The Promise of Us (Sanctuary Sound #2)(48)

“I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” After a quick kiss on the cheek, her mom took off.

Alone, finally.

After a hot bath to ease her achy hip, Claire pulled on pajamas, grabbed the chocolate cake, and sat at the dining room table with her laptop and notebook.

Whether or not she got out those body paints with Logan, they’d never have a lifelong love affair. But she would give him something to remember her by—a home he could return to that offered comfort and a style befitting him.

A few hours later, after she’d narrowed down her search to a few sofa styles, chairs, and carpets, her phone rang. “Hey, Steffi. What’s up?”

“Guess who I bumped into today?”

At this point in Claire’s day, her brain lacked the capacity to play twenty questions. “No idea.”

“Mrs. Brewster. We were both getting gas. When she saw me, she mentioned the pitch materials you left for her to consider.”

“Oh.” Claire slapped her forehead. She’d had so much else on her mind she’d forgotten to follow up on that. “Was she upset about being pressured?”

“No. She actually enjoyed looking at it without us staring at her. It gave her time to mull it over. She loved what you worked up and is planning to call you. Congrats, partner. You just got us another project. Pretty soon I’m going to feel like I’m not pulling my weight.”

“Oh, you pull your weight. I can’t do what you do.” Another project put them one step closer to renting retail space.

“Well, I just thought you’d like to know.” A happy sigh blew through the line. “Any luck getting unstuck on Logan’s design?”

“Actually, yes. I visited his place today, and it cleared the cobwebs.”

Claire envisioned Steffi’s mouth gaping then.

“You went to the city?” Steffi finally asked, her voice high.

“It started off rocky, but I survived.” And earned a kiss for the effort, she thought, smiling.

“I’m speechless. Happy, but speechless. Good on Logan.”

“Let’s not make a big deal of it.” Although it had been a big deal in more ways than one.

“Kinda hard not to. I’ve begged you to do things with me for years, and you always say no. Obviously, Logan has a magic power I don’t possess.” The saucy sound in Steffi’s voice set off alarm bells.

She couldn’t allow Steffi to start up rumors. “The magic power of a fat commission check. Very motivating.”

“Mm-hmm.” Her tone suggested she knew better. “In other news, Ryan’s folks are watching Emmy on Saturday. Any interest in joining us on our night out?”

Claire hated being a third wheel. “Would Ben come?”

“Possibly, but maybe you’d rather I invite Logan,” she teased.

“Stop it. He’s a friend and client.” Fresh tingles bloomed from remembering their kiss.

“Fine. I’ll check with Benny. Can I count you in?”

Claire shrugged. No reason to be a hermit. “Sure.”

“Okay, Lucia’s. Seven thirty. Do you want us to pick you up?”

“No. I’ll meet you there.” They hung up and Claire looked at the ceiling, telling herself she was not sorry about spending her Saturday night with Steffi, Ryan, and Ben instead of Logan.



“Where were you all day?” Peyton asked Logan when he strolled in through the back entry.

He hung his tux on the pantry door and set the box of rejects on the kitchen counter. “Ran into the city to grab these things.”

Peyton unzipped the garment bag and fingered the black satin lapel. “Last year, Todd and I were the gala pariahs. I don’t know if I’m up to going this year.”

“I’m never up for the gala, but if I have to go, you do, too.” He opened the refrigerator and popped the tab of a seltzer.

“Did you know that Claire’s coming? Mom pinned her down.” Peyton yawned with a stretch, then winced, presumably because of all the bruising and trauma to her chest and underarms. “I know Mom thinks she’s helping me, but after what I did, I don’t want anyone bullying Claire into talking to me. That won’t fix what’s broken between us.”

When he’d first returned to Sanctuary Sound, he’d wanted to force Claire to forgive Peyton for his sister’s sake. Now he had another motive—his own. Claire would never consider the idea of seeing him as long as she despised his sister. And frankly, Claire’s feelings about his sister bothered him.

People could be selfish and ugly at times. Such was the human condition. You learn to roll with the punches, especially if, on the whole, those people have been good to you more often than they’ve been bad. Peyton genuinely regretted her mistake. Didn’t that count for anything?

Claire could be surprisingly obstinate, but he sensed pent-up emotions—a yearning for adventure—bubbling beneath the surface. “I hear you, but maybe Claire needs a little push.”

Peyton shook her head. “I can’t make demands. I hurt her.”

“I’m not talking about demands, but maybe there’s something else you can do. A favor you can ask. Make yourself vulnerable or indebted to her in some way so she retains the power but you get to talk to her. I think, deep down, she wants to forgive and move on. She just needs a little nudge.”