Chapter 14
CHAPTER
FOURTEEN
LOGAN
Tessa is quiet on the drive to my condo. She stares out the window with her arms wrapped around herself.
There were several options for places she could stay, but when it came down to it, I knew I wouldn’t rest easy unless I could see her with my own eyes and know she was safe. At my place, she will be. I won’t let anything happen to her.
We park in the underground garage and take the elevator up in silence. The doors open directly into my condo, and I hold my hand out to guide her inside.
“Home sweet home,” I say, trying to lighten the mood.
She steps in slowly, her eyes sweeping over the open-concept space—the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, the modern kitchen with its granite countertops, and the plush sectional sofa.
She hesitates near the door. “You’re not afraid he’s going to look up your address and show up here?”
It’s a valid question. One I’ve already considered.
“I’m hoping he thinks you just ran off,” I tell her honestly.
“I’m hoping he doesn’t suspect Layla or me.
She’s going to play dumb if he asks questions and try to throw him off the scent.
But regardless, I have security coming over tonight, so if he does show up, he won’t get in. ”
She nods, but she doesn’t look reassured.
I offer her a drink, and after a moment’s consideration, she settles on a glass of water.
We head into the living room and take a seat on opposite ends of the couch.
She perches on the edge like she might bolt at any second, while I’m trying to look relaxed even though my entire body is coiled tight.
She takes a small sip of water, then sets the glass down on the coffee table. Her hands are shaking.
“I don’t know if this is a good idea, Logan,” she says finally, shaking her head. “I’m already regretting it.”
“I know,” I say gently. “It’s a scary step, but it needed to be done. No matter when you leave, it’s not going to be easy. We’re going to get a restraining order against him and make sure he stays far away from you.”
She doesn’t look convinced. If anything, she seems more hopeless.
“I don’t think a piece of paper is going to keep him away,” she says quietly, her voice hollow. “The thing about Preston is that he has connections and money, and this God complex where he thinks he can do anything he wants.”
She scoffs softly, bitterly. “And really, he’s been able to do anything he wanted his whole life, so it’s not surprising he feels that way.
His father owns half the real estate in this city.
His money lines the pockets of local law enforcement and politicians.
They control so much.” Her voice falters, cracks.
“I just feel like I’ll never truly be able to get away from him. ”
The defeat in her voice guts me.
“I don’t think that’s true,” I say firmly. “There’s always a way. I know it feels bleak right now, but there is a way, Tessa. I may not own half a city, but I have money and connections too. And more importantly, I have people—a whole team of them—who will make sure you’re protected.”
She looks at me then, really looks at me, and I see the question in her eyes. Why are you doing this?
I don’t have a good answer. Not one that makes sense anyway.
Just then, my smushed-face orange hairball pads into the room. Beatrice spots Tessa immediately, pauses to assess the situation with her typical feline judgment, then walks straight over and rubs her plump body against Tessa’s leg.
A smile breaks across Tessa’s face—the first real one I’ve seen all night. “Hey there, cutie,” she murmurs, reaching down to scratch the top of Beatrice’s neck.
The cat starts purring so loudly I can hear it from across the couch.
I stare, stunned.
“You are so cute,” Tessa says, her voice soft and warm as she scratches under Beatrice’s chin. The purring intensifies.
Beatrice hops up onto the couch and climbs straight into Tessa’s lap, circling once before settling in with a contented sigh.
I can’t help but laugh. “That’s unbelievable.”
Tessa looks from the cat to me, confused. “What is?”
“The fact that she’s letting you pet her or the fact that she came out at all.”
“What do you mean?”
“Normally, when I have company, she hides until they’re gone. She’s only ever liked me.” I lean forward, watching as Beatrice kneads Tessa’s thigh with her paws, purring like a motorboat. “Seriously. She hates everyone.”
“Well,” Tessa says softly, the smile still lingering on her face as she strokes Beatrice’s fur, “that’s just because she’s never met me.”
The genuine warmth in her expression, the way her shoulders have finally relaxed, the softness in her voice—it twists something deep in my chest.
“Yeah,” I say quietly, unable to look away. “I guess so.”
“She’s so cute,” Tessa adds, her fingers gently scratching behind Beatrice’s ears.
“Yeah.” I chuckle. “And she knows it. She’s quite the little diva.”
“As she should be,” Tessa says to Beatrice in that soft, singsong voice people only use when they’re talking to animals. “You’re a queen, aren’t you? Yes, you are.”
Beatrice responds by purring even louder and pressing her head into Tessa’s palm.
I sit back, watching them, and something settles in my chest.
She’s safe.
For tonight, at least, she’s safe.
I clear my throat and shift forward on the couch. “Look,” I say, rubbing the back of my neck, “I know we have a lot to figure out, and we’re not going to figure it all out tonight. But there are a few things I want to make sure you know.”
“Okay.” Tessa glances up from where she’s been absently stroking Beatrice’s fur.
“I know I’ve been flirting with you at the coffee shop,” I continue, meeting her eyes, “but I didn’t bring you here expecting anything from you. And I feel silly even saying that, but I just want to make sure you know.”
She nods, her fingers still moving through the cat’s orange fur. “I know that.”
“You know that?” I lift a brow, genuinely surprised. “I thought you weren’t sure whether you could trust me.”
She lets out a dry chuckle, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly. “Well, I don’t have the best track record when it comes to choosing people I can trust. But I have to admit, when it comes to you, I don’t have many worries.”
“Good.” I lean back, letting out a breath. “Because I’m serious when I say you can trust me. I brought you here simply to keep you safe. I don’t expect anything in return. I just want you to be happy and feel comfortable while we figure out the next steps. Okay?”
“Okay,” she says softly, her attention returning to Beatrice.
The silence that follows is almost comfortable—until the sound of my elevator opening echoes from the back of the condo.
Tessa startles, her entire body going rigid. Beatrice leaps from her lap and disappears down the hall.
“Don’t worry,” I say quickly, holding up a hand. “They’re friends.”
She nods once, her jaw tight, but keeps her gaze trained on the entryway like she’s expecting danger to walk through.
Instead, Penny, Iris, Anna, and Miranda step into the living room. The tension in Tessa’s shoulders doesn’t ease immediately, but Iris moves first, crossing the space with an open, gentle smile.
“Hi, I’m Iris,” she says warmly, extending her hand. “You must be Tessa. It’s so good to meet you.”
Tessa stands slowly, smoothing her hands down her jeans before taking Iris’s hand. “It’s good to meet you too.”
The other women introduce themselves one by one.
A spark of recognition flashes in Tessa’s eyes when she sees Anna—anyone who’s watched a movie in the past couple of years would recognize her as one of the biggest stars of this decade.
But to Anna’s credit, she doesn’t acknowledge it.
She just smiles and offers a warm, “Hey, I’m Anna. ”
I’m so grateful to these women for showing up. I never doubted that they would, but seeing them here fills me with relief.
“Yeah, so if you’re wondering how we’re all connected,” I say to Tessa, gesturing around the room at the women, “Penny and Iris both work for the Crane organization in PR. Penny is married to our goalie, Gunnar, and Iris is married to Cade, our forward, and her brother is Beckett, who’s also one of our forwards.
Anna is engaged to Jaden, one of our defenders, and Miranda is dating Miles. ”
Tessa blinks, clearly trying to process the tangled web of relationships. “That’s... a lot of connections.”
Iris grins with affection. “Yeah, once you’re part of the Crane organization, it kind of becomes your whole identity.”
The girls laugh, the sound warm and genuine.
“We’re like a family,” Anna says.
“But like a good family,” Iris adds pointedly, raising her eyebrows. “The kind that actually shows up for each other.”
“Exactly,” Miranda says, nodding.
Penny catches my eye and gives me a small, knowing smile before turning back to Tessa. “What they’re trying to say is—you’re part of this now too, if you want to be. Logan brought you into this family, and that means you’ve got all of us in your corner.”
Tessa looks around at all of them, her eyes glassy. “Okay.”
“Just know that you’re not alone anymore,” Anna says gently.
We all settle into the living room. Miranda curls up in the armchair by the window. Anna tucks her legs beneath her on the other end of the sectional. Penny claims the chair closest to Tessa, and Iris perches on the arm of the couch beside me.
The conversation starts light. Meaningless. Safe. They ask Tessa questions about the coffee shop, tease her a little about me, and poke fun at my new coffee obsession.
“Well,” Penny says, leaning forward with a knowing smile, “now I see why Sean here has been so obsessed with coffee lately. I just want to make it clear that I am the original coffee addict on this team.”
She grins, and Tessa’s lips twitch into a small smile.
“That’s true,” Iris cuts in with a laugh. “Penny drinks more coffee than is probably safe—especially in the fall. She’s literally addicted to pumpkin spice lattes.”
Tessa’s smile widens. “Well, I can’t blame her there. They are pretty delicious.” Then she pauses, her brow furrowing. “But… Sean?”
Penny’s eyes widen. “Oh—I’m sorry. I meant Logan. His nickname is Sean, and that’s all my husband ever calls him, so it’s just a habit.”
“His nickname is Sean?” Tessa glances at me, clearly confused.
“Yeah,” Miranda says with a grin, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “It threw me for a loop too when I first started dating Miles. The guys on the hockey team have the most ridiculous nicknames for each other. Sometimes it’s hard to keep track.”
“But why Sean?” Tessa asks, her confusion deepening.
Iris jumps in. “Well, as the story goes, my brother Beckett misheard Logan being introduced as Sean the first time they met, and from that point on…” She trails off with a grin. “He—and eventually the rest of the team—just ran with it.”
Tessa blinks. “But Sean and Logan sound nothing alike.”
“I know,” Anna says, shaking her head. “That’s why it’s hilarious.”
I groan and drop my head back against the couch. “Yes. Absolutely hilarious.” I roll my eyes, which only makes them laugh harder.
“Oh, don’t let him fool you,” Penny says, waving a hand dismissively. “He loves it.”
“Yeah,” I mutter. “Who wouldn’t love being called by a completely different name every single day?”
Their laughter fills the room, and for the first time since she arrived, Tessa looks relaxed. Her shoulders have dropped. Her hands aren’t clasped so tightly in her lap anymore.
I know exactly what the women are doing—lightening the mood, easing the tension, making the air feel breathable again—and it’s working.
“So tell me,” Penny says, leaning forward with exaggerated seriousness, “do you have access to pumpkin spice latte mix year-round?” She lifts her brows hopefully.
Tessa smiles. “No, the owners only order it in the fall. I’m not even sure if it’s available at other times of the year.”
“Yeah,” Iris jumps in, pointing at Penny, “I wormed my way into this one’s heart with bags of pumpkin spice latte mix from Starbucks.”
“You did?” Tessa grins, her eyes lighting up.
“Yeah.” Iris nods. “It was ridiculous, really. But I have a friend who works there, and she managed to secure several bags of the mix for me. When I first met Penny, she wasn’t exactly open to new relationships.”
Penny shrugs, feigning indifference. “What can I say? I’m selective.”
“Yep,” Iris says. “That is—until she’s bribed with pumpkin spice latte mix.”
“Well,” Penny scoffs, gesturing with her hands, “it just doesn’t taste the same when it’s made at home. You need the fancy coffee shop mix.”
“I will say,” Tessa adds, “ours tastes a little different than Starbucks. We don’t order from the same company, but it’s still really good.”
“Just wait,” Iris says with a laugh. “Penny is going to worm her way into your heart just so you can be her new pumpkin spice dealer.”
“I wouldn’t mind,” Tessa says, and her smile is genuine now. “Honestly, the owners of the shop are two of the nicest people. I’m sure they’d gladly order you extra bags of the mix to keep you stocked in pumpkin-flavored coffee all year long.”
“That would be amazing,” Penny says, her eyes lighting up.
Miranda shifts in her seat, turning her attention to Tessa. “Logan mentioned you’re also in college?”
Tessa nods. “Yeah, for social work. I have a semester left.”
“That’s awesome,” Anna says, tucking her legs farther beneath her.
“Yeah, I’m excited.” Tessa’s expression softens. “I hope I can make a difference. Though I am going to miss working at the coffee shop. The owners are like family.”
The girls chat for a bit longer, the conversation flowing easily now. After a while, Penny catches my eye, then looks at Tessa.
“She’s going to be in the spare room?” Penny asks me.
I nod. “Yeah, the one at the end of the hall with the big bathroom.”
“Great.” Penny stands and brushes her hands against her jeans. She turns to Tessa with a warm smile. “Can we pull you aside for a private chat?”
Tessa hesitates, her eyes flicking to me.
I give her a reassuring nod.
“Uh, sure,” Tessa says, standing slowly.