He scoops her into his arms and carries her inside his house, resting her on the corner of his couch.
“So, tell me everything. What happened?”
“Oh, Logan, they were perfect. They’ve been searching for me for twenty years! Apparently, my mother sent them a letter when I was four, telling them she had put me up for adoption. Of course, that wasn’t true, but they’ve contacted every agency in the country looking for me. Can you imagine? Searching for a child you love with all your heart but never met. And, Logan, there is so much love in that house.” Tears stream freely down her cheeks, her eyes sparkling with joy. “And I have siblings! I am so excited I can’t even think straight. Oh, they invited us to dinner next Sunday at Angie’s so I can meet everyone. Would you come with me? I’m afraid I may chicken out if I don’t have someone there.”
Logan rests his hand on her thigh and smiles.
“I’d love to meet your family, Avery.”
His phone rings from its place on the kitchen counter and he rushes over to answer, noticing it is the general hospital in Charlotte. Logan volunteers there if they are short staffed when an emergency arises and this ringtone signifies an emergency.
“Hello, this is Dr. Chamberlin.”
“Yes, Doctor, would you be able to come in for the next week? We know you have your own practice, but we are out four emergency physicians that were part of a missionary trip. Apparently the airport was targeted by a militia group and the U.S. won’t be able to evacuate them for a few days.”
“Jesus Christ, of course, I’ll help,” Logan says before turning to look at Avery, worry etched on her face. “I need to call my office and rearrange some appointments, but I can be there tomorrow morning.”
“Thank you so much. We have an emergency pediatrician coming in from Raleigh so you will only need to work in general medicine. We really appreciate your help.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Logan ends the call and walks back over to the living room where Avery has curled up on the couch with a pillow squeezed in her lap.
“So it seems I’m going to be gone most of this week, probably until Saturday.”
“I heard. It sounds like they definitely need help.”
“Stay with me tonight?”
“You sure you don’t need to rest? You’re going to have a long week.”
He yanks the pillow from her grasp and wraps his hands around her ankles, tugging her toward him on the couch. The quick movement causes her to recline her body along the cushions. Logan lays his body over her, using his arms to hover above her face.
“Rest is overrated,” he whispers before he swoops in for a kiss.
It doesn’t take long for Avery to respond and she quickly wraps her arms and legs around his body, anchoring him close to her.
Logan breaks away momentarily and questions, “Are you sore?”
She shakes her head and tilts her head forward to capture his lips again. Logan stands from the couch, placing his hands under her thighs and carries her to his bedroom, never giving her a chance to break their connection. He sets her on the bed and begins peeling away her clothes.
“Get ready, sweetheart. We have one night for me to get a week's fill of you.”
While Logan packs the next morning, Avery lies across his bed wearing only his t-shirt. It’s a vision so beautiful he instantly whips out his phone to take a picture.
“Logan!”
“Sorry, babe, but you looked all beautifully seductive lying like that. I needed to capture the moment. Plus, it gives me a visual for when I’m gone.”
She feigns a frown and eye-roll when she says, “Great.”
He finishes packing, zips up his duffle bag and joins her on his bed, bringing her into his embrace.
“So I was thinking….maybe you could stay here while I was away?”
Avery moves her head from the spot she had claimed on his chest and gazes down at him.
“Why?”