25. Logan
logan
It was Tuesday night, and my mom had Luella for the night so I could go and join the guys for dart league.
This was something that CT and I started messing around with when he and my cousin weren’t together.
It wasn’t until recently that I had found out exactly why they’d broken up in the first place, and I understood it, but CT has been one of my best friends since we were kids, and even though they hadn’t been together, I couldn’t throw that friendship away.
Dani never would have let me either.
Dani wouldn’t throw CT under the bus, and CT was a closed-lip man who gave me nothing to go off.
It made me respect him while still wanting to knock his lights out half the time.
“Logan! There’s your girl!” Stetson yells from clear across the dart area, loudly announcing what I already know, which is that Thea is walking over to us.
I clocked her the moment I walked into the bar, desperate for another taste of her after last night. Damn, my kid had the worst timing.
She stops in front of me, her thumbs nervously tucked into her back pockets, looking like the picture of innocence. That vibe she gave off was just that—a vibe. I have a good feeling she’s a lot less innocent than she lets on.
I reach for her instantly, like it’s the natural reaction when she’s in front of me, which it is. My fingers grasp the fabric on the front of her shirt, and I tug her closer, bending down and pressing my lips against her soft ones.
She startles slightly before settling into me, her hand coming to rest on my shoulder. My hat semi-covers us from my friends—not nearly enough for what I’d love to do to her right now.
I pull away, only leaning back in once to peck her lips softly. “Hey,” I say to her, waiting patiently with a smile on my lips for her eyes to finally open.
A blush blooms over her cheeks, and she peeks around the bar, probably wondering who caught that just now. I hope they all saw it. I hope they all look on with envy and disappointment that I was the man who got to march up to this woman and take her lips with my own.
The urge to suggest we bail right now and go to my house is strong, but I resist.
“Um, hey, I just wanted to tell you there’s a beer special tonight.” Her words are rushed, and as her gaze hits mine, I smile at the nerves that are clearly resting just below the surface.
Our last night together had been the farthest we’d gone, and I was feeling almost desperate to take it farther, but I wasn’t sure what she was ready for. I don’t know if she wants to take that leap just yet, and in my years, I’ve learned the beautiful art of patience .
It was torture.
“Really? What kind of special is that?” My left hand rests on her hip, tugging her closer to me.
Thea licks her lips and glances at my friends and back at me.
“Buy one, get one on pitchers. We got…” Her hands come up between us, and her gaze goes to them.
I can tell she keeps glancing at my shirt and back to her hands like she wants to reach out and grab me.
I wish she would. “We ended up with two extra kegs by accident.”
“Lucky for us.”
“Definitely.” She nods at me and starts to back away, but I grip her hip tighter.
“You’re not leaving already, are you?” I lean in, lowering my voice and watching as her eyes soften in my presence. The worry about being in front of everyone, about the town seeing us together, soothes away.
I knew going into something with her that she didn’t necessarily care about the town knowing that we were together, it was for her ex, for whoever was watching her and reporting back. And, in a financial aspect, keeping her assets safe from anyone who would come after her for money.
“I have to get back to work.”
Her retort is weak, and I smile at her, feeling her hand move its way up my chest and resting right over my heart. “Can’t you play a round or two?”
She finally smirks back at me, that spark of fire that’s been missing for a while coming alive behind her eyes again. “Why do I feel like you’re not talking about darts?”
I lean down, my lips an inch from hers. “You’re learning quick.”
Without warning, her lips hit mine in a moment of heat before she pulls herself away, using the surprise of the kiss to get away from me.
She turns halfway, giving me a smile over her shoulder before resuming her duties behind the bar.
“Damn, you’re so screwed.” I hear my brother say from beside me, and there was no denying the truth.
We play a few rounds, soaking up the time with friends, good beer, good music provided by Thea’s younger sister Juniper, who was pretty damn good, and a sight for me, which was watching Thea work.
She worked like a machine that had some semblance of grace woven into it. Her movements were quick, sure, and smooth. I found myself staring more than I should have and being brought back into conversation and the game when someone had to yell out my name.
“So that’s a pretty sure thing, huh?” Dani asks, taking a pull of her beer and putting to bed some of the rumors our family had about why they wanted to have their wedding so fast.
“What’s a sure thing?” I ask, maintaining a casual voice and trying not to allow my joy to be too obvious.
She rolls her eyes at me. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
“It’s new.”
My cousin hums, our attention straying to CT’s turn at the dart board. “Is she coming to the wedding?”
“You invited her.”
“You know what I mean. Is she coming to the wedding with you?”
“She and her sisters are coming. They’re even closing the bar for a few hours to come.”
“Oh good, I was worried?— ”
Her hesitation makes me stop and look over at her, but when I see her furrowed brow and worried eyes, they’re not on CT anymore but on something behind me. I turn, looking for whatever she sees, and when I do, my blood boils.
“That doesn’t look friendly.”
Dani’s words are barely out of her mouth before I’m stalking across the bar. A man who towers over Thea is grabbing her arm, pulling her closer, and when I catch sight of her face, there’s no anger toward a disgruntled customer but absolute terror written across her face.
When I’m within reach, I grasp his shoulder and turn him. My action catches him by surprise, and he lets Thea go.
I reach out my hand, and she interlaces her fingers with mine while I stare down the dickhead in front of me. He’s taller than me by a few inches, there’s an ugly tattoo scrawled on his face, and when he sees me, putting together what just happened, he gives me a nasty smile.
“Well, if it isn’t a real-life cowboy.”
Thea’s hand grasps my shirt at my back, and I feel better knowing she’s right there. Out of the corner of my eye, I see my brother and CT casually coming closer.
“Didn’t your mama ever tell you we don’t put your hands on ladies?”
He stares for a moment before cackling loudly. “Lady? I don’t see any ladies in this bar.”
The bar is packed tonight, seeing two feet in front of you is nearly impossible, and with the music, it would be impossible to overhear our words. Still, I lean closer, drawing myself up closer to get in his face.
“That’s my wife you just touched. ”
The words are meaningful enough that for a moment, the guy looks surprised.
“Wow. You conned another sucker into your bed, Thea?”
“Just go, Bones, I don’t have anything to do with Eric anymore.”
“Oh, see.” He winks at me, and my hands curl into fists. The only reason I haven’t laid him out yet is because I don’t want to make a scene for Thea to have to explain away when it’s over. “That’s where you’re wrong. The way he sees it, you owe him.”
Thea steps around me, her face finally flashing with anger. “Owe him?”
“You’re the reason he was put behind bars…or did you not rat him out?”
Thea’s skin pales under the bar lights. “He murdered someone.”
“We don’t rat.” The guy pats his fist to his chest, and I notice for the first time that he’s wearing colors, and his cut is from a motorcycle charter where Thea used to live. I glance around, wondering if the local charter has any members here.
If they saw someone from out of town wearing his colors here without permission, that would cause problems.
“When you married Bookie, you became his ol’ lady, which means that your word was your bond. Anything you see, you keep your mouth shut about.”
“Sounds to me like you just admitted he did it.”
He smirks over at me. “I’m not talking to you.”
Without warning, he reaches to move past me and roughly latches onto Thea’s wrist.
I don’t think, I act.
My right arm cocks back, aware of Thea’s proximity, and rams into the guy’s nose, drawing blood and most definitely breaking bones. I wait for him to retaliate, but he doesn’t, holding his nose and wailing like I just cut his arm off.
I turn, nodding at my boys who act as security, getting him out of the bar and grabbing Thea and hauling her close to me, and leave the scene behind.
I don’t stop until we’re back behind the bar, locked away in her office. I didn’t once see her sisters out there. They were so busy with the crowd that they missed everything.
Thea will be happy about that.
“Are you okay?” I turn her to face me, my eyes and hands running over her skin and her arms, checking for anything out of place. When I reach her wrist, she hisses in pain.
“He yanked a little too hard.”
I grit my teeth as I inspect her wrist. “I should’ve hit him harder.
She gives me a halfhearted smile. “I’m pretty sure you broke his nose.”
“Good,” I say, looking around the office. “Where’s your first aid kit?”
She points with her good hand, and I walk over, digging through it before I find a breakable ice bag.
“No, it’s okay, don’t waste it.”
I give her a look, and she sighs. “I’ll buy you more.”
Thea’s quiet as I lay it against her skin, willing it to rub away the faint red marks that asshole gave her.
“You called me your wife.”
Her comment makes me smile, and I look up at her. Her expression tells me she’s amused, but her eyes are tired. “Slipped.”
“Someone could have heard you.”
I’m quiet for a moment, concentrating on holding her wrist gently. “Would that have bothered you? I mean, technically, you proposed to me in this very bar.”
She bites her lip, her brown hair falling into her face, and I take my free hand to push it out of the way.
“I thought we weren’t going to tell anyone.”
“What?” I start, amused. “That I married you in order to keep you safe? That we transferred everything to my name and changed your name to Cash so they couldn’t find you?”
“Logan…”
“Are you ashamed of me, Thea?” I ask, humor clear in my tone.
Her eyes meet mine, and for a moment, the humor in the room disappears, and all I can see is her. Her big brown eyes, her long brown hair that she keeps saying she wants to chop off, the subtle pink that tinges her cheeks and matches her full, gorgeous lips.
“Never.”
Her whispered answer lets me drop all thought out of my head, and I wrap my hand around the back of her head, pulling her to me, and the ice bag drops to the floor with a quiet thud.
Her lips meet mine in a frenzy of lust and something more. Something that tells me there is more to this than just an act, than some show for my kid, for the town, and for the assholes who want to do her harm.
Just the thought of them makes my need to claim her even greater, and I slip my tongue into her mouth, tasting the mint on hers.
Her hips come up to meet mine, and I push her, encouraging her to step back until her legs hit the edge of her desk.
With the leverage, she’s able to wrap her legs around my waist, seating herself comfortably against my erection, and I groan at the contact, tearing my lips from hers and moving down over her jaw and to her neck.
Her hands reach up to my hat, and she takes it off. I pull off her and give her a heated stare.
“Put it on,” I demand.
Her eyes widen, and she looks at the hat in her hand. “Why?”
“Because.” I lean forward, unable to help myself and press a tight, firm kiss to her lips. “Once you put my hat on, you’re mine.”
She looks to the hat again and back to me. Her eyes are intense, and she swallows. Then, she tucks my hat onto her head and says, “I’m already yours.”
Fuck, that sounds good.
I smile at the sight of her, my hat on her head and her skin red with the faint trace of my lips and beard running over her. “Damn straight, Mrs. Cash.”
Before she can contradict me, because I know she’ll try no matter how correct I am, I take her mouth with my own again, my hands running over the sides of her body.
When my hands hit the skin under her shirt, she shivers and grabs at them.
“Logan.”
I stop all movement, anything I do with her will be pleasurable for the both of us. If she tells me she’s not ready, then I respect that.
“Yeah?” I ask, tipping my hat up on her head so I can see her face.
“I want to be with you,” she starts. “But not here, not on this desk at the back of my bar. ”
I’m already nodding, berating myself for not being patient. “Right, of course.”
“I’m sorry.”
I look back at her and see the worry simmering in her eyes. Worry that I’ll hurt her?
Because that could never happen.
“Don’t ever apologize.” I lean forward, taking her lips in a long, languid kiss. “Ever.”
Thea looks up at me, and that worry turns to the trust I’ve been trying so hard to build.
I can’t break it now.