And not to slide himself into her, giving himself up to sweet oblivion.
Would it always feel like this? The pull to her? That first day they met it had felt like a chemical high. Now it felt even stronger. The need to take care of her, protect her, mingled with the desperate urge to have her.
God, he needed to get ahold of himself.
“Carl took it badly when Shaun died,” Courtney told him, screwing the top back onto the tube of ointment. “We all did, of course.” She gave him a brief smile. “But Carl, he’s never gotten over it. They were so close as kids. He was the protective big brother.” She slowly ran her tongue over her bottom lip. He tried to ignore the jolt of pleasure it caused him. “Shaun called him the night he crashed and left a voicemail asking Carl to meet him. I don’t think he’s forgiven himself for not answering the phone. As though that would have made any difference.”
Logan looked up at her through his thick lashes, trying to imagine how he’d feel if one of his brothers died trying to meet him. He swallowed hard, because it hurt to think about. It had been difficult enough when he’d been injured in junior year and it had been made clear he’d never play football again. It had felt like a bereavement, knowing he wouldn’t be able to play alongside Cam anymore.
But to imagine never seeing his brother again? The thought made him swallow hard.
“I don’t want to report him,” Logan told her. “I just don’t want him upsetting you. Or the baby.”
Courtney sighed. “I need to set him straight. He can’t go around hitting people.” She touched the side of his head. “There’s a bruise here. Does it hurt?”
“It’s not too bad.”
“Are you sure you’re okay to fly?” Her brows dipped with concern.
Logan smiled at her. “It was just a little punch. I’ve had worse during a football game. I’ll be fine.”
“Okay then.” She breathed out a sigh of relief. It could have been so much worse. Damn Carl.
He stood, cupping her jaw with his warm palm. “Are you gonna be okay?” he asked her. “That’s more important right now.”
She smiled. “I’ll be fine. Once you’re gone I plan on feeding the chickens then gorging myself on those brownies you gave me.” She glanced down at her still-flat stomach. “It’s nice to be able to eat without worrying about the calories, or getting sick.”
He glanced at his watch. It was time to leave if he wanted to catch his flight. But part of him wanted to stay. Make her a warm drink, curl up with her, and watch her go into a chocolate frenzy. Stroke her hair until she fell asleep.
“I should go,” he told her.
She glanced at her own watch. “Yeah you should. I don’t want you to be late again.”
“I won’t be able to get back for a couple of weeks, but I’ll be here for your next appointment.”
“Sure.” She nodded.
“I’ll try to stay for a day or two. Maybe we can start making a few plans,” he suggested. “Work out what we’re gonna do once the baby is here.”
“That sounds like a good idea.” She nodded. “With you in Boston and me here in Hartson’s Creek, it’s going to take some working out.”
He gave her a half smile. “I guess we like things complicated, huh?”
She laughed gently. “We sure do.”
Leaning down, he pressed his mouth against her brow, ignoring the brief pain that shot from his bottom lip. “Take care of yourself,” he murmured. “And the baby.”
“I plan on it.”
“And if you need anything, call me. Okay?” He pulled his keys from his pocket, twisting them in his hand.
She followed him to the door, pulling it open. “Have a safe flight.”
He turned to look at her. She had the strangest expression on her face. As though she didn’t want him to leave. He had to force his legs to stride forward, knowing that unless he left in the next few minutes there was no way he was catching that flight.
But even once he was in his car, driving on the highway, the desire to make a U-turn and drive back to her farm cottage remained.
Protectiveness. That’s all it was. A natural instinct for a father to take care of his family.
He shook his head at himself. Welcome to the twenty-first century, asshole. Courtney had made it perfectly clear she could take care of herself.
Logan was already regretting setting up this video call with his siblings. It had seemed like a good plan at the time, making sure he could tell them all about Courtney’s pregnancy at once. But now, as their faces stared expectantly at him on the screen of his phone, he wondered if a text message might have been better.
“So I have some news,” he told them, bracing himself for their response.
“Okay, but tell me fast,” Cam said, his video jolting. “I’m walking into the gym and coach’ll be pissed if I’m late.”
“What kind of news?” Becca said, her eyes widening as she leaned closer to the camera. “Do you have a girlfriend? Do I need to get myself some smelling salts.” She lifted her hand to fan herself. “Do I know her?”
Logan rolled his eyes. “No, Becca, I don’t have a girlfriend.”
Gray smirked. “You kind of do, man.”
“Wait. You have a girlfriend?” Tanner’s voice rose an octave. “Why does Gray know about this and we don’t.”
Gray grimaced. “Sorry, Logan. Maddie says I need to learn to keep my damn mouth shut.”
Logan sighed, leaning his head back against his office chair. This wasn’t quite going as planned. “Can you all just shut up for a minute? I wanted to do this in person, but you’re all too damn elusive.”
“Sorry.” Becca looked appropriately contrite. “Oh my god, tell me you’re not sick. One of the guys
