A/N Thanks so much to Dani for the beta and Zaz for the html guide : )
"Love Letters"
Chapter 5
Logan maneuvered his chair on the bumpy boardwalk, avoiding nails and plywood that had stuck out. The crowd he had passed on his way to Helene's cabin had dispersed, and their traces - empty bottles and pop cans - were being picked up by a lone elderly man.
On her way back to the cabin, Max spotted Logan. She waited for him, a hand on her hip, grateful that she had already changed into capris and a tank top. With sunglasses perched on her nose, hair tied back in a messy pony tail and an oversized bag over one shoulder, she epitomized the reason why hormonal boys - and men who should know better - spent countless of hours on the beach. "Hey." She greeted with a nod.
"Hey, yourself." Logan continued wheeling when he reached Max. "Did you have a good day? I saw you making some friends."
Taking his lead, Max stepped up to the boardwalk and walked beside Logan.
"What are you talking about?" She asked, looking at him quizzically.
"You know. The guy. Big umbrella. About to make a feast out of you." Logan tried to sound casual. But failed. Miserably.
Max hid a smile, pleased that Logan was aware of other men around her. He was a step closer to actually being aware of her. "You know, there's no reason for you to be jealous."
"Of course." Logan bit his lip before saying 'Because you and I don't have that kind of relationship.' He had said those words before and had sounded pathetic even then. He would just embarrass himself now; they both knew that was a lie. They so did have that kind of relationship.
When Logan didn't elaborate, Max decided to let the subject go. "So, what did you find out from Helene?"
Logan stopped by a hotdog vendor. "Hi. One, please." He looked up at Max, prompting her to order.
"Two for me." She informed the teenage boy behind the grill. He visibly reddened when Max smiled her thanks after receiving her food.
Favoring mayonnaise and hot red peppers, Max put the toppings on her hotdog under the boy's intent watch. Logan rolled his eyes, it was clear that he had been forgotten. "Hey, one here!"
The vendor handed him his order with a look of distaste. Logan glared back.
"Come on." Max said, amused. She did not particularly like being gawked at, but Logan's possessive hand on the small of her back made it all worth it.
Logan had one hand holding the food and the other pushing his wheel while Max guided his chair in a straight line. After taking a bite, which resulted in him getting ketchup on his upper lip, Logan responded to Max's earlier question. "Sophia was originally from Ecuador and came here as domestic help. Helene isn't sure how long ago her mother had immigrated but it was definitely before she was born. "
Max casually leaned down close to Logan's ear. The act looked like an intimate exchange, sending the message to every male in the stalls lining the boardwalk that she was definitely with him. A few disappointed heads turned back to their drinks and conversations, but not before Max received some final appreciative glances. Far from romantic whispers, Max's actual comment to Logan had been, 'You have ketchup mustache.'
"Thanks." Logan replied, licking the offending mustache from his face. "Anyway, Sophia was a single mom and raised Helene in relative affluence. The question is, where did she get the money and how does Benjamin fit into all this?"
The end of the boardwalk led to Centre Ville where shops and upscale restaurants surrounded a statue situated on a well-manicured lawn. Logan stopped beside the fountain behind it, smiling at the two little girls who were feeding the pigeons with bread. They beamed up at him, one whispered something to the other's ear and both started giggling. Max sat on one of the benches, unaware of the two girls planning her disappearance so they could be with the cute man in cool wheels.
Max contemplated Sophia's former situation. "It's clear from the letters that Sophia was in trouble. If she was a housekeeper and Benjamin wanted to help, then he must have been a social worker or something like that."
"But she was reluctant to see him, a social worker doesn't fit that." Logan countered. "Benjamin was someone she should be scared of. Someone in a threatening and powerful position." As an afterthought, Logan added, "Someone compassionate though because he sought her in the first place."
"Did she have any friends?" Max finished eating and threw her napkin into the trashcan in front of the tree that branched over her and Logan.
"Yeah. But according to Helene, none of them knew Sophia then. It's like that part of her life never existed." Logan felt the first drops of rainfall and looked at Max, "We should head back and look at those letters more closely." Amused by the look of concentration on Max's face, Logan mused in a light-hearted tone, "It looks like the rain followed us from Seattle. We really should get back before we get soaked."
Max raised an eyebrow, catching onto Logan's playful mood. "We should," she agreed but made no attempt to move as drops of rain rolled on her hair.
The street grew deserted and dark clouds blocked the sun. A light drizzle fell around Max and Logan but they remained in place, chatting as each street lamp automatically flickered with light.
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Logan changed out of his wet clothes and into a more comfortable T-shirt and pants. He was almost out of the room before he remembered that Max's note was still in his pocket, probably torn and wet by now. Going back to the bathroom, Logan took the jeans from their hanger, careful to avoid looking at the flimsy piece of material hanging next to them. He did see a black, lacy thingy shaped in a triangle when he allowed himself to peek for a second. Or two.
Logan was pleased to find the note intact and dry. He chuckled, thinking himself silly for sticking it between the pages of his journal, but putting it there anyway. Logan had once let Max read one of his pencil scratches, (which some may call poetry). With a furrowed brow, he remembered that his poem had been gone since the night Max had hurriedly dismissed it. Logan had a strong feeling - certainty may be the right word - that she had managed to swipe it.
Max had the fire going when Logan came out to the living room. She handed him a mug of hot chocolate after he transferred next to her on the couch. She sipped her own drink as she offered Logan half of the blanket that was wrapped around her shoulders, the top portion of it damp from her wet hair.
Logan shrugged and moved closer to share the warmth of the fire and blanket with Max.
The several minutes of companionable silence relaxed Logan. It was tempting to get the letters in the trunk, just an arm's reach away, but he didn't want to give up the serenity of a quiet evening spent with Max. He looked down at her and smiled. She smiled back, just as relaxed as he was. The interlude in the rain did their spirits a lot of good. With his hands warming around the mug, Logan teased, "You know, I seem to have lost a copy of the poem I let you read."
"Have you?" Max replied, equally teasing.
"Yeah. I showed it to you and next thing I know, it was gone."
Max put her drink on the coaster and gave Logan the most innocent look she could muster, but she was only successful in producing a sexy pout. "What are you insinuating, Logan? That I stole it?"
With a soft chuckle, Logan responded. "It wouldn't be the first time you tried to steal something from me."
Max's pout now transformed into mock hurt. "Wasn't that poem supposed to be about me, anyway?"
"And your point is?" Logan smirked.
"If I had taken it, which I'm not saying that I did, then I hadn't stolen anything that didn't already belong to me."
Logan leaned forward, trapping Max between him and the armrest. "So you do have it."
"I never said that," Max pushed Logan's chest away playfully. With the corner of her mouth turned up, she asked, "So, Logan, have you been writing anything more about me?"
Logan settled back on the couch, sipping his drink before responding. "Perhaps."
"Can I read it?"
Logan gave her a teasing smile. "I don't know, I don't take to my literary musings disappearing."
"Please," she cajoled, "I promise not to take it this time."
With a skeptical look, Logan took his leather -covered journal from the compartment behind his wheelchair. He opened it and flipped through the pages before letting Max read a poem he wrote just a few days after Somebody's Angel. Max grabbed the book before Logan could change his mind. Signs of hesitation were already present in his eyes. She turned a little away from him as she read, her silhouette blocking the fireplace.
An angel
Golden skin
Diamond eyes
Casts a spell
Powerful
Inescapable
On mortals
Max had an impish smile when she met Logan's tentative one. Her eyes darted to the door, realizing that she couldn't escape quite as easily as last time. But for some reason she didn't want to. She handed the journal back to Logan, letting him know with a light squeeze on his arm that she liked what she just had read. Logan's eyes lit up, earlier doubts instantly vanishing.
Calling on Max's earlier slip, Logan accused mischievously, "So you did take it the last time."
Max narrowed her eyes, defeated. "I'm going to bed." She gave Logan a light push so he would scoot over.
"Helene didn't come by to get the guest room ready, you know." Logan taunted, testing Max's response.
Max pivoted around, midway between Logan and the bedroom, doing a similar set of testing herself. "It looks like we're stuck together, huh?"
Logan nodded, "It looks like."
"Do you mind?"
Logan shrugged, letting Max know that he didn't without actually saying the words. "Do you?"
She imitated his shrug.
Having reached a silent agreement, Max tried to lighten up the mood. "I'll race you."
Logan got into his chair and into the room as fast as he could. Max was not there when he rolled inside, although he couldn't be sure because his eyes hadn't adjusted to the dark yet. That or the fact that they were covered by someone's palms.
Logan peeled Max's hands off and surprised her by swiftly turning and tugging her on his lap.
"I beat you." Max said with a giggle threatening to erupt. When Logan didn't respond, Max tilted her head up and saw him looking on her lips. She instinctively pressed them together. "We should get to bed."
"Yeah," Logan agreed but his arms remained around Max's waist.
As if the full moon summoned it, both Max and Logan leaned in for a soft kiss. As if playing a synchronous tune, they both cleared their throats and turned away when they broke apart. With a nervous laugh, Logan let go of Max.
Max stood up and headed for the bed. She took the side that faced the water, unable to wipe the grin on her face. "Night, Logan."
"Night, Max." Logan too had a big grin. Max's back was turned to him so he was careful to keep the distance between them. He positioned himself closer to the edge, facing the dark forest outside his window.
Of course, it was by accident that several minutes later, they both ended up in the middle of the bed, curled up in a comfortable tangle of limbs.
A/N Reviews would be nice : )