Chapter Fifty
Every muscle in Jade’s body ached. It was close to dawn when they drove to Logan’s house from the hospital. She'd been examined by a doctor, patched up and sent home to rest. Logan obtained several deep cuts, one that required sixteen stitches on his shoulder. He suffered a slight concussion, cracked rib and temporary hearing loss in one ear.
How he swam back to safety, she would never know.
The police recovered the badly burned body of Michael Kint. He was really dead, her horrifying ordeal over. His mother’s corpse hadn’t been found and probably wouldn’t ever be located.
Before they left, they stopped by to visit Lauren and were relieved to find out she'd been downgraded from critical to serious, the immediate danger over. Luke and Dan stayed to keep an exhausted Matt company, who divided time between Lauren’s bedside and his new son, Conner Matthew. Conner and mom were both fine and expected to be released later today.
Logan called his Aunt Trudy to check on Bella, who had finally fallen asleep and was resting as they spoke. He informed Trudy he was on the way to pick her up but Trudy protested vehemently, insisting the girl didn’t need to be disturbed. She could tell he wanted to argue, but his Aunt was right. He needed a few hours of sleep himself. The doctor told him that if he wouldn’t go home and rest, he would be admitted as a patient. Jade had a hard time catching up when he shot out the door like a freshly-fired bullet.
She still hadn’t found a way to tell him that she was leaving tonight. She'd called Randolph from the hospital, asking for a few more days but MegaPics adhered to a tight schedule. Any more delay would cost the studio millions of dollars. Not the best way to make friends in the industry, and certainly not the impression she wanted to make on her first movie as lead.
Her flight was scheduled for seven p.m. How could she break it to him that she was leaving for Hollywood for a few months but she planned to come back? No one had ever come back to him once they left for the bright lights of LA.
She would.
But would he believe her?
She'd convince him, show him how much she loved him before she left.
As they entered the house, he turned and slid a hand under her hair, his fingers massaging her scalp. “Are you sure you are okay?”
She nodded, unable to speak over the lump in her throat. She loved this man so much. He leaned forward and brushed his lips over hers, a gentle, tender affirmation of life.
“When that maniac had you, I felt helpless and terrified to the bone. I know we haven’t known each other long, and there have been some…issues. But I just found you, I couldn’t lose you.”
“Oh Logan.” She rose on her toes and kissed him. “I felt the same way when the boat exploded. I felt my heart explode as well.”
His lips touched hers again, making her forget everything but the taste and feel of him. His hands cupped her cheeks, his thumbs rotating in lazy circles. His kiss was both tender and passionate. She needed him, needed to feel the soul-shattering connection that only he could provide.
“I wanted to take my time, enjoy your sexy body, but I don’t think I can wait,” he murmured against her neck
“Then don’t,” she moaned. “Make love to me.”
Logan groaned and swept her in his arms, finding her lips again for an unrestrained kiss. He carried her to his bedroom, gently placed her on the bed and covered her body with his.
#
Jade woke up feeling exhausted and drained and sore and the best she'd ever felt in her almost thirty years on the planet. The man lying next to her had everything to do with the phenomenal feelings.
She lifted her gaze to his face. His chocolate eyes were half-lidded, burning her with their intensity.
“Morning,” he rumbled, his big palm caressing her naked back. “Or should I say, afternoon.”
She snuggled against him, her nails raked his muscular chest. He was so beautiful it almost hurt to look at him, to know that she had to leave him. His heart beat a rapid steady staccato. It would be too easy to lie here and forget everything. Stay like this forever. But that wouldn’t be fair to him.
“Logan, I have to tell you something.”
He hummed, his arms wrapping around her tightly. He didn’t give her a chance to speak. He slid her higher until their mouths touched. “Stay with me, Jade,” he said against her lips. “I love you. Marry me.”
She scrambled off of him and met his gaze. “What did you say?”
He stroked the back of a finger down her cheek, his expression both hopeful and nervous. “I asked you to marry me.”
Oh, Logan. Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you, her heart screamed. She wanted that more than anything in the world, more than the starring role in Attraction Overruled. But she owed this part to herself, to prove that she could do it. If she didn’t grab this opportunity, another might not come along and she would always regret not having taken the chance.
Logan sat up abruptly, the sheet falling to his lap. “By the look in your eyes, this was a one way feeling. I know I treated you badly and I’m sorry. Let’s just forget I said anything—”
Jade stuck her fingers against his lips. “Shh. It isn’t a one way feeling. I love you too, Logan. I think I have from the first time I met you.”
Confusion clouded his eyes. “But…”
Jade smiled sadly. She didn’t want to hurt him. “I have to leave tonight. I know it's sudden, but I just found out that I've been cast as the lead in MegaPic’s new blockbuster. I’ve waited for the opportunity to headline a film my entire career. It’s the chance of a lifetime.”
All the hope and love on his face melted away and his expression closed as loudly as a door blown shut by hurricane winds. “A movie. I see.”
“No, I don’t think you do.” She reached for him but he flinched and jerked from her touch. He shot off the bed and pulled on his jeans, keeping his back to her the entire time.
He turned and ran both hands through his hair. “You're leaving today and you just now tell me? Jeez, I’m an idiot.”
“No, it was never like that. Logan…wait!”
She jumped off the bed and threw his T-shirt over her head. She found him in the kitchen pulling on a sweatshirt as he grabbed his keys.
She yanked his arm to stop him. “Listen to me.” She waited for his dark gaze to meet hers. She almost recoiled from the look of disgust on his face.
“I’ve got more important things to do, like pick up my daughter and visit Lauren.”
“I’m coming back.”
Logan laughed without humor. “Oh, okay. Be sure to look me up.”
“I mean it. I am coming back as soon as the movie wraps.”
He turned his back to her but didn't leave. “Forgive me if I don’t believe you.”
“It’s the truth.”
He spun around slowly, stared at her so long, a flicker of hope sparked to life. Maybe he did believe her. He bent down and brushed a kiss on her cheek, then ran a finger across her chin.
The spark turned into a raging fire.
“Good luck with your movie. I hope it is everything you dreamed.” He paused. “Have a good life,” he murmured huskily.
Jade opened startled eyes to find him gone.