Slipping a hand into the back of his hair, she drew his mouth down to hers and spoke against it. “I like teasing you,” she admitted.
He kissed her lingeringly before murmuring, “Yeah, I got that.”
“Besides,” she added, sliding her arms around his bare shoulders, “it was all completely true.”
He growled and took her mouth again, effectively silencing her.
It was some time later before they finally, regretfully, left the bed. Logan had confessed that he’d have been quite content to stay there all day, but he needed a shower and a shave. And food, he’d added, causing her to tease him again about his healthy appetites.
He shaved while she showered, then she dried her hair and put on a little makeup when he took his turn in the shower. They shared both bed and bath very naturally considering that this was the first weekend they’d spent together, she mused, putting away her mascara. She couldn’t help remembering that moment last night when she’d worried that they were getting a little too comfortable together. She wasn’t quite ready for the electricity between them to fizzle, as it always did with time, at least in her experience and observation. Maybe she’d be ready to let it go soon, but she wanted to hold on to it for just a little longer.
Seeing him emerge from the bathroom wearing only a pair of jeans, his hair damp and his chest gleaming from the hot shower, she swallowed hard. Okay, so maybe the magic was still there for now. She could still appreciate the jolt she felt when she saw him like this. To be honest, she couldn’t imagine ever not responding to seeing him like this.
He tugged a black T-shirt over his head. “So—museums, huh?”
Looking out the glass door, she saw that the rain had stopped and the clouds were lightening from charcoal to pale gray. The weather app on her phone informed her that the rain had stopped for the day, with partly cloudy skies and sixty-degree temperatures predicted for the afternoon. She was glad their last day in Seattle would be nice, weatherwise. She smiled as she reached for her bag and jacket. “No schedules today. Let’s just go out and have a good time.”
“Sounds good to me.” He strapped on his watch, slid his wallet into his back pocket and shrugged into his own jacket. “But would you mind very much if we start with breakfast?”
She laughed. “Okay, we’ll do that first. And I’ll try not to run into anyone who recognizes me today.”
Logan opened the door and motioned her out ahea
d of him. “That was unexpected.”
“To say the least.” She shook her head as they walked toward the elevator. “We come 2,700 miles to have a little time to ourselves, thinking there’s no risk of being seen by anyone we know, and I hear my name in a club. Who’d have thought it?”
He chuckled and punched the call button. “It’s not like we’re fugitives hiding out from the law. I mean, even running into someone from back home who knows both of us wouldn’t be the worst thing that could happen. It would be majorly weird, but hardly tragic.”
“Don’t even joke about that,” she said, stepping into the elevator. “At least Isabella didn’t know who you are, and because I very rudely didn’t bother to introduce you, she doesn’t have a name to share even if she should mention to any mutual acquaintances that she ran into me here. Not that she will, probably. Bella’s kind of a ditz.”
Leaning against the wall of the elevator, Logan studied her with a quirked eyebrow. “I wasn’t really joking. About it not being the worst thing that could happen, I mean.”
Maybe he was trying to reassure her that he wasn’t upset that she’d been recognized. She doubted very much that he was implying that they should date openly back at home. Though she didn’t want to analyze it right now, she found herself fighting near-panic at the very idea of making their relationship public. It would make it all seem so much more...complicated. Because she didn’t want to spoil their last day here, she pushed the nerves away, deciding to focus only on the here and now. “What do you want for breakfast?”
“Food.” He stood back and let her precede him out of the elevator into the hotel lobby.
Laughing softly, she headed for the exit doors with Logan close behind her.
* * *
“What a beautiful neighborhood.”
Later that afternoon, Alexis turned in a slow circle to take in the scenery of Green Lake Park and the surrounding area. Obviously a popular place for locals, the almost-three-mile path around the glittering lake was crowded even on this cool, cloudy Saturday afternoon with walkers, runners, bikers, skateboarders, dog walkers, baby strollers. The paved path was divided into “wheels” and “feet” lanes, while a somewhat longer, higher trail seemed to attract more serious runners and power walkers. Teenagers sat on grassy hills, gossiping and listening to music, while birds and squirrels were active in the hundreds of trees that made up the natural park. Ducks and geese floated across the water and Alexis was pretty sure she spotted a bald eagle on the other side of the lake.
“If I were to move to Seattle, I think I’d want to live right there,” she said, smiling as she pointed to a pretty Craftsman-style house sitting on a hill overlooking the park. “I’d walk around the lake every day, rain or shine, just to watch the wildlife and the parade of people.”
His hands in his pockets, Logan studied her with a slight frown. “You thinking about moving?”
“No, I love Virginia. I just always like to imagine what it would be like to live in various places I visit.”
He followed her gaze to the rows of houses lining the busy streets circling the park. “I’ve only lived in Tennessee and Virginia. I guess I haven’t had what you’d call an exciting life. It’s been a good one, though.”
A young woman trying to control a barely leash-trained dog staggered toward them, both hands on the leash as her pet bounded over to them. Little more than an oversize puppy, the yellow Labrador retriever wriggled and panted, eager to explore and play. Perhaps recognizing a dog lover, he sniffed Logan’s hand, his whole backside wagging in greeting. Logan laughed and rubbed the dog’s ears. “Well, hey, there.”
“I’m sorry,” the young woman said. “He’s still learning leash etiquette.”
“No problem,” Logan assured her. “Nice dog.”