Chapter 14
OLIVIA
I love when someone asks me if I have any idea how bad caffeine is for your system.
Listen, Karen, I used to drink beer from a red Solo cup that still had a ball in it that an entire fraternity touched before, during, and after it rolled across a floor that was so dirty, we had special shoes we used to wear when we went to that house.
I doubt the caffeine will kill me. But thanks.
—Olivia’s Secret Thoughts
One canceled flight, two delays, and pulling some strings to book a private jet later, I land at a private air strip thirty-five minutes from the Triple Crown, but it doesn’t matter. I’m going to have to go straight to the courthouse. Damn it.
Olivia
Just landed. I have a car picking me up that will take me right to the courthouse. Be there as soon as possible. I promise.
Logan
You’re not going to make it.
Olivia
If I have to run the whole way there in my fucking heels, I will be there, Logan.
I’m sorry.
Logan
Don’t be sorry. Just be here.
I grab my bag and race to the car I ordered from the fucking plane.
“Ms. St. James?” the driver asks as I open the door myself and toss my bag inside.
“Yes. Please, we have to go.” I climb into the back seat and buckle my belt. “How far away is the county courthouse?”
“Twenty minutes,” he says casually, adjusting his mirror.
I glance at my watch. I need to be there in thirty. We can do this. “I’ll pay you a thousand dollars if you can get me there in fifteen.”
By the time I come to a screeching halt inside the old courthouse, I’m out of breath from racing up the obscene amount of steps outside the damn building.
My hair has fallen from my bun and is catching in my glasses, my feet hurt, and so do my arms. Guess maybe I overpacked, and dragging my suitcase up the marble stairs outside didn’t do me any favors.
I scan the hall, finding Logan, Nina, and the entire Langley family gathered outside the courtroom doors, heads bent in what looks like deep discussion.
They haven’t seen me yet, giving me a moment to gather my composure, straighten my dress and hair, and suck in some much-needed oxygen before dragging myself and my suitcase their way.
Logan’s eyes meet mine first, and I have absolutely no idea if anyone else so much as lifts their head because he’s all I see.
“I’m sorry,” I mouth silently and walk through the family gathered around him, straight into his arms. “You okay?” I whisper. This isn’t for show. This is me asking him.
He wraps his arms around me and drops his face to my hair. “Better now.”
“Glad you made it, Liv,” Nina says from somewhere behind me, but I don’t move.
Not yet.
Not until moments later when we’re called into the courtroom.
Rafe takes my suitcase from me as I lace my fingers with Logan’s, and we walk side by side into the courtroom.
“Hey, Liv . . .” Waverly stops me as I walk out of the kitchen later that night, a cup of tea in one hand and a bottle of water in the other.
I count to five before turning her way, not sure if I’m going to be met with anger or sadness.
The two have been running rampant at the ranch since we got home earlier.
“Do you think . . .” She shifts her feet and shoves her hands in her back pockets, clearly leaning toward sadness, not anger.
Guess it’s just Jasper who’s pissed. “Do you think this means she’s going to win the whole thing? ”
My heart hurts, looking at this woman I don’t think actually likes me most days but adores her brothers and dotes on her niece.
“No, I don’t think it means that at all.
I told Logan I thought something like this would happen.
The court hates to separate a child from their mother unless they pose a threat to the child.
Monica doesn’t pose a threat. She just hasn’t shown an interest. Believe it or not, the ruling was actually in our favor today.
They only gave her four hours every other weekend.
That absolutely favors Logan, not Monica. And remember, this is only temporary.”
“So we’re not losing her?” She sniffs and rocks back on her heels. “I don’t think Logan can handle that.”
He can’t. I’ve only been in this house for a few weeks, and I already know that. No one in this house can even fathom that. But I have no doubt my husband would move countries before he’d give up his little girl.
“Don’t look for trouble before you have to, Waves. Nina and I are all over this, I promise. It was better to look like we were looking for an amicable resolution today. Trust me, it’ll go further for Logan in the long run.”
“Trust you,” she repeats. “Because you love Logan and Maggie?”
Her words are a question, not a statement.
A question I can’t answer. I won’t. So I don’t.
I do the next best thing.
“Because I’m damn good at my job, and I made your brother a promise I intend to keep.
Love is a fickle bitch when she wants to be.
But I’ve never broken my word before, and I’m not going to start now,” I tell her, knowing I’ll fight to the ends of the earth for that little girl and her daddy because I made a promise.
Waverly blows out a breath, her bangs shifting above her eyes. “You’re an odd bird, Olivia.”
I lift a shoulder. “I’ve been called worse.”
“Yeah well, don’t let me hear anyone say worse. I may be small, but I’m scrappy, and I’ve never had a sister before.” She looks away before dragging her bottom lip between her teeth and looking back at me. “Just saying, growing up with boys makes you tough.”
“Yeah.” I smile. “Well, I’ve had a sister, and it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. My big sister caught Logan and I kissing in our parents’ kitchen, and I’ve been getting daily texts about it since.”
“Ha. Could you imagine if one of the boys caught me kissing anyone? I’d never live it down.” A pretty blush colors her cheeks. “I’m not sure they’d let the poor guy live. One of them would probably try to kill him, and Jasper is pretty good with a shotgun.”
“You should do it just to piss them off one day. They need to be put in their place occasionally.” I tip my chin and lift my mug higher. “Maybe hide the ammo first.” She smiles, and I relax. “I want to go see if Logan needs anything. Are you going to be okay?”
She nods, and I head for the stairs and the man I’m certain is rocking his baby girl to sleep. But even knowing that doesn’t prepare me for the sight of them.
Logan sits on the cream rocker, his feet up on the small matching ottoman. Maggie lies tucked against his chest in pale yellow pajamas dotted in tiny white daisies, clutching her small, stuffed Posey, sound asleep. Her head is tucked under Logan’s chin, and his eyes are closed.
They’re beautiful.
And for this small moment in time, they’re mine.
Logan’s eyes lift to mine, and the pain there splinters my heart. “I don’t want to put her down.”
“She’s not going anywhere, Logan.” I place my mug and the water on Maggie’s dresser and quietly cross the room. “Want me to take her? I can put her to bed.”
He brushes his lips over her head, and I watch indecision war in his blue eyes before he nods and kisses her again.
So carefully, this sweet girl barely moves her little head, I lift her from Logan and drop my own lips against her forehead, making her a silent vow.
No one is taking you away, Maggie.
No one.
I promise you.
A moment later, she’s tucked into her crib, her mini cow at her side and her favorite ladybug blanket clenched tightly in her fist. And then it’s time to turn to her daddy. “Logan,” I whisper and hold my hands out.
He eyes them suspiciously, like I’m going to strike at any moment.
It takes him a moment before he takes my hands in his and lets me pull him to his feet. “Your hands are cold, Olive.”
“Cold hands, warm heart,” I joke as we walk into his bedroom, and Logan drops down onto the bed, pulling me between his legs, less than impressed by my answer. “My hands are always cold. It’s the anemia.”
“Lie with me.” It’s not a question, and I’m not sure I’d have the strength to say no even if I wanted to.
“Let me shut off the light and close the door,” I whisper. A minute later, I crawl into bed next to my husband and don’t fight him when he pulls my back against his chest. His strong arm wraps around my waist, and my head rests on his bicep. “Won’t your arm fall asleep?”
“No, wife. It won’t.” He buries his face in my hair and slides his hand under the edge of my tank top. Not exploring or testing boundaries, just looking for skin-on-skin. And at least for tonight, I let him.
I relax into him and close my eyes.
We don’t talk.
We don’t fight.
We lie in the dark, our breathing in sync.
Two people scared of what the future will bring.
One of us scared to lose what he loves most and the other scared to let down her family.
Her old one and her new one.