Moonlight on Nightingale Way (On Dublin Street 6)

Logan’s shoulders seemed to relax somewhat. “I understand. I meant no offense.”

Aidan grinned good-naturedly. “I wasn’t offended.”

“Did you guys have a nice lunch?” I said, deliberately changing the subject before I was stifled by the testosterone in the air. “Did you get your cheeseburger?”

Maia nodded. “And then we went to the National Museum on Chambers Street because I’ve never been before.”

I raised an eyebrow at Logan. “Good food and a trip to the museum. Who are you trying to impress?”

His lip quirked up at the left corner at my teasing. “Maybe I like culture and was just trying to impart some.”

“Yes, you’re full of surprises,” I said sardonically.

“You have no idea.” He flashed me a full-on wicked smile that hit me straight in the gut and I blinked, stupefied for a moment. “Maia, why don’t we head next door and let Grace visit with her friend.”

“Guys, please stay,” Aidan encouraged. “I’ll be leaving soon anyway.”

Maia was the first one to make a move toward the counter. I noted her eye the mini savory snacks we hadn’t gotten around to eating. “Help yourself, sweetheart.”

“Don’t mind if we do.” Logan brushed past me and began searching cupboards for plates. He pulled out a couple and pushed one toward Maia. They both began loading snacks onto them.

I chuckled. “Was that cheeseburger not very filling?”

Logan threw me a look out of the corner of his eyes that simply said, “I’m a man.”

Maia giggled and bit into a sausage roll. I caught her eye and she shrugged. “I’m just really hungry.”

“That’s because you’re my —” Logan cut off abruptly, suddenly looking very uncomfortable.

We were silent, all knowing he was about to say “daughter.”

“Hey, stop hogging the food,” Aidan said loudly, breaking the awkward silence. “I’ve just come from training, you know. I’m starving.”

Logan jumped on Aidan’s offer of a save and started asking questions about rugby. Aidan even managed to get Maia asking him questions.

When Aidan was leaving a little while later, I threw my arms around him and hugged him tight. He’d reminded me today why I adored him. “I love you to bits.” I squeezed him.

“Love you, too, Grace,” he said gruffly, squeezing me back. Reluctantly, I let him go, and he slipped quietly out of the flat.

“He an ex?”

I spun around, startled by Logan’s appearance in the hallway.

I shook my head, because technically he wasn’t really. One time didn’t count. “No. Aidan’s like family. And he’s engaged to a woman he’s madly in love with.”

Logan processed this and then shrugged. “Nice guy. Glad to know there’s someone looking out for you.”

“Thank you,” I said, surprised by his comment.

He cleared his throat. “Aye, anyway… I wanted your opinion on something.”

“Shoot?”

“Shannon wants to meet Maia tonight, but I’m not sure it’s a good idea yet.”

I loved that he was so concerned for her feelings. I walked toward him and patted his arm reassuringly. “Trust your instincts, Logan.”

“I’m thinking we should wait until the paternity results come in.”

“I would agree.”

He nodded. “I’ll call her.” I walked away, but he said my name, stopping me in my tracks. I glanced over my shoulder in question. “Thanks for everything.”

Once more the gratitude in his eyes affected me. In fact, I was hit with a wave of attraction so big I could only mumble “you’re welcome” before I had to walk away from him. I closed my eyes and prayed to God Aidan’s concerns were unfounded.

This thing with Logan and Maia… Would I end up getting hurt?

What on earth had I let myself in for?

CHAPTER 8

Logan stood on my doorstep the next morning holding a padded envelope. His features were tight with anxiety. “The paternity kit arrived.”

I stepped aside to let him past. “It will all be okay,” I promised.

He didn’t respond. He was too focused on getting to Maia. I followed him into the kitchen, where we both stopped at the sight of Maia sitting in her new pajamas, scooping up spoonfuls of cereal with one hand while she held a book from my collection with the other. Her nose was practically pressed to the pages.

I’d discovered that Maia was like me in more ways than one. If I got engrossed in a book, the world around me ceased to exist. This morning, as Maia wandered into the kitchen with a young-adult novel in her hand, she’d barely grunted a “good morning” to me while I poured her a bowl of cereal and a glass of fresh orange juice.

“Maia,” Logan said. When Maia didn’t respond, he looked at me, his eyebrows raised.

“She’s reading,” I said, as if that explained everything. Logan stared blankly at me. I sighed and wandered over to Maia and gently plucked the book out of her hand.

She gazed up at me in confusion.

“Logan’s here,” I said.

“Oh.” She whipped around on the stool and smiled at him. “Mornin’.”

Logan gave her a bemused smile in return. “Good book, is it?”

“Hmm?” She frowned before understanding cleared her expression. “Oh, yeah. I borrowed it from Grace. It’s cool.”

“Well, I’m sorry to disturb your reading, sweetheart.” Logan slid onto the stool next to her, and I set about making him a coffee to help bolster him through this huge moment. “But the paternity kit arrived. I need you to take a swab of the inside of your cheek so I can send it off for the test.”