Decidedly with Luck (By The Bay Book 6)

by Stina Lindenblatt

  Our eyes remained locked the entire time, and the love in his was unmistakable.

  The pressure between my legs grew steadily to the point of no return. My inner muscles tightened around him, and a white light filled every part of me, turning me inside out. I cried out my release, along with his name.

  This was accompanied by his own grunted release, so desperate, so needy, so satisfied.

  I’d had plenty of orgasms in the past, so I was more than familiar with the sensations rocking through my body. But this time it felt different, and the overwhelming desire to reveal how I felt about him pushed the words to my lips.

  “I love you,” I whispered.

  “I love you, too.” He rested his forehead against mine. “So very much.”

  My heart practically swooned in my chest at those words. Words I had longed to hear but had believed would never happen. “You do?”

  “I’ve been in love with you since the first time I sat next to you in our geology class, Kiera. I was just too much of an idiot at the time to realize it. And the same deal when you came back into my life again the night of the Jingle Balls ball. I was still denying my feelings for you when I was traded to the Rock. But I can’t do that anymore. I love you, Kiera. And I hope you’ll give me a chance to prove that I can be the man you need and the father our son deserves.”

  He tenderly kissed me.

  I smiled softly, still a little dazed at his words. Stacy had been right after all. “Okay, I’ll give you a chance.”

  Since the real test was yet to come.

  And I hoped with everything inside me that neither of us would fail it.

  Because when it came down to it, Stacy was right about that, too. The success of what Logan and I had didn’t fall on his shoulders alone.

  It took two to make a relationship work.

  But it only took one to damage it.

  45

  Logan

  “I heard you have a sparkling kitchen,” Travis said the next morning as we ran along the hilly path in what felt like the middle of nowhere. Tall trees bordered either side of us, the sweet scent of decay and the coming fall lingering in the air.

  The indication that hockey season was almost upon us.

  “Kiera went crazy cleaning the other day when I was out with Livi,” I told him.

  “Emma did the same thing right before Kat was born. I think she called it nesting. Isn’t Kiera due any day now?”

  “Next Friday.”

  “Didn’t your ex-wife go through the same thing with your daughter?”

  “I have no idea. If she did, I was away on a road trip when it happened. Just like I was away when Livi was born.”

  Livi had come slightly earlier than expected. But even then, I hadn’t even requested family leave for around her due date, to ensure I wasn’t on the road when Stacy went into labor.

  This time?

  You’d better believe I would do everything in my power to be there for the birth of my son and to be there for Kiera.

  “How are things going with Kiera?” Travis asked.

  He didn’t have to say it, but I knew what he was thinking. He was referring to my failed attempt at proposing to her during the silent auction.

  “Things are definitely better between us.”

  “So, she knows that you love her?”

  “Yep. I told her yesterday.”

  My plan to begin from scratch and not just assume we should be together for our baby’s sake had paid off. I had shown her over the past three months that she meant more to me than that. We had dated like a typical couple would have. Sure, we’d had sex probably more often than a typical couple when they started out, but I had also respected Kiera’s boundaries.

  And during that time, I’d fallen even deeper in love with her. I’d thought I loved her the day I proposed. I’d been wrong, and Kiera had known that.

  What I felt for her now was nothing compared to what I had shared with Stacy. The love I felt for Kiera went deep to the core. It was like having your soul taken apart and then put together in the best possible way.

  I couldn’t imagine not being with her.

  When Stacy and I were married, I didn’t feel like I’d left a part of me behind every time I went away on a road trip. If I didn’t talk to her for a day or two, it hadn’t been the end of the world.

  Something told me it wouldn’t be the same with Kiera.

  I would miss her down to the marrow of my soul every time we were apart.

  Travis and I ran for another mile before I finally asked what had been lurking at the back of my mind. “How do you do it? You and Emma have been together for a few years, and you have a daughter. I’ve seen a lot of players fuck up their relationships because of the sport. Whereas players like you have no problems balancing everything. How do you do it?”

  “Nothing worthwhile is easy. Love isn’t easy. It’s complicated and messy—as you know. You just need to keep doing those things that are special between you and Kiera, and those things that are special between the two of you and your son. Don’t lose sight of them.

  “Hockey is our job. A job we’re lucky that we feel passionate about. The secret is to remember that it’s just a part of you. It’s not everything that you are. It won’t be there for you when the days are tough. It won’t be there for you on the good days. Your family—Kiera, your son, and your daughter—are the ones who will be standing behind you, supporting you.”

  I smirked at him. “Wow, that’s really poetic.”

  He grinned at me. “See? There’s more to me than just a hockey player and artist.”

  An artist who recently painted a colorful mural on my son’s bedroom wall. A colorful mural that resembled the coral reef in Finding Nemo.

  “Either way, thanks for the advice.”

  We completed our run and stretched out our muscles.

  After we were finished, we returned to Travis’s car. He was checking his phone as mine rang.

  Without looking at the screen, I accepted the call as Travis said rather breathlessly, “Kiera’s in labor.”

  46

  Kiera

  For the record, labor hurts.

  Whoo whoo.

  Hee hee.

  “Did he answer this time?” I asked Judith after the latest contraction subsided. I resumed bouncing softly on the exercise ball I was sitting on in my living room. The ball I’d bought to use during labor.

  Except when I got it, I hadn’t imagined things would progress so quickly.

  When I’d had the twinges of discomfort this morning, I assumed it was Love Bug growing bored of his position and squirming to get comfortable again.

  Logan had been home at that point. He’d made me breakfast, given me a foot and ankle massage, and kissed me.

  And because that man gave great massages, I groaned, “God, I love you.” It felt amazing to be able to say it.

  And that had led to us making love again.

  Because we could.

  Did I keep expecting him to realize he wasn’t cut out for long-term relationships, and once Love Bug was born, he would break up with me?

  Yes, I’ll admit it, the nagging doubt was still there. It was probably the hormones talking, but they were kind of tough to ignore.

  “He’s on his way.” Judith placed my phone on the coffee table. “Are you sure you don’t want me to drive you to the hospital?”

  “No, I’m good. I still have plenty of time.”

  Logan and Travis had left for a run over two hours ago. An hour later, the twinges had upgraded to contractions.

  “I can’t believe I’ll be a grandmother soon.”

  Yes, about that. After I came clean the day of the auction about everything that had happened, Judith eventually forgave me for lying about Stephen being Love Bug’s father. She understood why I had initially lied.

  I’d even told her about Stephen’s and my conversation regarding who he wanted me to move on with if he should die before me. The conversation I still hadn�
�t shared with Logan.

  After she forgave Logan and me, she asked if it would be okay if she and Joe could still be Love Bug’s grandparents.

  So that was how Logan’s and my son ended up with three sets of grandparents.

  And I couldn’t imagine it any other way.

  I smiled at Judith. “You’re going to be an amazing grandmother.”

  Oh, I forgot to mention, she was also an amazing party planner. She truly outdid herself when it came to the baby shower.

  “I should probably call your mom and give her an update.”

  “Good id—” The word was cut short with a long groan.

  And a gush of fluid coating the ball.

  Whoo whoo.

  Hee hee.

  “Change of plans,” Judith said. “Looks like I’m driving you to the hospital.”

  I nodded through the pain, mentally telling her, Great idea.

  She helped me to my feet. Liquid trickled down my legs.

  “I’ll just change first into something not so wet. Can you tell Logan we’re going to the hospital?”

  “Will do. I’ll call your mom, too.”

  I hurried off to change. Well, hurried as much as one could go when carrying a watermelon-sized baby in your belly while said belly wanted to squeeze it out.

  By the time I was finished, Judith was standing by the door, her outstretched hand holding my phone. “Logan wants to talk to you. I’ll drive. You talk.”

  Her other hand held her own phone. “We’re leaving now, Beth. We’ll see you soon.”

  Ahh, my mom.

  “I need my suitcase.” I accepted my phone from her.

  “It’s in my car. Now, let’s get you to the hospital before I wind up delivering your son in my vehicle.”

  That got me moving.

  Correction—that got me waddling in the direction of the front door.

  “Hi,” I said into my phone as another contraction hit, and my hi turned into a prolonged groan. Not the sexy groan Logan was used to when I came. This was more of an I’m-going-to-kill-whoever-screwed-up-making-that-condom sound.

  I stopped moving and doubled over, clutching the corner of the hallway wall.

  Whoo whoo.

  Hee hee.

  “Just breathe through the contraction,” Logan instructed me. “You can do it, babe. I’m staying on the line the entire way to the hospital.”

  “Logan?”

  Whoo whoo.

  Hee hee.

  “Yes?”

  “Shut up for a moment.”

  Whoo whoo.

  Hee hee.

  The contraction eased, and I let out a cleansing breath. “Okay. I’m good now.” That was more for Judith as I resumed my waddle to the door. “And sorry about being a…for being rude.” That was for Logan’s benefit.

  Judith helped me into the passenger seat, and I buckled myself in.

  “How was the run?” I asked Logan just so I’d have something to focus on other than the part where I was in labor.

  And so I could hear his voice.

  “It was good. There weren’t many people out there. The scenery was great. And now I’m sweating all over Travis’s car seat.”

  I laughed because Emma had insisted they cover the seats in plastic whenever Travis and Logan drove to Muir Woods for their run. “I’m sure the hospital staff will be especially excited to see you sweating all over the—”

  I had to pause for a moment as a new contraction swept through my belly.

  Whoo whoo.

  Hee hee.

  God, I really wanted Logan with me. “I miss you,” I whispered even though I’d only seen him less than three hours ago.

  “I miss you too, Kiera.” The smile in his voice made me smile.

  “Will you sing to the baby and me?”

  And he did exactly that, with me holding the phone so even Judith could hear him.

  “That was so sweet,” she said once he was finished. “No wonder Stephen listed you as his number one replacement.”

  Oh, shit.

  Judith seemed to realize at the same time as me that she had said too much. She winced.

  I put the phone to my ear before she could accidentally say anything else.

  “What’s she talking about?” Logan asked, sounding both amused and bemused.

  “Nothing…I’ll explain later.”

  “Not much longer, Kiera. You’re doing great.”

  Easy for the OB to say. She wasn’t the one attempting to squeeze a watermelon through a hole the size of a lemon.

  She had the easy job.

  I groaned out my misery, mentally cursing the makers of the brand of condoms Logan had used.

  He leaned over and kissed me on the forehead.

  “Eww, you’re all sweaty,” I said with a slight sigh, my contractions giving me a momentary reprieve.

  Although if there were a contest as to which of us was sweatier, I had a feeling I’d be the clear winner.

  I had to admit, though, that Logan was far from fresh smelling, thanks to his run. But if given a choice between him leaving to have a shower and him being here and smelling slightly stinky, I’d opt for the stinky, thanks.

  Another wave of contractions bulldozed through me before Logan could respond.

  And then the doctor said the most magical words that ever existed: “And here’s the head.”

  All right, not quite as magical as I would’ve liked, but it was close enough.

  I closed my eyes with the next contraction and pushed with all my might.

  I could vaguely hear the cheering and chanting from the doctor and the nurse and Logan, encouraging me to keep going.

  For a second, they flashed in my mind as three individuals wearing cheerleading uniforms and waving pom-poms.

  Give me a push.

  Give me a baby.

  Give me a “You did it!”

  “Just one more push, Kiera.”

  Collecting everything inside me—the love I felt for my baby and the love I felt for Logan—I pushed with all my might.

  I was positive even Logan’s grandmother in Lake Tahoe heard my battle cry from the effort.

  “And here he is…”

  Smiling and weary, I opened my eyes and peered up at Logan.

  Even though he looked a little green (which wasn’t too surprising given what he’d just witnessed), he was grinning at his son. His eyes shone with so much pride that my eyes teared up.

  There was no doubt in my mind about how much he loved his son.

  That same pride and love in his gaze were then directed at me.

  But this wasn’t the first time I’d seen it. I’d witnessed it daily for the past three months.

  I’d just chosen to ignore it until yesterday.

  “I love you.” My voice came out raspy, thanks to the flood of emotions.

  His smile widened, stealing my breath. He brushed a kiss against my lips. “I love you, too.”

  “Would you like to hold your son now?” the nurse said.

  As if she even had to ask.

  She set him prone on my chest. Logan crouched beside the bed and studied the little boy he’d helped create.

  He lightly stroked the dusting of dark hair on his son’s head. “Hi, Daniel Stephen Mathews.”

  We’d already had a discussion about Daniel’s last name. It didn’t feel right to give him my married name when he was biologically Logan’s and not Stephen’s.

  The little boy smiled at hearing his daddy’s voice.

  I know what you’re thinking. Daniel wasn’t really smiling. It was gas. And maybe if he had been any other baby, that might’ve been true.

  But you’re wrong.

  He was definitely smiling at his father.…But how could he not?

  “I should probably go share the news with everyone and phone my parents,” Logan said.

  “Don’t forget to text Travis so that he can tell Emma.” She would update everyone else—including Chloe and Ava—with our news.

  A s
hort time later, Daniel and I were settled in our hospital room when the door opened, and two sets of grandparents entered. Logan was by the window, his son in his arms, singing to him.

  “And a quack, quack here, and a quack, quack there.”

  I giggled because it was the funniest sight to behold.

  “Let me see my grandson.” Mom rushed over to us, Judith right behind her.

  Dad and Joe followed, knowing they wouldn’t get to see Daniel for a while longer. The two grandmothers had called dibs on him first.

  Logan’s parents had already booked their flight for the following week. However, from what Logan had laughingly told me, his mother had pressured his father into moving their flight up several days.

  His grandmother and stepgrandfather would be driving in from Lake Tahoe on the weekend to visit. Logan had finally admitted to her that I hadn’t contacted her because of a squid recipe Grayson had told me about.

  Even though she had figured that out for herself, she certainly hadn’t expected to learn I was pregnant with her great-grandchild.

  She had called me right after that to tell me how happy she was about the news.

  I could tell Logan wasn’t in a big rush to relinquish his son anytime soon. But despite that, he carefully handed Daniel to my mother. And for the next ten minutes, the two women gushed over the sleeping baby while their husbands grinned knowingly.

  Logan sat next to me on the narrow bed, his arm around my shoulders, and gently kissed me. “How are you doing?”

  “Tired, a little sore.” I gave him a quick peck on the lips. “Happy.”

  Mom and Judith peered at us in the same way I’d seen them do more and more during the past few weeks. They always did it when they thought I wouldn’t notice.

  Both had witnessed the proposal that had fortunately been interrupted. They also knew not to bring it up. But even though they tried to act like they weren’t feverishly hoping Logan would propose to me again soon, there was no denying that was what they wanted.

  Me?

  I was happy the way things were.

  We still had to see what would happen once hockey season officially began.