Lucky Ride (Men of Valor MC)

Their bowls are full, so I don’t bother worrying about that. There’s a back door that has a doggy door. I smile and rub their heads. “You’re two good little guys. Come on. I need to lie down.” Taking another glass, I walk around with them behind me. As I enter the living room, I notice someone by the front window.

Oh my goodness. Please tell me it isn’t one of Carl’s men. I pull the curtain just slightly to steal a peek and nearly fall on my ass to see his back to me. I don’t know who he is, but he doesn’t seem interested in me. It’s like he’s guarding the house. “Would Logan do that for me? Why would he bother?” I say to myself. “Because he’s a good man.”

Great—now I’m fucking answering myself. I’m losing my shit. I walk around the sofa and take a seat. My head’s pounding too much to eat, but I should or it’s only going to get worse. Still, I feel wrong about raiding his fridge.

I make my way back to the kitchen and dig inside the large smart fridge. I pull out everything to make some French toast. It only takes me about ten minutes, and I have a delicious breakfast. The dogs go to their bowls briefly and then come sit at my feet while I eat my food. Thankfully, my headache nearly disappears with the first forkful. As soon as I polish off the last bite, I wash everything and set it in the strainer before wiping down the stove.

The large television in the living room is calling my name. It’s massive. We never owned one so big, and then I left to move in with Cara. Damn it, Cara. I hope you’re okay.

I drop my head back and make myself as comfortable as I can and put on the television. It feels good to snuggle in. I’ve never felt so invited while in someone else’s home. I rest my head on a throw pillow and put on a romantic comedy that’s on TNT. The puppies lay on the floor next to the sofa like they’re guarding me, and I feel a lot safer having them here. I don’t make it far into the movie as sleep claims me again.

“Lucky, wake up, baby.” I feel like I’m dreaming and want to stay there all day. The sound of Logan’s voice plays in my head. “Clover, sweetheart, wake up.”

“Logan,” I sigh, smiling until I realize I’m no longer dreaming. I startle awake, causing him to jump back into a standing position. The dogs bark and grumble at him like they’re my protectors.

“It’s just me, Clover.” Logan turns to his dogs and shakes his head. “She’s safe from me.” He takes a seat on the edge of the sofa and does his best not to laugh. “Dang, even my dogs are territorial of you. Are you feeling okay?” His soft brown eyes focus on my face and read me so well.

“I can’t believe I fell asleep again. Am I fired?” I hope not, but if I am, I’ll be heading back to Chicago and moving into my old bedroom that I haven’t lived in for years.

“No. You’re not, but for now, you’re stuck here in the house.”

“What do you mean?” I know the answer before I even get the words out of my mouth, but I can’t pull them back in.

“I can’t let you go running around until I can deal with Carl and whoever was with him,” he says. I wonder what he’s going to do. I don’t know a thing about Logan except that he’s a restaurant owner and good man.

“What about Cara? She was too high to know what was going on,” I plead with him.

“Relax, baby. She’s been put in a rehab place today. That fuck has kept her doped up to the point she’s hardly ever sober. I think she tried to stay off the drugs the day you arrived. The club manager had already planned to fire her when they realized she came in to work higher than a kite last night.”

“I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused you.” It was foolish to come to Valor.

He cups my face, staring at me with tender, loving eyes, making my heart quicken. “It’s nothing. I can’t stand by and let anyone cause you harm.” And there it is, him turning me into a pile of mush while my heart slams against my rib cage.

“Stop saying such sweet things. You’re going to give me the wrong impression,” I inform Logan, removing his hands from my face.

Logan’s head moves from side to side, telling me no while a smile spreads across that sexy mug of his. “It’s the right impression to me, and I don’t ever plan on stopping. Now that I’ve got you in my house, I don’t think I’ll ever let you leave.” He finishes that with an arched brow and a smirk.