Chapter Twenty-One
EVELYN
The moment I woke up, I noticed the temperature had dropped. Even with the heater on, the air was distinctly colder, and a pang of guilt hit me about Logan sleeping on the floor.
I sat up to check if he was covered, only to find his spot empty. The blankets were still folded over the chair, exactly as they’d been the night before. It looked like he hadn’t slept there at all.
Well, what did I care? After the girls were asleep, he could have easily gone out. Maybe to a bar with his new colleagues from the hospital. Based on my extensive knowledge of healthcare professionals' social habits (gleaned from years of Grey’s Anatomy), that seemed like a common pastime.
And a man as handsome as Logan wouldn’t have any trouble finding… interesting company for the night.
“Just don’t come asking me to play mother to any more of your secret children,” I grumbled, irritated.
But… why was I irritated?
Damn it. Logan Turner’s sex life was none of my business. So why did I feel this way? It felt an awful lot like…
Jealousy?
“No… of course not,” I muttered to myself, shaking my head.
I decided to get up. If he wasn’t home, I needed to be ready for when the girls woke. After washing up and getting dressed, I peeked into their room and was relieved to see them still asleep. But something was off—I was sure I’d closed their door last night.
Then I noticed the office door was ajar, too. I walked over and peered inside. There was Logan, slumped over the desk, fast asleep.
So, this is where he’d ended up.
I walked in and gently touched his shoulder. Those damn, strong, muscular shoulders that—
Focus, Evelyn!
“Logan?” I called softly. “Logan, wake up.”
He stirred, mumbling incoherently. I stepped back to give him space. As I did, my eyes fell on the papers scattered across the desk. At first, I thought it was his research, but then I saw Aurora’s name on them.
“I can’t believe I fell asleep,” he mumbled, finally forming a clear sentence. “What time is it?”
“It’s still early. Not even seven.”
“Damn. It’s morning already?”
“You spent the whole night here?” I asked.
“Most of it. I had some research to do.”
“Is this about Aurora’s medical reports?”
He nodded. “I was looking into the possibility of a cochlear implant.”
“That’s a surgery… it could let her hear?”
“Yes. It’s a device that can restore hearing, or at least some of it.
But it depends entirely on the specifics of her hearing loss.
These reports are old; the most recent one is from three years ago.
I need new tests. It’s not my specialty, but I emailed a colleague who’s one of the top ENTs in the country.
Though… I’m starting to think it might not be an option for her. ”
“Why do you say that?”
“I keep wondering if Ellie would have ignored something like this. If an implant had been recommended, I think she would have moved heaven and earth to get it for Aurora.”
“Would she? What’s the average cost of a procedure like that?”
He sighed and closed his eyes, and I realized he’d been naive not to consider that factor immediately.
“I’m an idiot. Of course, Ellie couldn’t have afforded that. I could have, though. She should have come to me sooner.”
“Maybe she never even had access to a specialist who could present it as an option.”
“You’re right.” He fell silent, his gaze intense. I waited for him to continue.
“What is it?” I finally asked.
“I was just thinking… you’ve been right about everything.”
I laughed. “I’d love to take credit, but the truth is, I’m not right all the time.”
“Ever since I met you, you have been. Right from the start. At my brother’s wedding, I overheard you telling a friend that a snow wedding was beautiful, but as an L.A. native, you preferred beach ceremonies.”
I searched my memory for the moment I’d said that. The comment had definitely come after I’d complained about the cold—something I’d never liked. The ceremony in Aspen, held outside a mountainside house, had been the coldest I’d ever endured.
Then I remembered. I’d said it to Layla, Camila’s work friend and a bridesmaid. We’d gotten along instantly and had spent hours talking at the reception.
“I didn’t tell you that,” I pointed out.
“No. I was walking past your table when I heard it.”
“It was a completely irrelevant comment.”
“I know. But ever since the first moment I saw you, I’ve found you completely… relevant.”
I understood exactly what he meant. But what was this? Was the serious Dr. Logan Turner actually flirting with me?
“There were far more interesting women there than me,” I replied, deflecting.
“You caught my attention from the first moment. Although I hated you when we met again and you started criticizing me.”
“All of it for good reason, as you’ve just admitted.”
“Every single bit of it.”
We fell silent. He rose from the chair, standing directly in front of me. His eyes held mine, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that had been hovering between us for days—a palpable electricity that charged the air with every shared glance, every breath we took in the same room.
“I want to kiss you, Evelyn,” he said, his voice low.
The declaration shouldn’t have surprised me, but it did. He reached out, his hand cupping my face, his thumb gently stroking my cheek. My heart hammered against my ribs as his touch trailed down my neck, over my shoulder, and down my arm, finally settling on my waist.
“We have an agreement, Logan,” I managed, my voice unsteady. “A strictly professional, media-focused relationship. No physical connection.”
“I don’t care about the contract right now. Do you?”
I didn’t. Oh God, I really didn’t.
But I should have. We had a business arrangement. We shouldn’t complicate it.
Yet, how could anyone resist this pull that had been growing between us since the beginning?
Keeping one hand firmly on my waist, he brought the other back to my face. “I’m going to kiss you, Evelyn. Unless you tell me, right now, that you don’t want me to.”
I parted my lips, intending to say no, to tell him to back off, that it was a mistake. But the words died before they were born. How could I deny what every fiber of my being was screaming for? I wanted him closer.
I wanted him to kiss me.
Without another word, our lips met in a slow, inevitable convergence.
The world around us dissolved, along with every shred of caution.
The first touch was soft, a tentative promise.
Then he deepened the kiss, and it was like an explosion of sensation that stole my breath.
All the reasons this was wrong vanished from my mind.
In that moment, there was nothing in the world more right than being kissed by Logan Turner.
Until the sound of running footsteps and children’s squeals from the hallway made us spring apart. We both looked at the door in alarm, undoubtedly sharing the same fear of being caught.
But the girls ran straight past the office, toward the living room, without a glance inside.
“What’s going on?” I asked, my voice breathless.
Logan took my hand, lacing his fingers through mine, and led me out to follow them.
We found them in the living room, pressed against the large window with their hands flat on the glass, utterly enchanted.
It was snowing.
Anna looked back, her eyes wide with wonder. “Evy! Look! It’s just like on TV!”
I smiled, my heart melting at their awe. As two girls who’d grown up in Texas, they were likely seeing real snow for the very first time.
Logan and I stood behind them, our gazes shifting from the falling snow to the girls. I only realized then that his arm was wrapped around my back, his hand resting on my waist, and my head was tucked against his chest. It didn’t feel strange.
It felt completely natural.
After a while, Aurora tugged Anna’s hand, leading her to the half-decorated Christmas tree.
Logan and I followed, keeping our distance as we watched them converse in sign language.
With Aurora’s back to me, I couldn’t see what she was saying, but she clearly convinced Anna, who took an ornament from the box and carefully hung it on a branch.
“Look at that,” Logan murmured, his voice filled with soft surprise. “Somehow, Rory convinced her to join in.”
“I told you. You just have to be patient with Anna. She’s guarded and stubborn… but she has such a sweet heart.”
“I know.” He paused, thoughtful. “Can you watch them this morning? I have a couple of errands to run.”
“Of course… but… it’s Christmas Eve.”
“I know. I’ll be quick.”
A flicker of disappointment went through me at the thought of him leaving for the hospital after he’d promised to stay. I wanted him here, with the girls.
Maybe not just with the girls.
“Hey, Evy!” Anna called. She was on her tiptoes, arm stretched high, an ornament clutched in her hand, straining for a branch just out of reach. “Help me! Help me!” she pleaded, as if it were a mission of vital importance.
Smiling, I went over and scooped her up, lifting her to the height of the branch. “My God, you’re so heavy!” I teased.
“I am not!” she retorted, giggling.
“Yes, you are! You just keep growing!”
“Do you really think I’ve grown, Evy?” Now her voice was bright with excitement.
After she secured the ornament, I set her down. She planted herself in front of me, beaming. “Hm… let me see…” I said, pretending to scrutinize her. “Yeah, I think you have. I’m almost sure of it.”
Her smile could have lit up the whole city.
“I want to grow up soon, like you.”
“That will take time. Let’s not rush it. You have so much to enjoy about being a kid.”
She just shrugged and ran to get another ornament.
I glanced at Rory, who was now pulling her father by the hand, wanting help to reach a high branch. Logan lifted her as easily as if she were weightless—a stark contrast to my struggle with Anna.
He caught my eye and smiled.
“I thought you were leaving?” I asked.
“Are you kidding? You could barely handle Anna. I’m not leaving until we finish making this tree pretty.”
“It’s going to be beautiful!” Anna declared emphatically. “The most beautiful tree ever!”
Logan and I laughed, agreeing with her.
The tree itself was far from perfect.
But perhaps that was precisely what gave it its special charm.