“Come on, Na,” he pleaded with her. “You know how Lucky sometimes gets. The guy’s like a dog with a fucking bone. Once that man gets something stuck in his head, he doesn’t ever want to let it go.”
“I just can’t believe they would bet on something like that.” She shook an angry head “If Hunter were still here, they never would’ve even considered—”
“Hunter’s not here.” He stared back at her. “I am.”
He refused to live in the shadow of a dead man. Not even one belonging to his best friend and SEAL brother.
“You’re right.” Natalie shook her head. “He’s not here. And I thought…” She paused. “I thought I was okay moving on without him, but…”
“But?” Logan’s gut filled with a dread he prayed would disappear.
She held his gaze with a soft, “Maybe I’m not ready for all this like I thought I was.”
Fucking Lucky. Swear to Christ, I’m going to strangle the loud-mouthed son of a bitch.
“Nat, don’t do this. I’ll talk with Lucky and the guys—”
“Why didn’t you tell me about the bet?” she cut him off. “I mean, I thought we told each other pretty much everything. And you’ve told me all sorts of other dumbass things Lucky and those guys have done in the past. Why not this?”
Logan knew what she was doing, and he’d be damned if he let her. “I already told you, Nat. I only found out about the bet two days ago. The same night as your break-in.” He ran a frustrated hand over his jaw. “You were in the shower, and I’d called Lucky to have him start running some backgrounds. He mentioned the bet, I told him it was bullshit, I thought that was the end of it.”
And if you heard us well enough to know there was a bet, then you should’ve heard Lucky bitching because Ididn’ttell him anything about what happened between us.” He ran a frustrated hand over his jaw. “But this isn’t really about the bet, is it?”
“I’m sorry?”
“You might be pissed at the guys for what they did, but I also know you can never stay mad at any of them. Even Lucky. Or me.” He kept his eyes on hers for this next part. “And I can’t help but wonder whether you’re using this as an easy way out.”
It was a risk, pushing her the way he was. But if they had any hope for a future, this was a conversation that needed to be had.
“Easy?” Those dark brows shot high. “You think any of this has beeneasyfor me? I never asked to become a widow at thirty, Logan! I didn’t want that.” A tear fell down her cheek, but it vanished with a single, angry swipe. “I never wanted to see that same look of sympathy on the faces of everyone I knew. I didn’t want to be known as the pathetic young widow who couldn’t even make it out of bed some mornings. And I—”
“You think this is whatIwanted?” He took a wide step toward her. “I didn’t want things to be like this either, Natalie!” So many times he’d prayed for Hunter to be alive. So many times he’d prayednotto love her anymore. “I didn’t want to have to watch Hunt die in my arms. Didn’t want to have to sit back and watch while your grief pulled you farther and farther into a depression that fucking terrified me. And I sure as hell didn’t want to have to sit there and watch while my best friend married the woman I loved!”
His shouted words echoed off her living room walls.
Her sharp intake of air was audible as she stared up at him with her wide-eyed gaze. “Wha—what did you just say?”
Shit. Fuck. Damn it!
Logan hadn’t meant to blurt that last part out. But he’d been on such a roll, his lips were forming the words before he ever even realized it.
“What?” He shook his head before lying badly. “N-nothing. I didn’t…I mean, I… should go check the perimeter. Just in case.”
Way to puss out, asshole.
He put his back to her and headed toward the home’s front door. He’d made it all of two long strides when he heard…
“Logan Nicholas Hayes, don’t youdaretake another step toward that door!”
Logan froze but didn’t turn around.
So naturally, Natalie’s next order was for him to, “Look at me.”
Goddamnit.
The entire time he’d known the woman, he’d never been able to tell her no. This moment was no exception.
Turning around as ordered, Logan found her fiery gaze shooting daggers straight back at him. “You think you can just drop a bomb like that and run? What the hell, Logan?”