An Heir For Her Enemy (Bossy Bachelors #3)

8. Logan

CHAPTER 8

LOGAN

L ogan felt like the worst person on earth. Again.

He’d already felt guilty for how he left things with Delaney, but her words the night before about how he hadn’t given any indication that the night they’d spent together meant anything had really struck him. Of course the night they’d spent together had meant something to him. It had meant everything. Holding Delaney, kissing her, making her moan — it had been a truly magical night that Logan would never forget. Nor did he want to forget it.

But it was true that he hadn’t told Delaney that. He hadn’t given her any indication that their night together had been special to him. No wonder she was so upset. At the time, Logan had thought it was best to leave right away, before either of them started to look for something more than a one-night stand. In retrospect, though, he’d made a mistake.

It was even worse when, the next morning, Delaney texted that she wasn’t feeling well and wouldn’t be able to come to breakfast. Clearly, she was avoiding him. Logan ate alone. Perhaps he’d get a chance to talk to her today, after they looked at The Cherished Infant.

Perhaps not.

He’d wanted to talk about a strategy for the authentication meeting over breakfast, but that didn’t seem as important next to Delaney’s clear hurt.

Delaney appeared in the lobby just in time to leave. She was dressed professionally but simply in a pair of slacks and a cream-colored sweater that perfectly accentuated her feminine form. Her hair was pulled back in a French twist and she wore a pair of simple earrings and light makeup that brought out the blue of her eyes.

“Good morning. Are you feeling better?”

“Yes, thank you.” She avoided his eyes. “Should we go?”

“A car is waiting for us outside.”

They drove across the city in silence. Delaney looked out the window and didn’t speak. Logan considered trying to talk to her, either to tell her that he wished he’d done things differently when they’d first met or just to break the uncomfortable silence, but he decided against it. They both needed to focus on the painting right now.

Marco Vassallo’s home was a lavish estate on a hill outside of town. The car wound its way up a steep road lined with trees before crunching to a stop on a gravel pull-through in front of a sweeping mansion. Logan and Delaney got out and stood in complete silence for a long moment, just looking at the house. This man had money, even in Logan’s world.

“So, do we just… go in?” Delaney asked hesitantly.

“Mr. Vassallo is expecting us. Or at least his assistant is.” Logan led the way across the pull-through and up to the broad door. There was a large metal knocker, but Delaney pointed out a high-tech intercom system that looked much more likely. Logan pressed the button, and a moment later a crackly voice came over the line, speaking in quick Italian. Logan understood a bit of Italian, but this was too quick even for him.

“Apologies.” Logan cleared his throat. “I’m Logan Banks and I’m here with my associate, Delaney Cohen. We have a meeting with Mr. Vassallo.”

“Mr. Banks?” The voice on the other end sounded confused now. “You’re here about the painting?”

“Yes.”

“Didn’t you receive my message? Mr. Vassallo is ill and has asked to postpone by a few days.”

“A message?” Logan took out his phone, but there was nothing. “I didn’t receive anything.” But just then, he noticed an email in his personal account. He’d kept up with work emails, but had somehow missed this one. “Apologies, I do see the email you’re referring to.”

“Will you be able to come back on the ninth?”

Logan didn’t look at Delaney. “Yes, that’s fine. I’m sorry I missed your message.”

They turned and went back to the car. Logan was annoyed with himself for missing the messages. More than that, he was apprehensive about spending three more days in Rome with a woman who clearly hated him. Yes, he’d hurt her, but it seemed she was purposefully making their trip tenser than it needed to be, in retaliation.

“So, I guess we’ll be in Rome for a few days,” Delaney said.

When Logan glanced at her, he didn’t see any of the annoyance he’d expected at the delay. Instead, she looked positively thrilled, as though his mistake was the best news ever.

“It looks like it.” He hesitated. “I apologize for missing the message. Are you able to stay for these extra days?”

“Definitely.” Delaney sneaked a quick glance at him. “Honestly, I’m a little excited. I’ve always wanted to come to Rome, and I’m happy that I’ll get a little more time to explore before we go back home.”

Logan’s heart gave a funny twist at her words. He’d been to Rome several times and hadn’t been excited about that part of the trip, but he remembered Delaney’s enthusiasm about Italy the night they’d first met. He should have arranged for her to stay longer in the first place.

“Well, I’m glad.”

“Is it okay for you to stay? I imagine you have a lot of work to get back to.” They were still sitting in front of Marco Vassallo’s house. Logan didn’t know where to tell the driver to go.

“I do.” Logan wrinkled his nose at the thought of all the meetings he’d need to reschedule and all the tasks he’d have to delegate. He’d need to put in at least a few hours with his laptop later tonight, but it would work out. “It should be fine. Anyway, what are you planning to do this afternoon?”

“I have no idea.” Delaney smoothed her palms against her slacks. “I’ve never been to Rome before, and I hardly know what to do here. When I was only going to be in town for one night, I decided to explore on foot, but I suppose today I should see some sights.”

“We have the driver all day,” Logan pointed out. “If you’d like, I can show you the sights. I’ve been here before, and it’ll be much easier for you to get around town with an experienced guide and a dedicated driver.”

He knew as soon as he said the words that Delaney would turn him down, just like she’d turned down his offer of dinner at the Colosseum. It was fine. If she wanted to explore on her own, he’d go back to the hotel room and get some work done. It would probably be better in the long run anyway if they didn’t spend any more time together than they had to.

“That would be nice.”

Logan was so surprised that he barely registered what Delaney had said. It was all he could do not to give a surprised really? Instead, he nodded and leaned forward to speak to the driver.

“Please take us back towards town. The first stop is Saint Peter’s Basilica.”

Logan was sure that Delaney, with her love of art, would enjoy the beautiful building. He sat back in his seat as they rolled back down the drive towards the main road.

“If we have to be stranded in Rome, at least it’s a beautiful day,” he said. It was beautiful — the air had a hint of fall chill, but it wasn’t too cold and the sun was out.

“It really is.” Delaney leaned back with a smile, her gaze already drifting towards the window. Logan settled in for the journey back into the city, feeling more optimistic than he had in a while. Maybe this unexpected delay would be just what he and Delaney needed to get back on good terms. They could talk, enjoy dinner, perhaps stroll the city, and regain the easy banter they’d had on the first day they’d met.

Things were looking up.