonight.” Turns out, I wasn’t a friendly drunk. I rolled my eyes, swallowing down the repulsion I felt thinking about Logan taking home one of the town’s barflies.

Logan’s searing gaze held steady, ignoring my remark. “So you had a nice dinner?” His tone was soft despite my insult.

Why was he still here?
His voice was smooth and void of any emotion, confusing me. But for some reason I just felt angry. He had no right to stare at me like that. Was he judging me?
Ha, he’s hardly one to pass judgment.

“Yes, it was great. I was just about to take Cassandra home,” Kurt said as he stood from the booth. “We’ll see you around.”

“I see, well then, have a good night.” Logan finally tore his eyes away, staring down at the tile floor, giving nothing away to what was going through his mind. It only added to my irritation. I ran my hands through my hair as he turned, walking back the way he came.

“You ready?” Kurt asked, offering a crooked smile.

I smiled, biting my bottom lip nervously. This was it. I was officially going to step out of my comfort zone and live on the outside for a night. He really was cute and his lips were devilishly plump.

“Yeah,” I murmured, placing my empty glass on the table. He reached out and took my hand, helping me up. Kurt was sweet and the perfect gentleman.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Logan called out, turning back to face us. His darkened eyes stared down at my hand intertwined with Kurt’s, but he held his unaffected composure as he spoke. “Caleb is in the back.” He nudged his head toward the double metal doors beside the bar, looking straight at Kurt. “He needs to speak with you before you leave.”

“I’ll be right back,” Kurt told me after a moment’s pause. He placed a small kiss upon my knuckles before releasing my hand. The icy stare he shot at Logan when he shouldered past him was impossible to miss.

I waited until Kurt disappeared into the backroom then crossed my arms over my chest. “Why are you here?” I asked, glaring at Logan.

“Are you going home with him?” His voice was strong and demanding. Something I’d never seen in him before. His jaw worked hard under the skin, impatiently waiting for my answer.

How long had he been in the bar? Had he been watching me? I grimaced. How had I not noticed him? Usually I could just sense when he was around. It had to be the alcohol in my system.

“He’s driving me home, yes and whatever happens after that has nothing to do with you.”

I reached down to the table to grab my purse but stumbled backward, groaning when Logan swept in and caught me around the waist before I fell.

“You’re drunk, Cassandra.” He sighed, holding me in his arms. His masculine scent filled my head and I found myself unconsciously leaning into him further. His hand ran up my back and I jolted back to reality. It would be a long time until I drank this much again.