Moaning, she replied, “I love you too, Logan.”
Cori rolled overand found herself alone in the bed. She could hear plates clanking in the kitchen and wished she was dreaming, but if she was, he’d have shown up naked, bringing her a cup of coffee.
She smiled and stretched out. Her body was worn out in all the right places. Tempting as it was to stay in bed, there was no way she’d allow him to clean her dishes. Getting up, she wrapped the bed sheet around herself and headed out to check what Logan was doing.
As she suspected, he was standing at her sink washing the plates from last night’s attempted dinner. Unfortunately, he’d also found time to shower and dress. She wasn’t giving up hope that he was coming back to bed. I’m sure I can think of something he’d like.
“Good morning.”
He turned to her and gave her a dashing grin that melted her heart. “Morning, sweetheart. Coffee’s hot if you want a cup.”
Cori walked over and poured herself a cup. She took a sip and almost spit it out.
“I should’ve warned you that I’ve never made coffee in one of these machines.”
She laughed because it was a regular four-cup pot, nothing fancy. “Well it’s a bit... strong.” Thick like mud and tastes like it could put hair on my chest.
He took the cup from her and poured the contents in the sink. “I’ll go grab us some in a few minutes.”
“Or you can let me make a fresh pot.” She took the rest of the coffee in the pot and poured it down the drain. Then she opened the coffeemaker and found he’d filled the filter to the top with the coffee grounds. No wonder it tastes like crap. “Let me show you how I do it. Just in case you ever need to do it again.”
Logan didn’t say anything and actually watched as though he wanted to learn.
“Nice.”
“What’s so nice about it? It’s just coffee.”
Logan chuckled. “No, it’s the view from here as the sheet slipped down and one breast peeked out.”
She looked down and laughed. Hmm. It hadn’t been her expertise that had his attention. Men. Tucking the sheet back in place she said, “Keep it up, wise guy, and you’re not getting any coffee.”
He pulled her in his arms and said, “I’m sure I can bribe you.”
Cori slapped his arm playfully. “I know you can.”
She hoped this would continue, but Logan pulled out the papers he’d given her last night. “Cori, I know you didn’t want to read this last night, but you need to now.”
“Logan, I meant what I said. I don’t want to live in the past any longer.”
“I understand exactly how you feel, but the only way for me to get past it is to face it head-on. Not reading it doesn’t change it. Doing so gives it power. Don’t let it own you anymore.”
“Logan, I’m afraid of what it says.”
He reached out, took her hand, and placed the papers in it. “I’m right here with you. There’s nothing to be afraid of. James is dead and can’t hurt you. This is just information, facts of how and why. Read it then destroy it if you want, but you can’t run from it. If you try, you’ll always wonder, and it will eventually consume you.”
Again.She couldn’t let that happen. She was finally truly happy.
“Cori, you once told me to trust and believe. Now I’m asking you to do the same.”
She nodded and went to sit at the table. She opened the stack of papers and read through each one. They were filled with information she’d never known. Her grandpa wasn’t killed over greed like she’d thought. It was jealousy and hatred. “Is this right?”
“Yes. James killed Joe because he had what my father never would. Peace and happiness and a loving family.”
Cori looked at the papers then got up, opened the trash can, and tossed them inside. It had been a long time, but now she could let it go. Grandpa Joe was at peace when he was alive and she knew he was now too. James, on the other hand, was probably just a miserable as he’d always been. Maybe even more so.
“Thank you, Logan. You were right. I needed to know.”
“Don’t get used to me being right. I’m new to this relationship stuff. There’s a good possibility I’m going to screw it up several times before I get it right.”
Cori walked over and said, “All you have to know is our love is stronger than any obstacle we may face.” She pulled the sheet loose and added, “And if you need me to, I’ll prove it right now.”
When he pulled her into his arms, all she could see was their future, and it was a happy one.