Sweet Resolve (The Lucky #2) (14 page)

“Yup, it’s all ours for the day.” Kristen giggled and hugged her. “Have you had breakfast?”

“I’ve had enough sugar to fill that limo,” she said as she climbed in the back. Amber, Aiden’s half sister, was already sitting on the long seat. Ashley, Aiden’s youngest sister, was spending the summer abroad, but would be home in time for the wedding in mid-November.

Their first stop was at a bagel shop to get Kristen a sandwich and coffee. The second was to pick up Reagan, another bridesmaid, then Stephany and lastly Carolyn.

Then the five women hit the first bridal shop on a long list Amy had printed out for Kristen. Amy was taking her role as maid of honor very seriously.

By the fourth shop, they had found the bridesmaids’ dresses. They were long, flowing, spaghetti-strap dresses in different colors, since Kristen couldn’t narrow her wedding colors down to just one shade. Amy chose the pink for herself, and Amber chose a softer blue. Then Stephany looked stunning in burgundy, and Carolyn chose the purple, while Reagan chose a light yellow.

After the shop had fitted everyone for their dresses, they headed out to the next shop with only one goal. To find the perfect wedding dress.

Kristen was such a free-spirited person, no one dress suited her best. At least that’s what Amy thought, until just after they had stopped off at Olive Garden for lunch.

The next shop was nestled in historic Cherry Hills. Amy spotted the dress the moment they walked in.

The narrow straps that held up the soft white silk would look perfect on Kristen. The skirt of the dress was covered with an older-looking lace and flowed all the way to the floor then made a longer train.

When Kristen tried it on, everyone else agreed that this was the dress. They looked around the store for a veil, but then Amy got an idea.

“What do you think about us making your veil?” She’d watched the process on a show a few months back and had wanted to try it ever since. Besides, it had looked like fun and she loved doing crafts with Kristen.

“What?” Kristen looked confused.

“Sure, it’s not like we have to sew anything. I mean, what I was imagining is something simple.” She walked over to the counter and asked the clerk for a pencil and paper. Then sketched out what she had envisioned. “Something like this.”

She turned the paper around and showed the other ladies.

“Oh, it’s perfect.” Kristen exclaimed. “But, how . . .”

“We can sell you the material,” the clerk who’d been helping them said. “Here.” They all stood back as she began digging through boxes. “Everything you’ll need except a hot glue gun and needle and thread.”

“This is going to be so much fun,” Carolyn said, jumping up and down.

So, the next stop was to Amy’s house again, since they didn’t want to go back to Kristen and Aiden’s apartment in case he happened to show up.

Everyone cooed over the puppies for a while before they opened a couple bottles of wine and dug into their new project.

“We’ve ordered our announcements,” Kristen said as she pulled out an envelope from her bag. For the next few minutes, everyone enjoyed passing the card around. “We’re going to include this picture.” She handed over a picture that Amy had taken of the pair with her cell phone when they had gone on a hiking trip near Red Rocks.

“It’s perfect,” she said, smiling at her friend.

Spending the entire day thinking about and planning her friend’s wedding made it hard to keep her mind off her own future wedding. Which only made her think of Logan.

She was growing more sure of their relationship. He was going out of his way to show her how much he cared for her, which was making her feel even closer to him than before.

By the time the third bottle of wine was done, they had put together the most beautiful veil she’d ever seen. It was a simple ring that would fit over Kristen’s curly hair, covered in dainty flowers and baby’s breath. The veil part hung in the back, down past her shoulders and had a floral mesh design all around the edges. Part of the veil would swing over and cover Kristen’s face, since she wanted Aiden to lift it in the ceremony. They had attached a larger silk flower to one side of the ring, which matched the design on the shoulder of her wedding dress perfectly.

“Wow, we should go into business making these,” Amber joked as she drank another sip of her water. She was a singer and had a performance later that evening, and she wanted to be fresh and alert.

“Why not?” Kristen smiled. “Or better yet, host parties for brides
and let them make their own.” Everyone giggled.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. When Amy walked over, she couldn’t hide the smile as she peeked and saw who was standing outside.

When she opened the door, Logan’s eyes traveled around the messy crowded room. “Uh.” She watched him take a step backward.

“Oh, no you don’t.” She grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him to her until her bare feet touched the tips of his shoes. “Everyone this is Logan, Logan . . . everyone.” She giggled, then turned back to him and saw him smiling down at her.

“Looks like I missed the party,” he said to the room.

“We were just finishing up.” Kristen said. “Amy, I’m going to hang this in your guest-room closet. I can’t take it back to my place and have Aiden finding it.” Her friend carried her veil into the other room.

“Yes, I need to get back. I’ve got a performance in a few hours.” Amber glanced at her watch.

“We should be going too.” The other ladies looked among themselves with smiles on their faces.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Logan hadn’t planned on Amy’s house being crowded with women or that her place would look like a tornado of lace and silk had blown through it. He was happily surprised to see her slightly drunk and held onto her when she teetered as her friends left.

“Well”—she turned and wrapped her arms around his neck—“now it’s just us.” She leaned up and placed a kiss on his lips.

He chuckled until the kiss stirred something deep inside. Then he was pulling her closer and wishing she was sober so he could enjoy himself.

When he stepped back, she frowned up at him.

“How about some dinner?” he asked.

“Food is good. I could eat.” She swayed, so he took her shoulders and steered her toward the sofa.

“You sit. I’ll prepare us something.”

“You?” She stopped dead, almost causing him to trip over her. Then she turned around and looked up at him. “Cook?”

“I’ve been out on my own for a while now. I have learned a thing or two in the kitchen.”

She snorted with laughter. “I remember your moves in the kitchen.”

He chuckled and pushed on her shoulders until she fell back on the sofa. “Sit.”

By the time he was done scrounging around her kitchen, he knew there was no way he was making anything without a quick stop at a store. When he walked back out to her living room, Amy was curled up and fast asleep on the sofa.

Being extra quiet, he took her house keys and locked up behind him.

When he returned half an hour later with two large bags of grocer
ies, she was still fast asleep with Daisy curled up at her feet.

He tried to be as quiet as he could as he cooked garlic-roasted salmon on a bed of seasoned Brussels sprouts. One of his favorite and better meals.

By the time he’d set her table and lit her candles, he heard her moving aroun
d in the other room. When she walked into the dining room, his smile froze a little. She’d changed into a flowing dress and had loosened her hair from the braid she’d worn earlier.

“Hi.” He felt his mouth go dry as he looked at her.

“Hi.” She walked toward him. “Something smells wonderful.” She leaned up and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. His hands went to her hips, holding her close to him as he buried his face in her hair.

“Mmm, yes, something
does
smell wonderful.”

When they finally sat down to eat, he was having an even harder time keeping his eyes off her. He watched every small move she made, focusing on her lips especially.

When their plates were empty, they moved into her living room, which he noticed she’d taken the time to clean while he’d been cooking.

“How about some music?” she asked as she walked over to her stereo and punched a button. Instead of soft music flowing out, Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” pumped out loudly.

She laughed and quickly turned the music down. “Sorry, I was listening to this while I was cleaning the house yesterday.” She flipped on her CD player and soft music played instead.

“I like both.” He took her hips and moved with her. “Just as long as you’re my dance partner.” He leaned down and kissed her until he felt her shiver.

Amy lay in Logan’s arms and stared up at the ceiling. The hour nap she’d taken earlier left her wide awake while he slept silently next to her. It felt wonderful to be in his arms, so close to his naked body. Her ear was pressed up against his chest and she could hear his steady heartbeat. Daisy had jumped up on the bed shortly after Logan had pulled the covers over their cooling bodies.

Images of the day flashed in her mind as she thought about her friend’s happiness and her own. Kristen was marrying the man of her dreams and she couldn’t be happier for both of them.

Which of course, got her thinking about the man of her dreams. Growing up, she’d had a plan. She probably still had the list somewhere of the traits she thought made up her perfect husband.

She moved to glance up at Logan and realized he probably didn’t have one thing in common with the man on her list. But maybe that’s why this was working so well between them? Maybe she was being too picky? Kristen was always telling her she was. She felt the need to be guarded—after all, Amy had grown up watching Kristen fall in love with every blond-haired boy with blue eyes. Then, she’d been there after each of those relationships had shattered to pick her friend up. Then there was the way her parents’ marriage had ended. Who could blame her for being cautious?

Settling her head back on his shoulder, she nestled in when his arm automatically came up around her. Shutting down her mind for the night, she decided to let fate take its course.

By the end of the following weeks, she was seriously questioning why she had doubted anything about their relationship in the first place. Especially since everything was going so well.

So, why then was she finding herself more and more on edge? Because she knew, just knew, something was about to blow up. After all, it always had. Every relationship she’d ever had, no matter how short it’d been, had ended the same way. Still, he was doing so much right, which only made her wonder further when it would all end.

Logan had started staying with her most nights. Although, anytime she felt like she needed her space, he would go back to his place and leave her to herself, which hadn’t been too often.

Even at work he’d gone out of his way for her. He’d shown up and helped her for an open house she’d had one weekend. She had always hated sitting in a house alone, waiting for people to walk in. Since he’d been there, the time had flown.

Toward the end of August, Kristen had taken her dress shopping and she’d picked out a beautiful, short and sassy, teal party dress for the DMRA party, which was quickly approaching. Kristen had told her that Aiden had been invited by one of his clients and so she’d picked out a dress for herself. Her dress, however, was a little more off the shelf. She’d actually picked out a bright red wrap that had a hint of the Orient. When Kristen had walked out of the dressing room wearing it, Amy knew that it was the perfect dress for her friend.

Gary had not mentioned any of his plans for the agency to either Logan or her. Or at least Logan wasn’t talking about it if his uncle had discussed it with him. It wasn’t as if she’d asked Gary if Logan was being prepped for partnership in the agency. She’d been a little too nervous to walk in and ask him. She had tried to work up the courage several times, but so far hadn’t been able to open her mouth. As far as she could tell, his uncle had just brought him on board to handle the extra load they’d been getting the last year. But in reality, maybe she was scared of the answer at this point.

Actually, she’d overheard Gary mentioning leasing part of the third floor in their building next year since they were hiring on a few other people. Which, in her mind, assured her that he’d need at least one partner to handle the increased business.

On Saturday, the day before the big party, her nerves were so wired, she’d even taken it out on Kristen, who had just called to see if she could snap a picture of her veil and send it to her. Feeling bad that she’d been short with her best friend, she took a few extra minutes and sent Kristen half a dozen shots.

She was so tense, Logan had even abandoned ship and was spending the night at his own place. It wasn’t as if she’d been mean to him, maybe just a little distant. Which he’d quickly picked up on and made some excuse that he’d had to go to his uncle’s and help him clean out his garage.

She knew that her mood had more to do with how everything was progressing. Her relationship with Logan had never been better, which scared her even more. She’d always lived life waiting for the other shoe to drop. Ever since the night her mother had woken her up packing her things and threatening to move. She had learned then that it was better to be guarded than trusting. Which was probably why all of her past relationships had ended so poorly. All except her friendship with Kristen.

She was just getting around to making herself some dinner, when her doorbell rang. Daisy had taken to barking after hearing the sound and started telling her loudly that someone was at the door.

“Yes, I heard it.” She rolled her eyes at the small dog as she looked out the security hole before opening the door slowly.

“Flowers for Amy Walker.” A delivery woman stood outside her doorway.

She nodded, not sure what to say. No one had ever sent her flowers before. The woman handed her the large bouquet before telling her to have a good evening.

The first thing Amy did when the door was shut was to bury her face in the sweet-smelling flowers. The second thing was to rip open the card that was attached to the silver vase.

For no reason other than that I’m thinking of you.—Logan

The vise around her heart loosened a little as she set the flowers down on her coffee table. She cried as she looked at them.

When her pity party was over, she searched for her cell phone and texted him.

Thanks for the flowers. They’re lovely.

You’re welcome. I miss you.

She sat and tucked her feet up underneath her on her oversized chair and glanced out the window. She was being ridiculous. Here she was waiting around for something bad to happen and she was the one causing the rift between them.

Maybe when you’re done helping your uncle, you can come back here?

Are you sure?

Ever the safe one, she thought.

Yeah, I miss you too.

Less than five minutes later, she heard a knock on the door, and when she opened it, Logan was leaning against her doorjamb with another handful of flowers.

“I’m not trying to bribe you or anything,” he said.

“You could have fooled me.” She reached for the flowers, only to have him pull them away.

“Oh, no. These ones come with a price.” He tapped his lips with his finger. She went up on her toes and placed a slow kiss on his lips.

After he handed her the bouquet, he took his turn and leaned down to kiss her softly. “Your change.”

She bunched her fist in his shirt and pulled him through her doorway. Then setting the flowers on the table, she shoved him up against the closed door and kissed him hard.

Fast. She needed and wanted him as quickly as possible. Her fingers shook as she pushed his clothes off him. Shoving and even, at one point, ripping his shirt over his head.

He smelled of musk and sweat, a scent that intoxicated her as she ran her mouth over his chest. He’d fisted his hands in her hair, but when she leaned back to pull his pants off, he quickly started tugging at her clothes.

He backed her up to the sofa and they fell onto the cushions together, naked. She didn’t have time to think or breathe before he was pulling her legs up and plunging into her. Her nails dug into his hips, pushing and pulling to make him go faster.

“More.” He growled next to her neck. “I’ll have it all,” he murmured as his eyes met hers. She was mesmerized at how blue they were, how much she saw in the crystal pools. She held on while he took everything she willingly gave him.