Page 66 of Unmistakably Us

They made their way to the main door. “Thanks, good luck to you too, Lydia. Hope to see you soon.” January’s voice was happier than it sounded earlier. Like genuinely happy, but he knew it was only going to get better when she stopped short.

“DEMON! You brought Demon.” The way she caressed that bike did nothing to deflate his cock. It was going to be a painful ride with the zipper stamping his flesh.

“Of course, I brought him. He is your first love, after all.”

January looked down at her dress. “Not sure how I can keep this under control on the back of a bike.”

“What do you mean back? He’s yours, always will be.”

January looked puzzled. “Not anymore, I gave him to someone I love even more.” Logan came up to her, grabbed her ass, and leaned into her neck.

“Ours then. We’ll be married within the hour, so what’s mine is yours.” They started making out yet again. “Besides, I got something else you can ride.” Just when he thought he wouldn’t make it to the courthouse without another quickie, Andy’s voice cooled his passion.

“Knock it off, you two. You can make the babies after the vows. Right now, you need to get moving.” Andy was leaned again his car like he didn’t have a care in the world.

“Were you there the whole time?” Logan knew better than to ask that question.

“Yes, dear, I was. You two are hot as Hell, by the way. Very Julia Roberts movie if one were made into a high-budget porno. But that little heavy petting was nothing compared to the audio perfection coming from the dressing room earlier.”

This time, January’s blush damn near matched her Chucks. “Oh, God,” she groaned.

“Yes, that’s it,” Andy teased. “But seriously,” his tone shifted from teasing to professional on a dime, “your mother has been successfully collared and brought to heel. She blustered and postured, but in the end, she will not release any family secrets involving Augusta or yourself. She seemed quite adamant that I not go into detail as soon as I hinted at explaining to your…Mrs. Rodgers what I was speaking of.”

“Really? That simple?” January asked before Logan had a chance. He wasn’t buying it either.

“Actually, I think it will be. While Mrs. Rodgers was aware of the college slash employment contract, she doesn’t seem to be aware of others. Your mother used that to her advantage for a hot minute, threatening to sue over that. Which I informed her she is within her rights to do so and would likely be awarded a decent settlement per the contract.”

Logan was now seriously confused. “Why would you encourage her like that? Isn’t the goal to stay out of court? Keep January and Augusta’s name out of it?”

Andy’s laugh echoed off the building. It sounded a little scary. “Because, I wanted her to think of the risk verses reward. I took her aside and explained to her that the other contracts, while embarrassing for all parties, would have to come out. She seemed pleased by that fact, especially the embarrassing her daughters part.” Andy paused and examined his nails as if he were thoroughly board with the conversation, but the spark in his eyes told a different tale.

“Then I stressed all secrets, including one that involved the negotiation of a decade of your life and a grandchild. She seems especially keen on the Rodgers not learning about that one. The woman turned so white, I damn near lost sight of her in the rack of wedding veils behind us. Seems she doesn’t want any part of that released, so we struck a deal. We keep our mouths shut as long as she does the same and turns over all contracts, papers, pictures or anything else pertaining to Augusta and January. All while publicly supporting her daughters’ choices in husbands and children.”

Logan felt January stumble against him, catching her to his side and holding her close. “So, it’s really over? Gus is free? I’m free?”

Andy approached her, removed her from Logan’s arms, and caught her up in his own. Logan prickled to snatch her back and deck the man, but he didn’t deserve animosity; he deserved a fucking medal.

When he’d explained everything to Logan before, his heart ached for January and her sister. His childhood was no picnic, but damn. The Thornes were a whole different breed of cruel. At least his was open animosity and closed fists. These people emotionally blackmailed and extorted their own kids, forcing one into a marriage and using the other’s personal demons to do it.

“It is over. Now you go make a honest man out of that boy.” Andy lowered his voice, but Logan still managed to make out his words. “You’ve both been shaped and molded by some bullshit, but you found a way to fit together perfectly. That doesn’t happen often, so don’t let that go.”

January kissed Andy, and it didn’t bother Logan because he could see it for what it was. When Andy put her down, she tucked into his side again. Andy opened the trunk and handed Logan a large backpack. “Okay, you two run along. I have to get back to Marco and my little Angel. That is, unless you’ve changed you mind, Logan? I can follow you two to the courthouse?”

Logan shook his head no. Andy didn’t really seem disappointed; he’d understood Logan’s need for this ceremony to be just the two of them. Of course, he’d had to promise Francis she could plan them a right proper southern wedding next spring. Logan agreed to the lady’s extortion but it wasn’t going to be the hardship he’d led her to believe.

Andy got in his car and rolled down the window. “Oh, and enjoy tonight, but be sure to be back by supper time tomorrow. The clan has something planned, and you can’t miss it.”

Before they could question him further, he was gone. “Okay, logistically, how is this going to work?” January motioned to her dress and the bike.

“Well, you hop on, then I’ll get behind.” Logan put her backpack in a saddlebag and donned his, then zipped up his jacket. “We’ll roll the skirt up your waist, and I’ll tuck it into my jacket from the bottom. If I do that and press into you, we should have it under control. Easy-peasy.” He booped her nosed before pushing her helmet down over her head and doing the same with his.

They executed his plan to the letter, and it worked flawlessly. His jacket was full of her dress as they made their way down the country roads that would take them to Geneva County Courthouse and the judge who would ultimately marry them.

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