“Those are some beautiful flowers my son sent you,” he comments while we work with the shelves.
“Yes, he keeps spoiling me. Your son is the most thoughtful man I’ve met.”
Mr. Bennett nods. “He’s always been this way. I could tell since he was a kid that he’s the most sensitive of them all, and much too protective for his sisters’ liking.” A nostalgic smile spreads across his face. “After Sebastian left to work and he became the oldest brother in the household, he took his role even more seriously. Since Sebastian started to help us out financially, Logan felt the need to look after his siblings in every other way he could.”
Oh. I didn’t think there was something that could make me care for
Logan even more, but it seems I’m in for surprise after surprise where this man is concerned.
***
The next weeks are hard. Blake and Mr. Bennett show up every day at the shop, and the entire clan joins us on Saturdays. Logan doesn’t flaunt his wealth, but there are subtle hints everywhere. His fridge is always stocked with food, and the apartment is always clean in the evening, no matter the level of mess I leave behind when I head out in the morning. He also insists for a company driver to take me to my apartment and pick me up in the morning whenever I sleep there. I fought him on this in the beginning, even though he said it’d be for my safety because my neighborhood isn’t among the safest in San Francisco. After witnessing an ugly fight on the way from the bus station to my building, I stopped protesting.
I make sure I sleep at my apartment at least two times a week, but I’m still at Logan’s place most of the time. He says it’s convenient for me, which it is, but I’m worried. If he needs his space, he’s not getting it. Men can be very protective of their ”men space.” I have completely invaded Logan’s space. He insisted I bring a lot of clothes here, which I have. While I’m sure he counted on having to make space for me in his bathroom, I’m pretty sure he didn’t count on finding my stuff everywhere. And I do mean everywhere. I stare at the open fridge incredulously. My eyeliner is inside it. Wow. I have no idea how it got there, but I snatch it quickly before Logan can see it. Heaven knows what else he found. Yeah, safe to say I don’t have an ounce of Logan’s organizational talent. Quite the opposite.
On the morning of the fridge-eyeliner incident, I bring up the subject of space to Logan. We’ve just finished breakfast—I’m proud to say I managed to rise before him three times this week and prepare breakfast—and we’re about to head out.
“I’ll sleep in my apartment for the rest of the week.”
Logan stops in the act of knotting his tie. “Why?”
“To give you some space,” I say with nonchalance.
He tilts his head to one side, smiling. “Why would I need that?”
I shrug, my stomach twisting. “All men do.”
Logan waltzes toward me, cornering me against the wall. He places his hands on either side of my head, trapping me in between.
“I don’t,” he says.
“But—”
“I like waking up next to you,” he interrupts me. “I like knowing you’re here when I return late in the night from a meeting. If you weren’t here, we’d only see each other on weekends. I need you, Nadine.”
“You do?”
“Yeah.” He cups my cheeks, kissing one eyelid then the other. He pulls back, watching me. “I’m not your asshole of an ex or father.”
I drop my eyes to his shoulder. “I know that.”
“I don’t think you do, but that’s okay.” He raises my chin until my gaze meets his. “You’ll learn. I’ll show you.”
My eyes sting with the onset of tears. I blink quickly, looking away. His words brought out raw emotions and old insecurities. And he’s also reassured me; he’ll be patient with me, and that means more to me than he can imagine.
“So, what else do you like about me?” I ask with a big smile. “Besides waking up next to me.”
“Let’s see. Your awful singing in the shower.”
“Stop it, it’s not that bad.”
He continues as if I haven’t spoken. “Finding your stuff everywhere.”
My mouth forms an O. “Surely not everywhere.” Please, dear God, don’t let him know about the eyeliner in the fridge.
“I might have seen your eyeliner in the fridge.”
“Right, I changed my mind.” I narrow my eyes. “I don’t want to hear what else you like about me.”