"This place was cool, right?" Logan asks as he settles up the bill. He filled me in on his last day in Mexico over a couple of pots of tea and I'm glad I ran away from the drama when I did. My eyes glide toward the colorful pillows on the floor that customers are drinking tea on and the green leafy plants that almost reach the ceiling as I reply, "It's crazy this is in Boulder. I feel like I am in another country." 

"I took my mom here for afternoon tea once and she hated it," Logan says with a laugh. 

Shocked, I reply, "What? Why?" 

"They put us at one of those floor tables, so we sat on those pillows on the ground. They also served sandwiches with fancy cheese and her tea apparently had too much spice in it. She would have felt more at home at the Cracker Barrel," he says with a shrug. Logan bringing up his mother reminds me of the five questions Mina asks and I decide to play the game with him. 

"This is a random segway, but you'll understand how I got here in a minute," I mutter and he looks at me lost, which I don't blame him. "My friend Mina revealed to me the five questions she always asks on a first date to see if she wants to move forward with a second." 

"Oh, hit me," Logan jokes with a grin and he leans back into his wooden chair as he finishes off his tea. 

"Okay, well the first question is... what is your relationship like with your mother?" I ask and he nearly chokes. He sets the glass down and after another cough asks, "That's what she starts with? Does she ever make it to second dates?" 

I smile, "She said she wants to know if her date is a mama's boy. Actually to her, I don't know which is worse, not having a relationship with his mother or being a mama's boy."

"What's more important to you?" He asks and I shrug, "It would be nice to have a good relationship with my in-laws, but also to have a respectful distance when it comes to decision making." 

"Your in-laws huh?" Logan says and I feel heat on my face.

"No, no... I am not saying like your parents specifically or that I already see them as my future in-laws," I rapidly reply but Logan waves his hand out as he grins. 

"I'm joking Stella. Actually, my mother saw the picture I posted of us and called me yesterday to discuss."

"Really?" I ask after taking a sip of my now lukewarm peach tea. "What did you say?" 

"I told her you were Chase's co-worker which is how you ended up in the bridal party and that you ran my launch party last year," he admits. 

"Ah, so just the facts," I joke and he smirks, "This was when we were in limbo, I didn't want to say we were dating only to find out you wanted nothing to do with me." 

I bite my lip as I shift in my seat. The waiter comes to clear our dishes and the line at the front has me thinking they want us to leave so they can turn our table. I look back at Logan and he notices the same thing. 

"Wanna head out?" He asks and then we snake around the other tables to get back to the front of the teahouse. There is now some cloud coverage so it's not so hot when we start striding down the sidewalk towards his office. I get the urge to reach for his hand again which makes me continue our conversation from the tea room. 

"So... what would you tell your mom if she asked today? Are we dating? Am I your girlfriend?" I ask bluntly as we slowly walk in step, no rush to be anywhere. 

I am normally not so forward, but Logan is showing me it's best to just put it all out there. He has been straightforward with his feelings for me since the beginning and I want to know where we stand.

"Do you want to be? Should I get a cake and write, will you be my girlfriend? Yes or no?" 

My jaw drops as I let out an incredulous laugh. I stop walking and he eyes me. I confess, "Logan, I shit you not, I was thinking about getting you an 'I'm sorry' cake and then jokingly writing, do you like me, yes or no? on it."

"I would have laughed," Logan admits as he also stops walking, "It looks like we both need some reassurance here." 

"Well, I'll be your girlfriend if you want me to be," I reply casually and he shrugs. He crosses his arms over his chest as I let out a laugh. "Or not." 

"I mean, I guess I can be your boyfriend," he says nonchalantly while darting his eyes away from me. "I haven't had a girlfriend in a long time. Might be fun." I know he's playing with me so I roll my eyes at him. 

"You know, my friend's second question is what's been your longest relationship? I hope this isn't your shortest, smart ass." 

He leans forward as he says, "Well, you know the answer to that one. Tessa. But I am not sure I know the answer to yours." 

I nod, "I think I mentioned Brian. We were together for three years. Nothing serious since then." 

"Just flings," he asks and I shake my head. 

"I wouldn't even call them flings. Just...casual dates or one-night stands." 

"So no one I have to be worried about? As your boyfriend," Logan asks with his signature smirk and then he reaches for my hand. I slip my fingers into his and we continue to wander down the pathway. 

"No one at all," I answer. I then remember the pretty girl from his work and ask, "As your girlfriend, I have to ask, what about you? That girl that hugged you today seemed to be eyeing you." 

"Who?" 

"That woman you work with. Pretty, short blonde hair, looks like she has a SoulCycle membership." 

Logan laughs, "Hunter?" 

Of course, she has a cool name. 

"I don't know, I am asking you." 

Logan shakes his head, "No, no, we just work together. She's in sales and is amazing at it. I nabbed her right out of college, so she's a bit young for me."

"Okay, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't making enemies already." 

"No, you two would probably get along. She's a bit like you in that she's really determined. She takes command of the sales team and everyone likes her. She'll probably be my number two someday. My Stella I guess." He says it casually but I feel his words in my stomach. Does he not remember the whole crush on my boss thing we had to overcome? 

I also shouldn't judge Hunter for one possessive look she gave Logan. Right?

"Well I am excited to meet your team, it was only you and that guy from college you and Chase both knew at your party," I say and I see the strip of buildings his office sits in across the street. 

"Oh, C.J. Yeah, he was with me for a while but he moved to San Francisco. He would have liked Maddie," Logan jokes and I shake my head. 

"I did stalk her the last couple of days to see if she posted anything about Ainslee. Chase didn't say much, just that she might burn his house down." 

We cross the street as Logan says, "According to Alex, they all were ready to come for you after Eloise confirmed that Chase had left. Ainslee was convinced he ran after you." 

I snort, "She still made it about me instead of reflecting on where she went wrong?" 

"I'm glad Chase came to his senses. He never doubted himself as soon as he told me he wanted to leave Mexico. He just made the plans and we left."

"I'm shocked Chase was able to make his own exit strategy. I think I've booked all his travel for the last three years." 

"Oh, his mom did it all for him. Talk about a mama's boy," Logan says with a grin and I can't help but laugh. We've made it back to his office but I am not ready to part ways yet. I know he needs to go back to work, but I don't want to leave him. He glances at the glass doors that lead to his shop and then asks, "Is Chase expecting you back at the office?" 

I shake my head, "No, his only task for me today was to patch things up with you. He's a generous boss like that." 

Logan grins and then adds, "Well, I'll play hooky today too unless you need to get back to Denver?"

"Are you sure? I don't want to pull you away from anything." 

"Stella, I am the boss. And if I am being honest, I'd rather take you back to my place instead of dealing with paperwork." 

I blink at his forwardness and let out a breath of a laugh, "Trying to get me back into bed so quickly after making things official?" He snakes his arm around my back and pulls me into him. He drops a gentle kiss onto my lips and it's all it takes for me to want to go back to his place. "Fine. I mean...I have the whole afternoon free." He kisses me again and then strides away to yank the door open. 

"I have to grab my keys, so come in so I can introduce my hot girlfriend to everyone and then we can head out," he says as he waves me over the threshold. I like how the word girlfriend feels on me and am just as eager to use the word boyfriend. If anyone would have told me a year ago that Logan Swensen was going to be my boyfriend and that I was going to be crazily obsessed with him I would have thought they were delusional.