An Heir For Her Enemy (Bossy Bachelors #3)

21. Logan

CHAPTER 21

LOGAN

“ W elcome to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.” The young curator Logan had been working with gestured Logan into the museum’s grand entrance. He wore a suit and an expression of great enthusiasm — he’d told Logan that helping secure this donation would make his career in the museum.

“Thank you, Patrick.” Logan smiled at the curator. “It’s a pleasure to be here.”

“The event doesn’t start for another hour,” Patrick assured him as they crossed the entryway towards the coat check. “So, you’ll have plenty of time to scope everything out before we get started.”

“Wonderful.” In truth, Logan wasn’t all that interested in scoping anything out. He’d been invited to help plan the unveiling and had accepted the offer, since it gave him some say over the guest list. Yet he’d had little more interest in planning this event than he had in planning his own event several weeks prior. Donating the painting had been important, and tonight was important, too, but not for the reasons Patrick probably thought.

Logan left his jacket at the coat check and followed Patrick into a large exhibit room. The walls were lined with paintings, some more famous than others, and Logan was embarrassed to admit that he only recognized a handful. In the center of the room stood a display covered in a white gossamer cloth.

“There it is,” Patrick said, enthusiasm palpable in his voice. “ The Cherished Infant. ”

Logan wasn’t sure what he was supposed to say — a display covered in a white sheet was a display covered in a white sheet, no matter how nicely it had been organized. But Patrick was clearly excited, so Logan made a show of walking around the display, examining it closely, and nodding appreciatively.

“This looks great. Well done.”

“Thank you, Mr. Banks.”

“For the hundredth time, please, call me Logan.”

“Will do.” Patrick grinned, and Logan knew that he wasn’t planning on calling him Logan, ever.

“So, remind me again, when will the guests start to arrive?”

“Around seven,” Patrick told him. “Some a little earlier, of course.”

“And of those you sent the invitations to, do you know who’s coming?”

“No. We don’t require RSVPs for events like this.”

Logan really, really wished they did, but he didn’t say so. “All right.”

“Is there anyone specific you’re hoping to see?” Patrick asked.

“There’s a woman who might come.”

“Someone special? If you tell me her name, maybe I can help. Some people did confirm whether they’ll be coming or not, even though we don’t require it.”

“I’m wondering about Delaney Cohen.”

“Let me see.” Patrick tapped a tablet tucked into the crook of his arm, then shook his head. “She hasn’t confirmed either way. Sorry.”

“No problem.” Logan smiled. “I’ll just take a moment to walk around, if that’s all right.”

“Of course. I’ll see you around seven.”

Logan nodded a goodbye to Patrick, then set off on a round of the museum. He was far too restless to just sit and wait. What if Delaney didn’t come? What if she came but wasn’t willing to hear him out? What if she forgave him but didn’t want to be with him?

Logan took a deep breath, as he’d seen Delaney do before. It was no use worrying. She would come, or she wouldn’t. She’d forgive him, or she wouldn’t. His concerns wouldn’t change anything.

As Logan strolled, his phone buzzed with an alert. He pulled it out and saw, to his surprise, an email from Marco Vassallo. Apart from communication about the payment and delivery of The Cherished Infant, he hadn’t spoken to Marco since leaving Rome. Curious, Logan tapped on the email.

Dear Mr. Banks,

I hope you are well. I saw in the news that you have chosen to donate The Cherished Infant to a museum. I had no idea this was your plan, but I’m happy to think that the painting will be seen by many after years locked away in my grandfather’s house. Hopefully, I’ll be able to make it out to New York City someday to see it.

I imagine Delaney has told you that she and I will be working together. Perhaps the three of us can collaborate again sometime — I have several more paintings I’m looking to sell, and I’d be happy to lend you the use of my new star consultant if you’re ever in Rome.

Best regards,

Marco Vassallo

A wave of dismay rolled over Logan. He’d had no idea that Delaney had accepted a job with Marco. His first thought was that he should never have introduced them, but Logan pushed that away. Delaney deserved to have every opportunity in the world, and it wasn’t for him to decide which job she could or couldn’t have.

His second was despair. If Delaney had accepted a job in Rome, that meant it was already too late for them. She might not even be in New York City anymore, and even if she was, it was clear that she was done with him. He’d waited too long and made too many mistakes along the way. Now, he would never get the chance to prove to Delaney that he could be the partner she deserved and the father their baby needed.

Logan sank onto a marble bench and dropped his head into his hands. The plan he’d made for tonight was useless. At least people would get to enjoy The Cherished Infant because, after this, Logan was sure he never would.

In front of him hung a painting of a darkened landscape with menacing gray clouds rolling over the horizon. It perfectly encompassed how Logan felt in that moment. He briefly considered running to the airport or knocking on Delaney’s door in hopes that she would still be there. He could even fly to Rome and search for her at Marco’s house.

But Logan put those thoughts aside, too. Delaney was finished with him, and he wasn’t about to chase her around or make a nuisance of himself. He was ready to fight for her with everything he had, but not if there wasn’t a chance she wanted him too.

He sat on the marble bench for a long time before gathering himself and getting to his feet. Whether Delaney wanted to be with him or not, he still had an art unveiling to attend. He was honored that The Cherished Infant would be enjoyed, not just by him or his wealthy investors, but by anyone who wanted to see it. Delaney had made that happen, and Logan would honor her by seeing it through.

By the time he had returned to the exhibition room, people had begun to trickle in. A lot of them were the wealthy art collectors Logan had seen at past events, but many were painters or art enthusiasts or members of the local community. Logan had asked Patrick to spread the invitation far and wide, not just among the people who usually attended this sort of unveiling, and Patrick had made good on that request. Among the crowd, Logan spotted Peter Jamison, his mentor and the man who had told him about The Cherished Infant in the first place. Peter inclined his head and Logan nodded back.

Even though Logan knew Delaney wasn’t coming, he still scanned the crowd for any signs of her. She was nowhere to be seen, but Carmen waved at him eagerly from across the room. Logan waved back, which she seemed to take as an invitation to come over and chat.

“Logan.” She threw her hands out to her sides to encompass the room at large. “What an amazing event, yet again. I’ll be watching for your name in the future.”

“Thank you, Carmen.” Logan tried to be polite and focus on the conversation, but his gaze was still drifting across the crowd.

“I’m surprised that you decided to give up The Cherished Infant.”

“Oh, I’m not giving it up.” Logan turned his gaze back to Carmen in her pink evening gown. “I just wanted everyone to be able to enjoy it.”

“How noble. And I’m sure the recognition you’ve gotten from such a selfless act hasn’t hurt at all!” Carmen giggled, but Logan didn’t join in.

“Actually, there’s only one person whose recognition I care about now.”

“And who is that?” Carmen edged closer, clearly interested in hearing any gossip she could.

“Delaney Cohen, actually.”

“My art consultant?” Carmen’s eyes widened.

“She’s much more than that.” Logan smiled at Carmen. “Much, much more.”

“But, my dear, she isn’t coming tonight. She gave her resignation to me so that she could move to Rome. I think she’s leaving today.”

“I know.” Logan let out a breath. “Whether she’s here or not, I want to be the best man I can be. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”

Carmen nodded, but her eyes followed Logan as he crossed the room towards Patrick. The curator was in conversation with a few attendees, but when he saw Logan approaching, he bid them goodbye.

“How is it looking?”

“You did an amazing job. Thank you.”

Patrick beamed at Logan’s praise.

“I’m glad you like it. Well, it’s approaching the time for your dedication speech. Are you ready?”

Logan glanced at his watch and saw that Patrick was right. It was almost time for Logan to stand up in front of everyone and dedicate the painting to the museum. Even though Delaney wasn’t here.

Logan’s chest felt tight. Some part of him had hoped that she might still come, out of curiosity if nothing else. Yet there was no sign of the beautiful art consultant anywhere. He would have to go ahead without her. He would really have to let her go. Logan prepared himself for a different kind of speech than the one he’d planned to give.

And then…

Across the room, there was a flutter of movement. A woman in a white dress slipped into the gallery. Her blond hair was in curls around her shoulders and she wore a pair of simple silver earrings and a cropped jacket. Her hands were clasped uncomfortably in front of her, and she looked like she’d rather disappear than stay, but she was here.

Delaney was here.

Hope surged in Logan’s chest, and he turned to Patrick.

“Yes. I’m ready. Let’s give the speech.”