Chapter 2 - Day 1
Veronica hurried home once they were all done at the office for the day. She'd sketched out her basic plans for which 'classic' mistakes she would be utilizing, but halfway through her outline she'd realized that, for this to actually work, she was going to have to 'hook' the guy first. No one, male or female, would put up with most of the things on her list if they were used on the first night.
Bristow was in his kitty condo when Veronica arrived home, but he soon emerged, complaining loudly about wanting food. "Cat Mischief! You are so lucky I've decided I like you!" she called while pouring out a serving of dry food and topping it with tuna. "What do you think, buddy? We could buy the poor schmuck a dog, and then when it all goes to hell, you and I could have another furry friend. Veronica wandered back into her bedroom. "I mean, sure, I'm thinking about leaving this job, and I'm not home much, but I saw pictures of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies on Tumblr earlier and they are about as cute as it gets." Veronica flipped through the row of dresses that she had to choose from. "You'd like a friend, wouldn't you, Brist?" A faint meow came from the kitchen, clearly signaling his complete agreement with her plan.
Refocusing on her task, Veronica's fingers brushed along the almost suede feel of the gray backless dress she'd bought ages ago but never worn. The tags were still attached even. She pulled the dress out and inspected it. Oh yes this will be perfect.
Armed with several Lynn Echolls-approved pitches about diamonds, Logan had started getting ready for the meeting he was going to crash. He quickly pulled out his sleek dark navy Tom Ford suit. It always made him feel like James Bond, and the idea of putting on a little Bond charm sounded about right for the evening.
Logan was digging into the bottom of his closet searching for the Gucci loafers that didn't leave blisters when he saw a white envelope. He took a deep breath and retrieved it along with the shoebox he'd been looking for. He walked back to his bed, the envelope heavier than the shoebox. Logan delayed acknowledging what the envelope held because it was so much more than the two tickets to Tahiti.
—
Dripping fat beads of condensation, the bottle of champagne was slick in his hand as Logan skipped up the stairs of his parents' Southampton summerhouse. Sure, it was early in the season, but that didn't make it any less beautiful, just a little cool and less crowded.
Logan had been surprised to find his father at the house, but Aaron was anything but predictable. And Lilly had insisted it didn't bother her if Aaron crashed their little weekend get-away. In fact she almost seemed excited, which was a huge improvement over her complaining about them not going somewhere more exciting for the weekend. Logan, true to form, had never told her about the kind of relationship he really had with his father, so he'd sucked it up and embraced a weekend with both Lilly and his father. He opened the bedroom door and the bottle slipped through his fingers, shattering on the marble tile floor...
—
Six months had removed the lingering romantic feelings but hadn't done much to absolve his disgust and anger. Logan took a shuddering breath, wadded up the plane tickets and setup his free throw, depositing them directly into the trash.
"Why did you pick this place?" Parker complained as they entered the bar attached to the classy and hard to get reservations at Enjouée.
"Because, Parker, this is the watering hole of the upwardly mobile. We can't stick Veronica with just anyone for the next ten days. He needs to be…" Mac fluttered her hand in the air.
"Pretentious? Obnoxious? A jackass?" Veronica asked, spying the people in the bar; these sorts of settings always left her feeling somewhat unsettled.
"No! But what good is all this if the readers can't relate to the guy you test this out on?" Mac asked, exasperated.
"Fine. Fine. But if anyone in here tells me about the 'consummate professionalism of Huey Lewis and the News' I'm out. Same goes for any mention of Elvis Costello." Veronica straightened her shoulders and put on her 'I'm cautiously available' face. No need to attract the one-nighters, she thought as she approached the bar.
The bartender met her with a soft smile. "What'll it be?"
"Slightly dirty gin martini, lemon twist," Veronica requested, and then paused. "Can you make it in front of me?"
The bartender, a well-preserved fifties-ish woman, smiled and nodded. "You got it." A few shakes and a twist later and Veronica had her drink securely in her hand and deposited a healthy tip in the jar.
I've lost my damn mind. I haven't dated since I broke up with Piz. I don't want to write this piece. Veronica took a few deep breaths. Better me than Madison, better me than Madison, she chanted as she rejoined Mac and Parker, fortified to begin the search. "See anyone promising?"
Jackie blazed the trail to the reserved table she had set up earlier that day. A few phone calls and everything had been set. Now all that remained was to get this over with. All Jackie could think of was getting away from Lilly. Sure they were colleagues, and, sometimes, even friends, but after that morning's display…Guess now I know why Logan ended it…
"Jackie, why is Logan here?" Lilly hissed in Jackie's ear. Jackie paused and turned to where Lilly was pointing. Sure enough there sat Logan, looking mighty fine and the essence of ease and confidence. Jackie had started to get the feeling that Logan's at ease demeanor was as much of an act as what he presented at client pitches and company parties. Who he really was she hadn't figured out, but if his life had even half the complications hers did, she knew it would be a challenge to untangle. A challenge she didn't have the time or interest to take on.
"Maybe he's just here having a drink?" Jackie whispered as Logan spotted them and stood, waving his hand.
"A drink alone? Logan is a lot of things but the type go to a bar and drink alone? I don't think so," Lilly whispered.
Jackie honestly couldn't say what Logan's style was; she'd only ever seen him out with Lilly back when they were together. Since…not so much. Or, actually, not at all. Not even a date to the firm's last party.
"Logan!" Cyrus O'Dell called over Jackie's shoulder. He always stood a little too close. "What are you doing here?"
"Isn't it obvious? I missed you, Cyrus!" Logan smirked and shook hands with their boss. Jackie could feel Lilly practically boiling next to her.
"But, Logan, you weren't invited." Lilly moved to take one of the seats at the table.
"Well, this was my tip after all, so here I am." Logan spread his arms wide, a cocky smirk firmly in place. It took all of Jackie's will power to keep from smirking back.
Jackie took her seat, allowing Cyrus to hold her chair for her, still hovering a little too close. She sighed, couldn't he show more of an interest in Lilly? She'd actually enjoy it.
"You know how it is, Logan. I have to pick the best option for the account. While you are my go-to man for the Joe Blow, Action Hero stuff, these ladies sell luxury. They sell it better than anyone in the industry," O'Dell said, somewhat exasperated. "DeLauer would be our biggest account."
Jackie accepted a glass of champagne gratefully from Logan as he began speaking to the group in an obvious effort to show how much he knew about the account. He was more knowledgeable than Jackie had been expecting, and that fact was clearly making Lilly unhappy, if her rolling eyes and pursed lips were any indication.
"Diamond marketing is currently directed at men. But what if we said: 'A diamond is for everyone'," Logan said with a flourish.
Jackie groaned. Where did he get that idea? But before she could say a word Lilly had pounced. "A diamond is for everyone? Come on, Logan, it's like you don't know women at all! Selling a diamond to a woman is like making her fall in love," Lilly said in a sultry tone. If Jackie hadn't known it was part of the pitch, Lilly's words would have made her throw up a little at it being directed at O'Dell.
Jackie held her glass out to Logan for a refill while Lilly practically fondled herself to win over their boss. "Giddy…desirous…desperate…"
"Does anyone buy this BS?" Logan whispered, carefully filling the glass without it fizzing over.
"Women want to fall in love," Jackie said, her tone more wistful than she wanted to admit. Logan's answering expression let her know that she'd said too much. She knew he was too smart for his own good.
Jackie tuned out Logan's monologue about how much he loved women and began looking around the room. It was at that moment that she saw Veronica Mars, Composure's How-To girl, mingling with the after-work crowd. She must be shopping for her victim. Jackie chuckled lightly, drawing Lilly's attention.
Lilly turned fierce eyes back to their table, "Make a women fall in love with diamonds, Logan? Or with you?"
"Um…" Jackie saw Logan falter and then roll his shoulders, his signature smirk firmly back in place. "Either, Lil', just 'cause you're a frigid—"
"Whoa! Play nice, kids. That's cocky though, Logan." O'Dell laughed.
"Eh…I like to think of it more as confident." Logan's smile turned more predatory.
"Fine, Logan. Prove it. O'Dell & Hearst are hosting a party for the DeLauers in ten days. Think you can make a woman fall in love with you by then? You couldn't get me in—"
"Let's keep this professional, Kane," Jackie interrupted, having had enough of Lilly for the day.
"Any single, available, straight woman. Though I would prefer one without daddy issues." He glared at Lilly.
"I'm not trying to trick you, Logan," Lilly almost purred.
"Wait, Lilly, um…maybe we could take a quick break to the ladies room?" Jackie offered, knowing what was coming.
"Thanks, but I'm fine, Cook. So, Logan, how about this—we'll choose a woman for you. Right here in this bar," Lilly continued.
Jackie saw it happening in front of her. It was like a train wreck; she couldn't look away even though she knew what a disaster it was going to be.
"All right, Lilly. Pick. Who's the lucky lady?" Logan smiled.
"I dunno about lucky…" Lilly snarked.
"Enough, Lilly!" Jackie kicked Lilly under the table.
"Logan, if you show up to the party with whatever woman we pick tonight, and she's in love with you, the pitch is yours!" O'Dell said, completely oblivious to the subtext of the conversation despite how direct some of their comments had been. It made Jackie wonder if maybe Lilly and O'Dell were closer than she had thought.
Lilly grimaced and then quickly replaced her look of pain with a sly smile. "Her."
"Her, who?" Logan asked cautiously.
"Gray dress, blonde hair, pretty…petite." Lilly pointed across the bar.
Complete train wreck!
"Done," Logan said matter-of-factly.
"Logan wait—" Lilly kicked Jackie under the table.
"Done!" Logan reiterated.
Veronica looked around the bar again, but despite her pleas to the universe, the crowd didn't seem to have changed. She'd already struck out twice. One was married and the other was intolerable. It might only be ten days, but she needed to at least not think the person was a complete douche. She resigned herself to heading back to the bar and getting one more drink. She had a strict two-drink maximum. Between an alcoholic mother and her sexually assaulted college roommate, she knew better than to take any risks.
"Hey, sweetheart, you want another dirty gin with a twist?" the bartender asked.
"Yeah, that'd be great. Thank you," Veronica said, returning her used glass.
"Now that's not a drink order you hear often," a masculine voice said from over Veronica's shoulder. She mentally geared up to fend off another loser when she turned to find a tall, muscular, handsome man standing just to her side. He had a goofy grin on his face and wasn't crowding her.
"Well, I'm not much for predictable or common," Veronica said, turning back to find the bartender waiting to start making the drink. Veronica offered her another smile, and pulled out more bills to leave an even larger tip.
"Hm…me neither. I'm Logan Echolls." He held out his hand.
Veronica accepted her drink, handing the neatly folded bills over, and then turned back to the handsome stranger, considering him for a moment. "Veronica Mars."
"I'm face-to-face with the true reflection of war. Should I be scared?" Logan asked.
"Terrified. You know Mars was also a fertility deity, at least in the earlier mythology." Veronica smiled at him saucily.
"I didn't know that. But it sounds promising." He winked at her. "He had something to do with agriculture too, right?"
"That he did." Veronica took a sip of her drink.
"Perhaps in honor of your namesake I could take you to dinner tonight…" Logan smiled, his lips curling up in a way that had Veronica's heart skipping beats.
"Unattached?" Veronica asked, not wanting to get burned again or end up in an untenable situation.
"Currently. You?" He seemed to lean a little closer.
"Likewise."
"Surprising." His grin widened, revealing a slight dimple.
"Psycho?" Veronica asked cautiously.
"Rarely, and only when my parents are involved." He laughed lightly. "Interested?"
Veronica couldn't help but smile back; boy did she ever know about bad parents. "Perhaps. Let's start with that dinner and see what happens."
"You've got yourself a deal. I'll meet you at the door?" he asked, nodding at Parker and Mac who were blatantly staring.
"Yeah, give me just a second." Veronica let her hand trail down his arm, feeling the hard definition of a bicep that was clearly well-cultivated. She laughed at her own 'agriculture' pun and was immensely relieved her inner monologue buffer was working.
Veronica walked away, making sure to put some sway in her step in case Logan was watching. She approached Mac and Parker. "I got one!"
"Nice, lady! And he's hot. I can't believe he's single," Mac said skeptically.
"I asked; he said he was unattached. And I didn't get that Mars Tingle…but still," Veronica said, becoming more hesitant the longer she was away from him.
"Stop it, Veronica. What's the plan?" Mac asked, completely serious.
"He asked me to dinner. I accepted. So I guess I'll have dinner with him and see how it goes. My phone is on, and 'find my friends' is up. If he turns out to be a psycho-killer…well, you'll be able to find my phone." Veronica couldn't keep the sarcasm out of her voice. She turned to Parker, "I'm doing this for you."
As Veronica made her way to the door, she heard Mac call out, "Neither of us believes you!"
"So, Logan Echolls…tell me something about you that I don't already know from US Weekly," Veronica said nonchalantly. Logan noticed that she kept her eyes on the menu.
"Ha! And here for just a second I thought you might not know who I am," Logan said, rallying to hide his disappointment.
"Silly son of actors thinking I wouldn't recognize the name. We're the same age and I grew up in California; I'm well aware of who you are. What I want to know is who you are. Not the miserable teenager I remember seeing in pictures, but the man sitting across the table from me."
Logan gave her a long look. Either she meant that or she was full of shit…there was only one tried and true way to find out. "Well, what can I say? I'm my father's biggest fan. Hair Trigger 3: Only Business was my favorite film," Logan deadpanned, waiting to see her reaction.
Veronica snorted and then coughed to cover it up, but Logan saw it clearly. "Okay, two things. One: if you are your father's biggest fan, you are really good at giving him side-eye in pictures. Two: There is no Hair Trigger 3."
Logan laughed. "Whatcha gonna do about that, Mars?"
"Laugh with you. I think Aaron Echolls is a scourge upon acting. How he won any Oscars is baffling. Even more bewildering is the lack of Tonys in your mother's corner. My dad took me to see her as Maria in The Sound of Music when I was a kid and she was amazing." Veronica smiled brightly.
"You saw that? I was actually in it for a couple of the shows when the youngest boy got laryngitis."
"I know. I saw you in it, too." Veronica blushed a little. "You were really cute, and I may have had a crush on you back then."
"How about now?" Logan asked, reaching for her hand.
"The night is still young, but I'm feeling a bit nostalgic."
"So, you wanted to know something about me?" Logan asked, completely serious, leaving the jokes behind.
"Yes."
"I'm allergic to shellfish. So if you think you might want to kiss me tonight, skip the surf with your turf." He winked.
"Duly noted. No shellfish tonight." She returned his wink. "But what I really want to know, Logan Echolls, is something about who you are, dreams…aspirations?"
"Wow, the deep stuff, huh? Okay, well, I've spent the last couple of years being the celebrity son hand out who's good at selling beer and running shoes. But I recently realized that I want to be more than that. I don't just want to be a connection to celebrity or a favor to my parents. I want to be known for who I am."
"And who is that, Logan?"
"I'm not sure yet, but I'm working on it." He smiled shyly. "Now that that is settled, tell me something about you, Veronica Mars." Logan smirked.
"Well, I have a masters degree in Journalism from Columbia. I seriously considered law but thought I could make a bigger difference as a journalist. Now I write the 'How-To' column for Composure." Veronica sighed, but tried to remain upbeat.
"Composure, fastest growing women's fashion magazine in the country. My firm has a big fall rollout planned with you," Logan said, happy to be able to show some knowledge about her employer.
"That's us."
Logan considered her for a moment but couldn't contain his laugh. "I was actually just reading one of your articles earlier."
Veronica groaned. "Which one? And before you answer that, please tell me that it isn't why you asked me to dinner."
"Not why. I didn't know who you were at the time. And it was the one about getting out of a ticket. Did those things really work?"
"Thank god," she said under her breath. Logan heard her whispered response and made a mental note to get a hold of some back issues of her column. "Yes, they worked…for me. I'm not sure you could pull them off."
"I've been told I'm very pretty," Logan snarked.
"Eh, you're all right." She smiled up at him.
"So tell me, Veronica, is this where you saw yourself when you graduated from Columbia?" Logan asked, sincerely curious.
"No. But my boss loves me, and if I do it her way for a while, she'll let me write about whatever I want."
"Like botched celebrity boob jobs and the dark side of botox?" Logan teased.
"No, like alcoholic beverages and sports gear." She smiled brightly, dazzling Logan. "I really want to write about things that matter. I'm not sure—maybe politics, maybe the environment. I guess I haven't really figured it out yet."
Logan held up his drink. "Well, here's to still working things out."
Veronica gripped the railing on the elevator tightly. This was going far too well. How am I supposed to turn traitor on such a great guy? She followed Logan into his apartment where he promised a nice glass of wine and fruit tart was waiting for them.
They had entered a building far more modest than what Veronica was expecting after hearing Logan's name, but it was charming and the apartment was spacious.
"This is a great place," Veronica said as she took a lap around the kitchen and living room area.
"It's home." Logan smiled warmly. "Make yourself comfortable and I'll grab that bottle."
"Where's the bathroom?" Veronica called as Logan disappeared into the galley style kitchen.
"Up the stairs and through my bedroom."
Veronica slipped off her heels and left them at the base of the stairs and then quickly made her way to the bathroom while discreetly slipping her cell phone out of her bag. Once she was behind the bathroom door, she hit her speed dial for Mac.
"So what's the verdict?" Mac asked, eschewing a greeting.
"Handsome, charming, semi-famous…" Veronica signed into the phone.
"Who is he again?"
"Logan Echolls," Veronica said softly.
"No shit! I thought he looked a little familiar. I totally had a crush on him back when he was featured in Tiger Beat."
"Me too, Mac, me too," Veronica commiserated.
"So where are you now?"
"Um…at his apartment having a glass of wine and dessert…"
"Veronica Mars! You went home with him? Is Stella gonna get her groove back?" Mac's teasing made Veronica laugh.
"No. Well, not all the way back. But I need to dangle the bait a bit," Veronica assured her friend, and maybe herself too.
"The bait—Oh, okay, well, call me when you leave so I know you're okay."
"You got it. All right, I need to go." Veronica ended the call then turned to the mirror to adjust her hair before heading back down stairs. Now that she wasn't listening to Mac, she could hear Al Green's Let's Stay Together. She smirked at the cheesiness but also admired Logan's confidence. It's been months; he's gorgeous, smart, and funny. Maybe just a little fun would be okay…
Logan hadn't been this nervous in, well, he couldn't remember when, but this girl, woman…Veronica, he thought, heart beating faster in his chest. Veronica was amazing; dinner had been the most fun he'd had in ages. This bet was going to be a pleasure to carry out and maybe he'd get more than just the DeLauer account out of it.
Mood music—check. Great wine—check. Logan looked up to his room and realized she hadn't come back down so he headed up to investigate. At the base of the stairs, a pair of heels was haphazardly lying on the floor. He kicked off his loafers, too, and jogged up the stairs, a smile curling his lips. He reached the landing just as Veronica exited the bathroom.
"Your wine, madame." Logan held out the glass to Veronica, with a little bow.
"Merci," she replied, accepting the glass and taking a sip. "So, Logan, now that you've got me here, what's the plan?"
"I thought we'd keep getting to know each other and see what happens." He smiled at her relaxed posture and, as she moved closer, realized just how much smaller than him she was.
"I like that. I have one other thing in mind." Veronica set her glass on Logan's dresser and took his glass from his hand setting it next to hers. She then stepped into Logan and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I think dancing is an excellent way to get to know another person."
"To be fond of dancing is a certain step towards falling in love," Logan quoted, settling his hands on Veronica's hips, smirking to himself.
"You read a lot of Jane Austen?" Veronica asked, her cheek coming to rest on Logan's chest.
"Here and there. My mother and aunt are big fans." Logan reached up and took Veronica hand, spinning her out and back into him, keeping her hand in his and resting it on his chest.
Logan looked down into Veronica's face; her pupils were a little dilated, her cheeks flushed, and Logan could feel her nipples peaked where they rubbed against his chest. Now or never, he thought as he brought his lips down to brush against hers.
Her mouth was soft against his at first, full lips pressing, and then Logan felt her lips part, a velvety wetness caressing the seam of his mouth. He opened himself to her, dragging in a ragged breath as her hands tangled in his hair pulling him closer. She gently applied pressure to his lower lip, pulling it into her mouth before tilting her head to allow them both greater access. Logan tried to get back under control, but Veronica had started walking them toward his bed and all rational thought fled Logan's brain until he felt Veronica start to unbutton his dress shirt.
Logan pulled away regretfully, "Wait, um…maybe we're moving too fast," he panted, sitting onto the edge of the bed with Veronica standing between his legs.
Veronica looked up at him, confusion (and maybe hurt?) on her lovely face. "Oh, I'm sorry. I just got a little carried away."
"Don't be sorry, that was…wow." Logan ran his hands through his hair. "I just want you to know I'm not looking for a one-night thing. I—I want to see you again." He smiled sheepishly.
Veronica's smile at his words caused Logan's breath to catch; she was so beautiful. "Are you saying you respect me?"
"Yes, and I want you to respect me." Logan waved his hand between them. "Nothing but respect and full consent here."
"God, you are so sexy." Veronica grabbed his face and pulled him to her. Logan, despite knowing he should resist, couldn't. She was a siren.
Logan barely noticed when she pushed his shirt off his shoulders and down his arms. Then warm hands began exploring his chest and abs. He groaned in pleasure as a sure hand skimmed over his nipple. Logan shifted his mouth away from Veronica's mouth and moved across her cheek to first her ear then down her neck. He'd tangled his hands in her hair and then shifted them down to her neck and bare back that had been distracting him all evening. His hand at her neck felt the clasp holding the halter style neck of the dress together and unhooked it with nimble fingers then drew his other hand down her spine, stopping on each knob and kissing his way down her neck to her chest as the two gray strips of fabric fell.
Logan loved how Veronica inhaled sharply when he dragged his tongue along the curve of her breast and then drew her nipple into his mouth. Logan swirled his tongue around then applied suction as he flicked the tip of his tongue over her nipple, loving how she pushed her chest further into his mouth, her little moans spurring him on.
Logan kissed his way to her other breast and was about to pull the dusky pink nub into his mouth when she grabbed his chin and brought his lips back to hers. She kissed him deeply while climbing into his lap, straddling his hips. Logan moved his hands to her hips pulling her closer until his erection was against her core. He rocked her against him eliciting an intense moan from Veronica that startled Logan back to himself for a moment. They were both half naked and now dry humping…This is not how you make a girl fall in love with you, Logan.
"Veronica?" he panted. "I think this is too fast."
She seemed to come back to herself as well, her cheeks turning very pink. "Yeah, maybe it is." She carefully climbed out of his lap, and Logan instantly felt the loss, missing the feel of her pressed against him. But this was the right thing to do.
Logan turned Veronica so that her back was facing him, "Hand me the straps." She handed him each gray strip of fabric and Logan quickly refastened them. Then he reached for his own shirt and buttoned it halfway up before he held out his hand. "Dessert?"
"Yeah, dessert sounds nice."
Logan led her back down the stairs to the small table. "So, Veronica," he asked, topping off their barely touched glasses. "Any other questions?"
"Only one for right now." She grinned at him taking a deep drink of his wine.
"Shoot."
"True or false. All is fair in love and war?"
Logan stared at her, really considering the question. Was all fair in love and war? He leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "True."
