She opened her mouth to protest, but her words dissolved on her tongue. He was right. She had a future to think about.
“Right,” Ellis said, clapping his hands together. “I’d best get off. I’ll catch you when you’re back from the restaurant.”
She nodded. “Sure.” But she was still busy thinking about Logan. The way he treated Mary and Ellis had touched her heart.
Maybe it wasn’t frozen solid after all.
Thank you for being so kind to Mary and Ellis. I appreciate it.
Logan stared at the message, his mouth dry. It was the first thing he’d heard from Courtney all week. It was crazy, but his hand was shaking as he held his phone and read the words over and over again.
Taking a deep breath, he tapped out a reply.
It’s a pleasure. Are you okay? The baby doing fine?
It only took a minute for her to reply, but it felt like hours.
We’re good. Maybe we can talk tomorrow? Are we meeting at the doctor’s office for the scan?
The ghost of a smile passed his lips as he lifted his head and looked around Gray and Maddie’s kitchen. The four of them were out – Gray at a meeting somewhere, and Maddie and the twins were at some kind of mom and toddler class. He’d have to ask her about it. Maybe it was something he and the baby could do some time, assuming dads were also allowed.
He’d flown in a few hours earlier, unable to stay away any longer, and had dropped his bags at Gray’s house – at Maddie’s insistence. He’d just grabbed himself a coffee and sat down to decide what to say to Courtney when his phone had beeped.
I flew in earlier. I’m at Gray’s place. Maybe I can come over now if that works?
Was that too much? Not enough? Would she think he was being too forward.
He sighed at his own overthinking. Let go of the outcome, bro.
Yes please.
He’d barely read her response before he was in his rental and driving through the large iron gates that led out to the road. The farm was only a ten minute drive away, and it killed him, but he kept to the speed limit. Even if every second away from her was too long.
She was outside when he pulled up at the cottage, her dark curls tied back, wearing a pair of denim overalls and a black, long-sleeved top. Even from the car he could see the curve of her stomach, and it made his heart clench. He was going to have to get close to her without touching, and it was going to kill him.
As he climbed out of the car, she looked up from the porch. She touched the soft swell of her bump, and it sent a shot of warmth through him. How long had it been since they’d seen each other? Weeks? It felt like years.
“Hey.” His lips lifted as he walked toward her. She smiled in response.
“Hey. How long have you been here?”
“I flew in this morning.” He lifted an eyebrow. “I guess I couldn’t stay away anymore.”
She opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again.
“Can I come up?” he asked, glancing at the steps. She nodded and he climbed the three risers, his muscles tensing as he stopped a few feet from where she was standing.
God, she was beautiful. Her eyes lifted to meet his, and for a moment he was breathless. He wanted to walk forward, wrap his arms around her, and carry her into the cottage and right to bed.
To feel her soft lips as he kissed her. To hear her soft sighs as he touched her in all the places he knew drove her crazy. To bury himself inside her until neither of them could breathe.
“Logan?”
He blinked. “Sorry. I was somewhere else for a minute.”
Her eyes crinkled as though she knew exactly where he’d been. “I was asking if you’d like a drink.”
“I’m good. I just had coffee.”
“No worries.” She smiled again. “Should we sit down?”
He was about to agree when she froze in front of him. Then she touched her stomach.
“Court? Are you okay?”
Her face lifted, her eyes meeting his. “It’s the baby,” she told him, her voice a whisper. “He or she just kicked me.”
It was his turn to freeze. Amazement washed over him, warm and sweet. “You can feel the baby moving?”
She nodded.
“Can I feel?” He couldn’t help but grin.
“I don’t think you’ll be able to feel it yet. But you can try.” She walked toward him, taking his hand with her own and placing it on her stomach. His brows dipped with concentration as his palm pressed against the denim covering her stomach, his fingers splaying out. “There,” she breathed. “Did you feel it?”
He shook his head. “Not yet. Maybe I need to get you naked.”
She laughed. “Nice try.”
He looked up from her stomach. “Court, I’m so damn sorry for asking you to stop seeing your family. I was being a jealous asshole. I never should have said the things I did.” He blew out a mouthful of air. “I’ve done nothing but think about everything you said since I hung up the phone on Saturday. And I need you to know something. I’m all in here. With you, with the baby. If you’ll have me.”
“Are you sure?” she asked. “You’re giving up a lot.”
“But I’m gaining so much more.” He couldn’t help but stroke his hand against her stomach. Just that simple connection grounded him. “I know that Mary and Ellis are important to you. Carl, too. Even if he is a dick sometimes.”
“Say what you really think.” Her eyes were warm. “And yeah, they’re important. But you and the baby, you’re the most important things in my life. I should have told you that on the phone.”
His chest felt tighter than ever. The pain he’d been feeling all week was joined by another, stronger emotion.
Hope.
“There’s room in
