That was the first thing he noticed. The fat,
four-hundred pound man took up most of the scene, blocking his view
of Claire.
The next thing he noticed was the tennis shoe.
It was off to the side, alone. Claire’s tennis shoe.
Panic flared inside his soul and he forgot
about everything else except Claire.
Running around the cursing Senator, he knelt
beside her, feeling for a pulse, taking in her ashen appearance. A
bloody gash ran along the side of her face, her hand was cut along
the wrists and her knuckles were forming some pretty deep
bruises.
He’d been coming up the driveway when she’d
made her move. The car had blocked some of what had happened, but
he’d heard her shouting, saw her fists working into Joey’s face.
Pride had shot through him at the sight – even know, seeing her
there, knowing she had defended herself as best she could…. His
eyes stung again.
Logan gathered her into his arms after finding
the pulse. It was strong and steady. He breathed out a sigh of
relief, smoothing back her hair, whispering to her. Men moved
around them, gathering Joey.
“Claire,” he said urgently, raining
kisses all over her face. He didn’t care that people were watching
them, watching
him
cry over her. “Baby, wake up.”
She roused, turning her face into his shoulder
– and then jerking back with a whimper. Guilt and relief once again
clashed through him. He prayed to God that she didn’t have a
concussion.
“Hey…” Her voice was faint, but worried. A
shaking hand reached to touch his jaw, then his cheek. Her hand
came away, glistening with one of his tears. “I’m okay…so why are
you crying?” Her big, blue eyes gazed up at him, scared,
concerned.
He let out a laugh, a big gust of air. “God.
You scared me… We need to get you to the hospital.” He began
standing with her in his arms. “I also need to tell you
something.”
Claire nodded weakly against his chest,
trustingly curling her body into his. He sheltered her with his
arms protectively from the men that wanted to catch a look at
her.
“No hospitals,” she said suddenly, flipping her
eyes up to his. “Don’t take me to a hospital, Logan. I hate those
things. Don’t want it.”
“Claire, you might have a
concussion…”
“I don’t. I landed on my arm and the pain
knocked me out.” He could tell she was grasping for
straws.
He smiled gently, kissing her
temple. “Sorry, baby. You’re going to the hospital. You could have
a concussion
and
a
broken arm.”
She attempted to move her arms, but Logan held
her fast. “Damnit, Logan, I really don’t like those
places.”
“I don’t care. We’re going.”
Claire ended up going along with whatever Logan
wanted. He was gentle with her, but she could feel that he was on a
thin line. He didn’t leave her side; he got so close as to punch
the doctor before the poor man realized it was useless to fight
them.
He also couldn’t keep his hands off her. If he
couldn’t hold her hand, he touched her knee. If he couldn’t do
that, his hand would be on her back. When the doctor left, he took
those moments to hold her and kiss her. She didn’t mind it, and
when he asked if she did, she gave him the truth.
“I love it,” she sighed, laying her head on his
chest. “But I hope it doesn’t last too long… I can’t breathe.” They
both laughed.
“I won’t ever let you go anywhere without me
again. And God forbid Chase ever lets anything happen –“
She gasped, pulling back sharply. “Chase! Oh my
god – I saw him! When Joey was carrying me to the car, he was
like…under it.” Her eyes started to well with tears at the memory.
“Call someone to bring him here; he’s hurt, Logan!”
“Don’t get so worked up,” he said calmly,
rubbing her back. “My brother is stronger than you think. A car
sitting on top of him won’t do much damage. His head is too thick.”
He smiled at her and she stared at him, aghast.
“How can you be happy about this?!
Logan, Chase was
ran over
by a car! You can’t just sit here—“
The door of the examination room opened and in
walked the doctor. He was tall, thin, and his black hair was
greying at the temples. His eyes were shrewd as he set down the
clipboard on the counter and settled himself in the spin-chair in
front of them.
“Your brother is here,” he commented blandly,
sitting there with his hands folded in his lap.
“I thought so,” Logan said. He grabbed Claire’s
hand. “Is she going to be okay? Is anything broken? Does she have a
concussion?”
Claire blushed at Logan’s concern while the
doctor shook his head. “Her vitals are good. No concussion, but I
would suggest taking some ibprophen when you get home, and some
rest. No bones are broken but her collarbone and shoulder bone are
bruised. Ice will take care of the swelling.”
Logan visibly relaxed against her, flashing a
smile.
“Thank God,” he said, pressing a kiss to her
temple. She flushed, giving the doctor a look like she was
sorry.
He smiled at her indulgently. “I’m the family
doctor. When you guys have kids, my wife will be ecstatic. She’ll
want to see the baby.” He stood up, shaking hands with the two of
them as they rose. “Have a nice day. I’m going to go take care of
your brother now – he has a broken rib and I don’t even know what
else. Reminds me of the days when your mother would bring the three
of you in here, all roughed up from the fights you
started.”
The doctor, whose name tag read Dr. Johnson,
nodded at them as he left.
“The visit is paid for as long as you can
promise some children soon.” He flashed a charming grin and then
left them.
Claire turned to Logan, about to say something,
when his lips crashed down on hers.
She sighed when he pulled back. “Let’s get
home…. I want my wife.”
They pulled into the driveway, not noticing the
extra car that was parked there.
Claire was too focused on Logan, on the way his
hand massaged the back of her neck, the way his eyes would look
over at her every-so-often. His eyes were softer than she’d ever
seen them, adoring. She almost laughed when she thought that maybe
she should try to get killed more often – it had him following
after her. She’d completely forgotten about their fights, and all
she wanted to do was get him in bed as soon as possible.
The doctors words rang in her
ear.
Baby.
Having Logan’s child… Her eyes traced the lines
of his face and she couldn’t help but wonder if he would like a
child. She knew that with Christina he had hoped, but it had slowly
died out. Maybe he would think that she was the same way, someone
who wanted to preserve her body.
Her eyes lowered as indecision flashed through
her. They still didn’t know much about each other. She knew his
past, she knew he had a temper and he was protective, but she
didn’t know what he liked to eat, what his favorite color was, what
his middle name was. How could someone have a marriage based off of
just generalities?
And if he thought she was like that… Her heart
dropped.
“Logan?” she asked hesitantly when he came
around her side of the car to open the door for her. He helped her
down, his hands lingering at her waist.
“Yes, baby?” He pressed another kiss to her
forehead, slipping his arms around her waist as they began to enter
the house.
“Did what the doctor say…weird you
out?”
“What, about Chase?”
“No…the other thing.” He gave her a look like
he had no clue what she was talking about. Her face flamed.. “The
baby.”
His face turned into an “oh” face. They were
just inside the door now.
“Why do you ask?” He slipped off his
shoe.
“I want…. Well, I’d like to… Uh, damnit.
Iwanttohaveyourchild,” she rushed out, slapping a hand over her
face. “But! I want to get to know you. Do stuff with you. Now that
this is all over…”
Logan was silent as he stood there, one shoe
off, one shoe on.
She stared at him helplessly for a moment…and
then looked away. “Ah, forget I said anything. It’s okay. I’m going
to shower –“
“Claire,” he said softly. He took her hands in
his. “I would love to have a child with you. Listen, I need to tell
you something –“
“Claire?”
Her face drained of all color at the sound of
her father’s voice.
Logan’s eyes closed in anger and she turned
around slowly.
“Dad? What are you doing here?” She grasped
Logan’s hand.
Her father had lines around his eyes that
hadn’t been there before. He had bags under his eyes, his normally
combed hair was sticking up in random places, and his shirt wasn’t
even tucked in.
Logan growled and kissed her lightly. “I’ll let
you guys talk alone.”
She tried to reach for him, but he’d already
left them.
“Let’s sit down,” her father said, gesturing
with his hand toward the drawing room.
“Who let you in here?” She followed him and sat
down, opposite of him, keeping her distance.
“A couple of…men. They were carrying a big
black bag,” he said, frowning.
Claire just stared at him.
She remembered every word he’d said, every
threat he had made to Logan. “Why are you here?”
“I am so sorry…for everything. I love you,
Claire. You’re my first and only daughter. You have to understand,
at the thought of losing you to someone like…like him, it tore me
up. I wanted to make you a perfect match,” he murmured. “I wanted
to make sure that when you married, you would be with someone who
could provide for you.”
“Logan,” she said coldly, her pride slammed for
her husband, “has a multi-billion ranch business. I am more than
‘provided’ for here. I have a man who adores me and a family to
take care of.”
“Does he love you though?” Sadness laced his
voice, as if he felt bad for her.
Claire’s lips pressed. “He will realize it soon
enough.”
“So that’s a no. Claire, come back with me.
There are plenty of men for you to talk to, who will love
you.”
“Love me, or my money?” she asked
bitterly.
Her father blanched. “You, of course. Any man
coming near you will have the same amount of wealth, if not more –
there is no reason for them to want your money.”
“Wow. Dad, after everything, you still don’t
understand. I don’t care about money. I’m not something you can use
to gain alias anymore. And treating me like I’m something for you
to barter with?” Her voice was bitter as she stood up. “I’m done
here. Don’t come back to Logan and I until you’ve changed – I’m not
your property anymore, Dad. I love you, but I know that Logan has
his best interest at heart whereas you only have your pocket at
heart.”
He sat there silently, staring up at her. The
lines, in a matter of seconds, seemed to imprint deeper into his
skin and he looked ten years older. “I don’t want to be kicked out
of your life… You’re my daughter,” he said helplessly, his hands
raising and then falling to his lap.
“Then treat me like it,” she said softly. “I
would love for you to be a part of my new life. But if you’re
threatening my husband, you’re ultimately threatening me as well.
I’m not eighteen anymore – I’m going to be twenty five in just a
couple of months. It’s time that I make my own
decisions.”
There was a tense silence, and then a sigh.
“You’re right,” he said shakily. He pushed his hands through his
hair, looking at her with resignation. “I need to stop. It’s not
just about me anymore.”
She almost smiled. He was finally seeing the
light. Claire had been fully prepared to leave her father out of
her life, if just for a chance at happiness with Logan. Her father
had treated her right, had taken care of her and made time to do
things with her, but he had never treated her as a daughter when it
came to other people. She had been used, she realized, to gain
perks from other people. The parties she held, the people she knew…
it had all been for her father. Her friends had been picked out for
her by her father. If there had been someone he didn’t like, she
stayed away from them.
With Logan, she was finally finding her own
voice.
She thought of him, and her heart
soared. Maybe there was a chance that she could have both
him
and
her
father.
“Are you okay? I came as soon as I heard… I was
still in town,” he said, sheepish.
She nodded, reaching out to wrap her arms
around his shoulders. “I’m perfectly fine. If you want to stay here
tonight, feel free… But I have to talk to my husband about
something important.”
His eyes darkened before he could mask it. “I
heard about it.”
Claire refused to be afraid of her father’s
reaction. “And you might be a grandfather soon,” she said, laughing
when his face blanched.