Disclaimer: Don't own Max, Logan or Eyes Only
8) Goodnight
"It truly was lovely to meet you Emma"
"And you Elizabeth"
"You and Matthew must come to our home this weekend - we are having a party and all the guests are invited to stay the weekend"
"Are you sure?"
"Oh yes, it has been so nice speaking to someone my own age for a change" Elizabeth replied, laughing lightly. Max smiled back at her.
All the guests were now standing out the front of the home as cars drove slowly along the driveway to collect passengers. Elizabeth had watched Max and Logan return to their seats from the balcony and Max was surprised to catch a glimpse of envy in Elizabeth's eyes before they changed back to their usual friendly look.
Max felt a hand gently slide around her waist and she turned to face Logan. "Our ride his here, Emma dear" Logan said, a smile playing on his lips.
Max smiled in response and pulled herself from Logan's embrace to say goodbye to Elizabeth to find she had already left.
Max and Logan waved at many people who called their goodbyes as they climbed into their limo, including Steven Contelli.
"Phew!" Max sighed as she pulled off her shoes.
Logan smiled as Max reached down to rub her aching feet. He was actually wondering how a woman who was so used to wearing sandshoes could have survived a whole night in strappy, high-heeled stiletto shoes. "Here let me" Logan said softly as he reached down and pulled one of Max's feet onto his lip, forcing her to spin her direction so that she was sitting longways along the back seat, directly facing him. Logan began to gently massage her feet and Max sat, quietly, contented. Logan gently rubbed his hand over the tops of her feet, where the straps from her shoes had imprinted into her feet, before rubbing his thumbs into the base of her foot so as to loosen her muscles.
"So did you have a good night?" Logan asked has he reached for Max's other foot, leaving the previous one resting in his lap.
Max happily raised her other foot to his hand. "It wasn't too bad. There were some really nice people there"
"Be careful - some of them may only be nice because they are just being nosy"
"Probably. Elizabeth became a bit weird towards the end of the night"
"She was drinking white wine non-stop all night. I'm not surprised"
"Its not just that. Every time I would talk to you, she would look at me like. I don't know, like she was jealous or something"
"I wouldn't be surprised. Her husband has two mistresses"
"Excuse me! He told you!"
"Its not as if it is a big secret - everyone knows apparently" Logan replied running his fingers gracefully along the bottom of Max's foot, sending chills up her spine.
"Why doesn't Elizabeth just leave him?" Max asked, trying in vain not to allow Logan's touches to affect her.
"If she leaves him, then she will be shunned by the whole society. Divorce is still a big deal in these groups"
"Then why doesn't he leave her?"
"He married her to get into her father's business. He leaves her, he loses his job"
"So they both stay with the other person for safety?"
"I guess" Logan replied, gently rubbing Max's foot while staring at her face. She was deep in thought and he realised that she had probably never known any couples who were together for convenience. Despite all she had been through in her life, Max still held to the idea of love in marriage. This innocent ideal touched Logan's heart. In all of his years, he had never met someone who had never considered the thought that love was just an ideal and that most of people just settle for the next best thing. Hell, he had once believed it. When he proposed to Val, he knew that he wasn't madly in love with her. But he was comfortable around her and their marriage was socially accepted. If he had carried Max's ideals, he would never have married Val. He continued to stare at Max, as she remained enveloped in her own thoughts. She had really been the most beautiful woman in the room. She breezed about the room, smiling and socialising with the other guests, and Logan was completely enchanted by her. He watched out for her all night, for occasionally he would catch an uncertain glimpse in her eyes. He made sure that he included her in some of his own conversations as he would introduce her to the men in his circle and was amazed as she would captivate all of the other men's attention before breezing off.
They continued their trip in silence. Logan turned slightly in his seat so that he was sitting facing the front of the limo, but he kept Max's feet in his lap, gently stroking them. Max quickly glanced at Logan as he looked out the window at the traffic which went past. No one had ever done what Logan had done all night at the party - no one had ever made Max feel as if there was no one more beautiful or important as she was. All night, he was attentive and caring. She could feel him watch her as she walked around the room with Elizabeth and many of the other women commented on it, jealousy in their voices. He would sneak up behind her just as her glass was emptying, wrap one arm around her and offer her another glass. He didn't shun her, as many of the other men did to their dates. Instead he would include her in conversations and never belittled her when she said something which he may not believe in.
The limo slowed as it approached the hotel and Max swung her legs around to pull on her shoes. The slowly climbed out of the car, accepting Logan's assistance. They quickly made their way towards the elevator and quietly stepped in.
Logan quickly opened the door to the room and Max walked in quietly, heading straight for the bed. Logan smiled at her. "Don't tell me you're tired?" he said teasingly.
Max looked at him and grunted. She had never been so exhausted before in her life. Although she only needed a few hours sleep, she hadn't slept at all on the plane and the tiredness was catching up with her. Max leaned back on the bed before realising something, which caused her to sit up.
"Em Logan. I was just wondering what the sleeping arrangements were," Max asked quietly as Logan walked into the room, a red blush beginning to spread across her cheeks.
Logan smiled back at her. He was wondering when she was going to ask. "I'll take the sofa" he replied.
"No you won't" Max replied, standing up. "You paid for all of this and I only need a couple of hours sleep anyway"
"Max, let me be the gentleman. Please sleep on the bed"
"No, I insist. I'll sleep on the sofa"
"Max, just sleep in the god-damn bed"
"Well we could always compromise" Max said slowly
"What? Max, I don't think there will be enough room on the couch for the both of us" Logan replied, fake innocence on his face, his suppressed smile shinning through his eyes.
Max laughed, causing Logan to drop his act and laugh as well. "Logan, get into bed"
"Are you joining me?"
"Alright then" Max cried exasperated as she walked towards the bathroom, a smile still on her face.
******
Max emerged from the bathroom minutes later in a pair of soft tracksuit pants and a tank top to find Logan had already fallen asleep, fully dressed, on the turned-down bed, obviously too tired to pull the blankets from the bottom of the bed. She smiled at walked over to his sleeping figure. With his eyes closed and his body curled up in a ball, Max thought he had never looked so much like a little boy. He was facing towards the middle of the bed, so Max sat on the edge in the gap his curled up legs left and placed one hand on his thigh. She sat and watched, as if she was waiting for something to happen. Deep within, the feelings she had and hid so well began to surface and she sat in awe of the man who made her feel so wonderful and safe.
Slowly Max leaned up and gently removed Logan's shoes. She then reached for his glasses and took time to look at his face without glasses. He looked so different without the frames and glass casting shadows on his face. He looked younger - like what a man Max's age would look like. She continued to watch his face as she folded the glasses and placed them on the bedside table. She then walked around to the other side of the bed and pulled the blankets up around them. She leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek before turning off the light.
******^^^^^^******^^^^^^******
8) Goodnight
"It truly was lovely to meet you Emma"
"And you Elizabeth"
"You and Matthew must come to our home this weekend - we are having a party and all the guests are invited to stay the weekend"
"Are you sure?"
"Oh yes, it has been so nice speaking to someone my own age for a change" Elizabeth replied, laughing lightly. Max smiled back at her.
All the guests were now standing out the front of the home as cars drove slowly along the driveway to collect passengers. Elizabeth had watched Max and Logan return to their seats from the balcony and Max was surprised to catch a glimpse of envy in Elizabeth's eyes before they changed back to their usual friendly look.
Max felt a hand gently slide around her waist and she turned to face Logan. "Our ride his here, Emma dear" Logan said, a smile playing on his lips.
Max smiled in response and pulled herself from Logan's embrace to say goodbye to Elizabeth to find she had already left.
Max and Logan waved at many people who called their goodbyes as they climbed into their limo, including Steven Contelli.
"Phew!" Max sighed as she pulled off her shoes.
Logan smiled as Max reached down to rub her aching feet. He was actually wondering how a woman who was so used to wearing sandshoes could have survived a whole night in strappy, high-heeled stiletto shoes. "Here let me" Logan said softly as he reached down and pulled one of Max's feet onto his lip, forcing her to spin her direction so that she was sitting longways along the back seat, directly facing him. Logan began to gently massage her feet and Max sat, quietly, contented. Logan gently rubbed his hand over the tops of her feet, where the straps from her shoes had imprinted into her feet, before rubbing his thumbs into the base of her foot so as to loosen her muscles.
"So did you have a good night?" Logan asked has he reached for Max's other foot, leaving the previous one resting in his lap.
Max happily raised her other foot to his hand. "It wasn't too bad. There were some really nice people there"
"Be careful - some of them may only be nice because they are just being nosy"
"Probably. Elizabeth became a bit weird towards the end of the night"
"She was drinking white wine non-stop all night. I'm not surprised"
"Its not just that. Every time I would talk to you, she would look at me like. I don't know, like she was jealous or something"
"I wouldn't be surprised. Her husband has two mistresses"
"Excuse me! He told you!"
"Its not as if it is a big secret - everyone knows apparently" Logan replied running his fingers gracefully along the bottom of Max's foot, sending chills up her spine.
"Why doesn't Elizabeth just leave him?" Max asked, trying in vain not to allow Logan's touches to affect her.
"If she leaves him, then she will be shunned by the whole society. Divorce is still a big deal in these groups"
"Then why doesn't he leave her?"
"He married her to get into her father's business. He leaves her, he loses his job"
"So they both stay with the other person for safety?"
"I guess" Logan replied, gently rubbing Max's foot while staring at her face. She was deep in thought and he realised that she had probably never known any couples who were together for convenience. Despite all she had been through in her life, Max still held to the idea of love in marriage. This innocent ideal touched Logan's heart. In all of his years, he had never met someone who had never considered the thought that love was just an ideal and that most of people just settle for the next best thing. Hell, he had once believed it. When he proposed to Val, he knew that he wasn't madly in love with her. But he was comfortable around her and their marriage was socially accepted. If he had carried Max's ideals, he would never have married Val. He continued to stare at Max, as she remained enveloped in her own thoughts. She had really been the most beautiful woman in the room. She breezed about the room, smiling and socialising with the other guests, and Logan was completely enchanted by her. He watched out for her all night, for occasionally he would catch an uncertain glimpse in her eyes. He made sure that he included her in some of his own conversations as he would introduce her to the men in his circle and was amazed as she would captivate all of the other men's attention before breezing off.
They continued their trip in silence. Logan turned slightly in his seat so that he was sitting facing the front of the limo, but he kept Max's feet in his lap, gently stroking them. Max quickly glanced at Logan as he looked out the window at the traffic which went past. No one had ever done what Logan had done all night at the party - no one had ever made Max feel as if there was no one more beautiful or important as she was. All night, he was attentive and caring. She could feel him watch her as she walked around the room with Elizabeth and many of the other women commented on it, jealousy in their voices. He would sneak up behind her just as her glass was emptying, wrap one arm around her and offer her another glass. He didn't shun her, as many of the other men did to their dates. Instead he would include her in conversations and never belittled her when she said something which he may not believe in.
The limo slowed as it approached the hotel and Max swung her legs around to pull on her shoes. The slowly climbed out of the car, accepting Logan's assistance. They quickly made their way towards the elevator and quietly stepped in.
Logan quickly opened the door to the room and Max walked in quietly, heading straight for the bed. Logan smiled at her. "Don't tell me you're tired?" he said teasingly.
Max looked at him and grunted. She had never been so exhausted before in her life. Although she only needed a few hours sleep, she hadn't slept at all on the plane and the tiredness was catching up with her. Max leaned back on the bed before realising something, which caused her to sit up.
"Em Logan. I was just wondering what the sleeping arrangements were," Max asked quietly as Logan walked into the room, a red blush beginning to spread across her cheeks.
Logan smiled back at her. He was wondering when she was going to ask. "I'll take the sofa" he replied.
"No you won't" Max replied, standing up. "You paid for all of this and I only need a couple of hours sleep anyway"
"Max, let me be the gentleman. Please sleep on the bed"
"No, I insist. I'll sleep on the sofa"
"Max, just sleep in the god-damn bed"
"Well we could always compromise" Max said slowly
"What? Max, I don't think there will be enough room on the couch for the both of us" Logan replied, fake innocence on his face, his suppressed smile shinning through his eyes.
Max laughed, causing Logan to drop his act and laugh as well. "Logan, get into bed"
"Are you joining me?"
"Alright then" Max cried exasperated as she walked towards the bathroom, a smile still on her face.
******
Max emerged from the bathroom minutes later in a pair of soft tracksuit pants and a tank top to find Logan had already fallen asleep, fully dressed, on the turned-down bed, obviously too tired to pull the blankets from the bottom of the bed. She smiled at walked over to his sleeping figure. With his eyes closed and his body curled up in a ball, Max thought he had never looked so much like a little boy. He was facing towards the middle of the bed, so Max sat on the edge in the gap his curled up legs left and placed one hand on his thigh. She sat and watched, as if she was waiting for something to happen. Deep within, the feelings she had and hid so well began to surface and she sat in awe of the man who made her feel so wonderful and safe.
Slowly Max leaned up and gently removed Logan's shoes. She then reached for his glasses and took time to look at his face without glasses. He looked so different without the frames and glass casting shadows on his face. He looked younger - like what a man Max's age would look like. She continued to watch his face as she folded the glasses and placed them on the bedside table. She then walked around to the other side of the bed and pulled the blankets up around them. She leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek before turning off the light.
******^^^^^^******^^^^^^******