A/N Thank you for all of the kind reviews, and for the wedding wishes. It was a magical, beautiful day! Here is a very long chapter, to celebrate :)
Happy belated birthday Sharon! Sorry I couldn't get it done for your real b-day, but I wouldn't be me if I was on time ;) Hope you enjoy, my friend.
Chapter 6
Logan normally left his clothing in his bags when he traveled, only taking the time to hang up things like suits and button down shirts. When he didn't have a meeting or some other function to go to, he liked to dress casually- jeans and t-shirts, mostly. It made it easier to fly under the radar. Logan detested the media.
But he found himself dawdling in his state room after he came onboard the ship, taking the time to refold his clothes and place them in the dresser. He lined up his shoes on the floor of the closet, and organized his toiletries on the vanity top. When there was nothing left to do, he sat down on the edge of his bed and turned on the TV. After flipping aimlessly through the channels a few times, he shut it off and got up again.
He paced back and forth between the bed and the lounge area a few times, silently cursing himself for choosing the only room without windows. When they'd drawn straws for room selection, earlier in the week, Trina and Conner had lucked out with the first pick. They had, of course, jumped on the chance for the Owner's Suite. Located on the upper deck, it was enormous and extravagant, and the easy first choice. Not only did they get the steam shower and indoor whirlpool, they also had access to their own private patio and hot tub.
Logan had gotten second pick, and he'd chosen a VIP suite. There were two on board, both identical in size. The only difference was that one was located on the lower deck, and the other was on the main deck. Logan had opted for the lower deck suite, because it was the only one of the guest quarters located there. He valued his privacy, so he'd found that appealing. It had also crossed his mind that the other VIP suite was on the main deck, right next to the room Madison would be staying in. And it had become increasingly obvious that he needed to avoid any situation that might put them in close proximity.
But I forgot about the windows.
Logan absolutely loved the ocean. Nothing calmed him more than being out at sea; looking out at the vast blue expanse before him and remembering how insignificant his troubles were, in the grand scheme of things. He loved the sound of the waves, and the gulls, and the way the air tasted differently than it did on land. Being on a ship without being able to actually see the ocean around him felt like a tease.
Sort of like being on board a ship with a beautiful girl who you can look at, but not touch.
He stopped pacing abruptly and shook the thought away. Although the engines were on, Logan could tell they hadn't left the marina yet. He knew the others would be expecting him on the upper deck as they pulled out of the harbor. It was a sort of tradition of theirs, to crack open a bottle of champagne and make a toast before their journey started. He wondered if they'd be inviting Meg and Veronica to join them.
Logan took a couple of deep breaths; then he walked over to the door and exited the room. He headed down the hall and up two flights of winding stairs, until he reached the salon on the upper deck. With all of the shades open, as they were now, the room was bright with speckled sunlight. But at some point later, they'd draw the curtains and dim the lights, transforming it into a theater. And then everyone will argue about what movie they want to watch, until we all give up and decide to go swimming instead.
Trina and Madison were already up there, lounging around on the off-white leather couches and giggling about something he couldn't hear. Conner was sipping on a glass of scotch while he watched the game on the flat screen. There were two bottles of champagne chilling on the coffee table.
Duncan entered the room from the lobby behind him. "Hey," he said, clapping Logan on the shoulder. "I just spoke to the captain, and we're supposed to take off in about fifteen minutes. Let's get ready."
The girls gestured for Duncan and him to join them on the couches. Logan saw Madison pat the seat next to her, but he pretended not to notice and took a seat next to Trina instead. She said hello and then turned back to Madison, continuing their conversation.
"I mean, it's not like I'm surprised," Trina stated. "Look at her family. But you'd think she'd have some manners. She wasn't even invited in the first place! And then she shows up, on a luxury yacht, dripping her sweat all over the place? It's positively vulgar."
Duncan looked up from peeling the metal wrapping off the champagne, a frown on his face. "So what? It's not like she isn't going to shower and change her clothes."
"Oh, please," Trina sniffed. She turned to Logan. "How would you feel, if your sister behaved that way?"
Logan shrugged. "She wouldn't. Heather was raised better than that."
"Exactly," Trina replied with satisfaction. "It's totally disrespectful."
"She wasn't even invited," Madison chimed in, parroting what her older sister had already said. She turned to Logan with a smug smile. "Even those pretty blue eyes of hers can't make up for her rude behavior, can they?"
Logan raised an eyebrow and smiled back at her. "Oh, I'm not so sure about that," he said lightly. "They did look particularly vivid today."
"I thought she looked hot," Conner spoke up. "She's got a cute little body."
Trina's mouth dropped open, as she stared at her husband indignantly. But Duncan popped the cork on the champagne, distracting all of them before she could respond. He began pouring Cristal into the crystal flutes set up on the table. "Well I'm glad Veronica's here," Duncan said. "I think she's awesome. The more the merrier, right?"
Madison and Trina exchanged eye rolls, but said nothing. They both looked a bit put out. After a few minutes, Trina glanced from Conner to Duncan and started in again. "I just don't want people assuming we're friends with her, just because she's coming along on our trip."
"I can see the headlines now," Madison giggled. "'Kane Family Goes Slumming in Neptune'."
Trina laughed loudly and turned to Logan. "'Echolls Heir Elopes with Sheriff's Daughter'."
"Headlines?" Duncan asked, looking exasperated. "Did you see the press snapping pictures outside? I didn't." He shook his head at them. "You two are snobs. Meg and Veronica have been nothing but nice to us since we got here. And who cares what their father does? There's no shame in being Sheriff. I've heard nothing but great things about Keith Mars."
Logan glanced at his friend, surprised at the heat in his voice. Duncan was the most even-tempered person he knew. Logan couldn't even remember the last time he'd heard him raise his voice. Duncan seemed to be taking Trina and Madison's barbs personally.
Madison took the hint, staying silent as her brother handed her a full glass of champagne. But Trina seemed determined not to let the subject drop. Logan suspected it was due to Conner's earlier remark about Veronica. Trina was extremely jealous of her husband's affections. And I'm sure the constant rumors of his infidelity don't help.
Trina leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms, refusing the glass Duncan held out to her. "And Lianne?" she asked coldly. "Have you heard 'nothing but great things' about her, too?"
Duncan held her gaze, but he didn't answer. Instead, he set the flute down in front of her and stood up. Then he walked over to the intercom and pressed a button.
"How can I help you?"
"I'd like two more champagne flutes sent up to the upper deck salon, please," Duncan replied evenly, as he continued to stare at Trina. "We have two more guests joining us. It seems my sister forgot to inform you of that."
"Of course, sir. I'll be up right away."
He walked back over to the couch, but didn't sit down. Then he looked from Madison to Trina. "Meg and Veronica are our guests," he said pointedly. "And they'll be up here any minute. For people so concerned about good manners, you'd both do well to remember your own." With that, he left the room.
Trina and Madison huffed in offense, launching immediately into a conversation about their brother's behavior. Conner chuckled and topped off his scotch. Then he turned back to the game, raising the volume on the remote to drown the girls out. Logan stayed silent, looking down into his champagne glass. He wondered exactly how he'd missed the fact that his best friend had already fallen so hard for Meg Mars.
xxXxx
"Um, Meg? What the hell is all of this?"
Meg finished hanging up the last of her shirts and walked over to her sister's bed. Veronica was standing at the foot of the bed in a towel, having just gotten out of the shower. They'd opted to share a room for the trip, even though there was an unoccupied room just across the hall. Meg knew Veronica was uncomfortable enough as it was; she'd thought rooming together might make things easier on her.
When she saw what Veronica was staring at, she let out an involuntary laugh. Seeing her sister's look of utter dread, she felt immediately guilty for her reaction. "I'm sorry. I told them not to."
"You knew about this?" Veronica asked, her mouth agape as she gestured to the open suitcase in front of her.
"Um…"
"And you let them get away with it?"
"Well, Lilly made a compelling argument," Meg replied uncomfortably. Now that they were actually on the ship, she was starting to realize what a bad idea this had been. But it's too late now.
"And what, exactly, was her argument?" Veronica demanded.
Meg sat down on the edge of her own bed, watching as Veronica removed articles of clothing from her suitcase. Each item was skimpier than the last, and Meg began to feel even worse. She wished she'd paid more attention to what Lilly and Gia had packed. She'd thought they'd been giggling far too much for comfort, earlier; but she'd been so busy trying to remember all of Veronica's toiletries that she hadn't had time to check on them. She cleared her throat before she responded. "Well, you must have noticed the way he looks at you."
"Who?" Veronica asked distractedly, pulling a handful of thongs from the inner pocket. She started rummaging through the suitcase in earnest then, looking for anything that would give her a modicum of coverage. But there were nothing but slinky dresses and low-cut tops. Even my bedclothes are ridiculous. It was all satin babydolls and revealing nighties. Stuff she'd bought just to have, but never actually wore. "Where are my pajama bottoms? My t-shirts?"
"I'm sorry," Meg said quietly. "Honestly, I didn't think they'd go this far."
She glanced up at her sister. Meg looked so miserable that Veronica instantly felt bad for making it such a big deal. It's only a few days. I'll figure it out. Resigned to her fate, she pulled out a red dress, a thong and a pair of thigh highs. It was totally inappropriate attire- she'd be seriously over-dressed. But she didn't have many options. I have a feeling a pair of Daisy Dukes and a cut-off top might be frowned upon, at dinner.
She put one hand on her hip and rolled her eyes at her sister. "Do you at least have a sweater I can borrow?"
"Of course," Meg replied, getting up instantly and walking to her closet. "You can borrow whatever you need. In fact, I'm going to change into a dress too."
The offer of sisterly solidarity made Veronica smile. "You don't have to do that, Meg. I don't care if they think I'm a big weirdo for getting all dressed up. But you…" She paused. "Hey, what did you mean before? The way who looks at me?"
"Logan," Meg replied, pulling a dark blue dress out of her closet. "Obviously."
"Oh, please," Veronica scoffed. She was about to remind her sister of his actions at the charity ball. But then she thought back to the way he'd been when she got on the ship earlier, sort of friendly and flirty, and she paused. "Okay, let's just say it's true, and he does sometimes look at me. Why torture me by making me dress up like the whore of Babylon all weekend?"
Meg giggled. "Well I think the idea was to torture him, not you. You know, payback for what he said about you. But I see your point. And I really am sorry. It seemed like a good idea at the time."
"Oh, it's all right," Veronica said gamely. "At least this gives me plenty of time to think up the perfect revenge on Lilly." She looked down at the dress in her hands. And if I just happen to make Logan eat his words in the process? Even better.
xxXxx
Logan had just decided to give up on waiting for Duncan and take a sip of his champagne when his friend walked into the salon with Meg and Veronica. His involuntary intake of breath at the sight of Veronica, just as he was trying to swallow, caused him to cough so hard that everyone in the room stared at him.
Madison came over to him quickly and handed him a napkin. She sat down between him and Trina, looking at him in concern. "Are you okay, Logan?"
He nodded, eyes still tearing from the burn of champagne in his throat. Veronica flashed him an amused smile and he looked down, annoyed with himself. Okay, not my smoothest moment ever. But Jesus. Why the hell is she wearing that?
Logan glanced back up at the girls as they crossed the hardwood floor towards the lounge area. He noticed vaguely that Meg was dressed in some sort of plain blue dress; but his eyes were quickly drawn back to Veronica. She wore a sheath dress of deep red satin. It came down to her mid-thigh, hugging every curve and hollow along the way. The strapless cut showed her toned arms and shoulders to advantage, leaving inch upon inch of flawless skin exposed.
Both girls sat down tentatively on the couch just across from Logan and Madison. As Veronica took her seat her dress rode up slightly, revealing the briefest lacy hint of a thigh-high stocking. She pulled down on her skirt absently and it was hidden again; but as she did so, the top of her dress slipped lower. And then she leaned forward, accepting the champagne flute Duncan offered her with a smile, and the dress slipped lower still.
Logan stood up abruptly. He walked over to the large dining area to the aft of the ship, staring out of the curved windows and wishing they would just take off already. He realized, suddenly, that he'd spent the last hour trying to mentally prepare himself for his next meeting with Veronica. That he'd been simultaneously both looking forward to and dreading seeing her again. But how was I supposed to prepare for this?
He walked partway around the table and rested his hand on top of one of the mahogany chairs. Pretending to look out at the harbor, he glanced sideways at Veronica instead. Her hair fell in loose waves just past her shoulders, and she swept a few strands out of her face as she smiled up at Duncan. She turned and said something to her sister, and Meg and Duncan both laughed. Conner stared at the girls in obvious appreciation, while Trina and Madison silently seethed.
Okay, so she looks good. Is that any surprise? She always looks good. Even in running clothes, all sweaty, Logan grudgingly acknowledged. Even then, she looks good. The top of Veronica's dress was fairly modest, sweeping across her chest in a simple straight line. But when she bent down to adjust the strap on her high heel, and he caught another tantalizing glimpse of the soft curves beneath, he forced his gaze away from her. Fine, she looks better than good. She looks amazing. So… what now?
In the past, this part had always been simple. When Logan had found himself attracted to a girl, she'd invariably been attracted to him as well. He'd never had to put in much effort to make something happen. She'd make her interest in him very clear, leaving no doubt that if he asked, she'd say yes. Then he'd take her out somewhere certain to impress, pay a little attention to her, and that would be that.
Somehow, this thing with Veronica didn't seem quite so cut and dry. For starters, she was a stranger. And he didn't trust strangers. The girls he hooked up with in New York were mostly society types; all people he knew of, even if he'd never met them personally before. Granted, none of the girls he'd been with had had as much to lose as he did, if he were ever caught up in some tabloid scandal. But they all had trust funds and very over-protective Daddy's, and that was usually enough to keep them quiet.
Neptune was a much smaller city than New York. Logan got the feeling that the people here all had intimate knowledge of their neighbors' actions, no matter how great the attempt to keep things a secret. There was no Page Six here; no blind items to whet the public's palette without giving away intimate details. If something were to happen in Neptune, he didn't have that cushion of secrecy afforded to New York's elite to fall back on.
And then there was Veronica herself. She wasn't reacting to him the way women normally did, and that bothered him more than he cared to admit. Even now, sitting there casually chatting with Duncan and Meg… He'd been watching her the whole time, yet she hadn't glanced in his direction once. But maybe this is how she likes to play it? Maybe she thinks that all she has to do is show up looking stunning, pretend she's not interested, and I'll have no choice but to chase after her?
Perhaps that was her game. He was a big cat, and she was a tasty little morsel who kept flashing her tail at him tantalizingly…and then scurrying into a hole too small for his paw to fit into. But if I keep chasing her, eventually I'll trap her with no place to hide. And then I'll pounce. There was something appealing about the idea. Logan had never had to work nearly so hard for a meal. That might make her taste that much more delicious…
No, it was a bad idea. No matter how attracted to her he might be, the last thing he wanted was to have his name tied to this town; to her family. I've spent years flying under the radar. What if something happened between us, and she blabbed it to all of her friends- or worse, to the press? I'm not going to risk dragging my name, or Heather's, through the mud. It's only three days. I can control myself for three freaking days.
"Logan!" Duncan called. "C'mon, man, we're leaving! Let's toast." Logan exhaled slowly and headed over to the group, taking his place next to Madison. Everyone stood up and held out their glasses. "To family and friends, and to a safe journey," Duncan said. It was what he always said. But this time, he added, "It's nice to have new friends along for the trip."
They all clinked glasses, Logan giving Veronica the briefest of smiles as he tapped his glass against hers. Polite indifference: that was the key. He'd be kind, but disinterested, when in her company. And when he wasn't, he'd just have to find other amusements to occupy his time. It shouldn't be too difficult, on a boat this large. Logan had just nodded to himself, satisfied with avoidance as his best course of action, when a steward came into the room.
"Dinner will be served in the main deck dining room, as requested. Will you be needing anything else?"
"Oh let's have dinner here, instead," Trina suggested. "It's so pretty up here right now."
Duncan made a face at his sister, but addressed the steward. "Would it be too much trouble? If it is, we'll just come down."
"No, sir, no trouble at all. We'll have it set up momentarily."
"Thank you, we really appreciate it."
Veronica glanced at the clock on the end table. "Isn't it a little early for dinner?"
"Well, Trina and Conner are getting old," Logan replied with a smirk. "They're really into the whole early bird special thing."
"Oh, whatever," Trina replied, sticking out her tongue at him. She turned to Veronica, addressing her directly for the first time since she'd entered the salon. "It's really more like a late lunch. They'll cook us something else later, whenever we get hungry again."
Veronica nodded and took another sip of champagne. She remained relatively silent as the rest of them drank and talked, walking around the room and looking at everything with interest. Trina went back to ignoring her, chatting instead with Madison about a role that Conner was up for. Duncan and Meg had wandered off into the corner, where a smaller table and chairs were set up.
Logan continued to watch her, deciding that there was no harm in that. But when she headed over to the dining area, he found that he was walking over to join her before he'd even made the conscious decision to move. She was standing at the convex windows when he met up with her, staring out at the disappearing city behind them.
"They open, if you were wondering," he told her. "The windows. See?" He gestured to the center panel, which was on a sliding track.
"Very cool," she replied. "Well, you were right. This ship is pretty damn impressive."
"Oh, you haven't seen anything yet. If you want, I'll give you a tour after dinner." The words had escaped his lips before he knew it. What the hell am I doing?
"Uh, sure," Veronica agreed. "That sounds good."
They were both distracted by the sound of metal trays rolling across the floor. Several staff members were heading over to them. As the others came to join them, Logan pulled out a chair for her. "I hope you like to eat. The food is pretty amazing." He glanced down at her dress pointedly. "I just wish I'd been informed that it was black tie."
"Well aren't you embarrassed, then?" she joked, gesturing to his jeans and t-shirt.
"Mortified," he grinned. Veronica took her seat, and he pushed it in for her and took the seat next to hers.
Meg, who had overheard their exchange, came to Veronica's defense. "She doesn't normally dress like this. There was a little mix-up with Veronica's suitcase. See, our younger sister decided to pull this prank, and-"
"I'm sure they don't want to hear about our crazy family," Veronica interrupted her.
Trina suppressed a laugh. Duncan shot her a look and then turned back to Meg. "Was it Lilly?" he guessed.
"She seems like a handful," Madison added sweetly.
"More than a handful," Conner said appreciatively, making a lewd gesture with his hands. Trina glared at him, looking as though she were about three seconds away from stabbing him with her cocktail fork.
Duncan glanced at his brother-in-law sharply, and Logan kicked him under the table. Conner was seated to his left; Logan could see his most recent glass of scotch was now empty, as was his champagne flute. It was clear Conner had a healthy buzz, but that was no excuse. "She's fifteen, dude," Logan muttered. "You're twenty-five. Stop being a fucking pervert."
"She doesn't look fifteen," he replied, not bothering to keep his voice down. He glanced at Logan. "Besides. Like you're one to talk."
Before Logan could retort, Duncan spoke up. "C'mon guys," he said, looking pointedly between Conner and Logan. "Enough."
"She is mature for her age," Meg said diplomatically. "Lots of people think she's older than fifteen."
"Maybe she is," Conner suggested. "Maybe she lies about it." He looked at Trina. "Lots of chicks lie about their age."
Meg looked at him in confusion. "But… she's our sister," she reminded him slowly. "We know when she was born."
He shrugged, looking bored, and dipped a shrimp into his cocktail sauce. Trina continued to glare at him, her face red and her eyes flashing. Conner ignored her, biting down on his shrimp with perfect white teeth and trying to see the score of the game.
"They're an even more dysfunctional family than we are," Veronica muttered quietly to Meg, reaching for her champagne.
Logan, the only other one who'd heard her, grinned and clinked his glass against hers. "Cheers," he said. "Welcome aboard."
xxXxx
Veronica had found dinner unexpectedly enjoyable, no matter what the others may have thought about it. The dynamic between Conner and Trina was incredibly entertaining to watch, as was the way Madison hung on Logan's every word and action. With Duncan and Meg off in their own little world again, and Madison intent on ignoring her, Veronica had been left with Logan as the only valid option for conversation. To her surprise, he'd been a willing participant; and she'd found him both knowledgeable and well-spoken on a variety of topics.
The group had ordered up several more bottles of champagne throughout dinner, and Logan had never allowed her glass to get empty. It was hard to gauge how much she'd had to drink, but Veronica felt wonderful- light and airy, almost giddy. She didn't realize just how buzzed she was until she tried to stand up and almost fell into Logan's lap. He steadied her, placing a strong hand on her waist as he stood up himself.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said ruefully. "But I think maybe I should take it easy on the champagne."
Logan nodded toward the glass doors behind them. "You want to step outside and get some fresh air?"
Veronica agreed that was a good idea, but she was surprised when he followed her outside. She was even more surprised when he offered his arm to her, but she took it gratefully. I'm not sure how far I'll get on my own, with these ridiculous heels on. She was still really aggravated with Lilly, for the stunt she'd pulled. But Veronica had to admit, her sisters had been right. He does look at me.
She'd noticed it as soon as she'd walked into the salon, but she'd really decided to test the theory at dinner. Twice, she'd leaned across the table while facing his direction, just to see if his eyes would drop down for a peek. They had. But so what? He's a guy. And he's stuck on this boat with no other form of amusement. He's probably just bored.
They walked over to one of the couches on the patio. Veronica was about to take a seat when Logan tugged on her arm. "You want to see something wild?" he asked.
"Uh, sure," she agreed uncertainly. She allowed him to lead her to the large stainless steel railing at the end of the deck, and then she looked down. "Wow."
On the deck below them was a swimming pool, glowing orange with the reflection of the setting sun. It took up a large portion of the exposed teakwood deck, leaving enough room for a half dozen or so lounge chairs. Veronica noticed that it was an Infinity pool, the back edge of it appearing to drop off into the ocean beneath them.
"Impressed yet?" Logan asked, glancing down at her with a grin.
"Maybe slightly," she replied, fighting a smile as she looked back up at him. He looked absurdly good, better than anyone had a right to look, and she found herself unable to turn away. His hair was slightly mussed from the wind, sunlight tinting the edges copper. His eyes were warm, liquid amber, and they were filled with amusement as they met her own.
Logan twisted his body towards her, propping one foot up on the railing. "Well maybe you'll be more impressed to learn that it doubles as a dance floor. Or a helicopter landing pad, depending on your preference."
"Get out of here," she laughed.
"I'm serious," he insisted. He nodded at the pool, finally breaking eye contact, and pointed down. "The whole floor of the pool lifts up, and the water drains into a storage tank below. You can fill it with salt water or fresh water, but Ma- the guy who owns the yacht likes fresh water."
Veronica tilted her head at him, trying to determine if he was serious or not. When she decided he was, she narrowed her eyes. "Whose yacht is this, anyway?"
Logan smirked down at her. "That would be telling."
"I didn't realize it was a secret," she returned, raising an eyebrow.
Logan shrugged, looking out at the ocean. "He likes his privacy. And he knows most people can't keep their mouths shut." His eyes darted to hers for a moment. "Very few people realize the value of staying silent."
Veronica turned back to the railing, watching the shimmery orange rays playing on the waves. She realized, suddenly, how good it felt to get out of Neptune. "Yeah, I know what you mean."
He looked at her curiously. "So would you consider yourself someone capable of keeping a secret, then?"
She glanced up at him, confused by the intensity in his voice. "I won't tell anyone whose yacht this is, if that's what you're asking. But you don't need to tell me. I wouldn't want you to betray any confidences. I'll figure it out for myself."
Logan laughed. "And how, exactly, do you plan on doing that?"
Veronica just gave him a coy smile, opting to change the subject. "So, Conner is, um-"
"An idiot?" Logan suggested.
"Well, just- not what I'd expected."
Logan sighed. "You used to have a crush on him, didn't you?"
"What? No," Veronica denied quickly. She bit her lip and glanced up at Logan. "Well okay, maybe. But in my defense, he looked really good in Raging Heat."
He rolled his eyes and leaned his back to the railing, glancing through the window at Conner. "So that's your type, huh?"
Veronica laughed, turning to face the inside of the yacht and pointing at Conner. "That? No, that is most definitely not my type."
Logan propped his left elbow against the railing and rested his chin on his hand. He turned his head to face her. "So what is your type, then?"
She looked over at him, a silly retort ready on her lips. But his eyes were focused and intent, no hint of amusement in them now, and her smile faded as she stared at him. She realized, suddenly, how close they were standing to each other. It was strange, but he almost looked as though he were about to kiss her. Even stranger, the idea of kissing him back didn't seem so terrible.
"Veronica?"
She spun around quickly to see Duncan peeking his head out of the curved glass doors. "Yeah?"
"Meg's asking for you. She doesn't feel well."
Veronica glanced once at Logan, who was standing up straight now and facing Duncan. "I'd better go check on her."
"Yeah, of course," he replied.
She hurried back inside, heading right over to Meg. Her sister was sitting on one of the leather chairs in the corner, looking rather pale and shaky. Trina and Madison were hovering around her, but they walked away as Veronica came over. "Are you okay?" she asked in concern.
Meg managed a wobbly smile. "I think I overdid it on the champagne. I want to go lie down for a minute, but I didn't want Duncan to think…you know."
"That it was all some ploy to try and get him into your bed?" Veronica teased. She offered her hand to Meg, pulling her up off the chair and walking her out of the salon.
"Well, yeah," Meg replied.
"Of the three guys on this ship, I think he's the one you have to worry about the least," Veronica muttered.
Her sister glanced over at her as they started to descend the steps toward the main deck. "You and Logan seemed pretty friendly at dinner," she said lightly. "What was that about?"
Yeah, Veronica, what was that about? Now that she was back on the ship, in regular lighting, the moment she'd shared with Logan seemed less… significant. Her champagne haze was starting to wear off, and she wondered what the hell she'd been thinking. Logan may be more interesting than she'd given him credit for, but she still knew his type. He was like every other guy she'd grown up with… Just with a larger bank account and a more famous last name.
She supposed she should be flattered by his attentions. Here was someone who could get pretty much any woman he desired with a crook of his finger. Someone who could afford to ignore a girl like Madison Kane; a girl most men would fall all over themselves trying to please.
Logan went from ridiculing me in public to acting like he's interested in me, practically overnight. There's no mystery why. It was just like I suspected. He's stuck on this ship, bored and restless. And I'm the shiny new toy. As Veronica rounded the corner to the room, she caught her reflection in a nearby mirror. I'm sure this dress isn't helping the matter. And being that I barely know him, it's probably not the best idea to bait him by prancing around in outfits like this. I just wish I had an alternative. Because hooking up with him isn't an option.
Veronica could admit that he was an attractive guy- she wasn't blind. She could even admit that it had been a little fun, flirting with him. But she wasn't about to fall for his charms. I don't even like him. I'm certainly not going to do anything with him. No, she decided firmly. I'm not about to be another notch on Logan Echolls belt; something he can brag about to his friends. I won't be playing the role of the California blonde in his Spring Break hookup story. Because that's all it would be; and I refuse to give him the satisfaction.
"Nothing," Veronica finally replied, as she pushed open the door to their room. "Just making conversation."
xxXxx
After Veronica and Meg left the salon, Duncan stepped back out onto the patio. Logan was standing at the railing by himself, looking out at the water. He turned around when he heard his friend approach, and Duncan walked over to join him. Logan didn't say anything to him; he just turned back to the water and stared out to sea. After a moment, Duncan glanced back at him. Logan seemed moody and distracted.
"Everything okay, man?"
"Fine," Logan replied shortly. "How's Meg?"
"I don't know… She looked really pale. I'm starting to wonder if we should just head back to Neptune."
Logan rolled his eyes. "Oh, c'mon man. She can't be that sick. She was totally fine an hour ago. She probably just had too much to drink."
"Maybe," Duncan replied uncertainly. "Do you think I should go down to her room and check on her?"
"Dude. You saw her, like, three seconds ago."
"I know, I just… I don't know. I just hope she's okay."
Logan shot his friend a look, but didn't reply right away. Instead, he drummed his fingers against the railing and watched the sun sink lower to the ground. After a moment, though, he turned back to Duncan. "You really think it was all a prank? That thing with the dresses?"
"What?" Duncan laughed. "Of course. Why else would they be dressed like that?"
"C'mon, man, you have to ask?"
"Oh, like it's some big conspiracy or something?" Duncan said sarcastically. "They pretend their sister played a joke on them, so that they have to wear sexy clothes all weekend?" He shook his head and laughed again. "You're insane, do you know that?"
Logan faced Duncan fully, turning a pointed finger to himself. "I'm not insane. I'm a realist." He glanced from Duncan to the salon, and then back. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but Trina brought up a good point, earlier."
"That M&M's are yummy?" Duncan guessed with a grin.
Logan shook his head, mouth drawn into a thin line as he regarded his friend. "Look, dude. I know you like Meg, and she seems like a really sweet girl. But her family is a mess. I'm just not sure that you're thinking straight about this."
"About what?" Duncan asked. "About liking her?"
"Yes," he answered sharply. "If you were ever to get seriously involved with her, you'd be connected to that family- publically. You'd be going to functions with them and spending holidays together. Can you seriously picture that? Dining out at Le Bernardin with Lianne and Keith Mars? Vacationing with them in St. Barts?"
"Logan," Duncan replied calmly. "No one is proposing. All right? We're just getting to know each other."
Logan turned away from him again. Duncan watched him for a few seconds, surprised that his friend was getting so agitated about this. But it was clear that he was taking it very seriously. When Logan turned back to him, he nodded his head. "All right. Well, if her mother being the town drunk doesn't matter to you, maybe you should pay more attention to the gossip about their money troubles."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning those two girls in there are smart enough to know that their family is sinking in debt," Logan answered plainly, pointing at the salon. "And if you float your little Kane life raft too close, you better believe they'll push you the fuck off and take that raft over for themselves."
Duncan crossed his arms over his chest, beginning to get angry. "Impressive boating analogy, Logan. Where could you have possibly come up with the idea for that?"
The two young men stared at each other for several seconds. And then Logan exhaled, his expression softening. "Dude, I'm just trying to look out for you. Okay? You're just… you're too quick to trust people."
Duncan sighed, all of the anger draining out of him. "Logan, man, I know people have screwed you over in the past. Even people in your own family. And that sucks. But not everyone is out to get you, all of the time. Not everything is a game, or some big, like, conspiracy. You've got to chill out and learn how to trust people, sometimes."
"Whatever you say, man," Logan muttered, shaking his head and looking back out at the ocean.
"And for the record," Duncan continued, "I think you're wrong about Meg. I think you're wrong about both of them."
Logan glanced back over at him, his surprise quickly overshadowed by doubt. "Just keep your eyes open," he suggested lightly. But as Duncan began to walk back towards the salon, he added, "And don't keep too much cash in your wallet."
xxXxx
By the time Logan left the patio to rejoin the party, he'd shaken himself out of his mood. Mostly. He wasn't sure where it had all come from; but he was sure that he only had himself to blame. He'd had such a nice time with Veronica at dinner that he'd had to adjust his planned course of action. Avoidance wasn't going to work- she was far too interesting to ignore.
The new plan had become harmless flirting. He'd kept their conversation light and entertaining, finding her surprisingly well-versed on every topic that came to mind. But the first chance I had, I got her alone. And as soon as I got her alone, all I wanted to do was kiss her…
Veronica had looked gorgeous in the setting sun… Blue eyes wide and focused entirely on him; hair in a wild golden mane, lips curved in constant amusement. She looked so beautiful that he wondered how he'd ever thought her otherwise. If Duncan hadn't come out right then, I would have kissed her. And then what? That was the part he hadn't been able to figure out- what would have happened next. So maybe I took some of my own issues out on Duncan. But at least, after that conversation, I remembered why pursuing her would be a very, very bad idea.
Logan took a deep breath as he walked across the room, glancing around briefly to see if Veronica had come back up to the salon yet. She hadn't. He sat down next to Conner at the card table. So what's the new plan? Avoidance didn't work. Flirting didn't work. What else can I do? Jump ship?
Before he had time to formulate a plan, Veronica walked into the room. She was wearing a modest black sweater over her dress now, but she still looked incredible. He heard Conner intake his breath at the sight of her, and he glanced over at him. Conner was looking her up and down, doing nothing to try and hide his obvious interest. Logan found himself getting strangely annoyed. "Aren't you supposed to be married?" he muttered.
"So?" Conner snorted. "I'm married, I'm not dead." He sighed. "Jesus, look at that ass."
Logan flashed him a look of disgust, knowing that Conner was too busy ogling Veronica to notice. But he kept his voice even as he replied, "Oh I assure you, I already have."
"So what's the story? Are you gonna hit that?" Conner prompted, nudging him in the side with his elbow.
Logan glanced at Veronica quickly, then looked down at the table and began shuffling a deck of cards. "No," he said firmly. "I'm not."
"You're nuts," Conner replied, shaking his head. He sighed again. "Man, if Trina wasn't here, I'd be all over that."
Logan didn't respond, but he felt another surge of annoyance. He glanced back at Veronica. She was sitting on the couch chatting with Duncan, now, completely oblivious to Conner's lecherous intentions. I might have to keep an eye on this situation, over the next couple of days. Conner isn't exactly known for his discretion. And the last thing Jake needs to worry about is covering up yet another scandal for his idiot son-in-law.
Refusing to consider any other reason why he'd be feeling so protective, Logan focused his attention back to shuffling cards. Everyone seemed much more subdued than they had at dinner, and it was far quieter than he preferred in his current mood. But he didn't feel like addressing the others, at the moment. Both Madison and Veronica were otherwise engaged, and he didn't want either girl to think he was vying for her attention.
To his relief, Trina eventually spoke up. "I'm bored. What do you guys feel like doing now?"
"We could watch a movie?" Madison suggested.
"No," the others replied in unison. Veronica looked at them in surprise, unsure why they were all so adamantly opposed to the idea.
Madison looked rather put out by the universal rejection of her proposal. "Fine," she huffed. "Does anyone have a better idea?"
"How about poker?" Conner spoke up.
The general consensus was that it was a good idea. Trina and Madison moved to join Conner and Logan at the card table. Duncan stayed seated on the couch, turning back to Veronica with a smile. "What do you say?" he asked. "You in?"
Veronica didn't respond right away, instead casting a look towards the people gathered around the card table. She could see large quantities of cash being produced out of their wallets, and she guessed it was going to be a high stakes game. Damn, I barely have any cash on me. What a wasted opportunity. She glanced at Duncan, considering briefly that he'd probably front her the buy-in, if she asked. But if I do that, I'm sure to get those looks again. And I'm starting to get a bit tired of feeling like a charity case.
It really was a shame. She was sure she could take them all, and there would have been an undeniable satisfaction in that. Weevil had taught her to play years ago, and now she cleaned him out on a regular basis. Sometimes, when they were bored, they'd travel out of town for a game among people who didn't know them. Veronica played the part of the uncertain, wildly lucky amateur to perfection; Weevil slid easily into the role of disgruntled boyfriend, secretly folding every decent hand he pulled. Then she and Weevil would split the winnings, laughing all the way home.
"No thanks," she told Duncan. "I'm not really much of a poker player."
He frowned. "So what are you going to do, then, while we play?"
"Don't worry, I'm sure I can find something to do," Veronica assured him. "I just wish I'd remembered to tell Meg to pack the book I'm reading."
"There's a library down on the main deck," Duncan informed her. "Do you want me to show you?"
"Yeah, thanks," Veronica replied with a smile. They stood up, and she followed him out of the room. She felt incredibly grateful to him for his kind attempts to include her in their group. He's the only one who's even trying. Trina had barely spoken to her since she'd gotten on board, and Madison had only addressed her once- just after she'd come back up from her room, to ask her how Meg was feeling. Conner looked at her often enough, but never attempted conversation. And as for Logan…
He'd barely looked up when she'd entered the salon; and when he had, he'd made no greeting or sign that he was happy to see her. The couple of times she'd caught him glancing her way since, he'd looked more annoyed than anything else. Logan seemed to have reverted back to the sullen, aloof young man she'd first met at the Charity Ball. Veronica supposed she shouldn't be surprised by his sudden change in attitude. If anything, I should be relieved. This'll make things a lot easier.
But she did feel a bit lonely, without Meg. Her sister had assured her that she was just feeling queasy from too much alcohol, and she'd insisted that she'd be fine once she got some rest. When Veronica had eagerly offered to stay in the room with her, Meg had laughed- instructing her to stop being anti-social and to go hang out with the others.
Veronica didn't feel quite like herself, though. Her champagne buzz had waned into a mild headache, and part of her was happy to avoid the card game entirely. The thought of curling up with a good book and ignoring the others was becoming more and more appealing.
Duncan led her into the library. She chose a copy of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, smirking at the irony, and then walked back with Duncan to the upper deck salon. Veronica took a seat on one of the couches, flipping on the lamp next to her, while Duncan situated himself between Conner and Madison at the card table. Veronica had only read two paragraphs when she was interrupted.
"What are you doing over there, Veronica? Are you reading?" Trina asked in surprise.
"Yes," she replied, not looking up from her book.
"Veronica doesn't like poker," Duncan explained.
"Don't know how to play, huh?" Trina guessed, flashing her a look of pity. "It is a pretty complicated game. Definitely not for everyone."
Veronica immediately regretted telling Duncan that particular white lie. But before she could come to her own defense, Madison spoke up. "Meg tells me Veronica is quite the little schoolgirl. Top of her class and everything." Somehow, out of her mouth, it came out sounding more like an insult than a compliment. "I'm sure she needs to stay in and study, most of the time, in order to keep her grades up." She looked at Logan through her lashes. "Personally, I prefer the nightlife."
Veronica smiled but said nothing, attempting to return to her book.
Madison, though, wasn't satisfied with that response. "Is something funny?"
Veronica looked up from her book and addressed Madison. "I was just thinking that I've never been accused of being a bookworm, before. I like to read, but there are plenty of other things that occupy my time. I try to balance studying with having fun."
"Well I just like to have fun," Madison retorted, smiling sweetly. "Especially when I'm on vacation."
"Speaking of vacation," Logan spoke up, "I could use a drink." He threw his cards down and stood up, walking over to the bar and producing a bottle of wine. "Who wants one?"
Everyone except for Conner, who preferred scotch, agreed; Duncan folded his hand and walked over to the bar to help Logan pour. Realizing Veronica had stayed silent, Logan turned to her. "Will you be able to concentrate on your book, if you have a glass of wine?"
"Uh, sure," she replied, slightly taken aback that he was addressing her so politely.
He held up a bottle of Pinot Noir and a bottle of Chardonnay. "Red or white?"
Veronica squinted her eyes, trying to read the label. "What kind of red is that?"
"Pinot Noir," Logan replied, smoothly hiding his own surprise at her asking.
"That sounds good. Thanks."
Logan poured a glass and handed it to her, setting the rest of the bottle down on the end table. "Have as much as you'd like," he offered, gesturing to the bottle. "Enjoy."
Before she'd even taken a sip, Madison chimed in yet again. "We should probably warn you ahead of time- it's Logan's family label." She smirked at Trina, as she accepted her own glass of Chardonnay from Duncan. "I wouldn't want you to put your foot in your mouth."
Veronica glanced over at the bottle of wine next to her. The white label proclaimed it as "Pemberley Woods". The graphic in the background displayed a stunning mountain cliff and underlying valley, trees in the full height of autumn color. I didn't know the Echolls family owned a vineyard… I wonder where it is?
Suddenly aware that they were all focused on her, she swirled the wine around in her glass a few times and took a sip. "Delicious," she pronounced honestly.
Logan smiled to himself, pleased that she liked it but not sure why he cared. "Thank you." Their eyes met for the briefest moment, and then he busied himself with opening up another bottle.
"Is Pemberley Woods a real place?" she asked.
"Logan claims it is, but we've never actually seen it," Duncan replied with a grin. "I'm beginning to suspect it's an excuse he uses when he wants to get away from us all."
"You really are too private about it, Logan," Madison scolded him. "You know you can trust us to keep it a secret."
"I'm with Duncan," Trina said. "I don't think it exists."
"Of course it does," Madison disagreed. "He takes Heather there all of the time. And she wouldn't lie."
Veronica, who had given up all pretense of reading at this point, listened with great curiosity. Logan had remained silent throughout the discussion, only smiling at the claims that Pemberley Woods was a figment of his imagination. His secrecy about the place was confusing to Veronica; it didn't fit at all with the boastful, self-important picture he'd painted of himself so far. And who is Heather?
She didn't get her answer. Logan deftly turned the topic of conversation towards an upcoming party in New York, and Madison and Trina spoke of it with enthusiasm. He and Duncan assumed their seats back at the table, and Veronica went back to reading her book. She continued to listen to their conversation with half an ear, but they mostly spoke of people and places she wasn't familiar with.
Madison and Duncan got knocked out of the game early, but stayed seated at the table. Although Logan was the chip leader, he quickly grew bored of the game. Trina and Conner were both far too easy to read; there was no challenge in it. So he purposely went all in with a pair of jacks when he was sure Conner had kings, resigned to the fact that he'd have to listen to him brag about the bad beat for the rest of the night. It was worth it to get out of the game.
He stood up and walked over to the bar, topping off his wine glass and glancing over at Veronica. She appeared to be absorbed in her book, so he decided not to attempt conversation. Instead, he went looking for a pen and some paper. Finding both, he settled himself in the seat across from Veronica and began to write. He'd only written three sentences when Madison sat down next to him.
"That was a fun game, wasn't it?"
Logan nodded.
Madison took a sip of her drink. "I love this wine. It's the only kind I like to drink anymore. You've totally spoiled all of us."
Logan smiled, but stayed silent.
"Do you want another glass?" she asked.
"Thanks, I have a full one," he replied, gesturing to the glass in plain sight on the coffee table.
Madison laughed. "I didn't even notice. So what are you doing?"
"Writing a letter."
"By hand?" Madison laughed. When Logan didn't respond, she continued. "Who are you writing to?"
"Heather."
"Oh, tell her I said hello! I miss her so much. I feel like I haven't seen her in ages."
"I'll tell her," Logan promised.
"I probably won't even recognize her when she comes home for the summer," Madison said.
"It's only been a few months," Logan reminded her, amused. "She looks exactly the same. Still petite." He nodded to the blonde seated across from him. "Like Veronica."
Madison frowned at the comparison, but continued doggedly. "And why are you writing her by hand?" she pressed.
Logan sighed, putting down his pen. "We always write each other by hand. She likes to get letters in the mail. She says it's something fun for her to look forward to, while she's at school."
Veronica laid her book down, too interested to pretend to be reading any longer. "Who is Heather?" she asked, unable to resist. "Is that your girlfriend?"
"No," Madison laughed, before Logan could reply. "It's his sister."
Veronica attempted to hide her surprise. She supposed she'd known that Aaron and Lynn Echolls had a daughter, but she couldn't remember ever hearing anything about her in the press. She must be younger; maybe too young to come on this trip with them. She found it a bit odd that Logan was writing her a letter, instead of an email. But I guess it is kind of sweet.
"Does she not go to school in New York, with you?"
"No," Logan replied, frowning slightly. "She goes to an all girls boarding school in New Hampshire."
Veronica couldn't help but pick up on the change in his tone, and it led to even more questions. Maybe he just doesn't like being asked about his family by someone who's practically a stranger, she guessed. I can respect that. She had, however, done a Google search on her phone just after she'd boarded the ship, wanting to get a little bit more information about the people she'd be spending the next few days with.
From what she'd gathered, Duncan, Logan and Madison all attended the prestigious Claremont Preparatory School in Manhattan. Duncan and Madison's names appeared frequently in various society articles, but Logan's came up far less. Aside from a handful of photos of him at movie premieres (some gorgeous girl invariably at his side), she'd found very little. And her search had revealed nothing about a "Heather". It seemed unusual to Veronica. It also seemed strange that she went to a different school. But she was prepared to let the matter drop.
Madison, however, smiled broadly and placed her hand on Logan's arm. "Logan here decided last year that an education at the best school in Manhattan just wasn't good enough for his sister."
"It was the kind of education she was getting that concerned me," Logan muttered.
Madison shot him a confused look; but before she could respond, Duncan came over and sat down on the couch next to Veronica. "What are we talking about?" he asked.
"Veronica thought Heather was Logan's girlfriend," Madison smirked.
"Girlfriend?" Duncan laughed. He rolled his eyes at his friend and turned to Veronica. "Logan has yet to meet a girl worthy enough of holding that title. For more than a couple of weeks, anyway."
"I told you already," Logan replied, looking at Duncan pointedly. "I just have higher standards than most people."
"And what kind of woman would meet your requirements?" Veronica questioned, not attempting to hide her amusement.
Again, Madison spoke up before Logan could answer. He shot her an annoyed look, but let her speak. "Well, she has to be beautiful, of course. Fashionable, well-mannered. She has to be educated, interesting… able to talk about a number of different subjects." Madison shot a look at Veronica. "And she has to come from a good family."
"Speak at least four languages, be proficient at both boxing and ballet, and play a mean guitar," Duncan joked.
"Sounds good so far," Logan conceded with a grin.
Madison frowned. "I don't think any of that sounds so crazy. I can think of lots of girls who fall into that category." She rolled her eyes at her brother. "Except for the boxing thing."
Veronica hid a smile, taking a sip of her wine as she waited for Logan's response.
"Can you?" Logan asked. "I'm drawing a blank."
"How about, like, every single girl we go to school with?" Madison retorted, sounding slightly irritated.
"Hardly," Logan snorted.
"You said 'sounds good so far'", Veronica spoke up. "I'm just wondering, what else does this worthy woman need to possess?" She took another sip of her wine and set it down. "The power of flight?" she joked. "Invisibility? Super healing?"
Logan laughed. "No. She doesn't need to be one of the X-Men."
"Well what, then?" Veronica baited him. "Why don't you tell us more about this perfect woman of yours?"
He shrugged. "Well, for starters, she shouldn't be perfect. Perfect is boring, and I'd want her to keep me guessing. But she should be intelligent, definitely. Not just well-educated, but someone with common sense, too." Logan sat up a little straighter, warming to the topic. "She'd need to be fun, you know, into trying new things. And witty, with a good sense of humor. But also serious, sometimes. Ambitious."
"Wow," Veronica said, raising an eyebrow. "Tall order."
"Not so very tall," he answered.
Veronica stared at him, wondering what he meant by that, and he held her gaze. He was looking at her with that odd combination of intensity and amusement again, and she started to feel a bit off kilter. "And do you think yourself capable of attracting this elusive creature?" she asked with a smile. She was attempting to keep things light, but her words had come out sounding more like a challenge than an innocent query.
"Absolutely," he replied, lips curving up in an answering smile.
"So I suppose, then," Veronica said, "on a scale of one to ten, you consider yourself a ten?"
"You think I'm a ten?" he teased. "Why, thank you."
"No, I think you think you're a ten," she corrected.
Madison's eyes had been going back and forth during their conversation, as though she were watching a tennis match. She was getting more and more alarmed at the strange, flirtatious familiarity they were both displaying. Had the two of them spent more time together than she'd realized, since they had arrived in Neptune? What game was Logan playing, here?
Although she didn't understand subtext, she knew what it meant when men and women stared at each other like that. And that was unacceptable. So by the time they'd reached this point in the conversation, she felt an overwhelming need to put a stop to whatever it was she was witnessing. She stood up abruptly, and Logan and Veronica both looked up at her. "Who else is getting hungry?" she asked.
"I could eat," Duncan replied. "What are you guys in the mood for?"
Trina and Conner were called into the discussion, and they were all soon arguing over options. Veronica closed her book and laid it aside. There was no way she'd be able to concentrate now. When Duncan asked her to weigh in on the conversation, she declined. "I'm actually not hungry at all," she told him. "I think I'll go check on Meg. Don't wait for me, I probably won't be joining you for dinner."
"Are you sure? Well please let me know if Meg is feeling worse, or if she needs anything," he requested. "There are intercoms in every room. If you need anything, just hit 7 and a steward will answer. Don't hesitate to ask them for anything you guys need. Really, anything at all."
Veronica smiled, pleased at the concern he was showing for Meg. It was amazing to her that he came from the same family as Trina and Madison, who were currently having a heated debate about whether calamari was squid or octopus . But I suppose we're all just as different from one another, in my family. She glanced at Logan as she stood up. He'd gone back to writing his letter. Not wanting to bother him, and fairly certain he wouldn't care anyway, she slipped silently out of the room.
Madison watched her leave, hoping she wouldn't come back for the rest of the night. After they'd finally settled on what to order for dinner, she reclaimed her seat next to Logan. He looked up from his letter, glancing around him in confusion. "Where did…everyone go?"
"We're all here," she assured him, smiling sweetly. "Oh, except for Veronica. But she doesn't really count, does she?" When Logan didn't make the expected sarcastic reply, she grew more concerned. "So all of that talk, before, about your perfect woman… Do you think she's asking because she wants to know how to reel you in? Or is it because she doesn't know how a true lady is supposed to act?"
To Madison's surprise, Logan didn't respond at all, other than to fold up his letter and stand up. "You know," he finally said, "I forgot. There's one more trait I look for in a woman."
"What's that?" she asked eagerly.
"Integrity," he replied. "I hate mind games." And with that, he walked out of the room.
xxXxx
Although entirely unaware of the other's actions, Logan and Veronica ended up spending the greater part of their nights in a very similar manner. The former stayed in his room with only a bottle of wine to keep him company, choosing to watch Titanic- partially for the irony of it, and partially because he secretly liked the movie. The latter opted for a Mad Men marathon on AMC, skipping the wine. Neither one of them went up for dinner.
At around eleven, Veronica realized that she was starving. She glanced over at Meg to make sure she was still okay. Her sister was sleeping a bit fitfully, but Veronica thought she'd be okay if she left for a little bit. She'd briefly considered the intercom, remembering Duncan's instructions, yet she'd decided eleven was too late to bother the staff. They already prepared two dinners today; I'm not going to ask them to make a third. Slipping a white terrycloth robe over the tiny, practically shear black nightie she'd been forced to wear to bed, she ventured from the room.
About an hour later, Logan stood in front of the intercom in his room in just his boxers, a scowl on his face. What the hell number am I supposed to push, again? He glared at the device. Stupid thing is supposed to make things more convenient, but there are no freaking instructions on it. He thought about pushing every button until he found the right one; but even in his less-than-sober state, he knew that wasn't the best idea.
Sighing heavily, he shrugged into a t-shirt, slipped on a pair of flip-flops, and left his room. His intention was to head back to the upper deck to see what kind of snacks they had up there. But when he reached the lobby and hit the button for the elevator, one look at his reflection in the mirror convinced him to abandon that plan. There were certain people who he'd rather not risk running into, in his current disheveled- and slightly inebriated- state.
Remembering that the galley was somewhere on the lower deck, he headed down the passageway. As he approached the end of the hall, he heard raucous laughter and cheering coming from inside. Logan slowed down as he reached the open door, glancing inside curiously.
Veronica was standing at the island in a white robe, with four men who looked to be in their early twenties. All of them wore the blue and white uniforms identifying them as staff. Three of the guys stood in a straight line with Veronica, while the fourth one poured Bailey's into shot glasses lined up in front of them. "And now the whipped cream on top," Veronica instructed.
"What is this drink called?" asked the man to her right, in a heavy French accent.
Veronica flashed him a grin. "You don't want to know."
He narrowed his eyes in suspicion, although he continued to smile at her. "I think, maybe, I do not want to drink this drink."
"No, no, it's good. I promise!" she exclaimed. "It tastes like dessert. Besides," she added. "You guys lost that round, and this is your punishment. At least I didn't pick Goldschläger, like Martin over there."
"Goldschläger is delicious!" Martin insisted. The rest of them groaned good-naturedly, as he finished adding whipped cream to the last shot glass.
"Okay, now we all put our hands behind our backs and pick up the shot with our mouths," Veronica told them. "No cheating! Ready? One, two, three!"
All five of them did the shot, depositing the shot glasses noisily on the stainless steel counter when they were done. The five of them broke into laughter at the sight of each other, whipped cream covering their mouths, noses and chins. It was just as Veronica was attempting to lick the whipped cream off of her upper lip with her tongue that she spotted Logan, watching them from the doorway.
Alain, the French man who stood next to her, heard her gasp of surprise and looked up. Seeing Logan, he quickly alerted the others to his presence. Veronica watched as they all became silent and stoic before her eyes, working diligently to wipe the remaining whipped cream off of their faces and remove the shot glasses from the counter. Alain approached Logan cautiously, unsure how the young man would react to their revelry.
"Mr. Echolls, sir, how can I help you?" he asked.
Logan glanced at Veronica, feeling just as hesitant and uncertain as the crew. What the hell is going on here? But her expression remained composed, and he turned back to Alain. "I'm just looking for something to eat," he explained. "I didn't mean to- interrupt."
"Not at all, sir," Alain replied. He nodded to Veronica with a smile. "The young lady was kind enough to teach us some entertaining games, tonight. Can I interest you in some cold duck? Grilled salmon?"
"Uh, whatever's the fastest," Logan replied. "I just wanted a snack."
"Of course. We'll fix something for you and deliver it to your room momentarily," Alain promised.
"Thanks."
Alain turned to Veronica. "And for you, young lady?" he asked with a sly smile. "We'd be happy to deliver something to your room, as well."
Yeah, I bet, Logan thought dryly.
"Thanks, but I'm still full from those nachos," she returned. "I'll see you guys later."
They all said good night to her, and Logan followed her out of the galley. Neither said anything until just before they reached the lobby, when Veronica suddenly stumbled and Logan caught her without thinking. They both stopped walking, and Logan quickly removed his hands from her waist. Veronica leaned against the wall and smiled up at Logan. "Sorry about that. Guess I haven't gotten my sea legs yet."
Logan nodded. "Well either that, or you're drunk off your ass from all the shots you just downed."
Veronica looked up at him with eyes shining and cheeks flushed pink, confirming his suspicion that she and the crew had done more than just a couple of shots together. They stood very close to one another in the narrow hallway, so close that he could feel the warmth of her skin. He noticed that the belt on her robe had come loose, and he caught an enticing hint of something black and silky beneath.
"Were you… watching me?" she asked. Veronica was slightly appalled to hear herself speaking to him in such flirty, breathy tones. I sound like I'm on some trashy soap opera. Like I'm a gold-digging seductress named Morgan Winthorpe or something, trying desperately to get the wayward son of the most powerful family in town in my bed. Damn shots.
But Logan surprised her with a playful smile of his own. "Maybe."
"And are you impressed that I just got a group of men to do that particular shot?"
Logan leaned against the opposite wall. "I am," he conceded. He gave her a sly smile. "Although I'd have been more impressed if you'd gotten them to do body shots."
"Maybe I'm saving those for tomorrow night," she suggested with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm pretty sure that's not how a lady is supposed to behave."
"Maybe not a New York lady. Here on the west coast, we're a little more lax in our definition."
Veronica flashed him a rather coy smile and continued down the passageway. He shook his head but followed her. When they reached the lobby, she paused uncertainly in front of the elevator. "Which floor are we on?" she asked.
"Deck," he corrected. "We're on the lower deck."
"And my room is…?"
"On the main deck. You go up one."
"Ah, that was my mistake. I got off on the wrong floor."
"And that's when you met those fine gentleman?" he asked, nodding towards the galley.
"Yes. But it all worked out, because I was looking for something to eat. So what are you doing down here?" she inquired.
"My room is right over there."
"Oh. I didn't think there were any guest rooms down here."
"Just mine," he replied.
She only nodded in reply, reaching over to hit the "up" button on the elevator. As she did, her robe came slightly more undone. He could see that what she wore below was even more revealing than he'd imagined. The neckline dipped down in a lace-trimmed V, while the silky black hem just grazed her upper thigh.
Logan lowered his head slightly, but couldn't seem to quite look away. He scratched the back of his neck absently, suddenly realizing that he was dressed in only a t-shirt and boxers himself. His last words rang through his head, sounding suspiciously like an invitation, and he spoke before he'd even decided what to say. "I never got to give you that tour."
"No," she agreed.
"How about after breakfast tomorrow?" he suggested. He gave her a wry smile. "I wouldn't want you to get lost again."
The elevator arrived, and Veronica opened the glass doors before finally responding. "All right," she agreed. She was choosing to view his offer as a personal challenge- an opportunity to prove to herself that his presence didn't bother her. Because the determined dislike she'd felt for him had begun to wane, replaced by something far more confusing... and that was unacceptable. But it's only because I just did all of those shots. Everyone starts to seem more appealing, after a few drinks. "I'll take you up on that."
"We always do breakfast in the tea room on the main deck." Logan raised an eyebrow at her. "Should I come get you in the morning?"
"Thanks," she said, as she stepped inside the elevator. "But I'm not that blonde. I think I'll manage to find it. Good night."
"Night."
She closed the door and pressed the button to go up. Logan watched as she disappeared from his view, getting one last glimpse of bare leg before she was gone. He pressed his forehead against the cool marble of the nearby wall and groaned, shutting his eyes tight. This is more than an attraction, he finally admitted to himself. I like this girl. And I still don't know what the hell I'm going to do about it.
He stood up straight and headed back to his room. It was going to be a long, lonely night.
A/N The ship that they're on is based on an actual luxury yacht, and it's stunning. If anyone wants to see pictures, let me know. I'd be happy to post a link on my profile page.
This story has been a lot harder to plot and write than I'd anticipated. (I originally figured on eight chapters total- ha!) I sincerely hope that I'm doing both the book and the characters from the show justice. Reviews are very much appreciated! :)