Heat Wave

“Phhhfff,” Johnny says, waving his hand at Logan. “Tonight? Give the little wahine a break, aye. Her shift is over and you’re not a slave driver.”


“No, I honestly don’t mind,” I quickly say. “I could do it right now.”

Johnny makes a noise of disbelief. “Well I’ll be, hell is freezing over. Ronnie is volunteering to make the habut some food, overtime.”

“Not overtime,” I tell him. “Just for fun.”

“Okay, now you’ve really lost your mind.”

“I think we’re all allowed to lose our minds from time to time,” Logan says. His eyes are burning into mine, reaching into my core and stoking the flames I’ve been trying to ignore all night. “Here, let me help you clean up.”

“Okay,” Jin says, poking his head around the corner. “Who are you and what have you done with Logan Shephard?”

Logan laughs and even that seems to scare everyone. I can try and hide our relationship, or whatever this is, from everyone here, but with Logan acting like a whole new human being, it’s not going to be so easy. Thankfully Johnny and Jin aren’t the type to jump to conclusions. They’ll first assume that Logan’s been abducted by aliens and his body has been shuttled back to earth, controlled by a robot.

And though it’s an odd proposition, none of us usher Logan out of the kitchen because we can use the extra hand with Charlie being gone, plus I think the guys get a certain thrill of seeing their boss roll up his sleeves and get down to the dirty work.

As it happens, with Logan’s help, we’re done a bit early. Johnny and Jin leave the kitchen in a hurry, as if they think Logan will pull a 180 and haul them back into work.

It’s just him and me here now. Out in the restaurant we can hear Daniel talking in a low murmur to Johnny and I think Kate, serving them drinks.

I turn to Logan, clearing my throat.

“So,” I say, keeping my voice low.

“So,” he says, taking a step toward me until all the space between us disappears. He runs his fingers underneath my chin and raises it so I’m looking at him in the eye. He smells like my dreams, that musk that runs deep into my veins, a chemical reaction. “Is it that obvious if I go and bar the kitchen door?”

“Afraid so,” I tell him.

“You have no idea how long this day has been,” he whispers to me. “I can’t quite believe that last night even happened. I might need you to prove it did.”

I bite my lip, playing up the look of the coquette. “That can be arranged. Anywhere but in here.”

“We can go at any time,” he murmurs, leaning over until his mouth is at my ear. “I can go at any time.”

Jesus. Just his hot breath, his words, and I’m transported back to last night. I don’t blame him for thinking that last night – and this morning – was a dream. This man had tasted me, licked his fucking fingers. He told me he wanted to fuck me with his mouth and then he fucking did. Not only a dirty talker, but a man who follows through.

“I think they would suspect something,” I manage to say, “you know, when they walk in here and find us fucking on the floor.”

“God,” he says, licking up my neck, a slow, languid pace to my ear that makes me shiver. “Don’t talk like that.” His hand slips down the side of my waist, down to the front of my work pants and starts sliding underneath the waistband.

“I think I’m supposed to make you a famous meal,” I manage to say.

“I think you’re my meal.”

I put my hand at his chest and push him back an inch. “I’m serious. I made something tonight that you’re going to be proud of.”

He cocks his head, studying me. “I already am proud of you.”

“How so?”

He gives me a lopsided grin that makes him look boyish. “You don’t realize what you’ve done here. Or maybe you do. I don’t know. I know I’ve been giving you a hard time since you arrived.”

“You can say that again.”

Now he’s full on beaming. “I’ve been giving you a hard time,” he repeats. “And it’s about to get harder.”

I laugh. “Okay, you are the worst at innuendo.”

“I know. But I am serious. I’m proud of you.”

I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone tell me they were proud of me, not like this. I try and brush it off but the fact is, it hits deep. It hits in a place I never thought possible. Tears are springing to my fucking eyes. All those years, all those years of just needing someone to believe in me and having no one, no one in my corner at all. You grow up thinking that your family will be the ones to believe in you but that’s not the case at all. Your family might be the first ones rooting for you to fail.

“Hey,” Logan says softly, brushing away the tears from my eyes. “What’s wrong?”

I shake my head, looking away.

“Ronnie,” he says and the sound of my nickname makes my heart soar. “Please.”

I take in a deep breath. “It’s nothing. It’s stupid.”

“Hey,” he warns, his eyes turning hard and glinting.

I sigh. “I’ve never had anyone tell me they were proud of me.”