Forbidden Desire

Chapter 2: The Message That Should’ve Stayed Unread

It had been hours since Emily received that message, and yet her fingers still itched to text back. Her shift ended, but instead of going straight home, she found herself wandering aimlessly through the city, Logan’s message haunting her every step.

“You still look beautiful.”

Simple words. Innocent, even. But from Logan Westwood, they carried weight. History. Temptation.

Back at her apartment, Emily showered quickly, hoping the steam would wash away her thoughts. But Logan’s smirk from earlier kept flashing in her mind. He was older now—so much older—and more dangerously charming than she remembered. He looked like a man who knew exactly what he wanted and exactly how to get it.

Daniel called while she was halfway through brushing her hair. She let it go to voicemail. She couldn't talk to him—not with Logan’s message still burning in her chest.

When she finally checked her phone again, there was another message waiting.

Logan: Dinner tomorrow. Just us. One hour. I’ll be a perfect gentleman.

Emily stared at the screen.

Emily: I don’t think that’s a good idea.

A few seconds passed.

Logan: Good ideas are boring. Besides, I already made a reservation.

Emily: You’re trouble.

Logan: Only the fun kind.

She groaned, dropping the phone onto her bed. What was she doing? This was insane. Logan was... well, he was Logan. A Westwood. The boy—now man—who used to sneak glances at her when he thought she wasn’t looking. Who watched her with fascination, as if she were a mystery he was dying to solve. Who was once too young to touch, but now? Now, he was dangerous. Because he could.

And worst of all—Emily wanted him to.

The next evening, she chose her outfit with more care than she wanted to admit. A black satin blouse, high-waisted jeans, ankle boots. Subtle but sharp. She told herself it was just a meeting. Harmless. A nostalgic dinner.

The restaurant Logan chose was a rooftop bistro with warm lighting and soft jazz playing in the background. When she arrived, he was already seated, sipping whiskey like he belonged to the world.

His eyes lit up when he saw her.

“You came.”

“I told myself it was just dinner.”

“It can be. If you want it to be.”

She sat across from him, her legs crossed tightly beneath the table. He was wearing a dark grey blazer over a black tee. Casual, but expensive. Effortless.

“You’ve changed,” she said.

“So have you. But I remember everything.”

“Everything?”

“The way you used to hum while cleaning the window sills. The way you avoided looking at me after I caught you dancing to jazz in the kitchen. The smell of vanilla whenever you walked past me.”

Emily’s heart thudded in her chest. “You were a kid.”

“I was a kid in love with a woman. And now I’m a man who knows what he wants.”

The waiter interrupted with menus. Emily clung to it like a life raft.

Dinner was... nice. Too nice. They laughed. Talked about their lives. Logan told her about the family business, how he was overseeing the new winery in California. She told him about her restaurant job, her hopes of saving up to start her own café someday.

But beneath the conversation, a current of electricity hummed. Every glance. Every accidental brush of his fingers.

By the time dessert came, Emily knew she was in trouble.

Logan leaned forward. “You know I’m not trying to be just another man in your life.”

“You’re not in my life at all,” she countered.

“Not yet.”

There it was again—that quiet confidence. That pull she had no name for.

He stood and reached for her hand.

“Come walk with me.”

They stepped out onto the rooftop terrace. The city lights sparkled below. The night air was cool against her skin. Logan moved beside her, close but not touching.

“I thought I’d forgotten you,” he murmured. “But the moment I saw you at that restaurant, everything came back. You were my first obsession.”

Emily’s breath caught. “You don’t say that to someone who’s in a relationship.”

“I say it because it’s the truth.”

She turned to face him. “This can’t happen. I love Daniel.”

“I don’t doubt that,” Logan said softly. “But tell me you haven’t thought about me since last night. Tell me you didn’t dress like that because of me.”

She looked away. “That’s not fair.”

He stepped closer, his voice a whisper. “Neither is wanting someone for eight years and finally getting the chance to touch them.”

She looked up at him, heart thundering in her chest.

And that’s when he kissed her.

It wasn’t rough or demanding—it was a question. A test. And when Emily didn’t pull away, it deepened. Became a promise.

When he finally stepped back, she was breathless.

“I shouldn’t have done that,” he said. “But I won’t apologize.”

Emily stood frozen, lips tingling, her world suddenly askew.

“I’ll be at the winery tomorrow,” he said quietly. “Come if you want answers. Or closure. Or just one more kiss.”

Then he left.

And Emily was left on the rooftop, her world spinning, torn between loyalty and desire.

To be continued...