Page 54 of Rhythm Of Redemption

Logan's voice held a hint of amusement. “Do you have any idea how dirty the floor is before the cleaners get here?”

Lou allowed Dani to help her to her feet, her eyes scanning her surroundings. Then, she turned slowly, her gaze finding Logan watching her from the end of the street.

“How long have you been there?” Lou began walking towards him, the phone still clutched to her ear.

“Long enough,” he replied, his strides purposeful and determined.

“You heard?” her voice trembled vulnerable and relieved.

“I did … everything,” he confirmed, his gaze steady upon her. “And for the record, I think you're pretty wonderful, too.”

Lou's breath caught in her throat, the weight of his words lifting the heaviness in her heart.Her phone slipped from her hand, forgotten on the ground, as Logan pulled her into his arms. Their lips met in a collision of desire, unleashing a primal fire that consumed her entire being. In that fleeting moment, time ceased to exist as their souls entwined, lost in the all-consuming fire of their longing. A cheer erupted from the crowd outside the café, their shared joy embraced by the onlookers.

“People are staring.” He broke away, a smile playing on his lips.

“Let them,” she replied without hesitation, her arms encircling his neck as she drew him closer.

“I've sold the club,” Logan revealed, his words catching her off guard.

“What?” Her brows shot up in surprise.

“So technically, I guess I'm unemployed.”

Lou's heart swelled with possibility. “I could always use an extra pair of hands at Casa Bonita.”

“Could you now?” Logan's hands cradled her face, his touch tender.

Lou couldn't help but smile. “Definitely. The wages are lousy, but the perks are pretty good.”

Their eyes locked, a silent understanding passing between them.

“I could live with that,” he declared, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“Ew, get a room, will you?” Dani muttered under her breath, a secret smile tugging at her lips.

Chapter twenty-six

In the stifling grasp of the summer heat, Lou threw herself into preparing the guest accommodation, working tirelessly to ensure everything was perfect for the large party of holidaymakers arriving the following morning. Normally Dani would help her, but since her dyslexia diagnosis, she’d been attending summer classes and working with a specialist teacher to catch up on her schoolwork and prepare for her upcoming exams, setting the stage for her to achieve her Bachillerato and hopefully score a spot at university afterwards. Lou was incredibly proud of how far she'd come in such a short time.

Serena Rice's review had breathed fresh life into Casa Bonita, captivating readers with her enticing words and stunning visuals. It had become a magnet for those seeking a peaceful getaway from the bustling tourist hubs.

She swiftly stripped the beds, memories of her first encounter with Serena flooding her mind. Though their initial meeting had been marked by Serena's stand-offish demeanour, they had since forged a meaningful friendship. Her unexpected divorce had rocked her world, driving her to seek solace at Casa Bonita. Lou couldn't help but remember the heartfelt email Serena had sent just before her glowing review went live, revealing the raw depths of her pain and prompting Lou to reach out to her.

With the laundry basket precariously balanced on her hip, she pushed open the kitchen door, grateful for a momentary respite from the oppressive summer heat. An off-key melody reached her ears. Lou paused, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. The misaligned notes carried a playful charm, a reminder of the imperfect beauty that existed in the world. She couldn't help but laugh softly to herself, finding joy in the simple pleasure of an off-key tune.

With the previous load of laundry whirling in the machine, Lou grabbed two ice-cold beers from the fridge and ventured out to the terrace. Logan, lost in his pool-cleaning routine, had his EarPods in and was serenading the air with an off-key rendition of Queen's iconic anthem, “Bohemian Rhapsody”. While Crimzon Steel had once savoured the sweet taste of multi-platinum success, it was abundantly clear that the lofty high notes that effortlessly flowed from Freddie Mercury's lips were Logan Meyer's kryptonite. The sun beamed with exuberance, casting a golden glow upon the water, setting it ablaze with a dazzling display of shimmering light and liquid motion.

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the sun-drenched terrace, her senses instantly captured by a living canvas of vibrant colours and captivating scents. The bougainvillea, like magenta rain cascading from the heavens, adorned the trellis with its exquisite blooms, swaying in rhythm with the gentle breeze. Hibiscus flaunted their fiery reds and oranges, their velvety petals enticing butterflies to indulge in a delicate dance of seduction.

The air was suffused with the intoxicating perfume of jasmine, its ethereal fragrance weaving a spell of enchantment. Aloe vera plants, with their succulent leaves reaching heavenward, seemed to beckon with an otherworldly wisdom, offering the promise of healing and rejuvenation.

And there, standing tall and regal, were the palm trees, like sentinels of serenity. Their slender trunks stretching skyward, crowned by a canopy of feathery fronds that swayed and whispered in the breeze. Casting dappled shadows on the terrace, they created a dance of light and shade that seemed to mimic the ebb and flow of life itself.

Her mind wandered back to the night their paths had first crossed, a fateful encounter etched in her memory. Clad in a midnight blue suit, he exuded an aura of sophistication and opulence. But now, in a paint-splattered Loro Piana T-shirt and denim cut-offs that accentuated his toned thighs and backside. Like a chameleon shedding its skin, he’d shed the polished facade, revealing a raw and seductive version of himself that sent her heart racing.

She rolled the frigid can against her forehead, relishing the coolness as a mischievous plan formed in her mind. “I thought you could use this,” she said, holding up the can and tossing it to him.

His hand shot out, effortlessly catching it. “You read my mind,” he chuckled, setting aside the pool net, and running a hand down the front of his shorts. “Cheers.” Slowly, he pulled back the ring pull, the beer erupting like a geyser, hissing and spitting with furious energy, drenching him and his shirt in a playful spray of effervescence.

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