Healed with a Kiss (Bride Mountain 3)

“It was a great seminar, but I’ve hardly left the hotel. I’m really looking forward to getting out and exploring.”

“Sounds good to me.” He moved to the window and looked out at the gray sky spread over the waterfront across the way. “Kind of cloudy.”

She laughed softly. “It’s Seattle. I’m told that as long as there isn’t an outright downpour, this is considered a nice day in March.”

“I looked up the weather before I packed. Sounds like the weekend is supposed to be decent.”

Rapidly recovering from her surprise at finding him in the lobby, she dropped onto the foot of the bed, leaning back to support herself on her arms. “Even if it rains buckets, I’m sure we can find some way to entertain ourselves.”

His mouth quirked into a half smile even as a spark ignited in his eyes. “You think?”

She patted the bed with one hand.

He looked tempted, but shook his head. “If you want to leave this room today, we’d better go now.”

She debated a moment, then stood again. “I really would like to see the market.”

“Besides,” he said, “I’m starving. I left Virginia at six a.m. and my stomach thinks it’s three hours later than that clock on the nightstand says it is.”

She held out her hand to him. “Then let’s go find you some food.”

Lacing his fingers with hers, he smiled down at her. “But I will definitely want to try out that bed later.”

Winking, she said, “You’re on.”

Even on a gray Thursday afternoon, the streets of downtown were packed with cars and buses and bicycles and Prius cabs. The longtime landmark Pike Place Market was crowded and noisy. They held hands to keep from being separated as they made their way past “Rachel,” the bronze piggy bank sculpture at the entrance of the market, and into the crowd, watching fishmongers shouting jokes and tossing big, shiny silver fish through the air. They passed rows of fresh produce and colorful flowers, and booths of handmade jewelry, bags, soaps, lotions, candles and decor items. There were shops of teas, baked goods, gourmet foods, souvenirs, clothing and too many other items for Alexis to identify on an initial pass-through, and several levels of shops below the ground floor she would love to explore, but she knew Logan wanted to eat first.

They decided to dine at a popular brewery restaurant located within the market. Because she’d already eaten a light lunch, she ordered a small crab chowder while Logan selected a heartier meal of fish and chips and a house ale. She was rather amused by how eagerly he tucked in to the food when it arrived. He really was hungry.

“It’s a long trip all the way across the country,” he said with a slight smile when he noticed her watching him.

“It is,” she agreed. “I was really tired by the time I got here Tuesday.”

“I’m not particularly tired, just needed refueling. This halibut is good. So’s the ale.”

She smiled across the table at him. Around them, servers bustled, diners chattered, a child whined from a far corner, but as far as she was concerned, they could have been the only ones in the place. It was nice to be able to share a meal in public, to walk openly hand in hand, to have just a few days to enjoy each other without outside distractions. “I’m glad you came. What made you change your mind?”

He shrugged. “Like you said, I needed a break. Besides, Bonnie and Kinley are hosting a luncheon Saturday for a group of travel agents. You know, one of those networking things. I didn’t want to be anywhere near it.”

“Yes, I know about networking things,” she murmured with a smile, thinking back over the past few days. “So...you have a travel-agent phobia or something?”

“Cute.” He took another sip of his ale, then said, “If I were there, I’d probably be expected to make an appearance and schmooze for business. That’s Kinley’s thing, not mine. Besides, I, uh—”

She raised her eyebrows in question. “Yes?”

Blowing out a breath, he shook his head curtly. “I went out a couple of times with one of the women who are going to be there, back when we first reopened the inn.”

“Oh.” She dipped her spoon into the remains of her chowder, letting the soup trickle back into the bowl. “Bad ending?”

He shrugged. “Turned out she was the kind who’s always looking for a makeover project. I’m not the type who enjoys being made over.”

“No, I wouldn’t think so,” she murmured into her coffee cup.

He jerked his chin in a short, dismissive gesture. “Mostly, I just wanted to get away for a couple days. The more I thought about it, the more I liked the sound of your offer.”

Perhaps it wasn’t the most flattering explanation, but it was so typically Logan. And because she liked him just the way he was, she had no desire to do a “makeover” on him.

“What did you tell your sisters?”