“Are you playing some sort of game?”
Melanie and I didn’t work out because she was with me for the money. At first maybe it was me, but soon she was asking to go on shopping trips, leaving hints of expensive stuff she wanted, and making it known she was ready to give up her job and travel with me. I was all for the travel, but I want a woman with goals and dreams.
In order for a relationship to go the distance, I think both parties need their own passions. Which is why as much as these weeks without Nikki have sucked, I think they’re good for us.
“No game. I just miss you. And since your wife can’t be bothered to come to this, I thought you might want some company.”
I remove Melanie’s hand from my arm. “She’s working. That’s why she’s not here. Excuse me.”
“You’re going to grow tired of small-town life. I’m sure her idea of crazy sex is having the lights on.”
I stuff my hands in my pockets before I flip her off, and I walk away, fully aware that I’ll have to explain that picture before Nikki sees it.
The next morning, I call Nikki and she answers on the first ring. “Hey you,” she says with a smile in her voice.
“I wanted to let you know, Vince talked to your dad and the tickets are set.”
“Oh, thank you so much for handling that for me. I was just having a great dream about us.”
“I wish I had time for you to tell me about it, but I have a press event I have to get ready for.”
She groans. “I have no idea how you handle all this press stuff and answering the same questions over and over again. Wish I could help you though. You sound stressed.”
“You’ll be here early afternoon tomorrow, so just make sure you’re ready to be ravished.” I laugh, and she does too.
“I can’t wait.”
“Me either.”
I tap the pen against the paper on the nightstand and take a deep breath to try to calm my racing nerves. “There’s something I need to talk to you about, something you might see online from last night.”
She’s silent and my stomach sours that I’m about to ruin her day.
After what feels like a lifetime, she asks, “What?”
“Melanie ambushed me at the party, and someone took our picture.”
“Oh.”
“Please just hear me out. It was all of a sudden. She came to say hello, and I was just dismissing her when she pressed herself against me and someone took a picture.”
“Logan,” she says.
“I mean, she just got in close to make it appear like we were a couple.”
“Logan.”
“I told her to get off me. That I was a happily married man.”
She laughs. “Logan.”
“What?”
“It’s okay. I understand. You’re going to have your picture taken with a lot of people.”
“But she’s my ex,” I say.
“I know. It’s okay. I trust you.”
I want to ask her to repeat that last sentence. “Really?”
She chuckles. “Jeez, I know I’m sensitive, but a picture isn’t going to set me off.”
I nod, although she can’t see me. “Oh, great.”
“You really do need sex. You’re so high strung.”
“Remember that when you arrive tomorrow. I’ll call you tonight before I go to bed.”
“Hey, Logan?” she says before I have a chance to hang up.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for telling me. I appreciate that you didn’t keep me in the dark until after I saw it.”
I blow out a breath. “I want this to work. I’ll always be upfront with you.”
“You’re something else.”
“Nah, I’m just your husband.”
She’s quiet for a moment. “See you tomorrow.”
“I’m counting the hours.”
We both hang up and I sit there for a moment, rehashing the conversation. Maybe distance is what we needed to really find that trust between us. I’ll be honest, I’m surprised at how cool Nikki played it when I told her. Surprised, but happy.
A knock on my door says it’s time to go, so I rise up off the bed and head out to do my job, feeling more optimistic than I ever have about our future.
Chapter Thirty-One
“Consider it done.”
Logan
I’m in the elevator, waiting impatiently for the car to reach my floor so I can grab my phone from my room. I’m supposed to be having a massage right now, but once I reached the spa, I realized I forgot my phone. Nikki’s supposed to be here already, but there was some issue with the plane. I don’t want to be out of touch if she needs me. I wish the damn elevator would hurry up. I’m gonna be late for this appointment.
The elevator dings and the doors open on my floor. To my shock, I find my wife standing there.
“Nik!” I open my arms and step inside. Our lips meet and the weeks spent apart fade away with my wife back in my arms. “Vince told me you weren’t coming for another two hours. He said something happened with the plane.”
“What? I texted you when we took off.”
My forehead wrinkles. “I never got a text.” I remember checking my phone when Vince and I were grabbing something to eat before I headed up to the buffet.
She pulls out her phone, and sure enough, there’s a text she sent to my number.
“Weird. But come on, forget my massage. I’ll work off this tension with you.” I kiss her again. When the elevator reaches the level my suite is on, I take her bag and grab her hand, tugging her down the hall.
“You were going for a massage?” she asks and her voice stutters.
I glance over my shoulder since she’s no longer walking with me. “Not anymore, but yeah, Vince set it up since you were going to be coming in late. But I forgot my phone, so I was just headed back up to get it in case you called.”
“He made the appointment for you?” she asks. Something in her voice seems off.
“Yeah, but all they care about is I pay, so come on, we’re wasting valuable time.” I insert my key card into the lock and the green light flashes. “You’re still clothed. We made a deal, remember?”
“Logan,” she says and stares at me, not moving.
“What’s wrong?”
Tears fill her eyes and quickly pile up on one another, cascading down her face. “I was just in your room. That’s why I was leaving…”
I keep the door open with my toe and pull her toward me. She doesn’t wrap her arms around my waist but stands there with her tears wetting my T-shirt. “What am I missing?”
The door opens up all the way behind me, and I stumble back a step.
“There you are, babe.” Melanie stands in the doorway. “Sorry, I couldn’t get out of here soon enough before she showed up.”
I’m in shock for a second, my mouth hanging open before I look at Nikki and use my finger to push her chin up to look me in the eye. “Is this why you’re crying?”
She nods and all I see is red.