by Sam Crescent
Grant looked up from his cell phone. “You do?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not going to kill him, are you?”
“What? No, of course not. What makes you think I want to kill him?”
“It’s a joke.”
“It’s not funny.”
“Not if you’re me.”
“Oh, okay. Fine. I don’t understand, but I will.” She shook her head. Her hands were shaking. “I’d really like to go and see him. Do you know where he is?”
“Of course.” He typed into his cell phone, and she waited, feeling more nervous with every passing second. “Hunter now knows we’re coming.”
“Wait, won’t he tell Logan we’re on our way?”
“No.”
“But he’s always with Logan. No, I can’t do this.”
“Hunter knows and understands, okay?”
She stared at Grant, a little confused. “He knows what? What is it he understands?”
“Your feelings for Logan.”
“How can he even know when I don’t completely understand?”
“I guess it’s easier for us watching you guys than the two of you who are in the thick of it.”
“Why am I finding you so irritating?”
“Because you know I’m right and you’re pregnant and hormonal.”
“That’s always the excuse men make rather than see anything as being their fault.”
“We’re all perfect. You do know that, right?”
“I don’t know anything. I really don’t want to talk right now. Can we just move on, please?” She ran fingers through her hair, bunching up the curls. Pregnancy had given her a glow. The morning sickness hadn’t been too bad so far. However, her nerves were really shot right now, and she didn’t know if she was going to be able to handle seeing Logan.
This was all … new for her. It was a completely new experience to have these feelings. This desire to make what Luke had done go away. He had no right to come between her and Logan.
Grant stood and grabbed his jacket. Ava didn’t bother with anything and followed him out of her apartment. He draped his jacket over her shoulders as they made their way downstairs and out into the cold.
She didn’t climb into the backseat of the car, but into the passenger side, strapping herself into place and trying with all of her might not to be nervous. She couldn’t help the way she was feeling.
It would all be fine. She had to believe that.
“Do you know the sex yet?” Grant asked.
“What?”
“The sex? Of the baby. Have you found it out yet?”
“Oh, no. I would have told you if we knew. It’s still a little early. I’m not showing all that much yet. I’ll know soon enough.”
“And how does it feel to know you’re going to have a baby?”
She turned toward him. Grant didn’t even glance her way. “Why are you asking me so many questions about the baby when you’ve had so many opportunities and haven’t taken them?” He usually talked about his favorite movies or the books he enjoyed. Even his food preferences. The conversation was always on safe topics.
“I’m trying to relax you. You know, help you to figure out why it is you want to go and see Logan.”
“I know why I want to go and see him.”
“And that reason is…”
“I don’t have to tell you about it.” She clenched her hands into fists to stop them from shaking.
“Hunter and I, we have a different understanding as to why you want to go and see Logan.”
“I bet you two do.”
“We do, and it is really interesting.”
“Go on, let’s hear it.” She couldn’t think of a single reason why not to let him tell her exactly what he thought.
“We believe you and Logan are in love with each other.”
This time, he had her full attention. “What?”
“Yep. Deep down we’re hopeless romantics, and you guys have been apart way too much.”
“I don’t … that’s crazy.”
“You don’t love Logan?”
“I…” She couldn’t think of the right words to say. “No, yes, I don’t know. This is none of your business.”
“You’re right, it’s none of my business, but you’ve got to ask yourself, Ava, why do you cry yourself to sleep? Why did you look so happy when he arrived at your doctor’s appointment only to die little by little because he didn’t pay you a single ounce of attention?”
“It’s not important.”
“Oh, it is. You and I both know it. I’ve seen the way you’ve been, and you’re denying your true feelings. Logan, he’s in love with you as well.”
“You don’t know that.”
“He loves you enough to let you go.”
“Let me go? How has he let me go?”
“He’s given you space. I’ve never known two stubborn people quite like the two of you.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I know a great deal, and you’re just being stubborn.”
“You don’t even have a clue so you can’t comment,” she said.
Why were they fighting about this?
“We’re here,” Grant said.
He parked the car across the street, and she saw the line of people waiting to get inside.
The line was so long. She went to join it, but Grant grabbed her arm, leading her straight into the nightclub. Calls and protests rang out, but she imagined that’s what you got for working with the big man in charge.
The heavy music surrounded her, and she felt a little sick.
Logan was in here somewhere. Could he see her? Was he watching her?
“You don’t have to be nervous,” Grant said, yelling over the sound of the music.
“I’m not nervous. I’m fine.”
“You keep telling yourself that. Come on. Let’s go and get a drink.”
“I can’t have anything with alcohol.”
“I know. I’m not completely stupid.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it. You’re nervous. I get it.”
“It’s not right to be a pain in your ass.”
He chuckled. “I get paid well for you to be a pain in my ass, believe me.”
They made it to the bar, and Hunter signaled the waiter. She sat down in the chair, and Grant stayed close. He was her protection detail, and now they were in the lions’ den, he would have to pick up his game. She’d not made his life hard at all during his time with her.
She quickly glanced around the dance floor, and then up toward the direction of the office. Was he there watching? Sitting at his desk reading paperwork? Did he know she was here?
She pushed some hair off her shoulder as Grant placed a drink in front of her.
“Drink up.”
She sipped at it. Orange juice. “Thank you.”
“I know. So, how do you want to approach this?” he asked. “You want to go in all guns blazing, or wait a little bit?”
“I don’t know. What do you think I should do?” she asked.
“I think we should dance.” He downed his whiskey, took her hand, and led her onto the dance floor.
People made a space for him, and he pulled her in close, wrapping his arms around her waist.
“How do you do that?” she asked.
“Do what?”
“Make people move out of your way.”
“It’s a gift. I’m hot stuff. Don’t you know that?”
She burst out laughing. “No, I don’t.”
“I’m attempting to charm you, and it’s so not working.”
“Maybe try a little harder. It’ll help.”
“If you want to get Logan on your side, you’re going to have to do harder than that.”
“What if he’s here with someone?” she asked. “I’ve come all this way and he could be dating other people?”
“He’s not.”
“How do you know tha
t?” she asked. What if she made a fool of herself for a man who didn’t care about her?
He’d never made any promises to be exclusive, and here she was, acting like a fool.
“I have it on good authority he doesn’t.”
“How?”
“Hunter. He sees all. Stop stressing out. Relax. You know, do what you need to do. Logan is here, and he will find you. Now dance.”
She didn’t step too close to Grant. The idea wasn’t to make Logan jealous; far from it. This was about making him see reason.
Why do you want to see him?
What is it all about?
Are you here to be with him forever?
She had no idea what the answers were, or if she even had answers for their feelings. None of this made any sense to her anymore. Did it ever make any sense? Resting her head on Grant’s chest as the music turned to a slow number, she hoped she knew what she was doing for both her and Logan’s sakes.
****
“Please tell me why Ava is here in my club and currently hanging off Grant,” Logan said.
Hunter was by the window, looking out over the dance floor, but Logan didn’t need to look out of his window to see his woman. She was right there, in Grant’s arms. He clenched the pen in his hands, and it snapped from the strength of his grip.
Oh, he was pissed off.
He’d given Grant a simple instruction. To give Ava whatever she wanted but it didn’t include anything intimate, and he’d disregarded his instruction, and now he was pissed off. The bastard had his hands on her waist, and he needed to get them off before Logan snapped them right off.
“I don’t know where you’re looking,” Hunter said.
“Turn your damn head and look at the screen.”
“Why? They’re there. I can see them. I guess Ava wanted to go out partying, and he’s doing exactly as you asked.”
“He’s taking the piss,” he said. “I didn’t tell him to let her get dressed up all sexy and come to a nightclub full of drooling men so she could get looked at.”
“What exactly did you want him to do?”
“She’s the mother of my child. She’s supposed to be at home, enjoying a nice, hot drink of cocoa, and reading a book. Or whatever it is women like to do when they’re pregnant.”
“Clearly, Ava likes to dance and be held.”
He wasn’t going to rise to the bait. This wasn’t about Ava or himself. This was about the fact Grant shouldn’t be touching her, or doing anything with her. He had work to do.
Taking a deep breath, he picked up another pen, determined not to look at the screen.
“Is she even pregnant?” Hunter asked.
“Yes, she is.”
“She doesn’t look it.”
“Hunter, stop looking at her.”
“Why not? Other men are. I think they like the look of her ass.”
On his feet, Hunter’s throat within his death grip, Logan glared at him. “You need to stop looking at her ass.”
Hunter held onto his wrist. “You need to think about why it bothers you so much.”
“What?” He squeezed a little tighter before letting him go.
“You and Ava, you’ve been doing this dance around each other for years. Aren’t you bored of it?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, you do. You’re not stupid. It’s why you don’t want her to be with anyone else, but you’re not willing to take a chance and to go out and get the girl for yourself.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Do you really think she’s here to be with Grant?”
“I can see she’s here to be with Grant.”
“Wow, you really are fucking dense when you start,” Hunter said. “Go ahead. Kill me. It might even help me from all the bullshit you’ve got throwing around.”
“You better be careful.”
“Or what? You’re going to strangle me some more? Be careful, Logan, you keep doing it I may start liking it, and then where is your threat?”
“I don’t have to put up with this bullshit. You work for me.”
“Exactly. Grant and I, we work for you, but have you ever thought that we might actually fucking care about you? I know it seems a little odd considering we weren’t your best friends from childhood, but look how that turned out for you. We’re your friends now, and we both know what it is you and Ava need.”
“And what is that? What is it you think you know better than myself?”
“You’re in love with her. And even though she didn’t realize it either, she’s in love with you as well.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.” Logan looked out toward the dance floor, and Ava was still there.
Men were checking her out, but so were women checking out Grant. They didn’t look compatible with each other, far from it.
He didn’t like the jealousy spreading through his body. The last time he’d seen Ava, he’d been a fucking jerk to her. Ignoring her. Pretending the only reason he was with her was because of the baby. He’d wanted to ask her so many questions, but like always, he held himself back.
“I don’t deserve her. Not after everything.”
“She hasn’t run back home.”
“I didn’t give her anything to run back home to.”
“Exactly. Everything she could ever want is right here, in this very room.”
“No, she doesn’t want me.”
“And you think you know everything about her to make that decision, do you?” Hunter asked. “You know, you’re starting to sound like a coward.”
“Watch it.”
“What? You think you can dish out beatings but you’re above these other emotions and feelings? Is that it?”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I know everything I’m talking about, and all you’re doing is wasting time. What will you do when Ava’s in labor? It will happen, you know. I’ve got it on good authority pregnant women go into labor at nine months. Grant will be the one with her. What if you don’t wake up to the call, or you don’t make it in time? Ava has the baby with Grant in the room. He’s the one who gets to see your son or daughter first. How about that? Or maybe she goes into labor when you’re with her, and you do get to see your child first. What about the months and years to come? Will Grant get to be the one to see your child’s first steps? His first words? Or better yet, what if he calls Grant Daddy?”
“Enough!” He bellowed the word.
He couldn’t take anymore.
And there was no way he was going to watch his woman dancing with another man.
“Get the fuck out of my office,” he said, leaving himself.
He was angry. There was no way he would let Grant take his place. He stormed into his nightclub, ready to murder anyone who got in his way.
Pushing people who dared to step in front of him, he grabbed Ava’s arm and pulled her out of Grant’s hold and across the dance floor.
Getting to her was a little blur, but he didn’t stop.
“Logan, what are you doing?” she said.
He didn’t speak another word until they were in the privacy of his office and he checked to see Hunter had already left.
Slamming the door, he flicked the lock into place.
“You don’t get to dance with Grant, or treat him like he was me.”
“I’m not treating him like anything,” she said.
“You’re not? So you paw all the men who come into your world, is that it? You’re fucking pregnant, Ava.”
“How can I forget how pregnant I am? It’s the only time I get to see you. Why can’t I be with Grant? At least he’s there and he’s willing to dance with me. He’s even willing to look at me and talk to me. What about you? What is it you’re willing to do, Logan? Oh, that’s right, continue typing on your damn phone. It’s a device, not a person. I was right there, beside you, and you ignored me. What am I supposed to do? Wait around unti
l you decide you want to be with me, is that it?”
“You have no idea what you’re fucking talking about.”
“And you have no right telling me what I can and cannot do. You’re not part of my life, remember? You put me in an apartment and you put me to one side as if I don’t matter.”
“Of course you matter.”
“If I matter, prove it. Talk to me, Logan. Or better yet, dance with me. Hold me. Do anything—but stop ignoring me.”
He stared at her, and he couldn’t believe they were fighting. She had tears in her eyes, and he’d been the one to put them there. He opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again, and he didn’t have a single clue what to say.
“I can’t.”
“Do you not want me?” Ava asked. “I can’t keep on going around waiting for you, Logan. I can’t. I want this baby so much, and I want you, but I need to know if you want me too.”
“You want me?”
“Yes,” she said. “Damn it, Grant’s right.”
“Don’t fucking mention his name to me. Not right now.”
“We’re standing in the very room where you killed Luke,” she said. “And he’s dead. Luke is gone. He’s not coming back.”
“I know that.”
“But he’s right here. Isn’t he? He’s the reason you put me in an apartment. Why you can’t be with me. Are you ashamed?”
“No, of course not. Don’t ever think that.”
“Then it can only be one thing. You feel guilty.”
He pressed his lips together, and he couldn’t look at her.
“You have no reason to feel guilty, Logan.”
“I don’t? You don’t think I have a reason?”
“No.”
He laughed. “Wow, I came to Crow Valley to hurt you, Ava. Everything I’ve done has been to gain my revenge. To take it all out on you, and you didn’t even deserve it. All this time, I was helping him. He took everything away from me, and I let him. I helped him fucking do it.”
“But I’m right here, Logan. I’m here for you. I’m pregnant with our baby, and we’re letting him win. For every single day we’re apart, he’s won.” Tears filled her eyes, and fell down her cheeks.
“Don’t cry.”
“I…” She chuckled. “I didn’t think I loved you. I thought I wasn’t capable of loving anyone, but … I love you. I know it’s crazy after everything we’ve been through, but I think back to that time in the classroom, when you kissed me, then our time at Halloween. I was so tired, and I rested my head on your shoulder. You never really hurt me. Sure, you said some things, but you didn’t hurt me.”