Chapter 15
LOGAN
I pull Bree into my side and am about to find the nearest exit.
We ate, we danced, and I made the decision that I want her at my house, in my life, and with me period.
This is not something temporary. I was a fool to think that was even possible.
I’m going to hear her out, and then I’m going to find it within myself to forgive her, forget the past, and build a future with her.
Tonight when I thought I’d fucked up and that I might lose her, I knew right then that I couldn’t imagine my life without her in it.
I point at the closest exit, and Bree puts a hand to my chest. “Hold up there. We can’t just leave.”
I chuckle and wrap my arms around her. “Yes, we can. Look, people are already leaving. We sure can walk right out of here.”
She smiles up at me. “Logan, your family is still here. We should at least say goodbye.”
I blow out a breath. I’m impatient, ready to get Bree alone, but I know she’s right. “Okay. We’ll say goodbye, and then we’re out of here.”
She giggles. “You sure are in a hurry.”
I clench her waist and pull her flush against me. “Yeah, I am. I’m tired of sharing you.”
She rolls her eyes, but I can tell my words please her. She pats me on the chest. And automatically, I pull my shoulders back, puffing out my chest. Fuck, it feels good to have her in my arms. “Let’s go say goodbye to everyone.”
We walk toward the tables where my family was, and Bree points to the dance floor. “There’s Guy!”
I try to see around the people on the dance floor, and Bree laughs. “Right there, where the group of women are dancing.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, same ol’ Guy. I’ll catch up with him later.”
I no sooner get the words out and Ozzy walks up to me. His cowboy hat is still sitting on the top of his head, and he is wearing the scowl that seems to be a permanent feature for him. “Hey, Ozz.”
He grunts. “I came. I’m leaving now.”
I tilt my head to the side. Ozzy is even grumpier than usual. “Everything okay?”
He nods. “Yep, everything is good. See you, brother.” He tips his hat to Bree. “See you, Bree.”
As soon as Ozzy walks away, Bree turns to me. “Something is off with him, right? Or is that just Ozzy?”
I look at Ozzy’s retreating back. His wife died a few years ago, and he hasn’t been the same since. But he’s taking his grumpiness to a whole new level.
I blow out a breath as Skyler and Zach walk up to us. “We’re getting out of here.”
I nod, pulling Bree to my side. “Us too.”
My sister asks Bree, “You okay?”
Bree leans into me. “Yeah, I’m okay.”
As they leave, I look around for Miller, but he’s nowhere to be found. Ready to get Bree to myself, I pull her with me toward the door. “Come on. I’ll catch up with Miller later.”
A few people stop us on the way out, and by the time we get outside, I’m going crazy. There’s a need inside of me that I can’t tamp down. It’s like I need to tell Bree right now that the past doesn’t matter and I want to be with her no matter what.
We finally get out the door, and Bree points to my brother. “There’s Miller.”
He’s talking on his phone, and the closer we get, the more conversation we can hear. “Lindsey, listen, I wasn’t on a date with anyone.”
He jams his hand in his hair. “I know it looks bad, but if you let me explain—”
He holds the phone out and stares at it, and it’s obvious that he was hung up on. Shit. I really fucked this up.
I’m wrestling with the fact I want to get Bree home and guilt for what I did to my brother. It’s my fault he was on a date tonight, and obviously he’s paying for it. With remorse, I look at Bree. “I should go talk to him.”
She nods. “Yeah, how about I go to my apartment—”
Before she gets it all out, I hook my arm around her waist. “You’re staying at my house.”
She goes to her tiptoes and loops her arms around my neck, pressing her breasts against my chest. “I know I am. I’m going to pack a bag, and when you’re done here, you can pick me up.”
I reluctantly nod. I don’t want to be away from her, but I really do need to talk to Miller. “Okay. Please drive carefully and I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
She giggles and points down the street. “Logan… You can literally see my apartment from here. What do you think is going to happen?”
I blow out a breath and look into her eyes. It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her I love her when Miller calls my name.
I clench my eyes shut and shake my head. “I’m sorry. I gotta deal with this… I’ll be there soon.”
She nods. “Yeah, I’ll be ready.”
She turns to walk away, but I grab her around the waist and pull her to me.
I kiss her with the weight of everything I feel.
She leans into me, and I cup her face, deepening the kiss and swiping my tongue along hers.
She moans, and I break off with a huffed breath.
“I’ll be there to pick you up soon. Pack clothes for the whole weekend. ”
Her eyebrows lift, but she nods her head.
Reluctantly, I let her walk away and then go over to my brother.
He’s sitting on the curb, and he’s ditched the jacket and rolled up his sleeves, baring his tattooed arms. He’s lost in thought, rubbing his hand through the scruff of his beard.
Anyone passing him on the street right now wouldn’t know he was a billionaire.
As soon as he sees me coming, his eyes glint, and he glares at me.
“I’m sorry.”
He shakes his head. “I should have known that someone would post pictures on FriendSpace.”
I sit on the curb next to him, and when he doesn’t say anything else, I piece it together. “Someone posted pictures of you with Katie, and the woman you like saw it.”
He winces as he lifts his phone up. He opens a text, makes the image full screen and points the screen at me. “Yeah, she sent me a text with the picture.” He gestures to the image. It’s him and Katie, and they’re dancing close together. I grimace. “Yeah, that’s not good.”
His jaw tightens. “No shit. It’s definitely not good. I thought I was making headway and she was finally trusting me, but all that has been ruined at this point.”
I turn toward him. “You really like this girl.”
He gapes at me. “I told you I did. I fucked up.”
“Did you tell her you were helping me out?”
He laughs. “She wouldn’t listen. She didn’t want to hear it.”
I blow out a breath. “Let her cool off and then talk to her.”
“What if she doesn’t listen? What if I blew it?”
I tilt my head at my brother. He’s always been confident, hell, almost arrogant, so seeing him like this is strange.
I shake my head. “You’re Miller Brody! THE Miller Brody, and I know you. You’ll find a way to make her listen, and if it’s meant to be between the two of you, you’ll be together.”
I expect to see that determined look on his face, but he just shrugs. “Yeah, I guess.”
I rest my elbow on my knee and put my chin in my hand. “Well, all I know is I can’t wait to meet her. Finally, some woman that doesn’t fall for your charm—”
He interrupts me. “My money, you mean?”
I nod. “Money, charm… all I’m saying is I wanna meet her. I’ve never seen you like this before.”
He blows out a rough breath. “I’ve never felt this way before.”
I’m torn. I want to go pick up Bree, but I know Miller needs me. I’ve never seen him like this. So I settle back, put my hands on the sidewalk, and ask, “Tell me about her.”
And he starts to talk.
For fifteen minutes, Miller talks about the woman that he obviously loves. I keep looking at my watch, ready to go, but I force myself to sit here and listen. I owe him that at least.