Chapter 36

"I miss you, too," she said. "Now, tell me all about Tasha. What's she like? What was she wearing?" Mom went on and on, and we talked for hours about nothing. Mom and I could talk about nothing and it would be the funniest thing. But when I tried to tell someone about it later, it sounded ridiculous, which made it even funnier.
"Is Dad there?" I asked.
"Sure! I'll put him on JAMES!"
"Mom! That was my ear!" I laughed as I held the phone away.
"JAMES, ALYSSA IS ON THE PHONE! COME IN HERE!" she yelled as I laughed, shaking my head. Only Mom.
"Alyssa? Is that you?" Dad's voice asked on the other end of the line. "What's this about a recording contract?"
So, I relayed the whole story to my father again. I stood up and it was already dark out. "Dad, I have to go," I said. "Here. Take down my number and call me whenever you want, but don't be alarmed if it goes to voice mail. I'm going to turn off my cell phone when I'm performing."
"Okay, munchkin," he said, using my childhood nickname. "Love you. Call us when you get a chance, and we'll do the same."
I took a deep breath, fighting back tears. "Okay, Dad. I'll see you later." He held the phone, waiting for me to hang up first, so I clicked it off and looked at it as tears came to my eyes. I missed them more than ever.
I slid the phone down onto the end table and walked into the kitchen. Then, I wiped the tears from my cheeks and started unpacking. By the time I was finished, the sunflower accessories looked great in the kitchen, and the groceries were put away. I looked at the clock. It was midnight, but I wasn't ready to go to sleep just yet. I guessed that my body was fast becoming accustomed to the musician's schedule.
So I poured myself a glass of iced tea and sat back down on the club chair. As I sipped my tea, my eyes traveled to the television, but I wasn't in the mood for it. I took a deep breath when my eyes fell on my guitar.
In the past, whenever I felt down or depressed, or when I felt good and wanted to celebrate, music had always lifted me up. Nothing else mattered at that moment-just my guitar and me. I got up and took the guitar from its case, grabbed a guitar pick, and started strumming, letting the lilt of the tune carry me away to another place, a happy place. I rode the waves of the melody, closing my eyes through the ups and downs, pits and valleys of the music.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and I knew it had to be Logan.
I laid my guitar back in the case, as I ran my hand along the red, wood grain finish, and then headed toward the door. "Who is it?"
"It's me, Logan." His voice carried from the other side of the door. "Is it too late?"
I opened the door and there he was, standing in all his magnificence as he ran his hand through his hair and gave me a sexy smile.
"What do you think? I'm a musician, remember?" I said as he leaned on the door facing.
He smiled. "Well, I wasn't sure."
I stepped aside. "You're my fiancé, remember? That is, unless you changed your mind." I raised an eyebrow expectantly.
He stepped inside and looked directly into my eyes as he rubbed his hands along my arms, and then pulled me in. Sliding his hand behind my neck, he laced his fingers through my hair and pressed his lips to mine. I responded as our lips moved together, and I parted my lips as passion filled us both.
"I missed you," he said when he pulled back.
"I missed you, too, Logan," I replied as I reached up to wrap my arms around his neck as his hands clutched my waist. "How did it go tonight?"
"Well, we have a three-year recording contract and an agent, thanks to you," he said, smiling.
"That's great!" I said, pulling him in for a hug. "We need to celebrate!"
"Are you hungry?" he asked. "I could take you to go get something."
I shook my head. "No; it's getting late. I have something better in mind."
He laughed as he raised an eyebrow, obviously curious.
"How does a picnic sound?"
Logan laughed as he wrapped his arms around my waist. "Well, it may be a bit too dark outside for a picnic "
I laughed. "No. I meant an indoor picnic." I kissed his nose. "I could fix some shrimp " I trailed kisses down his neck. " and light some candles " I kissed his lips. " and spread a blanket on the floor "
His lips met mine as he lifted me off my feet and carried me into the kitchen, never breaking the kiss. After setting me down on the counter, he stood between my legs and pulled me to him as his lips devoured mine. A moment later, he pulled back to look into my eyes.
Grinning, I prepared to jump down off the counter, but he stopped me. "Just relax and I'll get everything." Then, he opened the refrigerator and found the shrimp a moment later. Next, he pulled a pan out from under the cabinet, dumped it inside, and then filled it with water and placed it on the stove. "Do you have any lemon and cocktail sauce?"
I nodded. "I'll get it."
But he stopped me once again as a sexy smile curled the corner of his lips. "You really have a problem letting other people take care of you, don't you?"
I laughed. "I'm used to taking care of others." I shrugged. "But I could get used to it."
Chuckling, he opened the cabinet door and found the cocktail sauce and the lemon. Once the shrimp was ready, he drained off the water and placed it in a bowl that he had already filled with ice. "Would you like some iced tea?"
"I can get it." Again, I tried to hop down off the counter, and again, he stopped me. I laughed as I shook my head. "You're spoiling me."
He looked directly into my eyes. "I'm trying." Then, he placed everything on a serving tray. "Stay here. I'll be right back."
I laughed. "I'm not a dog. 'Sit, stay'."
He smiled and pointed to me. "Sit, stay."
I burst out laughing but didn't jump down off the counter as he carried the tray into the living room. I heard him rummaging around in the closet, and a few minutes later, he was back.
He smiled, happy that I was still sitting on the counter. "Yes! You did as I asked!"
I laughed. "Is that surprising?"
Logan looked up at the ceiling as if thinking about it for a second. "Yes. It is." Then, he swept me off the counter and into his arms where I wanted to stay for the rest of my life.