Across Eternity Page 2

  "Nothing."

  She looked up surprised. "When you looked my way I assumed you wanted something. I thought you were ready to order." With the back of her hand she pushed a strand of hair from her eyes and blinked.

  "I do want something," he agreed, as he drew in a breath of salty air.

  She lifted her pad, poising her pen on the white paper. "And what might that be?"

  Logan could tell she was trying to hide her smile. She knew good and well she wouldn’t be writing anything. "I want you to join me." He gestured with his hand to the chair across from him. "Please, sit."

  "That’s very kind of you, but it’s not possible."

  "Anything’s possible." Logan pointed out reasonably.

  "Not that."

  "Really?" he questioned.

  Her hair danced as she nodded. "Really."

  Logan already knew her name. In fact, he knew almost everything there was to know about her. However, he allowed his eyes to drop to the name badge just above her breast before he spoke. "Why can’t you join me," he looked up. "Amber?"

  Chapter Two

  Amber Lewis tapped her pen against the tablet as she tried very hard not to grin. He was casual, not at all stuffy, like most of the men who dined here. His flirting wasn’t insulting or discourteous. Instead it was underplayed and rather effective she thought.

  She knew the dangers of flirting with customers so she decided to end it. But she would have a little fun as she did. "I could come up with a long list of reasons why I can’t join you but I don’t have the time so I’ll state the most obvious—" she puckered her lips and then spoke. "I might get fired."

  With his finger, he wiped lazily at the condensation on his glass. "Fired? We wouldn’t want that to happen."

  She shook her head in agreement. "No, we wouldn’t. I think the bill collectors and my landlord would be very disappointed if I lost this job." She lifted the pad again. "Would you like a cocktail or something else to drink while you decide what you’re going to order?"

  "No, the water is fine."

  "An appetizer?"

  "I’ll pass."

  "You’re making this very hard on me."

  "I could say the same about you. I love your smile." He stared at her lips. "Actually, I love the smile that you’re trying to hide."

  "That’s very kind of you but that could also get me fired."

  "Or a very big tip," he said truthfully.

  She had no choice but to laugh. He was simply charming.

  "I knew I’d be able to make you laugh."

  "It sounds like you’ve been planning it."

  "I have. From the moment I saw you." He watched her. "What if I could guarantee that you won’t get fired?"

  "Though I like your confidence I really don’t think that’s possible."

  "Remember, anything is possible." He lifted his water and sipped. Looking over the rim he asked, "Would you agree to join me if there were no repercussions for doing so?"

  She was quiet for a moment and then with mock seriousness she said, "There are always repercussions."

  He shook his head. "Not always."

  She pulled in her bottom lip in an attempt to hide her amusement. She was having way too much fun with him. She couldn’t seem to resist his calm, deep voice, his casual debonair attitude, and his good looks. Maybe it was she simply didn’t want to. Looking back into his eyes she realized that she had no control over the attraction. It was there and there was nothing she could do to prevent it. Not that she had any inclination to. She was positive she knew him from somewhere…perhaps a long time ago. But from where she couldn’t remember.

  "You know, when you bite your lip like that all the pleasure you’re trying to hide escapes to your eyes."

  "Does it?" She would add smooth to his list of irresistible qualities, not like he needed anymore of them. But she noted it nonetheless.

  He raised his shoulders. "Just an observation."

  "And what else have you observed?" She knew the question was shameless but she couldn’t seem to help herself. This man was like no other. At some point and time he’d have to lose his cool—no man was this suave…

  "I could come up with a long list if I had time, but I’ll state the most obvious—" he puckered his lips just as she had when she’d spoken the line to him. "You’re breathtaking."

  She could only stare at him. He wasn’t just saying it, he actually meant it. The innocent flirting was still there but it was shadowed by how serious he was. He actually meant that she was taking his breath away. The notion startled her.

  He smiled as he sat forward and gestured with his hands. "Look at me, please, except my apology. I’ve invited you to join me and I haven’t even introduced myself." He raised his hand. "My name is Logan Richards."

  "Mr. Richards—"

  "Logan," he insisted.

  Amber didn’t take the hand that was offered to her. "Logan, my boss would fire me on the spot if he knew I was even considering—" She paused and her eyes widened. "Oh, God, here he comes."

  "Who?"

  "Mr. Hendricks, my boss. He’s the manager. Please, order something fast."

  Logan turned and glanced over his shoulder to see a serious man of about fifty, in a smartly tailored gray suit and a perfectly straight red tie, walking briskly toward them. He turned back to Amber. "I’ve already explained I don’t want to order anything."

  "You weren’t supposed to look at him," Amber said without looking up from her pad. "Why did you look at him? Now he’s going to think there’s a problem. Mr. Hendricks doesn’t like problems in his restaurant."

  "How are you talking like that? Your lips aren’t even moving."

  "This is serious," she mumbled without looking at him.

  He watched her write intently on the pad. "What are you writing? I haven’t ordered anything."

  "I’m pretending." She stared down her nose at him, all flirtatious intentions long gone. "Now, it’s your turn."

  "To what?" he whispered because she was.

  "To pretend. Act like you want to order," she snapped out before she lifted her head casually and smiled gently like it was the first time she’d ever spoken to him. "May I take your order sir?" She said in a friendly, sticky-sweet voice as her boss neared.

  "You know what I want," Logan insisted in a hushed tone.

  Her voice dropped again as she glanced over to see Mr. Hendricks stop at a table and give two regulars an energetic greeting. Her eyes shifted back to Logan. "You don’t understand how much trouble I might be in."

  "You haven’t done anything wrong," he pointed out.

  "Yes, I have. For starters I left my tables and I’ve been talking with a customer for way too long."

  "You’ve also flirted with me," he added.

  "I’m glad you’re enjoying this."

  "I really am." He smiled. "I’ve really enjoyed the flirting part too."

  She bent toward him a little further, trying desperately to keep her posture relaxed. Her expression said anything but that. "Do you know that flirting happens to be the number one no, no on the list of no, no’s that I’ve committed in the last five minutes?"

  He shook his head. "I wasn’t aware of that."

  "Professionalism and efficiency are Mr. Hendricks top two priorities and I am to maintain them at all times."

  "That sounds like a fundamental part of running a good business," Logan nodded in agreement.

  "I’ve done neither with you."

  "Ah," he said slowly.

  "Do you know how hard it is to get a job at a place like this? It’s almost impossible unless you have connections. I don’t have any connections. I had to bust my ass to get here." She looked up then back down at her pad. "Please, just order something and do it fast."

  "I don’t—"

  "Logan," she snapped out in complete frustration.

  Logan glanced quickly behind him. "Here he comes. I think I’ll just ask him if you can join me—unless you’d like to ask."

  "
You’re completely out of your mind," she whispered.

  "You think so?"

  "We took this too far, now it’s time to stop. I’m sorry. I should have never let it go on this long. It was very unprofessional of me."

  "Amber, you couldn’t have stopped it if you tried."

  "Good evening Mr. Richards, it is good to see you," Mr. Hendricks said as he approached the table. He stopped a foot from Amber.

  Though he didn’t stand, Logan reached up and shook Mr. Hendricks’s hand. "It’s good to see you too. How have you been?"

  "Very well, thank you."

  "That’s good to hear," Logan said with a nod of his head. "It’s busy tonight."

  "Yes, almost a packed house." Mr. Hendricks cast a wavering glance toward Amber. "Is everything all right here, Sir?"

  "No, it’s not."

  Amber felt the blood drain from her face. If she could have accomplished it unseen, she would have crawled under the nearest table and hid. Unfortunately, she was trapped between both of them—each giving her an unyielding and uncomfortable stare. She remained quiet and almost immobile as they spoke. She was going to be in so much trouble.

  "What seems to be the problem?" Mr. Hendricks asked as he adjusted his cufflinks and then clasped his hands behind his back.

  "I’ve asked Amber several times to join me." His lips tightened. "She keeps refusing."

  "I’m sorry to hear that, Sir."

  "I am too." Logan draped his arm casually over the back of his chair as he turned toward Mr. Hendricks. "If I’m able to persuade her there wouldn’t be a problem with her joining me would there?"

  "Absolutely not."

  Shocked, Amber didn’t look up from her pad. She didn’t dare risk looking at either one of them. She knew she was in the wrong and if she spoke she feared she’d only dig herself in deeper and she didn’t want to give Mr. Hendricks any more grounds to reprimand her. Things appeared to be going well but she knew the consequences of her behavior—Mr. Hendricks wouldn’t let it slide regardless of how things were looking at the moment.

  "Thank you, I appreciate it," Logan said.

  Mr. Hendricks nodded. "If indeed you’re fortunate enough to have the lady join you, would you like me to send someone over to take your order or would you prefer to be left alone?"

  Logan arched a brow. "We’ll see how it goes."

  "I understand." Mr. Hendricks turned to Amber then back to Logan, gave a quick nod, and said, "Mr. Richards, Amber, please enjoy the rest of your evening."

  Once they were alone, Logan turned to Amber. "You can move now," he said quietly.

  A moment passed.

  He shifted his body and angled his head so he could get a glimpse of her eyes, which were fixed in an averted stare. "Amber?"

  "What?"

  "He’s gone."

  "Yes, I know," she whispered.

  He cocked his head questionably. "Then what are you doing?"

  "I’m desperately trying to absorb everything that has just happened." There was a pause. "I might need a moment."

  Nodding slowly, Logan leaned back in the chair and folded his arms casually across his chest. "Take all the time you need," he said seriously.

  She stared at the pad, her shoes, the floor, and then her pad again before her head snapped up. "Who are you?" she demanded quietly, but firmly.

  "I’ve already told you who I am."

  "No, you gave me your name." She tucked her pen and pad away and watched him closely. "A name doesn’t tell me who you are."

  "Yes, I suppose you’re right."

  "How did you do that? Mr. Hendricks is never this indulgent." Mr. Hendricks would do anything to please a customer. Amber had witnessed that dozens of times over the last four months. Although she’d never seen Logan before, Mr. Hendricks obviously knew him and apparently bent the rules for him—or at least in front of him. If she wasn’t already fired she was more than likely going to get an ass chewing and be put on probation the moment Logan left the building.

  "It’s a knack I have." He unfolded his arms and stood up. "I can pull it off in several restaurants in town."

  "Really."

  "Yes."

  Amber watched Rachael walk by and give her the look. It was the look that a woman gave another woman who was in conversation with a very handsome man. Amber tried to ignore her friends open stare, instead focusing on her situation. "I can’t afford to lose my job." She prayed she still had it.

  "You won’t lose your job. I promise."

  "I don’t see how you can promise me that."

  "I assure you, I can." He waited a moment, giving her time. "I’m not going to let you lose your job."

  "Okay."

  He smiled. "Good." He raised a quick brow. "Now that that’s settled I’d like to see that smile back on your face." After a moment of her standing there staring at him he said, "By joining me I was hoping that would mean you’d be sitting instead of standing."

  "Logan, I’m not sure—"

  "Neither am I," he said quickly. His lips turned soft and upward and when he spoke he was very earnest. "Amber, I’m not sure about anything either. All I ask of you is to sit." He raised his hand. "You’ve received permission from your boss, we’re amongst people, and I’d truly like it if you did."

  Her round cheeks dimpled as she smiled slowly.

  "What?"

  She shook her head. "It’s nothing."

  "You can’t smile at me like that and not tell me why."

  She looked down foolishly. "I heard the sincerity in your voice again."

  "I hope so."

  Amber stared at him for a moment, taking him in, trying to figure him out. Who was this stranger? Why was she as drawn to him as he so obviously was to her? Physically, he was attractive. He was at least six two and amazingly broad. Thick, medium brown hair was cut short and trimmed to perfection around his ears and neck. The causal, blue button-up shirt that he wore matched the blue sports coat that was draped over the back of his chair. His light, blue eyes matched his disposition—calm and congenial. She found her eyes wondering back over his frame inspecting him again. Abruptly, she realized what she was doing. Shaking her head, she said, "I’m sorry, I don’t mean to keep staring." She looked around awkwardly. "This has never happened to me."

  "Me neither." He pulled out her chair and watched her eyes soften. "Please, sit."

  And she did.

  Chapter Three

  For over forty minutes they talked. Their voices blended into the soft hum of the dinner crowd as they acquainted themselves with each other. Conversation flowed effortlessly and the unreserved looks and smiles, which passed between them, were unspoken words in themselves.

  They talked about everything—because it was so easy—the latest headlines, movies, books, and their lives. They laughed at each other and with each other and to them it all seemed so natural.

  Amber learned that Logan’s mom, younger sister, and nephew, lived four hundred and fifty miles north in his hometown of Napa Valley. His mom still lived in the house in which he was raised and his sister and her son, who was six, lived just a few miles down the road.

  "Do you see them much?" she asked, turning her head as the gentle breeze caught dark strains of hair and blew them across her eyes.

  "Yes, fortunately I do. Time permitting, they come and visit every other weekend."

  "They drive all the way down twice a month?"

  "No, they don’t drive. I have a small plane that I have them flown down in. It’s really a quick trip." He sipped his water. "Kevin, my nephew, loves it."

  "I bet he does. What kid wouldn’t love his own little private plane?"

  "Yes, I’m sure that’s part of it. However, the pilot usually indulges him and allows him to sit up front. That’s what he really enjoys. He has aspirations to be a pilot some day."

  "I can only imagine."

  "Have you ever flown?"

  "Yes, when I was younger. I believe we were flying back to Missouri from my grandma’s fune
ral. I couldn’t have been more than six or seven so I was in awe of the whole experience." She smiled. "But it wasn’t in a private plane." She rolled her eyes as if it was an inconvenience. "If you can imagine, we had to ride with a whole bunch of other people."

  "Don’t you just hate that," he said with a smirk.

  "Are you a pilot?"

  "No I’m not. Though I love to fly and travel. Perhaps when my nephew gets a little older he’ll be able to fly the family down. That would be exciting."

  "I don’t mean to sound so surprised but it really seems like you’re close with them."

  "We are. They are a great support system for me. And though it might not be as normal as most others families, we really get along and enjoy each other’s company. There’s not much drama between us."

  "And your dad," she inquired.

  "He died when I was young." He so desperately wanted to tell her that she had been there when his father had died. He wanted her to know that she had stayed with him an entire week never leaving his side. He could only hope now that she was near him the memories would start coming back. He had promised her he would help her remember. It was a promise he intended to keep.

  "Your mom never remarried?"

  "No. After he passed she was completely focused on raising my sister and me. When I was older I asked her why she never dated. She had just shrugged her shoulders indifferently and said that she wasn’t interested in dating." He glanced up, acknowledging—with a quick nod—someone as they walked by the table. "She was young, attractive, and financially stable but she never even went out. There were men who were interested but she never reciprocated."

  "Maybe she just never found anyone to fill his shoes."

  "I think it was more that she knew no one ever could."

  "Since you’re so close why don’t you live near them? Is it your work that keeps you here?"

  He shook his head. "Not really. My work can be done from almost anywhere." He lifted his shoulders. "It just fits." Now he knew why it fit. It was because she was there.

  "Yes, I know what you mean."

  Logan glanced up curiously. "How so?"

  "Nothing is really keeping me here, but it feels right to stay so I do. Trust me, I can think of way cheaper places to live, but this is home." She glanced toward the dark ocean. "Besides I couldn’t think of a more beautiful place to live. And I love the ocean and the amazing weather here."