Page 71 of When He Plays

Chapter Fourteen

“How did Barney know to be waiting for us?” Charlotte asked as Logan carried her toward the limo. The driver had just barreled to the left side of the vehicle.

Barney frowned. His gaze swept over her. “I don’t think she’s supposed to come out in that.”

“Too bad. Open the door, would you?”

Barney opened the door. He squinted at Charlotte. “You feeling better?”

“I’m conscious. That’s better. But I feel like shit.”

His lips pulled down. “We’ll make the prick pay.”

Logan tucked her inside the limo. “Damn straight we will.” He slid inside the vehicle with her. Then immediately scooped her back into his arms and cradled her on his lap.

This was…new.

Barney slammed the door shut.

“Seriously, you have to tell me. How did Barney even know to be waiting out front?” Logan had lifted her into his arms and rushed right out of the place. It bugged her that she didn’t understand how Barney could have been ready and waiting. Also, “How did you know I’d want to leave?”

“I texted Barney as soon as you woke up. Well, this last time when you woke up.” Logan’s arms were warm and strong around her. “You were in that hospital for twenty-four hours, Charlotte.”

“What?” He had to be wrong. Yes, it was dark outside but…not because twenty-four hours had passed, surely?

He nodded. “You came in and out of consciousness. I talked to a ton of docs because I was worried as hell. You were pretty aware about two hours ago when you opened your eyes. The initial doc on duty had already told me that you were going to drift in and out, that I should be prepared for that. But about six hours ago, he assured me that you were past any dangerous point. Your vitals were good. So when you woke up a bit ago and were making good sense when you talked, I knew you’d want to bust out of the joint. I texted Barney then. You were distracted by Jezebel. I told him to bring the car around and wait for us.” His fingers slid carefully over her back. “And here we are.”

The paper gown tied behind her, so there were lots of empty spaces along her back, and his fingers touched her bare skin.

She hissed out a breath.

“Did I hurt you?” Logan instantly asked. Soft illumination in the rear of the limo allowed her to see the flash of worry on his face.

“No.” In fact, “Thank you for saving me.”

“Aren’t you all sweet and polite? But save the thanks. I didn’t save you. You saved yourself. You came to me. I had no idea what was happening.” His voice thickened. “That’s why we don’t separate again, got me? You stay with me. I stay with you. Then I do the job that Jezebel wants. I kill the bastard.”

“No. No, you’re wrong. That’s not what’s happening⁠—”

His lips brushed against hers. The kiss was sudden. Soft. Sensual. It caught her completely off guard and even as her hands were fluttering in the air, trying to press against him, Logan pulled back.

Face seemingly cut from stone, he growled, “I was fucking terrified.”

Um, okay.

“For all I knew, you were dying right there. I had you in my arms, and I couldn’t get you to safety fast enough. The elevator ride took forever. The limo ride took for-fucking-ever. Then, when I finally did have you at the hospital, I didn’t want to let you go. The nurses kept saying only family—only family could stay with you, and I thought, screw that. No way am I being separated from Charlotte again.” A swift inhale. “Someone had to watch over you. Didn’t we agree that someone was going to be me?”

“You, um, told them that we were married.”

“Is the lie what’s bugging you? No worries. We can fix that.” His hold tightened on her. “I can tell Barney to pull into the drive-thru chapel up ahead. In five minutes, we can be married.”

He wasn’t serious.

He…

Was he?

“You can’t get a better cover story than that,” he added. “Ares and Freya saw me freak the hell out when you were unconscious. They know I rushed you to the hospital, and word will soon spread that I refused to leave your side for twenty-four hours.”