That made him wince. And suddenly, the six thousand pounds didn’t seem nearly enough. He had more money than he could spend in a lifetime. And another endeavor he was about to embark on. But he never got the chance to say the words as a male voice rumbled behind him.
“You’re back, are you?”
The voice grated behind him and he didn’t need to turn to know it was one of the men from last night. That altercation had ended in a stalemate, he doubted this one would. Luckily his jacket was already off. “I’m back.” He swiveled, placing himself in front of Penny once again. “Inside with you, sweetheart.”
“Sweetheart, is it?” The man sneered. “Who are you to be calling her that?”
Logan recognized him from last night. In the light of the day, he looked even more unkept. Missing teeth, dirty clothes, untrimmed hair jutting out from under his hat.
“Who are you to be asking?” he snarled, standing straighter.
“My lo—” Penny started.
“Just Logan,” he said, interrupting her. This wasn’t about titles, this was about men. And a woman and how these ruffians were going to leave her be.
“Logan,” she said, stepping closer to his back. “There’s no need to respond to this man. He’s just trying to goad you into a fight.”
“I am.” The other man spit on the ground. “This isn’t a place for you. You reek of the West End and you don’t belong here.”
Two other men stepped out from the alley across the street and began crossing over to them.
Logan knew it would be tough to fight three men. Best to eliminate one quickly. With that in mind, he didn’t hesitate, just threw a punch, popping the guy in front of him straight into his nose before the other men had even reached their side of the road.
The guy fell like a pile of bricks as the other two broke into a run barreling toward them. “Inside,” he barked at Penny as he widened his stance.
Then he raised his fists. Let them come. He was ready.
Penny blinked as she watched the two other men jump on Logan, engulfing him under their weight. She had to do something.
She could hear them pummeling his body with their fists.
Reaching down, she grabbed one of the broken pickets laying on the ground.
Logan pushed one of the men off him, bringing a hard fist into the other man’s stomach. The ruffian doubled over with a groan. Penny didn’t hesitate. Raising the picket over her head, she brought down the jagged wood on his back, sending him crashing to the ground.
She gasped as the blow jarred through her body. How did men fight like this? Logan spun and delivered an uppercut to the third man. He went careening back into the street. Then, without a word, Logan grabbed her hand and began pulling her up the stairs.
Wrenching open the door, he was met by Clarissa, once again holding a poker in her hands. “Need this?” she asked, peering over Logan’s shoulder.
He didn’t answer as he moved into the room, still pulling Penny behind him. Once they were both inside, he slammed and bolted the door behind him.
Logan turned to look at her then and that’s when she realized just how many punches he’d taken.
His lip was swollen and split, his cheek red, and there was a gash just over his eye.
“Oh Logan,” she said, reaching up a hand but dropping it again. He’d gotten these wounds defending her and the children.
It made her ache inside to see how he’d put himself in harm’s way and for the first time, she allowed herself to think about what it would be like to have him as her partner.
A man who helped her carry the burden and share in the love of her adopted family. A man who defended them and repaired fences and…her breath caught.
A man who would provide her with a family of her very own in addition to the one she’d already built. But surely, he wouldn’t want her. She wasn’t a lady, she was poor, and she came with an entire cast of little girls to support.
He grimaced. “This place isn’t safe.”
She nodded. “I know. That’s why I accepted your offer tonight.” She didn’t add, despite any hidden consequences. Because she trusted him. She’d worried about his motives at first, but he truly seemed to want to help. She couldn’t deny that after the hits he’d taken.
“Let’s get you cleaned up,” she said, then pulled off her gardening gloves and slid her bare hand into his.