“It’s all bullshit.”
I wasn’t asking for confirmation or conversation. I’d done my own digging and I’d come to the same conclusion. Guy Stevens was in the drug trade; the only question was how deep.
“Yep. We can back off—”
“Fuck no,” I interrupted him. “He’s scrambling, we push harder.”
“Lauren.”
“The only way to make Lauren safe is to take Guy down. In the meantime, I’ll cover Lauren.”
Matt’s response was interrupted by my sister’s fast approach.
“Sorry I took so long,” she said as she wrapped her arms around my waist. “It was good to see you, big brother.”
“You, too, Jilly.”
Her head tipped back and I braced when I saw the somber look.
“I like her, Logan. No, I love her.”
“Good.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Why are you thanking me, honey?”
“For being cool with Ian. It took you a minute but you came around. Mom’s happy. Well, right now she’s trying to figure out how to kidnap her adult son and his girlfriend and lock you both in her house so she knows you’re safe. But in general, she’s finally happy. And her seeing you with Lauren, I think she’ll finally be able to let go of the guilt she holds.”
Fuck, I hated hearing that my mom was still holding onto guilt. Nothing that had happened was her fault. None of us blamed her for the nightmare that was our father.
“I should’ve let all the shit go a long time ago,” I admitted.
“A long time ago, you didn’t have a reason. Now you do.”
Hell yeah, I did.
“Call me before you board?”
“Yes, big brother. I know the drill. Before I board, when I land, when I get to my car, when I get home.”
“There are crazy people out there, Jilly.”
“You don’t say?”
After she gave me a tight squeeze she let go and turned to Matt’s truck.
“Overcompensating much,” Jill teased Matt.
“If you weren’t my brother’s sister I’d have a comeback for that.”
“I bet you would,” she shot back. “And I still wouldn’t believe you.”
“Again, Jilly, if you weren’t Logan’s sister I’d offer to prove—”
“Swear on all things holy, you finish that, brother, you’ll have my foot up your ass.”
“Damn, you’re easy to rile up.” Jill laughed. “You do know I’m not a—”
“Jillian,” I warned.
“Love you, Logan,” she singsonged and jumped up into the cab.
“Call me!” I shouted as she slammed the door. “You, too.”
“Will do and I’ll be back.”
I watched as Matt’s truck pulled away, passing Quinn’s SUV pulling down my street and Lily’s car behind Quinn’s.
I waited at the curb to help carry in the haul. There was no telling what “odds and ends” my mother had picked up.
I did this smiling, despite one of my sisters leaving.
A few minutes later, I found that it was a good thing I’d waited but I also needed to call out reinforcements. Emily’s trunk had been packed full and the back of Quinn’s SUV was jammed full of stuff, too.
“Jeez, Ma, did you leave anything at the store?” Jackie laughed.
Lauren was staring at all the shopping bags with wide eyes, looking more than a little freaked.
“Yes, Jaclyn, I did,” my mom snapped. “It’s not every day a mother gets to spoil her son and her soon-to-be daughter. And since your brother refused a housewarming party and I refuse to subject Laurie to ratty towels and no soap dispensers, I took it upon myself to save Laurie the hassle of having to shop.”
Laurie?
Since I was still staring at Lauren I didn’t miss her reaction to my mom calling her, her soon-to-be daughter. It wasn’t a flinch but there was definitely surprise when Lauren’s eyes twitched.
“It’s a good thing you saved Laurie from that, Mom. No soap dispensers sounds like torture,” I teased.
Lauren’s lips slowly curved up and when they finally formed a full-fledged smile my stomach bottomed out at the beauty. How I’d stupidly held out for so long was a major fuck-up. I could’ve had this—her in our house, smiling at me, knowing later she’d be sleeping next to me and the next morning I’d wake up and she’d still be there.
I was a fucking fool.
“Anything you don’t like, we can take back,” my mom told Lauren.
“I’m not picky, DeeDee. I’m sure whatever you bought will be perfect,” Lauren responded to my mom but hadn’t taken her eyes off of me.
“You should have what you want,” my mom argued.
“I already do.”
Fuck, Jesus Christ.
“Ren, baby, come here.” My demand was gruff. It was also necessary because my muscles had seized. One step in her direction, which was near the base of the stairs leading to the bedrooms, would be one step too close to where I wanted to take her. Too great a temptation.
“Bossy.” I heard Jackie mumble.
“You’re telling me.”
Lauren’s words might’ve been misconstrued as a complaint if she weren’t smiling and moving toward me.
When she was close, I tagged her around her middle and yanked her to me. Once I had her where I wanted I dropped my mouth to her ear and whispered, “You like me bossy, baby.”
I felt her body quiver and I didn’t miss the soft sigh of agreement.
“I love you, Logan,” she whispered.
Fire and ice mixed in my veins. Heat skated over my skin as Lauren melted closer.
“Now who has shit timing?” I growled.
“I figured a little payback was in order.”
“Oh, yeah, there’ll be payback. Prepare, Ren; you haven’t begun to see bossy.”
“Don’t stop, Ren.”
The sexiest groan filled the bedroom and I fought to hold on.
“That’s it, baby, fuck yourself harder.”
My hands skimmed over her ass, over the dimples indenting the small of her back, up farther until I had a handful of her silky hair. With a twist, I had it wrapped around my hand, pulling her head up so I could see her face.
“Tell me,” I demanded.
“I won’t stop.”
Her hips bucked as she drove herself down on my cock.
“No, tell me you love me.”
“I love you,” she moaned.
Fuck, yes.
“Again.”
“I love you, honey.”
Jesus.
“Again.”
“I love you, Logan.”
“I love you, too, Lauren.”
My eyes drifted closed and I savored the words still lingering in the room. I reveled in the way my chest burned and my heart pounded.
I opened my eyes, took in the sight before me—the woman I loved naked astride me, riding my cock so hard she was panting. Then I decided it wasn’t a sight to be seen, it was a sight to behold. So goddamn beautiful with her face flushed, her hair a wild mess, sweat dripping down between her bouncing tits.