From Single Mom to Secret Heiress

by Kristi Gold

  “I’ll call her as soon as I call my mom.” Talk about serious avoidance.

  Chance glared at him like he’d just proposed a plot to commit murder. “Man, you can’t do this over the phone. You have to go see her. Today.”

  “But—”

  He pointed a finger in Logan’s face. “You’re going to show up at her house with something that will force her to forgive you.”

  “Flowers?”

  “Yeah. Flowers are good, especially since it’s Mother’s Day. Do you have any planted in some garden?”

  “Hell no. I’ll have to buy them somewhere.” Fortunately he had a connection who could accommodate him.

  “What about one of those fancy silk suits?”

  Logan’s patience was wearing thin. “I’m an attorney, Chance. I have a damn suit.”

  “Sorry, but I had to ask because I’ve never seen you wear an entire suit, bud. Anyway, you’ll show up in your suit with flowers—”

  “For a die-hard bachelor, you’re sure quick to dole out the advice.”

  “I just want my sister to be happy,” Chance said in a surprisingly serious tone.

  So did Logan. But would all the frills be enough to persuade Hannah to give them another chance? “What if she throws me out before I have my say?”

  Chance slapped his back with the force of a steamroller. “Whittaker, according to Mom, Hannah loves you something awful, too. If you play your cards right, she’ll let you come crawling back to her. Now I’m not saying you need to propose marriage because you’ve known each other a short time. My mom and dad only knew each other a month before they tied the knot and we now know how that one worked out.”

  Funny, Marlene hadn’t mentioned that to Logan during their many conversations. “No kidding? Only a month?”

  “No kidding,” he said. “And then he cheated on his wife, not that I think you’d do that to Hannah.”

  “Not on your life.” She was all he needed. All he would ever need.

  “And to top it off,” Chance continued, “Mom told me yesterday that in spite of my father’s faults and weakness, she never doubted his love for her. It’s just hard for me to believe love that strong exists.”

  Logan was beginning to believe it existed between him and Hannah, provided she hadn’t fallen out of love with him overnight. “I hope you eventually forgive Marlene. She was just trying to protect you from the ugly truth.”

  “I’ll forgive her eventually,” Chance said. “As far as my dad’s concerned, I’m not sure that will ever happen.”

  Logan knew all about that inability to forgive, and he could only hope Chance eventually came around like he had. But Hannah... “I hope like hell Hannah forgives me for taking so long to realize we need to be together.”

  “She’ll forgive you the minute you show up at her door wearing your heart on your sleeve.”

  “Guess that’s better than eating crow.”

  “You’ll be doing that, too, Whittaker, so pack some salt. And groveling couldn’t hurt. Hope that suit isn’t too expensive in case you have to get down on your knees when you beg.”

  The suit didn’t mean as much to him as Hannah. His pride no longer mattered much where she was concerned, either. “Are you sure you don’t want to go with me, Lassiter? In case you want to talk with her after I do.”

  Chance grinned, grabbed his coat and backed toward the door. “You’re on your own with this one, bud. Now go get a shower and shave, then go get your girl. Who knows? She might even be waiting for you.”

  Ten

  Hannah walked out the door to meet Gina for their traditional Mother’s Day brunch, only to stop short of the sidewalk when she caught sight of the black Mercedes parked at the curb. And leaning against that sedan’s driver’s door was the beautiful, wounded, brown-eyed man who’d invaded her thoughts the majority of the night. He wore a beige silk suit with matching tie and a white tailored shirt, a bouquet of roses in one hand, a piece of white paper in the other. If not for the dress cowboy boots, she might believe this was Logan Whittaker’s clone. Yet when he grinned, showing those dimples to supreme advantage, that was all the confirmation she needed. But why was he here? She aimed to find out.

  Hannah stepped across the yard, her three-inch heels digging into the grass made moist by the deluge that had arrived during the night. Fortunately the clouds had begun to break up, allowing the sun to peek through.

  When she reached Logan, she shored up her courage and attempted a smile. “What are you doing here, Mr. Whittaker?”

  “Thought you might need a plumber.”

  “My pipes appear to be holding, so no more water in the floor.” On the other hand, her heart was flooded with a love for him that just wouldn’t leave her be. “Since you’re wearing a suit, I thought maybe you got lost on your way to some wedding.”

  “Nope, but I was pretty lost until I found you.”

  Her flooded heart did a little flip-flop in her chest. But she wasn’t ready to give in to his pretty words and patent charms. Yet. “Who are the flowers for?”

  “You,” he said as he handed them off to her. “Happy Mother’s Day.”

  She brought the roses to her nose and drew in the scent. “Thank you.”

  He leaned around her. “Where’s Cassie?”

  “Two houses down at the Romeros’. She’s going to spend a few hours there while Gina and I have lunch together.”

  “Who’s going to be watching her?”

  His protective tone both surprised and pleased Hannah. “Gina’s husband, Frank. He’s used to watching their baby and the girls when Gina and I have plans.”

  “That sounds like a damn daunting job.”

  “He’s a great dad, but he’s had lots of practice.” And you would be a great dad, too, she wanted to say.

  Amazingly the familiar sadness didn’t show in his eyes. “I guess practice makes perfect.”

  He still had a lot to learn. “Not perfect, Logan. No parent is ever perfect.”

  “I’m starting to realize that.”

  Oh, how she wanted to believe him. Yet she continued to resist the notion he had finally seen the light.

  Hannah pointed at the document now clenched in his fist. “What’s that?”

  “The annuity terms that include the nondisclosure clause.” He unfolded the paper, tore it in half and then tossed the remains into the open back window. “And according to your wishes, it’s no longer valid.”

  Hannah couldn’t resist teasing him a little. “Darn. I decided last night to sign it and take the money.”

  “Are you serious?”

  She stifled a laugh. “No, I’m not serious. I could always use that kind of money, but I have everything I need without it, especially since Cassie’s future is secure, thanks to my in-laws.”

  He inclined his head and looked at her as if he could see right through her phony assertion. “Everything?”

  Except for those things money couldn’t buy—like his love. “Enough to get by until I find a job. And mark my words, I will find a job even if I have to flip burgers.”

  “Marlene told me there’s an opening at one of the rural high schools between my place and the Big Blue. They need a biology teacher. You should go for it.”

  “You’re saying I should just uproot my child, sell my house and move to the middle of nowhere?”

  “As I mentioned earlier, you’d have the opportunity to get to know your brother. We can continue to get to know each other better, too.”

  And he would have to do better than that. “We’ve already had this discussion, Logan. I want—”

  “A man who can promise you a solid future and more kids.”

  “Exactly.”

  Some unnamed emotion reflected in his eyes. “I can be that man, Hannah. God
knows I want to be.”

  The declaration tossed her into an emotional tailspin. “If that’s true, then what made you suddenly change your mind?”

  “What you told me about not honoring Grace’s memory. I sat up all night in that room with the princesses on the wall and had a long talk with my daughter, as crazy as it seems.”

  How many times had she had those conversations with Danny in the distant past? “It’s not crazy at all. It’s long overdue.”

  “Anyway, for the first time since the funeral, I cried like a baby. But that meltdown didn’t occur last night only because of Gracie. It had a lot to do with losing you.”

  Hannah could tell the admission was costing him as much as it was costing her. She wanted to throw her arms around him, tell him it would be okay, but she wasn’t quite ready to do that yet. “Are you sure you’re prepared to make a commitment to me and Cassie if and when the time comes?”

  “I’m all in, Hannah,” he said adamantly. “I also know I can be a good dad to Cassie. And do you want to know how I figured that one out?”

  “Yes, I would.”

  He looked down and toed a random clump of grass before bringing his gaze back to hers. “When I was playing with Cassie yesterday on the hay bales, she slipped a few times and I caught her. Once I couldn’t reach her, but she managed to pick herself back up after she tumbled to the bottom. Granted, it scared the hell out of me for a few minutes, but it also made me acknowledge that kids are actually pretty resilient, and the truth is, you can’t logically be there for your children all the time.” He exhaled roughly. “You can only do the best you can to protect them, and sadly sometimes that isn’t enough, but you can’t spend your life being paralyzed by a fear of failure.”

  A lesson everyone should learn. Unfortunately, he’d learned it the hard way. “Cassie’s completely enamored of you, Logan. She told me on the drive home that you would make a good daddy, and she’s right. But I’ve known that all along. I’m just glad you finally realized it.”

  His smile was soft and sincere. “She still thinks I’m some kind of prince.”

  “So do I. Or maybe I should say a prince in progress. You still need some work, but the flowers helped your cause.”

  He reached over and clasped her hand. “If I tell you I can’t imagine my life without you, would that help, too?”

  Hannah held back the tears, with great effort. “Immensely.”

  He brought her closer. “How about if I tell you I love you?”

  So much for keeping those tears at bay. “Really?”

  He gently kissed her cheek. “Really. I didn’t expect to fall so hard and so fast for someone, because I never have. Hell, I didn’t expect you at all. And although neither of us knows what the future will bring, I do know what I want.”

  Hannah sniffed and hoped she didn’t look like a raccoon. “For me to buy waterproof mascara from now on?”

  He responded with that smile she had so grown to adore. “No. I want to give us a fighting chance. I promise to do everything in my power to make it work.”

  “I promise that, too.” And she did, with all her heart and soul. “I love you, Logan.”

  “I love you, too, sweetheart.”

  Then he kissed her, softly, slowly, sealing the vow they’d made at that moment, and those vows Hannah believed were yet to come.

  “I guess this means brunch is off.”

  She broke the kiss to find Gina standing in the middle of the sidewalk, gawking. “I suppose we’ll have to postpone until next year.”

  Gina shrugged. “That’s probably for the best. Frank’s been complaining of a cold all morning and Trey’s teething. I’d feel guilty if I left him with three kids, and even more guilty if I spoiled this wonderful little reunion. However, it does pain me to break a long-standing tradition.”

  “Tell you what, Gina,” Logan said as he kept his arms around Hannah. “If you’ll let me take my lady to lunch, I’ll give you and your husband a night on the town, my treat. We’ll even keep the kids.”

  Gina’s eyes went as wide as saucers. “How about tonight? That would so cure Frank of what ails him.”

  He returned his attention back to Hannah. “Works for me, if it works for you.”

  With one exception. “Sure, as long as we have a few hours alone before we’re left in charge of the troops.”

  “It’s a deal,” Gina said as she backed up a few steps. “Have a good lunch, and have some of that wild monkey sex for dessert, too.”

  As soon as her friend left the immediate premises, Hannah gave Logan another quick kiss. “You’re mighty brave, taking on three kids.”

  He responded with a grin. “Hey, I’ve got to get into practice for when we have our three. Or maybe four.”

  Sweet, welcome music to Hannah’s ears. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, buster. You’ll have to marry me first, Logan Whittaker, my repressed plumber.”

  “You know, Hannah Armstrong, my maid-in-waiting, I just might do that sooner than you think.”

  * * *

  The past six weeks had whirled by in a flurry of changes. She’d sold the house, moved into the Big Blue for the sake of her minor child, spent every day with Logan, and even a few nights alone with him, thanks to Marlene’s generosity. Aside from that, the saintly woman hadn’t even flinched when Cassie had begun to call her Grandma.

  Best of all, Hannah had learned that morning she’d been awarded the high school biology teaching job and would begin in the fall. Things couldn’t be going any better, and tonight she and Logan planned to celebrate with a night on the town and a hotel stay in Denver. But she’d better hurry up with the preparations, otherwise Logan might leave without her.

  On that thought, she inserted the diamond earrings he’d given her two weeks ago on the one-month anniversary of their meeting. Admittedly, and ridiculously, she’d secretly hoped for jewelry that fit on her left ring finger, but she had no doubt that would eventually come. She had no doubts whatsoever about their future.

  After a quick dab of lipstick and a mirror check to make sure the white satin dress was properly fitted, Hannah grabbed her clutch in one hand and slipped the overnight bag’s strap over one bare shoulder. She then rushed out of the bedroom and down the hall of the wing she shared with Marlene.

  She was somewhat winded when she reached the staircase, and her breath deserted her completely when she saw Logan standing at the bottom landing. He’d donned a black tuxedo with a silver tie, and he was actually wearing Italian loafers, not the usual Western boots.

  She couldn’t help but smile as she floated down the stairs and took his extended hand when she reached the bottom. “Okay, what did you do with my cowboy lawyer?”

  “According to your daughter, tonight I’m supposed to be a prince. This is as close as I could get because I refuse to wear those damn tights and a codpiece.”

  She reached up and kissed his neck. “I’d buy tickets to see you in tights.”

  He sent her a champion scowl. “Save your money ’cause it ain’t happenin’.”

  “That’s too bad.”

  He grinned. “You like bad, especially when it comes to me.”

  Oh, yeah. “I won’t argue with that.”

  He crooked his arm for her to take. “Are you ready, Ms. Armstrong?”

  “I am, Prince Logan. Take me away.”

  Instead of heading toward the front door, Logan guided Hannah down the corridor and into the great room, where an unexpected crowd had gathered. A crowd consisting of Marlene wearing a beautiful white chiffon dress, Chance dressed in a navy shirt and dark jeans, Cassie decked out in her pink princess gown, complete with pretty coat and feather boa, and of all people, senior law partner, Walter Drake, who had debonair down pat. Hannah had to wonder if they were going to pile all these people into a car caravan and head
to Denver together.

  “Did you plan a party without me knowing?” she asked when Logan positioned her next to the floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace.

  “That’s somewhat accurate,” Logan said. “And you’re the guest of honor.”

  A frenzy of applause rang out, accompanied by a few ear-piercing whistles, compliments of Chance. Her half brother had become very special to her, and he’d proven to be a stellar uncle to Cassie, evidenced by the fact he’d picked up his niece and held her in his arms.

  “First, thank you all for being here,” Logan began, sounding every bit the attorney, with a little Texas accent thrown in. “But before we get to the celebration, I have something important to ask a very special lady.”

  Surely he wasn’t going to... Hannah held her breath so long she thought her chest might explode, until Logan said, “Cassie, come here.”

  While Logan took a seat on the raised heart, Chance lowered Cassie to the ground. She ran over as fast as her little pink patent leather shoes allowed. She then came to a sliding stop, plopped herself down in Logan’s lap and draped her tiny arms around his neck.

  “Darlin’,” Logan began, “you know I love your mama, and I love you, right?”

  She nodded emphatically, causing her red ringlets to bounce. “Uh-huh.”

  “And you know that I’m never going to try to take your daddy’s place.”

  “My Heaven daddy.”

  “That’s right. But I sure would like to be your daddy here on earth, if that’s okay.”

  “I’d like you to be my earth daddy, too,” Cassie said.

  Hannah placed a hand over her mouth to stifle a sob when she saw the look of sheer love in both Cassie’s and Logan’s eyes.

  Logan kissed her daughter’s forehead before setting her back on her feet. “Now I have to ask your mom a few questions.”

  Cassie responded with a grin. “You betcha.” She then looked up at Hannah, who could barely see due to the moisture clouding her eyes. “I told you so, Mama. Logan is your prince.”

  Cassie ran back to her uncle while Logan came to his feet. He moved right in front of Hannah, his gaze unwavering. “Sweetheart, I want to wake up with you every morning and go to bed with you every night. I want to find a good balance between work and family. I don’t want to replace Cassie’s real dad, but I want to be the best father I can be to her. And I want, God willing, for your face to be the last one I see before I’m gone from this earth. Therefore, if you’ll have me, Hannah Armstrong, I want more than anything for you to be my wife.”