away.
However, before she could, Logan came to the door. Seeing her, he beckoned her inside.
She would simply hand him the information. The rest would have to wait.
Parking quickly, she ran up the walk and handed him the manila envelope. “Just some catalogs with things I thought you might need for the day-care center. You’ll have an idea of cost estimates when you go through them. Staffing requirements, too.”
Logan was dressed in a Western-cut suit, white shirt and bolo tie and looked as if he’d stepped out of the pages of Country Gentlemen magazine. In her jeans and sandals she felt as she had fourteen years ago on the evening his father had told her he would never let his son marry a nobody.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt your evening. I wasn’t thinking. I should have called.”
He took the envelope from her. “You’re not interrupting, believe me. I’m just having dinner with an oil man and his wife who are interested in donating to the foundation.”
“Foundation?”
“After Amy died, I set up a foundation for donations to help with research for women who are pregnant and have cancer. That seemed to be one of the most positive things I could do to try to get over feeling powerless.”
Logan admitting to that feeling surprised her. Maybe she really didn’t know him. Maybe she hadn’t known him all those years ago, but had just been caught up in romantic dreams, without the maturity to realize what was real and what wasn’t.
“That’s a wonderful cause. I wish you luck tonight. What will it take for your guests to write a huge check?”
“Lots of conversation, martinis and a look at my horses. Chad’s thinking about purchasing a couple of new ones and would like some tips.”
“You should do okay then.”
After a long moment, when they couldn’t seem to look away from each other, Logan broke into a smile. “Why don’t you stay and have dinner with us? I’m sure Chad’s wife would like to talk about something other than baseball scores and the price of crude.”
But Gina was already shaking her head. She knew where she belonged and where she didn’t, and if she wanted to help Logan make an impression, she certainly couldn’t do it dressed like this. “I think I’ll pass, but thank you for asking.”
“You didn’t even give it a minute of thought.” He sounded more puzzled than annoyed and she saw now that he had meant that invitation seriously.
“I didn’t have to, Logan. I might have professional credentials, but I’m not prepared for an evening of suits, upswept hair and jewels.”
His mouth turned down in a frown and now he did look annoyed. “So you’re a reverse snob?”
The word snob made her stumble for an answer. She wasn’t one and never would be. But maybe she needed to give Logan some understanding of why she’d left. To heal past hurts they needed honesty between them. “Your father hired me to work in the barn. Whenever I enter this estate in any capacity, I think of myself as a hired hand. Your dad never thought I was good enough for you and he told me so. So no, Logan, but on a night like this, dressed as I am, I wouldn’t feel comfortable joining you. Think about it—how would you feel coming to one of my department meetings?”
“My father told you you weren’t good enough for me?” He’d heard what she’d said and understood what it had meant.
Should she say more? They couldn’t get beyond the past if she didn’t, could they? “You and I were…becoming more involved. Your dad came home early from a trip and found us together in a chaise by the pool. When you went inside the pool house to change, he told me I shouldn’t even consider a relationship with you because I was a nobody, and he had plans for you to marry someone in your same social stratum.”
“Gina! Why didn’t you ever tell me?” His voice showed his shock and he looked troubled.
“At the time, I thought it was best not to, and then…it didn’t matter.” She
However, before she could, Logan came to the door. Seeing her, he beckoned her inside.
She would simply hand him the information. The rest would have to wait.
Parking quickly, she ran up the walk and handed him the manila envelope. “Just some catalogs with things I thought you might need for the day-care center. You’ll have an idea of cost estimates when you go through them. Staffing requirements, too.”
Logan was dressed in a Western-cut suit, white shirt and bolo tie and looked as if he’d stepped out of the pages of Country Gentlemen magazine. In her jeans and sandals she felt as she had fourteen years ago on the evening his father had told her he would never let his son marry a nobody.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt your evening. I wasn’t thinking. I should have called.”
He took the envelope from her. “You’re not interrupting, believe me. I’m just having dinner with an oil man and his wife who are interested in donating to the foundation.”
“Foundation?”
“After Amy died, I set up a foundation for donations to help with research for women who are pregnant and have cancer. That seemed to be one of the most positive things I could do to try to get over feeling powerless.”
Logan admitting to that feeling surprised her. Maybe she really didn’t know him. Maybe she hadn’t known him all those years ago, but had just been caught up in romantic dreams, without the maturity to realize what was real and what wasn’t.
“That’s a wonderful cause. I wish you luck tonight. What will it take for your guests to write a huge check?”
“Lots of conversation, martinis and a look at my horses. Chad’s thinking about purchasing a couple of new ones and would like some tips.”
“You should do okay then.”
After a long moment, when they couldn’t seem to look away from each other, Logan broke into a smile. “Why don’t you stay and have dinner with us? I’m sure Chad’s wife would like to talk about something other than baseball scores and the price of crude.”
But Gina was already shaking her head. She knew where she belonged and where she didn’t, and if she wanted to help Logan make an impression, she certainly couldn’t do it dressed like this. “I think I’ll pass, but thank you for asking.”
“You didn’t even give it a minute of thought.” He sounded more puzzled than annoyed and she saw now that he had meant that invitation seriously.
“I didn’t have to, Logan. I might have professional credentials, but I’m not prepared for an evening of suits, upswept hair and jewels.”
His mouth turned down in a frown and now he did look annoyed. “So you’re a reverse snob?”
The word snob made her stumble for an answer. She wasn’t one and never would be. But maybe she needed to give Logan some understanding of why she’d left. To heal past hurts they needed honesty between them. “Your father hired me to work in the barn. Whenever I enter this estate in any capacity, I think of myself as a hired hand. Your dad never thought I was good enough for you and he told me so. So no, Logan, but on a night like this, dressed as I am, I wouldn’t feel comfortable joining you. Think about it—how would you feel coming to one of my department meetings?”
“My father told you you weren’t good enough for me?” He’d heard what she’d said and understood what it had meant.
Should she say more? They couldn’t get beyond the past if she didn’t, could they? “You and I were…becoming more involved. Your dad came home early from a trip and found us together in a chaise by the pool. When you went inside the pool house to change, he told me I shouldn’t even consider a relationship with you because I was a nobody, and he had plans for you to marry someone in your same social stratum.”
“Gina! Why didn’t you ever tell me?” His voice showed his shock and he looked troubled.
“At the time, I thought it was best not to, and then…it didn’t matter.” She
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