She was right. The woman was always fucking right. And he was a dick.
“I’m sorry, Nat.” A shake of his head. “I never should have said that.”
“Because you didn’t mean it?” An insecurity he hadn’t seen in a while returned in her unsure stare.
He shook his head. “I think you know that’s not true.”
“No, actually. I don’t know that, because up until a few days ago, you never so much as hinted at having any sort of romantic interest in me. You never flirted, never tried making move, or—”
“Because Icouldn’t!” He lost the battle to hold back. “He was my best friend, Nat.” A painful knot grew in the base of his throat, his nose and eyes burning with the sudden onslaught of emotion. “Hunt was…” Logan’s voice cracked. Clearing his throat, he forced himself to go on. “Damn it, the man was the closest thing to an honest-to-goodness brother I ever had. How the hell was I supposed to tell either of you how I really felt? I couldn’t do that.” An emphatic shake of his head.
“It’s been two years, Logan,” Natalie pointed out. “We hang out all the time. You could’ve said something before now.” A pause. “Youshouldhave.”
Time to nut up and be honest.
“You’re right,” he admitted. “You deserved that, I just…”
Goddamn it.
Could he not make it through one fucking sentence, for Christ’s sake?
“You just what?”
He kept his eyes on hers, willing her to understand. “The truth is, I never said anything before now because I was afraid to.”
She gave him an adorably confused scowl. “I didn’t thinkanythingscared you.”
“The thought of losing you terrifies me more than anything else ever has,” Logan confessed quietly.
The anger that had been so prevalent in her chocolate gaze began to fade. “Logan…”
“You’re the most important person in my life, Nat.” He took another step toward her. “And while being this close to you these last couple of years has been Hell, it’s also been a gift.”
“You just said being around me has been hell. How is that a gift? Oh, and…no offense taken to that comment, by way.”
God, he loved how feisty she got when she was pissed.
Logan’s lips twitched, but he didn’t dare risk a smile. Not when there was so much on the line.
“It was hell because I couldn’t tell you my true feelings. I couldn’t hold your hand or kiss those luscious lips.” Logan drew in a breath before letting it out slowly. “But it was also a gift, because where I lost one best friend, I also gained a new one.” He stopped inches away from where she stood. Gazes locked, he had to fist his hands at his sides to keep from reaching out to her. “I’m sorry about Lucky and that stupid bet. And if you want, we can go back to my place right now, and I’ll hold the mouthy bastard down while you beat the piss out of him.”
The ghost of a smile lifting the corners of her lips was like the greatest of rewards. “That’s a tempting offer, but no. You’re right.” A soft exhale. “I know Lucky would never purposely disrespect me. No one on the team would.” Her gaze softened as she reached up and rested her palm against his chest. “Especially you.”
“If any one of the guys thought you and I were a bad idea, they would’ve spoken up well before now.”
“Covering her hand with one of his, Logan held it close. With a gentle squeeze, he tried desperately to hang on to a love he’d only just found. “They just want you to be happy, sweetheart. And I think…no, Iknow…I can help get you there again.”
“Logan…
“If you need some time to decide if this is what you want…If you need time to decide ifI’mwhat you want—”
“She was shaking her head before he was even finished, cutting him off with an attempted, “I don’t—”
“Nat, please!” He gave that hand another squeeze.
He knew he was begging shamelessly, butfuck!He couldn’t lose her. Couldn’t let herrejecthim. Not yet.
Not until he’d finished laying it all out for her.