Her Temporary Hero (a Once a Marine Series book) (Entangled Indulgence) (17 page)

“Oh hell no. Sophie’s not dating.” God. Just the thought… Nope.

A truck pulled into the parking lot, slid into a spot, and cut the engine. Dylan jumped out and swaggered toward the VIP entrance.

Time to focus on the job. Okay, technically this wasn’t part of the job; this was pure revenge and staking out his territory.

Becky and Sophie belonged to him.

Logan shadowed the man across the parking lot to the back VIP entrance door. Just as Dylan reached for the door, Logan sprang, grabbing his wrist and spun him.

“What the hell?” Dylan froze as recognition cut off his outrage. “Knight.”

“That’s Mr. Knight to you, ass wipe.”

Understanding filled his eyes. Backed in a corner, Dylan puffed up his chest. “You can’t harass me like this.”

“Okay, then how about like this?” Logan grabbed Dylan’s shirt, lifted him off the ground, took three steps, and slammed him against a wall.

Shock dropped Dylan’s mouth open.

Logan got serious. “I’d love to rip your fucking face off, so if I were you, I’d shut up and listen. You’re done, Ridgemont. You’re going back to prison and all your lawyers and family connections won’t be worth piss.”

Calculation chased out some of the fear in the bastard’s eyes. “You’re bluffing. They’re going to clear my name. Prove that bitch was driving—”

Logan jerked him forward and slapped his head back up to the wall. “You’re a real slow learner, Ridgemont. That bitch is my wife and I’ll kill for her. Which, by the way, I’m trained to do.”

Hunter leaned his shoulder against the wall, facing Dylan. “Logan is real messy about his killings, too. See, now me? I like the clean shot. It’s what makes me an excellent sniper. But cowboy here? He gets all enraged and does really gross things with his knife…makes me want to puke.” He sighed. “Sometimes I take the kill shot because that screaming just grates on my nerves.”

Dylan swung his head back and forth. “You can’t touch me. I’ll file charges—”

“Do that when the police come to arrest you for attempted murder of Becky and Sophie.”

He shook his head. “You’ve got nothing.”

Logan leaned in so close, he could smell the expensive alcohol and rancid sweat. Silently he thanked his Once a Marine buddies—they’d found the goods on Dylan. “Garrett Lunger has been arrested. Turns out, he wants to save his own skin. He’s told the cops and D.A. all about the man who hired him to kill Becky and Sophie.” In a fire meant to terrify Becky in her last moments. Logan wanted to hurt this rat bastard in a bad way.

The color leeched from Dylan’s boyish face. His hands on Logan’s arms slipped off. Panting like a caged animal, he blurted out, “No. I don’t know him. Cops can’t connect me.”

Sirens blared as cars pulled into the nightclub. Dylan struggled, trying to escape.

Logan’s rage fought his self-control. The need to beat Dylan into a mass of pure agony, then lock him in a room and set it on fire pounded in his brain.

“Stand down, cowboy. You’re just holding him for the cops.”

Hunter’s calm voice cut through the red haze demanding vengeance. For Sophie’s sake, they had to do this legal or he’d jeopardize Becky getting full custody. The cops would overlook this little chat, but if he crossed any real lines…

Logan dropped his hands and stepped back.

The police swarmed in. A uniform spun Dylan, shoved his face against the wall, and cuffed him. “Dylan Ridgemont you are under arrest for…”

It was over. Logan walked away. It was time to go home.

…

“It’s really over.”

Logan eyed his wife hugging herself and gazing out the window into the dark night. “The nightmare with Dylan, yes. You’ll get custody. Sophie will be safe.”

She nodded, but said nothing else.

Logan had been patient for three days. Becky had been sick and when he wasn’t taking care of her and Sophie, he’d been working the case with all his friends. He’d also made sure to notify the courts and social worker of their address change.

And every night, Becky slept in his arms.

But what would happen once the custody case was final in just two weeks? Would Becky fully forgive him for not putting her first when he should have? It’d be so much easier if he could keep supporting her, if she needed him to provide for her and her daughter. Then he’d have more time to get her to love him enough.

His mother had loved him, but not enough. Indigo could have stopped touring and lived nearby, gotten her life together and proved to the courts she could be a mother. She hadn’t done that. It hadn’t been until he’d seen what Becky would give up for Sophie that he’d finally realized the truth.

His mother was a flake. She’d kept Logan as long as he fit her life, but she wouldn’t change for him.

Becky had given up her dream of being a nurse, or at least put it on hold, and kept Sophie. She’d cared for her dying mother with a newborn. Becky stuck when she loved.

He wanted her love to be real, the kind that stuck no matter what happened—even when he screwed up. He had to give her the chance to choose, free of financial pressures and worries about her daughter.

Enough. Logan went to his dresser and got out the first item. Going to Becky he put his arms around her. “This is yours.”

She tilted her head down.

He opened the small square box.

She gasped. “Logan. My mom’s rings.” Her hand trembled as she took out the two gold bands with the single diamond. She lifted her gaze. “I thought they were gone.”

“I had Brody buy them back as soon as the pawn shop opened the next morning.” He turned her, sliding the rings on her right hand. “You won’t sell them again.”

“Thank you.” Tears spilled over her cheeks. “They are all I have left of all of them. Everything else is gone. But when I look at these, I remember not only my mom, but my dad and Tyler, too.” She threw her arms around him. “Thank you so much.”

He pulled her tight, wanting to bind her to him forever. “It’s my pleasure, baby. You can give them to Sophie someday, and she’ll have a piece of her grandmother.”

She showed him her tear filled brown eyes. “You understand.”

“I do.” Framing her face with his palms he wiped her tears. Becky smiled and cried and rarely hid what she felt. He loved that, but he wanted to be the one to kiss her smiles and wipe her tears. “I have something else that’s yours.” He handed her a folder.

She frowned. “What is it?”

“Your savings account with fifty thousand in it. There’s another smaller account for Sophie.”

The blood drained from her face. “You’re leaving?” She shook her head and shoved it back at him. “I don’t want this. I don’t want your money.”

He tossed it to a chair. “Listen to me, I’m staying. I love you and Sophie. I will do everything in my power to keep you both. You’re my family.”

“Then why?”

“I want you to love me enough to stay, not because of what I can give you. You’re both free, you have enough money, you don’t have to stay.” He wasn’t sure if this was making sense, but he’d held back from her once, tried to protect his heart, and Becky had ended up alone and not knowing how he felt. Never again. So he told her the ugly truth. “No one’s ever loved me enough to stay.”

“I do and so does Sophie. You’re her father.” She closed her eyes, regret squeezing her face. “I only left because your father threatened Sophie. Otherwise, I’d have talked to you.” When she opened her eyes, gold shimmered in her orbs. “I would have fought him for you, but Sophie is a baby. I have to protect her first.”

“Damn right. Don’t ever change that, Becky. It’s one of the things I love about you. You didn’t know what I’d do to keep you and Sophie safe. The difference is now we can protect her together. You won’t ever have to wonder where I stand—I stand with you to protect our daughter.”

Not long ago, those words—father and daughter—would have terrified him. Now they gave him his dream, the one he hadn’t even wanted to admit to himself. “You’re my family.”

“We are.” She burrowed into his arms, all her soft curves fitting against him. “I love you, Logan. I won’t leave again.”

The moment was perfect.

She looked up. “But you have another family. I invited Pricilla and Pam over tomorrow.”

His face hardened. “No. And I don’t want to talk about them. This is our time.”

“That wasn’t a question, cowboy. This is my home too and I want them here.”

“You forgive them?”

She shrugged in that thin robe. “There’s nothing to forgive. They thought I was using you for money. They love you, Logan. They barely knew me.”

Oh, he wasn’t letting them off that easy. “They lived in our house for over a week because you’re so tender hearted. They knew you well enough.”

“Forgive them, Logan. All they did wrong was defend you. Abby’s coming, too.”

He stared at her, his sweet girl with so many layers. “You’re not going to budge on this, are you?” Becky had a spine of steel.

“I love you too much to let you throw away your family. And before you start ranting, your father isn’t invited. I’m pissed as hell at him. He should never have let you sign your land over to him. That camp is important.”

He couldn’t help it, he smiled. “You’re sexy when you defend and take care of me.”

“You’re mine. I take care of what’s mine. Tomorrow is for family. Tonight…” She stepped back and let her robe slide off her shoulders, “is just for us.”

Chapter Eighteen

Two weeks later

“What do you think?” Pricilla wrung her hands, clearly anxious.

Becky looked around Spinners. On the wall over the mechanical bull was a huge sign, “Congratulations Logan, Becky, and Sophie!” Caterers had tri-tip, chicken, and sides spread along one wall, a three-layer cake dominated a corner. Guests milled around, dancing and celebrating.

Yesterday, they’d had the custody hearing for Sophie. Becky secured full custody, and Dylan had no visitation. The next step was going to be terminating his parental right so Logan could adopt Sophie.

“I know it’s not fancy or—”

Becky turned to her mother-in-law and hugged her. “It’s perfect. Thank you for doing this.” She didn’t want to know how much it cost to get Mac to agree to close Spinners on a Saturday night.

Pricilla hugged and released Becky. “I wanted to, Becky. I love you and my granddaughter. Say you believe me. I still feel awful that we turned our back on you when you needed us the most.”

“We’ve been over this, it was as much our fault. I should never have agreed to deceive you and the family. Logan and I were both wrong.”

Pricilla nodded. “I wish I could fix this with Brian and Logan. Neither will make the first move. Brian’s sitting home while we party.” She shook her head. “He’s going to end up a bitter old man.”

Becky rubbed her arm. “You decided to stay with him.”

“You probably think I’m a foolish woman.”

“Far from it. You don’t want to lose your family.” The old pain stung. “I lost most of mine and would have given anything to have them back, faults and all. We’ll heal this rift between Brian and Logan someday. In the meantime, he’s Sophie’s grandfather and he has the right to see her. Logan isn’t fighting me on that.”

Pricilla laughed. “Cause he’d lose. You’re a heck of a lot fiercer than I gave you credit for.”

“It’s easy when I know Logan loves me just as I am.”

“Thank you for understanding about Brian. I wanted him to love me the way Logan loves you, but I can’t make him. But he did apologize to Pam. They’ve been spending more time together, and that makes me happy.”

“You don’t have to explain.” She hurt for Pricilla. “He loves you, he just can’t say it.” Becky had seen how angry Brian was that Becky’s deception hurt Pricilla.

Logan strode up with a few other people in tow. “Sophie wants her grandmother.” He handed the baby over.

Pricilla’s eyes lit up. “Here’s my darling girl. Let’s go look at the cake.”

“Good luck with that.” He grinned at Sophie. “All she wants to do is sit on the mechanical bull.”

“Such a tomboy. You’re going to be just like your Aunt Abby, aren’t you?” Pricilla’s voice trailed away.

“Becky.” Logan put his arm around her. “This is Adam Waters.”

“Hi Adam.” She held out her hand to the man with the tawny eyes and killer smile. “Thank you for all you and your security agency did to help us. Sophie—” She glanced over to see Pricilla holding Sophie on the unmoving mechanic bull. “She and Logan are my world. I’m beyond grateful.”

“No need. We’d have been there from the start if we’d known.” He released her hand and flashed a hard look at Logan before returning to her. “Don’t ever hesitate to call any one of us if you or Sophie need something.” Pulling a beautiful redhead into his side, his face softened. “This is my wife, Megan.”

Forgetting the men, she grinned. “You’re the veterinarian with the little boy. It’s great to meet you.” Becky dropped her gaze. “Looks like little Cole will be having a brother or sister soon.”

“Great to meet you, Becky.” She patted her baby bump. “Four more months. Next time we visit, we’ll bring Cole so you can meet him. He’s staying with my mom.”

“So how do you juggle work and kids?” They wandered off to a table.

“It’s going to be harder with a second one. I may take on another vet and cut back to part time. Adam and I are talking about it. But I couldn’t do any of it without my mom.” Megan glanced over to her husband. “Adam didn’t know about Cole for the first couple years of his life. I was a single mom.”

“I bet that’s a story.”

Megan laughed. “Oh yeah. I’ll tell you sometime. But right now, why were you asking about balancing work and family?”

“I’m going back to school to finish my nursing degree. Or I think I am.”

“Is that what you want?”

“Once it was. But now…I’m not sure.”

Warm hands settled on her shoulders. “Sugar, you’re going. Even if you never use your degree, it’ll still be yours. Finish it.”

Megan’s light blue eyes moved up to Logan, then drifted down to her. “He’s right. Love doesn’t mean giving up your dreams. It means you work together to make both your dreams come true.” She tilted her head toward the mechanical bull. Abby had somehow gotten Sophie from Pricilla and the two of them were sitting on the bull. “Looks to me like Sophie will be well cared for if you and Logan aren’t home.”

Her baby’s shriek of delight sounded over the music and voices, and Becky’s heart swelled. How could anyone have this much joy? She put her hand on Logan’s. “That means your dream, too. Even if we have to start from the ground up, we’re going to build Camp Warrior Recovery.”

Adam pulled up a chair by his wife. “What can we do to help?”

Becky leaned forward. “We’re going to need the perfect location. We want a ranch environment, outdoors and away from civilization. These men and women need a chance to get away from the pressure of trying to assimilate back into civilian life while coping with their PTSD symptoms.”

Becky flushed. “You were probably asking Logan, not me. He can explain it better.” She wasn’t the one who had dealt with combat PTSD and spent all the time and money working to build the camp to help other veterans.

Logan angled his head down to catch her eyes. “You explained it perfectly.” He squeezed her shoulder. “You’re so going back to school. We need you at Camp Warrior Recovery. Get your RN then you can specialize and help these vets.”

“You mean that?”

Hunter dropped into the seat next to her. “Compassion and understanding like yours goes a long way, Becky.”

“She volunteered at a VA hospital in high school and college. Becky’s talked to a lot of veterans.” Logan’s eyes consumed her. “I didn’t even realize how much she’d absorbed until just now.”

The idea took hold of her. Excited her. “I’ll call my guidance counselor, see what the options are. Oh, and maybe I can—

“Logan.”

Pam’s strained voice cut her off. Becky swung around in her chair to follow Pam’s pointed finger. “I’ll tell him to leave if you want.”

Brian Knight stood just inside the door. His graze traveled the room.

Voices fell off as people realized who had come to the party.

“No.” Becky jumped up and dug her fingers into Logan’s arm. “Brian made the effort, he can stay if he wants.”

Logan’s mouth thinned.

Ava slipped up to Becky’s side, holding Sophie. “He threatens you and I’m going to neuter him.”

Becky briefly wondered when Ava got possession of Sophie. “He only did that when he thought I was using his son.”

Ava glared. “He threatened my goddaughter, Becky. I don’t forgive that.”

“You will. He’s her grandfather.”

Brian’s gaze landed on them and he made his way over. Whispers started, then built. By the time Brian stopped, they were surrounded by everyone there. All their family and friends including Lucinda, Mac, Brody, all Adam’s buddies from Once a Marine.

Brian faced them both.

Logan shook off Becky’s fingers and put his arm around her in a possessive gesture. “Becky won’t let me throw you out.”

She rolled her eyes. “Brian, you’re welcome here. Dinner should be ready soon. Would you like a drink?”

Surprise softened the deep lines in his face. “I have something to say.” He took a deep breath. “I’m proud of you both. Logan, you stood up like a man, defended your wife and child and chose them. And Becky, you did what you thought best to protect your child. After I’d made it clear you were to leave with nothing but the stuff you brought, you asked for one thing—that I give Logan his land.”

Logan swung his eyes to her.

“I told you that. Besides, it didn’t work. You signed it away for me and Sophie.”

He pulled her close. “I’d do it again. No regrets.”

Brian regained their attention. “I regret that I ever let you go, son. I should have gone after your mother that very first day she left.”

Logan turned. “Why didn’t you?”

“My father stopped me. Told me to choose, either you and Indigo, or the ranch. I was so humiliated and felt so betrayed by Indigo, that I chose the ranch. Took me eight long years to grow the balls I should have had that day and go get you back. I was furious when I found out the life you were living. It was one thing for Indigo to betray me, but you were a kid. She had you sleeping in bars, or sometimes alone on the bus while she performed in dives.” He shook his head. “When Kendra brought me that contract detailing your and Becky’s temporary marriage, I felt betrayed all over again.”

Becky fought a cringe. They had deceived him.

Brian went on. “Logan, in the end, you had more integrity than I did. You stood by your family, and now that I’ve had time to think, I respect that.” He turned to Becky, handing her an envelope. “The deed to Logan’s land. My son made a stand and I won’t insult him by returning it. He wouldn’t take it. He chose you, and he won’t go back on that. So this is my wedding gift to you, 100 percent free and clear.”

Becky ignored the envelope, slipped from Logan’s hold, and hugged her father-in-law. “Thank you, Brian.”

He seemed startled, his arms hanging at his side.

She leaned back. “I’m sorry, too. We tried to scam you, and we ended up hurting all of you.”

His eyes softened and he hugged her. “Accepted. Can I hold my granddaughter?”

Becky took Sophie from Ava, and handed her to her grandfather. “You don’t have to ask. We’re family.”

Brian smiled, his eyes lighting up when Sophie went right into his arms.

Pricilla put her hand on his arm. “I’m proud of you.”

Brian shifted Sophie and curved his hand around Pricilla’s hip. “I love you, Pris. More than any other woman. I’ll say it every damned day, just don’t leave me again.”

She sucked in a breath. “I’ve already come back. You didn’t have to say it.”

He smiled her at. “I know.”

Pricilla closed her eyes and leaned into her husband.

Logan turned Becky to face him. Taking her hands, he smiled. “You’re wearing your mom’s rings. She’s here with us, too.”

Her throat filled at that. For a fleeting second, she could almost feel her mom there, telling Becky that she loved her and wanted her to be happy, but that it was time for her to go be with Becky’s father and brother. She and her mom had gone through a lot together, Becky could let her go with peace, knowing her father and brother would care for her now.

“She knows Sophie and I are happy, loved, and safe.”

“And?” He reached behind him on the table.

She didn’t know what he meant. “What else is there?”

He held up a small black box and lifted the lid. “You’re mine.”

Glittering beauty shimmered against black velvet. “Logan, it’s breathtaking.” A white gold engagement ring with three diamonds. Nestled next to it was a slender band encrusted with diamond chips.

He slipped the rings out, and put them on her finger. “You’re my wife, my lover, and my friend. I want the world to know that I love you, cherish you, and I will stand by your side and guard your back all of our days together.”

She threw herself at him, knowing he’d catch her and hold her. Always.