AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He went silent after that, and Jinx still wanted answers. “I know your mother died early and I remember Vic saying your father threw you out and that was why he used to bring you to our house whenever U Penn had a break. But I also think, coming from a working class family, that Victor envied the fact that your dad was wealthy and that he had a business you would inherit. And I think he’d hoped he would be part of that.”
With a bitter laugh, Logan sat up. “Well, then it’s a good thing we split because that never would have happened.”
Startled by his words and bitter tone, Jinx watched in confused silence as Logan got up and began to dress. Did he have a side to him that she did not know? She had seen an article online that called him a “take no prisoners” operator.
Before she could think of what to say, Logan had on his clothes and shoes and was standing there looking down at her. He bent forward and planted a kiss on her forehead. “The rush hour traffic starts at six, so now is the best time for me to head back to the city to beat it.”
Which meant their discussion was over.
She watched him slip out her bedroom door, heard his feet pad down the stairs, and finally heard the sound of his Ferrari pulling out of her driveway.
He did not say goodbye, but he also did not say he would call her. Was this the end of their relationship? Did they have a relationship? Or was this merely the conclusion of their “two nights” agreement?
He had said this second night would help them “let go.” But Jinx was not anywhere near ready to let go of Logan—and doubted she ever would be.
7
“OMG, Mr. Sexy Eyes spent the night here with you,” Anthia said, walking into the kitchen. “You never let guys spend the night. Spill, girl. I’m dating Rex now so I promise not to get too jealous.”
Sitting at the table with a coffee, Jinx shook her head, unsure of what to tell her roommate about Logan.
Before she could say anything, Anthia held up a hand, stopping her. “Don’t try to deny it. I saw his Ferrari in the driveway when I came in. I was going to set my alarm clock so I could see what he looked like in the morning, but then I decided I didn’t want him to see my morning-after-Coco’s bedraggled look.”
Jinx hated the way girls shared private details of their love lives and had never been one to take part. She knew Anthia was chomping at the bit for something juicy, but Logan meant too much to her to turn him into the subject of girl gossip or “a catch.” She had managed to satisfy her roommate yesterday with a few tidbits about Portia and the party at the nightclub, but she’d left out anything about Logan, including the fact that she had slept at his place and not Jenna’s.
“He was gone by then anyway,” Jinx said. “He left in the middle of the night around three. Wanted to beat the traffic going into the city.”
Anthia took a seat across from her, leaning forward with an eager look, but
Jinx stood up, saying, “I’ve got to run. I’m meeting my sister for breakfast.” As she headed out of the kitchen, she added, “It’s some personal family stuff we need to discuss,” to prevent Anthia from asking if she could join them.
Jinx felt bad, seeing her roommate’s disappointed expression, but she could not help it. Anthia was only twenty-one and a young twenty-one at that. This situation with Logan was complicated and the family secrets it involved were not things she would want to share with her.
Natalie’s Coffee Cove in the small town of North Cove had been the first venture Jinx’s big sister had tried. Five years later, and now Natalie had another diner in the South Fork, two bakeries, a catering business, plus an impressive line of baked goods that she sold nationally, not to mention having won baking awards and being featured on a national cooking show.
And becoming Mrs. Shane Stone and a mother.
But Natalie never forgot her beloved first diner and still showed up here once a week, buzzing around to each table, refilling coffee and talking with friends in the tightly knit community. Natalie was the epitome of a hometown girl and people loved her for it.
This morning Jinx walked past the window booths and waded through the three rows of shiny white tables, nodding at former neighbors and old friends, as she made her way to Natalie’s private office. The photos on the walls and shelves used to all be of Natalie’s West Highland Terrier, Phil, but now she also had photos of her husband, Shane, and their baby son, Clark, and their adopted daughter, Phoebe.
Typical of her big sister, Natalie’s office was not dominated by a desk. Instead, she had a small dining table in the center of the room, and this morning it was set with a carafe of coffee, a plate of scrambled eggs and home fries and a wedge of apple. Next to that was another plate with a muffin, a brownie, and an apple turnover.
“Geez, is this all for me?” Jinx said, giving Natalie a hug.
“Yes. I’ll have some coffee, but I have been nibbling all morning since I got here.” She slid into a chair across from Jinx. “So, tell me what’s going on. You sounded really upset when you called me earlier.”
“I’m sorry. I tried to sound calm.” Jinx dug into the apple turnover, then took a bite of the creamy chocolate brownie and sipped some coffee.
“I know, but you are such a bad actor, and now you’re eating the turnover and brownie first. Which means you need comfort food. Eat your eggs, baby sis.”
Jinx smirked and picked up her fork. “How is everything at home? The kids doing well?”
“Yes. You want some orange juice?”
“You know I hate orange juice.”
“Just checking.” Natalie leaned back in her chair. “Is this about Victor getting engaged?”
