Chapter 8
Clearly his wife loved coffee lattes, Logan thought as Hannah ordered her third of the day when they entered the coffee shop at 2:00 on the nose. He didn’t comment as it wasn’t important other than to mark as something she enjoyed.
With his name on her bank account and that much Kirno money at his disposal, he had a head start on his goals. But his skin felt prickly. This wasn’t his money to touch. Hannah took the cup from the barista and walked next to him.
He held her free hand as they went into the back room with a table long enough to seat all of them, though the women were strangely sitting at a second table behind them. His brothers stood immediately. Logan kept Hannah close and she shook everyone’s hand as he introduced her. “Hannah, this is Oliver, the oldest and a doctor, Roy, the lawyer like your brother, Dylan whose investigations often helped me make money, Jake, the corporate negotiator and Beau, the cyber security expert.”
She stayed by his side and smiled at the other five Bentleys. “Nice to meet everyone.”
Logan had so many questions he wasn’t sure where to start. His brothers were all now clean-shaven, their brown eyes sparkled, and they were all in new clothes.
Hannah said in a whisper, “I’ll be right over there with the other wives but call me if you need me.”
He nodded, and she kissed his cheek.
As she left, he took the empty seat and pulled it out. They all sat and Roy, eyes wide, said, “Logan, you seem to get along with your wife.”
“Aren’t you?” He leaned closer. Logan glanced at the other women, instantly recognizing Rachel, his brother’s ex-girlfriend. The rest of the women all looked well put together though quiet with each other, like they didn’t know each other either. Jake pointed toward the women Hannah had just joined. No one seemed homely or anything. “Ollie married Rachel and found out he’s a father.”
“Didn’t she walk out in the middle of an argument?” Logan stared in the women’s direction. His words sounded harsh when he’d actually always liked Rachel and respected her for putting up with Ollie all these years. His brother must have done something really stupid for Rachel to leave him, but he kept that to himself.
Ollie’s face went unreadable as he said, “Yeah.”
“Wow.” Logan stared at his older brother, who he’d always thought too smart to get caught that way. A father!
Jake then said, “And Roy married your wife’s friend, clearly.”
Hannah laughed with the pretty blonde while his brother Roy sat near him and pouted. So much had happened to all of them in the last twenty-four hours. Logan simply nodded. “I see.”
Jake gestured toward another blonde woman. “Dylan’s wife wants a baby in exchange for her hand in marriage, which wasn’t in the contract.”
His brother Dylan quickly pointed to a cute brunette with red highlights. “Jake’s wife hasn’t spoken to him yet and Beau’s wife is opinionated and hasn’t shut up.”
The memory of Hannah’s lips remained on his own and he wanted more kisses. He didn’t share his thoughts as he gazed at his new wife. “Guess I’m lucky then. We took calculus in high school together, though I hadn’t seen her in years. Either way, Hannah told me about Kirno Incorporated and Reverend Jensen.”
The entire table quieted, and all his brothers stared at him.
Jake spoke first. “You could always charm any woman, Logan.”
Dylan leaned forward, his expression that of a drill sergeant. “Who are Kirno and Jensen?”
Dylan and Roy were the best at figuring out more than what was on the surface. Logan kept his voice low in case they didn’t want the wives to all hear, plus he needed to protect Hannah. “Jensen was some reverend who gathered the women to marry us and Kirno Incorporated is the company that paid them. Hannah could lose serious cash for telling me the truth, so until I replace it, I need this to stay at the table.”
Dylan and Roy shared a look and then Roy asked immediately, “Paid? Who are they?”
“They have no web presence,” Logan explained. “I have access to my brokerage and I’ve already started work on funding.”
“You are a wizard with financing,” Ollie said.
“I’ll find out about Kirno Incorporated.” Dylan’s serious tone left no room for doubt.
He usually teased his younger brother to lighten up but not today. Logan sat back, crossed his arms, and met the gaze of every one of his brothers. “I figured you would. I want to deal more directly with this Reverend Jensen.”
“Why?” Ollie took the fatherly role while they worked to save their actual father.
Logan needed to be sure. “He is a part of the scheme and stole a lot of money from my wife. I promised to help her get it back. And Roy, Hannah’s brother is a lawyer named Harrison Hughes.”
Roy sat straighter. “He’s the best appellate lawyer in the country. His deposition against Apple is legendary. In the deposition, he destroyed a witness and made the judges all desire ice cream at the same time with the comparison he made to his client’s actions and chocolate chip ice cream.”
Perhaps that was why Hannah had so much pride about not asking for her brother’s help. He’d judge for himself after meeting Harry. “So Hannah says. I’m meeting him for drinks tonight. If you get a new phone, I’d like to share your contact with him.”
“Absolutely,” Roy said.
Ollie then asked, “You really are getting along with your wife?”
She was the sweetest woman he’d ever met. His brothers needed to see for themselves. He stood and called, “Hannah, come over here for a minute?”
She left her blonde friend, pushed her hair behind her ears and walked over to him as she said, “Yes, Logan?”
He wrapped his arms around her waist, so they were nose to nose. “My brothers are surprised we’re getting along.”
She patted his chest. “Why?” She looked to his brothers and smiled. “Logan’s very nice.”
Beau, the youngest, burst into laughter. “Nice isn’t a word for my shark of a brother, but we wanted to offer our deepest sympathies now.”
Hannah turned toward the table. “For what?”
Beau joked. “For dealing with our brother.”
“Stop,” Logan’s face heated at being teased. All that mattered was getting their parents out of jail and finding Reverend Jensen.
The door to the coffee shop opened and everyone stopped, like they were about to be caught plotting a crime.
Hannah pushed closer to him. In walked his beautiful baby sister and a man he assumed was Navid, by how he held Elle’s hand.
Logan broke the silence and told Hannah, “This is Elle and her fiancé. I didn’t know they were coming. I’d like you with me right now, rather than the other table.”
Navid shook hands with Ollie and the two talked.
Hannah asked, “Why?”
Logan whispered back as they walked over to shake Navid’s hand, “Because if the guy isn’t worth my sister, I might need you to remind me that the police have me on a short leash.”
Logan shook Navid’s hand and noticed the strong grip.
Elle grinned and told the group, “Everyone, this is Navid. We’re here to help.”
Elle met Hannah’s gaze and clearly the two women sized each other up. As Logan returned to his seat, still holding Hannah’s hand, Navid spoke. “Elle said you need a place to stay. I have a building with multiple vacant condos on the top floors, so you can all be together. We’re flying home on my plane, all of us.”
Elle hooked her arm through Navid’s. “Seven… we’re staying, too.”
Navid nodded toward Elle. “Seven condos, where we’ll be separated by floor. Eight, once your parents get out. I could give you the bail money today if it makes it easier.”
Oliver quickly answered, “Our father wouldn’t want you to do that. Give us forty eight hours, but we’ll consider your money a backup plan? With our foreign ties and investment it’s extremely high due to the flight risks and it’s
too much to ask.”
“I won’t push but the offer is there.” Navid gave a curt nod. “I hope this works in the short term while we figure out how to help them.”
Elle held her fiancé’s hand but turned toward the rest of them. “See, I told you! Navid is great.”
Jake was the first of the brothers to speak. “As long as you’re happy.”
Elle stood next to Navid, scanning the other table before nodding at Hannah. “And out of all you, Logan is the only one holding his girl’s hand, but I do see Rachel, so there is some good news.”
Logan should have introduced them right from the beginning. They joined Elle before she took her seat. “Elle, this is Hannah.”
Elle opened her arms wide. “Come, we’re hugging as we’re sisters now.”
Hannah hugged until Elle ended the greeting with a welcoming smile. Logan then led them back to his seats.
Elle scooted her chair in with a sniff. “The rest of my brothers all need manners it seems. Women don’t go sit in a corner by themselves, especially Rachel, who we already love.”
Hannah whispered in his ear so his sister didn’t hear them. “Logan, not everyone is happy. I was over there making friends to try and find some peace in this situation.”
“Good.” He wasn’t surprised. Hannah’s entire nature was sweet.
She stood and indicated she’d return to the other table. “It’s the least I could do. Your family seems nice.”
“I will get back what Jensen took from you.”
“I believe you.” She kissed his cheek.
His face felt hot and he knew his brothers were staring but he ignored them. “Good.”
Navid said, “I’m good with computers and my fists if need be, but any way I can help, Elle’s family is my family and I have the funds to move things along.”
Hannah returned to the table where the other wives sat huddled together. Logan scooted forward. “I don’t like taking people’s money. Whatever we use from you, I’ll ensure you get back.”
Navid nodded. “Elle tells me you’re the financial guru of the family. Glad I could help.”
If he was going to be friendly with Elle’s fiancé, then they needed ground rules. Logan didn’t blink as he stared across the table. “Treat my sister right. Elle mentioned you were trained as an assassin or something, but if you hurt her, I will find a way to kill you.”
Navid didn’t even blink. “Elle and my daughter Margo are my life. I would never harm them.”
Good. At least Elle wasn’t marrying a wimpy guy like her last boyfriend who couldn’t talk in front of them. Logan kept his temper, stared at the new man and said, “Then we understand each other.”
“Perfectly.” Navid answered in a cool way that let them all know he wasn’t intimidated by the room full of men just as big as he was.
Logan respected that. He turned toward his sister and couldn’t say he approved of Navid, so he changed the topic. “Elle, my wife needs some clothes. I’ve seen her closet is lacking, and I’d like to take her out tonight.”
Elle smiled like she’d been asked to host a gala like their mother had thrown once a month. “I’ll send some clothes over today.”
Elle turned toward the table of women just behind them and said, “Logan always dated pretty but vain women, Hannah. I’m happy to help the first woman in his life I might be friends with in the future.”
“Thanks, Elle.” Hannah smiled from her chair by the blonde married to Roy.
Once they left DC and headed toward Miami, their lives would be combined temporarily. Hannah needed to be happy while he found her cash.
Half an hour later, they’d formed a plan and Navid alerted them that the limos were waiting outside. Logan walked with Hannah toward the cars. “Thanks for being good to my family today.”
Hannah squeezed his arm. “Not a problem. Caitlyn is my friend and neighbor. Lois and I have been getting to know each other for a few months. We were all on Jensen’s commune and left together. On the plane, if it’s okay, I’ll talk to a few of the other wives. Most seem uncomfortable though everyone’s agreed to live in Miami.”
He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it as they headed out into the bitter cold afternoon one more time. “You’re my angel. Tonight, before dinner, you and I will spend some time alone together and relax.”
“Sounds good.” She slipped into the limo with him.
Before prison, he’d been headstrong and vain about a lot of things. Now, with Hannah, he felt different. He couldn’t put his finger on it but being with her was far more than just charming her into bed. Hannah was a good person and she made him feel like he was a better man.
Chapter 9
Hannah walked around the 27th floor condo overlooking the beach below that let light in through panes of tempered glass.
The smallest bedroom was the size of her studio in DC. Whoever had staged the condo for them had good taste, even if it was mostly black and white fixtures.
One day she’d be like her mother and ensure her own home was a showpiece where guests might come and feel welcome, but for now she was grateful to whoever decorated.
In the office near the front door with the door open, Logan sat before his computer, assumably working on that numbers but the program seemed foreign to her. She knocked even though the door was open and waited until Logan looked up. When he finally did, she walked in. “Logan, what did you and your brothers plan about Reverend Jensen?”
Logan stood and leaned against his desk, giving her his full attention. “Right now we’re investigating him. Once we have a dossier of information to use against your reverend, we’ll act.”
Good. If they showed their hand too fast, whatever money she had in the bank might disappear. Kirno had a clause to get their money back in the contract and being poor, again, made her blood chill. She sucked in her breath. “What if the money disappears?”
Logan brushed her arms with the back of his hands and she felt warmth from his body when he kissed her forehead. “Don’t stress over this, Hannah. I promise I’m good with financing. Relax and I’ll get everything squared away for both of us to meet our goals.”
She believed him, as if she’d stayed in touched with Logan for those years that passed between the one class in high school though in reality she barely remembered. She sighed. “I wish there was more I could do to help your parents.”
He let her go but stayed close. “Telling us about Kirno Incorporated helped. I swear it.”
The doorbell rang interrupting her stream of worry. Logan’s eyes gleamed like he was excited to get back to work. “I’ll get it. Work.”
He nodded and returned to his computer and that program with numbers that changed in a blink of an eye.
Security had brought up a large box which she signed for and opened. Clothes. The House of Morgan suits and dresses were on top of the Valentino dress. She took the package back to Logan’s office and showed him what had arrived. “The dresses from your sister. She sent men’s clothes too.”
This time he stood from his desk and closed his laptop, carrying it with him. “Good, I asked her to help me with my wardrobe. Pick one out so we can go meet your brother.”
He chose a black suit and a few smaller items and set them aside.
She stared at the seven options she had for dresses and sucked in her lips, ignoring the bright red dress that would show off her figure the best. “I’m not used to taking handouts.”
Logan placed his hand on her lower back and motioned for her to go with him to the living room, while he carried his laptop. “That we have in common, Hannah. Relying on Elle and her boyfriend right now feels wrong, but I have to swallow my pride to ensure my parents are free.”
Right. She sat on the couch and patted the cushion next to her. He put the brand new laptop on the table behind his seat and then joined her, picking up one of her feet to rub.
She swallowed as he massaged her arch and tried to keep her head on straight—his touch was electric. �
�I read the newspaper accounts last night. What happened to you exactly, and what are the charges from your perspective?”
He continued working and applied pressure that made her weak and tingly. “You know the key points.”
Wherever he’d learned about massage, she was thankful. She wanted to help him too so she quietly said, “I don’t know how it affected you—I’d like to talk about it.”
His gaze narrowed, and he gently switched feet. “Why?”
The last thing she needed was to only receive. She reached forward on the couch and took his hand off her foot and squeezed it. “Because I want to really know my husband and how he ticks.”
A light chuckle escaped his throat, but he met her gaze and held her hand. “That sounds strange to me, though I’m glad we’re getting along.”
She put her legs down and scooted closer to him. “Perfect, so let’s sit in this nice living room and talk.”
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “You want to know about my life before I was arrested?”
She stared at his profile and realized he could be a model for one of those paintings about the gods or even a modern day super hero. Her heart picked up its pace. “Yes, absolutely.”
He motioned with his chin with an off-centered nod and then said, “I was always a good son. My older brother, Ollie, he’s amazing and sharp and witty and perfect-”
“But?” She interrupted as she couldn’t wait for the next part.
He smiled a little. “But, he is high strung and can be overbearing. So I always tried to be down-to-earth, which in a royal family can be hard.”
The fact that he was born in a palace topped the nice mansion and beach houses she’d grown up in. She pressed her thigh closer to his. “I can’t even imagine. So the day you were arrested, did you call your mother and father?”
He paused as if to relive that day in his head. Then he met her gaze and took a deep breath. “I didn’t call anyone. I thought it was just me. I was leaving my office at work to go get a quick sandwich from my favorite street vendor in Manhattan and before I made it out of the building, a swarm of FBI agents descended, reading me my rights and escorting me to jail. It was surreal.”
Irresistibly Charming Page 6