“That’s perfect, thank you.” I stretched my arms over my head, realizing it was already early evening. A small sauce pan of tomato sauce simmered on the other burner, and the rich smell of tomatoes, garlic and basil teased my senses. I couldn’t remember the last time someone had cooked for me.
“Sit down.” Logan led me back into the dining room. “Let me get you a glass of wine.”
We ate dinner at my newly cleared off dining room table, which I hadn’t seen the top of in months. The meal was delicious and after dinner neither of us was quite ready to move away from the table, so we stayed sharing the bottle of red wine.
“I was thinking more about your tattoo,” I said, swirling the crimson liquid in my glass.
He rubbed the name on his bicep. “Logan or the Latin phrase?”
“The one in Latin, it’s something an intellectual would get. Not everyone would think to get a dead language permanently inked on their body.”
“Good point. What do you think it means?”
“That you’re smart. Probably college educated.”
He nodded thoughtfully; liking the direction I was headed.
“I was thinking you could take some tests online, like an IQ test, or a college placement exam. It wouldn’t prove anything; it’d just give us a bit more information about you.”
“Yeah, I like that idea.”
After dinner, we settled on the couch and turned on the TV. I didn’t have cable, and only got a few channels, so I opted for Jeopardy.
The category was History of the 1200s, and I was just about to change the channel when Logan leaned forward in rapt attention.
The host read the answer, “He was the Italian philosopher and priest who died in 1274.”
“Who was Thomas Aquinas,” Logan responded without hesitation.
When the host announced that Thomas Aquinas was indeed the correct answer both of our jaws dropped open. “You knew that.”
He nodded, his pulse racing in his neck. “How did I know that?”
“I don’t know. You’re good with history?”
He held up his hand. “Wait, he’s reading the next question.” We turned our attention back to the show, and Logan answered each of the questions in that category correctly. By the time he was done, he was up on his feet, pacing the room.
“Okay, that can’t be a coincidence, can it?” he asked.
“I don’t think so. I couldn’t have answered any of those questions. I think you’ve studied history pretty extensively.”
“History. Latin.” He rubbed his temples. “Fuck,” he cursed loudly. “I don’t understand.”
I stood and crossed the room to him. “It’s okay. This is a great start. Think of what we just discovered in the last ten minutes. We’ll figure this out, I promise.”
He released a sigh and pulled me into his arms.
I nestled my head against his chest, loving the feeling of his arms around me, and his masculine scent. He seemed to crave the closeness, even if it did scare him.
“Thank you, Ashlyn.”
“For what?”
“For believing in me. For trusting me. I know I don’t deserve it, this tenderness from you, but damn, if I don’t like it all the same.”
I couldn’t explain why I trusted him so explicitly. Maybe it was the tattoo we shared, or the way I felt when I was near him. It was like I was meant to find him. But I didn’t explain any of that to him. “You’re welcome,” I murmured into his chest instead.
I left early on Monday morning, after a pleasant weekend with Logan. I packed up my laptop and notebooks for a long day of grading papers for Clancy’s graduate classes, administering office hours and, of course, the endless research work for my thesis since Professor Clancy had pointed out that I needed to strengthen my strategy for the sources I planned to cite.
When I returned to the apartment, exhausted and starving, it was after dark and I secretly hoped that Logan had cooked dinner again. Sadly, when I opened the apartment door, it was dark and empty inside.
I flipped on the lights and checked the table for a note. Nothing. I was curious where Logan had gone, and since he didn’t have any belongings to leave behind, I had no way of knowing if he was gone for good. The thought was unnerving.
I grabbed the Chinese take-out menu from the drawer beside the fridge, and called in an order for us both.
A few minutes later, the door opened and Logan strode inside, filthy from head to toe, but looking pleased.
I was on my feet in seconds. “Where’ve you been?”
“I got a job on a construction site. I’m helping to roof a building down the road.”
“That’s awesome, Logan.” I playfully nudged his hip with mine. “I was worried though, leave me a note next time, okay?”
“Sure.” He studied me with guarded eyes. Despite trying to keep our arrangement casual, I knew I was developing feelings for him.
“Dinner will be here in a few minutes if you want to take a shower.”
He looked down at himself in his now grungy T-shirt and jeans. “Yeah, a shower would be great. The thing is I meant to pick up some extra clothes today, but I didn’t expect to get hired so quickly, so I actually didn’t have time.”
“Are you saying you don’t have anything else to put on?”
“Yeah.”
My mind delved straight into the gutter with delight. “I have some T-shirts that might fit, and I might be able to scrounge up a pair of sweats or something too.”