AN: Okay if you hate the way the chapter begins don't worry, it's not going to happen again…Okay well there's another one of these but it's OC so she's more involved. I wanted some back story and outsider perspective.

Chapter Fifteen

Complete

Sylvia, the cute little redheaded maid Jonas had personally hired over five years ago forced her jaw to remain up despite the shock of looking up instead of down to see his face for the first time in years.

"Mr. Cale," she smiled and nodded as she stood back to allow his entrance.

The dark haired woman with him entered the house before he did; Max was her name if she remembered correctly. There had been a debate about it in the kitchen the day after Bennett's wedding as their employer's private lives were discussed. Max had to be short for Maxine, yet no one heard her referred to as that, then again she'd been disappearing in and out of the house throughout the entire wedding. Not that Logan noticed had also been discussed, his attention had been focused on an old girlfriend throughout the reception until he too seemed to have disappeared (Mrs. Cullery swore she saw him and Max disappear into his uncle's study, which apparently was shocking since something like that hadn't happened in years).

Maybe that should have prepared them that things were changing, yet no one expected to see the same young girl by his side as he arrived at the house after the funeral, yet she'd been beside him, in fact she'd never left his side, a look of worry constant on her face (Why though was another discussion, after so many losses, the series of tragedies that had followed his life as they had many others, the murder of his uncle and the loss of the business didn't seem so shocking. He'd weathered everything else with a dignity and strength that was rare.).

Here they were again almost a year since the first time she'd seen them together, happier than she'd ever seen them. In fact he looked happier than Sylvia had ever seen him.

She'd never understood that, how someone like him could be missing anything. Looks, money, brains, enough charm to always have a model perfect date on every occasion, yet despite it all if you looked deep enough into his eyes or behind his grin there was something missing, it was well hidden though, she'd never realized how deep that loss went until just this moment.

She realized she'd been amiss in her duties as she watched as he helped remove his companion's coat. She accepted it from him as he went to remove his own, revealing the black suit and snow white shirt and tie. He was an exceptionally good looking man, her mind in the early days of working for the Cale family had always flashed back to Abercrombie when seeing him or Jon, their teenage pictures had proved her thoughts held merit.

She'd often wondered after seeing the shooting what losing his legs would do to someone like Logan. The two eldest boys, the juniors of the family had always been the most physical, sports pictures lined the den Margo had decreed her husband's area, his retreat from all the fragile antiques. The two eldest boys had played every type of sports from a young age; the most impressive trophies graced the room they were of both sports and hunting. Rumor had it though both of the boys had hated their fathers' pastime, yet they'd both gone willingly until they moved out of the house. Maybe that was why her late employer had always treated them so harshly, they'd conceded to so many of their fathers' wishes for so many years. The loss of his power over them…

Out of the corner of her eye she spotted the she-devil darting towards them. The she-devil being the only grandchild of her employer, spoiled didn't even begin to describe that little girl.

"Uncle Logan" she said running so fast she was sliding in the black Mary Janes as the green velvet skirt of her dress flew along behind her.

Sylvia couldn't help but smile at the little girl, happier at seeing her cousin than seeing her own parents after spending a day with her grandmother. Apparently his charm was not lost on all of his family members.

"Max" she cried just as she collided into her uncle who was already squatting down and bracing for her impact.

He easily lifted her up after returning her hug and allowed her enough leeway in his arms so she could lean over and kiss Max.

She stood smiling in the foyer watching them walk towards the party of people gathered in the other room. She chuckled to herself as the little girl called out her uncle's name and the trio froze before she turned to put the coats away.

ooOoo

"Uncle Logan"

His head dropped down towards the ever present whine of his niece, "Yes Brittany?"

"You gotta kiss Max"

His eyes showed his confusion and she explained by a single finger pointing upwards, his eyes followed.

Mistletoe

If anyone had asked Logan up until that moment what mistletoe meant he would have started in on the folklore and druids. If anyone had asked Max, she would have talked about Sketchy's tendency to catch any female off guard, which explained its presence in Jam Pony despite the fact that Normal was always taking it down. Right now though as they both looked up at that tiny little spring, much wasn't going through their minds, certainly nothing that related to anything besides from them.

It was a snicker from his cousin Bennett that snapped their eyes back down and they were facing each other again, her eyes wipe, her lip softly trembled…His mind made the sound of the breath he was unable to exhale. Normally he'd make some joke, some quick comment to get them out of this, but everyone was watching not kissing her and the words that would follow from everyone around would create a spectacle.

A simple kiss.

His mind told him he could do it, a chaste kiss, nothing more than he would bestow on a friend or an aunt, of course the kiss would be on the lips. Max's lips…

His mind ordered him to focus, a simple quick kiss. Not at all intimate, a quick little kiss. His eyebrows raised in an apologetic manner as did the corner of his lips, apologizing for his family and warning her what as coming. 'It's just a kiss. Just a kiss,' his mind repeated over and over again.

Didn't work for either of them.

His free hand cupped the back of Max's head to bring her closer to him and felt the silky straightened tresses, her head tilted up as his tilted down. If either of them had remembered to breathe they would have inhaled a deep long breath of each other, but as it was only the softly floating scent was present.

The part of her mind that was able to think realized how soft his lips were. She'd missed that the last time, their kiss rough and rushed.

The last little bit of Logan's mind that was vainly struggling to remain in some semblance of control was lost at first contact. His lips moved of their own volition, chaste little kiss forgotten.

Mouths barely opened, just lips softly dancing over each other. She unconsciously moved even closer to him, his hand found itself pulling her closer.

"Okay," Kyle said moving towards them and they separated at his interruption. "I've had to explain enough to her without you guys giving her a first hand demonstration of the birds and the bees." His voice remained low; they'd all been repeatedly informed not to make any spectacles today, since the family apparently had done enough to feed the gossip mills for quite some time.

The words were only slightly affecting Max and Logan who were both suddenly trying to act casual. Logan's hand fell away from Max's hair and Max took a step back and tucked a stand of loose hair back as she turned her focus on Bitsy's husband.

"Mistletoe Kyle," Logan said explaining away his actions. "Why is there mistletoe by the way?"

"I don't know," Kyle said with a shake of his head. "I think your aunt is trying to get good old Chester to pop the question." "Come here princess," Kyle extended his hands to retrieve his daughter.

Brittany's face continued to remain puzzled throughout this whole exchange, "What's Grandma popping?"

"Nothing honey, forget I mentioned it."

She pouted; annoyed that nothing was being explained to her. "What's mistletoe got to do with why Uncle Logan and Max-"

He groaned, they really had to stop speaking in front of her, "I'll explain later. I promise."

"We should probably go find my aunt," Logan said with a nod as Kyle moved away trying to hush his daughter.

Max just nodded in agreement as she unconsciously bit her lip tasting him once more.

Yea okay I didn't like that either which is why it was short. Totally back to normal chapters with the next one. Ugh I totally screwed up my kiss chapter, so annoying. Hmm guess that means they'll have to do it again :-D