“How’re Quinn and Hilary?” I asked when we pulled out onto the road.
“Incredible.” He grinned to himself. “She’s feeling good and he sleeps all the time, so she naps with him. But everyone says to enjoy it while we can.”
“Yeah, heard that sleeping part doesn’t last long,” I said, blowing out a short laugh. “Is he waking up a lot at night?”
“I guess. But I’m a night person, so it’s perfect for me.”
We rounded a few corners and took a turn opposite from the one leading to the main airport one town over.
“Think you missed the road,” I said, pointing.
“Airport’s this way.” He didn’t look fazed.
I kept it light, despite my confusion. “Pretty sure it’s not.”
A call came through on Caleb’s cell sitting on the dashboard. Logan’s name appeared on the display.
Caleb answered, holding the phone up to his ear.
“Hey. Yup, on her way. You really want me to answer that?” Caleb laughed, then peered over at me for a moment before speaking again. “Right, well, she does. Yeah.”
“She does what?” I demanded.
Caleb ignored me, speaking into the phone. “You got it. Later.”
When he returned the phone to the dashboard, I waited impatiently.
“She does what?” I repeated.
He pulled off down a road I’d never taken and smiled. “Looks good. Think he’s worried about ya.”
“Oh. Well, I’m fine.”
“Right,” was all he said as we stopped in front of a large gate.
“Where are we?”
He didn’t need to answer, as a moment later we were entering a small, private airspace.
“Welcome to Harmony’s hidden gem.”
My smile was so massive my cheeks stung as I realized I was about to enjoy my trip on a private plane. If only Logan was there to give me the full experience.
“He’ll be waiting for you when you land,” were Caleb’s last words before I boarded.
Caleb was absolutely correct. The moment I touched down a few hours later, Logan was there on the tarmac, looking gorgeous in black suit pants and an untucked white dress shirt, his thick brown hair mussed. Smiling widely, I treaded slowly down the plane steps.
“Hello, sweetheart.” He helped me with the final steps, taking me into his arms and greeting me with a kiss. “You miss me?”
I just laughed, basking in the feeling of his touch after missing it so much. “So, where are we?”
“Vegas.”
My body shuddered. Did he really plan for us to elope? We couldn’t. My mother would miss out, and Hilary couldn’t travel with a newborn…and was he going to fly his family and Oliver out, too?
I rubbed my suddenly throbbing temple.
Logan spoke quietly to the pilot, oblivious to my sudden unease. “Come on.” He grabbed my bag from an attendant a moment later. “Let’s get you to the hotel and settled in. Good flight?”
“Not bad,” I tried to tease despite my wavering smile, following his lead to the waiting car.
We barely spoke in the car, soaking up the silence in each other’s arms. And when we arrived at the hotel, the remainder of my concerns disappeared as I marveled at the sight before me.
The lobby was grand and regal, keeping me in awe during the entire walk to the elevator that carried us to the top floor. And when he opened the door to the penthouse suite he’d gotten us, I lost my breath.
The first area was a massive living room, with two cream-colored couches and a massive crystal chandelier hanging above. The stunning corner fireplace added to the allure created by the antique fixtures.
Logan set my bag down and took my hand. He led me through the room, past the bathroom—where I caught a glimpse of a large clawfoot tub—to a bedroom fit for royalty. In the center was a king-sized bed with luxe white sheets that I instantly leapt into.
I heard his chuckle and turned to face him, scooting toward the end of the bed to be near him. I peeked up through my lashes and bit my lip. Anxious and unsure of our plans, I pulled him down with me, deciding a discussion could wait until after we’d had a proper greeting.
We spent most of the day in bed, hours passing in unadulterated bliss with no worries, stress, or fears distracting us. Everything was perfect until the sun went down and the bright neon lights of Vegas highlighted our room.
As sweet as it was for him to bring me there, I wasn’t the eloping kind of girl. I wanted my family and friends surrounding me, in a place I loved, to begin the journey of building new memories on top of old, precious ones.
So it was time to talk.
I drew in a long breath and looked down at Logan. His head was between my thighs, tongue tracing the outer lips of one of the many parts of me he already owned.
“Honey, I was thinking…” I started just as his tongue parted my lips, slipping through my center in a deliberately slow movement that sent my back arching off the mattress.
“Mm-hmm?” he groaned, stroking back down before delving deep inside me with his tongue.
My head slammed down onto the pillow, my brain suddenly on the fritz. Logan gripped my ass with one hand, using the other to drive two fingers deep inside my walls as his mouth centered over my clit.
I was already four orgasms in, and another was coming fast. My hands reached for his head, fingers weaving through his hair, holding him hostage while my hips followed the rhythm he set.
“Give it to me, sweetheart,” he growled, stretching me wider with a third finger, enabling my ultimate undoing.
I came hard, shouting my plea for him to go faster, until the spasms subsided and my sweat-covered body sank into the bed, tingling in my afterglow.
Logan pressed a quick kiss to my overly sensitive bud before climbing up my body and lying on his side next to me. He propped his head up on one hand, grinning.
“Fucking beautiful.”
“Back at ya,” I giggled, the weight of my eyelids unbearable. And before I could stop, I was fast asleep.
I woke the next morning to the sound of the door closing. There were voices—Logan’s and a man’s I didn’t recognize—which sent me rushing out of bed, scouring the floor for my dress from yesterday. Who was here, in our suite?
My dress was halfway over my head when Logan appeared. “Mind staying like that a while longer?”
I dropped it over my body, covering myself. “Funny,” I replied, rolling my eyes. “Who’s here?”
“Room service. I forgot to feed you real food yesterday.”
I strutted toward him, placing my hand on his cock. “This was all I needed.”
As I shimmied past, I heard his growl right before he slapped my ass.
“Eat—now. No time for playing today.”
I stopped in front of the table spread of every fruit, muffin, and other breakfast delight I loved. “Big plans?” After I tossed a grape into my mouth, I realized big plans could mean discussion time.
Logan was fully dressed but casually, in jeans and a faded grey tee that clung to his rippled chest.
“Actually, yeah.” He looked almost worried when he held out a chair for me to sit. He then took the one next to me, moving it closer.
“You’re probably wondering why Vegas.”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Cassandra, I know you’ve been stressed with worrying about Hilary and Quinn, and adding our wedding in such a rush was a lot to ask. I never want to push you, and I hate seeing you upset. I’d give anything to take that away.”
“I can’t elope!” I blurted out.
He reared back, his eyebrows knitting together. “What?”
With a deep sigh, I explained. “I’m so sorry. It was incredibly sweet that you flew me out here, and on a private plane—that had to cost a fortune—but I want a real wedding, with our families there. I don’t want you to think I’m ungrateful.”
“Cassandra…”
“Because I’m not.” Tears welled up
in my eyes as I continued to ramble. “I should’ve said something before the flight…saved you the money. I didn’t mean to lead you on that I’d be okay with—”
“Sweetheart—”
“I just always dreamed of my wedding in Harmony, and—”
His harsh kiss shut me up for good, leaving me breathless when he pulled away. He cradled my head in his palms and said, “I didn’t bring you here to elope. I know you’re not that kind of girl. You deserve your dream wedding, and I’ll give you nothing less.” He kissed me again, then released his hold.
“Then why are we here?”
His gaze slid down to the table for a moment before he met my eyes again and answered. “I want to take you someplace, but I need you to trust me. And know that whatever you decide, I’ll support.” He took my hands in his. “Anything you need.”
I knew then we weren’t there for a leisure vacation, but I had no idea exactly what I was in for, either. The only thing I was certain of was that I did trust him, and would let him take me anywhere.
Chapter 12
“What you have on is fine,” Logan said with a laugh, reading my thoughts as I stood in front of the long mirror. “Let’s go.” He pulled me against him, placing a gentle kiss on my lips and giving my shoulders an encouraging rub.
There was a car waiting for us in front of the hotel. It had no driver, despite the fact that the heavily tinted windows and sleek black design seemed more car service than rental. With nervous trepidation, I climbed in past the open passenger-side door Logan held for me and decided to try and at least enjoy the drive.
Though it still gave a memorable-enough view of the Vegas desert to appreciate, said drive was shorter than I’d expected as Logan pulled off the main road we’d been traveling along to enter a nice, middle-class subdivision. The houses were no more than a decade or two old, and all complete with the same tiny, perfectly manicured patches of lawn. I sat back in my seat, fully relaxed, and was wondering what it’d be like to live in such a hot place when the car began to slow down further.
Apparently having found whatever he was looking for, Logan parked along the curb in front of a beautiful two-story home. More puzzled than ever, I glanced around, searching for any clue about our location. I suddenly wished breakfast had included a mimosa, because if he was about to reveal a secret lovechild, I was nowhere near prepared.
Logan was eerily quiet, just holding my hand and rubbing his thumb along my knuckles.
“Logan, w…what are we doing?”
“This side, sweetheart.” He pointed out his window at the house across the street, which was much smaller but just as nice. “Just wait, and you’ll see.”
And finally, I did see, icy realization moving over me in an unsettling cloak. There, on the opposite side of the road, a man worked in front of his house, unloading rocks from the back of his truck for the cactus/flower bed.
But it wasn’t just any man. It was my father.
“How? W-why?” I stammered, the words choking me.
Logan stared at me, his next words soft and gentle. “To give you the upper hand—the option.”
I couldn’t properly process what I was seeing. My eyes were wide, and sharp, painful tears filled them. Logan had somehow managed to steal away and track down my father—the man who’d walked away from my mother and me so many years ago…with my babysitter.
“What…” I wiped my escaping tears. “What do you expect me to do?” I whispered, terrified of his answer.
“Nothing. Anything. Whatever you want, sweetheart.” He maneuvered in his seat to better look at me, giving me his full attention. “You have a chance, if you want to take it, to get answers. You don’t have to wonder; the option is yours. When we start our lives together, I want you looking forward, not back.”
His intentions were good—thoughtful and selfless—but…
“Do…should I…go talk to him?”
He leaned in, pulling my gaze from my father to him.
“Only if that’s what you want to do. And I’ll sit right here, or stand right beside you. Again, this is your decision.”
I watched my father, Martin, lift the bottom of his Hawaiian shirt to wipe sweat from his face before heaving another rock onto one shoulder. It was all very domestic—the complete opposite of how I remembered him. He was a man taking care of his home…a home he possibly lived in with a family. Or maybe he was a bachelor. Maybe the babysitter ran off on him, just like he’d done to us.
But after one more look around, the analytical part of my brain kicked in to tell me that answer. You don’t live in a neighborhood full of bicycles and lawn gnomes if you’re a middle-aged single man.
Moments later, my assumption was confirmed when Nina, my old babysitter—the woman who’d tempted him away from his original family, and was still just as pretty as she was at 18—walked outside to hand him a large cup.
“That’s Nina,” I explained to Logan. “Guess there’s something to be said for the fact that they’re still together.”
“How’s that?”
“Well, at least he didn’t leave us for some passing whimsy. Seems she really is who he was meant to be with.” It wasn’t much, but it did make me feel better.
“Oh, God,” I said suddenly, ducking down in my seat. “Were they waving?” My stomach rolled. “Can they see us? Get down!” I whispered.
Logan chuckled. “They wouldn’t recognize me, and the windows are too dark to see us anyway, sweetheart.”
“Right,” I said quietly, releasing a long breath.
“You know you don’t need to whisper, right?”
I swatted his chest.
“Besides, they weren’t waving at us,” Logan added, staring out the window again. “Have a look.”
Slowly, I sat back up in my seat and took in the Hallmark-card scene in front of me. They were waving at two boys who were around ten or eleven years old and looked like twins, walking down the sidewalk from a neighbor’s house. The way Nina pulled them in for hugs and Martin laughed at something they said left no doubt who they were.
Apparently, I had a set of twin half-brothers. But for some reason, my heart shifted right then and there. Watching it all unfold, I didn’t pity myself. Everything happened for a reason. My mother found a man she loved, George, and they’d be married next. I was sure of it. My father was just that, a father. He was no longer my dad, because his new family needed him more.
I leaned over and rested my head on Logan’s shoulder, watching my father as I thought about his world and what he’d created. I was happy enough for him, because I had a world of my own that I loved and wouldn’t change for anything.
I had my own little boy, Oliver, whom I wanted to be waiting to greet every day. I had the house, lawn, and family I wanted to take care of. I already had the only people I needed. And before I knew it was happening, that empty place my father had left in my heart closed, burying the snapshot of his new life deep inside.
“Sweetheart?” Logan squeezed my hand, gathering me from my thoughts. “What do you want to do?”
With my mind made up and heart content, I cupped both his stubble-covered cheeks in my hands.
“Thank you for giving me this, but it’s all I needed. You and Oliver are my life now, and I couldn’t be happier.”
“You sure?”
“Absolutely.” I nodded. “Take me home, Logan.”
Chapter 13
I stood upstairs in my wedding gown that Saturday afternoon, looking out the window at the very spot on my grandparents’ land where we’d be getting married, right in front of the treehouse. I couldn’t help but think how it was the exact same view Logan had all those times I’d turned to catch him watching me. The weight of his stare had been undeniable.
I hadn’t seen him yet that day; he had insisted on all the traditions of a wedding, knowing how much it meant to me, and so had spent the night before in the room above Haven. And I knew we wouldn’t be seeing each other until I walked down the aisle and my mot
her gave me away to him.
Guests were arriving and being greeted by both Blythe and Logan’s father, Edward. From what Julia had explained, Edward had made a check out to Oliver’s college fund when Logan refused his financial help with the wedding.
Logan was extremely blessed to have such amazing parents. Regardless of whether they were married, they loved their children. And after all Blythe and Julia had done for me, a girls’ day at the spa would be my treat to them soon. Though Julia was busy being in college, she’d managed to plan, rearrange, and navigate us all through Quinn being born early (not to mention as a boy instead of a girl), as well as two last-minute weddings. She was remarkable, and I couldn’t have been happier that she’d be my sister-in-law soon.
I just wished my soon-to-be brother-in-law, Jax, would’ve made an appearance. For Logan.
Luckily, Oliver timed his entrance perfectly to save me from dwelling on the melancholy thought for too long. He ran into the room, excited and yelling.
“Cassie, picture time!” He paused. “Wow,” he breathed out, his eyes wide. “You look pretty. Really pretty.”
“Why, thank you,” I giggled, so in love with the little gentleman.
“Let’s go! We gotta take pictures.”
“Oliver, honey?”
My mom entered the room, looking beautiful in her cream lace pantsuit. She wasn’t the dress-wearing type, but had managed to fancy herself up just for me. “Why don’t you run down and tell Hilary and Julia we’ll be there in a minute?”
Oliver agreed easily and scampered off, leaving my mother and me alone.
“You look beautiful, Cassandra,” my mom said, already tearing up as she sat beside me on the small sofa.
“Thank you for being here and for supporting me more than anyone else.”
“That’s my job. And there’s never been an easier one, because you’ve always been the sweetest girl.” She took my hand. “I love you, and I couldn’t be prouder. Logan’s a good man, and I already consider Oliver my first grandchild. Love that boy to pieces. Anything you guys ever need, I’m here.”