The door slowly creaked open, revealing an infectious grin shining from the small boy inside. I relaxed, smiling.

“Cassandra! You came!”

“Of course I came.” I laughed when he grabbed my hand, and tugged me inside through the foyer and down a long hall.

The house was unlike how I remembered it the few times I was there with the original owners. A creamy beige paint replaced the previous floral wallpaper and hardwood floors now covered the former carpeted living room. The farther we went into the house, the more an intoxicating aroma caused my smile to broaden.

I inhaled my eyelids closing as I took in the delightful scent pouring out of the kitchen as we rounded the corner.

“Daddy, Cassandra is here!” Oliver exclaimed louder than necessary when we stopped in the massive, gourmet kitchen.

“Good evening, Cassandra.” Logan smiled, turning away from the stove to greet me.

His simple white tee clung sinfully to his sculptured chest capturing my attention. My gaze wandered down to his light jeans, worn through in the knees and hung low on his waist. I dropped my head, embarrassed to look back up knowing he was watching me gawk at him. I closed my eyes for the briefest moment to get my wits back in check, and willed the blood pooled in my cheeks to disperse. As I opened my eyes once again, I noticed his bare feet. The man made something as simple as cooking the sexiest thing I’d ever witnessed.

I looked back up and grinned. “Wow, you’re actually cooking?” I teased, laughing once, hoping he wouldn’t mention my prior blatant staring. The image of Logan holding a giant wooden spoon, standing over a steaming pot at the stove, was one I wanted to store away for as long as I lived.

“There is a lot about me you don’t know, sweetheart.” He winked.

I opened my mouth to give a snappy come back, but was interrupted.

“Yeah, like how big of an ass he can be!”

I turned to gaze at the man standing in the doorway. He appeared about my age, maybe a bit younger, and judging by the charming smirk dancing across his lips, I knew he was definitely related to Logan.

“Hi.” I stepped closer to him, smiling. “I’m Cassandra.”

“Jax, a pleasure,” he replied smoothly. He took my hand and placed a lingering kiss upon my knuckles causing me to flush, my stance uncomfortably rigid.

Hesitantly, I smiled as his gaze locked with mine, and he released my hand. I was pulled from the moment when I could have sworn I heard a low throaty growl slip from Logan. With a subtle shake of my head, I stepped back into the room toward Oliver.

“Well, Cassandra, you not only have my nephew running around yelling at me to put on a clean shirt, but it seems you’ve inspired my brother to cook again. You must be quite the lady.”

He leaned against the doorframe, his eyes raking down my body then back up, where he flashed a sinful smirk.

My head shot down, staring at the rustic tile floor, embarrassed. I felt the blush creeping over my cheeks once again. I could not imagine making Logan do anything he didn’t want to.

“They’re good guys.” I smiled softly, thankful my voice came out smooth and strong. I looked up and over at Oliver who was impatiently waiting for me to follow him.

“Come on, Cassandra, we can go sit down. Daddy will bring us our plates when he’s done.” Oliver took my hand.

“Yes, please make yourself at home,” Logan said, a soft smile on his lips before returning his attention to the stovetop.

Oliver led the way to the formal dining room.

“You can sit next to me,” Oliver puffed out, exerting all his strength to pull out the antique upholstered chair from the table.

“Thanks.” I sat in the chair and watched him repeat his actions on the seat beside me. “You know, Oliver, you can call me Cassie, if you like.”

“Is that your name? I thought it was Cassandra.” His forehead marred with confusion when he was finally up in his chair, his head barely able to see above the enormous table.

“It is, but my family and close friends call me Cassie. You call me whichever you prefer.”

“Cassandra is pretty,” he looked at me, titling his head, “but I want to be your friend so…I’ll call you Cassie.”

I smiled at his thought process. “Great.”

My eyes took in the room, roaming over the fine cabinet in the corner and up above the table where my mouth fell open. I gasped when they landed on the dazzling crystal chandelier above me. The light beamed in through the window, glittering off hundreds of different shaped and cut crystals. Dropping my head back farther, I was drawn up to the breathtaking mural on the ceiling.

“This is a beautiful room,” I breathed, enchanted. My gaze held firm, absorbing every detail the extremely talented painter used.

“We don’t eat in here very much. Daddy says it’s only for our special guests.”

I relaxed back in my chair, unable to peel my eyes away from the painting above. A pale-blue sky with beautiful smoky clouds parted to reveal what looked like the heavens above. A magical kingdom, carved from gold, peeked down. It was breathtaking.

“My daddy painted that! I helped too. I handed him the brushes, and I even painted that over there.” I glanced in the direction of his finger, where a young but talented child obviously painted a small yellow sun in the far right corner.

“Wow, you did a wonderful job!” I smiled, sincerely. The entire work of art was a masterpiece.

“Yeah, he takes after his old man.” Jax spoke, entering the room followed by Logan who was juggling two wine glasses and a small tumbler. Jax took the seat across from me while Logan placed the tumbler of water in front of Oliver and then proceeded to sit on my other side, at the head of the table.

He handed me a glass, and looked down sheepishly when he noticed my eyes flickering back down from his mural.

“I didn’t know you painted,” I said, softly, surprised to see him shift in his seat. “It’s beautiful.” I took a small sip of water as Logan smiled softly in return.

He was an artist, and a damn good one. And even more surprising was the fact that he was shy about it. I couldn’t believe this was the same Logan that had flirted endlessly and tried to seduce me into bed. My inner self laughed as I realized just how complicated this man was.

Logan gave a subtle, crooked smile. “Like I said, there is a lot you don’t know about me.”

He then stood and left the room, returning minutes later with our meal. It looked amazing and I still couldn’t believe he had cooked it.

“How long have you painted?” I asked. I found myself eager to learn more about this side of him.

“Yeah, yeah, Logan can paint. But tell me more about you, Cassandra. Do you happen to have any single friends you’d like to bring by sometime?” Jax said.

“He’s kidding of course,” Logan said, shooting a threatening glare to his kid brother. “He’s young and full of raging hormones”

I laughed but covered my hand over my mouth, aware I was sitting beside a four-year-old.

“Why don’t you go wash up for dinner, Oliver,” Logan said, catching my uncomfortable glance at his son.

Oliver sighed, looking down at his plate of food, but did as he was told. He hopped down from the chair and sulked out of the room.

“You’re one to talk, brother,” Jax went on when Oliver disappeared around the corner. “I’ve seen all the girls hanging around your bachelor pad in the city. I’m sure living in the country hasn’t changed that. Am I right, Cassandra?” Jax eyes were solely on me now. “Living right next door, I’m sure you see a string of scantily clad vixens coming and going all hours of the night when Oliver visits Lawrence.”