Logan stepped outside of the hotel and called his driver to take him back to his house. He looked at his watch, he had just about enough time to go home, get showered and change his clothes before his meeting at the office which was lucky, as he didn't think that doing the walk of shame into a meeting with his father was going to do him any favors at all. As he leaned back in the car and rested his head on the seat he thought about the night that he had just spent with his ex-girlfriend. He could still smell her on his skin. As soon as Rory had called him to suggest meeting up, he had pretty much known which way the night would end up and he hadn't been disappointed with the reality at all. It was incredible, they fit together perfectly and even after all this time, their bodies seemed to remember each other so well. Sex with Rory had been even better than he could ever remember it being, and that was saying something - it had always been pretty great. He pulled out his phone. He really wanted to send her a message but something held him back. He quickly put it back in his pocket as the car pulled up outside his house.
As he went about his business, he found his thoughts turning to Rory several times throughout the day. When he had left her hotel he had said he'd call her so he guessed that the ball was definitely in his court right now. As he was sitting at his desk that afternoon he decided that it was probably best to just take the bull by the horns and send her a message. He thought long and hard and typed out a brief message, trying to keep it light, but just as he was about to press send his phone started ringing in his hand. He smiled to himself when he saw who it was calling.
"You must have a sixth sense" he smiled as he answered the call.
"And why is that?" Rory said as she slowly walked through Hyde Park. She had been thinking about Logan all day and how awkwardly they had left things that morning. After wrestling with herself for a while, she had finally given up fighting the internal battle that she knew she was never going to win and just decided to pull up her big girl pants and call him.
Logan smiled "I was just in the middle of sending you a message."
"Really?" she said. "Now I am intrigued. What did it say? Was it dirty?"
"I'm afraid you'll never know now" he teased. "What are you up to anyhow? It sounds busy where you are."
"I'm just walking back to my hotel. I've nearly finished researching this article I am writing for CN Traveler but I just have one more so-called romantic restaurant to visit tonight and I wondered if perhaps you wanted to come along and keep me company" she said. "Don't be put off by the romantic part…this is strictly business…"
"Sure, I'll come with you" Logan smiled "Where are we going? I can meet you there?"
"Don't worry, I'll pick you up at 8 pm, message me your address?" Rory said.
"Wow, so forward, I never knew you had it in you" he teased. "I'll see you later."
Logan ended the call with Rory and put his phone back down on the desk. He put his hands behind his head and swivelled around in his office chair to look out of the window. He was taking it as a good sign that firstly, she had called him and secondly, she had asked to see him that night – even if it was just a work thing. He was happy that it would at least give them a chance to talk before she disappeared back off to the States.
Later that evening, Rory arrived outside Logan's London mews house in Notting Hill at 8 pm prompt. She rang the bell and Logan swiftly answered.
"Are you ready to go?" she gestured at the car that was waiting for them.
"You don't want to come in for the grand tour" he winked as he closed the door behind them.
"Some other time Huntzberger. I'm hungry and there's a complimentary meal coming my way" Rory joked.
The truth was she really did want to see in Logan's house, if only just to be nosy and gain a little insight into his life over the past few years, but she was a little concerned that if they went inside they'd spend the rest of the evening there and she really did need to review this last restaurant before she left England the next morning.
"Wow, you mean the only reason you're taking me on a date tonight is that it's free? You make me feel so cheap!" he shook his head.
"It's a perk of the job" she shrugged as they got in the car.
"So where is it we are going?" Logan asked as the car made its way through the busy London streets.
"A place called Bob Bob Ricard in Soho. It's kind of an English/Russian hybrid. It's a little Art Deco and oh the best thing is the 'Press for Champagne' button apparently. Although, maybe we've both had enough champagne his week…" she smiled.
They pulled up outside the restaurant and got out, Logan, ever the gentleman, stopping to open the door for Rory. She smoothed down her dress and made her way over to speak to the maître d'. The restaurant was expecting her and gave them the warmest welcome, given that she was going to be writing a review for one of the major publications at Conde Nast. They were excited further when she then introduced Logan as her dining companion. They knew his name well enough to know that he was VP of one of the largest newspaper conglomerates in the world. Rory actually thought the poor guy was going to pass out at the thought of having two major international and very influential publishing houses dining with them that evening and she smiled as the maître d' got a little flustered.
"I totally did that on purpose" Rory whispered to Logan as they followed the maître d' to the booth that had been prepared for them. They were seated in the blue dining room, the ornate blue and gold interior of which took its inspiration from the Orient Express. They looked around and took in the electric-blue booths, marble walls, Art Deco detailing, mirrored ceilings and the shiny gold bar. It was a pretty impressive place.
"That was mean" Logan shook his head laughing as he slid in the booth next to her.
"It was fun" she winked as the waiter approached them.
"Miss Gilmore, I am going to be your waiter for this evening, my name is Viktor. We have prepared a special menu for you and your guest" he said politely "Would you like to start with the vodka shots?"
"Would we?" she winked at Logan. "Sure, bring them out."
The vodka shots were a traditional start to the Russian-inspired menu at Bob Bob Ricard and what followed them could only be described as a culinary feast of Anglo-Russian cuisine ranging from beef Wellington to classic pelmeni dumplings. They, of course, hadn't been able to resist making the best use of the 'Press for Champagne' button that was on every table. Viktor had reliably informed them that the restaurant was famous for pouring more champagne than any other restaurant in the UK and so they felt it was rude not at least give it a try. Eventually, they finished up their drinks, said goodbye to Viktor and the maître d' and made their way out of their restaurant, deciding to walk the short distance back to Rory's hotel.
"I'd like one of those buttons in my apartment" Rory smiled as she walked alongside Logan in the street. "Except it would be for coffee"
"Where is this apartment you speak of? You never told me where you actually lived?" he asked.
"Brooklyn, although, I don't really spend a whole lot of time there so I am thinking I might let it go. It kind of depends on what happens with this Conde Nast thing," she added. "Though if it comes off then I might look at moving closer, somewhere in Manhattan maybe."
Logan nodded. "What time is your flight home tomorrow?"
"10 am from Heathrow" she answered.
"And you're going back to New York?" he asked.
"Yeah, no travel plans for a while" she smiled. "Will be good actually, to get the opportunity to sit still for a bit, it gets kind of exhausting"
Logan looked across at Rory as they walked side by side. "So…you're not likely to be in London for a while?"
She shook her head "Not unless I am assigned something."
"Rory…wait…I really need to ask you something" Logan stopped walking all of a sudden.
Rory looked at him a little confused and stopped where she was. "That sounds a little ominous…"
"It's not really…it's just, what are we doing? I mean, where do we go from here? Are we just going to go our own way after this or will we see each other again?" Logan asked. He hated to be the one to bring it up but he didn't see how they could go their separate ways tonight without at least touching on the conversation.
Rory flicked her eyes up to meet his. "Logan…I…." she paused and took a breath. She wasn't sure what to say next. She'd had a great time with him and wanted to see him again but their situation was what it was. She smiled a little as she began to speak. "Look. You live in London, I live in New York, I think we're both seriously kidding ourselves if we think that we could start over with a relationship given the distance that is going to be between us. I never know when I'm going to be in London Logan, and your life is here. It wouldn't be fair on either of us."
Logan smiled at her sadly. "I guess you're right. I would like to see you again though…" Logan said as he took hold of her hand and pulled her closer to him.
"I'd like to see you again too," Rory said. "Perhaps we could…" she paused and bit her lip.
Logan looked at her with curiosity. "What? What were you going to say?"
"Well…perhaps we could just keep things kind of casual. See each other when we're on the same continent but keep things open for the rest of the time" she shrugged.
"Open…as in…no strings, no exclusivity" Logan asked carefully.
Thoughts were whirling through his head. They'd tried that once before and it hadn't worked out well for them but he wasn't ready to see Rory walk back out of his life and if this was the way it had to be right now, then he knew he would take what he could.
"Right" she smiled "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas and then when we leave Vegas…well, it's back to real life."
"You think it would work?" he asked.
Rory shrugged "I think it could be fun and that way there are no expectations. If you're lonely and want to date, you can. Let's just not talk about it in front of each other because that might be a little weird" she smiled.
"Agreed. I'm in" Logan smiled.
"Good" she smiled back. "Okay, this is me," Rory said as they stopped outside her hotel.
"Oh, right…well…I guess" Logan stammered a little, not sure whether they were going to say goodbye now.
"Come on Huntzberger is that the best you can do? Aren't you going to come upstairs and give me a proper goodbye" she said as she leaned in and kissed him softly before she took him by the hand and led him into the building.
Logan looked at Rory as they stood in the elevator and she turned to smile at him as she felt his eyes on her. This girl had always been his weakness. He shook his head and ran his hands through his hair. The next few months were going to be a very interesting time.
A/N: Interesting indeed. Oh dear.