Page 289 of Sin Bin

“Yes, you’ll move in with me?” he asked.

“Yes, Logan. You win. You wore me down.”

A slow, ecstatic grin spread across his face. Then he swung her up and spun her around, cradling her against his chest as he laughed into her hair.

She grinned and snuggled deeper into his heat. She felt so safe in his arms, as if nothing bad could ever happen to her, ever again.

God, if only that were true.

Chapter Forty-Two

MEADOW

By the next morning they were on a plane bound for Toronto.

Logan had agreed to attend his father’s yacht party. He hadn’t come to the decision easily, and he’d only accepted the invitation on the condition that no other family member attend the party. He wasn’t ready to meet his siblings, uncles, aunts or grandparents. He didn’t know if he ever would be.

When Lucien balked at the demand, Logan had growled into the phone, “This isn’t a fucking family reunion. I’m not coming to hold hands and sing ‘Kumbaya’ with my long-lost kinfolk. I’m coming for one reason and one reason only. If you want to see me, tell the rest of your family to stay the fuck home. That’s nonnegotiable.”

Lucien had agreed to his demand. He’d even reached out to Cabe Landrieu to make sure Logan was cleared to miss practice today. Coach Bohler wasn’t too happy about it, but he and Landrieu wanted Logan to resolve his family issues before they became a costly distraction to the team.

Lucien flew Logan and Meadow to Toronto on his private jet. The moment they boarded the Gulfstream, Logan’s mood darkened. He sat in the plush leather seat facing Meadow, stared out the window and quietly fumed. She knew the luxurious plane was a cruel reminder of the deprivation he and his mother had suffered. While they were scraping to get by, Lucien had been jet-setting around the world and enjoying a life of privilege and prestige.

Meadow definitely couldn’t blame Logan for being angry. Halfway through the flight, when she couldn’t take his seething silence anymore, she said quietly, “Maybe this was a mistake.”

He gave her a coldly mocking look. “Kinda late for that epiphany, isn’t it?” He gestured out the window. “We’re thirty thousand feet up in the air.”

His retort stung. “Why are you biting my head off? I didn’t tell you to come on this trip.”

“You didn’t discourage me either.”

Her eyes widened. “So it’s my fault that you’re here?”

He turned away from her, his jaw clenched tight. “I didn’t say that.”

“You implied it.”

He frowned and went back to brooding, shutting her out for the rest of the flight.

When they landed at the airport, a chauffeured Rolls-Royce was waiting to drive them to Toronto Harbor where they would board the yacht for the party.

On the way there, Meadow stared out the window at the CN Tower and the skyscrapers etched across Toronto’s downtown skyline.

Logan still wasn’t saying much. After their tense exchange on the plane, it was hard not to take his mood personally. But she kept reminding herself that this wasn’t a vacation or romantic getaway. He wasn’t here for pleasure. He was here to confront the painful past and get closure about his mother. No matter how many walls he put up between them, Meadow would stay by his side and provide moral support.

When they reached the harbor, they were met by an attractive thirtyish man who introduced himself as Callum, Lucien’s personal secretary. Despite his businesslike demeanor, he couldn’t contain his excitement over meeting Logan. Like many Canadians, he grew up on a steady diet of hockey. Not surprisingly, he’d followed Logan’s career and was a huge fan. Meadow could only imagine how he’d reacted to the news that his boss was Logan’s deadbeat father.

While the chauffeur grabbed their luggage, Callum escorted Logan and Meadow to the family’s superyacht docked in the harbor. It was long and sleek and glistening white. It had a swimming pool on the top deck and a helipad on the stern. Three distinct flags flew at the top of the mast: the Canadian flag, the Belgian flag and the Brassard family’s coat of arms. The name Minerva was ornately painted on the side of the boat.

“She’s named after the family matriarch.” Callum gave Logan a small sidelong smile. “Your great-grandmother.”

Logan didn’t respond.

Meadow knew the luxury yacht was just one more trigger for him. She could feel the tension radiating from his body, could feel his tightly leashed anger. He reminded her of a soda bottle that had been shaken up and was about to explode. She only hoped the explosion—when it came—wouldn’t be too damaging.

The captain and crew greeted them deferentially as they boarded the yacht. Callum escorted them to their stateroom, giving them a tour along the way.

Meadow couldn’t help marveling at the size and opulence of the boat. It boasted a main salon, sky lounge, movie theater, spa, gym, indoor pool and an amazing underwater lounge. A master suite and twenty staterooms slept up to forty guests. A grand staircase and an elevator connected all five decks.

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