by KaLyn Cooper
With one last glance in the mirror, Logan turned to head over on the well-worn path to Teagan’s front door. He glanced at the adjoining wall, trying to figure out where to put a connecting door. He’d call Tad, the contractor who had worked on the house before. Maybe he’d have an idea.
“Beautiful.” It was all he could manage to say. Teagan was gorgeous in a light blue sundress that showed off her deepening tan and the tops of her perfect breasts. He hoped to be able to taste them and more in just a few hours. A white belt cinched around her waist that tucked in enough to highlight her curvy hips. The skirt dropped halfway down well-developed thighs.
Naked thighs.
Naked legs.
Bare feet inside strappy sandals. And her toenails were painted a light blue to match the dress.
As his gaze slowly came back up her outstanding body, he wondered what kind of panties she wore. Thong? Lacy? He didn’t care if they were one hundred percent cotton and covered her from the bottom of her butt cheeks to her bellybutton. If he had his way, they wouldn’t be on long enough for a second thought.
Her hair was down, his favorite way, although he’d never told her that. She’d dressed up, for him.
“You are absolutely the most beautiful woman I’ve seen in years.” It sounded cheesy, even to his ears, but it was the truth.
“You clean up pretty good yourself, Marine.” Her smile dazzled him all the way to his soul.
“I’m just a banged up old jarhead, so fucking proud to be seen with you as my date tonight.” Another truth that he doubted she’d believe. “Let me just go in and say goodnight to the kids, then we’ll leave.”
What should have taken two minutes, became ten, but they finally closed the door to two happy children and a competent babysitter.
Logan took her hand as they walked to his SUV. As soon as he’d started the car, the phone rang.
“It’s Tony Alvarez. Is it okay if I take it?” This was her night and he wanted her to understand that short of a national disaster, she was his focus.
Ring.
“Answer the damn phone. He might have news.” She sounded as excited about that possibility as he was.
After clicking the button on his steering wheel, he announced, “Hey, Tony. I have you on speaker with Teagan in the car.”
“Wonderful.” He hesitated. “Are the kids with you?”
“No. For once, it’s an adults-only supper.” Logan reached over and took Teagan’s hand.
“I have a few updates I knew you’d be interested in. First, I wanted to let you know that Ashley Helms, Marsha’s sister, was supposedly with friends at a private yoga retreat the whole weekend, including the day of the murder when she showed up at her sister’s house. She held to that bull shit story even after we showed her the video. She claims that isn’t her. It must be someone else.”
Tony released a long sigh. “The woman in the video looked strung out and haggard. The Ashley Helms we met with looked healthy, well dressed, and surprisingly clean. She claims she’s serious about changing her life and that rehab is working this time. Her counselor said the same thing.”
“So, if that woman in the video isn’t Ashley, then who is it?” Logan asked.
“I don’t believe her for one minute,” Teagan asserted. “She lied to Marsha over and over again. She’d get clean for a week, a month, and Marsha would get all excited that it worked, then in no time Ashley was hanging out with her dealer and getting high and begging Marsha for money.”
“Well, that may be, but she was on the top of her game when we were there, which brings me to the bad news.” Tony hesitated as though trying to pick his words carefully. “As soon as she’s released from rehab, she and her new attorney are filing for custody of the kids.”
“There’s no way in hell she’s going to get them.” Teagan squeezed Logan’s hand. Hard.
“She can try,” Logan warned. “But we’ve had these wonderful children since the day their mother was murdered. Marsha wanted us to raise them and that’s what we’re going to do.”
“Hey, ease off. I’m just the messenger.” Tony claimed. “I’m on your side, remember?”
“I’m sorry, Tony.” Teagan apologized. “I love these kids and won’t let them go, especially not to her.”
“I have a child,” Tony said in a conciliatory tone. “I’d kill anyone who tried to take him away from me.”
“Tony, you said you have other things to tell us as well.” Logan stopped at a traffic light.
“Yeah, since the house is going up for sale, my men ripped out all the overrides on the security system. We don’t want anyone else having access with its new owners.”
“Thank you for doing that, Tony.” Teagan said. “We’ve had a few lookers already but no offers yet.”
“Lookers are good,” Tony commented. “Hopefully you’ll get an offer soon.”
“Thanks,” Logan offered. “Anything else for us?”
“You might want to give Matthew a call. He indicated that his computer specialist found something and was tracking its source but wanted to wait on the information.” Tony sounded a little aggravated that Matt hadn’t been more forthcoming. “That’s all I have for you right now.”
“Thanks so much for calling.” Logan turned into the parking lot of one of the best restaurants on the island. “Please, keep us posted especially about Ashley.”
“Will do. Enjoy your evening.” Tony disconnected.
Logan pulled into a parking space and looked at Teagan. Something inside him screamed that he should call Matt.
“Can we call Matthew before we go in?” Teagan squeezed his hand once again. “I’d really like to know if he’s found out anything.”
Damn. The woman could read his mind. It was just another sign that they were connected, like an old married couple.
“Absolutely,” he agreed as he hit their friend’s number.
“Logan, glad you called.” Matt’s voice sounded serious.
“Teagan and I are sitting here in the car. You’re on speaker. What have you learned?” Logan wanted him to be aware of the situation.
“Clarence, my computer geek, has found some buried files in the storage drives that Teagan sent to me.” Logan slid a glance toward her. “If you didn’t download the entire hard drive, there may be even more.”
“I take it there’s something important in those hidden files?” Teagan asked, a tinge of nerves sneaking into her question.
“Yeah. Like the entire transcript of our Syrian mission, with more words than Lizzie remembered.”
Logan and Teagan exchanged a serious gaze.
“Pictures of the ammo dump, before, during and after it was blown up. It looks as though there was a dedicated camera from one of the overhead satellites,” Matthew continued.
Logan was starting to worry. “Brann now has that computer. We didn’t wipe the drive, just downloaded his games. Is there any way he can get into those files?”
“He’s seven, right?” Matt asked.
“Yes, and not a computer savant.” She giggled. “He knows how to open and play games, that’s it.”
“Let’s do this, Lizzie and I will be down there in two weeks. How about I bring a new hard drive loaded with games. We’ll swap out drives and Brann will have lots more to play with,” Matt suggested.
“Sounds like a plan.” Logan liked the idea and had already been looking forward to spending time with Matt and Elizabeth again.
“We can’t wait to see you guys,” Teagan enthused. “The kids are really excited to show you around, which really means, show you how well they can swim.”
“We can’t wait to hang out on the beach all day and do nothing for an entire week. This’ll be our first family vacation since our family-moon. Please tell me Lizzie and I have our own bedroom…without children.”
Logan and Teagan laughed. They’d already agreed that all the kids would sleep over on Teagan’s side and Matt and Elizabeth would take Logan’s spare bedroom because it had a
king-sized bed in it and a private bathroom that was shared by the other empty bedroom.
“Yes. We have everyone handled,” Teagan announced. “See you very soon.”
After they’d said goodbye to their friend, Logan held Teagan’s hand until they sat down in the restaurant.
Chapter Eighteen
Since the restaurant didn’t take reservations, Teagan hoped it was their above average clothing that convinced the thirtysomething hostess to give them a table at the large windows overlooking the ocean. It might have been Logan’s panty-melting smile and his deep sexy voice, though. Teagan hadn’t missed the way the woman in the tight-fitting dress that hugged her every perfect curve and perky boobs had glanced at his left hand and smiled. She’d also caught the broadened smile after the young brunette had checked out Teagan’s left hand.
No, bitch, we aren’t married. Nor are we engaged. We’re simply having an adult dinner alone while someone else watches our children.
Our children. Damn. That sounded like an old married couple. Or like two people amicably divorced. Their situation certainly wasn’t the usual.
Logan pulled out the chair for her then glided it in once she was seated. He was such a gentleman. Teagan had thought that kind of manners had disappeared with the twentieth century. It was wonderful to be treated like a lady now and again.
“We have delicious fresh oysters on the half shell available tonight,” the hostess handed Logan the leather-bound menu with a sultry smile. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do for you.” Without looking at Teagan, she laid the menu on the linen tablecloth next to her place setting.
“Do you like raw oysters?” Logan’s gaze was heated and focused entirely on Teagan.
She matched his grin and shook her head. “No. I don’t like them. I love them.” She laid her hand on the table and he instantly reached out and took it in his. “What I really like about oysters is the dopamine boost I get about two hours after eating them.”
He obviously understood that dopamine was one of the hormones that increased libido. “Then I’ll be sure dinner doesn’t run longer than an hour and a half.” His eyes locked with hers. “We’ll take a dozen as appetizers, please.”
“I’ll be sure to tell your waiter.” The hostess disappeared from Teagan’s peripheral vision.
“I’m glad you like raw oysters. A lot of women don’t,” Logan noted.
She couldn’t withhold her giggle. “I’d think you would have learned by now that I’m not like most females. How many women do you know that have a master’s in engineering and work on helicopter engines for a living?”
“Only you.” He ran the rough pad of his thumb over the palm of her hand sending tingles straight to her core. “You are unique in so many ways. I don’t know anyone who would so readily agree to raise two children they weren’t related to.”
“I love Anora and Brann. I always have. From the day they were born.” She wasn’t ready to explain why it was so easy for her to step into a motherhood role. But she could tell him a few things. “I have plenty of room in my heart for children, especially those two.”
A large platter of oysters was set in the middle of the table by a man dressed head to toe in black. After introducing himself, he took their orders with a practiced smile and cordially faded away.
Teagan’s phone buzzed in her pocket. “This maybe Erin,” she explained as she pulled it out. Glancing at the screen, it showed nothing. “Damn. The call disappeared.” Her phone was useless there in North Carolina. The company she had used in the DC area didn’t have any local towers. “I don’t even have a single bar of power.”
“You want me to call her and make sure everything’s okay?” Logan’s voice was concerned.
“No. She has your phone number. I told her to call you if she couldn’t get hold of me.” Teagan hated not being directly connected with the children.
Logan set his phone on the table. “Now, we can both set our minds at ease. Sure you don’t want me to call her?”
“I’m sure.” She tried to make her voice as convincing as possible. “I don’t want to be those parents who have to phone home every ten minutes to check on the children.”
“Tomorrow, let’s go to the phone store and I’ll get you added to my service plan.” Logan picked up her cell phone and examined it. “How old is this thing?”
“I’ve had it a few years.” Teagan had to think how long. Embarrassed, she had to admit, “Okay, it’s at least five years old, maybe six.”
Logan grinned. “I’d be surprised if they made this model within the past ten years. I think it’s time for an upgrade.”
The condition of her bank account ran through her mind. Now that she was no longer using her personal money to purchase groceries for all four of them, and her mother’s new memory care facility was considerably less than what she’d been paying in DC, she was in a better financial condition. “You’re right. I need a new phone.”
“What do you think about getting Brann one of those kids’ watch phones?” Logan asked.
“He’s only seven. Do you think he’s responsible enough for a phone?” She loved her godson but sometimes he can be so immature, acting as babyish as Anora.
“I’m not talking about a regular cell phone, just one that he would wear like a watch.” He went on to explain, “One of my captains just bought them for his seven-year-old twins. They live in base housing where the kids run from house to house on a regular basis. His wife got tired of calling all over the neighborhood to notify the boys that it was time to come home. From what Captain Donaldson said, they are God’s gift to parents. The ones he purchased only have four phone numbers programmed in plus nine-one-one. They are waterproof and have GPS trackers.”
The more Logan talked about them the more excited Teagan agreed. “I’d love to be able to give Brann a little more freedom. When I can’t find him in the house, most of the time he’s at your place. But he has met a few of the children in the area. I’ve been hesitant to allow him to play at anyone else’s house, so the boys usually hang out in Brann’s bedroom or they play on one of the decks.”
“So, you’re okay with getting him a watch phone?” Logan confirmed.
“Yes. Definitely.” Being able to track the children on her cell phone would be heavenly. “I think we should use the household account for that purchase since it’s for the direct benefit of Brann.”
“If we buy something for him, we need to get Anora something as well.” Logan was right. They had made a point of trying to be equally fair with both children even though their age differences called for differing spending amounts.
“I think some inexpensive colorful bracelets will do the trick,” Teagan suggested. “We’ll just let her know that when she turns seven, she can have a watch phone then.”
“Works for me. We’ll give them to the children at the same time.” Logan’s gaze swept the now empty platter. “You weren’t kidding when you said you liked raw oysters.”
Sometime during their conversation, they had demolished the appetizer. That’s the way it was with Logan. Their discussions seemed to flow so easily.
Teagan had been holding back for days and couldn’t wait any longer. “So, how was your date with Anora?”
His eyes shot to hers. “She didn’t tell you?”
“I asked her about the food, and she said it was good. Nothing more than the one-word answer. I asked her about the waitress, and she said she was good. I asked her if she got any kind of special drink and she said yes, then promptly told me that her dates with Uncle Logan were special, just for the two of you.”
Logan burst out laughing. “I guess you got schooled.”
“Logan, don’t be that way. I was worried. I was the one who convinced you to take her out on a date. How was it? How did she do? Did she mind her manners?” Teagan had lots more questions but hoped he’d answer at least one or two.
He wiped the corners of his mouth with the linen napkin and took a sip of his drink. “Ev
erything Anora told you was correct. The food was good, but it always is at the Shrimp Shack and you know how much that little girl loves shrimp. Our waitress was excellent.” The corners of his mouth kicked up. “Anora had to tell everyone that we were out on a date, starting with all the people in line around us.”
Teagan’s heart melted. He had given that little girl a memory that would last a lifetime, whether she remembered it or not. That night, he had set her expectations for every man to follow.
“By the time we reached the hostess, everyone was in love with her.” He shook his head. “I can’t tell you how many women told her that her dress was pretty, she looked lovely that night, how much they liked her little shoes and frilly socks. By the time we were seated, she was acting like a princess.”
Teagan’s hand covered her mouth. She wasn’t sure if she was going to laugh or cry.
“Teagan, are you all right?” Logan reached across the table and pulled her hand from her mouth and held it. “Tell me, what’s wrong?”
“Absolutely nothing is wrong. Everything is completely right.” How could she tell him? She had to, though. The heat transferring from his hand to hers and through her body gave her strength. “You know that I grew up without a father. When I was a little girl, I used to pretend that I had a daddy. In my fantasy world, I would get dressed up like a princess, and he’d take me out to lunch, or brunch, and if I was especially good, he’d take me out to supper somewhere fancy.” She looked away to reign in her emotions. Pasting on a smile, she returned her gaze to Logan. Squeezing his hand, she confessed, “I’m vicariously living my childhood through Anora. You are the greatest daddy a little girl could ever have.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “You haven’t heard about the rest of our night. Anora is quite the little wing man.”
“What?” Teagan’s jaw dropped a fraction of an inch. “What the hell did she do?”
Logan grinned as though knowing the secret. “So, you know our little Anora. What happens every time within five minutes after ordering?”
