Meeting His Match

by Tia Souders

  “Word is.” Karen glanced around her, leaning in to whisper, “she got busted for some shady business practices. She’s getting sued, and she has back-taxes.”

  “Wait. What?” Marti gaped.

  Karen nodded and her forehead crinkled. “I’ve heard it will cost her a fortune. She might even be facing some jail time.”

  Marti stared at her, speechless.

  “What does this mean for us?” Mel asked, her expression stricken.

  Oh, poor Mel.

  Marti’s heart went out to her. This could be bad news for everyone. If PopNewz shut down, hundreds would lose their jobs, but Mel had three kids at home.

  “That’s the best part.” Karen’s eyes brightened. “People are saying they think she fled the country in order to evade a prison sentence, but not before selling the company to some billionaire on a dime.”

  “Whoa,” Marti said, stunned.

  “I know. And we’re all to take the next couple days off while the company regroups.” Karen raised her eyes skyward. “Thank heaven for small miracles.” She hurried down the hall, mumbling about a vacation as she left.

  All three of them stood there, staring at the chaos that was PopNewz in stunned silence.

  It looked like Marti wasn’t the only one that had an eventful weekend. While Logan’s story ran, Blue was dealing with a whole host of problems of her own. And clamoring to find a way out of them.

  Why couldn’t this have happened before Blue went and ruined everything with her and Logan?

  “You don’t have to quit now.” Caroline shook Marti’s arm, shaking her free from her thoughts.

  “What?” Marti blinked. Then it dawned on her. She was right. If Blue was gone, and someone else was managing PopNewz, there was no reason for her to leave.

  Her eyes widened. “I can stay.”

  “The witch is gone!” Caroline hooted as the three of them laughed.

  But Marti’s excitement quickly fizzled as reality sank in. Her job was safe, but her relationship was still over.

  Sensing her mood, Mel sobered. “What about Logan? With her gone, you’ll never find out who lied and sold him out.”

  “Nope.” Marti shook her head and glanced down at her hands, not wanting to cry. “Job or not, I guess he and I are still over.”

  LOGAN

  LOGAN FELT THE SEEDS of regret growing inside him with every minute that passed. Ever since he left Allison’s apartment on Sunday, he’d tried desperately to get in touch with Marti. There was no answer at her apartment, and her phone went straight to voicemail every time he called. So, he was left with little choice but to show up at her workplace.

  He’d be lying if he said he was thrilled with the notion of setting foot inside an institution that fed on other people’s tragedy and secrets to make a buck, and worse yet, twisted the truth for clickbait. But if facing Marti’s boss meant getting the chance to speak with her, then so be it. The fact that he had thought the worst of her and accused her of lying ate at him. He couldn’t imagine how she felt—angry, accused, and brokenhearted.

  With nothing but a cup of coffee in his stomach, he took a cab to Rockefeller Center. Every punch of the gas and every traffic stop brought him closer to her. His anxiety increased with each passing minute. Hidden Heartbeat and his job were the least of his concerns. What if she couldn’t forgive him for not believing her? What if she decided she didn’t love him after all or, once again, put up walls?

  The cab pulled up to the curb. Logan paid for the ride and stepped out into the cold December morning. The sky was clear in the waking light with the promise of sunshine, which he told himself was a good sign, even if his churning stomach said otherwise.

  As he made his way past tourists and people on their way into work, he inhaled, focusing on the burst of cold air filling his lungs. He stepped into the building behind several women chatting animatedly about their weekend and made his way to the tenth floor. Outside the elevators, he paused. No matter what, he had to make her understand. She had to forgive him.

  Sweat beaded his brow as he stepped up to the PopNewz studio. Tugging on the bottom of his shirt, he readied himself to go inside and plea for her forgiveness when the door burst open and there she was—Marti with Mel and another woman in tow.

  Her auburn hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail. She wore a dress that looked soft to the touch and boots. Fatigue painted shadows beneath her eyes, a sign of restless nights he hoped was on account of missing him because maybe that meant there was hope for him yet. Despite her obvious exhaustion, she was beautiful. Extraordinary. And his heart ached at the sight.

  When she glanced up and saw him, she froze. Her blue eyes sparkled aquamarine under the light and her rosebud lips pinched into a tight line.

  Her friends exchanged a look before the blond one stepped forward. “We’ll, uh, just let you two talk.” Then she yanked on Mel’s arm and they were gone, leaving Logan alone with the only woman he cared to see.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked. Her gaze darted behind him to the elevator, a reminder that one wrong word, one misstep, and she might leave.

  “I stopped at your apartment yesterday, but you weren’t there, and I tried to call,” he said, letting this piece of information hang in the air. He needed her to know he had come for her sooner.

  “I was at a friend’s.”

  Logan swallowed. “I love you,” he blurted, and watched as her eyes widened. “And I have something to say, so if you don’t mind, please, let me say it. All of it.”

  He waited a beat, and when she made no move to leave, he took it as his green light. “I should have believed you. But I was . . . I don’t know . . . afraid.”

  He moved toward her, erasing the gap until she was close enough to touch. “The night you told me you were choosing your column over me, it confirmed my worst fears. Then when I saw the article, I just thought it was another way of you pushing me away. And so I pushed back. I’ve been lied to before, betrayed . . . with Allison, and all my old fears came tumbling back. But I’m sorry I ever doubted you. I was stupid.”

  His words settled in the silence between them. The air stretched thin with the truth. Then her lips quirked and the tension dissolved to dust. “Can I get that in writing? Like a signed admission.”

  “Anything.” Logan huffed with relief and scrubbed a hand over his face. “Allison sold those lies to PopNewz.”

  Marti’s eyes widened. “Why would she do that?”

  “She’s been taking money from me for years.” Logan shrugged. “She’s been using her grief and my guilt against me, but I’m done with paying for past mistakes. From now on, I’m only looking to the future.”

  “You deserve to be happy, Logan.”

  Why does that sound like goodbye?

  He smoothed a hand over her hair, brushing the loose wisps from her face, willing her to say more. “I’m happiest when I’m with you.”

  “But what about Hidden Heartbeat, your reputation? I went to the Times. I told them the truth, that PopNewz lied, but what if they do nothing with it? What if this messes up years of your hard work? I don’t want what happened with us to be the reason your dreams don’t come true.”

  Logan brought his hand up to her face. He cupped her cheek and sighed with the relief of touching her again. “You’re my biggest dream, Marti. You. Everything else I ever get in life will be just a bonus. And the fact that you did that for me, put your career on the line, speaks volumes.”

  This is the moment of truth. Right here, right now.

  “You once said understanding goes deeper than knowledge. There are many people who know you, but there are very few who understand you.”

  “I never said that,” she whispered.

  “No. But you didn’t have to. It was that quote on your wall, but it was different from the others, and you didn’t need to tell me it was how you felt or that it was about you. Because I don’t just know you, McBride, I get you. I understand you. I think I always have. Right fr
om the start.” He slid a hand in her hair. “And I love you. I love your smart mouth, your cynicism, and your bratty opinions. I’m totally lost to you.”

  Her throat bobbed, so he continued, “You said you might love me. Did you mean it? Do you? Or is it still a question?”

  She glanced away, a sob escaping the back of her throat.

  His pulse raced, unable to read the look on her face, so when she said nothing, he shook her, willing her to speak. “Marti, so help me, if you don’t answer—”

  “I do. There is no doubt. I was just afraid.” She tipped her chin up, meeting his eyes. Tears coated her lashes and her lower lip shook. “Do you think I stopped loving you just because you didn’t believe me? Love doesn’t work that way. Even I know that.” She rolled her eyes. “You’re arrogant, but you’re funny and persistent, and you care more about people than you probably should. And you’re by far the smartest, stupidest man I know. You claim to know so much about love, yet you thought I’d just move on in the space of a weekend?”

  Logan grinned. “I’m not sure I’ve ever been so happy to be called stupid.” Then he pressed his mouth over hers, shutting her up and pulling her in. Her lips were soft and warm—a welcome home. He could kiss her forever and not tire of her mouth, the feel of her breath tangling with his.

  When he pulled away, he rested his forehead against hers. “So are we in this, McBride? You and me?”

  “On one condition.” She peered up at him.

  “What’s that?”

  Her lips curved into a grin. “If this time it’s for real.”

  “It’s definitely for real.” He brushed his lips over her forehead. “There’s only one problem.”

  “What?” she asked, taking the bait.

  “You’ll need a new title.”

  She arched a brow. “A new title?”

  “If you’re no longer the Queen of Single, you’ll need a new nickname.”

  Marti grinned and reached down, clasping their hands. “Hmm . . . That is a problem, isn’t it?” She tugged him toward the elevator and he followed.

  He’d follow her anywhere.

  Then he said it out loud one more time, needing to hear it. “Well, you are hopelessly in love now.”

  “Hopelessly,” she confirmed.

  They stepped onto the elevator and glanced over at each other as the doors closed. Once they were shut inside, Marti turned, tugging him to her. “Thank you, Logan.”

  “For what?”

  “For making me fall.” Then she kissed him.

  EPILOGUE

  Marti

  ONE MONTH LATER . . .

  The second the door swung open, Marti jumped into Logan’s arms.

  He laughed and wrapped his arms around her. One encapsulating her waist, while the other held her bottom up. “Well, hello to you too.”

  She pressed her mouth against his and sighed. She’d been waiting on this all day. TGIF.

  Her fingers tangled in his hair and she sunk into his touch, his kiss. Lately, they spent nearly every minute of their free time together. And still, it wasn’t enough. When she wasn’t working, they were hanging out at one of their apartments, trying new restaurants, or exploring the city together like it was their first time. Somehow, everything seemed better with him in her life. Shiny and new. Complete in a way it hadn’t been before. Picturing a life without him had become impossible.

  In the month that passed, The New York Times ended up doing an expose on Blue. They uncovered her illegal activity, as well as exposed how she paid Logan’s ex, who had been blackmailing him for years for her story. In the end, it was enough to clear up any doubt his current and future patients had about him, and a week later, when PopNewz reopened its doors under new management, Marti penned an impromptu article on how she’d fallen in love. She had indefinitely hung up her singles hat and had no plans on going back.

  When she came up for air, Logan grinned. “Every man should get a greeting like that.” He expertly kicked the door shut with his foot, then held her in his arms as he walked into the kitchen while she peppered his face with kisses.

  “Miss me,” he asked, laughter in his voice.

  “Only a little.” Marti grinned.

  He slid her down his body, onto her feet and checked the sauce bubbling on the stove before turning to her and placing his hands on her shoulders. “Dinner will be ready in twenty. Mel and Caroline are still coming, right?”

  “Of course.” Marti slid her arms around her waist. “How did I get so lucky? A doctor and a man that can cook and entertain my friends?”

  “Well, you are spoiled.” He leaned down and brushed his lips over hers, then asked, “How was work?”

  “Good. The new owner still hasn’t shown his face, but the new chief operating officer, Hillary, seems pretty cool. Real hands-on. Laid-back. Basically, the complete opposite of Blue. For now, I’ll just keep bouncing around between columns until I find my niche. But not everyone’s day was great. I hope you bought lots of wine.”

  Logan cocked his head. “What’s up?”

  “Apparently, Mel’s parents dropped a bomb on her today. They’re retiring to Florida, which leaves her without childcare for the triplets.”

  Logan winced. “Ouch.”

  “Yeah. Can you imagine? Paying for childcare somewhere decent in the city for three kids? She’ll never afford it.”

  “What’s she going to do?”

  Marti sighed. “Honestly, I have no idea. Neither does she.” She wished there was a way she could help out her friend, but she just hadn’t figure one out yet. The only reason Marti afforded her Manhattan apartment was because her cult following allowed her tons of sponsorship deals. Being a city celebrity had its advantages. She made money merely by showing up at events and posting on social media. Mel didn’t have that luxury.

  “I told her while they’re restructuring, she should throw her hat in the ring for a promotion.”

  “Definitely.”

  “It makes me feel bad though.” Marti grimaced. “Here she is having a personal crisis while we’re in love and planning a trip to Europe.”

  Logan frowned. “You’re not having second thoughts about the trip, are you?”

  She squeezed his arm. “No. Of course not.”

  His expression crumpled with relief. “Good. And this new boss, she’s okay with you taking three weeks off in April?”

  Marti grabbed his hands, lacing her fingers through his. “She doesn’t see it as a problem. But she’d like me to take a lot of pictures and write about it upon my return. Why do you seem so anxious about this trip, anyway?”

  Logan shifted his gaze back to the sauce on the stove, as if inspecting it with intense concentration. “I’m not nervous.”

  Interesting, she said he was anxious, not nervous. Then again, weren’t they kind of two ends on the same pole? Regardless, he was definitely being weird about it. “That reminds me. Our agent needs you to email her about changing our flights.”

  “Sure. Her card’s in my wallet. You want to grab it, while I check the chicken?”

  “Of course.” Marti pulled away, but not before Logan gave her hands a little squeeze, then kissed her palm before releasing her.

  Her skin heated with the touch as she slowly backed away from him. “It’s in the bedroom in my nightstand,” he called out.

  “Okay.” She weaved through the furniture in the living room toward his bedroom. “Hey, my dad wants to have dinner next week,” she called out as she headed toward the giant bed with the leather upholstered headboard and made a beeline for the nightstand.

  Opening the drawer, she pulled out his wallet, but not before her eyes snagged on a small package. A padded mailer with a large bulge piqued her curiosity. She reached for it, then thought better of it and pulled her hand away.

  It was none of her business, so she slammed the door shut, then stared at the closed nightstand for several seconds before growling and yanking the drawer back open. With a glance at the doorway to ensure sh
e was still alone, she pulled out the little padded envelope and reached inside.

  A robins egg blue Tiffany box stared back out at her. She gasped, then covered her mouth to stifle the sound.

  No. It couldn’t be, could it?

  Her stomach did a little jig as she opened the box the tiniest of cracks until she made out the outline of a ring. With a yelp, she hurriedly shoved it back in the envelope, then the nightstand and slammed the door shut.

  “Everything okay?” Logan called out.

  “Uh, yeah. Sorry. Pinched my finger on the drawer,” she hollered back.

  Standing, she smoothed down her black shift dress, trying to ease the butterflies wreaking havoc on her insides. He was going to propose. Dr. Logan Love was going to propose. To her. And she knew without a doubt she would say yes when he did.

  Now, suddenly, the three-week trip to Europe made sense. Logan had almost seemed nervous about it every time he brought it up. If Marti was a betting woman, she’d guess he’d pop the question while watching a Parisian sunset, while gazing at the Eiffel Tower, or cuddling on a romantic gondola ride. No matter how he popped the big question, it would be amazing, of that she had no doubt.

  Only three months away . . .

  Marti bounced on her toes and snatched Logan’s wallet off the bed, then made her way back out to him. She smothered her smile the best she could, which was difficult, considering she felt ridiculously giddy. Who was this love-stricken woman, and what happened to the Queen of Single?

  She handed him his wallet and tried her best to act as nonchalant as possible. She saw nothing. Knew nothing. Nothing was out of the ordinary.

  Logan fished the travel agent’s business card out of the worn leather and quickly tapped out an email on his phone, while glancing up at Marti, eyeing her suspiciously. “Why do you have that weird look on your face?” he asked.

  “Me? What weird face?”

  “That one.” He waved the card at her. “Like you’re full of air and ready to explode.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Marti said, pretending to pick a piece of lint off her dress. Then, because he was still staring, to busy herself, she moved to the bottle of uncorked wine and poured them both a glass.