Hilary rang the bell a moment later and I heaved a heavy sigh as the next man approached.
The following three guys that sat across from me were nothing to write home about. Only one was decent looking but came off as a workaholic with a drinking problem. Not to mention his constant vulgar compliments and eyes glued to my chest left little to be desired.
Logan on the other hand appeared to be having a much better time. On multiple occasions I caught him staring, and most of those times he seemed to be laughing…at me. Was it that obvious that these men were boring the hell out of me?
The bell rang and Logan took a seat at the table next to mine, he was a mere five feet away and facing my direction. The woman at his table was pretty and about my age. I’d never seen her around town before, but sitting so close to her all night I quickly learned she was both flirty and touchy with most the men that sat with her.
“Hi, I’m Vanessa,” the woman told him, her smile all teeth as she looked him over. I tried to not pay attention, but Mr. Gifford the town barber was now seated across from me ordering a drink.
“Logan, it’s a pleasure,” Logan replied and I suddenly felt awkward eavesdropping. Mr. Gifford cleared his throat pulling my attention back to him.
“So, Cassandra. You look delectable this evening.” The old man slowly licked his lips, his eyes taking me all in.
Swallowing the repulsion rising in my throat, I gave a painful tight smile. “Thanks, Mr. Gifford,” I said politely. Why was he even here? He was old enough to be my great-grandfather for Christ’s sake.
“Please, call me Sal, honey,” he said, leaning in to place his hand over mine. Instantly, I pulled it away shooting him an assertive scowl.
“So tell me about yourself, Logan,” Vanessa asked, her voice eager for information. My ears perked up waiting to hear his answer as well. “Rumor has it you have a little boy. How old is your son?”
Logan sat quietly for a brief moment appearing unaffected, drink swirling in his hand before tilting his head and catching my gaze from the corner of his eye. I straightened in my chair, pretending to not notice. “I’d rather talk about you, Vanessa, what do you do for a living?” Logan’s reply came out cold and clipped. Something I’d never heard before.
He didn’t seem to want to talk about Oliver, and I found myself curious but the sound of Vanessa’s voice as she began spouting out about how she was a chef at restaurant a few towns over left me bored. Logan twisted his neck to the side just enough to smirk at me. I rolled my eyes right back at him. He chuckled at my impassive move and Vanessa abruptly stopped talking. Damn why couldn’t I stop staring? It wasn’t like me…at all.
“What’s so funny?” She giggled.
Looking back at Mr. Gifford, I didn’t listen for his reply. Sal was drinking a bottle of imported beer, painting a disturbing picture I’d forever have engraved into my brain, as his tongue lingered around the tip. Damn him.
“So Sal, what brings you out so late?” I asked deciding to make the most of the final few minutes with him.
“I may be a bit older than you, honey, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to have fun,” he slurred, his eyes dark and clouded as they traveled to my cleavage.
Choking down the bile that was itching to spew from my mouth I closed my eyes, hoping to make him disappear. I took a giant gulp of my drink, working hard to swallow it against the pressure of revulsion. For the first time that night I found myself wishing Logan was in front of me. Anyone would be better than Sal.
“I’ve been waiting to get over to this table, you know,” Sal said, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
I made a face, not sure how to take his comment. “Hmm, really. That’s…” I had no clue how I felt about his confession. I gave an uncomfortable, tight-lipped chuckle and took another long drink hoping to dull his image with alcohol.
“Why don’t we get out of here and go on back to my place. I’ll have you screaming my name by the time the sun comes up.”
My mouth full of margarita spat across the table. “What!”
I struggled to control my harsh coughing, as I set down my glass and reached for the napkin in front of me to wipe my mouth.
Did he really just say that? His wife died not even a year ago not to mention this was the same guy that used to give me a quarter when I was a kid.
Sal seemed unfazed yet the sounds from the table beside me left me reeling. Turning in my seat, I grimaced. Logan’s head was hung back, shoulders jumping up and down, laughing hysterically. I shot him a threatening glare, but he was too busy trying to compose himself to notice as Vanessa sat there confused and disgusted by the mess covering my table.
“Come on, baby, let me show you how a real man treats a lady,” Sal said, oblivious to my apparent revulsion and the liquid in front of him. He shamelessly reached his hand under the table, placing it on my knee. I froze, my body painfully still and eyes wide as his wrinkled, calloused hand slipped quickly up my bare leg. Before I could react, Logan was out of his chair, standing behind Sal with his hands on the old man’s shoulders.
“All right, Sal, I think you’ve had enough fun with Cassandra tonight.”
Sal stood up throwing me a quick wink and walked toward the bar.
“Thanks,” I mumbled.
Logan said nothing, his face lit with hilarity and I could see him fighting off a smile before he sat back down with Vanessa.
Grabbing a few napkins from the dispenser on a nearby table, I sat there trying to wipe up the drink that was dripping from the table’s edge. The bell went off and I sighed. When would this night be over? Shaking my head, I placed the soaked napkins to the side of the table just as Logan sat down in front of me.
Shit.
I needed more time to prepare for this. Taking a deep breath, I sat up farther in my seat pulling at my dress to cover any cleavage. He’s already had enough of a show from me in that department.
“Hello, Cassandra,” Logan said, his voice rough and sexy.
“Logan.” I replied coldly titling my head for added emphasis. I was in no mood for games tonight and if he kept talking like that, with that look in his eyes, I’d only embarrass myself. Flagging down the waitress I ordered another drink.
“I have to admit, I was happily surprised to see you here tonight, sweetheart. A woman as lovely as yourself surely must have men lined up around the block for a date.”
The waitress stepped to our table and we both ordered another round of drinks. I ordered water, earning me a dubious look from Logan. Ignoring him, I watched the waitress bat her eyes and giggle as he asked for a scotch, neat.
“Water?” He asked, brows furrowed.
“Scotch?” I replied with equal disdain. Truth was I needed a clear head to deal with him. My body was far too attracted to him and with the amount of alcohol already consumed tonight, my brain was slowly forgetting why he was off limits.
He chuckled to himself. “You never answered my question?”
“I’m only here as a favor to Caleb,” I replied.
“Of course, I’ve been told you’re very…considerate.” He appeared to want to say something else but looked away, sipping his drink.
Been told? Had he asked about me or was he referring to my striptease in his pool? We sat for what felt like more than five minutes alone just staring at each other. I flushed and tried to avert my gaze to look around the room but it only seemed to add to his amusement.