Decidedly with Luck (By The Bay Book 6)

by Stina Lindenblatt

He had learned how to balance his hockey career and Livi, but balancing the three of us with his career would be a whole new challenge.

  And I wasn’t sure if it was a challenge he was up for.

  A small knock came from the door. Even before Logan opened it, I knew who it was.

  Livi strode into the room without even saying hi to her father. She marched over to her new brother, now in Judith’s arms. Stacy hugged Logan and congratulated him. Then waddled to my bed to give me a big hug.

  “She couldn’t wait any longer to see him,” she said, smiling at her daughter.

  Judith was sitting in the armchair and happily showed off Daniel to his big sister. Livi proceeded to excitedly tell him all the things they would do together once he was a little older.

  And for now, everything seemed great as I tried not to dwell on the rapidly approaching hockey season.

  47

  Logan

  October

  “How’s my little boy doing?” I said to my phone screen. Daniel was in Kiera’s arms, peering wide-eyed at me. His fluff of dark hair stuck up in all directions.

  I had no clue if my six-week-old son could focus on me yet, but he smiled as though he knew my voice belonged to his daddy.

  “He’s doing great,” Kiera said. “He misses you. We both do.”

  I’d been away for the past four days on a road trip.

  And as promised, I’d called Kiera every day.

  I had also called Livi and her baby sister, Hailey.

  “I miss you, too,” I told Kiera and Daniel. “I can’t wait to return home to see you both.” Only one more day; then the team was flying to San Francisco for several home games.

  I couldn’t make love to Kiera yet, but that didn’t stop me from making out with her and cuddling with her once Daniel was asleep.

  Daniel started rooting around for dinner. Kiera put him on her breast, and we continued our conversation while he contentedly had his meal.

  “Remember, those are on loan,” I told him, and Kiera laughed. That wasn’t the first time I had pointed that out. I was eagerly waiting for them to be mine again.

  November

  The image of my two-month-old son came into view on my phone. He was snoozing peacefully in his crib, looking adorable in his Rock team onesie and navy sweat pants.

  I wanted to say something to him just to see him smile at me. But I restrained myself because waking him from his nap would be cruel to both him and Kiera.

  Kiera let me stare at my son for a few minutes, then quietly tiptoed to our bedroom.

  “I saw my physician today.” She smiled my favorite grin.

  “And?”

  “And…I can finally have sex with you once you get home.”

  My mouth twitched to one side. “We don’t even have to wait that long.”

  This was met by her shy smile. “What do you have in mind?”

  So I told her exactly what I had in mind, explaining where and how I wanted her to touch herself as she told me the same.

  And in no time, we were two writhing bodies on beds in two separate countries, each appreciating the sounds of the other person as we brought ourselves to euphoria.

  December

  “Look, Daniel, there’s Daddy,” Kiera said. The two of them were on their stomachs on the living room floor, doing tummy time. Kiera was holding the iPad in front of them.

  I was also on my stomach on the hotel bed.

  Daniel grinned like he always did when he and I did tummy time together. He also loved to watch when Kiera and I played tummy-time hockey.

  What was tummy-time hockey?

  It was a game I’d invented where Kiera and I passed a small ball to each other with novelty hockey sticks.

  While we were on our stomachs.

  Like our typical daily conversations while I was on the road, I told them about my day, and Kiera told me about hers and Daniel’s. And then we planned our next family outing for when I was home.

  And later, once Daniel was asleep, Kiera would text me to let me know so that we could have phone sex.

  “I love you,” I told Kiera.

  “I love you, too.”

  I ended the call.

  For the past three months, Kiera and I had been doing everything in our power to make our relationship work, to make our little family work.

  It hadn’t been easy. But nothing worthwhile ever was.

  Even though I’d messed things up with Stacy and Livi when Stacy and I were married, things were different when it came to Kiera, Daniel, and me.

  Did I believe that if we got married, we could make our marriage work despite my hockey career?

  Absolutely.

  There wasn’t a single cell in my body that believed otherwise.

  Now, I just hoped Kiera felt the same way.

  48

  Kiera

  “What do you think of the Christmas tree?” I asked Daniel. He was in my arms, waiting for his daddy to come home. “Look at this decoration. Do you think Daddy will love it?”

  The decoration in question?

  It was a hockey goal with a cute bunny goaltender guarding it.

  Daniel giggled and waved his hands at the decoration, eager to grab it from me.

  “You don’t want to put this in your mouth.” Which was exactly where it would end up. Daniel was at the age where he loved to put everything in his mouth.

  The doorbell rang.

  “You’re not expecting anyone, are you?” I asked him with a big smile.

  He rewarded me with one of his.

  I opened the door to find Mom on the porch. Before I registered what was happening, she had Daniel out of my arms and was gushing over him. “How’s my big grandson today?”

  “Mom, don’t get me wrong, because I’m always happy to see you, but what are you doing here?”

  She stopped fussing over him long enough to do a quick perusal of my clothes. “Oh, heavens, that outfit won’t do.”

  I glanced down at my black yoga pants and long-sleeved nursing top. My hair was pulled back in a sloppy bun, and I barely had any makeup on.

  I might have been a million miles from glamorous, but Daniel and Logan didn’t care. I didn’t have spit-up on me, so that was always a bonus.

  Before I could respond, Judith entered the foyer, a dress bag on one arm and a small suitcase in her other hand. She, too, looked me over. “Oh, that outfit definitely won’t do. Okay, upstairs with you. Have a shower, and I’ll meet you in your bedroom.”

  I glanced between the two women. “Will someone tell me what’s going on?”

  “You’ll find out soon enough.” Judith tried to nudge me forward.

  “Do you have any idea what’s going on?” I asked Daniel. He giggled and waved his arms at me.

  With a little more prompting on her part, Judith ushered me upstairs.

  Once I’d finished my shower, Judith had me sit on a chair in my bedroom and began applying my makeup. All I had on was my underwear and bathrobe.

  “I know how to do my own makeup,” I said as she rummaged through her supplies.

  She just grinned at me. Did that make me slightly nervous?

  You’d better believe it. What the heck were she and my mother up to?

  I kept expecting to hear Logan walk into the house, but that never happened. If he had texted to tell me he was delayed, I wouldn’t know because my phone was downstairs on the coffee table.

  Thirty minutes later, my hair was styled, and makeup was applied. Judith slid the zipper down on the garment bag, revealing a blush-pink gown with gold sequins sewed on the bodice and the skirt’s gauze overlay.

  I sucked in a ghost of a breath and stared wide-eyed at the delicate dress. A thousand thoughts and emotions spun inside me, creating a fragile web.

  I reached a shaky hand toward the bodice and traced a finger along the lacy design. “Really, Judith—what’s going on?”

  “You’ll see. We have to hurry. The car will be here soon to pick you up.”

&n
bsp; “Pick me up for what?”

  The grin returned to her face. “I’m your fairy godmother, and I’ve been sworn to secrecy.”

  Realizing there was no point trying to get an answer from her, I let her help me into the gown. It fit perfectly.

  She opened my closet door, revealing the full-length mirror.

  “You look gorgeous.” Tears thickened her voice the way they had the day I married her son.

  I had to admit she was right. The V-neckline plunged to below my breasts, two thin straps holding it up. The sequins in the floor-length dress formed patterns in the skirt like raindrops trickling down a window.

  I had thought the gown I’d worn the night of the Jingle Balls ball was beautiful. That had been nothing compared to this.

  Mom walked into the room, carrying Daniel. “You do look gorgeous, sweetheart.” Her voice was as choked up as Judith’s.

  I laughed under my breath. “You mean compared to my usual jeans and nursing tops?”

  Fortunately, I’d nursed Daniel a short time ago. I had a feeling breastfeeding him while I was in the gown wasn’t on their agenda.

  “I’m going to make a wild prediction here. Is Logan meeting me somewhere? And you two are looking after our son while we’re gone?”

  Both women nodded enthusiastically, smiles wider than before.

  I gave them instructions about Daniel’s routine even though they already had it memorized.

  The limo pulled up to the front of the house, ready to whisk me to wherever Logan was waiting for me.

  I kissed Daniel on the cheek. “Make sure your grandmothers keep out of trouble, okay?”

  He gurgled in reply and smiled his toothless grin.

  The driver helped me into the vehicle, and we drove to a small restaurant that Logan and I had been to several times since we’d begun dating.

  It was one of our favorite places to eat.

  Logan wasn’t waiting for me outside when we arrived. I entered the building. The man waiting at the host booth smiled at me. “Kiera Ashdown, I assume?”

  “That’s right.”

  “Let me show you to your table.” I followed him through the restaurant. I couldn’t see Logan anywhere. Maybe he wasn’t here yet.

  Instead of taking me to a table, the host led me to a door and gestured for me to enter a private dining room.

  I stepped inside the spacious room and was greeted by a sight I hadn’t expected. Tall, leafless trees covered in fairy lights formed a pathway to the dance floor and the single table in the center of the room. It was like stepping into a magical wonderland.

  But as beautiful as it all was, that wasn’t what had me gasping.

  Logan was standing next to the table, wearing a tuxedo and a mask, like the one he had on the night of the Jingle Balls ball.

  The door clicked shut behind me, and I walked to Logan. He bowed, and I smiled, every part of me feeling warm, tingly, and dazed.

  “Happy anniversary,” he said, holding out his hand to me.

  The ball had taken place a year ago. I’d known that, but I hadn’t realized Logan had paid attention to the date.

  The only difference was, last year he and I had both been masked. This time it was only Logan who was wearing one.

  “Happy anniversary to you, too.”

  He lifted my hand to his lips like he had that night. Despite everything that had happened since the first time he’d kissed the back of my hand, I couldn’t help but blush.

  Which made him chuckle. “A year ago, I was given a second chance to be with you. Before you met Stephen, I’d planned to tell you numerous times how I felt about you. But each time I tried, I chickened out. A year ago, I saw you at the ball, but I didn’t dare tell you it was me. I made love to you that night, but I screwed up by keeping my identity a secret.

  “When I first saw you in Livi’s classroom, I figured it was too late to tell you the truth. I couldn’t turn back the calendar. And then when you told me you were pregnant with Stephen’s baby, I figured there was no point in telling you the truth.

  “But I was wrong. I should never have kept my identity a secret. So I’d like to have a redo of that night.” He removed his mask. “Hi, my name is Logan Grayson Mathews. And I’m in love with you, Kiera.”

  I glanced around the room. The only similarity to the ballroom that night was the Christmas tree, and both had been decorated differently.

  Everything was different.

  And I wasn’t just referring to the decorations and my dress.

  I couldn’t believe he had done this. For me.

  I turned back to him. “Hi, I’m Kiera Claire Ashdown. And I’m in love with you, Logan.”

  His arms went around me, and he pulled me in for a kiss.

  Dinner was incredible. We talked, we laughed, and we reminisced.

  A song we had danced to at the ball started to play from the speakers in the ceiling. Logan stood up and offered me his hand. “Would you like to dance?”

  Smiling, I accepted it. “I would.”

  He led me to the dance floor. I wrapped my arms around his neck. His went around my waist, and we swayed to the music.

  “The day Daniel came into the world,” Logan said, “Judith mentioned that Stephen listed me as his number one replacement. You said you would tell me what she meant later. Are you ready to tell me now?”

  I couldn’t believe he’d remembered that. I had forgotten about that conversation.

  I felt the heat in my cheeks raise once more. “It’s kind of silly.”

  “Will you tell me anyway?”

  I smiled and nodded. “Stephen once told me that if he died before me, he wanted me to eventually fall in love again. He listed the options for men he felt would be great husband material—should they also be available at the time. You were his number one choice.”

  “When was this?”

  I told Logan when Stephen had jokingly told me his list of potential candidates.

  “So, after Stacy and I were divorced.”

  I could tell what he was thinking. “He never mentioned you were divorced, but he knew you had been a better husband than you’d given yourself credit for.”

  Stacy and I had talked a lot about our former marriages after we’d become close friends. She loved Logan, but only as a friend. She had also admitted their failed marriage was as much her fault as it had been his.

  For the past three months, Logan had proved just how different our relationship was in comparison to what his marriage had been like. He had proved he could balance what he and I had between us with his hockey. He had proved he could balance our family and his career.

  Now, I just needed for him to see that.

  Yes, it wasn’t easy making sure nothing was remiss. But we were aware of what we needed to do to succeed when it came to our family and our love. And I knew, with every ounce of my soul, we would triumph.

  As long as we continued to make each other a priority, I had no doubt our love would remain strong till our dying days.

  “Do you believe that?” he asked, referring to what I’d told him about Stephen.

  I nodded. “I do.”

  I had witnessed firsthand how much Logan had grown since he’d first become a husband and a father. I’d seen how hard he’d worked at being a great father to both Livi and Daniel.

  And I’d seen how much he’d made me a priority, even when he was on the road.

  Logan smiled, and as usual, when he looked at me that way, my heart galloped in my chest, destination unknown. “I originally said I wasn’t interested in settling down again until after my hockey career is over, but I was wrong. Ever since you stepped back into my life and ever since Daniel was born, I realized how wrong I’d been in thinking that I could wait. I don’t want to wait.”

  Logan stepped away from me, slipped his hand into his trouser pocket, and removed it, fisted. “I want to wake up to find my wife, the woman I love, next to me. I want to come home from road trips to be with my wife. I want to grow old wit
h my wife now and not starting in four or five or six years.

  “I know you believed that I only wanted to marry you because we were having a baby together. But the truth is, even if Daniel had been Stephen’s, I would still want to marry you. I love you.” He opened up his hand, revealing a simple gold ring with a breathtaking diamond. “Kiera, will you marry me?”

  The love and honesty on his face stalled the air in my lungs, and my heart stopped beating.

  It took two to make a relationship work. I understood his career and the demands it placed on him. It was something that Stacy said she hadn’t been prepared for, and that was what had ultimately caused their marriage to be like a seesaw, never finding a balance between everything.

  It wouldn’t always be easy. But neither would be not being his wife.

  Because there was nothing I wanted more than that.

  My mouth widened into a big grin, and tears blurred my vision. “Logan, I would love to be your wife.”

  Logan had barely gotten the ring on my finger before we were kissing.

  It was a simple kiss—a kiss to seal our love—but it also melted me down to my soul and beyond. It left me feeling complete in a whole new way.

  I rested my head on his shoulder, and we swayed to the music.

  “Did my Mom and Judith know you were going to propose tonight?”

  I felt Logan’s chuckle more than I heard it. “No one knew. Tonight was about us and no one else. Just like it was a year ago. Just you and me.”

  Just us.

  Epilogue

  Logan

  Six Months Later

  When Stacy and I had gotten married, it was a lavish affair. Kiera and Stephen’s wedding had also been big.

  “You ready?” Travis asked as we took our places next to the pine-bough and white-tulle archway. Over two dozen guests sat chatting on white chairs arranged in rows on the hotel patio.