Page 156 of Sapphire Sunset

Knew exactly what he must do.

He was out the door and behind the wheel of his truckseveral minutes later, heading west under a darkening sky still threaded withpinks and oranges and deep blues, just like it had looked that night five yearsago as he’d headed to his first shift. West toward the coast. West toward a newand frightening but exciting future. West toward Sapphire Cove.

West toward Connor.

Scott and J.T. saw his truck as it pulled into the motorcourt and ran out to meet it, both breathless with excitement.

“Logan! Did you see it?” Scott asked.

“I saw. I saw it. Where’s the valet?”

“I’ll park your damn truck, just go,” J.T. shouted.

“Where is he? Where’s Connor?”

“Penthouse suite,” Scott said. “They were all watching.Go!”

Logan ran through the lobby, then couldn’t bring himself towait for the elevator, so he ran up the fire stairs, down the long, carpetedhallway he’d walked so many times, hallways he thought he might never seeagain, and then there it was, the recently replaced door to the penthousesuite, beyond which fantasies had come true and all dreams had seemed possible.

Before he was within reach of the knob, there was Connor,big blue eyes bright and full of tears. Tears of relief, Logan hoped. Had theygiven him a heads-up that Logan was on his way?

“You fought for me,” Logan said. “Even though I left, you foughtfor me anyway.”

“Damn right I did. I wanted it to be our first fight, LoganMurdoch. Not our last.”

He didn’t remember closing the last few feet of distance, butsuddenly he was taking Connor in his arms and he was bathing in his smell, hiswarmth. His protection.

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They’d greeted him like he was a war hero, andthe whole time Connor wouldn’t let go of his hand, even as Janice threw herarms around him and then Naser pulled him into a hearty half hug. Logan grippedConnor’s hand right back, marveling at how the seemingly casual connectioncould feel so anchoring. Then came polite, formal partings Logan didn’t reallyhear, and suddenly he and Connor were alone, the taffeta curtains billowing inthe warm ocean breezes, and all of it feeling so dreamlike and perfect Loganwondered if he’d hit his head and would wake up on the floor of his dad’s officein another minute or two.

The dream didn’t end. Instead, he took Connor into his arms,and for a while they held each other as if they’d both jumped out of the pathof a speeding truck at the last possible second and were now tangled togetheron the curb, trying to breathe again as gratitude swept them from head to toe.

“What did you do, my prince?” Logan finally whispered. “Whatdid you do to get him to say all those things?”

“I know a guy on the inside. He made my point for me.”

“Seriously?”

Connor laughed. “No, Logan. Not seriously.”

Logan stiffened and drew back so he could look into Connor’seyes. “The letter. You read him your dad’s letter.”

“Not yet,” Connor said. “But now that he gave the interview,I kind of have to.”

“You can’t.”

“I can and I will because I want to foryou.”

Logan pressed his lips to his forehead, knowing he wanted togo lower but hesitating for some reason. Thinking that a kiss might besomething he’d have to earn back.

“Are you hungry?” Connor asked.

“Yeah. I haven’t eaten in two days. Haven’t slept mucheither.”

“Me neither.”

But he couldn’t let Connor go, couldn’t stop caressing hischeeks and planting his forehead with tender kisses.

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