Hello my dear readers,
I just wanted to say thank you for sticking with me on this. It is the first story I have ever shared publicly so I appreciate all your positive reviews! I also appreciate your patience the last few weeks as I haven't been updating as much as I'd like.
Have a great week my lovelies
All my love xoxo
Rory woke up in an unfamiliar place, in an unfamiliar bed, but beside a very familiar body. One she recognize without even rolling over or fully opening her eyes. The way his frame pressed into hers, how his arms engulfed her making her feel warm and safe, the steady beat of his heart against her back in sync with her own.
I don't remember getting to bed…Logan must have brought me.
She reluctantly untangles herself from his strong embrace and rolls out of bed feeling stiff but well rested, stretching she glances back and watches her sleeping boyfriend, getting lost in his stillness before a pressing need from her bladder urges her to move.
God I need to shower! She thinks as she takes in her raccoon like appearance in the mirror hanging over the sink as she washes her hands. Wandering back into the bedroom she squints trying to see in the dark and eventually spots her suitcase at the end of the bed that Logan was still peacefully sleeping in. Grabbing her bag she heads back into the bathroom setting it on part of the double sink counter that was along the wall in the rather large bathroom, taking out her toiletry kit without paying attention to the rest of the bags contents.
As the hot water hit her back she felt all the tension of the last twenty-four hours fall away. She took her time letting the water pressure untangle some of the knots in her shoulders, and thoroughly washing her face after falling asleep with her makeup on, having the image of Headmaster Charleston's assistant in her head and her mothers voice 'see, that's what happens when you got to bed with your makeup on.' Rory shuddered at the thought and washed her face once more for good measure before pulling a big plushy towel from the rack to dry herself off, wrapping a smaller one in her hair. Walking back to her suitcase she threw on her undergarments and looked for something to wear, quickly realizing that more than half of what was in the bag was not from her wardrobe.
What did that boy do? Go shopping? She rifled through the rest of the bag pulling everything out to look at the items then folding them and placing them on the counter eventually coming across the bikinis he had bought. Who does that boy think he is, my bathing suit was perfectly fine! Though at closer inspection she noticed how gorgeous they were and how modest they were considering they were bikinis. I guess he did take into account what I might actually wear. She huffed letting it go for now and decided on a baby blue summer dress with dark blue designs for the day. Pulling it over her head it fell just above her knees and had a v neck that ended in a halter tie at the back of her neck. Leaving her makeup alone she padded back into the bedroom taking her suitcase with her and placing it back at the end of the bed. Rory finds the door and quietly exits the room hoping not to wake Logan.
Rory though expecting to be in a hotel suite encounters a circular type hallway that looked more like a platform encircled in a glass railing with spaces for a staircases going up and one heading down. Feeling the need to explore she heads up the spiraling staircase to her right and encounters another platform much like the one she was just on but this one had more than just one door. Going through the first door she walked into another bedroom feeling like the layout was like the room she is staying in she wanders around taking in the view from the wall size window that looked out onto the ocean. She walks across the hall entering another bedroom much like the one she was just in, though the window over looks the land. The last door she sees is closed so she creeks it open slowly to reveal a rather large library that must take up half of the floor with tall long windows. In front of one of the windows that faced the ocean was a circular bed seat covered with pillows and a couple of throw blankets that one could cozy up on and read. In the middle of the room stood a large oak desk upon which sat her book bag, her laptop and her phone which was plugged into charge.
Logan must have gotten everything set up before he went to bed. She mussed absentmindedly picking up her phone.
She turned it on to reveal not only that it was almost eleven o'clock in the morning but that she had five missed calls from her mother and over twenty texts wondering where she was. Rory pressed the speed dial for her mom's cell knowing she was probably at work.
"You're grounded!" Lorelai greeted.
"Sorry mom," she said guiltily for making her mother worry.
"Sorry Mom…Sorry MOM!" she yelled. "That's all I get! I demand an explanation missy! You were planning on coming home last night were you not?"
"Yea I was but—" Rory started but was cut off.
"I mean if you were going to go back to Yale or stay at Dean's you could have at least called me," her mom rambled. "Though I don't know why you'd want to stay with Dean, sleeping two grown adults on Kyle's couch can't be very—"
"MOM!" she shouted. "Just give me a chance to explain."
"Fine, but it better be one hell of an explanation," she huffed. "You had me worried sick kid."
"I know, and I'm sorry for that," she said wandering over to the circular seat getting comfortable and getting lost in the view before launching into her explanation. Starting with how she and Dean hadn't been working and in the end they had broken up, how she was now seeing another guy now though she was careful not to mention that guy was Logan and how serious they actually were.
"Oh hun, I'm sorry about Dean but you know with how you two started this time—" Lorelai began.
"Mom I don't want to hear it," she huffed. "I know I screwed up with Dean and that will be something that I will always regret but what's done is done. I can't change it so please stop bringing it up."
"Okay Ror, I'm sorry," she said not fully wanting to let it go. "So how about you come home for the rest of the weekend? You can wallow properly, you can tell me about your new guy?" she asked hopefully.
"I can't mom," she was hoping to avoid telling Lorelai that she wasn't in town. "I'm not exactly near home right now…I'm on a bit of a vacation with a… friend."
"Where? What friend? How long will you be gone? What happened to telling mama before you leave for an extended period of time?" the questions fired off a million miles a second.
"Mom, calm down," she sighed knowing it probably wouldn't help. "I'm fine and I promise to explain when I get home."
"Ror, I just want to know what's going on with you," she claimed. "You haven't been you for a while."
"That's where you're wrong mom. I'm finally feeling like me," Rory knew her mother wouldn't quite understand. "Look I have to go I'll talk to you when I get home."
"Okay hun, I love you," Lorelai gave in knowing that she wasn't going to get anything more from her daughter during this conversation.
"Love you too mom," Rory hung up the phone and glances out the window jumping slightly when she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her.
"I should have known this is where I'd find you," Logan whispered in her ear as he slid her between his legs, pulling her back against his chest and kissing the side of her head. "I've been all over this place looking for you."
"I'm sorry, I decided to explore and then I realized if I didn't call mom she'd probably have all of the coast guards around this planet and maybe the next looking for me," she smiled taking comfort in his arms after that conversation with Lorelai.
"No need to apologize, Ace," he said squeezing her lightly. "So, just a friend huh?"
Rory sighed knowing that he was just trying to lighten the mood but afraid of what he might have heard because they hadn't had the 'Dean' talk yet. "How much did you hear?"
"Nothing if you didn't want me to," he hesitates slightly. "But you know that you can tell me anything right?" he asked quietly. "Nothing will change the way I feel about you Rory."
"I wouldn't be so quick to claim that," she whispers, knowing that she had to tell him eventually and deciding why not now. "Dean…" she started.
"You don't have to tell me if you aren't ready," he said to her seriously.
"No…you should know," she said in a sad voice convinced that Logan would look at her differently when he knew. "Dean, was…married when we were together…" there was silence for a moment before Logan spoke.
"And you didn't know until after?" he questions.
"No…I knew," she whispers guiltily. "Here name was Lindsay, they got married right out of High School, god I was even invited to the wedding," she said her voice breaking. "He said that they weren't working and that they were going to get divorced and that's all I heard…not that it's an excuse." She began to move away from Logan figuring that now he knew she wasn't all the perfect image claimed her to be he wouldn't want her near him. As she settled in the opposite corner she relayed the rest of the story to him. Seeing Lindsay trying to be a good wife and learn to cook properly, Europe with her grandmother and why she really was there, the letter that Lindsay was never meant to find but did, running into Lindsay and her mother in town square; every detail right down to her breaking up with him that night after her kiss with Logan.
I can't believe he would do that to her! Logan seethed caught up in his own thoughts. He knew it wasn't Dean's fault entirely that Rory did have a hand in the cheating too. However he should never have put her in that position in the first place. He never should have led her to believe that he was a free man or going to be a free man before he actually was. Sure he had been the other man in few relationships over the years but he didn't do it knowingly, well the first time anyway, always finding out later that whoever she was did in fact have a boyfriend waiting for her at home, that didn't always stop him on their next encounter though, so who was he to judge.
He didn't comprehend that Rory had moved or that she had been silent for the last few minutes until she spoke up again. "Lindsay's mom was right…I did break up a marriage…I am a horrible person, even my mom thinks so," she sighed. "She keeps throwing it back in my face like I don't already regret it enough."
Logan pulling himself out of his own thoughts moved so he was kneeling in front of his girl who looked so small and vulnerable with her legs tucked up against her body, head resting on her knees sitting on the oversized mattress.
"Rory, look at me," he said tucking a strand of hair behind her ear then wrapping a hand around either calf. "You are not a horrible person. You made a mistake. We all make mistakes in our lives that we wish we could take back," he studies her for a moment as she looks up at him before continuing. "You can't dwell on the past babe, it's exactly like you told Lorelai what's done is done."
Rory took in every little move he made while he talked to her, looking for any sign that he saw her differently but finding none. "This seriously doesn't make you feel any different about me?" she askes still skeptical. "That I'm no longer that perfect innocent girl you though I was?"
"As I told you before, nothing was going to change. We can't do this without honesty Rory you know that. And it's actually kind of a relief knowing that your past isn't as pristine as it seems to be," he began to separate her legs pulling her closer to him. "That all being said you're still my innocent perfect Ace," Logan leaned in and brushed a kiss across her lips before wrapping her in a hug that she returned holding on for life as relief flooded through her mind. They held onto each other like this for what seemed like ages before they were interrupted by Rory's growling stomach.
"Time to feed the beast?" Logan chuckles, pulling back far enough from Rory to see her face.
"Yes please," she smiles. "I don't actually remember the last time I had anything but a salmon puff."
"Well then," he says climbing off the window seat and extending his hand towards her. "Shall we?" Rory takes his hand without hesitation as they walk towards the exit dropping her phone back on the magnificent desk determined that is where it was going to stay until they left. Making their way down the spiral stair case and across to the next one Rory was in awe of what she saw as they moved down.
Celling to floor windows covered much of the area in front of her that was looking our over the beach and ocean. On her left there was a free standing wall that donned a television and entertainment shelves below set up much like they were in Logan's dorm and holding the same amount of gaming systems as well as movies. Set up around it stood a sofa, loveseat, and two lazyboys that were covered in back leather. Between each seat were a small stand, and in the middle a coffee table all in the same oak that desk in the library was made of. The walls were a polar white with dark hard wood flooring making the space look larger than it was.
As they reached the bottom of the stairs Logan tugged Rory gently to the right where she was faced with a large extravagant kitchen that made her think of hew jealous Sookie would be.
"Logan this place is incredible!" she says spinning around seeing a billiard table in another corner, a door which she assumed was the bathroom, a pool with a hot tub out one of the back windows though they were right on the ocean
"Yea, the boys and I are thinking about just buying it," he said absentmindedly as he stars at her loving how she fit the space making it homier just with her presence. "We're here often enough and most of what is in the house is ours already anyway because we are generally the only people who rent it out." Rory just stared at him in awe again knowing of his riches but still not grasping it. "I really should get Colin to finish looking over those papers," he said almost to himself making a mental reminder before once again taking Rory's hand. "So, what do you want for breakfast Ace?" he said seating her on one of the bar stools that lined one side of the counter.
"Don't you mean lunch?" she askes pointing at the oven that claimed it was now twelve twenty.
"How about brunch then?" he smirks at her.
"Well…what is there to order in Cuba?" she looks at skeptically.
Logan burst out laughing at her as he turns towards the fridge. "Just because you can't cook to save your life babe, doesn't mean we all can't."
"You've been holding out on me?" she gasps in fake horror.
"Not where it counts," he said wiggling his eyes suggestively at her.
"You're such a man," she said shaking her head trying to hide her excitement at his tone
Logan laughed again as he pulled out a couple of pans to accompany the food he had brought out. "Glad you noticed."
"And if you know anything about me, you should know that the best way to a Gilmore's heart is through her stomach," she got up and moving towards him. "What can I do to help?"
"You can go and sit your sexy ass back down on that stool," he said scolding as she wrapped her arms around his chest.
"But I want to help," she whines. Logan stops what he's doing and places his hands on Rory's waist before pressing a kiss against her lips. She pulls him flush against her deepening the kiss slightly as her stomach growls again Logan chuckles as he removes his lips from hers but rests his head on her forehead as they catch their breath.
Rory shrieks slightly as Logan suddenly lifts her turning quickly and depositing her on the counter. "Fine," he sighs in defeat and places the bowl in her lap and the wooden spoon in her hand. "You win, you can stir the batter."
Rory took her job seriously as Logan began to make the rest of the brunch. Taking the batter from her so he could start the pancakes he gave her the eggs to scramble. About a half hour later Rory was setting the table, pouring them mimosas while Logan brought over their plates each filled with eggs, bacon, pancakes, and fruit. As they ate their breakfast they talked about what they wanted to do while they were there coming to the conclusion that they really just wanted to spend the time together getting to know one another better.
They had decided to spend the rest of the day by the ocean so as they cleaned up Rory thought is was the opportune time to bring up the bikinis in her bag.
"So funny thing," she started.
"What's that?" he asks glancing up at her from his spot at the sink.
"I was getting my clothes out this morning and I thought for a minute that I had the wrong suitcase considering over half of what's in there isn't mine," she gave him a slightly unimpressed look.
"What happened to just letting me spoil you?" he asked hoping to get out of it.
"I believe I said that I couldn't promise I would never fight you on it," she glared knowing what he was doing. "Care to explain my new wardrobe that wasn't necessary?"
"That's the thing Ace, it was necessary," he said realizing that she was wearing the blue dress he had seen at the store and thought it would bring out her eyes. His suspicions were confirmed her eyes were sparkling and vivid though that could have had something to do also with the ocean in the background. "You had next to no summer clothes and don't say that they're at home because we both know they aren't. You had a couple of dresses and some shorts that look like you got them when you were a teenager." He grabs her arm pulling her to him. "I know you don't care much about fashion and I don't either, you look gorgeous in anything but I wanted you to have some clothes that were new…something that made you feel pretty. Speaking of I do really like this dress on you." He said skimming his hands over her curves trying to contain himself.
Stunned that he had thought about it like that she just smiled shyly up at him because the truth was all her summer clothes were from when she was sixteen or younger. If they still fit she wasn't going to get rid of them because she couldn't really afford to replace them. "Thank you Logan," she says brushing a kiss against his cheek before saying, "though that doesn't explain the bikinis,"
"Come on Ace, even you've got to admit that worn blue and very vibrant green thing was a sad excuse for a bathing suit," he smirked at her knowing he had won this time.
"Maybe, but it did the trick," she said giving him a look before turning to head up to their room.
"Not anymore it doesn't," he mumbles quietly following his girl up to their room. Reaching their room Logan saw that Rory had both suits sitting in front of her trying to decide which to wear. "I think you should wear this one," he said pointing to the purple, green and gold bathing suit as he pulled a black and white pair of trunks out of his own bag.
"You didn't happen to think of bringing sunscreen did you Mac?" she asks him cheekily.
Logan once again reached into his bag and pulled out two bottles. "Sixty for you," he tosses the bottle across the bed to her, "and twenty-five for me," he places the other bottle on the bed in front of him.
"Twenty-five!" she all but shrieks, "Logan you're going to burn!"
"No Ace," he chuckles. "Not all of us are made of porcelain." She glares at him before turning around to put on her top. "Now that's just unfair…tease," he mumbles loudly.
"Serves you right," she said struggling a little before finally getting it tied tight enough. "Hey, Logan," she said now holding the bottle of sunscreen. "Can you get my back?"
"Nothing would make me happier," he said grabbing the bottle from her and making sure every inch of her is protected. "My turn," he hands her the twenty-five which she dutifully takes squeezing a generous amount into her hand and lathering up his back getting slightly distracted by the way his muscles rippled beneath her touch.
"Done," she whispers hoarsely shaking off the wash of raging hormones that had just gone through her.
"Alright, let's go babe," he tosses a towel at her laughing when it lands partially on her head.
"Rude," she mutters glaring at him before folding the towel over her arm and heading towards the door, snatching his hand as she passed him.
They spent the rest of their afternoon frolicking on the beach and before they knew it the sun was setting. They both headed straight for the shower washing the sand and salt off each other.
"I think I'm going to head up to the library and work on my article for a little bit if you don't mind," she questions running a brush through her damp hair.
"Of course Ace, you do what you have to," he smiles dropping his towel to pull on his boxers watching as her towel also begins to slip off her body from the movement her arms are making with the hair brush. "I was going to head down and make dinner."
"Ahh music to my ears," she said as she pulled on her panties eyes scanning the room.
"Anything particular you want?" he asked tossing her one of his t-shirts out of his bag.
She caught it smiling at him as she pulls it over her head, "No, whatever you want to make is fine."
"Sounds good," he said tugging on his sweat pants. "I will come up and get you when it's ready." Rory kisses him soundly as she leaves their bedroom, walking up the stairs to her new favorite place.
One day I will have a library like this. She proclaims as she carries her laptop to the window seat hoping to get lost in her work for a while.
