by K T Bowes
Chapter 19
Hana swallowed, boxed into a corner with her own suspicions. “I don’t know,” she stammered.
Logan crossed the distance between them and placed his lips over hers, removing any objections with their gentle graze. Hana backed up against her stricken vehicle and leaned into him, praying her legs held her up long enough. His persuasive kisses addled her mind and reduced her objections to little more than a peripheral voice in the back of her brain.
“I don’t want to lose you now,” he whispered, their lips close and his fingers threading through her curls. “Please, give me a chance.”
Hana closed the garage against her nosy neighbours opposite and Logan tied up the bumper on her car while she made dinner. He ate, the light leaving his eyes as he grew more exhausted.
“What’s with you guys?” Hana demanded as Logan ran a hand over his face. “You’re all shattered today. Did you stay up talking last night?”
Logan shook his head. “I wasn’t going to say anything but I want you to trust me. We took it in turns to watch the house last night, in case the men came back. They didn’t.”
Hana gaped. “You watched my house?”
“Yeah.” Logan’s smile drooped. “And we climbed the fence and checked the back garden heaps of times. Your neighbours are rubbish at looking out for you.”
“They haven’t needed to before now.” Hana pushed plates into the dishwasher and stood up. “I can’t believe you did that. I’m guessing the men didn’t come back.”
“No.” Logan shook his head and stood up, his imposing height making Hana feel safe. “We did it because we care about you.”
“Did the cops drive around?” Hana asked, hope in her voice.
Logan wrinkled his nose. “Nope. Not even once.” He held his arms out to her. “I need to go. Keep the doors locked and only the upstairs windows open.”
Hana pressed her face into his shirt. “But what if someone climbs over the back gate like you did? What then?”
Logan snorted and pulled his shirt sleeve up to reveal a bandage. “Then they get cut like I did, or their pants ripped like Boris. There’s more rusty metal in that gate than wood.”
“Sorry.” Hana reached for his arm but stopped just before she made contact. “What happened to Pete?”
“Who knows?” Logan shrugged. “If he fell and hit his head, we didn’t notice.”
“I’m glad I didn’t wake up in the middle of the night and see someone in the garden. I’d have freaked out.” Hana’s eyes widened in fear, her green irises obscured by dark pupils. “Those sleeping tablets zonked me out. I might take more tonight.”
“Don’t do that.” Logan stroked her cheek. “Just be sensible.”
He held her beneath the photo of a youthful Vik and Hana on their wedding day. It felt odd for her and the sense of déjà vu vied with confusing feelings of betrayal. Logan pointed at a photo of a small, dark-skinned teenager in a familiar school uniform. “Your son went to our school? I hadn’t realised,” he said. His brow creased. “I guess there’s a lot I need to learn about you, Ms McIntyre.”
Hana nodded and floundered, not knowing where to begin. Logan stroked her cheek and pressed his soft lips over hers. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “I’ve got all the time in the world.”
They sat on the bottom step while Logan fastened his heavy motorbike boots. The shiny red shoes winked under the hallway lights, nestled beneath the hall table. Logan jerked his head towards them and zipped up his leather jacket. “Ah, the weapons of mass destruction.”
Hana laughed. “Poor Pete. How are his nuts?”
“Don’t worry about him. He keeps his brains in his ass so I’ve no idea where his nuts are.” He smiled, the scar beneath his eye wrinkling. “He complained you wouldn’t rub them better.”
Hana shuddered. “No thanks!”
Logan’s eyes narrowed. “Good. I told him if you did, I’d snap them off.”
“Did he believe you?” Hana smiled and Logan’s nod looked slow and calculated.
“Oh yes.”
Hana sighed. “What a day. What a year actually. It’s been crap from the start.”
“No it hasn’t.” Logan fitted his arm around her shoulders, crushing her into his side. His jacket smelled of leather and petrol and he kissed the side of her head. “I found you. It’s been a good year so far and it can only get better.”
Hana nodded and pushed herself closer. “Hold me,” she whispered and he did.