He’s a world-famous photographer...

Setting his sights on a single mom!

Former fashion photographer Logan Kensington’s turning his lens on his new career as part owner of an expanding talent agency. First order of business: persuading Jessica Parrish to relocate her family-owned shop, a move she’s dead set against. But the spunky single mom’s making Logan view life differently, opening his eyes to a secret longing for a home and family...

As a kid, CALLIE ENDICOTT had her nose stuck in a book so often it frequently got her in trouble. The trouble hasn’t stopped—she keeps having to buy new bookshelves. Luckily ebooks don’t take up much space. Writing has been another help, since she’s usually on the computer creating stories instead of buying them. Callie loves bringing characters to life and never knows what will prompt an idea. So she still travels, hikes, explores and pursues her other passions, knowing a novel may be just around the corner.

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Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Finally, A Family

Callie Endicott

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-09604-1

FINALLY, A FAMILY

© 2019 Callie Endicott

Published in Great Britain 2019

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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Version: 2020-03-02

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Logan was transfixed by her.

As inconvenient as Jessica and the shop might be for the agency’s expansion, he’d hate it if she wasn’t there. It was a feeling he didn’t want to examine too closely.

“What you’re thinking isn’t true,” he said quietly. “In fact, the shop is why I wanted to talk. I’ve told my friends, or business partners, about your idea and we’re all interested in seeing if it’s feasible. But before a decision can be made, I have to do research on renovation costs, etc.”

The glow from the lowering sun slanted across Jessica’s face and turned her eyes an even more intense blue. He’d been impressed by her strong leadership during the meeting, but now she looked enchanted.

Would one kiss spoil everything?

There was only one way to find out.

Dear Reader,

It’s a lot of fun to be a writer and have the power to create characters, explore lives and even establish towns that don’t exist. That was the case with Regen Valley. While a talent agency was necessarily in a metropolitan area, I wanted a small town for Jessica and Lindsey’s home. Regen comes from a German word referring to rain, which seemed eminently appropriate for the Seattle region.

Jessica’s affection for Regen Valley is unsurprising, since she spent many happy summers as a child visiting her grandparents there. She finds it difficult, however, to believe Logan will stay. He’s always lived in cities and worked on an international scale. As I wrote their story, I loved exploring whether, after all his travels, he just might find home and joy in a place and people he’d never heard of before.

I love hearing from readers and can be contacted through my Facebook page at Facebook.com/callie.endicott.author.

Best wishes,

Callie

To Missy, with love

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Dear Reader

Dedication

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

About the Publisher

PROLOGUE

TIME SEEMED TO stand still as Logan Kensington focused his camera on a magnificent buck, outlined by the first rays of sunlight. Mount Rainier rose beyond, white and majestic in the stillness. It was a fitting background to the deer, who surveyed his world with lordly arrogance.

The faint whirring sound from the camera caught the buck’s attention and it looked at the undergrowth where Logan was hidden. He kept his finger on the shutter release button to take a continuous burst of pictures.

Earlier in the year, Logan had spotted the game trail and small stream on a hike. Suspecting it would be a good place for photos, he’d returned and spent last night under cover, alert to the faintest movement and sound. Deer, a fox, raccoons, a pair of skunks, rabbits, even a snuffling bear—each of their images captured by his sensitive equipment. Now he was getting daylight shots.

A moment later the buck was gone, leaping effortlessly over the stream.

Aware that time was passing, Logan crawled from his photography blind and stretched. His clothes were damp from the rain that had come and gone over the hours he’d waited, and he needed to get back to Seattle for a meeting at the Moonlight Ventures Talent Agency. He was one of four partners who owned the agency, but so far his participation had mostly been long-distance. Once his last contract as a fashion photographer was fulfilled, he could remain in Seattle permanently instead of spending a week or two whenever he could manage. In the meantime, he’d gotten a studio apartment and an SUV to make his frequent trips to the Pacific Northwest easier.

He and his partners had bought Moonlight Ventures over a year before, and he would be the last to come on board. Nicole George was the first, followed by Adam Wilding and then Rachel Clarion, who had just gotten there. They were his closest friends, met while on photo shoots. In the early days, Adam, Rachel and Nicole had all been models, but Rachel had become a makeup artist after being injured in an accident.

Logan hiked out to where he’d left the SUV and drove back to Seattle, pleased with his night’s efforts. Despite being late for the meeting with his partners, he hurried into the Crystal Connection for a cup of coffee. The shop was located in the large building owned by Moonlight Ventures and sold a mixed bag of merchandise, from petrified wood bookends to fanciful kites. Yet Logan suspected coffee sales were their mainstay; they had a reputation for making the best around.

“Hi, Penny,” he greeted the woman behind the counter.

“Morning, Logan.” Penny Parrish had an amazing memory and had remembered his name from the beginning of their acquaintance, though he wasn’t a regular customer yet.

He studied the brews listed on the whiteboard. Some were the usual offerings, but he often got the flavor of the day. “I’ll try the Southwest Twist,” he told Penny.

“That’s one of my favorites. There’s a touch of roasted piñon nuts in the mix. It’s so popular I’m planning to make it a regular item.”

“Sounds great.”

Logan took the cup she handed him and tasted the steaming brew. He gave Penny a thumbs-up. The rich scent filled his senses and he restrained the temptation to gulp the coffee down. Even though his hiding spot on the edge of the clearing had been upwind of the game trail, he’d refrained from eating or drinking to avoid attracting attention.

Penny’s face was warm and friendly. While her eyes held the twinkle he’d enjoyed since getting to know her, he realized it couldn’t be easy keeping a positive attitude—her husband had died just a month earlier. Logan hadn’t been in Seattle at the time, though he’d sent flowers. On his visits before Eric’s death, Logan had recognized how much the couple loved each other. Their commitment had been rare, but at least they’d had fifty-plus years together. They were among the lucky few, though he couldn’t say that to Nicole or Adam, who’d both gotten engaged since moving to Seattle. Still, maybe they’d be lucky, as well.

Cup in one hand and swatting at his messy jeans with the other, Logan hurried into Moonlight Ventures. He waved at the office manager, Chelsea Masters.

“They’re waiting for you,” she called after him.

“I know, I’m late.”

They were meeting in Nicole’s office, which was the only one large enough for four people. Space was at a premium for the agency. Kevin McClaskey, the previous owner, had been a one-man show. He hadn’t expected to expand, so he’d sectioned off most of the building and given long-term leases to people like Penny and Eric Parrish. Still, Kevin’s overall office area was larger than he’d needed and it hadn’t seemed an issue when they purchased the talent agency and building. They’d remodeled the office space extensively and had been fairly happy with it, but as each partner arrived, they were feeling increasingly cramped. Not to mention wanting more rooms for training purposes and other needs. His own office wasn’t much bigger than a closet.

“I see you didn’t have time to change your clothes again.” Nicole tossed him the beach towel she had waiting. More than once on his trips to Seattle he’d arrived at a meeting wet or covered in mud from a photography outing, so she’d learned to be prepared.

“Nope.” Logan’s jeans had dried on the drive to the city, but despite his efforts to brush them off, they were stained with dirt and forest debris. He set his cup on a low table and covered a chair with the towel. “But I got some amazing shots.”

Adam chuckled. “You always do.”

“Here, take a look.” Logan went over and inserted a memory card into the computer, bringing the images up to display on a wall-mounted television. One of the big remodeling expenses had been getting the best wiring and electronics into their offices.

“They’re wonderful,” Nicole said after seeing a number of the photos.

Adam nodded in agreement. “Absolutely. Are they for a magazine?”

“Actually, I’m doing a calendar, and a publisher has approached me about doing a book on the Pacific Northwest.”

“I’ll buy the first copy,” Rachel promised. “But I wonder, are you going to be torn between full-time photography and the agency?”

The not-so-delicate question was probably something they were all wondering about.

“I’ve thought about it,” Logan admitted. “But while I love the challenge of getting a great picture, I also want to work at the agency.”

The discussion shifted and they compared notes on several prospective clients.

None of Logan’s friends seemed concerned by his answer. They’d put contingencies into the partnership agreement in case any of them decided to go another direction at some point, but he didn’t expect to change his mind about Moonlight Ventures. Being a talent agent would require him to find a balance between his competing interests.

Those interests didn’t include a family, even though his parents had begun fervently lobbying for grandchildren. His father was a retired diplomat and his mother a former protocol expert. Now they wanted to dive into being grandparents with the same intensity they’d brought to embassy duties and official dinners. In fact, they acted as if marriage and kids were items on a list that everybody needed to check off.

Logan had firmly told them not to start buying baby booties; he intended to stay a bachelor. His decision partly stemmed from the fact that he’d seen too many bad relationships to have any faith in marriage. The statistics on divorce weren’t encouraging. But the biggest reason was his own questions about whether he had what it took. He doubted he had the personality and commitment to make a marriage successful. After all, he’d have to change his personal life far more than a move to Seattle would require, and he couldn’t see that happening.

Ultimately, it would be best to be an honorary uncle to his friends’ children and leave the uncertainty of marriage and parenting to them.

CHAPTER ONE

Seven months later...

LOGAN SAT IN his car, gazing through the early spring rain at the Crystal Connection. It rained a lot in Washington in every season, which must be why it was called the Evergreen State.

Even in the dark weather, the crystals in the windows moved and winked with every breath of air inside the store. Small spotlights had been focused on them so they were sure to capture attention. He didn’t understand why some people were so crazy about crystals and the New Age mysticism surrounding them, but that was their business. The problem was that he and his partners needed to expand and the crystals were directly in the way.

There was a knock on the window and he jerked; he’d been so deep in thought that he hadn’t noticed Rachel Clarion approaching. Rachel Kessler, he reminded himself, since she’d joined the ranks of the recently married. Not only that, she was pregnant.

“What’s up?” he asked, getting out of the car.

“Nothing much. Where is your sports car?”

“Traded it in over the weekend. I enjoyed it, but I decided to get this smaller hybrid since I want a place outside the city. I’m keeping the SUV for my photo ventures into the mountains.”

“Simon has talked about getting a hybrid ever since Livvie learned about fossil fuels in school.” Her face glowed at the mention of her new husband and his daughter. “He’s a sucker when it comes to Livvie.”

“So are you.”

“True.” Rachel laughed.

She adored her stepdaughter and was happy in a way Logan had never seen his friend before. He’d worried about her after the accident that had ended both her modeling career and first marriage. But everything had changed after she moved to Seattle and met Simon Kessler. Now, except for a few bouts of morning sickness, she seemed truly at peace. Logan just hoped it would last.

“I saw you brooding over here,” Rachel added. “Is there a problem?”

“Just gathering my thoughts about the situation with the Crystal Connection. Today is my first official day as a regular agent and I need to evaluate how to approach this particular issue.”

She made a face. “Being a landlord is my least favorite part of owning Moonlight Ventures.”

He nodded.

The rapid growth of the agency had surprised him and the others. It was partly from name recognition since they were all known in the modeling world, but now they were victims of their own success. Even with Logan starting to work full-time they needed to hire junior associates, but they just didn’t have space to accommodate anyone else.

As partners they shared administrative tasks and it was his turn to take the lead. Actually, it was well past his turn. So he was evaluating options for expansion...which mostly meant seeing if there was any way to move the Crystal Connection to another location in the building.

“It’s a challenge since the new owner is Penny’s granddaughter. She has a young daughter close to Livvie’s age,” Rachel told him. “I’ve been tempted to try setting up playdates between them, but it’s tricky. I suspect we won’t be popular once we’ve broached the subject of the shop moving.”

“That makes me feel a whole lot better.”

“Sorry. On the positive side, it’s possible Jessica will like the idea of having a larger space for the same rent. We can’t know until we ask. In any case, I’ll leave you to beard the lioness in her den,” Rachel said with a sympathetic smile.

“I probably won’t do it today. First I’m going to check commercial real estate listings of rental spaces so I have other options to offer.” They’d agreed they should pay the costs of a move, along with advertising to announce a new location—even if it was just around the corner of the building—but Logan wanted to start the discussion with real estate listings in hand. For all they knew, Ms. Parrish would love the opportunity to break her long-term lease and relocate somewhere else entirely.

“Sure you aren’t being cowardly?” she teased gently. “Jessica isn’t that fierce, except maybe when it comes to her daughter.”

He gave Rachel a wry look. “I’ve faced grizzly bears, Bengal tigers, Mount Everest and prima donna models of both sexes. I’m not saying it’ll be a piece of cake, but I can handle the situation.”

Rachel said goodbye and walked toward the agency.

Logan glanced back at the Crystal Connection’s storefront. Dealing with the issue would be part of the learning curve as he shifted from fashion photographer to businessman, but he wasn’t required to enjoy every single aspect of it.

Maybe they should have anticipated a change in ownership over the eight months since Eric Parrish’s death. Penny and her husband had started the store together, so it may have been too painful for her to continue running it alone.

Logan had spent the last month in Italy, which was why he still hadn’t met the new owner. His partners had mentioned she’d been there for a couple of weeks, working alongside her grandmother, but they’d assumed she was just helping. Then, last Friday, Penny had sent a note, asking them to change the name on the lease to her granddaughter, Jessica Parrish, saying the shop now belonged to her. The lease specifically stated it wasn’t transferable, but that was a technicality. While they weren’t legally required to honor a change to the rental agreement, it seemed wrong to refuse under the circumstances.

They knew Penny, but Jessica Parrish was a lesser known quantity. Maybe he should call Kevin McClaskey—the previous owner of the agency might be able to tell him about Jessica. Kevin knew most of his former tenants the way he knew his own family.

Logan sighed. Getting more information was definitely wise before discussing business with Ms. Parrish. In the meantime, he may as well go in and get a cup of coffee.

The thought made him pause.

The Crystal Connection was known for its great coffee, but what would it be like with a new owner? Well, even if it was awful, diplomacy demanded he continue getting his coffee there for a while. In the interim, he might learn something useful.

As he came closer, he looked to see if there were any visible changes, not that Jessica Parrish would have had much time for alterations. Everything mostly looked the same except for the small spotlights in the windows.

“Hello?” Logan called as he walked inside. There was no one in sight.

“Welcome to our store,” said a small voice. “Can I help you?”

He saw a little girl sitting on the floor next to the sales counter, a sketch pad resting on her up drawn knees. From what Rachel had said, he figured she was Jessica Parrish’s daughter, which meant she was around seven or eight years old.

“Uh, hi,” he said. “Is this your place now?”

“Kind of. It used to be Grandma and Grandpa’s, but Momma has it now.”

“I see.”

“Hello. Can I help you?” another voice inquired.

He turned and saw a young woman standing behind him, holding a large box in her arms. Her striking blue eyes held a friendly glint.

“Yes, I’d like a cup of coffee. I’ve been here before. I’m one of the partners in Moonlight Ventures.”

Her smile flashed. “Are you the large Southwest Twist, the low-fat mocha latte—”

Logan shrugged. “I don’t have a usual.”

“Oh, yes, you must be the one that Grams calls Magellan.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Because you try different things and don’t like routine. But maybe you’d prefer a different nickname.”

“If anything, I’ve thought of myself as a Stanley. You know, of Stanley and Livingstone,” Logan said, surprised that Jessica’s grandmother had read him so well. He’d be bored to death following a routine every single day.

“Ah, another explorer.” Jessica put the box she was carrying on the counter. “What can I get you?”

“I’m in a plain coffee mood this morning, so a large organic medium roast. By the way, I’m Logan Kensington.”

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Jessica Parrish. This is my daughter, Cyndi.” Jessica gestured to the child sitting nearby. “She’s helping me out because her school isn’t in session this week.”

Cyndi smiled and wiggled her fingers in a wave.

Logan smiled in return and then looked back at Cyndi’s mother. “We didn’t know the shop was changing ownership until we got Mrs. Parrish’s note.”

“There was a delay in getting everything settled. Something or other with the will. Grams prefers having her ducks in a row before making announcements.”

Jessica went into the coffee bar in a corner of the shop and he evaluated her the way he’d evaluate a model he needed to photograph. Great skin. A steady gaze and firm jawline that suggested stubborn resolve. The unusual shade of her blue eyes complemented her hair, which was brown with a coppery tone. And while she didn’t have a particularly bold figure, he preferred her slim curves.

He glanced at her ring finger and was annoyed with himself. It would be dishonest to deny he found her appealing, but he couldn’t let it be an issue. Whether she was married or single, his interest was entirely on behalf of the agency.

“Do you have your own cup?” Jessica asked.

“I forgot to bring it,” he said.

Many of the Crystal Connection customers were ecologically conscious and brought their own cups, getting a discount in return. She was probably continuing the policy.

“That’s okay.” She filled a tall paper cup and handed it to him. He added cream and fastened a lid on the top, noticing it was different than the ones Penny and Eric had stocked. He appreciated that it was biodegradable, instead of regular plastic.

Jessica went to the cash register and punched in some information. “I see we have your credit card number on file. Do you want me to continue charging your account once a month?”

“That would be great.”

“I just remembered—an advance copy of your calendar arrived a few days ago.” Jessica took out a large envelope from under the counter. “I’m sure you’ve already seen it.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t know advance copies had been distributed.”

On the calendar’s thick, glossy cover was a photo of two magnificent stags, charging each other in a battle for supremacy, their breath steaming in the cold air. Logan’s signature was printed at the bottom right in bold silver ink. He hadn’t wanted his name to be so prominent, but the publisher had insisted his reputation was one of the selling points. Logan wasn’t convinced. He wasn’t an Ansel Adams or a Pulitzer Prize–winning photographer; he was best known in fashion circles.

“The photographs are stunning,” Jessica said, flipping through the pages. “I’ve shown it around and already have a waiting list for copies.”

“I loooove your pictures,” Cyndi chimed in. “My favorite is the one of the baby mountain lions. It’s splendiferous.”

The photo had taken patience, dumb luck and a huge dash of imprudence since mountain lions were notoriously protective mothers. Logan didn’t want to confess how close he’d actually gotten to the small family; he was letting everybody assume he’d used a very powerful telephoto lens.

“Thanks, Cyndi,” he said to the child. “That’s one of my favorites, too. I didn’t know the Crystal Connection was going to carry my calendars.”

Jessica chuckled. “Grams sent an order as soon as Uncle Kevin told her you had one coming out for next year.”

“Uncle Kevin? I hadn’t heard you were related.” Logan frowned. Discussions about moving the Crystal Connection would be even more sensitive if Jessica was Kevin McClaskey’s niece.

“We aren’t, but I’ve known him all my life. Grams and Kevin’s wife were childhood friends. He’s an honorary grandfather, but it was easier to call him ‘uncle.’”

The explanation wasn’t much comfort. Kevin’s anxious concern for the people he cared about could get irritating, but he was also a tireless advocate for the people in his sphere—he knew what was happening in their lives and actively promoted their interests. Retiring had made no difference in how he behaved. Though Logan still wanted to talk to Kevin about Jessica, he’d have to be careful.

With a wink at Cyndi, Logan took his coffee and headed for the agency next door. When he settled at his desk, he checked for messages before taking a sip. The coffee was as good, or better, than what he’d gotten in the past. So at least the brew hadn’t changed, though he still didn’t know what other impact there might be from the switch in ownership.

He picked up the phone, hoping to make an appointment to meet Kevin for lunch. There was only one way he could deal with a problem, and that was straight through.

* * *

JESSICA ASSEMBLED A new display cabinet, humming along with the music playing over the speaker system. She’d been planning things to do at the shop ever since Grams had explained that when the estate was settled, Jessica would get the Crystal Connection. Technically Granddad had owned the store, but they’d both wanted her to have it when he was gone.

It meant she wouldn’t have to work a regular job anywhere else, or keep paying someone for childcare. Either Cyndi would be with her great-grandmother after school, or Jessica would bring her to the store where there was a place in the stockroom to study and play. This week would have been especially hard since the school had closed unexpectedly because of a virulent virus making the rounds. So Cyndi simply came to work with her.

As deeply as Jessica missed her grandfather, she was grateful for the generous bequest. Not that it meant things would suddenly be easy. Her grandparents had made a living from the Crystal Connection and been able to save for retirement, but it was mostly because they’d lived simply...something their son had hated. Jessica’s father was devoted to making the money needed to support an extravagant lifestyle, a choice her mother appreciated, as well.

It was fine for them, but Jessica didn’t have fond memories of her childhood. Mostly she’d been lonely except for the summer-long visits with her grandparents, who’d lavished her with love instead of belongings. It hadn’t been unusual for Granddad to burst out in song or to sweep his wife and granddaughter into a dance with the sheer joy of living. He’d had a slight limp, but hadn’t let that stop him.

The memory was so happy that Jessica danced across the store to fetch a box of Austrian crystals to unpack, feeling as if Granddad was dancing right along with her.

Cyndi giggled. “I like when you’re silly, Momma. But I don’t like this.” She frowned and held up the picture she’d been drawing. Clearly it was supposed to be Logan Kensington’s mountain lion cubs. Cyndi’s interest in art had started at a young age and she’d taken as many special classes as Jessica could afford.

Jessica walked over and studied the drawing. “Your perspective is a little off, but who says artists always need the same perspective?”

“I s’pose. Do you think taking pictures is the same as regular art?”

“It’s just another type of art, the way sculpting isn’t the same as painting.”

“Yeah. Mr. Kensington’s pictures are cool.”

Jessica grinned. She loved when her daughter got enthusiastic about something, even if it meant she wanted to take a class that meant another expense.

At the display case Jessica experimented with the best way to arrange the new stock, tensing a moment when Cyndi coughed. It was hard not to listen for the wheezing that came with an asthma attack. But nothing followed the cough and Cyndi relaxed into happy activity.

The shop was fun, carrying a hodgepodge of items from around the world. Though the Crystal Connection’s coffee was popular, they were best known for their crystals, both manufactured and natural stones. Jessica especially loved the intense greenish-blue apatite crystals, but each kind had its own special appeal.

Some customers shopped there because they simply enjoyed the beauty of the rocks and crystals. Other folks had mystical beliefs about their powers. Meeting new people and discussing their ideas was one of the things she loved about the shop.

It was sad that her brothers had preferred visits with their grandparents to be brief. Maybe it was because they had other interests, but they’d never really gotten to know Granddad, and would never have the chance now. She was grateful for the move she’d made to Seattle the previous year. She’d been offered a good job at a department store during a visit and then her grandparents had insisted she move into the other side of the duplex they owned in the small community of Regen Valley. It meant she and Cyndi had spent more time with Granddad before he was gone.

There was an encouraging stream of customers in the first part of the morning, though some just came for coffee. Eventually she’d learn the names of the regulars and what they liked.

Shortly before noon, her grandmother bustled through the door. “Hello, dear,” she said. “How is everything going?”

Penelope Parrish was a lively, beautiful woman of seventy-two. She had a keen intelligence and a generous heart. A few people thought she was flaky, but Jessica figured it was from her involvement with the store and extensive knowledge about the beliefs and legends surrounding rocks and gemstones. Her grandfather had shared the same reputation, even though he had been a published anthropologist before opening the Crystal Connection.

“Pretty good so far,” Jessica replied.

“Have you had a lot of customers?”

“About what you said there’d be.”

Jessica didn’t care if she got rich, but she hoped to expand the shop’s customer base. Her grandparents hadn’t used social media to promote the business, and they’d never considered selling over the internet. By adding online sales she could save more for her daughter’s future and have a cushion to tide them through slow times.

Doing well was important to her, just not at the expense of being a good mom. Her own parents had been so intent on making money there’d been little energy left for their children; she didn’t intend to make the same mistake.

“Remember what I told you,” Penny said. “Whenever you need me to cover for you, just say the word. I plan to stay active so when I get old, I won’t feel it so much. In the meantime, I’ll take my great-granddaughter home so we can have a serious bout with a new jigsaw puzzle.”

“That’s a terrific idea.” Jigsaw puzzles had been a constant presence during Jessica’s childhood visits with her grandparents. Working on a puzzle together was a great time to talk, or just be in silent accord. She was glad her daughter would have the same experience. Though they’d lived next door since early last summer, she’d rarely accepted her grandmother’s offer of babysitting. It had been clear that Granddad was failing and she’d wanted her grandparents to have as much time together as possible.

In the early afternoon there was another flurry of customers for coffee. Several were from Moonlight Ventures and she hated feeling intimidated in their presence. For the most part they were startlingly good-looking. Who would have guessed she would someday serve coffee to Nicole George—now Nicole George Masters—or Adam Wilding, two of the hottest models in the past fifteen years? They weren’t just average attractive, they were bigger than life.

Logan Kensington came back at 2:00 p.m. Of all her customers from that morning, he stood out the most. Maybe it was because she’d taken a better look at his gorgeous calendar; there was a biography on the back, along with a thoroughly intriguing picture of him, the image of a bold adventurer. He was ruggedly handsome and had an unusual background, having grown up not just in the United States but in various countries as a diplomat’s son. It explained the faint hint of an accent in his voice. With a degree from Oxford and a postgrad stint at Harvard, he was as far removed from her realm of experience as a man could be.

She’d also noticed he was described as “committed to bachelorhood.” The remark must have come from him and she had rolled her eyes upon reading it. Some men felt the need to advertise their lack of interest in settling down.

“Where’s Cyndi?” Logan asked as she started a fresh batch of the organic medium roast coffee he wanted.

“With Grams. She’s helping me with childcare.”

“That’s nice. The coffee this morning was superb,” he said as he waited. “I admit to being skeptical when I realized someone else was making it for the shop.”

“You aren’t the only one who was concerned. With two major coffee companies having been founded here, Puget Sound residents are passionate about their brew.”

“Did your grandmother show you how to make it?”

Jessica shook her head. “Actually, I’m the one who taught her and Granddad when they decided to put in the coffee corner. I’d been working as a barista, so I kind of knew the ropes.”

“‘Kind of’ is an understatement.”

“Thanks. It’s been years since I had that job, so it’s good to know I haven’t lost my touch.” She’d enjoyed being a barista, though there’d always been a few customers each day who thought they were too busy to wait their turn. The main reason she’d looked for another job was her need for a higher income.

“Did you grow up in the Seattle area?” Logan asked.

“I visited every summer as a kid, but until moving here last year, I mostly lived in the Washington, DC, region. I saw from your biography on the calendar that you aren’t a Seattle native, either. What is it like, living outside your own country?”

Logan rested an elbow on the narrow coffee bar. She’d found it at a barn sale a couple of weeks earlier, along with four brass barstools. They’d come from an old bed-and-breakfast inn under renovation. The new setup didn’t take much room, but it helped separate the coffee corner from the rest of the shop and gave customers a place to sit if they wanted.

“Living abroad can help broaden your view of the world and its people,” Logan explained. “You realize it’s ridiculous to assume that everyone does things the way we do at home.”

“Conjuring a sense of humility?”

“In a way, I suppose. Still, it’s easy to slide back into being egocentric. My folks might have been even more successful as diplomats if they’d fully embraced other customs and viewpoints.”

Jessica was aware that her smile had become strained. “My parents have a similar problem. They know people make different choices than theirs, but usually believe those choices are foolish or wrong.”

Logan gave her a sympathetic grin. “Including the ones you’ve made yourself?”

“They would have understood me becoming a high-powered lawyer or going into a corporation and climbing the ranks. Or even if I’d become an actress. But my lack of interest in wealth or fame is a mystery to them. Instead I prefer my grandparents’ way of living. Simplicity, core values and not leaving too big of a footprint on the earth.”

“An old-fashioned girl, huh?”

Girl? She cocked her head, wondering if Logan was showing his true colors.

“I wouldn’t put it that way,” she said casually. “People claim you’re old-fashioned if you choose certain things an earlier generation valued. But there’s nothing new in the world. People have adopted the hedonism of the Romans or the wild antics of the roaring twenties without being called old-fashioned. My parents have a huge amount in common with the robber barons of the nineteenth century, yet everyone calls it the ‘modern’ way.”

“Good point,” Logan acknowledged.

The coffee had finished brewing, so she refilled the paper cup he’d brought back from earlier that morning. “Anything else?”

“No—” He stopped. “That is, not at the moment.”

Jessica frowned after he left. There had been something unusually intent about how Logan Kensington had watched her. He also seemed to be trying to make a connection. There wasn’t anything creepy about it, but it was enough to make her wonder if he had a hidden agenda.

At the same time, she was reasonably certain he wasn’t interested in her as a woman.

Why would he be?

Logan Kensington was a handsome man who’d photographed some of the most beautiful and sophisticated women in the world. She was a single mom who’d often shopped at yard sales to help make ends meet...just not for Cyndi’s school clothes. Kids could be cruel about that kind of thing and she was fortunate that she could spare her daughter having to deal with it at such a young age. Logan couldn’t possibly understand something like that. If he ever had kids, they’d probably go to private schools and shop at trendy clothing stores.

Yet it really didn’t matter that he was out of her realm of experience. She’d already made too many mistakes with relationships and wanted to focus on making the shop an even bigger success while raising her daughter. Those were the things that counted.

CHAPTER TWO

LOGAN RETURNED TO his office, wondering if he should have initiated the conversation about moving the Crystal Connection. He’d been considering possible openings the entire time he was talking to Jessica. But maybe it was just as well he hadn’t said anything because he still thought searching real estate listings beforehand was a good idea. Also talking with Kevin.

Oddly, Logan hadn’t been able to reach him after several calls and two voice mail messages suggesting they get together. Being out of contact was unusual for the agency’s former owner.

The next day an email arrived from Kevin, apologizing that he hadn’t called back and explaining he was away for a few weeks. His daughter had given birth and he was in Chicago to see the baby and help out, possibly the only thing that could have pulled him from anxiously hovering over his friends and former clients. Kevin McClaskey was a classic overachieving nurturer who wanted to help everyone he met.

Logan sorted through the rental listings he’d compiled. Several were in excellent retail locations, but they had higher rental fees than what Jessica was currently being charged. Surely that would convince her that moving to the rear of the Moonlight Ventures building would be best. That way she’d stay their tenant, expand her retail space, and they could ensure it was well worth her while.

His gut instinct said he should talk with Kevin in person, but Logan wasn’t in the mood to wait. So that afternoon he tucked the listings in his pocket and headed for the Crystal Connection, hoping to find Jessica alone. Instead, two customers were there, picking up merchandise and examining it carefully, then moving on to something else.

“Coffee?” Jessica asked.

“In a while. I’m going to look around.”

He began peering into various display cases so it wouldn’t be obvious that he was just waiting for the others to leave. The customers spent an inordinate length of time deciding which crystals spoke to them. Jessica was friendly as she dealt with their questions, while impatience welled inside of him.

“Do you have to endure that very often?” he asked once the couple had departed with their purchases.

“Excuse me?”

“I’m talking about that sort of customer. You know, looking at everything and all the discussion about healing properties and whether a crystal is speaking to them. I wouldn’t have the patience to put up with it very often.”

Her smile grew stiff. “I’m not putting up with anything. That couple has been coming to this shop since I was a kid. They’re good customers, are awfully nice and attended my grandfather’s funeral because they cared about him and my grandmother. But even if this had been their first time through the door, they were fine. I’ve heard people say a certain photograph or painting speaks to them. Why not a rock?”

Logan could have kicked himself. Despite having grown up with diplomats, sometimes he had a talent for saying the wrong thing. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything. I’m sure all businesses have aspects that seem odd from the outside.”

“No doubt.”

Her manner was polite, but it lacked the easy friendliness she’d shown on his earlier visits.

“Honestly, I’m sorry. I have a big mouth,” he said, hoping to regain lost ground. “It’s one of the many reasons I didn’t follow in my parents’ footsteps.”

“Not diplomatic enough?” Her tone suggested she was sure of the answer.

“The State Department prefers people who think before they talk so you don’t inadvertently start a war. They also prefer people who don’t have a talent for sticking their foot in their mouths.”

“I see. What kind of coffee do you want today?” she asked.

“A Southwest Twist, please.” He handed her the travel mug he’d brought from his studio condo. Hopefully he wouldn’t be living there for long—though he was accustomed to hotel rooms after being on location most of the year, he was quickly starting to want more space, preferably out of the city.

As Jessica filled the cup, he wondered if he should wait another day or two to talk with her. She hadn’t said anything outright, but he was fairly sure her opinion of him wasn’t at a high point right now. On the other hand, she didn’t seem the type to turn something minor into a major incident.

As he was putting cream into his brew, the door opened. Great. More customers. Then he saw it was Jessica’s daughter, along with Penelope Parrish, which was worse. They might be planning to spend the rest of the day.

“Hi, Penny,” he called. “Hey, Cyndi.”

“Good afternoon, Logan,” Penny said, smiling. “I want to compliment you. The calendar is lovely.”

Cyndi eagerly bobbed her head. “Does it take forever to get pictures like that, Mr. Kensington?”

“Call me Logan. Some photographs take quite a while since the animals can be difficult to find. Then you have to wait and take as many as possible, hoping to get the right one.”

“Is it hard to do?”

“Yes and no. Mostly you have to be very, very patient.”

Penny’s eyes twinkled. “You have a whole-hearted admirer, Logan. My great-granddaughter has been talking about photography ever since she saw that calendar and met you. She even pulled out our old family albums and asked questions I didn’t know how to answer.”

“I like old pictures, too,” he said. “But the technology is different now, with digital cameras instead of using film. With digital, you can get an idea of what you’ve captured right away without having to wait for it to develop.”

“I have a digital camera,” Cyndi exclaimed. “Momma gave it to me for Christmas.”

“Good, so you can take plenty of pictures and get the hang of how you want them to look. You can also get books at the library about composition and how to frame a shot.”

In the back of his mind he was hoping the conversation would be a distraction from his less-than-tactful remark about Jessica’s customers. He admired her respect for others and wished he’d voiced the same respect.

Since he wanted to conduct his business with Jessica in private, he went back to his office and spent the next hour evaluating the photos he’d taken of clients that morning down by the lake. Now that he was in the Seattle area full-time, Moonlight Ventures wanted to improve their clients’ portfolios. There was a distinct difference between a standard head shot and a more creative approach that might excite a prospective advertiser.

It was late afternoon when he headed over to the Crystal Connection, the copies of the real estate listings still in his pocket.

Jessica looked up from where she was unpacking a large box. “I’m sorry. We stop making coffee at three thirty and there aren’t any leftovers.”

“I understand.” He glanced around and was glad to see she was alone. “But there’s something I’ve been wanting to discuss with you. It’s about the space you’re leasing from Moonlight Ventures.”

Her eyebrow lifted. “Is there a problem? Grams told me she’d paid the rent for three months ahead.”

“No, that isn’t it. It’s just, well, you may not have realized that the lease isn’t transferable.”

Her soft complexion went pale and Logan instantly felt like a villain in an old melodrama, threatening the beautiful heroine with eviction.

* * *

JESSICA STRAIGHTENED HER shoulders and injected steel in her spine. She’d survived setbacks before and would again. Besides, there was an option.

“If the lease isn’t transferable,” she said, “I’m sure my grandmother will be happy to continue renting the property. I’ll work it out with her.”

“Please understand, we aren’t trying to throw you out,” Logan said hurriedly. “It’s just that we need to expand the agency.”

“The lease is for another three years.”

And Kevin McClaskey promised we could stay as long as we liked, Jessica wanted to tell him. She was quite certain that Uncle Kevin wouldn’t have had a problem with transferring the lease to a family member. He’d be horrified to learn the new landlords had even mentioned the matter.

“I know what’s in the lease,” Logan said, “but no matter whose name is on it, we’d hoped to discuss an accommodation that might work for all of us. This issue would have been raised, whether or not the ownership had changed. After remodeling we thought our space was adequate, but we’ve realized it isn’t. We planned to bring the matter up before, but given what happened with your grandfather...it seemed best to wait.”

Jessica fought a renewed stab of panic and reminded herself that Grams’s name could remain on the paperwork. She’d known the lease agreement wasn’t permanent, but in the past it had always been renewed automatically. Granted, she’d questioned whether the situation would change now that Uncle Kevin was no longer the landlord, but she’d figured she had three years to talk with the new owners and sort things out. Now, no matter what Logan claimed, it sounded as if he and his partners wanted the Crystal Connection gone much more quickly.

He said it was because they wanted to expand the agency’s space. But she had to wonder. His earlier comments had given her the impression that he had a low opinion of the shop and its customers. Perhaps he felt it wasn’t as highbrow as his talent agency and didn’t want her next door.

Some people thought it was ludicrous to be passionate about crystals, particularly when metaphysical beliefs were part of the attraction. But she knew folks who thought modeling was a skewed and ridiculous business.

“What do you mean by accommodation?” she asked warily.

“For one thing, this is a very large building. It covers the better part of a city block. There’s space down around the end, off the smaller road. The Crystal Connection could move into one of the available rentals for the same rent, with over twice the square footage.”

“Except we have easy parking here. More importantly, the street out front is a busy thoroughfare. Our visibility nets a huge amount of drop-in business.”

The expression on Logan’s face didn’t flicker. “It isn’t a big deal for someone to park and walk around the back of the building. And there are ways to minimize the impact of moving. Signs, advertising, that sort of thing. You must have a contact list for your regular customers.”

Jessica seriously doubted advertising was the solution. She’d already heard new customers saying it was the large display windows that had enticed them into visiting. The back of the building bordered on a one-way street so narrow it almost functioned as an alley. The store would come off like a hole in the wall, hiding from the world. She shook herself and remembered that Logan was waiting for an answer.

“We don’t have a contact list. Not yet. My grandparents didn’t do mailings or promote on the internet. I put out a sign-up sheet last week, but it’s just a start.”

“The move wouldn’t have to be done immediately. If you’re interested, I found rental listings for other locations, too.”

Jessica wasn’t interested; she was insulted. So he’d found a few available rentals. How very patronizing of him. Not to mention presumptuous. It was as if he expected to snap his fingers and have the whole situation resolved to his satisfaction. Moreover, with either solution, the Crystal Connection would be neatly tucked out of his tender sight. He might not even lose sleep if she went out of business altogether.

She gave him a tight smile. “It’s early to be looking at other rentals, and if needed, I can certainly find them on my own.”

His cool brown eyes were unreadable. “Yes, naturally.”

“As for a contact list,” she continued, “while I think it’s a good idea, it has no relationship to walk-in traffic. Location is everything.” Still annoyed, Jessica felt another wave of anxiety. She had three years before she had to do what Logan and Moonlight Ventures wanted, but they could make life miserable for her in the interim.

Her gaze fell to the counter by the cash register. The wood was warmly burnished from years of use and polishing, and there were various dents and grooves. Decorators would likely call it “distressed.” It was a part of her childhood. As a little girl she’d perched on it and watched her grandparents unpacking merchandise. Sitting on a stool, she’d leaned over its wooden surface and drawn pictures or strung crystal necklaces with her grandmother.

On one of her summer-long visits with her grandparents, she’d written numerous letters to her parents on that counter. Back at home, she’d found them with the junk mail, never opened. Her folks hadn’t meant to be uncaring—from their perspective, they’d been working for their family’s security, providing a large home, putting money away for college and building a diversified financial portfolio. Though hurt, she’d gathered up the letters and put them in her memory box.

A group of customers came in and Logan moved aside, appearing to study a display of books on crystals, geology and rock collecting. His expression suggested poorly concealed scorn at their enthusiasm, though she tried not to read too much into it. When it got right down to it, he might feel that way about everything. But as far as she was concerned, true sophistication included an open appreciation of the world.

Once the shoppers were busy looking at merchandise, Logan returned to the counter. “What do you say?” he asked in a low voice. “Is it all right if we discuss this further?”

She couldn’t refuse and risk antagonizing one of the building’s owners. “I suppose, provided you know I haven’t agreed to anything. I don’t want to make a decision too quickly.”

“Naturally.” He gave her a crooked grin. “My friends and I talked and planned for years before changing our careers. Of course, we hope to resolve the situation faster with you.”

“I understand,” she said in a neutral tone.

“Could I take you to dinner Thursday night? That way we can have some uninterrupted time. If you have plans for Thursday, what about the evening after?”

She didn’t have any “plans” to coordinate around, no appointments and certainly no dates. Being a single mother made socializing tricky. Now that she lived next door to her grandmother, childcare wouldn’t be a problem, but she wasn’t eager to explore love again. And she hadn’t been in the Seattle area long enough to have much else on her social calendar except for her committee work to get an urgent care medical clinic started in Regen Valley.

“Thursday should be fine,” she said, “provided Grams is available to watch Cyndi.”

“I’d suggest bringing your daughter along, but it would be better to talk business with just the two of us.”

“Right.”

Privately she wondered what Logan’s attitude might be toward single mothers. She’d met more than one guy who had personal rules about not dating a woman with “encumbrances.” That was fine with her. Even if she’d been interested in finding someone, she wouldn’t get involved with a man who saw children that way.

“By the way,” he said, “to keep things simple, I’ll be the only one at Moonlight Ventures discussing this with you. We thought it was best to have a single contact point, also to limit mix-ups in communication.”

“That makes sense.” It was the best solution and Jessica wouldn’t have to dread the subject coming up whenever one of the other Moonlight Ventures partners came into the shop. She didn’t want this to impact how she felt about them...which was decidedly negative at the moment, so maybe the most she could hope for was cordiality.

A customer approached the counter with a basket of items and Jessica went to ring up her purchases.

“I’ll check with you when I come for coffee tomorrow,” Logan said after the woman had left. “Is that all right?”

“Sure.”

Jessica breathed easier when she was alone again, but only a little. Logan Kensington had unloaded a potential nightmare for her. With so much to consider, she suspected she wouldn’t get much sleep that night.

* * *

“I’VE BROACHED THE subject with Ms. Parrish. We’re supposed to have another discussion on Thursday,” Logan explained to his partners at a meeting an hour after his chat with Jessica.

“Is she open to what we’re proposing?” Rachel asked.

He shrugged. “I wouldn’t call it open. Although it upset her, she didn’t completely reject the idea. Presumably the store operates on a narrow margin, so she has a good deal to consider.”

Adam grimaced. “We don’t want to hurt her business.”

“Her grandparents have leased that location for over thirty years,” Rachel added. “This must be the last thing she expected.”

Logan nodded. Even though Moonlight Ventures needed more space, they wanted to be responsible and decent. He’d actually found it reassuring when Jessica shot back the assertion that her grandmother could continue the lease. It was preferable to deal with someone who was able to stand up for herself.

“I know I’ve said it before, but our new career has issues I never thought about,” Nicole said. “Especially the part about being a landlord.”

They were in equal accord that owning such a large property and dealing with rentals was a challenge they hadn’t fully anticipated.

“But it’s been good, too,” Rachel asserted. “After all, working with Matt Tupper has helped both of our companies.”

Matt Tupper owned a recording studio in the back section of the building where they hoped the Crystal Connection would be willing to move. He hired their voice clients for various jobs and they helped find volunteers for his work recording books for the blind. One of those volunteers, Gemma Paulsen, had rapidly become a popular voice-over artist in commercials and other projects...and was now engaged to Matt. The couple expected to get married in a few months.

Logan almost squirmed at the thought.

It felt as if everyone around him was either recently married or getting married. Even their office manager, Chelsea Masters, had a wedding coming up. And his friends seemed to think he’d do the same, joking that falling in love had a domino effect—one fell and the rest began toppling. Hardly. He was glad they’d found people they cared about, but he refused to be swept into the nuptial frenzy.

“I wonder why Kevin originally leased space to the Crystal Connection,” Adam mused, breaking into Logan’s thoughts. “It’s quirky compared to the other businesses here.”

“I can answer that,” Rachel volunteered. Years ago she’d been a client of Moonlight Ventures and knew the history better than any of them. “When the Parrishes wanted to open a store, Kevin offered them a deal. Of course, I think the street was still run-down back then, so after he renovated the building, he probably needed tenants. He’s been loyal to the ones who took a chance on renting from him.”

“It isn’t run-down any longer,” Logan pointed out. The popularity of converting industrial structures to apartments and businesses had revitalized the area. The building they owned had become a desirable commercial location, yet several of their tenants were paying rent that was significantly under market value. He and his partners didn’t plan to increase rents dramatically, but gradual raises seemed appropriate.

As for the Crystal Connection?

Even if it didn’t fit with the other businesses in the building, the shop and its coffee were popular. Logan had noticed rocks and crystals on office desks and hanging from the rearview mirrors of various renters. Whether it was due to Kevin’s enthusiasm in supporting the shop, or people’s natural liking for those things, it was hard to tell.

“What do you think, Logan?” Adam asked.

“What’s that? My mind was wandering.”

Adam chuckled. “Are you in love?”

“No.” Logan gave him a dark look. “And no more pushing, okay? I’m leaving romance to the rest of you.”

Smiles swept across their faces. Being the only unattached member of the group made him the odd man out. He was reluctant to explain that he questioned his ability to fall in love and that he didn’t think it was fair to a woman to make a half-hearted commitment. Who knew? Maybe his emotional detachment came from looking at life through a camera lens. Or maybe it was the other way around. Maybe he’d chosen photography because the camera was a mask, hiding his true feelings.

He tried to clear his head. “What was the question, Adam?”

“I was referring to the Jessica Project.” They’d taken to calling their expansion plan the Jessica Project since she was the key to getting what they wanted. “Do you think offering six months or a year of free rent might convince her?”

“I can’t say,” Logan replied. “She’s worried about moving to a space that isn’t visible from the main street. I’m sure signs and advertising could resolve the issue, but she seems doubtful.”

Nicole leaned forward. “Basically, we won’t know how to make this work until you’ve spoken with her again.”

“Right. I wanted to get information about Jessica from Kevin, but he’s in Chicago with his new granddaughter, so I decided to just go ahead. It probably would have been a bad idea, anyway. The friendship is so close Jessica even calls him ‘Uncle Kevin.’”

“I didn’t know the baby had come,” Rachel said. “His daughter wasn’t due for another couple of weeks. What did they name her?”

“And how big is she?” Nicole asked before he could reply.

If Logan had needed proof he wasn’t father material, this was it. He’d felt frustrated, rather than interested, when reading Kevin’s email. He hadn’t replied, either, because it hadn’t occurred to him that there might be details he should ask about.

“Sorry,” he apologized. “I was focused on the issue with the Crystal Connection. I’ll forward the email to everyone.”

His chagrin must have shown on his face because Adam laughed. “Don’t feel bad. Blame it on being a bachelor. It’s only since Cassie and I started talking about having more kids that I pick up on that kind of stuff. You’ll see.”

Logan tried to conceal his instinctive reaction. Adam’s wife was raising her teenage niece and nephew, so by marrying Cassie, Adam had gotten a ready-made family. It was admirable, but Logan was surprised they wanted more children.

As for the “you’ll see” remark? Once again it was an assumption that someday he’d join their married-with-children ranks. How many times did he have to tell them it wasn’t happening?

“Don’t worry about it,” Rachel said gently. “I’ll send flowers and a gift from the agency.”

The assurance reminded Logan of his mother and father. Ever the diplomats, they’d faithfully sent an appropriate gift, card, invitation or whatever was required—his father called it “playing the political game.” But in Rachel’s case, she genuinely cared about Kevin.

“That would be nice,” he muttered.

It was nice; he just wished he’d thought of doing it himself.

CHAPTER THREE

THE NEXT MORNING Logan wondered whether getting coffee would be awkward, but Jessica simply gave him an impersonal smile and went over to the coffee corner.

“What brew does Mr. Magellan Einstein Stanley want to explore today?” she asked.

Logan liked the modified nickname, though Einstein hadn’t been an explorer. “How about a latte? I missed breakfast this morning and at least it has milk.” He glanced at a glass case that hadn’t been there the day before. “I see you’ve expanded to an assortment of fresh food items.”

“Grams told me that customers have been asking for food besides candy, granola bars or potato chips. This is from a local bakery in the town where I live. They’ll package a selection for me and I’ll pick up the order on my way to the store every day. We’ve talked about me carrying a few of their sandwiches, but this morning I told them the idea is on hold.”

Ouch.

At a guess, Jessica had put the idea on hold because Moonlight Ventures wanted the Crystal Connection to move.

Feeling like slime, he took a bran muffin from the display case. “This looks tasty.”

“It’s supposed to be high in protein and fiber, but mostly it’s delicious. I’ve sampled everything I’ll be carrying. I didn’t want to stock anything I haven’t tried myself. My favorite is their cottage bread with jalapeño and cheddar, mostly because it’s savory instead of sweet.” She frowned at one of her insulated pots and ran her fingers over a brown stain on the bar towel beneath.

“I take it you don’t have a sweet tooth.”

Jessica lifted the pot and set it in the sink. “Not in the morning. After lunch I have to use all my resistance so I won’t turn into a basketball.”

Without thinking, he cast a swift glance down her well-formed figure. She wore a dress of soft fabric that flowed around her curves.

Logan reminded himself that their contacts were business-related and nothing else. Even if Jessica was available and interested, dating one of their tenants seemed a bad idea. Besides, call it old-fashioned, he’d pegged her as a forever type of woman. He might not be a properly warm and sensitive guy of the twenty-first century, but he knew better than to get involved with a woman who needed more than he was able to offer.

Once his coffee was shot with hot milk, she poured it into his cup and handed it to him. “Can I get you anything besides coffee and a muffin?”

“This is all. Have you checked with Penny to see if tomorrow evening will work for you?”

Her face tensed. “It’s fine. My grandmother is already planning a taco-and-jigsaw-puzzle evening.”

“She must enjoy having a young great-grandchild so close.”

Jessica nodded. “She’s thrilled. And it’s a relief for me since it gives my daughter a second adult to count on. When we lived back east my parents were too busy to spend time with her, so it’s mostly been just the two of us until I moved to Seattle last year.”

It sounded as if Cyndi’s father wasn’t in the picture and Logan wondered why. Jessica was intelligent, attractive and appeared to have a pleasant personality, though those qualities didn’t guarantee a successful relationship.

“That’s great,” he said. “I’ll be here at closing time, if that sounds good.”

“If you don’t mind, I could use a few minutes after closing. Sometimes I have late customers and then I need to deal with the daily receipts.”

“Then how about six?”

“That’s fine.” Her eyes had turned even more wary, a reminder that it would be a very sensitive discussion.

Moonlight Ventures didn’t want her business to be adversely affected, but they needed space. There must be a compromise that would work for them both.

* * *

LOGAN LEFT AND Jessica resisted sticking out her tongue at him. It was childish and wouldn’t change anything, but he annoyed her. How could he look so alert and well rested when she’d barely slept a wink?

Her cell phone rang and she saw it was one of the Flash Committee members. Regen Valley was a terrific town, outside the metropolitan area, yet within commuting distance. Jessica had always loved her summer visits there and made a lot of friends over the years, but now that she lived in the small town, she was acutely aware it lacked an urgent care facility. Having a daughter with severe childhood asthma changed everything, so she’d started the Flash Committee to raise money for a clinic. With land for it recently donated, they were making great progress.

“Hi, Chris,” she answered.

“I just wanted to let you know that I’ll be at the next meeting, after all. Also, you’ll be happy to hear we’ve already sold over a hundred and fifty tickets for the breakfast.”

“Wonderful.”

The Flash Committee’s next fund-raiser was a pancake breakfast at the community center. The ingredients and paper goods were being donated by local businesses, so 100 percent of the proceeds would go into the urgent care clinic fund.

After Chris said goodbye, she shoved the phone into her pocket, annoyed that she couldn’t relax and be happy at how well ticket sales were going. People were enthusiastically supporting the committee’s efforts, but her worry over the shop was competing for emotional dominance.

She hadn’t confided in her grandmother about Moonlight Ventures’ request, or the need to keep “Penelope Parrish” on the lease. The night before she’d simply explained that she had a business meeting with one of the owners. Grams’s eyes had gleamed when she learned the meeting was with Logan Kensington. She was obviously hopeful something more than business was involved. Jessica had nearly told her the truth, only to stop, reluctant to share upsetting news before she had additional information. But she would have to do it soon, or risk Grams finding out another way.

Jessica pressed a hand to her midriff to quell the flutters. She and Cyndi would be fine. She’d started over more than once, including the time she was pregnant and her brief marriage had collapsed. If necessary, she’d do it again.

Maybe she was borrowing trouble, but while the lease issue could be handled by keeping Grams’s name on the paperwork, there were plenty of ways that Moonlight Ventures could make it difficult for her to stay in business. For one, several of the shop’s best customers were connected to the talent agency, either as tenants or clients. Would they feel comfortable patronizing the Crystal Connection if Logan and his partners were unhappy with her?

It would be hard to stop thinking about the problem since Logan and his partners came in for coffee several times a day. They were going to be constant reminders that the shop was no longer welcome in the building, in this part of it, at any rate. As if in response to her thoughts, Adam Wilding showed up a few minutes later.

“Good morning, Jessica.”

Her stomach tensed again. “Hey, Adam. Southwest Twist?”

“Yup.” He held out his mug and she took it to the coffee corner.

Behave naturally, she reminded herself. Logan Kensington had promised he would be the only one speaking to her about moving the store. She needed to pretend everything was normal when dealing with the others, no matter what her private feelings might be. She filled Adam’s mug and put it on the narrow bar. Perhaps it was her imagination, but he didn’t seem anxious to meet her gaze. Instead, he was peering into the new display case filled with baked goods.

“Thanks,” he said. “I talked to Logan on the walk over and he mentioned you’d just started carrying bakery items. What do you recommend?”

“The blackberry coffee cake is the bakery’s specialty.”

“Sold.” Adam opened the case and selected a square of the pastry. “See you later.”

He left and Jessica sighed as she entered the sales information into his account. It would be nice if she could have enjoyed owning the Crystal Connection without added complications. At least for a while. Thinking of which...she went to examine the insulated pot she’d put in the sink. She didn’t see how it could be leaking, so she checked and found it to be an issue with the spout and pump mechanism. A minor adjustment corrected the problem.

She put it back with the other pots, wishing all of her problems were so easily solved. It wasn’t as if she didn’t understand Moonlight Ventures’ position. They wanted more space and she was in the way. But their timing was lousy. She’d quit a good management job to take over the store. If she’d known something big was in the offing, she might have waited and negotiated with the new owners of Moonlight Ventures until a resolution was reached. Grams would have been happy to continue running the Crystal Connection in the interim.

The situation was seriously messing with Jessica’s business plan and with the modest security her grandparents had hoped to give her.

* * *

GRAMS CAME BY at noon. “I thought I’d help out with the store until I go pick up Cyndi from her playdate.”

“Don’t tell me you’re bored already with retirement,” Jessica teased lightly.

“Not bored, but still getting used to it.”

Jessica didn’t need to be told her grandmother was also still getting used to being alone. It had only been eight months. And she and Granddad had spent all of their time together; they’d shared a sweet, beautiful love story.

“I’ve been thinking about Logan Kensington,” Grams said during a lull between customers.

“Oh?” Jessica asked warily.

“He’s a fine-looking man. You could do worse.”

“I agree, except I’m not interested. We have a business connection, that’s all.” Jessica kept her voice calm.

“Presentable single men are never just business,” Penny returned with a grin. “Besides, you can’t deny he’s hot.”

Jessica snickered. “I refuse to discuss something like that with my grandmother.”

“Poppycock. We’re both women. It’s too bad Logan is a little too young for me. If he was ten years older, I’d make a move on him myself.”

“Grams!”

Penny grinned. “Your grandfather and I both promised that if either of us ended up alone, we’d keep living to the fullest.”

Jessica’s grandparents had lived their lives to the fullest. Until her dad was in his later teens, they’d roamed the world while Granddad researched various cultures. The anthropology books he’d written during their travels were respected, but they were hardly a financial success. He hadn’t cared. Learning had been more important to him, along with the friendships they’d made—Grams still corresponded with dozens of people in other countries.

“I’m glad you aren’t giving up on living,” Jessica said. “But my meeting with Mr. Kensington is purely business.”

Penny waved her hand dismissively. “Ridiculous. There’s nothing extensive to deal with as our landlord, so he must have personal reasons for asking you out.”

Oh, great.

Jessica decided she’d have to explain so Grams would stop building castles in romantic fantasyland. “The thing is,” she said slowly, “he wants to discuss whether the store can move to another section of the building, or even out of the building altogether.”

* * *

PENNY STARED AT her granddaughter in shock. “What section?”

“Around the back. It’s okay, nothing has been decided. He just wants to discuss the possibility, so I said we could talk.”

Penny tried to keep her chin from quivering. When Eric had died, she’d determinedly held herself together. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t known she would spend years alone; her husband had been almost eighteen years her senior. But now... She touched the sales counter Eric had made when they were opening the Crystal Connection.

She gulped down a knot in her throat. “We worked together for so long. Right here. I have countless memories in this place.”

“I know.” Jessica gave her a hug. “I think of Granddad all the time when I’m here. But remember, the building doesn’t belong to us. As it is, your name will need to stay on the lease because I’ve been told it isn’t transferable. We can work out a sublease arrangement.”

“That’s fine, but Kevin always said we could stay as long as we wanted.”

Jessica took a deep breath. “That was my first thought, too, except Uncle Kevin doesn’t own the building any longer and the new owners have a right to consider their needs.”

“What needs?”

“They want to expand and because we’re next door, this is where Moonlight Ventures needs to go.”

“I see.”

Penny glanced around the shop. Despite the changes her granddaughter had made, it was still the place where she’d spent years with Eric. With every step it was as if she was crossing paths with her husband’s spirit. Sometimes she could sense him next to her or hear his voice and laughter.

How could the Crystal Connection move?

They’d poured themselves into creating a place that reflected their travels. Most of their stock came directly from friends in South America, Africa, the South Seas and Asia. With the shop they’d helped open up markets and create cottage industries for people they cared about.

“Nothing has been decided, Grams.”

Penny tried to slow her racing thoughts. This might be hard for her, but it was also tough on her granddaughter.

“Please don’t make any promises or commitments until we’ve discussed everything,” she urged. “That is, the Crystal Connection is yours now, but I hope you’ll talk with me first.”

“I will,” Jessica promised. “But please don’t worry about it. And remember that no matter where the store is, Grandpa’s counter goes with us.”

Penny let out a choked laugh. “Good. You know, we could probably get his DNA off that thing. Eric cut himself and skinned his knuckles more times than I could count when he was cutting and polishing the wood.”

“So when you used to say there was blood, sweat and tears in this place, you weren’t kidding, right?”

“Right. Now I’d better go pick up Cyndi.”

* * *

JESSICA’S HEART ACHED as her grandmother left, seeming more lonely and lost than she’d ever seen her. For the first time Penny looked her age.

As a rule, no one would guess she was seventy-two years old. With few wrinkles and brown hair barely streaked with gray, she could pass for fifty or younger. Granddad had been more than a decade older than her, but he hadn’t looked his age, either.

Grams’s first thought had been about losing the place where she’d worked with her husband, and it bothered Jessica that she hadn’t considered that before. Was she more consumed by business success than she’d believed?

Swell. Now she had something else to keep her awake at night.

* * *

AT HOME THAT EVENING, Jessica tried to conceal her churning thoughts as she tidied the house. Her side of the duplex was roomier than their apartment back east had been, and it even had a small backyard.

A healthy dish her daughter actually liked was pasta primavera, probably because of the noodles, so after vacuuming, she cut up chicken and vegetables.

“Momma, do you think Logan would show me how to take pictures?” Cyndi wanted to know as they ate at the dinner table.

Jessica’s first instinct was to say no and to tell her daughter not to ask. But it was a selfish reaction and she didn’t want to discourage Cyndi from being excited about new things.

“I suppose it’s possible,” she answered. “But he might not have time. He’s very busy.”

“I was hoping he could help me get a hobby badge. Photography can be a hobby, right?” Cyndi had just joined a girl rangers’ troop and was determined to earn every single badge they offered.

“Uh, yes.”

Jessica had a sweet vision of siccing the entire group of giggling girl rangers on Logan. It might partially even the score for his having ruined a night’s sleep for her. On the other hand, a few of the older kids had already developed romantic natures and they might get a crush on the handsome photographer. Then she’d have to listen to a steady diet of lovelorn commentary about a man she’d rather forget ever meeting.

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