Chapter 38

Ashley.

Logan looked at me with curiosity etched on his face. "So, how did your shoot go?"

I hesitated for a moment, the memory of the unexpected kiss during the shoot flashing vividly in my mind. I shook it off quickly, forcing a smile. "It went good," I said, trying to keep my tone light and casual. "I might even get some more jobs from it."

"That's great," Logan replied, his eyes searching mine for a moment longer than usual. "You must be really happy about that."

I am over the moon about how today went. In fact, I couldn't be happier about the kiss but it was a memory I wanted to cherish and keep it to myself. Not even June should know about it.

"Yeah, I am," I responded quickly, eager to steer the conversation away from the kiss. "So, what do you want to eat tonight?"

Logan raised an eyebrow, clearly noticing my abrupt change of subject. "Hmm, I'm not sure. What are you in the mood for?"

"Anything but cooking," I said with a laugh, hoping to diffuse the tension. "I didn't have time to make anything today."

Logan nodded slowly, his suspicion evident despite his attempt to hide it. "Alright, how about we order some takeout? Maybe Thai?"

"Sounds perfect," I agreed, standing up from the couch. "I'll go place the order."

I walked towards the kitchen to grab my phone, I could feel Logan's eyes on me. The air between us felt thick with unspoken questions. I knew he sensed something was off, but I hoped he wouldn't press the issue.

I willed myself to calm down and throw him off.

In the kitchen, I dialed the number for our favorite Thai place, trying to focus on the menu instead of the guilt gnawing at me. "Hi, I'd like to place an order for delivery," I said when someone answered on the other end.

Sure, what would you like to order?"

"Can I get one Pad Thai with shrimp, one green curry with chicken, and a side of spring rolls?" I said, listing off Logan's favorites.

"Got it. Anything else?"

"Yes, can I also get an order of Tom Yum soup and a mango sticky rice for dessert?" I added, knowing we both loved the sweet treat.

"Of course. Is that everything?"

"Yes, that's all. And can you make sure the curry isn't too spicy?"

"Sure thing. Your total is $42.50, and it should be there in about thirty minutes. Can I have your address, please?"

I gave her our address and thanked her before hanging up.

When I returned to the living room, Logan looked up expectantly. "All set?"

"Yep, should be here in about thirty minutes," I said, settling back down next to him.

"Great. Thanks for ordering, babe"

"You're welcome," I replied, grateful for the distraction the food would provide. "I got all your favorites."

He smiled, but I could still see the concern lingering in his eyes. "You know, we could have just made something together."

I shook my head, forcing a laugh. "No way, I wanted to treat us tonight. We deserve it after a long day."

Logan nodded, seemingly accepting my explanation for now. "Alright. Thai food and a relaxing evening it is."

We settled into a comfortable silence but I stood, "I will be back, I need to use the bathroom."

I smiled at him and he tapped my ass. I giggled and went to the bathroom.

I glanced back at Logan, hoping he wasn't reading too much into my abrupt exit. I needed a moment to gather myself, and going to the bathroom was the perfect excuse.

I checked my reflection in the mirror to see if I had a guilty face on.

Meanwhile, Logan pulled out his phone, quickly typing out a message to my friend, June. "Hey, did anything suspicious happen with Ashley today? She seems off." He hit send, his eyes flicking nervously toward the bathroom.

Almost immediately, his phone buzzed with a reply. "She disappeared for a while and came back looking like she was almost in tears. I didn't pry, but something definitely happened."

Logan frowned, his heart sinking. He desperately wanted to ask me about it, to get to the bottom of whatever was bothering me, but he knew he couldn't without implicating June.

Instead, he took a deep breath and resolved to play it cool.

I returned to the living room, forcing a smile. "I can't wait to eat," I announced, trying to sound cheerful. "Should be here in about thirty minutes."

"Great," Logan replied, looking up from his phone with a casual smile. "So, did anything interesting happen at the shoot today?" he asked, trying to steer the conversation back to safer ground.

I hesitated, feeling the weight of his gaze on me. "Not really," I lied, hoping to avoid further questions. " why?"

Logan nodded, pretending to accept my answer. "Well, I'm glad it went well. You seemed pretty busy even when I texted."

"Yeah," I replied, trying to keep my tone light. "It was a long day."

The aroma of Thai food filled the room as Logan and I settled at the dining table. Despite the delicious spread in front of us, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was bothering him. His usual lightheartedness seemed replaced with a tension he was trying hard to hide.

"How's your Pad Thai?" I asked, hoping to break the silence.

"It's good," he replied, forcing a smile. "You always know what to order."

"Yeah, I guess so," I said, eyeing him carefully. "You seem a bit off tonight, though. Is everything okay?"

Logan paused, his fork hovering over his plate. "It's just work stuff," he said finally. "Nothing you need to worry about."

I frowned, not convinced. "You can talk to me about it, you know."

He sighed, putting his fork down. "Alright, if you insist. It’s this client... he’s been driving me crazy all day."

"What happened?" I asked, leaning in with genuine concern.

Logan rubbed the back of his neck, clearly searching for the right words. "His name is... uh, Dean. He’s been nitpicking every little detail of the project, changing his mind constantly. Just when I think everything’s settled, he comes back with another list of changes."

"That sounds frustrating," I said. "Did he at least settle on something in the end?"

"Not really," Logan said, shaking his head. "I spent hours going back and forth with him, and we're still nowhere closer to finishing."

I reached across the table and squeezed his hand. "I'm sorry you had such a rough day."

"Thanks," he said, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "I just hope tomorrow’s better."

"Me too," I said, giving him a reassuring smile. "Hey, how about I give you a massage after dinner? It might help you unwind."

Logan's eyes lit up at the suggestion. "That sounds amazing. I could definitely use one."

"Then it's settled," I said, feeling a bit more at ease knowing I could do something to help him. "Finish your food, and we'll get started."

After we finished eating, I cleared the table while Logan went to the room. I could tell he was looking forward to the massage, and honestly, I was too. It was a chance for him to forget about today and also clear a little bit of my conscience.

When I joined him, I found him lying face down on the bed, already stripped down to his boxers. "Someone's eager," I teased, grabbing a bottle of massage oil from the side table.

"You have no idea how much I need this," he mumbled, his voice muffled by the couch cushion.

I smiled and warmed some oil in my hands before starting to work on his shoulders. He sighed contentedly as I kneaded the tension from his muscles. "You're really good at this," he said, his voice already sounding drowsy.

"Just relax," I murmured, moving my hands lower to his back. "Let me take care of you."

He didn’t need to be told twice. As I continued to massage him, I could feel the stress melting away from his body. I focused on every knot and tight spot, using just the right amount of pressure to ease his discomfort.

"You're a lifesaver," Logan said after a while, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I’m glad I can help," I replied, my hands moving down to his lower back. "You deserve to relax after the day you’ve had besides, Dean is a dickhead,"

He hummed in agreement, his breathing becoming deeper and more even. I continued the massage, taking my time to make sure he felt completely relaxed. By the time I finished, Logan was fast asleep, a peaceful expression on his face.

I gently covered him with a blanket, careful not to wake him. Seeing him so relaxed made me feel a bit better about the day’s events.

I sat beside him for a while, watching him sleep and thinking about how lucky I was to have someone like Logan in my life. It was a dick move to kiss someone else when I had the best man all along.

I snorted inwardly at that, I love Logan and all but if I have the opportunity to see Aiden again, I am provoking him into kissing me the way he did today.

Eventually, I decided to clean up the kitchen, not wanting to disturb Logan’s rest.  I washed the dishes, I couldn’t help but replay our conversation in my mind.

There was something about his story that seemed off, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe it was just my own stress making me overthink things.

He usually had people handle the clients unless it was a high-profile one.

Once the kitchen was tidy, I returned to the room. Logan was still sleeping soundly, and I didn’t have the heart to wake him.

Instead, I grabbed a book and settled into the armchair nearby, content to stay by his side until he woke up.

That didn't last long.

I decided to step out onto the balcony for some fresh air, hoping it would help clear my head.

The night was cool and quiet, with only the distant hum of the city as background noise and the air from the woods.

I leaned against the railing, taking deep breaths and trying to shake off the worries that had been plaguing me all day.

As I stood there, I couldn’t help but replay the day’s events in my mind. Something about Logan’s story didn’t quite add up, but I pushed the thought aside, reminding myself that I trusted him. He’d never given me a reason to doubt him before.

I was the one with holes in her story.

Minutes turned into an hour, and before I knew it, I was feeling drowsy. The cool breeze and the soft sounds of the night lulled me into a sense of calm. I found a chair, curled up, and let my eyes close. I drifted off to sleep, feeling the tension slowly melt away.

Logan waited until he was sure I was fast asleep before taking out his phone. He dialed a private number and waited for the line to connect. "Yeah, it's me," he said in a low voice. "I need you to send three people to watch Ashley at all times. Discreetly. I don’t want her to know."

He listened for a moment, nodding even though the person on the other end couldn’t see him. "Good. Keep me updated," he said before hanging up.

Logan slipped his phone back into his pocket and quietly made his way to the balcony. He found me curled up in the chair, sleeping soundly. For a moment, he just watched me, his expression blank.

Then, he gently shook my shoulder.

"Ashley, wake up," he said softly. "Come to bed."

I stirred, blinking sleepily up at him. "I’m so tired, Logan," I murmured. "Can you carry me?"

"Of course," he replied with a smile. He scooped me up effortlessly and carried me inside, cradling me against his chest. The warmth and familiarity of his embrace made me feel safe and loved.

He placed me gently on the bed, tucking the blankets around me. Just as he was about to join me, his phone beeped. Logan glanced at the screen and saw a message from the unknown number: "Done."

He turned off his phone and slipped it back into his pocket before climbing into bed beside me. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close. "Goodnight, Ashley," he whispered, kissing my forehead.

"Goodnight, Logan," I mumbled, already drifting back to sleep.

As I lay there, enveloped in his warmth, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed. But for now, I was too tired to worry about it. I trusted Logan, and that was enough to lull me into a peaceful sleep.