While trying to stay out of Charlie’s way, I decided to do something to keep myself busy. I started on the kitchen, scrubbing the countertops and doing the little bit of dishes in the sink. I cleaned out the refrigerator, and inventoried what was there to make for dinner.
There wasn’t much.
I found a pack of chicken that had expired months before, a frozen ham bone, and a package of ground beef. In the cabinets, I located a box of pasta and some sauce. Spaghetti would be easy to put together, and I wouldn’t have to go through the take-out menus like I had to do on most nights. Besides, I was craving a real meal, full of carbs to satisfy my starved stomach.
I tackled the bathroom next, scrubbing the tub with an old can of powdered bleach. It reminded me of watching my grandmother cleaning when I was a small child. I wiped down the baseboards, and finally cleaned in and around the toilet. The vanity was the last thing I scrubbed. I made sure I shined the chrome faucet before stepping back and looking at what I’d accomplished.
Before I knew it, the sun had gone down. Charlie was heading out for a bit and I’d be alone in the house. I headed back into the kitchen and started dinner, browning the beef first and then adding the sauce. While the noodles cooked, I opened a cabinet in the dining room to look for plates. I was surprised to find a few boxes inside instead. Normally I’m not a nosey person, but the pungent smell of smoke was very apparent. I crouched down on the floor and opened it, finding a bunch of charred items. One was a book. It was full of half-burned photos.
The painful realization was obvious when I saw a handsome little boy being held by his mother. Then there were family photos and holiday shots. When I heard the front door opening, I shoved everything back into the cabinet and made a beeline for the kitchen.
Logan walked in and sat his keys down on the counter. “It smells good in here. What have you been up to?” He scanned the area, his eyes stopping on the cracked open cabinet.
“I was looking for plates,” I quickly announced.
“Yeah, they aren’t in there.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. It’s just, family is important to me. I was curious.”
“I’d appreciate it if you stayed off my personal things,” he snapped before disappearing down the hallway.
I felt terrible. I half expected him to come back and tell me to pack my shit up and leave. Since the food was almost done, I rinsed the noodles and tried to clean up my mess so he didn’t have anything else to get angry about.
Nothing could have prepared me for when he came around the corner in only a pair of basketball shorts. His dark brown hair was still wet from a shower, and he smelled unbelievably fabulous. His washboard abs were well defined, and I couldn’t help but stare at every single crevice of his skin.
Brant had never been built with defined muscles. He hadn’t been that big of a guy. I suppose his unhealthy lifestyle and diet prevented him from having a nice physique.
Logan snapped his fingers to get my attention. “Did you hear me?”
I’d been so mesmerized I’d zoned out. “No, sorry. What did you say?”
“Thanks for cleaning the bathroom. I know Charlie didn’t do it. She hates to clean, especially bathrooms. I don’t think it’s been that shiny since I moved in.”
“You’re welcome. It’s the least I could do for you letting me stay here. I know I’m a stranger, and you can’t trust me, especially after you caught me looking through your stuff, but I can assure you I won’t give you any trouble. I appreciate you helping me.”
“So, you cleaned all day and cooked me dinner. I’m surprised you found something edible. We have snacks, but rarely use the stove. Neither one of us have the time.”
“So, Charlie, is she your…”
“Roommate. Come on, Cassie, it’s not a secret she’s gay. She doesn’t try to hide it.”
“I was just checking. I didn’t want to make her feel like I’m intruding.”
“She’s my friend. Our living arrangement works for us. I hardly ever see her. She works nights, and when she’s off, she’s usually out with friends all hours of the night. I guess she’s used to the hours anyway, so it’s not a big deal to her.”
“What about you?” I asked. “Do you go out on the town much?” I realized it was a personal question, but I was trying to stay focused on something mundane to distract me from embarrassing myself again by taking another peek at his chest.
“I’m the most boring guy you’ll ever meet.” He reached in a cabinet and pulled out a loaf of bread. Then I watched him fetch a tub of butter out of the refrigerator. He started buttering a few pieces. “Would you like a couple slices?”
“Yeah, that will be great. I like to pile it high with pasta and…”
“And eat it like a sandwich. Yeah, me too. Maybe it’s an east coast thing.”
“Maybe,” he replied.
With so much on my mind I was trying to avoid, I sat across the table from the agent who’d saved my life. I don’t know why I felt so weird about sharing a meal with him. Maybe I was afraid we’d have nothing to talk about. Maybe I was afraid we’d have too much to discuss.
It wasn’t until we started eating when I realized how normal it felt. Aside from the time my family came to visit, I hadn’t had a sit-down home-cooked meal. The pasta was tangy and delicious. Logan probably thought I was a hog. I slurped my noodles, just like my daddy taught me to do. One time I splattered sauce all over my nose. Logan tossed me a paper towel to wipe it off with. For the way we met, I was beginning to feel almost comfortable in his presence. Granted, I was in a desperate situation, but he was being extra nice about it.
After dinner he insisted on doing the dishes. It made me think about Brant, and how he’d done the same thing when we had company. I already missed him, even though I knew I had reasons not to. I didn’t care how much of a liar he was, I still loved him and thought we’d have a chance at a future.
When Logan realized my mind had wandered, he snapped me out of it. “I have an extra television out in the shed if you want one for the room you’re in. It’s nothing fancy. It’s one of those old heavy ones, but it works. The cable is already run in that room, so all you have to do is hook it up in the back.”
“You don’t have to do extra things to accommodate me. I’m good with what I have.”
“I’m just trying to make you feel more comfortable.”
“Maybe I’ll change my mind later. Honestly, I prefer reading a book when I’m in bed.”
I was surprised when he took ahold of my arm and pulled me down the long hallway. “If you like to read, You’re going to go nuts when you see this.”
I don’t know what I expected. Of course I knew he wasn’t going to harm me, but his mysterious outburst had me worried. Once we came to a halt I was in awe. I’d never seen something quite like it. His entire bedroom wall was covered in book shelves. His door had been shut all day, and I didn’t have the nerve to look inside. “Wow. Have you read all these?”
“Most. There’s only so much TV I can handle. I like horror and science fiction the most. I’ve got a good collection of both. I’ve got a section of mystery and a bunch of crime books. Oh, and there’s even some romance novels on the bottom shelf. Charlie thinks she’s funny, but she adds to my collection when I’m not paying attention. I don’t know if she reads them first, or gets them from the hospital. Help yourself. I have no idea why I keep them. It’s not like I reread. There’s too much out there to explore.”
Never in my life had I met a guy who had a love for books like this guy. It was very nerdy, but also impressive. “I never would have pegged you as a bookworm.”
“Ditto.”
“Yeah, I haven’t been myself since I arrived in this crazy town.”