She reached a hand out to cup his cheek. “I grew up lonely, Logan. Always waiting for my father to come back. Relying on a mother who wasn’t ever there—not emotionally anyway, and later on, not even physically. I was always prepared for the worst.”
“And it always happened.”
She nodded.
“Even with us,” he continued. “The press conference, the media frenzy…”
“Happened for the best. It showed me what I could handle and forced me to go after what I want.” She looked him in the eye. “And I want you.”
He propped himself up on the bed and wrapped his arms around her. A combination of easy warmth and heated sexual need raced through her. It was always that way with Logan, the intense mix of desire and comfort.
“You know I want you, too. But want isn’t enough. Not between us.”
“I know.” She lay her head against his chest. The rapid beating of his heart told her he wasn’t as relaxed as he appeared. Which was a good thing considering she was nowhere near composed. “At first, the scandal gave me an excuse to run. And later, being without you, it made me take stock and realize I’m worthy of anything or anyone, including Logan Montgomery.”
“I’ve known that all along.” His fingers tangled in her hair, tugging with urgent insistency. “And the way you faced down the judge, I can tell you, he knows it, too.” He tipped her head back to meet his gaze. “I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you never forget it.”
“I love you,” she murmured and met his lips for a scorching kiss, all the more heated because of the emotions involved. To her shock, her eyes filled with tears. Because she’d finally gotten everything she’d ever wanted in life—and never dared to dream of. The tie on her finger would remind her, should she ever forget.
A salty drop of water slipped between their lips. Logan lifted his head. “You’re crying?” He swiped at the stray tear with his hand.
Catherine shrugged, then forced a laugh. “What can I say? I’m a sucker for a happy ending.”
He held her hands tight, never wanting to let her go. “I thought you didn’t believe in happily ever after.”
“I didn’t… until you.”
“This might come as a shock to you, but I didn’t believe, either.” For all his posturing and attempts to convince Catherine they had a future, Logan wasn’t certain he’d possessed the faith in happily ever after that he’d claimed to have.
“What changed your mind?” she asked.
“You. You’re my happily ever after, Cat.” He looked into her green eyes.
She rolled back onto the bed, holding out her arms for him, and whispered in her most seductive voice, “Then come home.”
Epilogue
A small band played in the background while the sun shone overhead, basking the beach in warmth. Catherine grabbed Logan’s hand and squeezed hard. “Would you mind giving up this dance with me?” she asked.
“Are you tired?” He pulled her close and placed his hand over her still-flat stomach. “We could make excuses and go inside to lie down.” A wicked grin touched his lips.
“Not at our own wedding we can’t.” She laughed. “Besides, I’m f
ine. Just a little pregnant.” She smiled. “I just wanted to ask someone else to dance.”
His eyes narrowed. “Who?”
“Your father.”
“He’s here, he’s drinking a glass of champagne, he’s grudgingly accepting life, but that may be taking things too far.”
A light gust of wind whipped her hair around her face, bringing with it the salty smell of the ocean. “You don’t think he’d want to dance with his daughter-in-law?” she asked, mock hurt in her voice.
“Of course, he would. At least I think he would. Between you and my mother, he’s come around. Sort of. But dancing on the beach? That may be below the judge’s standards,” he said wryly.
Remembering his face when they’d told Logan’s father they would be married on the beach and not at the Montgomery Estate, Catherine had to agree. “He’s got to realize what he’s been missing in life, and twirling around in the sand barefoot is one of life’s grand experiences.”
Logan laughed. “Okay, Cat. Do your best.”