Crazy for Her(47)
“Which one?”
“Both, I imagine.”
“Maybe, but I don’t know if I deserve them.”
“Logan Kincaid, I’m fixing to slap you upside your head. Maybe that’ll put some sense in that mind of yours.”
His foster mother had always been able to read him like an open book. He studied the woman he respected above all others. In her late sixties, she was showing her age, and the few extra pounds she’d put on since coming to live with him and Maria gave her the look of a sweet, gentle grandmother. Nothing could be further from the truth. The woman was tough as nails and ran his household with the precision of a five-star general.
He owed her more than he could ever repay—had tried to get her to retire and enjoy the life he offered. Sitting on her butt and eating chocolates was not for her, she’d declared, and had appointed herself the role of housekeeper and sometimes cook. Logan secretly believed she loved bossing the day maid around.
“I have some questions I need to ask you later,” Logan said.
“And I have some answers for you.”
That, he didn’t doubt. Dani and Maria walked in, Buchanan trailing behind them. Maria held up one of Dani’s books. “You didn’t tell me she writes romance novels.”
Dani leaned close to Maria and whispered in her ear. His sister’s eyes widened. “I don’t believe it. You’re actually reading this?” She turned the book so he could see the cover.
Mrs. Jankowski squinted and read aloud the title. “The Countess Takes a Lover.”
Buchanan laughed, and Logan feared he might be blushing. “What of it? It’s a damn good book.”
Compared to the pleased smile Dani gave him, Logan decided his embarrassment didn’t amount to jack beans. “Don’t you have some place to go, Buchanan?”
His gaze slid to Maria. “No, boss.”
Logan gritted his teeth when Maria inched closer to Romeo. “It’s almost midnight. Go home.”
“Thanks for picking us up, Jake,” Dani said. “It’s great seeing you again. You’ll be around, right?”
“You bet. You coming by the office tomorrow, boss?”
“Yeah, I’m bringing Dani by for a tour.”
Buchanan gave Dani a hug. “See you tomorrow, then.” He glanced at Maria before leaving.
Logan was at a loss as to how to handle what was an obvious attraction between Maria and Jake. He made a mental note to talk to Dani about it.
Mrs. Jankowski stood and gently placed Regan in Dani’s arms. “Let’s get this baby put to bed. We’ve set up a crib in your room. Is that okay?”
“That’s great,” Dani answered.
“I’m off to bed, too,” Maria said, following them out.
Logan picked up the suitcases and took Dani hers. “Would you like to join me for a glass of wine after you get settled?”
“I’m tempted, but it’s been a long day. I think I’ll shower and call it a night.”
Disappointed, he left her in Mrs. Jankowski’s care and went to his room. After showering and changing into sweats, he made his way to the kitchen to scrounge up something to eat. Not surprisingly, Mrs. Jankowski had anticipated his needs, and he took a seat across from her at the table.
“Thanks,” he said, and dug into the ham and cheese sandwich. “You get Dani settled in?”
She put her cup down. “Yes. Other than telling us you’d be in North Carolina, you were pretty closedmouthed about why. Is she in trouble?”
“Someone’s stalking her.”
Her eyes widened and she put her hand over her heart. “Dear Lord, why? Who?”
“I don’t know yet, but I’m sure as hell going to find out.” He finished the last bite of his sandwich and pushed his plate aside. Getting up, he went to the refrigerator, got a beer, and twisted the cap off.
“You said her last name’s Prescott, so I assume she was your friend Evan’s wife?”
Leaning back against the counter, he nodded. Trust her to get right to the problem.
She looked at him with knowing eyes. “And how long have you been in love with her?”
Yeah, let’s dig right in. He could never lie to her; she always knew when he did. He told her the truth. “Since the first time I saw her.” So she would understand, he told her how he and Evan had met her. “When she looked over at me and gave me that embarrassed smile, something happened to me, but she belongs to Evan.”
“Belonged, past tense.”
“But I was responsible for bringing him home safely, and I failed her. Failed them both.” He brought the bottle to his mouth and took a deep drink.
She raised her eyes to the ceiling. “Lord, please deliver me from stupid men. It was war, Logan, and one sad fact of war is men die. Good ones along with the bad. Did you make a mistake that caused his death?”