Page 23 of The Replacement Fiance

Suddenly Logan stiffens and he shifts his body away. "Sorry."

I grab his arm, leaving it where it lay over my waist. "It's okay, really. You feel good."It's also been more than two years since I've been really held by someone like this, I almost add.

"You sure?"

"Yes, I am."

"Hang on," he murmurs, shifting his shoulder underneath my head. "I'm afraid my other arm's asleep."

"Oh no!" I lift my head up and Logan slides his arm from under my head and straightening and bending it between us. "You could have just removed your arm last night, Logan. No sense in giving up an arm for me."

He opens and and closes his fist. "Nah, you're worth it, Mariah."

His phone buzzes on the bedside table and I hand it to him. He slides his arm under my head again while his other hand holds the phone. "It's Liam wishing us a Merry Christmas. I'll text him back later."

"You can text him right now if you want."

Logan stares at me for a few moments, then he shakes his head. "I see the guy everyday."

He hands me his phone and I set it back on the bedside table. "What are you looking at?" I ask when I turn to face him again and he's still gazing at me.

"Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?"

"Not recently."

"Then I'm telling you right now. You're beautiful, Mariah Peters."

"Thanks." I lower my gaze, my cheeks burning. "Be careful though."

"Why?"

"I just might believe you're serious."

My heart drums in my chest as Logan strokes my cheek. There's almost a sad look in his eyes and I wish I hadn't said what I'd just said. "Don't let one man's betrayal ruin the power of an honest compliment, Mariah."

Like a spell broken, Logan leans back against the pillows as we hear my parents walk past my door, saying good morning to Jonathan who's happily babbling downstairs.

"We should join everyone downstairs." I slip off the bed and hurry into the bathroom, staring at my face in the mirror as if hoping to see what Logan sees. I've always been called pretty... beautiful even. With my blonde hair and blue eyes, Minerva once said it was like owning a permanent Fast Pass through life. But if that was the case, then why did Elliot cheat on me with my best friend?

I close my eyes, remembering how Logan's arms felt as he held me, how his words felt so sincere.

Because they were, Mariah. You just refuse to believe it just like you've refused to believe every man who came along after Elliot.

I open my eyes, the truth right in front of me. Have I really been holding on to Elliot and Minerva's humiliation for the last two years? Have I been carrying it like a badge of honor all this time, a convenient piece of armor to protect me from falling in love?

I don't even have to answer that question. Of course, he's right. It's why I can't even accept a simple compliment, too worried that people only see the jilted bride from two years ago even though they probably don't even remember... or care. They probably just want me to move on and be happy. Isn't that why they're truly happy that I'm engaged again?

When I emerge from the bathroom, Logan is no longer in the bedroom. I hear him outside the hallway talking to Harper downstairs about joining everyone as soon as I'm ready. When he returns to the bedroom, I see that he's wearing a t-shirt under a red plaid shirt and blue jeans. Day old stubble has now turned into two and I love the way it makes him look dangerous.

"You ready?" he asks, holding out his hand toward me. I'm ready as I'll ever be in a pink knit top with jeans even when there's really no need to get dressed up on Christmas morning, not at our house. Everyone will be wearing their PJ's to open their presents anyway, but with Logan being my fiancé, I also need to look presentable especially if Harper will be filming.

We make our way down the stairs, my two sisters sitting on the floor in front of the tree. Little Jonathan is surrounded by presents of different sizes, and judging by the toys scattered around him, he's gotten a head start opening a few presents already. There's a red ribbon stuck to the top of his head.

"Who's Cooper?" Emily asks as my heart skips a beat.

"What?"

"Your presents all say,From Mariah and Cooper. Who is he?" She holds up one of my presents and as I stare at Logan, I realize I'd forgotten to change the labels.

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