Chapter 67
"Do you like it?" I asked.
He nodded. "But the question is: do you like it?"
I smiled as tears sprang involuntarily into my eyes. "I love it."
Logan looked up at the salesman. "We'll take these. Can you wrap them up for us, please?"
A broad smile spread across the salesman's face. "Right away, sir."
As we were walking out of Tiffany's a few minutes later, a gleam appeared in Logan's eyes as he took my hand. "Let's go shopping."
I laughed. "I thought that's what we have been doing!"
"Come on. If you're going to meet my parents, you'll need a cocktail dress," he said as he pulled me to the street and whistled loudly, hailing a cab.
I laughed. "Really?"
"Yes. They dress for dinner," he replied when a cab came to an abrupt stop in front of us.
"I'm sure I have something that would be fine," I said as I slid into the cab and he climbed in behind me. "You don't have to buy me anything."
He gave me a quick kiss on the lips. "I want to."
My eyebrows pulled together in concern. "Are you ashamed of me?"
Logan's head snapped around abruptly. "Where did that come from? Of course I'm not ashamed of you!" He took a deep breath and looked out the window as he bit his lip. Then, he turned back to face me. "I'm ashamed of them."
"What?" I asked in disbelief.
"Don't get me wrong. I'm proud of my family, of what they've accomplished, but they don't always treat people well." He let out a deep breath as a crease formed between his eyes. "I just don't want to give them an excuse to treat you badly."
I smiled as I rubbed his arm. "I'm sure they aren't that bad. Everything will be okay. I promise."
He smiled, but the crease between his eyes still remained. "You just don't understand."
"Then, enlighten me."
He nodded as he slid his arm around my shoulders. "My family wants me to become a politician. Perhaps president one day. Where they got that idea, I have no idea."
"President of the United States?"
He nodded as he looked into my eyes. "My family has high expectations for me."
"And you becoming a singer didn't fit into their plans." I was beginning to see the depth of their control, but also the depth of his rebellion.
Logan forced a smile. "Exactly."
"And marrying a musician didn't fit into their plans, either, I take it."
He smiled and pulled me to his side. "But I don't care what they think." I looked up into his eyes. "I'm proud of you, Allie."
"And if they don't like me?" I asked, my voice a whisper.
He smirked. "If they don't like you, then they'll lose out. If they want to be a part of my life, then they will accept you." He let out a deep breath. "And they'll have to accept my life, what I want, too."
I nodded, understanding as the cab stopped in front of Bloomingdales.
"Let's go," he said, bringing the conversation to an end.
But as I slid out of the cab, I wondered what his family would be like, and what they would think of me.
***
We walked out with a cute, classic "little black dress", matching high heels, and a new black suit with a medium blue shirt, the exact color of his eyes, for Logan.
"If I didn't know any better," I said, mischievously, "I would think that you really enjoyed shopping today."
He laughed-a lovely, welcoming sound that was home. "Actually, I loved spending money on you the most."
I smiled as I slipped my hand into his. "You don't have to do that."
"Spend money on you?" he asked as a cab stopped abruptly in front of us. "Yes I do. And you'd better get used to it. I want to lavish you with gifts."
I laughed as we slid into the back. "You're going to spoil me."
A broad smile spread across his face. "I intend to."
My cell phone rang, bringing me back to reality. I looked at the caller ID, and then clicked off the call.
Logan's eyebrows pulled together in concern. "Who was it?"
I shrugged. "Craig. But I can call him back later."
Logan shook his head. "No. Go ahead. He's your manager. You need to speak with him."
I shook my head. "If I speak to him now, it won't be pretty, and I don't want to ruin our day."
Logan smiled as he slipped his arm around my shoulders and gave me a light kiss on the neck. "I don't want to come between you and your manager."
I let out a deep breath. "You aren't. He is." Reaching across, I slid my hand into his and looked into his eyes. "Let's just enjoy tonight. It's all we have."
He nodded as a pained look flitted across his face, but it was gone quickly as he kissed my fingers, one at a time. "Then, let's make the most of it."
I knew it was true. Logan's gig was tomorrow night, and then he would leave. Mine was the night after, and then we would each go on our own separate tours. At least we had this time to spend together. I didn't know when I would see him again, but at least we were together again.
We didn't say anything more, each lost in our own thoughts, and soon pulled up in front of Logan's hotel. "Do you need anything from your hotel?" Logan asked as we slid out of the taxi.
I shook my head as I forced a smile. "No. You bought me everything, including makeup. I have everything I need."
Also, I didn't want to see Craig just yet. If he truly had paid off Bryant Hall to kiss me and scare off Logan, then I no longer wanted him to be my manager. But I would have plenty of time to speak with him after Logan was gone. Now, I just wanted to be in the moment with Logan.
He helped me as we carried our new purchases to the elevator. When the doors closed, he kissed my neck, tenderly at first, sending chills over my body, and then with ferocity, sending chills straight to my heat.
