Hannah leaned over to Piper. “Hey, Swiss rolls are down that aisle there. Wanna go grab them?”
Piper’s face lit up. “Go get them? Alone?” She did a little jump where she stood.
“Come right back,” Logan’s voice sounded behind her.
Piper nodded and raced away. Hannah wondered if she wanted to get away before Logan decided against letting her go alone.
Taking a deep breath, she turned to see Logan had returned his attention back to the meat.
“Having a hard time?” she asked as she stepped up next to him.
He rested his hands on the edge of the cooler as he leaned forward. She could see the tension that had built up in his shoulders. It had to be hard, losing a parent like that.
“I’m sorry,” she said as she reached out and rested her hand next to his. From the corner of her eye, she saw Logan turn his gaze toward her fingers.
“It’s just hard. I didn’t know my dad and when I finally met him, he was dying. I had only a few years to make up for all the years he was gone.” His shoulders slumped further as if he were recalling the memories.
“That’s hard.”
“And now I have this money, and I don’t feel right about spending it. My mom’s pressuring me to invest in all of her friend’s ideas, but I don’t know what to do. I want to make my dad proud.” His voice grew fainter.
“I’m sure he’s proud of you.” Hannah leaned closer and nudged him with her shoulder.
He glanced back at her. There was a depth to his gaze. Raw and exposed emotions. She found herself swimming in the dark blue of his eyes. Her heart beat so loud, she could hear it in her ears. His warm hand engulfed hers as they stood there, locked in each other’s gaze.
“Logan, I…” She didn’t know what to say or how to say it, but there was something deep down inside of her that was fighting to come out.
“I got it!” Piper’s voice broke the silence of their interaction. A thud sounded.
As if Hannah had been burned, she jumped back and glanced over to Piper’s look of triumph. A box of Swiss rolls sat in the middle of the shopping cart.
“Great,” she said, smiling.
Piper looked curiously at the two of them. “What were you doing?”
Hannah waved toward the cooler. “We’re just picking out some meat.”
Piper groaned. “Still? Ya’ll are moving slower than molasses.” She made her way over to the meat and pointed to one. “I want that.”
A giant lobster tail sat on a Styrofoam tray. Logan reached out. “You gonna eat it this time?”
Piper smiled. “Yep.”
“Lobster it is,” he said as he dropped it into the cart right alongside Piper’s Santa-bribing Swiss rolls.
After all the ingredients were gathered, they checked out, and headed back to Logan’s truck. Hannah let Piper get in first. While she waited, she helped Logan load the groceries into the back.
As he shut the tailgate, he turned to her.
“Thanks,” he said.
She glanced over to him. “For what?”
“Thanks for listening to me. And letting me have my little pity party. I know it can be hard to believe that this sudden status could be hard. I mean, I’m set for life, but it’s hard”—his voice cracked as he swallowed—“this money came at a price.”
Hannah reached up, wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and hugged him. Even after everything they’d been through, they were still friends. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
He hesitated, then wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her closer. There was a familiarity to his touch. She took in the scent of his cologne. It still hadn’t changed. It had a woodsy smell to it.
“I’ve missed you,” he said, his voice muffled by her hair.
The loud piercing sound of his truck’s horn filled the night air. Groaning, Logan stepped back. “Piper,” he grumbled as he glanced down at Hannah.
“Sorry,” he said, nodding toward the cab.
Hannah giggled. “It’s fine. She’s probably hungry.”
He nodded but then grew serious. “Thanks for that. I know after everything we’ve gone through…” His voice trailed off as he eyed her.
Hannah’s stomach tightened at the mention of their past. But she just brushed it off. Best not to think about that right now. “We’ll always be friends.”
He hesitated, then nodded. “Friends.”
Hannah made her way to the passenger door as Logan walked toward the driver’s side. Once they were in and buckled, Logan started the truck and peeled out of the parking lot.
Piper had turned up the volume to I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus and was singing to the words at top volume.
Hannah glanced out the window toward the twinkling lights that adorned all the houses. Her emotions were muddled and confusing her. The anger and betrayal she’d felt on prom night when she realized that Logan had abandoned her weren’t as strong as they’d been before. It was as if being around him was slowly etching away her angry feelings.
She swallowed as Logan’s voice broke into her thoughts. He was begging Piper to sing a bit quieter. Piper, of course, took this as a challenge and sang even louder.
As Hannah glanced over to Logan, a thought settled in her mind. Perhaps, just perhaps, she might be forgiving the billionaire.
14
HANNAH
When they got to Hannah’s house, Logan grabbed all the groceries and headed into the kitchen. Hannah tried to follow, but Logan pushed her out, stating he had dinner covered.
Walking into the living room, Hannah glanced over to Piper, who was curled up on the couch. Well, she had about a half hour to kill. She made her way over to Piper. “Wanna see my dolls?” she asked.
Piper shot up like a rocket. “Yes!”
Hannah smiled and walked over to the staircase. “Wait here. I’ll go get them.” She climbed the steps two at a time.
Once in her room, she made her way over to her closet and pulled it open. Up on the top shelf were two boxes. Pulling them down, she blew the dust off of them. Her mother wouldn’t let her take them to her father’s house. Hannah wondered if it had something to do with the fact she left her mother the way she did.
Pushing away the angry feelings she got every time she thought about their relationship, she sighed. No sense in dwelling on that right now. She tucked the dolls under her arm and headed back downstairs. Piper was sitting cross-legged on the carpet with her eyes wide.
Hannah joined her. Setting the boxes down on the floor, she pulled off the tops. Piper squealed as she gently took out Hannah’s Samantha doll. Her fingers brushed the doll’s dark hair.
“She’s beautiful,” Piper whispered.
Ah, Hannah had found the secret to getting Piper to talk at a normal decibel. Just bring out her dolls.
After getting out her Truly doll, they started playing. They each brushed their doll’s hair. Hannah had a few extra outfits and they took turns changing their clothes. Piper chatted on and on about which doll she wanted and which outfit would go perfectly.
Hannah smiled as she listened. Then Piper grew serious as she recounted a story about Reagan, a girl from her class last year, who’d made fun of her because she loved the dolls so much.
“That’s not right,” Hannah said after Piper confessed she’d pushed Reagan on the playground.
Piper stuck out her tongue. “Well, she deserved it.”
Movement by the doorframe drew her attention over to it. Standing with his shoulder leaning against the wall was Logan. He was watching them with a smile on his lips. Hannah met his gaze, and he raised his eyebrows.
“Having fun, ladies?”
Piper nodded. “Miss Hannah has the best dolls.”
“Miss Hannah does. Miss Hannah used to try and make me play dolls with her.” Logan pushed off the wall and made his way over. Reaching down, he grabbed one of the shoes that were scattered across the floor.
“When Santa brings me a doll for Christmas, you’ll
be playing with me as well,” Piper said matter-of-factly.
“Oh, really?”
Piper nodded and continued brushing Samantha’s hair.
“Any chance you ladies are hungry?”
Piper dropped the brush to her side. “Can Samantha come?”
Logan laughed. “Sure.”
Soon, Hannah, Piper, Logan, Samantha, and Truly were all sitting at the table. The smells that wafted from the dishes caused Hannah’s stomach to grumble.
After their plates were loaded up with butter-basted lobster tails and parsnip puree, they dug in. Hannah couldn’t believe how good all the food tasted. No one spoke as they ate.
Once her plate was emptied, she glanced over at Logan, who was watching her. Reaching up, she rubbed her face. Did she have something there?
“What?” she asked.
He shrugged. “It was nice to see you playing with Piper.”
Hannah glanced over to Piper, who was talking to Samantha. Apparently, Samantha needed to clean her plate or she wasn’t going to get dessert. Hannah wondered how many times that little girl had heard the same thing.
“She’s a sweetheart.” Hannah couldn’t help it. She had a soft spot for the girl. Then her mom’s warning voice broke into her thoughts. She always did that. Fall for every person she met. But that little girl’s red hair and contagious smile had wormed its way into her heart.
“May I be excused to go to the bathroom?” Piper asked, and Logan nodded.
The room grew quiet.
“I just wish her mom felt the same,” Logan said as he placed his fork onto his plate.
“She’s not around a lot?”
Logan shook his head. “She’s decided that dancing is more important than her daughter.” His jaw flexed as his gaze fell on the chair that Piper had vacated.
Hannah nodded. She knew what that felt like. Her mother’s job always took precedence over her. She was here to visit and yet, her mom was at the hospital. Christmas was in two days. After that, Hannah was headed to her dad’s. This was the time to mend their relationship, yet her mom was nowhere to be found.
“If I were her mom, I’d never let her go.” She smiled at Logan. She meant it.
Logan glanced over at her. There was a look in his eye that she couldn’t quite place. “Really?” he asked.
Hannah smiled. “You bet. Any woman who picks her job over her daughter doesn’t deserve her.”
Logan cleared his throat and broke their gaze as Piper made her way into the room. “Pip, you done?” He nodded toward her plate.
“Yep,” she said. “Can I watch a movie?”
Hannah wiped her lips with her napkin and set it next to her plate. “How about Home Alone? That was my favorite growing up.”
Piper scrunched up her nose. “Never seen it.”
Hannah’s mouth dropped open. “What? Okay, we’re watching it. Right now.” Pushing from the table, she waved toward Logan. “Come on.”
Logan glanced around the table. “I should probably clean up.”
Hannah shook her head. “Nonsense. We can do that later.”
Logan looked skeptical but then nodded. “Okay.”
“Movie’s under the TV. I’ll pop some popcorn,” she said.
Logan nodded as he followed Piper from the room.
The kitchen air filled with the smell of buttery popcorn as Hannah pulled the bag from the microwave and shook it. After grabbing a bowl and dumping the popcorn into it, she grabbed a few waters and made her way out to the living room.
Piper was sitting between each of the dolls, which put Logan right smack dab in the middle of the couch. Hannah inspected the small space to the left of him. Realizing how close they’d be sitting next to each other, Hannah wondered if she should say something about the stack of dishes in the kitchen.
But before she could complain, Piper spoke up. “Come on, Miss Hannah. Samantha and Truly are ready.”
Logan shrugged and motioned toward the seat next to him. “No backing out now.”
Hannah’s face heated. How had he guessed? She made her way over and sat down. Just as she sank into the couch, her body tipped toward him. Blast him and his heavy body. Wiggling, she tried to move closer to the armrest. It didn’t work.
Piper started the movie, but Hannah just couldn’t get comfortable.
“You okay?” Logan asked after the previews were finished.
Hannah glanced over to him. “Yes. Why?”
He smiled as he grabbed a handful of popcorn. “You’re wiggling worse than a trout pulled from the water.”
Hannah sighed. “You’re just so heavy.”
He glanced at her with a hurt look plastered on his face. “It’s just holiday weight.”
She glared at him. “You’ve always been heavier than me.”
“Hey, don’t be hating on me and my muscles.” He reached out and flexed his bicep.
“Shhh…” Piper shot them a pointed look.
Hannah raised her finger to her lips and nodded. They all turned their attention back to the TV. Soon, Hannah accepted how close Logan was to her. In fact, she was enjoying it. They fit together. She’d never noticed that before.
Her eyes grew heavy, so she leaned her head against his shoulder. She felt him tense, but she didn’t move. If she had to get comfortable with them touching, so should he.
Ten minutes later, Logan tapped her shoulder.
“Look,” he whispered as he pointed toward Piper. She was asleep with each doll wrapped up in her arms. She looked like an angel.
“Aw,” Hannah said, turning to look at Logan.
He was inches from her face. Inches from her lips. He met her gaze as his face grew serious.
“Hannah…” He reached out and brushed her hair away from her face.
It was too much. Hannah pushed back and stood. “We should probably clean up. My mom will freak if she sees the house like this.”
Logan’s smile faded. “Okay.”
They stood and Logan headed into the kitchen while Hannah made her way to the dining room. Here, it was safe. Here, she wouldn’t accidentally kiss Logan Blake. She knew all too well the heartbreak that would follow.
LOGAN
Logan grabbed a plate and flipped the water on. The caked-on food angered him. Grabbing a scrub brush, he zoned in on it. There was no way this food particle would win.
Once it was obliterated, he moved on to the next dish. Destroying dried-on food wasn’t helping to relieve the ache that had taken up residence in his chest. Why was it when he tried to get close to Hannah, she just pushed him away?
The water burned his fingers as he rinsed the dish. He groaned. Not from the shocking temperature, but from the way his heart soared when he saw her sitting on the floor playing with Piper. Every moment he spent with Hannah, she was rapidly becoming the girl he wanted to spend all his moments with.
Desperate for a distraction, Logan reached over and flipped on the radio. Christmas music filled the air as Logan continued working on the dishes. When the commercials started, Logan flipped to a different channel. When a Man Loves a Woman caused him to stop. It was the song they’d danced to at prom.
Hannah walked into the kitchen and stopped. The dishes in her hands dropped a few inches as she took in the music. When her gaze reached him, his heart hurt. There was so much pain and frustration built up in them. No longer waiting for her permission, he covered the distance between them in two steps.
Taking the dishes from her hands, he placed them on the counter. Then, he reached out and pulled her close.
“Logan…”
“Hannah, I’m sorry,” he said as he grasped her hand and began to lead her around the kitchen. “It was my fault. All of it. I’d made a stupid decision and it hurt you.”
She was no longer fighting the dance, but he could tell there was something holding her back.
“I know you’re engaged, but—”
“I’m not engaged,” she whispered.
His heart soared from her
confession. “What? But you said—”
“I lied. Well, my boyfriend proposed, but I didn’t know what to say. I’ve run home to avoid him.” She bit her lip as she turned her gaze up to him.
He tightened his grip on her. “Hannah, why would you lie about that?”
She focused on something to her left. “I wanted to protect myself.”
Ouch. Logan slowed as he bent down to catch her gaze. “You will never have to protect yourself from me again. I won’t ever hurt you. You mean too much.”
Hannah glanced back at him. “I don’t know if I can trust you.”
Logan stopped dancing. Reaching down, he grasped both sides of her face. “Hannah, I will always protect you.” His gaze slipped down to her lips. The memory of them against his flooded his mind.
It seemed as if that memory was as fresh on Hannah’s mind as it was on his. Her features softened as he leaned closer. When she didn’t pull away, he closed the gap. The warmth of her lips filled his every sense and all the feeling of pain and frustration he’d been carrying since that fateful prom night rushed from his body. Suddenly, he knew exactly where he wanted to be. Right here.
Deepening the kiss, he wrapped his arms around her waist. Her body fit against his like a puzzle piece. Her fingers made their way up to his hair. Desperate for some air, he pulled back for a moment before he leaned back in, this time, teasing her lips with his. She giggled as she returned the feather light kisses.
“Hannah,” he breathed as he pulled back and brushed a kiss on the tip of her nose.
“Logan.”
Pulling back farther, Logan glanced down toward Hannah. Since when did she sound just like his mom?
“Logan,” the voice repeated. “Look who’s here.”
His mind cleared as he glanced toward the back door. Toward his mom. Toward Charity.
“Charity?”
Hannah pushed away as she looked sheepishly toward his mom and his ex. “I’m sorry.”
Logan glanced toward Charity. “What are you doing here?”
Sputtering from the doorframe drew all of their attention toward it. Piper stood there with a sleepy look, and she was staring at her mom. Her eyes widened as a smile spread across her lips. “Mommy!”
Forgiving the Billionaire (A Clean Billionaire Romance Book 2) Page 10