What To Read After FSOG: The Gemstone Collection Part Two (224 page)

His head snapped in the direction of the door, but he already knew who it would be. He also knew what the scene in front of her looked like.

“Logan?”

He sat up and pushed Cora aside, shoving her dress against her chest.

“Elyse.” He got up and headed toward her. She looked over his shoulder and stared Cora down.

“Cora, get out of here!” he screamed, causing Elyse to jump back.

“You promised,” Elyse said, but wouldn’t look at Logan. “You said you would never…”

“This isn’t what you think.” He reached for her. “I swear.”

“No!” she yelled. “Don’t touch me.”

“Cora, tell Elyse what happened.”

“Why would I believe anything she has to say?” Elyse screamed. “You’re both disgusting.”

Cora got off the bed and slipped her dress back on. “I tried to warn you.” She smiled. “He’s a player. He wants what he wants when he wants it. Stop trying to figure him out.”

“She’s insane,” Logan said. “I wouldn’t touch her.”

“I can see with my own eyes. Do you think I’m stupid?” Elyse asked.

“She showed up here uninvited. I was in the shower.” He pleaded for her to listen. “I told her to leave.”

“Screw you both!” Elyse turned and ran down the hall.

“You stupid bitch!” Logan said to Cora as he grabbed a shirt from his desk chair and threw it on. When she smiled at him, his rage increased. He rummaged through his closet for a pair of jeans.

“Let her go back to New York where she belongs.”

“Get out of my house.” He stepped toward her. “If you ever come near me or Elyse again, I’ll make your life a living hell.”

“What could you possibly do to me?”

“I don’t want you.” He’d tried to spare her the truth before, but now she left him no other choice. “I never wanted you.”

“That’s not true.”

“Think about it. You came to my bed after that whole scandal with the councilman and his wife. You were a convenient way to forget what I had done. How I had humiliated my family.”

“I was there for you.”

“You came here every night looking to get off. It was a beneficial arrangement until you started talking about marriage and kids. There was never a time I was sober when we fucked.”

“That’s not true.”

He saw the hurt in her eyes, but polite wasn’t going to work anymore. Cora might very well have ruined his chance at happiness.

“I could be everything you need.”

“You can’t. Do you want to know how I know that?”

“I’m sure you’ll enlighten me.” She rolled her eyes.

“You’re not Elyse.”

“I love you.”

“Cora.” He looked into her eyes. “I’m sorry but I’ll never feel that way about you. I tried to make you understand. Now please, don’t make this any harder than it has to be.”

“You love her?”

“With everything I am.”

“You’re making the wrong choice. I can make you happy. Why can’t you let me?”

“Leave.” He pointed to the door. “Don’t come back. There’s nothing here for you.”

“I hope you get everything you deserve.” She ran out of the room, slamming the front door on her way to her car.

Logan pulled on his pants and hurried down the steps. Elyse’s keys were still on the hook behind the front desk. He looked out the window and saw her car in the driveway. She was still here.

“Elyse!” He yelled throughout the downstairs, but she didn’t answer. “Elyse! Answer me.”

Panic ruled his every move. Even if he did find her, would she believe him? Had her trust in him been shattered? Could he make her understand that what she thought she saw wasn’t the truth?

He checked the kitchen, but she wasn’t there either. Where would she go? He thought for a moment. He remembered the way her face lit up when she wanted to have lunch out in the woods.

Is that gazebo out by the trails still there?

You remember that old thing?

It had so much character. I used to dream I’d get married under it.

Logan pulled on his work boots at the back porch and headed to the trails. He’d make her understand. He had no other choice.

E
lyse ran out of the house so fast she didn’t take time to put on a jacket or grab her car keys. She regretted her haste now that a light snow blanketed the ground. A chill ran through her body as the howling wind hit her face. Ice cold tears slid down her cheeks.

She made her way to the old gazebo, taking refuge underneath it. She recalled with clarity the afternoon she and Logan ate lunch there. He hadn’t wanted her to return to New York because he said he didn’t want her to be away from him. She believed him when he said he’d never hurt her.
How could he have…?

She stopped and thought for a moment. When she walked in on Logan and Cora, he wore nothing but a towel. His hair was damp and his skin still wet from the shower.

That sneaky bitch.

Cora must have taken him by surprise. Logan knew Elyse was on her way back to the inn. Did he really think so little of their relationship that he’d take another woman to the bed they shared knowing she was on her way home?

“Elyse!” Logan ran toward her. “Thank God you’re here.”

He stepped inside the gazebo shaking out the snowflakes that had accumulated in his thick brown hair. “You need to listen to me.”

“No, I don’t.” She held up her hand to stop him because she didn’t need to hear his explanation.

“Yes,” he yelled. “You do. What you saw with Cora – it isn’t what you think.”

“I know.”

“She was in our room when I…” He stopped and stared at her, confusion flooded his expression. “You know?”

She nodded.

“Why did you run?”

“I didn’t realize it right away. I was shocked when I saw the two of you together. It looked really bad.”

“I would never do that to you. I don’t want anyone else. You’re the only woman for me.”

She wiped the tears from her face. “It hurt seeing you with her like that. I thought you…”

He pulled her into his embrace. Despite the weather, his warm body comforted her. Maybe it was the way he made her feel – safe and secure – but he would always be
home
for her.

“Never,” he whispered. “I would never betray you. I had this special evening planned. I wanted to tell you – things.”

“What things?” She shivered against his chest.

“Let’s go inside. You’re freezing.”

“Tell me.” She looked up at him. “I need to hear what you were going to tell me. I need you to erase the image of her in your arms.”

“It wasn’t like that. Please, you have to believe me.”

“I do, but I still thought it.” Elyse trusted Logan, but the image of a naked Cora in his bed haunted her. “I want to hear what you have to say.”

“Fine.” He sat down on the bench and pulled her into his lap. “I wanted to tell you I’m having my attorney draw up papers putting your name on the inn along with mine. I want you to be my partner.”

“What? Why would you do that?”

“Because I can’t do this without you. I’ve assumed that you’d stay with me and help me run it, but I never officially asked you.”

She didn’t know what to say. He had stunned her. Of course she wanted to stay and help him. “Your partner?”

“In every sense of the word, cupcake. Will you stay with me forever?”

“What are you asking?”

“We’ll need to have a wedding out here after I restore this old thing.” He nodded up at the gazebo. “Will you marry me here this summer?”

“You want to – marry me?”

He took her hand and pressed it to his lips. “I picked out the ring, but I won’t have it until next week. I wanted to ask you properly over Christmas, but I couldn’t wait.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“I’m hoping it’ll be a yes. I know I’m rushing you, but I can’t wait. I’ve fallen deeply, madly in love with you.”

“You – love me?” she squeaked through new tears.

“Yes.” He brushed his lips against hers. “You took me by surprise. When you showed up here that night, I thought you’d stay a day or two. I never expected to fall so fast and so hard.”

“Me either.” She kissed him. “I love you so much.” She stroked his cheek. “I have ever since that night when we made love on the couch.”

He smiled. “I felt it that night too, but I wasn’t sure what was happening. I’ve never been in love before.”

“I want to marry you. I’ve dreamed about running this inn with you since my first night here. I thought I was being crazy, but I came here for you. I know I did.”

“I’m glad you did. I needed you.”

“We needed each other.” She hugged him indulging in his strong hold.

“This is only the beginning.” He held her tighter. “We have the rest of our lives.”

“To make fantasies into realities.” Something drew her here that warm night in September and it was the same thing that had made her stay. A force she never fully understood until now.
Him
.

“At Pleasure Inn.”

The Pleasure Inn Series:

Indulging the Professor

Inn for the Holidays

Ella Jade has been writing for as long as she can remember. As a child, she often had a notebook and pen with her, and now as an adult, the laptop is never far. The plots and dialog have always played out in her head, but she never knew what to do with them. That all changed when she discovered the eBook industry. She started penning novels at a rapid pace and now she can’t be stopped.

Ella resides in New Jersey with her husband and two boys. When she’s not chasing after her kids, she’s busy writing, attending PTO meetings, kickboxing, and scrapbooking. She hopes you’ll get lost in her words.

She loves connecting with her readers. You can find her here:

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A True Romance / Erotica Series

Summer Daniels

I
slipped the blindfold over my eyes, took a deep breath and knocked twice on the door. I heard it open and Mark’s warm voice filled my ears. “Come in Summer. I am so happy you chose to join me tonight.” He led me into the center of the room and stopped. “Just stand there for a moment if you would while I feast my eyes. You look absolutely stunning. That lovely dress is going to look very stylish on the floor next to the bed.”

I never heard him move, but I could feel him behind me now. As he nuzzled the side of my neck, he pressed himself lightly against me. Whatever reservations I once had at giving up control to this stranger disappeared as my nipples did their best to rip through the lace bra and silk dress. How on earth could he know that my neck was one of my weak spots?

“I must confess that you are wearing much more at the moment than I am” he said. “Allow me to even the playing field.” As he slowly unzipped my dress, he followed the descending zipper with his soft lips and tongue. He reached up and tugged gently and the dress pooled at my feet.