Page 83 of Sunshine

“She had a kidney infection. I felt like a jerk at the time, but she wasn’t dying.” Logan shook his head.

“It was hard going. Julian was pissed. We worked our asses off, Alejandro stepped in to help and we managed to keep the restaurant from sinking.”

“Was that North Shore Grill?” I asked, naming the first restaurant he’d opened in Honolulu.

Logan looked surprised. “Yeah. Most people don’t know that’s my restaurant too.”

“I may or may not have lightly stalked you.” I shrugged, licked my fingers. “You know, research. For Cosmic Bonds.”

“Right.” Logan chuckled. “Anyway, two years later, we got our Michelin star, and Roger wanted to come back. He was ready to work, he said, and wanted to come in and overhaul the menu.”

I made a face. “What an idiot.”

“I told him no. He’d bailed when we needed him, and then he wanted to come back when we’d put all the hard work in and were successful. So he sued me.”

I gasped, almost choking on a meatball.

“You okay?” Logan looked amused, heat crackling in his warm brown eyes. “You need mouth to mouth?”

“Later.” I took a sip of water. “He sued you?”

“Said I stole his menu, and that I owed him money.” Logan stretched his hand, brushing it over the back of mine resting on the table. “But because of that, I met Luca. He was a junior lawyer on the case. We won, and Julian and I found our other alpha.”

“Why isn’t this common knowledge?” I frowned, rubbing my thumb against Logan’s wrist. I was slowly getting used to being touched every time I was around them. “Not that I want your dirty laundry everywhere, but I’m shocked this isn’t well known.”

“I made Roger sign a nondisclosure agreement. Luca said I was being too nice, but I didn’t want infamy around my restaurants. I just wanted them to be known for their food.”

“I get that.” I sighed. “At least you got Luca out of the deal. Is this when you tell me everything happens for a reason?”

Logan looked down at his hand holding mine, lightly grazing his thumb over the back of it. It was comforting and erotic, and also one of the most intimate things anyone had ever done.

I was speechless, watching his calloused thumb touch my skin.

“No, Sunshine.” He looked up at me. “I think we make the best of bad situations. I don’t think I was meant to have my friend betray me just so I could meet Luca. I could have done that on my own. But how I handled the situation puts me on a better path. Instead of letting it destroy me, I tried to learn what I could and move on.”

“Oh.” Tension eased out of my shoulders. I didn’t realize I’d been holding so much inside until I let it slowly drain out of me.

“And as for that last thing on your list?” Logan turned my hand over, pressing a kiss to my palm. “You can’t ruin things with me, Sunshine. I’m yours for as long as you want me.”

All coherent thought left my mind. I stared into his eyes, and saw he was absolutely serious.

“Julian and Luca too, but I’ll let them tell you with their own actions. I know it’s hard to trust again, but I promise you, Sunshine, we’re not going anywhere.”

Tears bit the corners of my eyes. “It’s not that I don’t trust you…” My voice came out hoarse. “I just want you guys so badly and it seems too easy. Too good to be true.”

“It’s not,” Logan said with a small smile. “You’re everything that’s good and pure, and you deserve every scrap of happiness you get. It can’t be too good to be true, because you deserve us, Sunshine.”

All the air left my lungs. Logan squeezed my hand, patiently waiting for me to gather my scattered thoughts.

My mind circled his statements, looking for the catch, the surprise, or for the other shoe to drop. He just kept looking at me, and staring into the intensity of his eyes was like trying to look into the sun.

And just like that, my mind started backtracking. He couldn’t be looking at me like he loved me. It was too soon. We were still getting to know each other. It’s not that I thought any of them would betray me, but I knew from experience that all good things came to an end.

Parents died suddenly, best friends betrayed you, lovers dumped you.

“Thank you.” My voice only wobbled a little bit. “I, uhh, apparently need to work on my expectations in life.”

“You have time.” Logan smiled again, looking perfectly content. “We’re gonna get to know each other better. Heaven knows we’re going to mess up. I keep thinking I need to say more things to you, so you don’t think I’m not interested.”

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