Page 74 of Sapphire Sunset

“Probably still figuring out how to respond to the pressconference,” Connor said.

“Or giving up, maybe?” Logan asked.

“Yeah, I doubt that,” Connor said. “Did they get rid of themini bars? I could use some almonds or something.”

“No, you need an actual meal,” Logan said. “I’m having foodbrought up.”

“Well, okay… You didn’t even ask me what I wanted.”

“I called your mother and she told me what you liked.” Therewas a knock at the door. “There it is right now. Crab cakes and Dover sole withbeurreblanc.”

“Woah,” Naser muttered. “That’s a lot of breading.”

“Lecture me about carbs right now and I’ll eat your faceinstead. It’s all protein except for the Botox.”

“On that note,” Naser said, “I must depart, as my mother sawme on the news a few hours ago and is totally freaking out about it. Mypresence has been requested at a family meeting, the third this week, by theway. And even though I am supposedly tonight’s topic, no doubt my sister willturn it into a discussion of the low returns for her new dress line. Goodnight, everyone.”

Naser rose from the table and stepped into Connor’s hug.“You did excellent today, Blondie.”

“Couldn’t have done it without you.”

“Possibly, but probably not.” Naser turned to Logan. “Andyou, sir.Keep it up and I’ll finally be able to sell that plot ofland where I always planned to bury your body.”

“I want to be cremated, so that’s cool.”

Logan followed Naser out to make sure he’d shut the door allthe way, and then they were alone. Connor was about to take his first bite whenhe realized the open terrace doors were allowing in not only the gentle breezes,but also a sweet, soothing sound: the sound of children laughing and playing inthe swimming pool. He was on his feet and out on the terrace in the blink of aneye.

“You’re not gonna eat?” Logan asked, appearing next to him.

“In a minute.”

Connor had been drawn to the open deck door like a moth to aflame. Voices echoing on the ocean winds. The nighttime sounds of a full hotel.

He felt a presence next to him, turned, and found himselfstaring into Logan’s eyes.

“The magic moment,” Logan whispered.

And suddenly it was five years ago and they were standingnext to the balustrade four stories below, and his grandfather and father werealive and the world seemed free of death and scandal and full of promise, andeverything between him and Logan seemed exciting and new.

And now they were here. Together again, but changed. Olderand wiser, but also exhausted and scared.

Logan must have seen that Connor was about to pull a GloriaAlvarez because he said, “Oh, hey now,” and the next thing Connor knew he wasin Logan’s arms, blinking madly to hold back the tears. It started as Logantrying to keep his legs from going out from under him, then, quickly andeasily, it turned into something else. Something more tangled and intimate, somethingthat brought the side of Connor’s face to Logan’s hard chest. A mirror image ofthe near-dancing pose they’d assumed in the caves five years before, only nowConnor was swirling with so many emotions it was impossible to count. Lust wasone, for sure, but there were others. Grief and relief made the most potentblend of the bunch.

“I was so afraid it would be quiet,” Connor said. “I was soafraid we’d get to the end of this day and my grandfather, wherever he is,would see that I let his hotel go empty. That I took away his magic moment.”

“But you didn’t.” The rumble Logan’s voice made in his chesttickled Connor’s ear, bathing his neck in delicious chills, just like thatnight in the sea caves when they’d slow danced in the mist.

“We didn’t,” Connor whispered.

Slowly, Logan started walking them across the room, and fora split second, the idea that he might be walking them toward the bed madeConnor’s head spin. But when his butt bumped into the edge of the love seat, herealized they were headed in a different direction. The dining table. A secondlater, Connor was sitting in front of his food. Logan bent down over the backof his chair and drew the plate closer to him, maybe because the position gavehim an excuse to keep them close. Or maybe he really did think Connor shouldeat.

“You need to eat,” he said softly.

“And you probably need to go,” Connor said. “Have you sleptat all?”

“A little.”

“How much?” Connor asked.

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