Page 81 of No First Kisses

“She should get rid of Logan, then.” Evie snorts from across the room. “He’s the most stressful thing in her life.”

I shoot her a dark glare.

Poppy isn’t getting rid of me.

Not any time in the next fifty years.

Not ever, if I have anything to do with it.

Kennedy and Parker take care of it for me, though, by sitting on either side of her and taking turns pulling on her hair. Then, before she can retaliate, Parker shoves one of the twins into Evie’s arms.

“Here,” she says with a smile. “Hold this.”

Remy has the other twin in his arms, and Linc is holding their other daughter, Cassie.

Nox is sitting on the ground next to the little blond girl that Dom’s parents are in the process of adopting. Next to him is Emma, who has her head resting on Dom’s lap.

All of the women, without exception, have red eyes from crying. And most of the men, too.

Chloe catches my eye and nods toward the door behind me. Kyle appears out of nowhere, and I’m up like my ass has been lit on fire.

“She’s been moved to her room. Both Poppy and the baby are fine,” he adds immediately. “I told you.”

I motion to the doors. “Lead me to my woman and kid,” I snap irately.

Without looking back, I know that the chuckles are coming from the men I trust with my life. The ones who won’t hesitate to do the same.

And I go to the only woman who’s ever mattered.

“I’m sorry about Bax,” she cries as soon as I step into the room. “I’m so sorry.”

Our boy is in her arms, and Poppy is crying so hard that her tears are landing on his sleeping face.

“He’s alive,” I tell her. “Doctor thinks he might live.”

“We’re still naming him Baxter.” She sniffs, the tears still falling. “Baxter Porsche.”

“No,” I tell her. “We’re not giving him the middle name Porsche.”

Poppy cries some more. “I don’t know their real names. And they died for me.”

There is only one way to make her stop crying. But first, I need to feel her in my arms.

“I love you,” I tell her once I wash my hands again.

Then, before she can say anything, I kiss her.

“I love you, and you saved yourself, and I can’t live my life without you, Poppy. I can’t exist in a world where you’re not by my side. I was coming for you before I found out about the baby. I was so convinced that I had to keep you alive by staying away. I told myself that if I left you alone, it would make up for the fact that I got you shot. That you almost died. And then I almost lost you.”

“Shut up, Logan.” Poppy brings her free arm up to cup my cheek. “It’s my turn.”

I shut up, following her orders like I had Kyle’s when he saved her life.

“I don’t care that he shot me because of you. I never cared why. I don’t like being lied to. Even a lie by omission. Lies… they have a way of destroying everything and anything. And you left me alone for two days, instead of following me home.”

“I was arrested,” I tell her. “Or I would have come for you immediately. Ortega filed a complaint, and an overeager Maine state trooper arrested all of us. It was part of his plan to get to you.” Turning my face until her palm touches my lips, I kiss it. “I would have been there. Almost as soon as you left, I knew I had to talk to you.”

“Well, I’m glad he’s dead.” She sniffs and then moves her hand so that I have to look at her again. “I love you too, Logan. Since we’re being honest here. The last time I told you I loved you, I almost died and you left me. I thought… if I didn’t say it, then you wouldn’t leave me.”

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