“Let me get this straight. You’re telling me you, Arch, Chase, and Van have a running bet on when I’m going to sleep with Natalie?” Was he fucking serious? “For how long?”
“Since that last fishing trip you skipped out on.”
“I didn’t skip out on shit,” he reminded the asshole. “I told you guys, it was right after the first anniversary of Hunt’s death, and Natalie was having a hard time. I didn’t feel right leaving her for an entire week, so—”
“I know that,” Lucky assured him. “Weallunderstood why you felt you need to stay there. It’s not like anyone was mad or anything. Chase said something about how he was glad she had you to lean on, to which I may or may not have made some type of insinuating comment—”
“May or may not have?” Logan arched a brow the other man couldn’t see.
“Okay, so Ididmake an insinuating comment, but only just as a joke. But then Arch said something about how he thought you’d be good for her, I said she’d be better for you, and Van…” Lucky took a breath to presumably think back. “I don’t know if Van commented either way. But he didn’t get all growly like he does. Plus, he joined in on the pot, so I guess that means he’s cool with the idea, too.”
“Unfuckingbelieveable.” His back teeth ground together. “You know, who Nat does or does not sleep with is none of your goddamn business. And the fact that you guys placedmoneyon us like that…” He blew out a breath. “That’s so fucked up, I don’t even know what to say other than it’s over. No more bet. Got it?”
“Come on, Logan. Don’t go getting your panties in a twist. For one, it all started out as a joke like, forever ago. And two…” The other man exhaled loudly. “While it would admittedly take some getting used to, we all agreed we’d rather see her with you than some pencil-pushing jackass who cares more about his golf game than taking care of his woman.”
Logan opened his mouth to respond, but clamped it shut immediately after. Like a fish out of water, he repeated the move several times because….
What the hell was he supposed to say to that?
One of the bigger things holding him back all this time was out of respect. Namely, respect for his team and Hunter’s memory. And now he learns the guys hadn’t just discussed the possibility of him and Nat, they’d been placingbetson when it would finally happen.
“Boss?” Lucky used his old nickname. “You still there?”
“I’m here.”
Shocked as shit and more confused than ever, but he was here.
“Listen, man. I didn’t mean to upset you. And the guys and I…we meant no disrespect. Not to you or Hunter. And we wouldneverintentionally disrespect Natalie. We just want her to be happy.” The former SEAL added a belated, “But we really don’t want her ending up with some geek with a pocket protector and a five-a.m. tee time.”
Despite the serious topic of conversation, Logan released a throaty snort and grinned. “Pocket protector?” He chuckled. “Do people still use those?”
“I have no idea. Just sounded good.”
The two men shared a laugh, but when it died down seconds later, Logan knew it was time to come clean. With both the team and the woman sleeping in the room across the hall from his.
He’d gone to her house tonight with the intent to do just that.
After being shut out for nearly a week, he’d decided enough was enough. He was going to lay it all out for her. How he felt. What he wanted. For himself and them as a couple.
Logan had been prepared to tell her all of it, but now…
No way he’d lay all that shit on her tonight. But Lucky had broached the subject first. And since, once he did tell Natalie he wanted them to be more than friends, the team was bound to find out anyway.
And if what Lucky had just said about the guys being supportive of the idea…
Fuck it.
“Jason, I…” He stopped to swallow his nerves. He’d never said this shit out loud. Not to anyone.
“You what?”
Just say it.
“I’m pretty sure I’m in love with her.”
Lucky didn’t respond right away that time. But when he did, the man sounded as serious as Logan had ever heard him.
“She know?”