Chapter Fifteen
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Logan had expected someone to say something at brunch, but no one did. There was one quick mention of Uncle Shaun and Uncle Bennett not being there, but other than that it probably was the best brunch he’d ever attended with the family.
As they were saying their goodbyes, Morgan grabbed hold of his arm and ushered him into the other room. She apologized for prattling on with Cori the day before. Logan assured her that there was no issue at all. He wished that were the case. He still hadn’t let the family know what she knew. If they had known, brunch would’ve been much different. And when Bennett returns and finds out Cori knows, he’ll definitely tell them.
He had to be proactive. Which one would flip the most was hard to guess. Shaun was still going to be on his high from meeting his mother. Zoey had other things she was focused on. Alex was a writer, so in some ways they actually might connect. Dean and Brice were an entirely different story. They were less forgiving. The only thing that kept them from being complete assholes was the women they married. I wonder if marriage would change me too?
That wasn’t something he’d ever considered. As his family got married, he assumed it wasn’t for him. He was married to his work. Logan never needed or wanted anything more. That changed once he met Cori. He wasn’t sure he wanted marriage, but he knew for the first time in his life it wasn’t out of the picture.
He turned to her as he drove and noticed she’d fallen asleep. Although they’d dozed last night, it had been restless and uncomfortable, to say the least. The only plus was having her in his arms. Today his back ached, and he had a kink in his neck that wouldn’t go away. Dean was kind enough to have made mention that he was walking like an old man. Part of him agreed. It had to be more than an uncomfortable position that was doing him in. Most likely the extreme level of stress.
Logan knew stress was a killer. He didn’t care. Push hard and drive even harder without looking back. Right now he wasn’t thinking of the past, only of his future. Was the beautiful angel sleeping in the passenger seat just that? Was all this pain simply to bring him to this place and time?
If James hadn’t been such an ass, she never would’ve come looking for a story. Was fate at hand? He’d always considered it to be a cruel joke. Holding her last night, he felt something he never had in his entire life. Peace.
The ugly Henderson secret was out, and she’d looked at him with compassion and understanding... and unless he was wrong, with love. How she could after everything they talked about blew his mind. It reaffirmed what a special woman she was. Only someone like her could love someone like me.
Of course, he hadn’t told her what he’d found. Hell, he hadn’t even mentioned he went to California. He wished he didn’t have to open up that wound. Logan had hoped it was anyone but a Henderson who’d killed her grandfather. James Henderson, will you ever cease to cause us pain? Will we ever uncover everything you did? So much of him hoped they never did.
He needed to tell her, but before he did, Logan needed more information and that meant sitting down with Brice. This had to be addressed by the family before anyone else. Not because he didn’t love Cori, but there were missing pieces, and Logan needed them filled in. Like why so much hate? What happened?
Logan had been tempted to take her to his place, but doing so without asking her first was presumptuous. Instead he woke her when they arrived back at her apartment.
Softly he said, “Sweetheart, you’re home.”
She stirred and made a cute purring sound but didn’t wake. He hated to disturb her, but carrying her through the halls and up to her apartment was going to bring some unwanted attention their way. Leaning over, he placed a gentle kiss on her lips. That at least got a moan out of her.
When he kissed her a second time, he felt her tongue lick his lips. Logan wasn’t so sure she was sleeping after all. Pulling back, he felt her arm reach up and wrap around his neck. “Not yet. I’m enjoying this dream.”
“Then may I suggest we go into your apartment where we can finish it properly?”
Her eyes flew open, and once again they were dark blue and filled with desire. “Promise?” she asked seductively.
Logan growled, “Keep looking at me like that and I might change my mind about not finishing here.”
She blushed and smiled. “Although tempting, I do like my apartment, and I’m sure my landlord will have some issues with—”
“Me making love to you in front of the building?” Logan said as he kissed her neck.
Although she protested, she leaned her head back offering herself to him. If he weren’t a gentleman, he’d have continued. “I think we better go now, or we might not make it inside.”
He didn’t wait for her response. Instead, he opened his door and hurried around the car to get her door.
They rushed upstairs to her apartment, and he watched as she struggled with the keys to her door. She dropped them, and when she bent in front of him to retrieve them, he felt his cock jump in anticipation. Fuck.
When she stood, he grabbed the keys from her and unlocked the door. His frustration was becoming a raging need. He’d wanted her long before now, and every second he needed to wait was driving him further into a lust-filled haze.
Logan reached out to her as he kicked the door shut. Hungrily, he claimed her lips as they fell back against the wall. A picture knocked loose and crashed to the floor. They pulled apart briefly as he asked, “Are you okay?”
He looked down and could see broken glass, but she nodded. “I will be if you kiss me again.”
Logan lifted her into his arms and carried her away from the shards of glass. “I’m sorry about the picture.”
Cori smiled as he carried her and said, “I don’t care if you break my bed, just don’t stop next time.”
He chuckled as they entered her bedroom. “Is that a challenge?”