Page 32 of Bloom: Part 2

Crowe’s gaze traveled to where Logan was smiling at Bay’s kid. They seemed to hit it off. She was covering her eyes, playing peekaboo with him.

“I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt for now,” Crowe said. “But if he hurts you…”

“He won’t. And if he does, I’ll handle him myself. Are we good?”

He nodded slowly. “We’re good.”

“Great. I’m gonna change into something more my speed. Then I’ll be back. Food looks good. Thank you for planning this. It’s good to see everyone again.”

“Actually, your doctor did.”

“Try calling him by his name.”

“Don’t push it.”

“You’re horrible.” I punched him in the arm and got up. Bay and Gerald were still nowhere to be found. Ben had just walked in, though, with his deceased sister’s husband, Jasper, who had his son in a baby carrier.

“I thought we were going to sit and eat,” Logan said when I approached. “What happened?”

“I need to take a shower and change first.”

“You showered at the hospital before you left.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Doesn’t count. I feel like I still have hospital guck all over me. I’ll be back.”

“Okay. I’ll try to find Gift’s parents, then follow you.”

I slipped away, almost walking into the twins who’d just arrived. Noose nodded, and I returned the gesture. He’d been by the hospital to see me twice, and even though those visits were short, I’d appreciated that he came.

Home sweet home.

I’d been in Smoky Vale for less than a year, but the people and the clubhouse felt so familiar. Maybe it was a good thing Loganinsisted I returned to the clubhouse. I had no idea how many people didn’t want me dead.

I wasn’t surprised to find the locks of my bedroom door removed, since Logan had brought over some of his stuff. I opened the door slowly. Logan had done a lot more than bring over some of his stuff; it looked like he’d moved in. Smiling, I closed the door behind me. He’d respected my style and color palette, but the bed was new. So were the sheets and the drapes. I had a new mat too and a pretty cool black wrought-iron chandelier where the plain, sensible light bulb had been. The vanity that housed all my makeup was new, and a landscape painting of a lake at night hung from the wall.

My room smelled like Logan, woodsy and fresh, not at all stale as I would have expected from being away for so long.

The door opened behind me, and Logan entered. “I couldn’t find Bay and Gerald, but Gunner took her. Looks like she’s quite fond of him.”

“Yeah, she is. Logan, what did you do?”

He stilled, his smile falling. “You don’t like it? I should have said something to you first, but I tried to match your taste. Do you want to change anything because I can do that?”

“No, it’s great.” I sat down on the bed, which was so much more comfortable than the one that was there previously. I ran my hand over the sheets. They felt like the ones back at his house—expensive. “You really love me, don’t you?”

He cocked his head to the side. “Of course. Have you been doubting that?”

“A little when you told me I should stay here, but not anymore.”

“Good.” He cupped my cheek and ran the back of his hand down my neck. I swallowed hard. “That’s one thing you must never doubt, Bloom, no matter what happens. My feelings for you. Okay?”

He massaged my Adam’s apple with his thumb. My nipples tingled. He knew what he was doing to me, didn’t he?

“Okay.”

“Good. Now let’s get you into the shower. I’ll help you.”

10

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