Page 62 of Logan

“Let me cook dinner for us. I saw you had some fish thawing in the fridge.”

“Sounds good. I need to use the bathroom.” He slowly made his way to the bathroom with Dixie’s assistance. When he returned to the living room, he winced as he sat back down.

After they ate dinner in the living room, Logan took a deep breath.

“Dixie, I fell for you the first time I saw you. I knew who you were—”

“At the bakery?”

“Yes. I didn’t expect to meet you so soon, but fate had other plans. I knew then that I couldn’ttake the case. I called my boss and told him about my attraction to you, but he wouldn’t let me off the case. I understand why; bringing in a new agent after we had already met would have raised suspicions. So, I was determined to get close to you in order to get information on your father.” He shook his head. “But from the moment I saw you, I thought you were the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, and I knew I was going to fall for you. I even told my dad that I was way too attracted to you. He reminded me that it was my job, and I had to do it. I knew he was right, but the thought of hurting you tore me apart. In the past, I’ve had to get close to families to gather information, without caring who I hurt. But with you, the idea of causing you pain killed me. Every time I said, ‘I love you’ to you, I meant it.”

“So, you were specifically sent here to meet me and get information on my father,” she whispered.

“Yes. I was to get close to your father so I could be welcomed into his home, and the only way to do that was to get close to you, but falling in love with you was never part of the plan. And when I arrested your father, it devastated me hearing you say that you hated me and would never forgive me. It just tore me apart. That’s why I left Clifton behind and only returned because of my dad’s illness.”

“You recognized me at the bakery. How?”

“The FBI had a photo of you. I knew I was in trouble as soon as I saw it. I tried to get someone else assigned to the case, but since I was from Clifton, it was my responsibility. Iknew the area and the people, so I could blend in.”

Dixie cleared her throat. “It devastated me, Logan. To realize that you were using me. I was hurting for such a long time, and just when I thought I was moving on, you came back into my life and all the pain resurfaced.”

“I’m truly sorry, Dixie. I know you don’t want to hear it, but I was just doing my job. As much as I hated it, there was no other option. And even though I lied about many things, I never lied when I said I loved you. Not once.” He took her hand and interlinked their fingers. “I will love you until the day I die, even if you’re not in my life. But I hope you are.”

“I do love you, Logan. Anytime I told you I hated you; it was to remind myself of what you did to me, but I never hated you. I hated what youdid.”

“I’ll never forgive myself for hurting you, Dixie. I’ll make it up to you in any way you want.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes, really.”

“Okay.” She nodded and he frowned.

“Okay, what?”

“You’re going to marry me.”

Logan bit his lip to keep from grinning.

“Would that make up for it?”

“Yep.”

He leaned forward then winced at the pain. “Darlin’, you’re going to have to come to me.”

“Always,” she said as she leaned forward and kissed his lips.

Logan grinned, cupped her face in his handsand deepened the kiss. She pulled back from him and gazed into his eyes.

“Let’s get some rest. We’ll wait a while before going to my house. You will not do anything that could hurt you.”

“I’ll look through that desk, but you can stay here as long as you want, Dixie. In fact, I’d love it if you’d move in with me.”

“I want that too. I can rent my house to someone.” She kissed him again, helped him up, then they walked upstairs and went to bed.

Logan was glad they talked, and happy she would let the past go because he knew he could never live without her. Not ever again.

A week later, Logan stood with his back against the wall, arms crossed in front of his chest. He had been waiting for this moment, and when he heard the buzzer sound for the door, he didn’t move an inch. The anticipation of seeing McCarthy’s face when he walked in was almost too much to bear.

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