Chapter 7
There are few moments in a person's life that have the ability to change the rest of his or her future. These moments act as landmarks defining what came before and what comes after. Rory had a feeling that tonight was going to turn into one of those nights. As Rory sat in the limo silently taking in her surroundings, she felt Logan reach behind her in search of something. He finally extracted a long, delicate piece of black silk.
"I am sorry Ace, but only LDB members are allowed to know where we are going. Our dates are forced to wear these." He said pointing to the blindfold.
"I expected nothing less." Rory said with a small smile.
As Logan's hand brushed against the delicate skin of Rory's neck, she felt a chill run through her spine. Logan's hands were shaking uncontrollably as he tried to tie the fabric over her eyes. After a few long moments the blindfold was finally attached and secure. Rory could still feel where his hands had been like goose bumps had appeared only in those areas.
"Don't worry Ace, where we are going is actually really close to your grandparent's. I just hope that we get there in time." Logan said, taking the opportunity to stare intently at Rory without her knowing.
Logan could not take his eyes away from Rory. She was so beautiful. The dark blue dress that she wore made her eyes pop out, and her subdued features were shadowed in the limo's darkness, giving her a mysterious glow. He could not believe that he was sitting this close to her and yet remained under control.
Similar thoughts danced through Rory's head. She could not believe that Logan had admitted his feelings towards her, and she was still reeling from her final decision. She knew that Logan was in this for good, yet she was terrified that a new beauty may sidetrack him. Trust is something that Rory had never been great with. After Jess, Rory was forced to realize that not everyone is as committed as Dean. She knew at that moment, blinded by the silk and shivering with anticipation, that after tonight there would only be life before Logan and life with him.
Rory felt Logan shift in his seat, assuming he was looking out the window Rory asked, "Are we here?"
"Yeah, we just arrived, give me two minutes and then you can take your blindfold off." Logan replied.
Logan stepped out of the car and reached to Rory to help her out of the car. Logan felt lightening as their hands connected; he wished he would never have to let it go. As Rory got her bearings, Logan reached up to release her blindfold. He wanted to see her reaction to their dramatic surroundings.
Rory felt a sigh release from her throat as she looked around. It appeared as though they were standing in front of an old mansion, however the grounds were completely renovated apparently for the night. The lawn was home to an enormous white tent. The lights turned down to give their surroundings a romantic flair. The tent was filled with couples dressed to the nines in tuxedos and ball gowns. Rory looked closer and realized that she was missing something. She looked to Logan confused.
"Oh, I almost forgot…this is for you." He said handing her a mask. Rory took the mask in her hands and admired its intricacies. The mask covered her face from the nose up, with two holes for her to see. The mask was covered with small blue gems that matched her dress perfectly. It was a beautiful mask and she was amazed that he was able to pick it out without knowing what she would be wearing.
"I was hoping that it would match. I guess I really don't have to worry about that." Logan said looking at her dress.
Logan put on his own mask, a simple black cloth much like the blindfold that he had just taken off Rory, except this one had two holes cut out for him to see. In the mask Logan resembled Westley from The Princess Bride, but in her opinion, cuter (she could never tell that to her mother).
"So why the masks?" Rory asked, not wanting to interrupt the integrity of the event, but wanting to know what exactly she was getting herself into.
"Well, it is really quite simple. We like to keep our club a secret, but we also don't want to become completely elitist. That is why we like to invite dates to this one event of the year. However, we want to keep ourselves aloof enough so that others wont totally recognize us and reveal the members of the LDB members to everyone. So at this party we actually assume ulterior identities. We don't expect that our guests won't recognize most of us, but we do expect them to respectfully obey our wishes, and most of them say that they spent New Year's with our ulterior identities." Logan explained.
"Ahh, I see. So who do I get to be this fine evening?" Rory asked, enjoying the little game.
"Well you actually get to be Megan Hayden from London. I assume you will be able to communicate properly?" Logan asked with a smile.
"Why of course good sir. And you know that London is quite gloomy this time of year. I am quite excited to be in Connecticut for the New Year." Rory said in her best British accent. "And who may I ask you are this fine eve?"
"Why I am Lord Archer, your lovely Beau who came with you on your American excursion." Logan replied, also with a British accent.
"How lovely. So why my dear are you a Lord and I am but a Megan?" Rory asked.
"Well my fair lady, because I came up with our identities, and I found it fitting that I be a Lord because I am already Master and Commander." He said, reminding her of their second encounter.
"Well my dear beau, shall we?" Rory asked, offering her hand to him. Logan immediately grabbed her hand and led her to the tent.
Rory thought that the view from the outside was spectacular, she was not prepared for what she saw on the inside. The tent was decorated with lavish place settings of soups, salads, steaks and a variety of delicious looking disserts. Each table was adorned with an assortment of flowers and candles, setting the mood of this magical evening. Rory heard snipits of conversation as she entered the tent. People she had never met before, and those she recognized were creating elaborate identities for themselves, really getting into the spirit of the game.
Rory thought she recognized Colin in the distance, and soon thereafter the man in the white hokey mask came over. Rory could not help but giggle at the sight of him. He looked quite ridiculous with the mask, but she was excited to hear what his story was.
"Why hello there young man, I do enjoy your attire." Rory said, not knowing how to initiate a conversation with this "stranger."
Colin answered her in a heavy northern accent, like something out of the movie Fargo "Hey there girlie, my name is Ollie Anderson. You may recognize me from the Minnesota Wild hokey team." He said extending his hand to Rory.
"Oh dear sir, I do not keep up with such horrendous games, besides, I am merely on holiday with my beau from England, I am not in the states enough to entertain such frivolous past times." Rory said.
"Aye, well ma'am, it was nice meeting you. What did you say your name was?" He said to her.
"Oh I never said sir, but my name is Megan Hayden, and this is my fiancé, Lord Archer." She said, stressing the Lord.
"I have never met a Lord before, Colin said, shaking Logan's hand. You are a lucky man she is a beautiful woman. If things don't work out with you and the Lord, look me up Megan." Colin said with a smile as he left the two standing there laughing.
"This is going to be a lot of fun, thank you so much for inviting me." Rory said smiling at Logan.
"Thank you for coming Megan, I am glad that I could share this with you." Logan replied.
"Five more minutes, FIVE MINUTES." Someone yelled.
"Well my lovely fiancé, by the way, I liked that you added that part to our relationship, very ironic actually, anyway, I would you have this dance?" He asked.
"Of course good sir."
Logan led Rory out to the dance floor and the two of them swayed to a slow song. Rory lazily laid her head on his shoulder as they danced to the music. Somehow she only managed to step on Logan's foot twice during that dance, something she rarely accomplished with Dean. Rory took the opportunity of their closeness to take note of certain details of Logan previously unnoticed. Rory noticed that he had a smell unlike her other two boyfriends. Dean had the soft sent of soap and laundry detergent. It was a nice clean scent the she found comforting and warm. Jess on the other hand often smelled of hair gel and cigarette smoke washed with the fried food of the diner. This combination was reserved only for him and she found the smells alluring in a dangerous way. Logan's scent was entirely different from these once important scents. Logan smelled of expensive cologne and scotch. It was a scent that she was familiar with growing up with a grandfather who enjoyed such items. The familiarity of the smell was comforting, yet disturbing in a way.
Logan devoured the soft scent of Rory. Her hair smelled of almonds and vanilla. Her body was small and fragile in his arms, and he found her inability to dance heart warming. With the minutes until the New Year counting down, Logan was forcing himself to control his urge to kiss her until the exact minute the clock struck 12.
The chanting began ten seconds until midnight. The group of masked partygoers stopped their dancing and mingling to participate in the countdown.
"10" –Logan knew he wanted to kiss her, but was afraid of that she would push him away.
"9" –Rory hoped that he would kiss her; she knew that this was right, they were right.
"8…7…6…5" –Should he kiss her? Is it the right time?
"4...3…2" –She was going to kiss him, she knew it was time.
"1…HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
Logan stood there gazing at Rory. He did not make a move to kiss her. He wanted to grab her, but he wanted some sort of signifier that she was open to the idea.
Rory watched him look at her. His eyes flashed with confusion and want, but he made no move. Rory did the only thing that came to her. She reached up and grabbed him behind his neck, she pulled him down and she just barely kissed him on the lips. The kiss was a simple brush of their lips, but it was enough to make their knees weak and their hearts flutter. It was also enough to wake Logan up and realize that now was his time to make a move. Logan returned Rory's delicate kiss with a more passionate reply. He lifted Rory's delicate chin up so that she was looking him in the eye. Logan smiled slightly as he lowered his head to hers and kissed her with everything he had in him. As their lips met, this time there were fireworks as their passion consumed them. Rory parted her lips ever so slightly, offering an invitation to Logan. Logan did not think twice, he slipped his tongue in her mouth and began exploring her mouth. He was dizzy with want, but he managed to focus all of his passion in this one kiss. He had spent many nights with women going far beyond kissing, but never had so much passion erupted from a single kiss.
After the room settled down, Colin noticed the kiss being exchanged between Rory and Logan. He nudged Finn as son as he saw it and Finn responded with "It is about time mate." Soon the entire room noticed the heat coming from Rory and Logan, and they all stood and watched the earth-shattering kiss.
After a few minutes, Logan pulled back from Rory. He was unable to find words after such a kiss.
Rory was the first to respond. "Wow, well at least we know that works." She said, stealing a line that Jess used on her. When she first kissed Jess she thought that nothing else would compare, but kissing Logan left her stunned a million times more than Jess and Dean combined. This was a kiss to end all kisses. She was left unable to form coherent sentences.
Logan finally tore his eyes away from hers and noticed the audience they had attracted. "I think that the entire room noticed how well that worked." He told her.
Rory looked around wide-eyed. She turned a bright shade of red and did the first thing that came to mind. She gave a little wave to everyone and simply said "Happy New Year!" The room erupted in laugher and applause.
Rory knew that this kiss was the beginning of something huge.