Ti Amo

When they noticed us standing two feet away from the table, both men stood up. My gaze was drawn to the familiar ocean blue eyes that had never failed to captivate me. I gulped silently as I noticed he hadn't blinked since he locked his gaze on me. Logan Watson was dressed in a black notch lapel blazer suit with a plain black shirt underneath and tight-fitted black trousers.

My gaze returned to him, and I noticed a different emotion swirling in his eyes that I had only seen a couple of times before, but I had never been able to put a finger on it. The emotion was so intense that I had to avert my gaze if I didn't want to crumble to my feet right here. I'd forgotten how much I'd missed seeing those eyes in the last few days. Scarlet nudged me to bring me back to reality and drew me to the table.

"Hey, baby girl," Patrick was on his feet in a flash, approaching Scar. When Patrick took Scar's hand and kissed it while looking at her lovingly, I stood there awkwardly. Given how much they love each other at this point, I couldn't help but smile.

"Hello, Karolia. It's been a while." Patrick turned to face me after he finished complimenting Scar. I smiled and accepted the side hug he extended to me. Logan's unwavering sharp gaze was on me, but I didn't dare to look at him.

"Indeed. I'm surprised you planned a double date instead of taking her out on your own and doing whatever you guys do. That would have been a lot easier, wouldn't it?" With an eye roll, I say to him.

"Please excuse my lovely lady here, who wished to bring some people out of their hiding places." Patrick cast a sidelong glance at Logan, who remained silent throughout the last line before winking at Scar, who turned red in an instant. I glared at her with narrowed eyes, causing her to squirm away from me. We must definitely talk later.

"Why don't you two just sit down so we can get started?" Patrick stated as he looked at Scar and me. Why do I get the impression that sentence has a double meaning? I shake my thoughts away before I glance at the table.

The table was rectangular, with two seats on opposite sides. When Scar rounded the table to take one of the two empty seats on the opposite side, I was about to join her, but I quickly stopped when I saw how she dragged Patrick to sit beside her. My mouth dropped open as soon as I saw her motion for me to take the seat next to Logan. I clenched my fists, imagining strangling her while giving her a hard glare. This girl has a lot of guts.

When I heard Logan's deep husky voice, I turned away from Scarlet. Logan has pulled out a chair for me like the gentleman he is, and his expression made my heart skip a beat. He had that hopeful expression that only I could understand.

I walked awkwardly towards the chair and sat on it, mumbling a thank you to him. Logan's familiar scent enveloped me as soon as he sat in his chair, and I inhaled deeply. When we were apart, all I could think about was Logan and how I would apologize to him and make amends for my previous actions and words. But now that I'm sitting next to him, it's definitely messing with my head and jumbling my thoughts. It's even worse when we're only a short distance apart. All because some people decided it would be better to surprise me with a date rather than tell me ahead of time.

Scarlet and Patrick quickly picked up on the awkward atmosphere between me and Logan and began to engage in small talk. But nothing seems to be working because both of us, mostly me, have avoided talking to each other. Hearing his deep voice was like being sprayed with cold water. It just made me shiver, and it hit me how much I missed everything about him. I never expected to meet him so soon and unexpectedly, so I need to calm down before saying anything to him.

I scanned the entire restaurant while looking away in thought. It was a very fancy restaurant, at least a seven-star one. We were on the third floor, in the big room's corner, my side close to the curtained wall. Our table was hidden behind a large partition, almost like a VIP area, but we could see the others from our open area. There was a massive crystal chandelier in the center with a golden dim light that added depth to the overall atmosphere, along with soft Italian music played in a low sound. Apart from the two or three couples sitting farther away from us, there weren't many people on this floor. One of the couples appeared to be in their forties, and they were holding a beautiful baby girl in the woman's arms. She was feeding the baby desert while the man captured the moment on his cell phone. They all appeared to be content and in their own world, which caused a warm smile to spread across my face.

I jumped as I felt soft lips brush against my earlobe, his hot breath startling me for a split second. "You look lovely, love." Logan's voice was deep and low, and it sent shivers up and down my spine. I didn't realize he was staring at me the entire time. I blinked my eyes quickly because I couldn't think for a second. Oh my goodness, I'm a mess! Scar and Pat were taking selfies of each other when I noticed them.

"Thank you," I said, blushing profusely and looking down, unable to think of anything else. I wanted to tell him he looked great in that suit, but I decided to keep it for myself. Logan locked his gaze on me for a few more moments before turning to face the waiter who had arrived.

I scanned the menu that had been placed on the table while all the other three ordered for them. When it was my turn, I ordered spaghetti carbonara and chicken parmigiana, along with a glass of sauvignon blanc.

"The waiter was clearly eyeing you, Lia. Didn't I tell you you looked stunning in that gown?" Scarlet gave me a sly grin. I didn't even look at the waiter because my attention was solely on the menu when I ordered. I frowned at her remark, but I soon realized why when I felt Logan stiffen beside me. He clenched his fists on the table and stared straight ahead. I knew Scarlet was just trying to get me and Logan to talk and make up a story about our problem, but I thought her actions were excessive. I mouthed her to stop this whatever she was planning to do, but the devil ignored me like a plague. I took a deep breath to calm myself down and concentrate on the patterns on the table.

When the food arrived, I straightened my back from the slouched position, and my mouth watered as I saw the menu spread out in front of us.

We quickly dug into our food

"Is there anything else you guys would-" Logan rudely cut off the waiter's question.

"Nothing, for the time being, you may leave." Logan's voice became a little deeper as he said it. With a nod, the waiter excused himself and scurried away.

"Geez, man. Calm down, will ya. " Patrick smirked at Logan, who gritted his teeth in annoyance. Scarlet caught my eye as she bit her lip as if trying to stop herself from grinning. If I could just smack the girl's head, I would have done it in a heartbeat. Why is she attempting to create more drama that is absolutely unnecessary?

We quickly dug into our food and didn't talk much because we were all enjoying the savory taste of Italian cuisine. Scarlet was stealing Pat's food from his plate whenever he looked away in the middle, but when he caught her, she gave him her infamous puppy eyes, which seemed to instantly resolve Pat's angry stare. Then I notice Pat sharing all of his food with her. I chuckle at their childish and adorable behavior before returning my attention to my own food.

"Did you like the food?" I turn my head to look at the ocean blue eyes before I nod my head. "Yes, everything tastes so good," I say with a smile. Logan's lips curled slightly before reaching for me and tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. When I felt his fingertips gently trail the path from behind my earlobe to the side of my neck, my breath caught in my throat. Mother of cookies, sweet mother.

When we heard someone clear their throat, we jumped. Patrick and Scar had a knowing grin on their faces, and I blushed as I realized they had captured our moment. Logan ate his food casually as if he wasn't bothered by it, which I know he isn't.

"How is it going at Watson Enterprises, Karolia?" Patrick asked me, but I could see his side smirk, which was directed at Logan. I let out an awkward laugh because I hadn't anticipated the question at all.

"It's... going really well. I'm at comfort because the timings are so adaptable."

"I'm delighted to hear that. But I hope both of you are focused on your jobs and not on anything else." Patrick's statement elicited three responses.

"Rick!!" Scarlet exclaimed loudly, chastising him for his insinuation, but she was also giggling.

"Ouch," Patrick caressed the side of his head in pain as Logan leaned across the table to slap him hard on the back of the head.

I, on the other hand, choked on my food. A series of coughs reverberated from me, drawing everyone's attention to me. For sure, a dark blush covered my cheeks. I quickly grabbed a glass of water from the table and drank it down. Someone's hand rubbed my back, and it didn't take me long to figure out who it was. The tingle rush revealed everything. Girl, take a deep breath!

After I calmed down, I glared at Patrick, who was sulking in his seat. Men are the only ones who can make statements like this. I wonder when it will be Logan's turn to say such things; after all, he enjoys seeing me blush and is always looking for an opportunity to embarrass me, or so he once said.

"By the way, you drank from my glass," I heard Logan's deep voice close to my ear, and my eyes widened in surprise. I look at the glass I drank from in between me and Logan, as well as my own glass on the left side of my hand. I mumble a faint apology and blush once more in embarrassment.

"Don't fret, the water now tastes sweeter than wine." He says this as he takes a sip from the glass from which I just drank. I gulp and turn away, no longer able to handle this fine specimen. Logan's smug expression remained in my peripheral vision. The air around us became tenser by the second, and it was nerve-racking.

To put it simply, the date was ideal. Even though there was a lot of tension and awkward moments in the middle, I never expected to enjoy this night so much. But, you guessed it, I spoke too soon.

A giggle drew my attention to Scarlet, and I raised my brows at the scene in front of me. Patrick was sprinkling feather-like kisses on Scarlet's face, and his hands were tickling her all over her neck. Logan sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Guys!" I exclaimed, hurling a napkin at them. Both had wide-eyes when they looked at me. "Enough!" I chastised them and reminded them of our surroundings. I rolled my eyes as they nodded their heads like schoolchildren. It's a good thing our table was hidden because it would have been embarrassing if the staff or other patrons had noticed the high rate of PDA these two idiots were emitting.

We ordered some light desserts because the dinner itself was quite filling. The desserts arrived quickly, and we were already digging in while sipping our wine.

"You are much sweeter than this dessert, Babe!" Patrick tells Scarlet, who blushes at his overt flirting. Scarlet appears to have consumed more wine than she should have, and it is causing her to appear and act like a sappy romantic teenager who blushes and swoons at every compliment. Patrick appears normal to me, but I know he's turned on at this point. Logan and I are the only sane people at this table, thanks to him for not letting me drink any more wine because he knows I can't handle it.

"No, you're sweeter, baby." Scar laughs and bites her lip, her face flushed. She picks up her fork and begins to eat the remaining chocolate pudding, but because she is careless, she drops the spoon right onto it, causing the melted chocolate to spread a little on her hands. She cursed lightly before taking the napkin from the table to clean it, but she came to a halt when Patrick immediately grabbed her hand. Patrick looked Scar in the eyes before licking her fingers clean, which made me gag in annoyance.

"I've never had a sweet tooth before, but if you're this sweet, I'm sure I'll be addicted," Patrick says, smirking at her. Scarlet laughs again, and I huff, having had enough of their cheesy flirting.

"Guys, I'm trying to eat here," I complain, but they ignore me. Logan chuckles at my annoyance, and I stare at him. Logan leans forward and rubs his thumb across my lips, inducing a swarm of butterflies in my stomach.

"You had a little chocolate there," he says, and I shyly look away. But, once again, I felt his hot breath close to me.

"It appears that they are not going to stop anytime soon. So, shall we leave?" He asks, and I nod, wanting to get away from their flirtation. We both stood up from our seats, but Patrick and Scarlet were too preoccupied with their own situation to notice us. Logan effectively stopped me by catching my wrist as I opened my mouth to call them.

"Don't," he says, and I frown in perplexity.

"But wouldn't they look for us?" Logan gives me a smirk.

"Don't you want to exact some revenge on them?" he asks, and I widen my eyes at his intent. He meant two things by vengeance. For duping us into coming to this double date and for their humiliating PDA in front of us despite knowing the tension between us. Logan approached one of the waiters and ordered him to serve every customer on this floor a plate of double chocolate tiramisu, which is also quite expensive, and he said the treat is on Patrick. It's a good thing there aren't more than ten people on this floor or Patrick's wallet might get ripped open.

We quickly left, laughing our asses off. I was hoping to see Patrick's reaction to what Logan had done, but according to Log, Pat can be quite frightening when he's angry. Now I feel a little guilty for leaving Scar alone to deal with him, but the embarrassment they both caused me there more than compensates for my guilt. I'll just check in on her when I get home. As Logan opened the passenger door of his Lamborghini, I raised my eyebrows at him.

"You certainly know how to wow your date, don't you?" He smirks down at me as I take a seat on the plush leather seat.

"Of course, why not. "This baby can impress any girl," he says as he closes the door and rushes to the driver's seat. I frown at his remark. He didn't realize I was his date, so does that mean.... he was planning to take whoever his date was somewhere after dinner, at least that's what I get from his statement.

"I'll drop you off at your house?" he asks quietly, and my heart breaks at that statement. The hurt I felt a moment ago quickly turned to anger. I slap his shoulder furiously and glare at him.

"What was that for?" Logan exclaims, taken completely off guard by my outburst. He rubbed his shoulder, looking both offensive and perplexed. I sniff as different emotions overwhelm me, the prominent one being jealousy.

'If it had been a different girl, you would have taken her somewhere else, right?' But because it's me, we're going home. I'm overjoyed." Logan stares at me for a few seconds before breaking out in a loud laugh when I sniff again. I give him a strange look. He's now laughing at me!? Great!

"Oh, love!" he exclaims, shaking his head. "I knew it would be you from the start, that bastard is terrible at acting," he chuckles, and my mouth formed an 'o,' embarrassed by my childish outburst once more. Can this evening get any more humiliating for me?

"I wouldn't have agreed to come if it hadn't been for you," he says solemnly, and my heart fluttered once more. But his expression quickly changed to one of displeasure at his next statement.

"But you showed up without even knowing who your date was," Logan says, his jaw clenched. I give him a shaky shake of my head.

"To be honest, I wasn't interested. Scar blackmailed me," I told him, explaining that if it was someone else, I planned to spend the entire date playing games on my phone, to which Logan laughed.

It felt strange to be sitting here, in this enclosed space and having a normal conversation with Logan as if nothing had happened between us in the previous few days. Logan's face softened as he looked at me with those ocean blue eyes again, scanning my face. It's the same emotion I've noticed in him a few times when he looks at me. It was fervent and always made me shiver on the inside. I noticed his hands clenched at his sides as if he was trying to keep himself from touching me. He quickly snapped back and started the engine before exiting from the parking area. Logan made the car ride slow on purpose as if he didn't want to rush and prolong this moment, even if it was just a plain silence between the two of us.

"Logan," I say softly, and he hums in response, his gaze never leaving the road.

"I don't want to go home," I say, and for a split second, he turns to look at me.

"Take me somewhere else," I say, catching a faint smile on his face as he shifts the gear. I took a deep breath and made a determined face ahead of me. It's time to tear down the barriers I've erected between us. I'm ready to let go of my ego and pride.

*****

Twenty minutes later, w were walking through the woods' paved paths. Given how clear the path appears to be, it appears to be a popular path taken by many people. We were walking deeper into the forest, the tree branches becoming thicker as we went.

"It will be worth the effort. I guarantee it. Just be patient, love," was all he said, and I nodded with a slight pout. I'm not sure why he's forcing me to climb this hill at this hour. I expected a park, a bridge, or even the beach when I asked him to take me somewhere, but I never expected this. I thought I'd made it clear how much I despise climbing and hiking on the day we went to the wood house, but apparently, someone didn't get it through their thick skull. I went with some simple sandals instead of the high heels that Scarlet begged me to wear, and I'm glad I did.

As soon as we came to a halt, I exhaled heavily and gasped at the beauty in front of me. Logan let go of my tightly gripped hand, allowing me to move forward on the cliff top and take in the view of the beautifully lit city. From up here, I could see a portion of New York, which appeared to be breathtaking. The stars in the sky, combined with the full moon, made the entire scene look more like a beautifully edited photograph than a reality.

Logan's presence was just beside me, and the heat radiating from his body provided some relief from the chilly breeze that was blowing across us. A shiver ran down my spine, but I couldn't tell if it was from the wind or Logan's close proximity to me. I looked back when I felt the warm texture of a blazer on my shoulder and saw Logan securing it on me. Under the moonlight, his eyes appeared a dark shade of blue, almost luring me in. I mumbled a thank you before returning my attention to the view ahead.

There was a foot distance between me and Logan, which I'm not sure whether I like or dislike. If he were close, my senses would be on overload, making it impossible for me to focus, while the distance kills me for not being able to be close to him. Looking back at the beautiful scenery, my mind became clouded with a plethora of thoughts. Everything appeared to be so small and delicate from this vantage point. All of the tall buildings and skyscrapers that would have otherwise intimidated me appeared small and even irrelevant. It simply made me realize how things work in life. All of the problems we face on a daily basis may seem significant at the time, but in the long run, they may be just another milestone that you have passed. It's all about accepting things for what they are, good or bad, and working out any problems that arise through dialogue. And that is exactly what I acted improperly. None of this would have happened if I had simply allowed him to speak to me from the start. We didn't have to suffer through the agony of being apart.

"Aren't you mad at me?" I inquire softly. Logan's head turned to look at me, but my gaze remained fixed on the scenery.

"For what purpose?" When I turned to face him, I was surprised to see his genuine perplexity.

"I basically yelled at you and accused you of something you didn't even do. You must be upset with me, but why aren't you?" I asked him a little more forcefully. Logan sighed heavily as he looked ahead.

"To be honest, I'm not sure. I was mad at you the night we fought, but believe me when I say I didn't get a wink of sleep that night. Everything bothered me, your unexpected revelation, your crying face and pleading eyes, everything. But I also knew you'd never lie to me. It wasn't until I got home that I realized how much I had messed up. It just made me realize how unworthy I was of you. You entrusted me with your darkest secret, but I betrayed you by not trusting you right away that night. I think it's safe to say I was angrier at myself than anything else." He released a humorless chuckle at the last statement before turning to me.

His eyes widen slightly as they meet mine, which is filled with tears. He took a step towards me but then stopped when I spoke.

"Why?" I inquire, my voice trembling. Logan frowned once more, confused.

"Why didn't you tell me that was what's going through your mind? You should have just come and knocked some sense into me. " My voice had become more agitated, but not towards him, but rather towards myself.

Logan uttered, his voice breaking at the end, "You didn't even let me talk, Lia." "You have no idea how badly I wanted to come over to your apartment and make things right between us, but you refused. I also wanted to respect your decision to stay away because that is what you desired." he sighs.

"You asked me to stay away from you, and I did so even though it was breaking me inside. I didn't want me to be any more disappointed to you than I already was, Lia." I couldn't stop my tears from falling because his voice sounded so distressed. As my heart clenched in pain, I sniffled a sob. I wanted to slap myself for everything I said and did over the last week. And I feel stupid for not understanding his point of view.

"I-I'm sorry. I'm not sure what hit me that day. Seeing you with him crushed e-everything in me to the point where I couldn't even think properly because I thought you d-deceived me and I was s-scared." Logan drew closer to me and cupped my face as soon as he saw my welling tears.

"Shh, I understand, love. I understand why you asked me to leave. But leaving you that night, when you were so vulnerable, was one of the most difficult decisions I've ever had to make. It killed me. Please don't ask me to stay away from you any longer; I can't." Logan's eyes were filled with unshed tears as he wiped away my tears. I close my eyes and try to calm my labored breathing.

"And don't even think I'd deceive you, because I love you too much to even entertain that thought." I stopped breathing as soon as those words left his mouth. Did I hear that correctly? My heart rate increased rapidly, and I desperately wanted to open my eyes and look at him, but I was afraid to do so for some unknown reason. I was afraid that if I opened my eyes, he would vanish into thin air, proving that this was all a dream, just like the others I'd been having for the past few days.

"Open your eyes, Lia," Logan said almost in hushed tones. I felt my body respond to his command, slowly opening my eyes, even though I didn't want to. When I was met with the familiar deep blue eyes looking at me so intensely and passionately that it almost felt like he could see into my soul, I took a sharp breath in.

"I love you," Logan's voice was deep and full of emotions that shook me to my core. As I stared at the man in front of me, everything seemed to come to a halt around me. The only thing I could see and feel was him and only him.

"I don't expect the same from you this soon, Lia. But I wanted you to be aware of this. I believe I began to love you a long time ago, but it was only in the last few days that I realized how much I love you and how much you meant to me. The realization that I couldn't stop thinking about you when you were away from me showed how much you have become a part of me. And how difficult it is for me to continue without you." As soon as those last words left him, I jumped into him, wrapping my arms around him.

I let out a loud sob, but this time it wasn't out of hurt, anger, or sadness. It was because I was overjoyed. By tightly clutching him, I ensured that this was not a figment of my imagination. But it was confirmed when his still body responded to me by squeezing me in his tight arms. He is real.

"I love you, Logan Watson," I whispered into his ears. Pulling him closer to me, I let my hands automatically tangle in his hair when I felt him take in a sharp breath. I'm not sure if it was because of how sudden I was or because of the whole confession. Logan forced me to stand on my toes before pulling my face away from the crook of his neck.

"Y-You do?" Logan's mouth was wide open in surprise. And I felt a pain in my chest as I saw how shocked he looked, knowing that I had felt the same way. Did he mistakenly believe I didn't love him back? Ohh, Logan. How is it possible to fall for him again and again?

"I do. And I've never been more certain of anything in my life, Logan." In an instant, his face brightened. How could he not notice how much I adore him?

I had always tried to keep my true emotions hidden, but he was the only one who was able to break down my defenses and read me. I've always been careful not to reveal my emotions to him because I wasn't sure if he loved me the same way I loved him. Especially since he is the only man I have ever had such strong feelings for. It was difficult to conceal because I didn't want to suffer from a broken heart while I was vulnerable to him. Because of how much he meant to me, he could easily crush my entire being. But hearing those words leave his mouth came as a surprise. And I guess that's exactly what he felt when I told him the same.

"You have no idea how many times I imagined you saying that, but nothing could top this moment," Logan muttered, his eyes amused. His eyes now show the same emotion that I've always noticed, but this time I smile broadly as I realize what it is. Love

I stood on my tiptoes to capture his lips for a sweet kiss that made my legs wobbly with the intensity of it. Our lips moved in unison, pouring all of our feelings into a single kiss.

"And it's even better now," He smiles into the kiss before his warm hands cup my face. He guides my lips in a sweet yet sensual kiss that nearly knocked me out. His one hand snaked around my waist, drawing me in closer, while the other stayed on my cheeks, guiding me in the rhythm of our lips. TI missed this. I missed him.

When breathing became a priority, we drew back and leaned our forehead together, savoring the moment.

"You have me completely whipped for your love, and as corny as it sounds, I don't care. Because I now have you in my arms." Logan chuckled as he drew me to his chest, my face directly on his beating heart. I reopen my eyes and smile at the view in front of us.

What a beautiful day it is indeed.

***********

Logan and I had palpable tension on the way home. Patrick had called Logan in the middle of the conversation only to curse at him for five minutes. When he saw the bill, it appeared that he had finally come to his senses.

Logan's hand never left mine during the entire ride, as he drove with only one hand. He kept looking at me, as if he couldn't believe I was with him. But I guess the same can be said for me because I never took my gaze away from him. He rushed to my side and opened the door for me as soon as we arrived at my apartment. I gave a grateful smile before we intertwined our hands and walked towards the apartment door. But I was struck by Logan's deafening silence as soon as we stepped into the apartment complex and throughout the elevator ride. For a brief moment, I wondered what I had done wrong, but I was too afraid to confront him. When we arrived at my door, I slowly turned around to face him, debating whether to invite him or not.

I looked up to see his bright blue eyes had darkened, which took my breath away. His gaze was fixed on my lips, and butterflies flitted around in my stomach.

"Well, -" he cut me off by pressing his lips against mine. My senses were on high alert, so I closed my eyes. His lips were smooth and enticing. It started out as a gentle kiss, but it quickly evolved into much more. He walked backward, holding me in his arms until my back was against the door. My arms wrapped around him, one hand tangled in his locks, the other gripping his back, enjoying the sensation of his broad and flexing muscles. He trailed his tongue off my lips to allow me to breathe, and I gasped as he made his way down to my neck. He began to work wonders on my neck, and I clutched onto him even tighter, leaving me in a state of mind buzzing with nerves and emotions. His hands squeezed my hips, causing my breathing to become erratic. His lips found mine once more, and he bit my lower lip hard. We quickly separated as we heard the sound of a door opening from the far end of the floor, just before it got into something more. Logan let out a string of curse words, which made me blush with embarrassment.

He pressed his brow against mine and closed his eyes. When his eyes opened, they were a bright blue that clashed with my brown eyes. I gave him a shy smile, and he looked at me before bowing down and kissing my brow.

"Goodnight, sweetheart. Dream about me. " He gives a wink.

"Goodnight. Ti Amo" I kiss his lips and chuckle at the delight in his eyes. In ecstasy, I sighed, a warmth spreading in my heart. Logan Watson was able to gradually fill the void left in my heart by my parents' deaths. Now that I know there are people in the world who love me for who I am, I can sleep at night.

There are a few who are eager to return the love I have bestowed upon them.

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