Bayside Destinies

by Stacy Claflin

  Now he only had eyes for her.

  Unbelievable.

  “Audrey?”

  She turned to Cassidy, who was chuckling.

  “Did you say something?”

  “Your mind on Logan again?” Cassidy teased.

  “Sorry. I’ll get my head out of the clouds.”

  “Don’t worry about it. You’ve been twice as productive since the first day he showed up with flowers. I just asked if you’d seen the file for Buster McDaniels, the bulldog who’s supposed to check in later today.”

  “Oh! I set it on Wendy’s desk last night. She had a question about the credit card. Want me to get it?”

  “Nah. I got it.” Cassidy put a file in the cabinet. “You just keep thinking about Mr. Perfect.”

  Audrey’s face flamed, but she grinned nonetheless. Her life really was perfect—she even had a great job where her boss didn’t mind her daydreaming about her boyfriend. Things really couldn’t get better.

  Just before lunch, she got a text from Logan.

  I was hoping to see you for lunch, but Shale needs my help.

  It’s OK. I’ll miss you tho.

  I’ll miss you more. A string of kissing emojis followed his words.

  She sent two lines of happy emojis.

  “Texting on the job?”

  Audrey jumped and looked up at Cassidy. The phone buzzed with another text. “I was just—”

  “I’m teasing.” Cassidy laughed. “It’s your lunch time, anyway. Making big plans?”

  “Sadly, not today.”

  “Bummer. I wanted to hear all about it. Well, I was thinking of trying that new Mexican place off Twenty-Third. Want to join me?”

  Audrey’s mouth watered at the thought of her favorite type of food. “Definitely.”

  She texted back and forth with Logan a few more times before hopping into Cassidy’s car. The restaurant was so close they could’ve walked, except for the unusual heat wave. Oregon felt more like what Audrey imagined a tropical paradise would.

  The inside was refreshingly air-conditioned and smelled of fajitas. Audrey flipped through the menu, settling on a seafood enchilada.

  While she and Cassidy spoke over chips and salsa, Audrey’s phone rang. It was a number she didn’t recognize, so she let it go to voicemail. Her stomach twisted a little, thinking it might have something to do with Bryson.

  Though she’d kept an eye out for him over the last couple of weeks, she hadn’t seen him as he was tucked away safely in jail, unable to reach her.

  Once the voice message came in, she checked it.

  “Is it your fiancé?” Cassidy leaned forward over the table.

  Audrey shook her head, her heart thundering in her chest.

  Instead of Bryson’s voice, a cheery lady greeted her. “Hi, Audrey! I hope this finds you well. I’m thrilled to tell you that you and Logan won the Hawaiian honeymoon! You’ll get round-trip airfare for two and an all-inclusive week-long stay at our five-star resort. We’ll just need your honeymoon dates and some other information so we can get this ball rolling. Congratulations!”

  “What is it?” Cassidy begged. “You look like you just won the lottery.”

  Audrey blinked a few times, trying to let the news sink in.

  “What is it? I’m going to go crazy if you don’t tell me.”

  “I think I just won a honeymoon in Hawaii.”

  Cassidy’s mouth dropped open. “You think?”

  “Listen.” Audrey restarted the message and handed it to Cassidy.

  “Did you enter a contest at the wedding expo?”

  Audrey nodded.

  “Well, then it must be for real! This is so exciting! When’s the wedding? You two still haven’t set a date?”

  Audrey’s face burned. She and Logan were in love now, but the engagement was still fake. They were far from even thinking about actually getting married.

  “You’ve got to set the date!” Cassidy rattled on excitedly, but Audrey couldn’t keep up.

  What was she supposed to do with a Hawaiian honeymoon? Keep it, or tell the woman to give it to the runner up? Audrey had always dreamed of going to a tropical island, but who was to guess when—or even if—she and Logan would ever actually get married.

  If she brought up the honeymoon to him, he might think she was pressuring him. It might ruin everything they had going.

  She didn’t want to do anything to risk upsetting what they had. It was like living a dream while wide awake.

  On the other hand, she couldn’t not tell him. He deserved to know. It was his prize also.

  The food arrived, giving her a distraction. Not that it helped her figure out what she should do.

  What if Logan didn’t want to talk about a real marriage? What if the thought of an actual engagement was enough to send him running?

  Or what if he would be more than happy to take a trip to Hawaii with her, fake engagement or not?

  It probably wouldn’t hurt for Audrey to call and find out how long they had before they needed to give the honeymoon dates.

  Maybe by then the fake engagement would be a real one.

  Her mind spun with the seemingly endless possibilities of how Logan could respond to the news. She barely tasted the food as she wondered about his reaction.

  Twenty-Eight

  Logan raked his fingers through his hair to loosen it from the stiff gel. His mind had been on Audrey, and he’d accidentally run too much through his hair. Now it was like sticks on his head.

  He couldn’t wait to see her. He hadn’t seen her since the night before, and that was too long to go between dates. Not only that, but this was going to be a big night.

  His mouth dried just thinking about it. He was going to take her to the lighthouse off to the side of the bay near the rocky cliffs. Then he was going to ask her if she would be his real fiancée.

  It was a bit of a risk. They’d only been back in each other’s lives for about a month, but he couldn’t live without her. Just the thought of it turned him into a bundle of nerves. He could barely stand to be apart from her for twenty-four hours without feeling like he would explode.

  Sure, he would eventually have to go back to work and his long hours might be a problem, but they could figure it out. There was a lot he could bring home. They could sit on the couch together while Logan prepared his cases and Audrey could… what? What could she do?

  Was that asking too much of her? Or maybe she had a hobby. She could scrapbook or make jewelry or any number of things. At least they would be together. That would be the only thing that mattered.

  If anyone could make it work, it was the two of them.

  Assuming she wanted the engagement to be real. She’d been serious when she had shown up at his door, asking about the marriage pact. But that had been a month prior, and a desperate attempt to scare away Bryson.

  Her ex wasn’t a problem any longer, but that didn’t mean she was ready for the next step. What if she wanted to take things slower now that they were actually in love? Asking her to really marry him might scare her off even though everyone else other than Shale thought they were actually engaged.

  His mouth went dry again. He looked into the mirror and stared himself down until he felt as confident as he looked.

  Nerves were normal. What guy didn’t have them when about to propose to the woman he loved?

  Logan marched down to the kitchen and drank a couple glasses of water. He’d need it given his mouth kept going dry. The only problem was he might need to use the facilities in the middle of proposing.

  Was he going to make a disaster of this proposal?

  No. This was going to be the most magical night of his life—of both their lives. He just had typical nervousness. That was all.

  He went to the bathroom before leaving, double-checked that he had put everything in the car, and headed over to Audrey’s apartment.

  Before getting out of the car, he set his phone to record a video with just one tap. That way he could record the p
roposal without Audrey noticing. Maybe they could even show their kids one day.

  As he was walking up to the front door, someone else came near him. Just as Logan was about to buzz Audrey—

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

  Logan turned around and his stomach dropped. “Bryson. When did you get out of jail?”

  He folded his arms. “We need to talk.”

  “There’s nothing to talk about. You’re breaking the restraining order by being here. Are you trying to get yourself arrested again?”

  Bryson furrowed his brows. “I’m not near her, am I?”

  “This is her building. You’re not supposed to be here. Go, before I call the cops.”

  “Are you trying to threaten me?”

  “I’m reminding you to follow your restraining order. You can’t be near her, her home, or her work. I’m asking nicely for you to leave.”

  Bryson glared at Logan and stepped closer. “What makes you such an expert about my restraining order?”

  “I’m an attorney. I’m also her fiancé. She doesn’t want you in her life, so you need to leave.”

  “An attorney, huh? So, you think you’re some kind of big shot?”

  “No, but you need to accept that Audrey isn’t in your life anymore. Doesn’t anyone in Spokane miss you?”

  Bryson’s face turned red and his expression twisted. “I’m not going anywhere without her. You need to get out of my way. Get out of both our lives, or you’ll regret it.”

  Logan stood taller and stared down the other man. “Even if I wasn’t in the picture, she still wouldn’t want you. She wants you gone, can’t you get that through your head?”

  Bryson glowered at him. “Didn’t you get my note? She’s mine! Mine! Not yours. You need to get that through that big-shot jerk-lawyer head of yours.”

  Logan’s blood boiled. The man was crazy and beyond annoying. He made it hard not to engage, but Logan needed to step away—he had to find a way to send Bryson running.

  “Did I use too many big words for you?” Bryson sneered.

  Logan pulled out his phone and quickly slid his finger around the screen behind his back, activating the video recorder. Then he brought it around to his side. “You’re right about one thing.”

  “What?” Bryson shook his fist.

  “Audrey isn’t mine. I don’t own her. She’s not my possession. But where you’re wrong is that she isn’t yours, either. She’s her own person.”

  Bryson punched Logan across the face. His fist glided across his cheek, hitting his nose. Logan’s head turned along with the impact. It felt like slow motion until Bryson’s fist passed his face. His phone flew from his hand.

  Logan’s adrenaline kicked in, and he hit Bryson back in the eye.

  Bryson stumbled back and glowered at Logan. “Now you’ve done it.”

  “It was self-defense.”

  “There’s no way to prove you didn’t hit me first.” He barreled a string of profanities at Logan.

  “Get out of here!” Logan balled his fist and raised it. “Go, now!”

  Bryson lunged for Logan, hitting him erratically in the chest and on the shoulder.

  Logan fought back and tried to shove Bryson away. Bryson continued throwing punches and swearing. He grabbed Logan by the hair and shoved his head back.

  Logan kneed him in the groin, then punched him in the gut. Bryson gasped and stumbled back again. Logan was able to catch his breath and put more distance between them.

  He reached down and grabbed his phone. The video was rolling. Hopefully, he’d managed to capture Bryson throwing the first hit. Not that there was a judge in town who would believe Bryson over Logan. Bryson was already in the wrong by being on the property of Audrey’s apartment building, and they all knew Logan to be an upstanding person. But at least Logan had some evidence.

  “Watch out!” someone shouted.

  Logan turned to the voice, rather than Bryson. Something pummeled his temple. Logan stumbled, the sound ringing in his ears.

  More people called out from the periphery. With any luck, one of them had had the wherewithal to call the police.

  Logan regained his footing and glared at Bryson. “This is over.”

  “It’s not over until you give Audrey back to me!” He ran at Logan, fists flying again.

  Logan stepped back and put his arms up in defense. Everything turned into a blur at that point. Bryson attacked. Logan defended himself.

  Then a searing pain shot through his arm. He couldn’t even make a fist.

  Sirens sounded in the distance. They grew louder.

  Bryson bolted toward the beach like the scared coward that he was.

  Logan leaned against a nearby tree, grasping his arm. Other places throbbed and ached, but nothing compared to the pain shooting through his ulna. It wouldn’t have surprised him if he’d shattered it.

  A couple bystanders ran after Bryson and tackled him to the ground.

  Where had they been when he’d been attacking Logan?

  The sirens grew even louder and the flashing lights shone around the parking lot. Two police cruisers and an ambulance. Another ambulance pulled in.

  Logan leaned against the tree and prepared himself for the onslaught of questions he knew was coming.

  One of the cops who had been at his house sauntered over to him. “You again?”

  “Yep. Me again.”

  Officer Mahabir came over. Logan recognized her from a few cases he’d worked on involving his clients.

  “Logan! What happened?” Mahabir ran over.

  “This guy’s trouble.” The first cop gestured to Logan.

  “Are you kidding?” Mahabir looked at him like he was crazy. “Logan’s one of the best attorneys around here—he helps us out all the time. He’s also Sergeant Valentin’s brother-in-law.”

  The first guy’s face paled. “Sergeant Valentin?” He turned to Logan. “My apologies. I didn’t know.”

  Logan ignored him and filled Mahabir in on what had happened.

  She shook her head. “That guy disgusts me. He just posted bail today, and now he’s right back breaking the law.”

  “I’ve got proof of him throwing the first punch on my phone. It’s on the ground over there. Oh, and check with those guys.” He glanced over at the looky-loos. “I’m sure most of them have some footage as well.”

  Mahabir gave a quick nod. “Thanks. We’ll see what we can find, although I can’t think of anyone who would believe Bryson over you.” She shot a glare at the first officer. “Go find out who got video of the altercation.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He hurried toward the crowd.

  “Your arm okay?” Mahabir asked.

  Logan shook his head. “It feels like I broke it in twelve places.”

  “Let’s get you over to one of the ambulances.”

  “I can get myself there. Can you check on Audrey Hughes? She’s the one who has the restraining order against him. Also, can you let her know I won’t make our date tonight?”

  Mahabir gave him a sympathetic glance and patted his shoulder. “Will do. Take care of that arm, you hear?”

  Logan nodded and hobbled over to the ambulance, finding that his ankle was also a little sore.

  To think he’d been worried about ruining his proposal. Bryson had managed to do that for him all on his own.

  Twenty-Nine

  Audrey paced the waiting room, unable to sit still. Others waiting stared at her, but she didn’t care. Logan was in the ER, and it was all her fault.

  Technically, it was Bryson’s fault, but Audrey was the one who had brought him into Logan’s life. That made it her fault even though she hadn’t been the one to break his arm.

  Bryson had also been admitted to the hospital because he needed stitches.

  The fact that he was on the same hospital floor as Logan made the whole situation all the worse. What if Bryson found Logan and attacked him again?

  Her stomach twisted in knots. Obviously, Logan could sta
nd up for himself. Even with the broken arm, he’d walked away from Bryson with fewer injuries than most of Bryson’s other targets. Back in Spokane, he’d beaten several men nearly unconscious. Two had been coworkers and another a guy at some bar.

  Audrey wanted to go back in time and slap some sense into her past self. The signs had been there, but she’d been too afraid to leave. He’d isolated her and convinced her that only he could love someone as terrible as her. She’d believed him for too long.

  Thankfully she’d come to her senses, but at what cost? Logan would have to spend the rest of his vacation in a cast.

  She shivered, and not from the air conditioning, then walked over to the front desk again. “Can I see him yet?”

  “Family only.” The annoyed receptionist didn’t even look up at her.

  Audrey flashed her the engagement ring. “I’m his fiancée!”

  “But not his wife. Have a seat, please.”

  “This is ridiculous. I should be back there with him.”

  “I don’t make the rules. Grab a coffee and make yourself comfortable.”

  “Can you at least tell him that I’m here?”

  The woman finally looked up at her. “No, I can’t. Have a seat.”

  Audrey spun around and paced around the aquariums. She felt bad for the fish stuck inside. They probably wanted to swim free in the bay, but that receptionist wouldn’t let them.

  Pressure squeezed behind her eyes. She rubbed the top of her nose, trying to relieve some of it. Not that it helped. The only thing that would, would be to see Logan.

  She made herself some tea, then sat and tried to focus on the cartoon playing on a screen across from her.

  After her third cup, someone said her name from behind.

  Audrey spun around. Logan stood there, sporting a soft cast and several bruises on his face.

  She jumped up and threw her arms around him, careful in case he had any injuries under his shirt. “I’m so sorry.”