Maia’s moods were infectious, and so I was absolutely exhausted.
As much as I enjoyed being a part of this new chapter in Maia’s life and getting to know her, I was looking forward to the normality of having a cup of coffee with friends and then catching up on my work. In fact, I was more than a little behind.
I was in the middle of locking my door when I heard Logan’s door open behind me. He stood in his doorway wearing a black T-shirt with the logo from the nightclub he worked at etched across his chest. His dark blue jeans were worn and hung on his hips in a rather attractive way. I’d never really thought much about men in jeans, but in that moment I realized that certain men just sold them to you. Logan definitely sold those jeans.
He had a bit of a short beard going on again, and I found I liked it. A lot. Despite the tiredness behind his eyes, he really was bloody gorgeous.
When had he become my type?
I looked down, dropping my keys in my bag, avoiding his gaze so he couldn’t see what I was thinking. “Hi.”
“You going out?”
I glanced up at him because he sounded agitated. “Are you okay?”
“Maia’s bed was delivered an hour ago.”
“That’s good.” I felt a little pang in my chest at the realization Maia would be moving out soon.
“I… um…” He rubbed a hand over his hair. “I want her room to be, you know… I need paint. Things… stuff… that girls like.”
He looked so adorably lost and confounded I couldn’t help but laugh a little. “Are you asking for my help?”
“I can ask Shannon if you’re busy, but I just thought… you know Maia a little better.”
Maia had spent more time with Shannon, and the two of them got on very well together. Over the weekend Logan had taken Maia to meet Shannon’s fiancé, Cole, and some of his family. She’d been flushed with excitement when Logan dropped her off at my flat afterward, and she filled my ears with descriptions of Cole’s gorgeous sister, Jo, and her husband, Cam, and their little girl, Belle. From what I could tell of Maia’s accounts, they’d all been extremely welcoming to her. I was thrilled for her. She’d never experienced anything like Logan’s friends and family.
However, despite getting to know them all and loving it, Maia still clung to me. She wanted me to be included in everything and was disappointed when I insisted she go with just Logan to meet his friends and family. I tried my best to give them father-daughter time, and I knew Logan appreciated it. But the truth was, Maia was living with me, and so far I’d spent a great deal of time with her and I was the one she chose to show her vulnerable side to. It was my shoulder she chose to cry on when everything became too overwhelming.
So yes, I probably did know her better than anyone.
“She likes green. She’s not too girlie. She’s quite mature in her tastes actually. Stylish.” I sighed inwardly, knowing I was an idiot. I’m doing this for Maia, not Logan! “I’ll have a look at the bed and make a quick call while you get your shoes on.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You’re sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” I shooed him inside and followed him in, pulling my phone out of my bag.
I called Chloe. She was not happy. Her screeching melted away for a second, and suddenly I heard Aidan say, “Do what you have to do, Grace. We’ll catch up with you later.”
I smiled at his understanding. “Thanks. I’ll talk to you soon.”
By the time I got off the phone, I was standing in Logan’s spare room. It was the same size as my guest room, and it was now dwarfed by the beautiful white Shaker-style bed frame and mattress that sat in the middle of the room.
“What do you think?”
I glanced over my shoulder and found him leaning in the doorway. “I think it’s lovely. I hope you have dust sheets to cover it so you don’t get paint on it.”
“We’ll add those to the shopping list.”
“I think this is going to be a very large shopping list,” I said wryly, following him out of the flat.
We’d just hit the ground floor when Mr. Jenner’s door suddenly opened and he leaned outside. “I thought I heard your voice, Grace.” He smiled. “Logan.”
“Mr. Jenner,” we said in unison.
“I heard we have a new addition to the building.”
“My daughter,” Logan said.
I smiled up at him.
“What?” He frowned.
“Nothing.” I looked over at Mr. Jenner, still smiling. Already it seemed to be getting easier and easier for Logan to use the word “daughter.”
“Oh, very good,” Mr. Jenner said, grinning at Logan. “Nice to have family around. Speaking of my lack thereof…” He threw me an apologetic smile. “I couldn’t ask you for a favor, Grace, could I? I’ve run out of a few things.”
I held out my hand. “Of course. You know it’s no problem. Do you have your list?”
He had it in his hand. I tried not to laugh as he passed it to me.
“We’ll probably be a few hours. Is that all right?”