Chapter 138

Logan

After my meeting with Frank, I headed back to my apartment to prepare dinner for Alyssa, excited to tell her the news. I stopped at a bakery and a meat market, and even picked up some candles, wanting everything to be perfect. I had even called my cleaning lady and had asked her to come over that afternoon to make sure that everything was in order.
As soon as I got home, I showered and changed into jeans and a black dress shirt, open at the neck, and then donned my black boots, letting my hair go a bit wilder than normal, feeling more like myself than I had for a very long time.
I put on some soft music and iced the champagne, and then sautéed the shrimp to make Garlic Shrimp with butter sauce over pasta, along with a Caesar salad, and sliced tomatoes, drizzled in olive oil and a bit of vinaigrette. Years ago, she loved it when I cooked for her, but I'd learned a lot about cooking since then. I just hoped she liked everything.
After covering the table with a red tablecloth, I set the table with plates atop chargers, silverware, and long-stemmed fluted glasses. To top it off, I set a long-stemmed candle in the center of the table. There was a slight rap on the door, so I lit the candle, knowing it was Alyssa.
"Right on time," I said as I opened the door. "Come on in."
Alyssa was standing on the other side, dressed casually in jeans and a nice dress shirt with a matching sweater. She looked me up and down and smiled. "You look great."
"So do you," I said as I stepped back and held the door open to let her in. "You're right on time. Dinner's almost ready."
"Can I do anything to help?" she asked as she eyed the condo.
I smiled, enjoying her reaction. "No, I have everything under control. You can wait for me in the dining room."
"Oh no you don't," she replied, giving me a mischievous smile. "I seem to remember that you'd come in and talk to me while I was cooking."
I bit my lower lip and gave her a wicked smile. "All right, then," I said as I scooped her up and set her onto the counter.
She giggled. "Wow! This brings back memories!" she said as she settled in. "I always loved watching you cook."
I smiled, enjoying her reaction. Watching her sitting on the kitchen counter, it was as if no time had passed between us. "Wine?"
"Yes, please," she said, smiling, clearly enjoying herself.
I poured her a glass of champagne and handed it to her, and then turned my attention back to the shrimp and butter sauce. "So, are you hungry?"
She nodded as she drew lazy circles around the rim of her glass. "It smells great."
I spooned the shrimp into a bowl, and then added the penne pasta to the butter sauce, gave it a quick stir, and then placed some on two plates, and topped it off with the shrimp. "How was your day, dear?"
"It was good," she said, and then smiled. "I had lunch with Frank today, and he gave me information to write some new contracts." She shook her head. "Why he just doesn't have Alanna do it, I don't know
I shrugged. "He trusts you. And he probably feels that he'd be switching his loyalty if he goes with Alanna."
She scoffed. "But we're in the same firm."
I shook my head as I tossed the salad. "He's been working with you for so long now, it would be hard for him to switch, I'm sure. Did he give you a reason?"
She shrugged as she looked at her wine glass. "He says that Alanna doesn't know the music business like I do. But I think that he's still looking out for me; trying to protect me."
"Protect you?"
She bit her lower lip, as if wondering how much to tell me. "After you died or I thought you were dead Frank kind of took me under his wing."
A familiar pang gripped my heart. "I'm glad he was there for you," I said, my voice husky with emotion. Then, I stood between her legs and gave her a long, lingering kiss.
"If you keep that up, we might not make it to dinner," she teased.
I let out an exaggerated breath, as if considering my options. Then, I scooped her off the counter and into my arms.
She giggled and wrapped her hands around my neck as I carried her into the dining room. "I can walk, you know."
I shrugged. "It's more fun this way." Then, I pointed my finger at her. "Stay here and I'll be right back."
"You're spoiling me!" she called after me as I walked into the kitchen.
I returned a moment later with the salad and bowls. "That's the whole idea," I said as I gave her a quick peck on the forehead. Then, I poured her some more wine and sat down kitty corner from her. We said a quick blessing and then started eating.
"This is delicious," she said as she dug into her salad. "When did you learn how to cook like this?"
I shrugged. "I remembered that you liked my cooking, so I took a few classes."
She swallowed the bite she was eating and took a sip of her wine. "They paid off."
I laughed. "Well, save some room. This isn't the main course."
She raised an eyebrow at me seductively, and I was tempted to take her right on the table.
"I'm trying to behave myself, but you're not making it easy," I teased as I took a sip of my wine.
She laughed, obviously enjoying my discomfort a bit too much. "Later, then."
I laughed. "Ready for the main course?"
She laughed so hard that wine almost came out her nose.
"Okay. Get your mind out of the gutter," I teased as I went into the kitchen and spooned the tomato salad onto the plates beside the pasta. Satisfied, I took them back into the dining room.
Alyssa's eyes flew open wide as I set the plate down in front of her. "This looks great, Logan! You should really go into business or something."
I shook my head, enjoying her reaction. "I'd be happy just cooking for you." Then, I leaned down and gave her a light kiss on the cheek.
She blushed a lovely shade of pink, and then took a bite of her tomato salad. "What is this?"
"Tomato salad," I said proudly. "You like it?"
"It's delicious." She ate it quickly, and then started on her shrimp pasta, moaning in ecstasy.
I laughed as I watched her eat. "Hungry, huh?"
She nodded as she closed her eyes, savoring the flavor. "Famished."
"You need to start eating more often," I said.
She smiled, and then took another sip of her wine. "How was your meeting this afternoon with Frank?"
I nodded as I popped a shrimp into my mouth. "Good," I said as I raised an eyebrow. "So, he told you about that, did he?"
She laughed. "No, he just said he had a meeting with you."
I took a sip of my wine and set it down. "Well, I wanted it to be a surprise, but the mayor is holding a fundraiser on Christmas Eve for my campaign, but also to benefit the children at the Maria Fareri Children's Hospital. Do you have plans?"
"For Christmas?" she asked, surprised.
I smiled. "If you're going to see your parents, I understand."
She shook her head as she took a sip of her wine. "I was thinking about going to Colorado to visit my family, but I just got back and we already celebrated together, so they'll understand."
I took her hand. "I thought we could spend Christmas Day together, too. If that's okay with you."
Her lips curled into a smile. "It sounds perfect." Then, she leaned over and pressed her lips to mine, awakening something inside of me that had lain dormant for a very long time.