THE FLUORESCENT LIGHTS of the supermarket flickered overhead as Katie Quinn considered the bag of Dove chocolates in her hand. Thirty percent more for free, she noted with a satisfied nod. That was good because she was at least thirty percent more depressed at the moment. Valentine’s Day was always a kicker, but getting dumped by her boyfriend two days before just seemed to bring the agony of the holiday into razor sharp, mind-numbing focus.
“He just didn’t want to have to buy you shit,” her best friend Tracy had said when Katie told her about it over a steaming mug of coffee at her kitchen table. In all the years Katie had known her, Tracy had always been a bit of a ballbuster. However, at five feet eight inches of slender, polished, Grace Kelly–like beauty, men still kept lining up to get her attention.
“No really,” she said when Katie shot her a glare. “Guys do that. They break up with a girl right before any gift-related holiday so that they can save a buck. I had one that dumped me right before Christmas. One of his buddies told me later that it was because he didn’t want to buy me a present.” Tracy poured about a liter of vanilla creamer into her mug. “And don’t even get me started with commitment-phobes. He probably got all freaked out about the significance of a box of cheap chocolates just because they come in a little heart-shaped box. Like we’re gonna expect a diamond ring inside of it or something.”
Whether it was a fear of commitment or just a way to save cash, she would probably never know. Either way, it didn’t change the fact that she was alone on Valentine’s Day. Alone. The hardest day of the year to be alone and that’s just what she was.
Alone.
With an eye roll and a sigh, Katie dropped the bag of chocolates into her basket, throwing in some peanut butter cups for good measure while purposefully avoiding the red velvet heart-shaped boxes. They sat on the clearance shelf looking jumbled and picked over. One was poised on the edge as if it were trying to jump. The poor dateless chocolate wanted to end its misery, she thought. Whereas she had a nice, relaxing, romance-free night planned. No swan dives off the clearance shelf for her. She was going to drink a bottle of cheap wine, gorge herself on chocolate, and watch Jurassic Park. It truly was the perfect movie for tonight. There was no love plot and all the men got eaten by pointy toothed monsters. Now if only that were real.
The store was mostly empty and quiet. A modern version of “The Way You Look Tonight” echoed through the aisles as she headed over to the wine section. How romantic, she thought with a sneer, wanting to hurry home.
“There is nothing for me but to looove you,” Michael Bublé’s voice sang. The soft, smooth jazz seemed to float, weightless and seductive, in the air. It made her want to heave. They had to be playing love songs right now? Really? She shook her head and got her mind back onto her task. Should she get the big bottle of wine? Or the smaller, less expensive bottle? If she wanted to be really cheap she could go for a box of wine instead. Nah, not a box. She wasn’t that low just yet. She picked out a bottle and slid it in her basket, wanting to hurry away from the lovey-dovey music.
She was turning to head for the checkout counter when something large and heavy slammed into her back. The basket threatened to fly from her hands as she stumbled forward a few steps. “Hey, watch it!” she said, rubbing her shoulder.
The sound of a man’s laughter filled her ears, and as she righted herself she noticed the guy who had bumped her. He was in his late twenties, just under six feet, with dirty blond hair and a face full of scruffy stubble. He had the stunted vacant expression of a man who hadn’t matured much past fifteen. Katie shoved a handful of dark blond hair off her face and hoisted her purse back up her shoulder.
“Not cool, Will,” another man said to the moron.
“What?” The moron, Will, adjusted his grip on a six pack of beer, still grinning like an idiot. In his other hand he held a box of chocolates and a card with Valentine’s sentiments written in red scrawling letters. “It’s not like I ran into her on purpose.”
“No, you’re just too obnoxious to look where you’re going,” the second man said, before turning toward her. “Are you all right?” he began, then saw her, surprise flashing on his face. “Katie?”
She looked at him in confusion, wondering where she knew him from. He was handsome, that was for sure. How could she forget someone this good looking? Of course, she would run into someone she knew when she looked so disheveled. She had thrown her clothes on with no thought as to how they matched, she wore no makeup, and her hair hadn’t seen the business end of a brush in about twelve hours.
She looked closer, trying to place him. He was taller than his friend, with sleek black hair combed back from a face that was all sharp angles and strong jaw. His eyes were dark and kind, with brows that framed them in thick slashes. His build was slim, but even with a heavy wool coat, she could see the bulge of biceps and wide shoulders that a girl would want to hold on to. Where his friend was brimming with puppy-like excitement and energy, this man had an air of calm about him conveying that not much got under his skin. He didn’t seem ready to give freshman wedgies, like his doofus of a friend, which made her wonder how he could stand to be near the guy.
“I’m sorry,” she said, shrugging helplessly, her cheeks coloring in embarrassment at not being able to place him.
“It’s Logan,” he said. “You probably don’t remember me. Why would you, it’s been years.”
“Logan?” she said, shock registering on her face. The only Logan she knew was Tracy’s twin brother, but this couldn’t be the same guy. Granted, she hadn’t seen him since he left for college, out of state, over ten years ago. Afterward, Tracy told her it had been impossible for him to find a job in Michigan so he’d remained away. In fact, with the exception of a holiday here and there, he hadn’t been back, and she had only seen him in pictures. Which had not done him justice.
It was difficult for her to reconcile the man standing before her with the teenager she remembered. He had been a scrawny boy with a mop of thick dark hair falling in his face. He almost never ventured out of his room, so she hadn’t known much about his personality save for the fact that he was shy, quiet, always working on some math problem or watching a science documentary. Tracy had joked about him not actually being related to her because she couldn’t fathom his interest in deeper pursuits, seeing that hers lay firmly in the shallow end of the pool. To say the years had been kind to him was an understatement.
“Logan Cross?” she asked.
“Yeah,” he said, his mouth curving into an amused smile. Cute dimples, she thought. It was strange that mere minutes ago she would have welcomed the death of all men, yet one crinkly eyed, dimpled grin from this guy and her stomach was fluttering. For the love of God, were her palms sweating, too? She tried to discreetly wipe them on the rough wool of her winter coat. What was wrong with her?
“Dude, can we get going?” Will asked. “I’m already late. Savannah is going to kill me.”
Looking over at that guy, her desire to see genetically engineered dinosaurs bent on gobbling up men came back. She was glad to know she hadn’t lost her edge. For one sweaty palmed second she’d been worried about that. Logan turned to his friend, giving him a pointed glare, and her eyes fell on the little muscle working in his jaw. The beer bottles clinked together as Will put his hands up and took a step back in mock surrender.
Logan turned back to face her, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “So how have you been?” he asked.
Great, just what she needed. Small talk. He was pleasant to look at and she was sure that he was a very nice guy, but small-talking with a man was not on her list of things to do tonight. Getting a stomachache and cursing her rat of an ex-boyfriend was her list. She mentally checked her list again. Nope, flirting with a new guy definitely wasn’t there.
“I’ve been good,” she said, trying to remain pleasant. It wouldn’t be fair to take her frustration out on this poor guy. Especially since this poor guy was her best friend’s brother. If she were rude, she’d never hear the end of it. Besides, from what she could remember, Logan had always been a sweetheart. Geeky, awkward, and quiet, but sweet. “How long have you been back in Michigan?” she asked.
“A few weeks, I got a job teaching math at the college,” he said.
“That’s great,” she said. Then silence fell, as she couldn’t think of anything else to say. “I actually was going to meet up with someone, so I have to get going,” she lied. “It was nice seeing you.”
“Yeah,” he said, his voice laced with disappointment. “You too.”
She turned to walk away, already feeling guilty for blowing him off, when her phone let out a shrill ring. With a frustrated breath she fumbled to fish it out of her bag, shifting her basket to the crook of her elbow. The zipper on her purse was being stubborn as she struggled to open it without dropping everything, then she felt the basket being gently taken from her.
“Let me,” Logan said.
She murmured a quick thanks and got to her phone just before it went to voice mail.
“Thank God,” she heard Tracy say. “You have got to save me.”
“Tracy?” Katie said, concern flooding through her. “What’s going on? What’s wrong?” She noticed Logan tense up beside her. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah yeah,” she said. “Right as freakin’ springtime rain.” In the background Katie could hear the sound of running water and the flush of toilets.
“Where are you?”
“I’m at the movies,” Tracy said. “I ducked into the bathroom. You have to save me.”
“And you need rescuing because . . . ?” Katie drew out the last word, hoping to prompt Tracy into giving her a direct answer.
“Is Tracy okay?” Logan said, leaning closer. Katie held up one finger.
“Who is that?” Tracy asked.
“No one,” Katie said, wanting to speed this along. “Why do you need me to save you?”
“Because I’m on the blind date from hell,” Tracy said.
“Geez, woman, don’t scare me like that,” Katie said, pushing one hand through her hair. “I thought you were in real trouble.”
“I am in real trouble, Katie, you don’t understand just how terrible this date is,” Tracy said, coming as close to a whine as Tracy ever got.
“She’s fine,” Katie said to Logan, moving the phone away from her mouth as she said it.
“Who are you talking to?” Tracy asked, impatience dripping from her voice.
“No one,” Katie said. “If it’s so bad, then why don’t you just ditch the guy?”
“See, normally I would, but Charles is the one that set me up with him,” Tracy said. “It’s his son.”
“What?” Katie said. “Are you crazy, going out on a blind date with your boss’s son?”
“I know, I know,” Tracy said. “But what was I supposed to do? I couldn’t tell Charles no. I really really really want that promotion, and if I have to kiss his ass to do it, then I will. Besides, I didn’t want to be alone on Valentine’s Day. I figured a bad date was better than no date at all. Boy was I wrong.”
“First of all, you do not need to date his son to get promoted. You are the best sales rep that they have,” Katie said. “Second, is there any such thing as a good blind date? Besides, I don’t have a date and I’m fine.”
Logan made an almost imperceptible jerk, straightening his spine, and she shot him a squinty glare. That’s right, Katie, announce to the world that you’re dateless.
“Are you kidding me?” Tracy said. “You’ve been about as upbeat as a Nicholas Sparks movie marathon lately. It’s what made me depressed about today.”
“Do not blame me for this,” Katie said. “I am fine with today.” Mostly. Not really. Stupid Valentine’s Day.
“Dude,” she heard Will saying behind her. “Savannah is blowing up my phone. Can we go?”
Logan shot him another look that shut Will up. Logan, apparently, was busy shamelessly listening in to her conversation.
“So why don’t you just make up an emergency and leave?” Katie asked.
“Well, I didn’t drive myself,” Tracy said.
“First rule of a blind date, Trace,” Katie said, a smile curving her lips. “Never allow yourself to be stranded.”
“I can hear that smile in your voice. Do not laugh at my distress. Just come save me. Show up and say there was some kind of emergency, blah blah blah. He can’t blame me if you yank me away, now can he?”
“Well, he probably can blame you,” she said. “Tracy, can’t you just ride out the date? I have . . . plans.”
“Eating chocolate and watching movies alone is not plans,” Tracy said. “Seriously, this guy is ridiculous. He’s a mouth breather and he chews so freaking loud that I feel bad for the popcorn he’s torturing. He has pit stains, Katie. Pit stains. Stop laughing, it’s not funny. It’s like death, and I’m stuck here. Come get me. I’m already thirty minutes into the movie, but he’s taking me to dinner at Lucky’s. Rescue me there?”
Katie let out a loud sigh. “I’m on my way. Just try to get through the appetizer and I’ll be there before dessert.”
“Don’t make me wait till dessert,” Tracy said. “He keeps making hints about seeing his ‘authentic’ Battlestar Galactica memorabilia or some geekery like that at his place afterward.”
A snort of laughter escaped her, and Katie clapped a hand over her mouth.
“Shut up and drive, woman,” Tracy said, and disconnected.
LOGAN WATCHED KATIE as she talked. She was just as beautiful now as she had been when they were seventeen. If she had makeup on, he couldn’t tell, but her skin was smooth with a natural blush and her full pink lips begged to be kissed. Beneath her long wine-colored coat she wore faded blue jeans tucked into knee-high boots. A sash was cinched tight around her slender waist, and the top few buttons of her coat were left undone, showing the hint of some pretty spectacular cleavage. It was just enough that he wanted to take the time to undo every button until all that soft, warm skin was exposed. He watched her graceful fingers as she brushed a lock of long ash blond hair off her face. Her big green eyes lit up as she talked to Tracy. And when she smiled, she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. Years, he thought, it’s been years since I’ve seen her and I still can’t stop staring at her like a teenager with a crush.
She gestured as she talked, even though she was on the phone and Tracy couldn’t see her. Every second was filled with movement, and she was so alive, so animated, that it made him want to be near her. He wanted her to look at him like that and make him feel alive again. His life wasn’t exactly exciting. He had dates, and he had fun, but there was no spark to anything. Hell, it was Valentine’s Day. He could have a meaningless date and a night of easy-to-get sex like most of the other single men he knew. Instead he was helping his best friend pick out a Valentine’s Day card. Why? He just couldn’t seem to feel a connection. There was no thrill. But when he looked at Katie, he felt it. A spark that rocketed through his gut and drew him to her.
Katie hung up her phone and dropped it back in her purse. “I have to go rescue your sister from a mouth breather,” she said to Logan. “It was nice seeing you, though.”
Don’t just let her walk away, you idiot.
This was his chance. He didn’t think he could let her leave and then not see her again for another ten years. “I’m worried about Tracy,” he blurted out, knowing it sounded lame. Even Will let out a barely audible groan behind him. He wasn’t worried about his sister. It was just a lousy date. His sister was a little overdramatic, so he figured she was probably exaggerating anyway.
Judging by the way Katie was looking at him, she thought he was crazy, but he was going to grab onto any excuse he could get if it meant having a chance to spend time with her. He could always just ask her out, but there was no way she would say yes. It was clear in her body language. In the cute little way her brows drew together and her forehead wrinkled when she looked at him. To her, he was probably the same hopeless geek from high school.
“Oh, don’t be,” she said. “It’s nothing, she just needs a ride.”
“I’ll go with you,” he said. “Just to be sure.”
KATIE LOOKED AT Logan, wide-eyed. “You really don’t need to,” she said, an edge of panic in her voice. She did not want to have him, and worse, his friend tagging along. Her man-hating Valentine’s Day would be ruined if she was forced to spend it with two men. One of whom she was finding annoyingly attractive. Yep, that was just what her day needed. Acting like a love-struck Barbie doll who had just seen her first GI Joe and making a fool of herself.
“Sure I do,” he said, flashing a winning smile at her. “I just want to protect my sister.”
Bullshit, she thought, but wasn’t sure why. There was no reason for him to lie to her, and yet her “full-of-crap meter” was going off. To say she was curious was an understatement. But was she really curious enough to let him come along?
“We really don’t need to,” Will said, coming closer to stand beside them. A soft whoosh of breath escaped when Logan’s elbow connected with Will’s stomach. Katie eyed them with one brow cocked. This is just strange, she thought.
“I don’t have time for this,” she said, finished with trying to guess what Logan was up to. Without waiting for them, she turned and started to walk away. The sooner she picked up Tracy, the sooner she could go home and wallow.
“Then you don’t have time to talk me out of not going,” Logan said, setting down Katie’s basket and following her. “Come on, Will.”
“Are you shitting me?” Will said, but followed Logan’s lead.
“You’re serious?” she asked as Logan caught up to her with no effort at all.
“You wanna drive or do you want me to?” he asked.
“Why?” she said, and stopped, coming to a sudden halt as he almost bumped into her. “You know what, I don’t need to know why. To be honest, I don’t really want company right now. I’ve had a rough week and I want to be left alone. I don’t want to be rude but I’m not in the mood to be around people.” Being around a man she found attractive made her uncomfortable this soon after her breakup. And being around Will, whose phone kept buzzing every two seconds, made her want to cringe.
“I want to help,” Logan said, and she wasn’t sure if his sincerity was real or not. “Let me come with you?”
If he had demanded, she would have told him flat out no, but he said it like a question. She didn’t have the energy to argue with him so she gave in and they waited in line with Will while he bought his last minute gifts. She did inform both of them that if they bothered her, she had no problem dumping them on the side of the road and making them walk. It was an empty threat, and they all knew it, but she was hoping they wouldn’t bother her that much.