“I love you,” I whisper into his mouth, mid-kiss.
He smiles and keeps caressing my mouth with his.I know.
I start laughing. We’restillkissing.
“My love,” he repeats, his lips brushing mine. “Is that funny? Too cheesy?”
“Could never be too cheesy.” I cling to him. “You knew I loved you.”
“Yes.” So simple. So certain. “But you spent ten years figuring out how to live your life without fear, and love brought that fear roaring back. You had to take the time you needed to figure out how tolovewithout fear.”
That sounds so familiar. I lean my head back and look at him, curiosity making my pulse race. “Did you say that before?”
A proud smile curls his mouth into the most handsome grin I’ve ever seen. “It’s a line fromThe Mist At Dawn’s Edge. I’ve been thinking about it ever since I finished reading it. You loved that book so much, and I kept thinking about how you see yourself as needing to be a tough fighter in this world. I get it, I see why, but I see this soft lover inside you, and I knew that if I gave you enough time, you’d trust me enough to take off your armor.”
“Wow.”
“I love you so much, Francesca. So fucking much. I fell in love with you from the moment you wished me a happy birthday. I’m in awe of your brain and your heart and your resilience. I want you. Every part of you. I want your mess and your fears and your hopes and dreams. And some of them are fucking cheesy. I want all of that. I want all of you. I want the stupid shit. I want to make poetry with our bodies. I want to know I can cry in front of you, and you won’t think I’m weak, and you’ll still be begging me to rail you against the wall. I want to sleep in a tangle and hold your belly as it grows and figure out the hard shit about childcare and being on opposite ends of the country sometimes. But it won’t be for long, baby. I promise I’ll be here soon.”
My heart feels so full it might burst. I never thought I’d fall in love with a hockey player. So much for thinking I’d maybe find someone to be a stay-at-home dad… We’re going to need a nanny to juggle both of our careers and a baby, too. But I know without a doubt that Logan’s going to be an active part of figuring that out with me.
"I'm so glad I married you," he whispers against my lips, reading my mind.
"Me too," I whisper back. “My badass assassin, furiously insisting on protecting me.”
“Always.”
“Are you going to be in a lot of trouble with work?”
“Fuck no.” He strokes my cheek. “But I do need to make some phone calls now that I know we’re okay.”
Phone calls. Oh, no. “Um… That reminds me, my father was calling me this morning. Henevercalls me.”
Logan goes still. Just for a moment. Then, without missing more than a solitary beat, he nods firmly. “If he’s figured it out, he’s figured it out. I will protect you with everything I have. This won’t touch you, I promise.”
CHAPTER 51
LOGAN
After we make breakfast, I look at the messages that have accumulated on my phone. Three separate text chains from my agent and both of my parents. Then a group chat with my siblings that is still going.
Tom
You all right?
Per the CBA, you don’t need to tell the team jack fucking shit
I’ll run interference but some direction would help here
Dad
I’m getting questions about a family emergency? Did something happen overnight?
Mom
Logan, please update us about where you are and what is going on
We love you
