After Six

by Jeannette Winters

  “Every fucking day. Then I look at Lena and my children, and I remind myself that I am not and never will be James Henderson.”

  “Brice, I don’t get it. He hated us. Why have us?” It was something that had always haunted him. Never being loved, but never let go of either. It was more of a prison than a home.

  “I know it’s hard to believe, but he wanted us. He just didn’t know any other way. And he didn’t have anyone to show him. We’re the lucky ones, believe it or not. We have people in our lives who love us unconditionally. I honestly don’t know where I’d be without Lena and my children. I don’t even want to think about it.”

  Logan understood that. He’d wondered that for years but without a woman or family by his side to fight for. Now he had Cori. She didn’t need to know this new development. Brice was right, no one did. “I won’t tell anyone. But there’s something you need to know.”

  “Go on.”

  “Our father killed Cori’s grandfather years ago.”

  “Damn it. Does she know?” Brice asked.

  Logan shrugged. “I haven’t brought it up yet, but I need to.”

  “No, you don’t.”

  “Brice, I love this woman. I can’t ask her to . . . I won’t live a lie with her. That’s not the relationship I want with her.” He couldn’t believe he almost said ask her to marry him. Was that his intention? He knew he loved her but were they ready for that? I know I am.

  “Are you willing to risk losing her?”

  “I’m not willing to risk her finding out and hating me for it later. I’m done paying the price for James. I’m . . . just done.” He downed the second glass and got up, heading to the door. Then he turned and said, “Did Bennett tell you about my mother?” Brice nodded. “And my sister?” Brice nodded a second time. “Then I guess there’s nothing left for us to discuss.”

  He walked out of the office, feeling like shit for many reasons. He normally would be pissed that Bennett shared information with Brice that he shouldn’t have, but right now none of that mattered. All Logan wanted to do was see Cori tonight and tell her where he was when she thought he was sick in bed. I won’t lose her. She loves me.

  He got into the limo and leaned back, resting his head against the seat. His head was spinning, and his stomach was churning. He couldn’t remember how long it had been since he’d had anything to eat or drink, and those two glasses of bourbon were catching up with him. Pressing the intercom, he told the driver to take him home. I need to pull myself together first. Then see Cori.

  Chapter Seventeen

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  Cori had hung around the apartment, waiting to hear from Logan. She was thrilled when he said he wanted to take her to dinner. But she honestly hadn’t been in the mood to go out. Tonight was important. Without explaining why, she’d talked him into ordering Chinese and eating in.

  When he didn’t put up any argument, she figured he thought it was so they could have a replay of last night. Although that sounded wonderful, it was going to have to wait until after they spoke. If she didn’t tell him the truth tonight, she might lose her courage altogether. That wasn’t something she was willing to risk. He might not hate me, but I won’t forgive myself. I’m better than that. I’m not Sarah.

  She knew her sister would do and say anything she needed to hold on to someone like Logan. That wasn’t Cori’s style. She wanted him with all her heart but only if he genuinely wanted to be with her. Manipulating him or lying might work, but not long-term. And that’s what I want with him.

  Even though they weren’t going out, she was going to make herself pretty for him. She looked one last time in the mirror and was pleased with her choice. It said I’m trying, but not come in and strip your clothes off because I want you. Although this outfit does look damn good on me.

  She smoothed her yellow and white sundress one last time and then went to answer the door. Ready or not, it’s show time.

  When she opened the door, he once again had flowers. Of course, this time she wasn’t bawling her eyes out, so she actually noticed. “Thank you, Logan, they’re beautiful.”

  He handed her the red roses only after placing a brief kiss on her lips. In his other hand, he had a large bag. The aroma filled the room. “And dinner is delivered as requested.”

  “That smells almost as good as you do.” She gave him a playful wink as she walked to the kitchen to put the flowers in a vase.

  She couldn’t help but notice the pink roses weren’t holding up very well. Probably because they were dropped on the floor and then stayed on the couch, crying out for water all night. Cori was going to give these more TLC.

  “I’m glad we’re staying in tonight.”

  He came up behind her and kissed her bare shoulder. “Me too.”

  Cori wanted to turn around and wrap her arms around his neck, pull him close, and tell him how much she loved him. Instead, she pretended to fuss with the flowers, making them just right. “Why don’t you sit down and I’ll get some plates? I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”

  The only thing she was really hungry for was the conversation to be over so they could move on with their lives.

  “That’s a shame. I hear it’s better the next day,” Logan said, giving her a light teasing tap on her bottom before going to sit at the table.

  She enjoyed this playful side of him. Cori only hoped it was still there after their talk. Why wouldn’t it be? I’m admitting what I was planning to do. Not confessing that I followed through with it. Somehow she hoped he could see the difference.

  Cori set the table and brought the food. “Were you planning on feeding an army, because how much do you think I eat?”

  “I was serious about it tasting better the next day. Don’t you like leftovers?”

  She smirked. “Are you saying you don’t trust my cooking?”

  “Never, sweetheart. I stole a piece of that cherry pie, and hands down, it was the best I’ve ever had.”

  “How did you pull that off without getting caught by Elizabeth?”

  “I can’t reveal my secrets.” Logan laughed.

  “Hmm. Sounds like you had help. Tyler maybe?”

  Logan looked shocked. “Who told you?”

  “I figured it out all on my own. I’m a reporter, remember?” That was the perfect segue for what she needed to say next. There’s no reason why we can’t talk over dinner. Might even make it easier. I know it will for me.

  “Guess I’ll have to be more cautious.”

  “You don’t have to worry about me, Logan. I won’t ever do anything to hurt you.”

  He arched a brow and asked, “Why so serious?”

  Cori laid her fork down and took a deep breath. She didn’t feel ready and knew she never really would be. But it was time.

  “Logan, do you remember you told me you knew why I was here?”

  “I do.”

  “You don’t know it all. I mean, you were right, I was looking for a story to kick-start my career. But it wasn’t with the story you thought it was.”

  Logan took her lead and put his fork down as well. “Meaning what?”

  “I was researching the Hendersons not just for my career, but for my family. Remember that file you saw with my grandpa Joe’s information and pictures about the fire?”

  “I can’t forget it.”

  “Me either. It’s haunted me since I was a child. Although I was young when it happened, I remember hearing a man talk about the person who’d done this. No one would ever listen to me, but I never forgot his name. So I spent all my time dedicated to searching for proof. I wanted him to pay for what he’d done. I wanted to take everything away from him just like he’d done to us.”

  “Cori, I think there’s something I should tell—”

  “Logan, please let me finish. It’s hard enough to get through.” Cori hated cutting him off, but she didn’t want to make this about her. She needed him to see the issue wasn’t greater than their love. She took another deep breath and continued
.

  “That’s why I reached out to you. I know it wasn’t in the file that I let you look at, but I have a very strong suspicion of who it was. And I . . . .was trying to find out if you knew too.”

  “Cori, we need to talk.” Why did it seem Logan was pleading with her?

  “Logan. I believe it was your father who killed my grandpa.” She had rattled it off so fast maybe he hadn’t heard correctly, because the only thing she saw in his eyes was sadness and sympathy for her. Where is his denial? “Logan, I know that might be a shock but—”

  “No, it isn’t.”

  Now she was puzzled. “Are you telling me that you’ve known and still you . . . slept with me?” Maybe she’d been wrong all along. He wasn’t in love with her. He was just protecting James. Oh, God. No.

  She pushed away from the table and ran from the room. Cori needed space. She felt as though she couldn’t breathe. It was a blow, and the room was spinning. What have I done? I’m such a fool.

  Logan followed her and grabbed her wrist to spin her around to face him. “Cori, you need to stop. I know what you must be thinking, but you’re wrong. It wasn’t like that at all.”

  She huffed. “Then tell me how it was exactly.” Cori was trembling on the inside. She was upset at him for not telling her and sleeping with her first, yet she knew all along. I’m the hypocrite.

  Cori wanted to stop him and tell Logan it didn’t matter. That none of it did anymore. All that was important was how they felt about each other. But he hadn’t voiced his feelings. Guessing about him hadn’t turned out well so far. Hendersons are impossible to figure out.

  With a softer tone, Logan said, “I think we should sit down first.” He led her to the couch, and they sat. Logan didn’t let go of her hand as he spoke. “When Brice confirmed your grandpa’s death wasn’t accidental, I saw the look, the pain, in your eyes.”

  “I wasn’t used to hearing someone else agree with what I’ve thought all along.”

  Logan squeezed her hand and said, “Validation is a powerful thing. And until we get it, we doubt ourselves on whether it’s true or not.”

  She smiled at him. It was as though he understood more than she’d given him credit for.

  “I’ve had these feelings about some things in my past as well. I knew how much you were being tormented, and I needed to find the answer for you. That’s why I went to California. So I could find the answer.”

  “You . . . you went to California? When?”

  “It was a quick trip, but I got what I needed from it. What you needed.”

  Her heart was racing. Logan cared enough to drop everything to do this for her. No one had ever believed her, never mind gone to such lengths. “Why?”

  “I think you mean, what did I find?”

  “No. I mean why did you do that?” She wanted to know what he found out, but that wasn’t as important as why he went in the first place.

  Logan lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers. “Because I knew how much this meant to you.” She waited, hoping there was more. “Cori, it’s more than just getting your answers. I didn’t do this just for you. I did this for me.”

  “What does it have to do with you?”

  He stroked her cheek as he said, “Everything. What hurts you, hurts me, and this was a pain you had carried for so long. When I saw you staring off into the distance, I knew it was your heart aching for answers. Until you had them, you could never be mine.”

  “Yours?” That was a strong word. It meant there was an attachment that had not been spoken. Not by her or him. She didn’t want to admit it, but she needed to hear the words. Was he capable of saying them? “Logan, what are you trying to say?”

  “Cori, I fell in love with you. And I would do anything to keep that beautiful smile on your face. Even if it meant giving you the truth about your grandfather.”

  He loves me. Her eyes welled up. “I love you too, Logan.” She expected him to pull her into his arms and kiss her, but he didn’t. There was something holding him back. “What’s wrong?”

  “We need to talk about Joe and my father.” He spoke so softly she knew he didn’t want to utter the words any more than she wanted to hear them.

  “I guess you’re right. We might as well get this over with.” In her heart, she already knew what he was going to say. And by the look in his eyes, it was causing him as much pain as it was her.

  “I found a man who worked for your grandfather. He remembered my father going to the vineyard and fighting with Joe.”

  “Did he say why?”

  Logan looked away, and she knew there was something he felt very uncomfortable saying. She wanted him to know he could trust her, tell her anything, and it wouldn’t change how she felt about him.

  She reached up and touched his face. “Logan, you don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to. I’ve been bound by the past for so long now. Even though the answers are sitting right here in front of me, all I see is the man I love. Nothing is more important to me than that.”

  “I don’t want to hurt you any more than you already have been. My father was a cruel person, Cori. He had your grandfather killed for no good reason other than resentment. There’s no making any sense of it. I look at you, and all I can think of is what he did to your family. I cannot ever make that up to you.”

  “No, Logan, you can’t. But you’re not supposed to. You didn’t kill him. It’s not your sin to carry any more than it was mine. We have the answer, the truth, now we both have to let it go. Grandpa Joe is gone, and so is your father. What does it matter any longer? Telling anyone will only resurface all the pain in both of our lives. I’d rather focus on . . .”

  “Our future?”

  She nodded, afraid to say it, for fear he might not see the same thing for them. I don’t want to think of a future without Logan in it with me.

  Logan pulled out some papers. She didn’t need to open them to know what they were. She could tell one was a photo he’d borrowed to show Brice. That was more than she needed to know.

  He handed them to her and said, “Everything you need to know about what happened is here.”

  She took the papers and put them on the coffee table. Then she raised her right hand and placed it on his chest over his heart. “No, Logan, everything I need to know is right here.”

  He closed his eyes for a brief second and then opened them saying, “I don’t know what I did to get you to love me.”

  “Funny, but I was thinking the same thing about me. Guess it’s just . . . fate.” That was odd, but she believed it, even though she’d never believed in fate before.

  Logan scooped her up into his arms and settled her on his lap. It felt so good to be in his arms again. It was where she wanted to spend the rest of her life.

  “What do you say we skip dinner and go right for dessert?” Logan murmured against her lips.

  “Sounds delicious.” Cori wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

  He stood up while holding her and carried her to the bedroom. It wasn’t the first time they’d been together, but this seemed different. Even his kisses weren’t the same. It was as though the truth that had separated them was nothing compared to the love that brought them together.

  Logan laid her on the bed and looked down at her. “What’s that look for?”

  “Just thinking.” Cori smiled.

  “I can tell. What are you thinking?”

  She kissed him lightly then said, “That doctors have it all wrong.”

  He arched a brow. “We do? Why?”

  “Because you guys say laughter is the best medicine, but I think love heals all.”

  Logan kissed the tip of her nose. “And that just proves how little we doctors know. So how about we work on some healing right now?” Cori giggled as he nipped her neck. “I love you, Cori.”

  Moaning, she replied, “I love you too, Logan.”

  Cori rolled over and found herself alone in the bed. She could hear plates clanking in the kitch
en and wished she was dreaming, but if she was, he’d have shown up naked, bringing her a cup of coffee.

  She smiled and stretched out. Her body was worn out in all the right places. Tempting as it was to stay in bed, there was no way she’d allow him to clean her dishes. Getting up, she wrapped the bed sheet around herself and headed out to check what Logan was doing.

  As she suspected, he was standing at her sink washing the plates from last night’s attempted dinner. Unfortunately, he’d also found time to shower and dress. She wasn’t giving up hope that he was coming back to bed. I’m sure I can think of something he’d like.

  “Good morning.”

  He turned to her and gave her a dashing grin that melted her heart. “Morning, sweetheart. Coffee’s hot if you want a cup.”

  Cori walked over and poured herself a cup. She took a sip and almost spit it out.

  “I should’ve warned you that I’ve never made coffee in one of these machines.”

  She laughed because it was a regular four-cup pot, nothing fancy. “Well it’s a bit . . . strong.” Thick like mud and tastes like it could put hair on my chest.

  He took the cup from her and poured the contents in the sink. “I’ll go grab us some in a few minutes.”

  “Or you can let me make a fresh pot.” She took the rest of the coffee in the pot and poured it down the drain. Then she opened the coffeemaker and found he’d filled the filter to the top with the coffee grounds. No wonder it tastes like crap. “Let me show you how I do it. Just in case you ever need to do it again.”

  Logan didn’t say anything and actually watched as though he wanted to learn.

  “Nice.”

  “What’s so nice about it? It’s just coffee.”

  Logan chuckled. “No, it’s the view from here as the sheet slipped down and one breast peeked out.”

  She looked down and laughed. Hmm. It hadn’t been her expertise that had his attention. Men. Tucking the sheet back in place she said, “Keep it up, wise guy, and you’re not getting any coffee.”