“So, are you from California?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I moved here about five years ago. I’d always wanted to live by the beach
and the local library had posted a job that I just couldn’t pass up.”
“So you work for the local library?”
She nodded. “I’m a reference librarian.”
“What exactly do you do?”
She shrugged. “A little of everything. I help select the books that go out on the shelves and place
the orders for them; assist patrons locate books they can’t find on their own; help with the
computers that are open to the public; book the meeting rooms. There’s a bit more to it than that,
but that’s the gist of my job.”
“It sounds like you’re a very busy lady.”
“I usually am, but it’s a rewarding job.”
Logan smiled. He could easily see her as a librarian; she was quiet and reserved.
“So where was home before moving here?” he asked, trying to keep the conversation focused on
her. He wanted to learn as much about her as he could.
“Texas. I lived in a small town outside of Dallas, way out in the country.”
Logan raised a brow. “You don’t sound like a Texas girl.”
She shrugged. “I guess my accent wore off after a while. My family always gives me grief when I
go for a visit.”
“Do you get to see them often?”
“Not really. Of course, that isn’t because I can’t take the time off. The library is great about that
kind of thing, but I prefer the ocean to the hills of Texas.”
He smiled. “I can understand that. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else in the world.”
Before Logan could ask her anymore questions, their food arrived. They ate in companionable
silence and watched the fish swimming under them.
***
After dinner, Logan drove Sienna back to her place. He got out of the car and walked around to
the passenger side. Opening the door for her, he assisted her out of the car.
He held his hand out to her and Sienna hesitantly clasped it. He felt the slight tremor run
through her. Was it from nerves or excitement? Judging by the look on her face, he guessed it was
nerves. What was it going to take for her to relax around him?
As they approached her door, he stopped and pulled her into his arms. Before she could protest,
he lowered his head to hers and claimed her lips in a gentle kiss.
Sienna moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her body felt like it was on fire.
Pressing herself closer to Logan, she felt his erection against her. She gasped against his mouth,
both shocked and turned on.
Logan groaned. He was drowning in Sienna’s sweetness. His tongue flicked across her lips,
begging her to open them. She hesitantly opened her lips and he slipped his tongue into her mouth,
caressing her tongue with his. Grasping her hips with his hands, he pulled her tight against him.
Feeling her body rub against his made him want her even more.
Before things got too far out of hand, he pulled back. Through lidded eyes, he stared down at
her. Sienna’s lips were swollen from his kiss, her cheeks were flushed with desire, and she had a
dreamy far off look in her eyes.
“I think I’d better say goodnight before I forget how to be a gentleman,” he rasped.
Sienna was too dazed to speak. Never had she been kissed like that! She looked into Logan’s
eyes and tried hard now to throw herself back into his arms. If the man could kiss like
that,
how
well did he do everything else?
“Sienna?”
“Hmm? Oh, sorry Logan. Yes, I understand. I had a lovely time…” she trailed off, realizing that
she was babbling.
He smiled down at her. “I’m glad you enjoyed our date. Does this mean I can convince you to
go out with me again?”
“When?” she asked, feeling bold.
“How about tomorrow? I have a boat not far from here. We could take a picnic lunch with us.”
She nodded. “That sounds lovely.”
“How about if I pick you up at eleven o’clock?”
“Eleven is great. I’ll see you then.”
He smiled and briefly brushed his lips across hers again. Straightening, he started backing toward
his car.
“You’d better go inside before I can’t stop myself.”
Laughing, she opened the door and stepped inside. She waved good-bye to Logan and closed the
door. Turning the lock, she smiled to herself.
Logan Drake liked her! He really and truly liked her! It was mind boggling.
Drifting into her bedroom, she stripped off her dress and heels. Filling the tub with hot water,
she decided to soak before going to bed. Not that she needed to relax this evening, but she did
some of her best daydreaming in the tub.
Chapter Four
The next morning dawned bright and clear. Sienna stretched in her bed and rolled over.
Opening her eyes, she squinted against the light streaming through her bedroom window.
Groaning she rolled over and glanced at the clock. It was only a little after eight. She still had
plenty of time to get ready for her day out with Logan. Sighing she closed her eyes and tried to go
back to sleep. No such luck.
Giving up, she tossed the covers aside and climbed out of bed. Stretching, she shuffled into the
bathroom. Going through her morning ritual, she put a headband in her hair to keep it out of her
eyes and wandered back into the bedroom. Deciding against a robe, she went to the kitchen for a
bite to eat.
As Sienna was munching on her cereal, she heard the front door open. Knowing that she had
locked it the night before, she knew that it had to be Robert. Sure enough, he came around the
corner smiling at her.
“Good morning!”
She mumbled a response.
“What was that? I didn’t hear you, Sunshine.”
“I said, fuck off.”
“Such language! And before ten o’clock!”
She glared at him through narrowed eyes.
Robert smirked at her and sat down across from her. He took in her tank top and pajama pants.
Sienna looked cute first thing in the morning, if you could get past the fangs she sprouted when she
woke up before ten o’clock.
“Why are you here?” she asked.
“Isn’t it obvious? I want to know how your date went.”
She blushed remembering the kiss she’d shared with Logan the night before. “It went well. We’re
going out again today.”
He raised a brow. “Really? That’s kind of fast, don’t you think?”
She shrugged. “Not really. We’re taking a picnic out on his boat.”
“So you’re actually going to wear a bathing suit? Now
this
I have to see!”
She shook her head. “I was thinking more along the lines of shorts and a nice sleeveless shirt.”
“Uh-uh, no way! The man asks you out on his boat and you want to cover up that much skin?
The only reason a guy asks a woman out on a boat or out to the beach is to see her in a bathing
suit.”
“Forget it.”
Robert sighed. “I have to do everything, don’t I?”
He got up and walked into her bedroom. He vaguely remembered a bathing suit tucked into the
back of the closet. It was a one piece, but it had a fairly low cut neckline. Snagging it out of the
closet, he flung it across the bed. Reaching into the closet again, he pulled out a matching sarong
and a cute pair of sandals.
Just thinking of Sienna dressed like that was enough to make him drool. The thought of her
dressing like that for another man was like a kick in the gut, but if Logan made her happy then
Robert was all for it. She deserved a little happiness in her life. Men tended to treat her badly. If
Logan could break the cycle, then he had Robert’s endorsement.
Sienna appeared in the bedroom doorway. “Oh no, no way in hell am I wearing that!”
“Yes, you
are
wearing that! It will drive the man wild.”
“How do you know?”
He sighed. “Because it drives me wild just thinking about you wearing it.”
“Oh,” she said softly. She wasn’t used to this side of Robert. While it was flattering, it also made
her feel bad. Why hadn’t she noticed before that he thought of her that way?
“I’m going to head back home. I hope you have a nice time and call me when you get back.”
She nodded and watched him go, unsure of what to say.
Turning back to the bed, she eyed the bathing suit and wrap. She wasn’t sure about wearing it,
but if Robert thought she should… well, he hadn’t been wrong with his other clothing choices.
She shook her head and walked back into the living room. She still had a little time before she
needed to get ready. Picking up her book, she sat on the sofa and decided to read for a little bit.
***
A while later the doorbell rang. Startled, Sienna looked up from her book. What time was it?
Glancing at the clock on the way, she realized that it was five 'til eleven.
Groaning, she put the book down and went to answer the door. She had on no make-up, her
hair was a mess and she wasn’t dressed yet.
Sienna unlocked the door and cracked it open. Peeking around the edge, she saw Logan.
“I’m afraid I lost track of the time. If you’ll give me a few minutes, I’ll be ready to go.”
He flashed her a grin, noting her pajamas and rumpled look. “Take all the time you need.”
Sienna backed up, opening the door enough for him to step inside. Self-conscious of her current
attire, she scrambled for the bedroom door. Once safely out of Logan’s sight, she closed the door
and changed her clothes.
Thankfully the bathing suit had tummy control! She wrapped the sarong around her waist and
tied it off. Stepping into the bathroom, she brushed her teeth, brushed her hair and put on some
mascara and lip-gloss.
Turning her face one way and then the other, she looked at her reflection. Her hair was a little
wild today, but since they would be out on the boat it wouldn’t matter.
Deciding that she wasn’t going to get any more glamorous, she shrugged her shoulders and
walked back into the bedroom. Slipping her feet into the sandals Robert had pulled out of the
closet, she opened the door to the living room.
Logan was standing in front of her window seat looking out at the beach. He looked good today
in a pair of navy swim trunks and a white polo.
“Sorry I wasn’t ready,” Sienna said as she joined him by the window.
“Quite all right. I stopped by the market on the way here to pick up some things for lunch today.
I hope you don’t mind?”
She shook her head. “Not at all.”
Reaching for her hand, he tugged her toward the door. “If we go now, we’ll be far enough out to
stop for lunch by noon.”
Sienna snagged her purse on the way out the door, making sure she locked up on her way out.
She slid into the passenger side of Logan’s car and put on her seat belt.
On the way to the marina, Logan was quiet. Sienna hadn’t said much this morning, but she
seemed more relaxed around him than she had been before. Maybe she was just quiet by nature?
As he pulled into a parking space, he unbuckled his seat belt and turned off the car. Reaching
into the backseat, he pulled out a picnic hamper and a bottle of wine.
They climbed out of the car and started down the pier.
“Which boat is yours?” Sienna asked.
Logan nodded toward the end of the pier. “The next to last one on the left.”