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

by Jennifer Apodaca

  “Did he know about you?”

  “Yes. But I was a part of his life he desperately wanted to forget. So I spent those years on the road with my mother. Her name is Indigo White. My father met her when she was singing in a club. They fell in love and married. Very quickly, Mom figured out that she hated being married and trapped on a ranch. She took off when she was a few months pregnant and never looked back.”

  His flat voice contrasted with the tension in his jaw and neck. Logan didn’t like telling this story. “So what changed when you were eight?”

  “My stepmother, Pricilla, had some female issue that ended her ability to have more kids. I have two half sisters, but no other boys. My father needed me. But my mother wasn’t going to give me up willingly, so he had her arrested on possession charges.”

  “Drugs?”

  “The police found marijuana in the tour bus.”

  “Was it your mother’s?”

  “She denies it. I was eight, I don’t know. But my father went after custody and won. An eight-year-old living on a barely running tour bus, sleeping on couches in the back of clubs while Indigo performed did not impress the judge. She lost all rights except some supervised visitation.”

  “You were right, it’s complicated. Why did your dad need a son?”

  “To inherit the ranch. A Knight always inherits the ranch.”

  “But you have two sisters. Aren’t they Knights?”

  “Until they marry. Girls are notoriously unstable that way.”

  “Wow. That’s incredibly archaic and chauvinistic.” And here she’d been a little jealous of Logan with his beautiful home on his family’s land. But still… “Can’t you talk to him? You’re his son. Maybe he didn’t have you those first years, but he must love you now.”

  “I don’t know what the old man feels. But I know this…somewhere in that huge custody battle, my mother stopped fighting. She made a deal with my dad that he’d deed a certain amount of land to me on my eighteenth birthday so I would always have a home.”

  Becky’s stomach dropped. “She gave you up?” After having him for eight years? How could she?

  “She was going to lose. Indigo knew it and tried to wrangle something for me, not for herself.” Logan looked up at the ceiling. “I think that was her way of making sure I’d know she cared even when she was forced to give me away.” Logan turned, his gaze frozen. “That manipulative bastard followed the agreement, he deeded me the land but only if I signed the contract agreeing to his additional terms.”

  “What does he want?”

  “For me to marry, have sons, and take over the ranch. If I’m not married and living on the ranch by the time I’m thirty, the deed to the land reverts to him.” Logan swiveled his head, shadows sucked the light out of his gaze. “I’m not letting him win this. I’m going to beat him at his own game.”

  “You don’t want to get married some day? Have a family?”

  “I can’t. No kids.”

  She laid her hand on the slab of granite that passed for his arm.

  He shook his head, cutting off her words. “Not going there, Becky. Don’t ask. This marriage will be temporary, a business deal. I’ll have my lawyer draw up a contract. We’ll live here together until I secure my land. During that time, I’ll take care of all your expenses, including the lawyer to fight for Sophie. Anything your baby needs, I’ll provide.” His eyes shadowed. “But you care for her. I can’t.”

  She didn’t point out that others might find that odd. If he married Becky, wouldn’t he care for her daughter, too? Wasn’t that what she’d need to convince a judge of to keep her baby?

  “Once we both get what we want, we’ll divorce and I’ll give you a settlement that will be yours to do with as you please. Buy a house, open a business.”

  Her thoughts churned at the possibilities. If this worked, she’d have her baby and could finish her nursing degree. Make a real future for her and Sophie. Flutters of hope bubbled in her stomach. An hour ago she’d been desperate, but now Logan was offering her a lifeline that sounded too good to be true. “What’s the catch?”

  “There’s no catch. We just have to make it look real. My father can’t be suspicious or he’ll dig until he finds the truth.”

  She stared at her hands, thinking. Could she do this? Could Logan? Should they? “It seems like an underhanded thing to do. We’d be lying to your family and everyone.”

  “Think of the payoff. As my wife, with us providing a stable life in a two-parent home for Sophie, and the power of my family name and money, you’ll get custody of Sophie. Isn’t she your priority?”

  Her morals had a serious collusion with her priorities. “I’ll think about it.”

  But if she wanted to keep her daughter, what choice did she have?

  Chapter Five

  “As your lawyer, I’m advising you not to sign this.” Brody Harper slapped three copies of the contract down on the table outside the judge’s chambers.

  “Noted.” Logan handed a copy to Becky. Her hand was icy cold, matching her pale face. Not exactly a glowing bride. But then, this wasn’t exactly the wedding most girls dreamed of. For instance, most brides didn’t wear a black sweater, mouthwatering jeans, and a pair of cowboy boots. Between the way that sweater clung to her full breasts and— Focus. “You sure you don’t want your own lawyer to look this over?”

  “No.” She scanned the pages, reading with a singular intensity.

  “You need a lawyer.” Her friend, Ava, looked over Becky’s shoulder, her eyes hard. “Make sure he’s not trying to screw you outside the bedroom.”

  Becky whipped around, putting her body between him and her friend. “Don’t start. This deal is between me and Logan.”

  “No it’s not. My goddaughter is involved, and that means I will be all over his fine ass if he hurts you or Sophie.”

  Brody rounded on him. “You’re trusting Spandex Barbie here with inside knowledge of this deal? Are you insane? If your father finds out—”

  “Whoa.” Becky spun again, her furious eyes sliding past Logan to bore a hole in Brody. “Don’t you dare question my friend’s loyalty.”

  Brody puffed out his chest. “Hey, I’m bound by confidentiality. What’s she bound by? Besides Lycra?”

  Logan couldn’t tear his gaze from Becky. The transformation stunned him. Her beautiful Bambi-sweet eyes narrowed with rage. Her shoulders jacked up, hands fisted, and angry energy crackled around her. “Friendship. Ava won’t betray me or Sophie. Just like if she were to kill a lawyer, I’d help her hide the body.”

  “Her?” Brody threw a thumb in Ava’s direction. “What’s she going to do, kill me with hairspray?”

  “That shit’s flammable, genius.” Ava stepped up so she was toe-to-toe with Brody. “A can of hairspray and a lighter equals a flamethrower.”

  Logan lifted his brow at Becky. “This is your best friend?”

  “Look who’s talking. Tell me this guy doesn’t try cases in front of a jury? He has the charm of a horse’s ass.”

  He fought a grin. “You’d really help her hide the body?”

  “In a heartbeat, but I might need to borrow your truck.” She glanced at Brody. “He’s kind of big.”

  “How about we get this marriage thing done and separate these two?”

  “Okay, but afterward can I borrow your truck?”

  “To hide the body?”

  Becky half smiled. “I was thinking I’d go pick up some stuff for Sophie from the trailer. Ava said she’d help me get her crib, swing, and a few things. We both need more of our clothes.”

  No way in hell was he letting her go to that trailer without him. She’d run because she was afraid of Dylan. Becky’s safety was Logan’s responsibility. “We’ll go by on the way home.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Don’t trust me with your truck?”

  Logan leaned close to her face. “Your protection is my responsibility. That’s part of the deal. Plus, as a bonus, you get all my incredible manpower to do t
he heavy lifting.”

  Her breath hitched, and those tiny green flecks surfaced in her soft brown eyes. “And what do you get?”

  “You. For a few months you’re all mine.” It should freak him out, but it didn’t. He enjoyed dinners and midnight snacks with her. Liked her doing things in his house. And he’d like it even more if she were in his bed. But that was her decision.

  Becky held up the contract. “Is that in here? That sex is part of the deal?”

  Logan opened his mouth, but Brody spoke first.

  “He wouldn’t let me put that in.”

  “Shut up, Brody.” Logan damn near punched his friend. Turning his back on the lawyer, he caught Becky’s arm and guided her to the other side of the courtroom. Once out of hearing distance, he laid his hands on her shoulders. “Any decision about sex is between us.” He wouldn’t forget that look on her face after she’d almost lost control his arms. She’d been so gorgeous until that haunted look shattered her and made him feel like a total ass wipe. “I want you, but no one, and no contract, is going to compel you to have sex with me. It has to be what we both want with no regrets.” He had enough of those, and so did she.

  She tilted her head up, her eyes searching his. “I don’t know how to do this.”

  “The temporary marriage?”

  Becky pulled her mouth tight, seeming uncertain.

  She looked too alone standing there and he didn’t like it. “I’m a damn good friend, sweetheart. You can trust me.”

  Resolve settled in her gaze. “I can deal with possibly getting my heart bruised in this deal, but I can’t lose Sophie. Please don’t go out and pick up someone else. If you’re seen, it could destroy my chances to keep custody of Sophie.”

  His chest hollowed. Her huge brown eyes were filled with vulnerability that unearthed his deepest protective instincts. He wanted her to trust him, but he hadn’t earned it. He could clearly see that now. As it was, once she’d agreed to this scheme, he’d pulled some strings to get his marriage expedited without the required three-day waiting period. And now she was willing to give him her body to keep him from screwing around and hurting her chances to keep her baby.

  Unable to stand it, he pulled her into his arms. The contract in her fingers scrunched between them. Threading a hand into her silky hair, he tilted her head back. “I won’t do that, Bec. This deal is as important to me as it is to you and I won’t jeopardize it. I don’t cheat on my friends. While we’re married, neither of us will step out.”

  She nodded. “Okay, let’s do this.”

  “Finish reading the contract over, we’ll sign, and get ourselves hitched.”

  …

  Becky rubbed her neck and scanned the room she shared with Sophie in the trailer. It looked empty. In no time, Logan and Brody had loaded the crib, changing table, dresser, and swing into the truck.

  She was really doing this, moving into Logan’s home. As his wife. How was this going to work? “What if Logan’s family hates me?”

  “Screw them.” Ava backed out of the closet with the last of the clothes and shoes.

  “They’re not going to think I’m good enough.” She didn’t think she was good enough.

  Dumping the armload on the bed, Ava glared at her. “Why do you care what his family thinks if Logan doesn’t?”

  “He’s doing so much for me, I want to do my part.”

  “Tell you what, we’ll go shopping. New clothes will make you feel better.”

  Becky shook her head. “I got a few things after Sophie was born, I’m good.”

  Ava sighed. “The contract says Logan’s going to provide for your expenses, and that covers clothes.”

  “Stop that. I’m not spending his money.” She stuffed the last of the items into the big plastic trash bags. It wasn’t fancy, but it’d get the job of moving her done. Being here in the trailer made her throat ache with grief for her mom. It was too quiet, too…empty. And soon it would sell. She had to do something about her mom’s personal things in the next few weeks.

  “Hey, you okay?” Ava tied up one of the bags.

  “Yeah.” She didn’t want to talk about her mom right now, not with Logan around to see her if she got emotional. “Can’t believe I’m married.”

  Ava wrinkled her nose. “That was the coldest excuse for a wedding I’ve ever seen.”

  “What did you expect?” She faced her friend. “It wasn’t a real wedding, and when did you get all warm and romantic anyway?” Ava had told her to keep her heart out of it.

  “He barely kissed you. You sure he knows what he’s doing?”

  Her stomach warmed at the memory. When the judge had told Logan he could kiss the bride, he’d taken both her hands in his warm steady ones, his eyes captivating her. Becky’s nerves had tangled with that sweet rush of desire. That’s what worried her, she’d never reacted to another man like she did Logan—what if he kissed her and she clung to him like a sex-starved monkey? Then he’d leaned in and bushed his mouth over hers. Tender, chaste, and sexy in its own way because he’d done just as he’d promised.

  “He did that for me.” That small gesture meant so much to her. She could trust him to care about her feelings. Logan wasn’t a spoiled boy like Dylan, needing to grope Becky in front of his friends to prove he was a man. Logan was a man, a good man who she was coming to respect and trust more each day.

  She scooped up the two bags of clothes and shoes, turned, and her stomach dropped out. “Logan.” Damn it, how did he move so quietly?

  He strode in and took the bags from her hand. “This all of it?”

  Her skin tingled where his hand had brushed hers, but she couldn’t read his gaze. “I think so.” Could he tell she’d been talking and daydreaming about him? She had to get a grip—being here in her mom’s trailer brought her emotions too close to the surface. “I just have a couple more things to do. Ava can drop me and Sophie off if you want to go.”

  “We already had this discussion, sugar. I’m not leaving you here alone. Not for a second. Take all the time you need.” He headed out.

  Becky turned on her friend. “You saw him standing there, didn’t you?”

  She shrugged. “He’s kind of hard to miss. Big and sporting all that cowboy brawn.” Ava frowned. “Although he barely looked at me on account of being too busy staring at you.”

  Becky ground her molars, hearing her words he did that for me like some lovesick teenager. “I should kill you. That lawyer would get me off. Brody doesn’t like you.”

  Ava turned to talk to Sophie while fixing the baby’s headband. “After most weddings there’s a celebration. Or at least the groom takes the bride and her awesome attendants—that would be me—to dinner. If he’s cheap, then a nice lunch. Hell, I’d even settle for pizza and beer. But no…we’re doing manual labor moving his wife on her wedding day so your rich step-daddy doesn’t have to pay for movers.”

  Sophie babbled, clearing enjoying her godmother’s performance.

  Ava nodded. “Exactly right, my little genius. Don’t ever settle for a cowboy who marries you then expects you to cook dinner that same night. You deserve a man who wants to treat you right.”

  Becky rolled her eyes at her friend’s preposterousness and turned.

  Logan stared back from the doorway, his full mouth set in a grim line.

  Oh come on. How many times was he going to sneak up on her while Ava was mouthing off? Planting a hand on her hip, she glared at him. “You can’t just walk around without making noise. It’s not polite.”

  “Want me to take lessons on being polite from your wedding planner over there?” Logan angled his head toward Ava but kept his eyes on Becky.

  “You two need a wedding planner. Or at least a fake marriage planner.” Ava tucked Sophie into her car seat and stomped to the door.

  Logan stepped aside and sent her a challenging look. “Why’s that?”

  Ava rolled her eyes. “You need wedding rings to make this marriage look real.” After dropping that bombshell, she
left.

  The silence in the room echoed. Desperate to fill the gap, she said, “I’m all finished. Let’s go.” She headed to the door.

  Logan caught her arm, his eyes doing that intense spotlight thing on her. “You knew this wasn’t going to be like a real wedding, right?”

  “Stop.” She firmed her spine. “I knew and so did Ava. She was running her mouth trying to keep me distracted.”

  “From?” His brow furrowed.

  She took a breath.

  “Oh. Christ, Becky, I didn’t think. Your mom.” He put his hand on her face. “It’s only been weeks since you lost her.”

  “Don’t. Please.” It came out a thick whisper.

  He nodded, dropping his hand. “Okay. Let’s go home.”

  Becky lost track of him for a few minutes while she got Sophie settled in the backseat of his truck and said good-bye to Ava.

  Logan strode up to her. “I locked up.” He gave her the keys, then helped her into the passenger seat.

  Suddenly it was just the two of them and Sophie gurgling in the back. The truck shrank as Logan filled up the opened doorway.

  Why didn’t he move?

  “Here.” He held out something.

  Becky took it and her breath caught on a shaft of grief and fierce tenderness. It was a picture of Becky’s mom in a chair holding Sophie. Her nose clogged and her eyes burned.

  Don’t cry, don’t.

  “It was tucked into the mirror in your bedroom. She looks like you so it must be your mom.” Logan gently brushed away a tear. “We’ll get a frame so you can have her with you and Sophie in your new home. We’re not leaving your mom behind, sugar.”

  His green eyes were filled with compassion. How did he so easily understand? But one glance at the tat on his biceps gave her the answer. He hadn’t left his friends that died behind either, he carried them with him in that beautiful tribute. “Thank you.”

  He smiled, then closed her door.

  Becky stared at her mom’s image and whispered, “How do I not fall for him?”

  Chapter Six

  Logan looked up from chopping vegetables and damn near cut off his finger. Becky wore a striped casual dress held up by elastic that cupped her full breasts and flowed down to skim the tops of her bare feet as she walked toward him. The loose dress swayed around her long, curvy body and made him forget to breathe. For the first time today, she looked relaxed and so damn pretty.