IN THE SMALL restroom off the shop’s stockroom, Jessica studied her reflection in the mirror. Logan would arrive soon for their dinner together and she wanted to look calm, professional and not at all as if she was trying to catch his attention. She just wished her grandmother hadn’t pointed out the obvious...how gorgeous he was. She didn’t need to be reminded.
Grams believed Logan was a nice man, and he probably was. Of course, Penelope Parrish usually assumed people were nice unless they did something that proved the opposite.
But no matter how attractive Logan might be, Jessica wasn’t interested in getting involved with anyone, not after making such a huge mistake with Cyndi’s father.
For her daughter’s sake, she’d gone to counseling to better understand herself and the decisions she had made. It had helped her realize that the way she’d grown up had left her hungry for love and attention. The counselor had chuckled when Jessica threw out the cliché, “looking for love in the wrong places,” but it was what she’d done.
Despite it all, she had never regretted having Cyndi.
The old hunger for love still burned inside; only now she understood how it could lead her into making another mistake.
With a snort of disgust, Jessica ran a quick brush through her hair and clipped it back. Even if she met the right guy, she’d probably mess it up by being too needy. Neediness was death to a healthy relationship.
The shop’s doorbell buzzed and she went to find Logan waiting.
“Ready?” he asked when she opened the door.
“Except for setting the alarm.” She went to the back, punched in the code and locked the shop while he waited.
“My car is over there,” he said, pointing to the opposite side of the lot.
“Perhaps I should follow you,” she suggested. “That way I can head home right after we’re finished.”
A pained look crossed Logan’s face. “One car is best. Parking is limited at the restaurant where I made the reservation.”
“All right.” Having her own vehicle would make her feel freer, but she had a sneaking suspicion that Logan preferred driving because it gave him the upper hand. But if she wanted to end the conversation or if things got awkward, she’d simply get a taxi.
Logan’s car confused her. It was a small, two-door sedan, which made it a lousy family vehicle, but it also was a hybrid, so it wasn’t a stereotypical bachelor’s ride.
“You seem surprised by something,” he commented.
“I just figured you’d drive something sportier.”
He shrugged. “I traded my sports car for this one. A hybrid makes more sense in today’s world—better for the environment and less time in line at the gas station, which is appealing. That said, I have an SUV to use when I’m doing photography.”
Jessica settled into the passenger seat and buckled the seat belt. “Do you miss the sports car?”
“You bet,” Logan said. “It was great for running around the city.”
Even without a sleek, sporty vehicle, he maneuvered through traffic with the ease of a race driver and soon pulled into a parking area.
“I chose a restaurant that does a cross section of foods. Is that all right with you?” he asked.
“Sure,” Jessica said, despite her doubts. She didn’t care what sort of food the restaurant served, but this place was small and exclusive. While she had little experience with that kind of establishment, she knew her outfit was far too casual.
It was yet another reminder, as if she’d needed one, that her world was very different from that of her landlord’s.
LOGAN GLANCED AT JESSICA. “You sound doubtful.”
“I’m not dressed for this sort of restaurant. That’s all.”
“You look fine to me.”
Actually, he hadn’t considered whether casual clothes were unsuitable. The restaurant was quiet and the tables didn’t bump up too close to one another, so he’d figured it would be a good place for a business discussion.
On the other hand, he sincerely thought Jessica looked nice. Her clothes weren’t sophisticated or the latest fashion, but she wore them with grace. Besides, he wasn’t dressed any fancier, himself.
The maître d’ showed no hint of disdain about their appearance, conducting them to a table with a view of the water. “Do you wish for anything from the bar while you look at the menus?” he asked.
“Thanks, not for me,” Jessica said.
“Just water, please,” Logan added.
Once they were alone again, she looked up from the menu. “What do you recommend?”
“Everything I’ve sampled is excellent, especially the seafood. The oyster appetizers are popular.”
“I’m not much on shellfish. Or any type of seafood, for that matter. I’ll just take the fettuccine Alfredo entrée,” she said, “with the house vinaigrette on my salad.”
“Please get an appetizer,” Logan urged. “I’d like one and don’t want to eat in front of you. How about the mushroom sampler?”
Her eyes were hard to read, but she finally nodded. “All right.”
The server brought elegant goblets with water and lime wedges and Logan gave him their order. When they were alone again he wondered if it was okay to launch immediately into business, yet that was the purpose of the evening.
“Have you given any thought to moving the Crystal Connection?” he asked finally.
“It’s been hard to think about anything else,” she replied in a dry tone.
He suddenly realized the dark smudges under her eyes might be from lack of sleep. Was that his fault? It was an uncomfortable reminder that the business world had rocky aspects. Fashion photography had complications, as well; everything did, but he’d been accustomed to those problems.
“We truly want to find a good solution. Something that works for both our businesses,” he said cautiously, hoping it didn’t just sound like a platitude.
“I’m not sure that’s possible. Anyhow, it’s more than just a business to me.”
“Oh?”
“For one thing, my grandmother is upset that the store might be moving from where she and Grandpa worked together for so long. And please don’t say it’s just another part of the building and you don’t understand why it should be a big deal for her.”
Logan’s brow creased. “I wasn’t going to say that.”
He and his partners hadn’t discussed sentimentality as a potential issue and it hadn’t occurred to him on his own. His parents had moved around the world so often he’d never developed emotional ties to places or objects. It was a good thing, too, since his career had required frequent travel.
“I know her feelings aren’t your problem and I didn’t even consider it myself until she mentioned it,” Jessica said with a hint of self-recrimination in her voice.
“That seems to bother you,” he ventured.
Earlier in the day he’d managed to have a phone conversation with Kevin, who’d been surprisingly cagey about his surrogate granddaughter. So Logan still wasn’t sure how best to respond to Jessica. But it was clear that the decisions she’d be making were as much about family as straight business, and he needed to accept it as part of the situation. If providing a sounding board for her was helpful, then he was prepared to do it, even if his efforts proved clumsy.
Her shoulders lifted and dropped. “Yes, it bothers me. The only thing my folks are passionate about is financial success. I’ve prided myself on choosing a different path, but in this case, the first thing I thought about was whether the Crystal Connection could survive a move, not about the emotional impact on my grandmother.” Her face abruptly reddened. “Sorry, that isn’t your problem, either.”
“Hey, I’m new to business,” Logan reminded her. “We can make up our own rules about how to get this done. It’s natural the impact on the shop is a primary concern because you have a child to consider. No one can blame you for that.”
Her face relaxed. “Maybe.” She looked as if there was more she wanted to say but had decided not to open up any further.
“What sort of work did you do before taking over the Crystal Connection?” he asked, thinking it might help if he knew more about Jessica.
“I was a shift supervisor in a department store.”
“Has your retail experience been helpful at the shop?”
She smiled wryly. “In a way, but department stores are quite different from a small shop, where one person does everything from choosing stock to sweeping the floor.”
“I guess I was lucky to be the last to arrive in Seattle,” Logan murmured reflectively.
“How so?”
“As you know, there are four of us who bought Moonlight Ventures together. But when the sale was finalized, three of us were still tied up with other commitments. Initially, Nicole was the only one who was free to move here, so she took the lion’s share of work in the beginning. She oversaw all the remodeling at the same time she was juggling the original client list and taking on new ones.”
“You’ve mentioned the remodeling. How extensive was it?”
Logan thought about the endless blueprints and design options they’d had to choose from, plus decisions about wiring requirements for the high-tech equipment they wanted. They’d had long debates over the expense of moving plumbing versus changing the floor plans, ultimately agreeing the cost was worthwhile. Then had come the decision to pay the contractors a bonus to have the work completed faster. Nicole had spearheaded the process. In his opinion, she deserved a medal for patience, grit and sheer willpower.
His laugh held a rueful note. “The place was completely gutted. I got off lucky, aside from writing some very large checks. By the time my last photography contract was satisfied, I was able to enter a smoothly functioning agency. That’s why it was only fair that I take the job of, uh, working out everything with you.” Too late he realized his last comment might sound offensive.
Jessica’s expression was hard to decipher. “So you drew the short straw?”
“That isn’t quite what I meant, and I’m not suggesting that working with you is unpleasant,” Logan said hastily.
“Only that it’s something none of you wanted to do.”
“Exactly,” he agreed, latching onto her statement as a way out of the dilemma. Then he winced. “On second thought, let me rephrase that.”
FOR THE SECOND time Jessica wished her grandmother hadn’t said anything about Logan’s more pleasing qualities. Right now he looked like a little boy caught with one hand clutching a frog and the other on the teacher’s desk drawer. Chagrin was an appealing expression on him—she’d almost call it endearing, but she wasn’t going there.
“Feel free to rephrase once again,” she offered. “I’m eager to discover how deep a hole you can dig.”
Logan’s mouth twitched as if he wanted to laugh. “Uh, it’s simply that being landlords is new territory for us. We don’t want to do anything that upsets you or makes it hard for your business to continue being a success. Who’d want or look forward to that?”
Pointing out the truth wasn’t a job Jessica wanted, either, but she didn’t have the luxury of staying silent. “Your hole just got deeper. Basically, you’re acknowledging Moonlight Ventures expects to do something that will negatively impact the Crystal Connection.”
He closed his eyes for a brief moment. “Didn’t I mention a chronic problem with sticking my foot in my mouth? Please try to hear the spirit of what I’m saying. We want to find a way where no one will be hurt.”
She decided to relent, temporarily at least. “Fine, I’ll concede the four of you aren’t bad guys joining together to gleefully destroy my business.”
“Thanks, I think. So you haven’t assigned an evil persona to me?”
“I didn’t say you were evil. You might even turn out to be a hero.”
An ambiguous hero, she added silently, but a hero.
Logan lifted an eyebrow. “You don’t sound confident.”
“I barely know you, but I’m trying to be open-minded, even if so far you’ve mostly caused me headaches and two sleepless nights.”
He looked contrite. “I’m sorry. Once again let me emphasize that we want this to be a win-win scenario. We have a number of things to offer that could make it beneficial for you.”
Jessica was skeptical because anything too good to be true usually was.
The appetizers were delivered, offering a breathing space to regroup. The menu hadn’t listed prices, something that filled her cautious mind with apprehension, and she wondered if the plate in front of her cost enough to pay for a trip to the grocery store. It was why she’d originally said no to the appetizer and chosen the fettuccine entrée, hoping it might be one of the less expensive items on the menu.
Pushing the thought away, she tried a stuffed mushroom. It was delicious, though the rare treat was difficult to enjoy under the circumstances.
“What are your biggest concerns about moving to another location?” Logan asked after he’d eaten one of his oysters.
Jessica sat straighter, trying to appear reasonable and professional. “For one, as I’ve already mentioned, drop-in business would suffer and I’m not convinced that advertising or signs would have the same draw with passersby as seeing my display windows. I’ve considered ways to increase the store’s profile through a website and social media, but that takes time and would have little impact on drop-in trade.”
“Did your grandparents do any mail-order business?”
“No, though I’m sure there’s a market for it. Buying rocks based on a photo can be tricky, but folks who believe in the healing power of stones and minerals seem willing to purchase that way.” She paused and her jaw was tight as she glanced at him. “From our prior contacts, I gather you don’t have sympathy for that sort of belief.”
Once again Logan wore the contrite expression of a small boy caught in mischief and she wondered how he planned to defend himself.
SHIFTING UNEASILY, LOGAN realized it would have been better if one of his partners was dealing with Jessica. Technically he’d volunteered, at the same time pointing out his awkward habit of saying the wrong thing. They’d laughed and said he would manage, probably relieved they wouldn’t be tackling the problem themselves.
Of course, none of them were the type who stuck to a safe and cautious road. They’d each gambled for high stakes through most of their careers. Even buying the agency had held risks, financially and professionally, so it wasn’t a surprise that they were okay about him taking charge of the Jessica Project.
He leaned forward. “I was hoping you’d forgiven my ill-considered remarks about your customers.”
“Forgiven, yes. Forgotten, no. It’s a question of self-protection. You still think people are foolish to believe in stones and crystals, right?”
Looking at it from Jessica’s point of view, Logan understood why she was skeptical of his motives. Strangely, he was reminded of the period when he’d been disdainful of fashion photography, seeing it merely as a stepping stone to his ultimate goal of photojournalism. It wasn’t until he’d accepted it as an artistic challenge that his career had skyrocketed.
“I may not agree with some of your clientele’s ideas, but that doesn’t mean I’m opposed to the Crystal Connection,” he said, choosing his words with care. “You have the right to make a living in whatever way you want.”
Her faint smile showed she didn’t really believe him, but she didn’t say so, eating another bite of her appetizer instead. “This is delicious.”
Logan nodded, uncertain whether the change in subject was good or bad. “The restaurant was originally recommended to me by Jordan Masters. You may have met him already—he’s married to Nicole, one of my partners. I needed a good place to host a dinner party when my parents visited last year. My studio apartment is too small for gatherings.”
“I thought you just moved here.”
“Yes, but whenever possible, I’ve come to Seattle to help at the agency. Having an apartment made it easier. My mother and father visited during one of my longer stays—they claimed it was too hard catching up with me in Los Angeles.” Logan tried to keep the frustration out of his voice. He loved his parents, but he’d been in Seattle for work, not socializing. Fortunately, it had just been the one time.
A curious expression flickered across Jessica’s face. “Where are they based now?”
“My father’s last posting was in France, but he and my mother retired eighteen months ago to Florida. Unfortunately, they have a yen for grandchildren and have started pressing their point whenever possible. I’m an only child, so the pressure falls on me.”
“But you don’t intend to comply with their wishes.” It was a statement rather than a question.
Logan leaned forward. “What makes you say that?”
“The biography on the back of your calendar. It mentions you’re committed to bachelorhood and are in love with freedom...or something of the sort. Are you saying that statement isn’t accurate, or is it just to warn marriage-minded women away?”
He couldn’t deny that he intended to stay single, though his reasons were more complicated than the blithe statements on the calendar. “The editor chose what to put in the biography, but it’s accurate to say I’m leaving love and child-rearing to my friends. They’ll be much better at it than me, and I can be an honorary member of the family, the way Kevin McClaskey is for you.”
Jessica sipped from the water goblet the server had brought and Logan was struck by how graceful her hands were.
“Is France one of the countries where you lived as a child?” she asked.
“No, though I always hoped we’d be sent there. Imagine spending as much time as you want at the Louvre or exploring the streets of Paris—above ground and below.”
“I’m sure it would be wonderful. I’ve read about museums such as the Louvre and Uffizi, but I’ve never gone abroad.” Her expression seemed wistful.
“Would you like to travel?”
“Absolutely. My grandparents went everywhere after they got married. I wouldn’t want to wander for years the way they did, but it’s a big planet, with fascinating stuff to see.”
He was surprised. “I hadn’t realized that Penny and Eric traveled so much.”
“Why should you? You’re a landlord, not a buddy, and you only just started full-time at the agency.”
“Perhaps, but Kevin didn’t mention it. He, uh, knows a great deal about his old tenants.”
A smile warmed Jessica’s face. “The McClaskeys used to take us sailing on Lake Washington when I spent summers here as a kid. My mom’s parents aren’t the warm, fuzzy type, so I asked if Kevin and Allison would be my other grandpa and grandma. Allison cried and said yes. They didn’t have any grandchildren then, so I was their ‘first.’ To keep things less confused, I called them Uncle Kevin and Aunt Allison.”
Perhaps that was why Kevin had said so little about Jessica, because the intensely personal friendship differed from the connections with his other clients and tenants.
“Where do your maternal grandparents live?” Logan asked, hoping to keep the conversation going.
“New York. Mom and Dad met there when they were both trainee stock traders.”
“That’s what they do?” he asked in some surprise.
“Not any longer. Dad is a real estate broker in the Washington, DC, metro area, specializing in high-end properties. Mom works with him and...well, it keeps them pretty busy.”
There was a story behind her hesitation, but he wasn’t certain how in-depth the conversation should go. The more he learned about Jessica, the harder it might be to press the issue of the lease. But he couldn’t back off and let his friends down.
Jessica finished her appetizer and stood. “Please excuse me for a moment.”
He nodded and she crossed the room, moving in a gentle glide. She spoke to the maître d’, who gestured to a stained glass room divider, then followed her with his gaze as she disappeared around it.
After a minute, Logan realized he was staring after Jessica, as well, and forced his attention to his remaining oysters. He needed to focus on getting the space the agency needed without destroying Jessica Parrish in the process. Because Moonlight Ventures was, unquestionably, threatening the livelihood of a single mother.
The guilt he felt was predictable. But finding her attractive was a complication he hadn’t expected.