He’d been an only child to an older couple, and they hadn’t been able to control him from a young age. The neighbor had even stated that Ian’s parents had been afraid of their son. Had he been born a sociopath?
Logan’s voice tightened. “Now we know why friends and family refused to take him in after his parents died. He was such a nasty piece of work.”
“How did no one know this kid had a gun?” Tessa shook her head.
“The weapon was unregistered.” Logan shrugged. “He won’t say where he got it.”
Widow’s Island came into view.
“There’s home.” Logan squeezed her fingers.
Tessa’s heart was happy as the boat docked. The island really was home.
They got into her SUV and drove to her house. Cate was on the porch, drinking iced tea and playing checkers with Patience. Her mom hung a basket over her arm and headed for the chicken coop. She was smiling and humming an old Beatles song. Tessa ran inside to lock up her gun and change her clothes. When she emerged, Logan handed her a glass of iced tea.
She took it. “Kurt is back on duty tomorrow. I am officially off all day.”
A car drove up. Sam, Mickey, and Sam’s mom got out. Marsha carried three pizza boxes. “We brought dinner to thank you for helping us.”
Mickey ran up to Tessa’s mom. “Can I help get the eggs?”
Tessa held her breath, but her mom was having a good day. She handed the little boy the basket, and they headed into the coop, with Marsha right behind them to supervise.
Tessa dropped onto the top porch step. Logan sat at her side.
Sam leaned on the porch post.
“Are you okay?” Tessa asked. She worried how Sam would handle the break-in.
“Yeah. That man didn’t want to harm us,” Sam said. “Though we do lock all the doors now.”
Carl had admitted to breaking in to replace his wires and tools, but he hadn’t wanted to hurt anyone. He’d run the second he’d been caught.
“The parts are on order for the alarm system,” Logan said. “I’ll have it installed within the week.”
“Thank you, Logan.” Sam’s gaze sought her son, who was following the alpha hen around the chicken enclosure. The chicken looked harried. Sam smiled. “Mickey wants to pet the chicken.”
“Ha!” Tessa barked out a laugh. “Killer Hen doesn’t know how to deal with an eight-year-old’s energy.” She stood. “I’ll get plates and napkins.”
Logan followed her into the house. “There’s something I want to talk to you about.”
Tessa pulled a dozen cloth napkins from a drawer and turned to him. His face looked serious.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
“No.” Logan stood in front of her. “I think we should live together.”
Tessa wanted to be with Logan more than anything. She loved him. But she couldn’t be selfish. Her responsibilities outweighed her personal desires. But she allowed herself to imagine a normal life with Logan for a few seconds. If only . . .
She brushed away her own wants. It wasn’t fair to lead him on.
“You know I can’t leave my house.” Tessa had at least two more years until Patience went to college. Sadly, she doubted her mother would still be at home by that time. The incident with the knife had blown Tessa’s mind. She’d removed all sharp objects from the kitchen, but she couldn’t allow her mother to be a danger to herself or anyone else.
He blinked. “Actually, I think I should move in with you.”
“You want to move in with me here? With my mother and my sister?” Tessa couldn’t believe he was offering.
“I do.” He took her hand. “You need a second adult in the house. Think how much easier it would be if we could take turns keeping an eye on your mom. Selfishly, I also want to see more of you.”
“That’s the only reason you want to move in? To help me?” Tessa didn’t like where this was going. She didn’t want his pity. She wanted Logan to return the love she felt for him. She clutched the napkins to her chest.
“No.” He sighed. “I’m totally botching this. I love you. That’s why I want to be together all the time.”
Tessa smiled. “I love you too, and I want to spend our lives together.” She hesitated. Was it even fair to accept?
“I hear a but coming.” He frowned.
“But I don’t want you to move in with me because you feel sorry for me.”
“That’s not why. I’m not being clear.”
Tessa lifted a shoulder. “Patience is with me for at least two more years, and I’ll keep Mom at home as long as I can keep her and everyone around her safe. It will get harder, not easier, in the near future.”
She pictured her mother with the knife again and shuddered.
“I know that.” Logan exhaled. “Okay. I need to do this properly. Cate gave me specific instructions, and I still blew it.” With a huge grin, Logan dropped to one knee in front of her. “Tessa Black, will you marry me?” He pulled a jewelry box from his pocket and opened it. A ring nestled in a patch of blue velvet.
“What?” Tessa stared at the ring. Stunned, she dropped the napkins. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. He wanted her? He loved her enough to live with the insanity that was her life? How could she have gotten so lucky? “You really want to marry me? You know how crazy my life is.”
“Yes and yes.” Logan smiled. “I love you with all my heart. There’s nothing I want more in the world than to be your husband. But to me, helping you with those other things is part of the package. As you once said to me, you can’t just share half of your life. It’s all or nothing.”
“Throwing my words back at me?” The corner of Tessa’s mouth turned up in a wry grin.
Logan grinned back at her. “You bet.”
She tugged him to his feet, and he kissed her. Joy bloomed inside her. “I can’t promise smooth sailing. My life is unpredictable.”
“Predictable is boring.” He kissed her again, long and hard. “I’ll take whatever we can get.”
Over the years, their relationship had transformed from a teenage crush to friendship to the kind of love that felt real and solid—and lasting.
She looped her arms round his neck. “I’ve loved you my whole life. I’m going to love you for the rest of it as well.”
Logan kissed her again. “We can get through anything if we’re together.”