“Oldest friend and right-hand man.”
“Yup. And he’s going to be really pissed about this.”
More good news. Logan’s secretiveness had bothered her. She’d called the only two people in her life who would care, her friend Marilyn and her former boss from the bookstore. Both had been shocked and had begged her to reconsider. They’d been suspicious of Logan’s motives.
They didn’t get it. He wasn’t rushing her. They were following their hearts. Acting on their certainty that they were meant to be together.
But for Bailey, it was also about adventure. For once, stepping out and grabbing life by the horns. About being an active participant in her dreams coming true.
“You should have told him, Logan. To spring us on him and everyone else like this, it doesn’t seem fair. I’d be pissed, too.”
The light ahead turned red and he rolled to a stop. He looked at her. “I wanted this to be just ours, Bailey. For a little bit longer.”
A lump formed in her throat. Not secretive. Holding on to and cherishing this special time together.
The light changed and Logan eased forward. “Besides, you’ll understand when you meet everyone.”
“They’re a pack of hungry wolves, is that what you’re saying?”
“Pretty much.” He reached across the seat and caught her hand. “Look, just up on the right. Abbott Farm.”
CHAPTER THREE
Logan reached the drive and turned in, rolling through the open gates, emblazoned with an ornate AF.
“Wait!” she said. “Stop.”
He did, eyebrows drawing together. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She hoped he didn’t hear the quiver in her voice. “I just need a moment.”
To calm her thundering heart. To harness the sudden wave of uncertainty that rose up in her. This was it. Her new home. She had tied herself to this man and this place, everything familiar a thousand miles away.
She was alone here.
No, she had Logan. And as long as they were together, she’d never be alone.
Life by the horns, she reminded herself. True love and everything that went along with it.
She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Okay,” she said. “Ready.”
“Second thoughts?”
“No.” She forced a confident smile. “Hell no, in fact.”
Logan put the car in gear. The gravel drive snaked its way back to the main stable—they called them barns here, Logan had told her—and training arenas. He had shown her pictures of the estate online. It consisted of the barn and training facilities, acres of pastureland, three residences sitting on ninety wooded acres.
But the photos hadn’t prepared her for how breathtaking it was.
Rolling pastures lined with white fencing. Sprawling grounds. Mature oaks, maples and birch trees. Two mares grazing in the pasture nearest the entrance, foals at their sides.
They reached the barn. Logan swung the Porsche into a spot under a tree and killed the engine. Two dogs scampered out to meet them—a corgi and a chocolate Lab—followed by a man in blue jeans, boots and a cowboy hat.
Logan glanced at her. “A word of warning. Paul has supersonic hearing. He misses nothing that’s said in the barn.”
“So no sex talk when I think he’s out of earshot?”
“Right.” He grinned. “Though it kills me to say it.”
A moment later Bailey watched as the two men embraced.
“You sorry S.O.B.,” Paul said, slapping him on the back. “I was beginning to wonder if you were ever coming back. One week turned into three and a half? Damn, man.”
Logan smiled. “I considered living in paradise, but figured this place would go to hell without me.”
Paul laughed, a deep, rumbling sound. “You wish.” He looked her way and smiled. “And I see you brought a friend. Hi, I’m Paul.”
She pulled off her knit cap, shook out her shoulder length, wavy blond hair and smiled. “I’m Bailey. Logan’s told me so much about you.”
Paul looked startled, then cleared his throat. “Hopefully nothing I have to deny too vehemently?”
“Not at all. It was all glowing.”
Logan turned toward her and held out a hand. She crossed to him and took it, liking the way his fingers curled around hers. He pulled her close to his side.
“Paul,” he said, “I have news. Try not to be so pissed you make an ass of yourself.”
“I knew it.” Paul put his fists on his hips, mouth curving into a wry smile. “You bought a horse, didn’t you?”
Logan glanced at her, laughter in his eyes, then back at Paul. “In a manner of speaking.”
“You son of a bitch. The two-year-old from Miami. I told you they wanted too much for him. So did August.”
Bailey tried not to laugh. “The horse, it’s not a him. It’s a her.”
“Bailey’s more than a friend, Paul. She’s my wife. That’s the news.”
Paul let out a bark of laughter. “You met on the beach, fell in love and got married. Makes perfect sense to me.”
At their silence, his smile slipped. Again, he moved his gaze between the two of them, before settling it on Logan. “This isn’t a joke?”
“Nope. We got married two days ago.”
Paul flushed and turned to her. “I’m so sorry,” he said stiffly. “I didn’t mean any disrespect, I’m just … speechless.”
“I understand,” she said, and held out her hand. “In a way I am, too. It’s good to meet you, Paul.”
She supposed it all sounded ridiculous to him; she knew he didn’t appreciate the position Logan had put him in. But instead of being a jerk about it, he ignored her hand and pulled her into a bear hug. “You’re in South Louisiana now, we hug down here. Besides”—he held her at arm’s length—“you’re family now.”
The simply stated words took her breath away. Family. What she’d lost when her mother died.
“That means a lot to me, Paul. Thank you.”
He looked at Logan. “Does Raine know?”
Logan shook his head and Paul’s eyebrows shot up. “That’s one way to do it, but I would’ve thought that through a little more.”
“I’m not scared,” Logan shot back with a laugh.