“Yes.” I moved back and nodded toward the baggage claim.
Logan followed after me, ticking things off on his fingers. “And someone will light the candles?”
“Yes. The owner of the restaurant is a friend of mine. Well, a friend and a client.” I smiled, but Logan ignored me.
“All right. Sounds like everything is coming together nicely.” He jerked his face toward me, his expression tightening. “And you have the ring?”
“Bloody hell, Logan. You’d think you were getting engaged.” I laughed and pointed to the baggage claim. “Do you have a bag coming ‘round?”
“No. I packed light.” He reached back and rubbed the top of my back. “I just want everything to go off without a hitch for you. I know you’ve been dreaming of this day since we were kids.”
And I had.
“I just wish my father were here to help us celebrate.” I ran my hand down my face and headed for the exit. “He loved high-fashion stuff like this.”
“Must be an English term.” Logan laughed and pushed the door open. “I’ll be honest with you too, I’m a little nervous about meeting Peyton. You and Molly both have been beefing this poor girl up to me for three months.”
“I know. We shouldn’t have done that, though she is a beautiful woman, inside and out.” I shrugged. It was the truth. Molly and Peyton had started to talk on FaceTime every Sunday night, and I snuck into the convo most times just because it felt so damn good to be there with the two of them.
I’d always expected to finally find a wife, but to have her be my best friend, lover, and partner at the company Dad started? Never. I was beyond lucky, and later that night…I was sealing the deal. I wanted Molly to be my wife, and I’d been biting my tongue for three months, waiting for the proper time to ask her.
She’d want Peyton there, and I’d want Logan. Nerves ran through me, and I heard Logan mutter something, but I didn’t catch what.
“You still with me?” He patted the trunk of my car, waiting patiently for me to pop it open for him.
“Sorry. I was just thinking about how lucky I am to have Molly.” I took a deep breath and reached for his bag. “She’s everything to me. It’s a little scary.”
“Good. Then you’re in the right place.” He threw his other bag in the truck and walked around to his side of the car. “Everything at work going okay? Molly being there hasn’t been a tense situation, right?”
I’d forgotten that Logan and I spoke once a month or so. We weren’t like the girls, who included each other in a weekly summary of the happenings in our respective worlds. We just chatted to catch up
briefly, but nothing too in-depth. We saved those rich conversations for when we had the catch to physically visit one another.
“It’s going great. She took the assistant marketing position, and Bill’s loving her input. She’s not only a brilliant mind but a hard worker too. The woman is a godsend. I’m not sure what the hell was going on with my marketing department, but before Molly jumped in, I was damn close to firing all of them.”
We got into the car and chatted a bit more about the office and my plans to take Molly on holiday to Switzerland. Logan corrected me ten times, calling the outing a vacation. I teased him about the silliness of American colloquialism.
We arrived at the house a little bit later and walked in to the smell of apples and cinnamon. Logan paused in the foyer, closed his eyes, and breathed in deeply.
“God, that smells like heaven.” He gave me a funny smile.
Molly's voice rose up from across the house as she walked in from the kitchen. “Not heaven. Just apple tarts.”
“I’m pretty sure they serve those once you get to heaven, love.” I moved out of the way as Molly hugged Logan and welcomed him to our home. She had never moved out after the day she appeared back in my life. We simply fit too well together to have her living across town and each of us pretending that we were fine with the separation.
“Peyton’s in the kitchen. Come on. Come meet her.” Molly slipped her arm into Logan’s and moved him toward the kitchen. She smiled over at me as he gave me a ‘help’ look. I laughed and followed them into the kitchen.
Peyton was in a simple cream-colored dress that fit her beautifully. Her hair was down, and she wore a little bit of makeup. Much like Molly, she was a natural beauty. I could hear Logan’s approval in the tone of his voice as he introduced himself.
“I’m Logan. Nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you from these two.” He shook her hand as Molly moved over to stand beside me. I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her to my side before leaning over and kissing the top of her head.
“I think they’re trying to hook us up.” Peyton glanced around Logan and gave me and Molly a knowing look. “Am I right?”
“No,” I responded as Molly said, “Yes.”
Brother. There was no being slick about anything with my bossy, over-the-top American girl. Everyone laughed in tandem until I broke up the moment.
“All right. We’re due at dinner in an hour. You girls go get dolled up. It’s a fancy place, and I know you’ll throw stones at us innocent guys if we don’t warn you ahead of time.” I ran my hand down Mol’s back and patted her butt. “Or wear whatever you want. I’m good with you going in a bathrobe if you wish.”