Читать книгу Through Jenna's Eyes - KRISTI GOLD - Страница 7

“What are you doing?”

At the sound of Logan’s distinct and somewhat gruff voice, Jenna turned and leaned back against the kitchen counter. “I was going to make you breakfast to repay you for rescuing me last night. But I’ve never been much of a cook, even before I lost my sight.” She felt behind her for the carton of milk and held it up. “Can I interest you in cold cereal?”

“No thanks.”

Jenna detected a hint of irritation in his tone. “Is something wrong?”

“When I didn’t find you on the couch after I took my shower, I was worried.”

She appreciated his concern, even if it wasn’t warranted. “You don’t have any reason to worry.” She touched the edge of the bandage covering her wound. “My head’s a little sore, but I’m fine.”

Jenna calculated Logan’s approach through the sound of his footsteps, and knew he moved beside her when she caught the trace scent of fresh soap. “As soon as you get dressed, we can leave,” he said.

She ran a fast hand down the T-shirt he’d loaned her last night. “This is comfortable. Think I’ll just wear it home. I’ll have it laundered and back to you next week.” Better still, she could deliver it in person.

Not a banner idea. She had no cause to pursue a relationship with a man at this point in her life.

“It looks good on you,” he said. “But if you keep it, then you’ll have to explain to your father where the shirt came from. And that would lead to telling him you spent the night with me and, in turn, I’ll lose his business.”

Always seeing things through a business lens, just like her father. “He’s not due home until late afternoon, so don’t concern yourself with getting caught. Which reminds me. What time is it now?”

“Almost ten.”

“I can’t believe I slept so late.” But then, she hadn’t slept all that well last night knowing Logan had been only a few paces away.

“And that’s why we need to get a move on,” he said. “Before Avery finds out you’ve been gone all night.”

Jenna wouldn’t be surprised if her dad had already called home only to connect to the voice mail. “My personal life isn’t my father’s business, and what happened last night doesn’t qualify as questionable. I slept on your couch, and you kept watch over me from a chair.”

“I still plan to have you home well before he arrives.” He caught her hand and wrapped it firmly in his. “Come on. I’ll help you get dressed.”

Plainly, he was more than ready to be rid of her. “I can dress myself, thank you.”

“I’ll hang around, anyway, to make sure you’re okay.”

“Suit yourself.”

Jenna allowed Logan to guide her into the bathroom where she took care of her morning ritual while he played watchdog outside the door. She managed to slide the blouse over her head, but when she attempted to close the skirt’s back zipper, it wouldn’t budge. At times like these, she wished she had a closet full of shapeless shifts and elastic waistbands, or the return of her sight.

Only one option existed at the moment—swallowing her pride. “I need some help, Logan.”

The door creaked open. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing serious,” she said, keeping her back to him. “Just a malfunctioning zipper. And if you’re like most guys, you’ve had a lot of practice with women’s zippers.”

“I’m better at lowering them, but I’ll give it a shot.”

Though his voice held a touch of amusement, Jenna couldn’t quite shake the sudden images his comment evoked as he moved behind her. “If you can’t fix it, then I guess I’ll have to wear your shirt home, after all.”

“I can handle it.” Bracing his hand on her hips, he tugged her toward him and went to work.

After only a single attempt, Jenna felt the zipper dislodge, followed by Logan saying, “You’re all set.”

She turned to thank him, swayed forward and in order to right herself, landed her hands on a wide expanse of powerhouse bare chest. “You’re not wearing a shirt.” A brilliant observation on her part.

He clasped her waist. “You have my shirt.”

Clearly, her brain’s command center didn’t feel the need to remove her hands. “If that’s the only shirt you own, you need to ask my father for more money.”

“I own several shirts. I just haven’t put one on, yet.”

She’d found that out the pleasant way. “I see. Or maybe it’s because I don’t see. You could be naked, and I’d never know.”

“I’m not naked.” He shifted closer. “I’m wearing a smile.”

Without thought, her hands drifted down his firm sides until she contacted a denim waistband. “Very funny. You really had me fooled for a minute.”

“Anything else you need from me?”

She could think of several things, most of which wouldn’t be wise. Interesting, yes. Prudent, no. Reluctantly, she dropped her arms to her sides. “I should probably go home now. I need to take a shower.”

“I have a shower, and I’d be glad to help.”

How simple it would be to take him up on the offer. How very easy to forget why she couldn’t acknowledge this overriding chemistry between them. “Believe me, I’ve showered by myself before. Every morning, in fact.”

“Fine, but if you decide on the way home that you’d like my assistance, just let me know.”

“Do you know where you’re going, Logan?”

Straight into a ditch if he didn’t keep his eyes on the road and off of her. “I’ve been to your place before.”

“Really? When was that?”

He glanced at Jenna to find her frowning. “About two years ago, when I first contracted with your dad. He invited me to a dinner party.”

“Apparently, I wasn’t in attendance at that little soiree.”

“No, you weren’t there.” Without a doubt, he would’ve remembered if she had been.

“I must have been busy, otherwise I’m sure I would have been playing the perfect hostess to my father’s perfect corporate crusader.” Her sarcasm was unmistakable.

“You don’t sound like you enjoy that scene,” he said.

“Not really, but I view it as a favor to my father.”

Logan could relate to family loyalty. “What else do you do in your spare time these days, aside from being a hostess?”

“I listen to audio books, mostly nonfiction, although I do enjoy a good legal thriller now and then. I’ve been learning Braille and several foreign languages, and when Calvin’s not carting me to doctor’s appointments, he drives me to the library twice a week where I tell stories to preschoolers.”

He wasn’t all that surprised by the revelation, although he was impressed. “I could tell you like being around kids when I saw you with my nephew.”

“Yes, I do.” She sighed. “They don’t pass judgment or patronize me. Basically they view me as a storyteller who happens to be blind, not the other way around.”

He sensed that was important to her—being treated like an average person. As far as Logan was concerned, Jenna Fordyce was anything but average.

“What do you do when you’re not working?” she asked.

“I go to sporting events when I have some spare time. And on Sunday, I have lunch with the family.” Although, he’d missed those gatherings several times over the past few months, something that didn’t sit well with his mother.

“That means you’re going to be late to your lunch because of me,” she said.

“It’s not going to matter if I’m late.” He would receive more grief from his sister for not jumping back into the dating loop, and from his brothers who claimed he’d lost his touch with women. Come to think of it, he could remedy that harassment—at least, temporarily—with one suggestion. “Since Avery won’t be back until later, you should come with me. The food’s simple, but the company’s good.”

When she didn’t immediately respond, Logan glanced in her direction to find her deep in thought. “Well?” he asked.

“I should stay home in case he arrives early.” She sent him an apologetic smile. “Thanks for the offer, but I’ll have to pass.”

Logan couldn’t explain his disappointment, nor did he want to acknowledge it. But he did feel it. “Not a problem.”

The conversation waned for the next few miles until Logan approached the estate—a house that looked as if it could hold five families. “We’re at the entrance,” he said as they pulled into the drive.

Jenna rummaged through her purse and withdrew a remote control, pointed it straight ahead and sent the security gate in motion.

Logan drove through the entry and immediately noticed a man with silver hair dressed in a black business suit, standing on the front porch. The last man he wanted to see at the moment.

Slowing the vehicle to a crawl, he asked, “How well do you and your dad get along?”

She rubbed her forehead, like the question had given her a major headache. “As long as he doesn’t try to tell me what to do, we get along fine. He’s very overprotective, the consummate doting father. But I love him with all my heart and appreciate all he’s done for me since my mother’s death. I probably don’t tell him that enough.”

“Well, now’s your chance.”

She turned her head toward him, a confused look on her face. “I don’t understand.”

Maybe not, but she would. And whether Avery Fordyce would understand why his only daughter had been out all night, still remained to be seen. “Looks like your father caught an earlier flight.” And right then Avery looked as if he could fly off the porch and put someone in a choke hold.

Jenna tipped her head back against the seat and muttered, “Great,” while Logan navigated the circular drive. After stopping underneath the portico, he said, “Let me handle this.”

“No. I’ll handle it.”

Logan had barely left the Hummer and reached the passenger side before Jenna had the door open, one leg dangling out of the vehicle.

After he guided her up the steps, he started to launch into an explanation but lost the opportunity when Avery asked, “Where in God’s name have you been, Jenna?”

“She’s been with me,” Logan said, although Avery didn’t look too pleased by the disclosure.

Jenna reached out to find her father’s arm, leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “I went out for Candice’s birthday and I had a little mishap.” She touched the bandage on her forehead. “Logan was kind enough to have his brother, Devin, who happens to be a doctor, take a look at the cut. He fixed me up with a few little strips to hold it together, Logan loaned me his sofa for the night, end of story.”

Avery scowled. “That’s not the end of the story. Candice called Sasha this morning, and Sasha, in turn, called me. They were both worried sick because you didn’t come home and you didn’t bother to call.”

Jenna lifted her chin in defiance. “I’ll explain everything to Candice later, and I told Sasha to take the weekend off.”

“My employees are loyal, Jenna.” Avery directed a hard look at Logan. “They do as I ask, and I asked her to watch out for you.”

“I’m thirty years old, Dad. I don’t need a keeper.”

“Apparently, you do, daughter.”

Logan opted to intervene before all out warfare began between parent and child. “Jenna spending the night at my place was all my idea, Avery. She wanted to come home, but I wouldn’t let her.”

“And this is supposed to satisfy me?” He topped off the comment with an acid glare.

At this rate, he’d find himself minus an important client. “Devin and I decided she shouldn’t be alone, in case she showed signs of a concussion.”

“Which I didn’t,” Jenna added. “Now, let’s go inside and let Logan get on with his business.”

“Yes, let’s go inside,” Avery said. “You still have a lot of explaining to do.”

Logan witnessed a spark of anger in Jenna’s expression. “We can talk later, Dad. I have to have a shower so I can be ready when Logan takes me to his parents’ for lunch. What time should I expect you, Logan?”

He couldn’t determine who was more shocked—him or Fordyce. “Are you sure you want to go?”

She sent him a bright smile. “Of course. The very accommodating Sasha can look after Dad this afternoon while I’m with you.”

Logan recognized pure and simple rebellion, and that he was stuck in the middle of a family battle. He could rescind the offer and insult Jenna, putting himself back in Avery’s good graces. Or he could possibly piss off one of his biggest financial benefactors and spend the afternoon with that benfactor’s daughter.

He glanced at the sullen Avery before turning his attention to Jenna, who had one of the greatest smiles he’d ever seen on a woman. Business versus pleasure. He chose pleasure. “I’ll be back in about an hour.”

Without waiting for Avery’s response, Logan sprinted to the Hummer and drove off, wondering all the way home what in the hell he was doing.

“Do you know what you’re doing, Jenna?”

Although she couldn’t see her father’s expression, she’d heard the disapproval in his tone. “I’m going to get ready to have lunch with Logan.”

As she continued down the hall toward her bedroom, her father moved in front of her, halting her progress. “What do you really know about him?”

The classic fatherly lecture. Despite her limited eyesight, she should have seen it coming. “I know that you trust him. I also know he was very kind to me last night and a perfect gentleman, if that’s your concern.”

“He’s a ladies’ man. He’s not the kind to settle for only one woman, especially a…”

His words trailed off, but his message came through loud and clear. “A woman like me, Dad? Isn’t that what you meant to say?”

“You’re special, Jenna.”

“I’m going blind, Dad. My eyesight might be bad, but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a man’s company. Even a ‘ladies’ man.’ And this is only a casual lunch between friends. Logan didn’t want me to be alone since I assumed Sasha wouldn’t be here, and you wouldn’t be home until much later.”

“I don’t want you to get hurt, sweetheart.”

His gentle tone helped ease her resentment. “I’ll only get hurt if I let him hurt me, and I won’t. Besides, I’m not looking for anything permanent. You should know that by now.”

“Yes, I know. Your divorce from David proved that. I wish the two of you would have tried a little harder.”

“Don’t, Dad. We’re not having that discussion again.” They’d worn out that territory three years ago.

“I can’t talk you out of going to this lunch? We could have a nice afternoon together.”

She reached out to pat his cheek. “We can have a nice evening together. You can tell me all about Chicago, and I can tell you how to inquire about the bathroom in Italian and French.”

“You’re still determined to take that European trip.”

“Only after I have the transplants.” If she ever had the transplants. “I’d also like to wait until John David’s a little older so he can appreciate the culture.”

“Have you told Logan about him?”

“The opportunity hasn’t arisen yet.” She planned to take the opportunity before day’s end. “As I’ve said, this is only a one-time event, not a prospective-daddy interview. J.D. already has a father.”

“Again, I don’t want you to—”

“Get hurt. I know, Dad.” She drew him into a long embrace. “And I appreciate your concern. But you don’t have to worry. I’m a big girl now.”

“I know, Jenna, but I still worry about you. I’ve worried about you since the day you came into our lives.”

“And if I’d been able to handpick my parents, I couldn’t have chosen any better than you and Mother.” Even if she’d often wondered that if they’d known her vision would eventually fail, would they have adopted her?

“And we couldn’t have been more blessed to have you,” he said, dispelling her doubts, and that earned him another hug.

“I love you, Dad,” she said. “And please stop worrying. I can manage Logan O’Brien.”

At one time, Logan had been able to manage Avery Fordyce by praising his business acumen, yielding to his demands and leading him to believe he had complete control. But that was before he’d met the man’s daughter.

Under normal circumstances, Logan would have expected to be greeted by a member of the household staff. Nothing about this situation remotely resembled normal, the reason why he wasn’t surprised when Avery answered the door with a curt, “Come in.”

Logan followed Avery inside the house, hoping to discover Jenna waiting nearby so they could get the hell out of there. But the expansive foyer was deserted, with the exception of a few pieces of pricey artwork and Fordyce, who turned and said, “I don’t like this, O’Brien.”

Logan didn’t have to ask what Avery didn’t like. “It’s only lunch.”

“So you say. Just remember, Jenna means everything to me, son. She’s an exceptional young woman. Fragile in many ways. If you mess with her feelings, you mess with mine. Understood?”

Avery’s meaning couldn’t be clearer if he’d carved it into stone—or into Logan’s flesh. Still, Logan had a hard time believing Jenna was as fragile as her father had claimed. But if he screwed up with Avery’s only child, he’d be out in the cold when it came to future contracts. “Understood.”

“Now that you know what I expect, you may wait for Jenna in the study.” He pointed to his right before pivoting around like a drill sergeant and heading down the lengthy hall.

Logan wandered into the room Avery had indicated, expecting to find a collection of books stacked on rows of shelves, maybe even an office setup. Instead, the area held a grouping of casual rattan furniture and plenty of pictures, but not the kind displayed in a trendy gallery. Portraits depicting a dark-haired boy spanned the length of the room. One showed a sleeping newborn lying on a blue blanket; another featured a toothless, smiling infant on his belly in a field of wildflowers, and beside that, a toddler dressed in a red baseball uniform with a miniature wooden bat.

Even if he didn’t know the kid’s identity, Logan suspected he was someone special. Possibly a member of the extended family—or immediate family.

“His name is John David.”

He turned at the sound of the familiar voice to discover Jenna standing in the open doorway wearing a pale yellow, sleeveless dress, her dark hair secured atop her head. The sunshades covering her eyes and the white cane in her hand were the only indications she was anything but a healthy, beautiful woman. In fact, she looked so damn good, for a moment Logan had trouble responding to her comment. “Who took all these pictures?”

“I did. I used to own a small photography studio in northwest Houston before my eyes started giving me grief. I consider these portraits some of my best work.”

That explained the quality of the photos, even if it didn’t explain Jenna’s relationship to the child, although Logan had his suspicions. “You must have really liked this particular subject.”

“More than you know.” She crossed the room, removed a framed photo from a table before returning and offering it for his inspection. “This one’s my favorite.”

Logan studied the picture of Jenna turned profile to the boy, their foreheads touching. The perfect depiction of a woman’s fondness for a child. Or maybe a mother’s love for her son. Then again, he could be mistaken since she hadn’t mentioned having a child, nor had her father in the years he’d known him. But when he turned his attention from the photo to Jenna and saw the moisture dampening her cheeks, Logan sensed he was on the right track. And affirmation came when she said, “He’s my son.”

She raised the glasses and swept a fast hand beneath her eyes before replacing the shades again. “I’m sorry. It’s very difficult to talk about him without my emotions going haywire.”

Although he was tempted to ask exactly what had happened to the boy, Logan decided not to pressure Jenna for more information than she was willing or able to give. Instead, he said the only thing he could think to say. “He looks like you.”

She gave him a tentative smile. “He definitely inherited my brown eyes, but his hair is lighter, like his dad’s. Or it was the last time I could see it.”

“How long ago was that?”

“He’s three and a half now, so that would have been about a year ago, right before my vision took a severe turn for the worse. He went to live with his father not long after that. We share joint custody.”

At least Jenna hadn’t suffered a traumatic loss of her child, although Logan couldn’t imagine how she’d tolerated a year without him. “When will he be back with you?”

She clutched the frame to her breasts, as if she were holding her absent son. “As soon as I have the corneal transplants. Since he’s so active, I thought it best he stay with his dad a little longer than the usual six months. But it’s been difficult since he’s so far away.”

“How far?”

“In Tennessee, outside of Memphis. I do talk to him every night, though.”

A sorry substitute for physical contact. “I’m surprised Avery never mentioned him to me.” Most grandfathers Logan had known doted over the grandchildren, including his own father.

“It’s not that Dad doesn’t love J.D.,” she said. “In fact, he adores him. But he’s never accepted the fact that J.D.’s father and I divorced.”

Logan could see how that wouldn’t go over well with a traditionalist like Avery Fordyce. Or his own parents, who’d had a hard time with his sister’s divorce. “How long were you together?”

“I’d known him four years, and we’d been living together for three when I found out I was pregnant. We married five weeks later. Right after J.D. turned six months old, we realized it wasn’t going to work. But David’s a good father, and that’s all that matters.”

From the sadness in Jenna’s tone, Logan gathered that maybe the divorce hadn’t been her idea. He wanted to ask if she’d loved this David and if the guy had treated her well. If he’d accepted her blindness, or if that had been the reason for the split. “I guess marrying for the sake of a child isn’t always a good thing.” And he’d almost found himself caught in that trap.

She shook her head. “No, it’s not. Particularly if two people are less than compatible, something we should have realized in three years. But sometimes you get stuck in a comfort zone with no desire to leave. Unfortunately, accidents happen, although I wouldn’t change anything as far as my son’s concerned.”

Uncomfortable with the course of the conversation, Logan decided to turn the topic to their plans for the day. “Are you ready to go now?”

“Do you still want me to go?”

“Yeah. Any reason why I wouldn’t?”

“I could think of several reasons why you might reconsider. Introducing a blind, divorcée with a child to your parents, for one.”

“My parents aren’t judgmental, Jenna.” In fact, they would probably fall in love with her after five minutes in her company—and immediately start jumping to conclusions.