Page 35 of Switching Places

“Cheers.” He sipped appreciatively. “Mmm, good choice.”

Emma flushed with pleasure There had been rows and rows of wines, mostly from California vineyards. She hadn’t a clue what to buy until the owner of the small store had taken pity on her and suggested a couple of choices. Gratified that Logan approved, she sipped. The wine tasted delicious, fruity and a bit tart, but cooling on her lips and tongue.

She glanced at him, wondering what it tasted like on his tongue.

Embarrassed, she turned away. She was acting like a schoolgirl. But she couldn’t resist. Her eyes met his. Curiosity shone from his, but he said nothing.

“I thought we could eat in a half hour. It’ll take me about fifteen minutes to prepare everything. The rice is steaming now. Have a seat.”

She sank gracefully into a lounge chair, tucking part of her skirt beneath her legs to keep it from flying up in the breeze.

“Pretty dress,” Logan murmured as he moved the table and pulled his chair right up beside hers.

“Thanks.”

Glancing down surreptitiously, she double checked the bodice. The cotton was thick enough and patterns swirled in blues and greens.

“You should wear dresses more often, they suit you,” he said, with an appreciative look at her legs before moving his gaze out over the Pacific.

Emma vowed then and there to wear only dresses for the remainder of her vacation.

“Tell me more about this barbecue we’re going to on Saturday,” she invited as silence stretched out comfortably between them.

She felt a bit tongue-tied, on the edge of anticipation. She’d had David to dinner occasionally, but try as she might, she couldn’t equate Logan with David.

“Phil Mott’s throwing it. He lives with a couple of other guys in this huge house out in the Valley. They have a tennis court, swimming pool and big flagstone patio with a built-in barbecue grill that doesn’t quit. Every few weeks they throw a bash. Usually, I don’t go.”

“Why not?”

He hesitated a moment, then said, “No date.”

“I can’t believe that.”

Rested, he looked devilishly handsome. His dark hair moved in the breeze, his eyes held mysteries she longed to uncover. Tall and lean, he appeared perfectly comfortable in a swimsuit on the beach or wearing the suit she’d seen him in today. Any woman would say yes in a New York minute to an invitation.

“Let’s just say, no one I want to take lest I give the wrong idea.”

“I remember, you aren’t marriage-minded.”

“No, I’m not. And a lot of women are these days. So rather than start something I have no intentions of finishing, I avoid the situation entirely. Once in a while, I go stag, but usually I avoid gatherings like that.”

“Then I’m doubly honored to be invited,” she said.

“So you should be. But I think I’m safe. In the two years we’ve been neighbors, you’ve never come on to me. And after last night, I can guess why. You’re not an old lady yet only so early to marry.”

She smiled and nodded. Lily was probably having too much fun to settle down, and Emma planned to have the same kind of fun. Maybe when she was thirty or older she’d want to settle down, but for now, she was free and could be as wild as she wanted. Or as she dared.

Logan touched her shoulder.

“You’re sunburned.”

Emma jumped.

“Yes. I drove up the coast this afternoon with the top down never thinking how burned I’d get. If I do it again, I’m either wearing long sleeves or will slather on the sun screen.”

“Where did you go?”

“No where special. I wanted to drive around.”

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