Chapter 17

Rory and Logan returned to the Gilmore Manor after stocking up on all the movie candies they would need. Logan grabbed a couple of steaks to grill. They decided to stay in on this wonderful Saturday night.

Logan was on the patio sitting up the grill. He had already put the steaks in the fridge to marinate. Rory had her playlist playing through the house speakers. She was dancing around while she was preparing the potatoes to go on the grill. She was singing into a cucumber meant for the salad when Logan walked in from the patio. He stood there a minute, just watching.

Rory's cooking skills have improved. Between Shooki, Luke and Sara, Rory learned enough for her and Tori to survive if she had to.

"Hey" Logan said, stepping into the kitchen. "Your propane tank is empty. I'm going to take it down to Nick's and get it filled."

"Okay," Rory said, putting the cucumber down. She could see the smirk on his face. No telling how long he was watching. "I have an account with him, so just charge it."

Logan turned to go back out to get the tank. "Really Ace, I don't think so. I would rather you owe me." With the smirk wide on his face, he shut the door.

Rory was opening a bottle of wine, when she saw the headlights of a car pulling into the drive. The lights were too high to be Logan's Porsche, besides you don't leave Nick's without at least a 15 minute conversation. She was trying to see out the window when the doorbell rang.

Rory rarely had visitors she didn't expect. She kept the gate closed all the time. Logan must have left it open. She dried her hands and looked out the dining room window. She could see the car, but couldn't see who it was. The doorbell rang again. She pulled her phone from her apron and pulled up the monitor. It was Jess.

"Alexa, volume down." She commanded her echo dot.

She opened the door. "Jess?" she said. "What brings you by?" She had not moved out of the doorway. She didn't have a problem with Jess. They got along well. They spent some holidays together when he would be visiting his mom or Luke, but she had an uneasy feeling about this visit. She was sure he knew Logan was with her today at the festival. She could count on one hand how many times he has been to this house since Tori was born.

"Can I come in Ms merry homemaker? I like the apron." he asked. She looked down at the green apron she put on. She didn't immediately move, but she eventually stepped out of his way.

"Can I take your coat?" She asked. Hoping he would say he wasn't staying long. He pulled off his jacket and handed it to Rory. She laid it over the bench in the foyer.

She watched him as he moved to the sitting room. She followed. "It was nice to see you today. You usually time your visits when there is no festival. I know how you hate them."

"Uhum" He said. Rory wasn't sure if he was agreeing with her or not.

"I just opened a bottle of wine, would you like a glass?" She asked. "Then we can sit and you can tell me what you are doing here."

"I'll have a beer if you have it…What if I just wanted to visit?" He asked, As she was returning from the bar. She was getting wise to his game now. She and Jess spent a lot of time together when she was first pregnant, while she got the Manor renovated. He was helping her with her book. That was until Lorelai put a stop to the book.

After that Jess would come in and out of Stars Hollow when he wanted to, mostly when she and Tori were visiting. It's funny how he always knew. They had even gone on a stroll or two around Stars Hollow.

Logan was back in her life, so she guessed he felt threatened. She didn't know why, she had never given him any reason to believe they were more than friends. Then the realization hit her. Lorelai sent him?

"Most people wait for an invitation to visit, Jess. I know we have never stood on protocall, but I don't remember you ever showing up at my house without an invitation." She said, She had her society smile plastered on her face.

He took a long drag off his beer, without breaking eye contact with her.

They both turned when they heard Logan come through the french doors into the living room. "Ace," he said. "Nick said to let him know next time the tank is empty, he will bring it to you." Logan stopped when he spotted Jess.

Well actually he watched Jess and Rory for a few minutes before he came in. He could hear what they were saying and it sounded like Jess showed up uninvited and Rory was trying to find out why.

"Jess, Hey" Logan said. "I would shake your hand but I have been down at Nick's getting propane. My hands smell like gas." Jess didn't move or crack a smile. Just nodded his head.

Logan looked at Rory. He was asking if she was okay. He could see she was. "I'm gonna step in the powder room and wash my hands." He walked to Rory, stopping long enough to peck her on the cheek, then turned down the hall.

When Logan returned, Jess was sitting on the sofa with a beer in his hand, while Rory had a glass of wine. She was still standing. "Jess staying to eat?" he asked Rory.

"No," She said. "I haven't invited him" She walked over to the armchair and had a seat,"he is going to tell us what prompted his visit and then he is going to be on his way. Then we can get on with our evening plans." The society smile still on her face.

Jess sat there, watching. He could tell the smile didn't reach her eyes. Lorelia told him Logan had returned. She suggested he visit.

"Jess" Logan began, but Jess didn't even look toward him. Logan looked at Rory and shrugged. "We are getting ready to grill some steaks."

Rory interrupted. "Jess, I will ask you again, what brings you to visit us." she was sure to add the 'us.' "If you are not going to tell me, I am going to have to ask you to leave."

Jess downed the rest of his beer, then stood up. "I just thought two friends could get together and talk. Maybe next time." He walked past her, grabbing his coat on the way out.

When Rory heard the door shut, she turned to Logan and said, "What the"

"I know," Logan said. "What do you think he wanted?"

"Not sure, but I have a feeling Lorelai had something to do with it." She told him.

"Well he is not going to ruin this evening. I have the tank hooked up. The grill is ready for the potatoes. When I get them on, it will be ready for the steak." Logan told her.

She nodded. He walked over to her, took her in his arms and kissed her. "Now, do you think you can forget about all this, just for tonight. In the morning we will get to the bottom of this."

She nodded. "I will get the steaks," She said.

"After you close the gate." He said. She took her phone from her apron, pulled up the gate control and closed and locked it. A code would be needed to get in. She smiled at Logan and he went back to the patio. Lorelai has the gate code. She needs it for Tori. Rory sighed, thoughts for another day.