Page 27 of Landing Her Eagle
He's right, but it’s hard. I want him to stay here with me. I attempt a smile, but it’s feeble. I hate this. I finally have him here with me, and I’m already counting down the days until he leaves again. I can’t enjoy our time together because I’m expecting the end. I’m so tired of people leaving me. I’m so tired of being left behind. I know my parents and Gran didn’t leave me by choice. Logan is choosing to leave though.
“I think I hate when you know what I’m thinking. I can’t have any secrets.” I roll away from him and get out of bed. “I’ll start your coffee brewing. What do you want to do for breakfast? I don’t think we have a lot of eggs left, so no full breakfast like you spoiled me with yesterday.”
Logan throws back the covers and rises from the bed. I can’t help but stare at his broad chest and feel giddy that I had the luxury of using it for my pillow last night. My gaze travels down over his abs—tight and bisected by his happy trail, leading to his… My gaze flies back up to his face, and he smirks. That jerk knows me too well.
“I remember you had bagels in the freezer, so I could fry us each an egg, put it on a toasted bagel with cheese, and voilà—homemade Sizzli sandwich.” He walks toward the door to the hallway. “I’ll take care of my Godzilla breath and start breakfast. You do your thing.” He checks out the clock on the dresser. “Breakfast in thirty sound good? That enough time for you?”
I nod and watch him leave the room. Leave our bedroom. Holy cow. We slept together last night. I sink down on the mattress and flop back, my arms stretched out to the sides. I spent the night in Logan Morris’s arms, and it was glorious!
I must have let out a little squee of joy because Logan’s head appears in the doorway, and he grins. “I’m all for spending the day in bed with you, Daph. Say the word. But if you’re going to insist on going to the office, you need to get your cute butt up and get ready.”
I groan. “I’m moving. Let me have my moment here. Be a wonderful boyfriend and prepare sustenance.” I flail my hand in my approximation of a royal wave to send him on his way. I can hear his chuckle as he moves down the hall. I could get used to this.
20
LOGAN
We’re sittingin my Jeep at a stoplight, on our way to my uncle’s house, and Daphne looks like she’s about to hurl. She’s pale and tapping her fingers on her thigh.
I reach over and grab her hand, stroking it, trying to calm her. “Why are you nervous? You know everyone that’s going to be there. They all adore you. I’m pretty sure some of them like you more than they like me.”
Giving my hand a squeeze, Daphne grins. “Just your dad. Your mom still likes you best.”
“Sunshine, you’ve charmed all the men in my family. Uncle Will and Liam are big fans of yours, and I’m pretty sure Andy had a crush on you. You were the alluring older college woman, so much more worldly than the girls in his freshman high school class.”
Her giggle is like a crystal bell. “Yeah, I was so alluring in my hoodies and Chucks. You couldn’t even tell I had boobs!”
I laugh. “Maybe that was the attraction. Heisgay.”
I stop at the red light and gaze at her. She’s lovely in her red V-neck sweater that drapes over her breasts enticingly. There’s no hiding the fact she has boobs now. Her rich chestnut hair is down around her shoulders in large, loose curls. Big brown eyes meet mine through the lenses of her wire-rimmed glasses.
“What?” she asks.
I smile at her and then turn back to realize the light turned green. “You don’t know how lovely you are. It’s not what you wear or your boobs. Just so you know, I’m a big fan of your boobs, but that’s one—okay, two—of the things that make you captivating. It’s so much more than what’s on the outside, and you don’t see what the rest of us see beyond your beauty. Hey! No scoffing.”
Knowing Daphne, she’s rolling her eyes in concert with her scoff because she can’t take a compliment.
“Youarebeautiful,” I insist. “But you’re so much more. You’re smart and strong and loving and funny. You’re the total package…plus a nice rack.”
She pulls her hand from my grasp and punches me in the arm.
“Hey! And you have a good jab.”
I turn onto my aunt and uncle’s street and follow the cul-de-sac to pull up to the curb in front of their house.
“My parents are here. Kendall and Liam too.”
My cousin Kennie is home from school for the weekend, and Liam stays in the pool house when he’s not traveling on Morgan Development business.
“Yeah, Kennie texted to see what I was wearing. She’s so excited to be going to Devil’s Den with us after dinner. Says it’s the first time she’s going to a casino…legally.”
Daphne and I shake our heads in tandem. My younger cousin is a spitfire. I turn off the car and lean toward Daphne, placing a gentle kiss on her lips. I could stay like this all night, but I suspect Mom and Aunt Faith are watching. If we linger too long, they’ll come out to get us.
Parting reluctantly, I reach in the back seat to grab the box holding the caramel apple cake Daph picked up from the Half-Cocked Bake Shop on the way home. Daphne takes the cake box from my hands.
“Here, give me the cake. I’ll carry it. I know you’re going to be subjected to hugs and handshakes the second we walk in. You need your hands free.”
“True. I’m surprised we haven’t had visitors showing up on the doorstep. I didn’t expect them to wait patiently until Friday for us to meet for dinner.” I walk around the car to open the door for her. Sure, it’s old-fashioned, but I enjoy doing these little things for Daphne. My dad still does these things for Mom, and I see how happy it makes her. I’m fortunate to have them as an example. I would love to have a marriage as strong and happy as my parents. And I want it to be with Daphne. I’m trying to ignore the warning Uncle Will gave me. We’re going to be fine.
