The city lights glimmered like scattered stars as Logan stood on the balcony of his penthouse later that evening, a glass of whiskey in his hand. The meeting with the investors was behind him, the project was back on track, and for the first time in weeks, he felt something resembling relief. Yet, his thoughts kept circling back to Amara—her fierce loyalty, her quiet strength, and the way her presence grounded him in a way nothing else could.
He hadn't meant to kiss her, but in that moment, it felt inevitable, like the pull of gravity. He had been drowning, and she was the lifeline pulling him to shore.
The sound of a knock at the door startled him from his thoughts. Logan set his glass down and crossed the room, half-expecting Ben. Instead, he opened the door to find his older brother, Cameron, standing there with an expression that could have frozen the sun.
"Cameron," Logan said, his tone wary. "What are you doing here?"
Cameron strode in without waiting for an invitation, his expensive coat trailing behind him like a cape. "I heard about the meeting," he said, his voice clipped. "And how you barely managed to scrape by."
Logan shut the door, suppressing a sigh. "Nice to see you too."
Cameron turned, his piercing blue eyes locking onto Logan's. "This isn't a game, Logan. You can't keep operating like the world owes you something just because Dad left you the company."
Logan stiffened. "I don't think the world owes me anything, Cameron. But I do believe in what I'm building, even if the investors don't."
"You're too idealistic," Cameron snapped. "This project needs to turn a profit, not serve as your personal redemption story. Do you think Dad would have tolerated this kind of recklessness?"
Logan's jaw tightened. "Dad believed in creating something meaningful. If you'd paid attention instead of counting his money, you'd know that."
Cameron's eyes flashed with anger. "You're skating on thin ice, little brother. Keep this up, and you'll lose everything."
Without another word, Cameron turned and walked out, leaving Logan standing alone in the echo of his threat.
---
The next morning, Amara arrived at the bookstore to find Logan waiting outside, a coffee cup in each hand. She paused, surprised to see him so early.
"Good morning," he said, offering her one of the cups.
"Good morning," she replied, unlocking the door. "What brings you here so early?"
Logan followed her inside, his usual confidence tempered by something softer. "I wanted to see you. And... I needed a reason to get out of my head."
Amara raised an eyebrow. "Rough night?"
"You could say that," Logan said, leaning against the counter. "My brother paid me a visit."
"Cameron?" Amara asked, recalling the occasional mention of Logan's older brother in their conversations.
Logan nodded. "He has a way of making everything sound like my fault. According to him, I'm ruining the company and tarnishing our father's legacy."
"That's not true," Amara said firmly.
"I know," Logan said. "But sometimes it's hard not to let his words get under my skin."
Amara placed a hand on his arm, her touch gentle. "You're doing what you believe is right. That's all that matters."
Logan looked at her, his expression softening. "How do you always know exactly what to say?"
"It's a gift," she said with a small smile.
---
Later that day, the bookstore was unusually busy, and Amara barely had a moment to catch her breath. Logan stayed for most of the afternoon, helping her reorganize shelves and chatting with customers.
Mia stopped by around lunchtime, her sharp eyes immediately picking up on Logan's presence. She waited until he stepped away to answer a call before sidling up to Amara.
"Okay, spill," Mia whispered.
"Spill what?" Amara asked, though her flushed cheeks betrayed her.
Mia gestured subtly toward Logan. "You and Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome. Something's definitely going on."
Amara sighed. "It's... complicated."
"Complicated is just code for interesting," Mia said with a grin. "Come on, give me something. Did he finally make a move?"
Amara hesitated, then nodded. "He kissed me yesterday."
Mia's eyes widened. "Finally! And?"
"And... it felt right," Amara admitted. "But his life is so chaotic, Mia. I'm not sure where I fit into it."
"You fit because he wants you there," Mia said. "Don't overthink it. Just let yourself be happy for once."
---
As evening fell, Logan lingered in the bookstore, helping Amara close up. They worked in comfortable silence, the unspoken connection between them growing stronger with each passing moment.
"Do you want to grab dinner?" Logan asked as they locked up for the night.
Amara hesitated. "Are you sure? You've had a long day."
"I'm sure," he said, his eyes meeting hers. "I'd like to spend more time with you."
She nodded, her heart fluttering. "Okay."
---
They ended up at a quiet Italian restaurant a few blocks away, tucked into a corner booth with a candle flickering between them.
"This place is amazing," Amara said, savoring a bite of her pasta.
"It's one of my favorites," Logan said. "I come here when I need to think."
Amara smiled. "And what are you thinking about tonight?"
Logan set down his fork, his gaze steady. "You."
Her cheeks flushed. "Logan—"
"I mean it," he said. "Amara, you've been the one constant in my life these past few weeks. You've helped me in ways I can't even put into words. And I don't just mean with the project."
Amara looked down at her plate, her heart pounding. "Logan, your world is so different from mine. I don't know if I—"
"You do," he interrupted. "Amara, you're the reason I've been able to keep going. I don't care about the differences. I care about you."
His words hung in the air between them, heavy with meaning. For a moment, Amara didn't know what to say. Then she looked up, meeting his gaze.
"I care about you too," she said softly.
Logan reached across the table, taking her hand in his. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver through her, and for the first time, she allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, they could find a way to make this work.
---