Page 17 of Defy
Chapter Eight
BELLA
"Babe, don't forget Dad is coming over for dinner tonight." Logan reminds me as we both stand in our bedroom while getting ready for work.
"I haven't forgotten. Will Nikolai be joining us as well?" I ask sitting down on the edge of the bed and slide my boots on.
"I talked to him last night, and he said he's going to be working late tonight. He and Reid are on a deadline. The guy who hired them to work on the resort has decided he wants to be open two months earlier than planned."
I look up at Logan with my mouth hanging open, "Two months? I hope this guy makes it worth their time. They are sure to be working a lot of late nights and weekends."
Chuckling Logan responds, "Trust me, babe. Reid and Nikolai are coming out on top with that deal. Declan is more than fair with his compensation. I've met him. He's a straight shooter. The club wouldn't do business with him if he weren't."
After pulling on my boots, I stand and make my way over to the closet where Logan is shrugging on his cut. "I'm proud of Reid and Nikolai. They have made their business a success."
Wrapping his arms around me and resting his chin on the top of my head, Logan adds, "Me too, babe."
"You ridin' with me this mornin', Angel or are you taking your car to work?" Logan asked me once we have made our way downstairs and into the kitchen for coffee.
This is something Logan, and I have decided to do every morning before going to work. We plan to spend an hour together before we start our day. If that means we have to wake up earlier than usual so we can implement some us time, then that's what we're going to do. Life can get so busy. It's important to set time aside just for us.
"I'm taking my car. I want to run to the hospital on my lunch break to visit the baby. I won't have time after work since your dad is coming over. I'm going to ask Jake for an extra thirty minutes to the hour I already take on my break."
Setting his cup down, Logan studies me from across the table before speaking in a soft tone. "This baby is starting to mean somethin' to you, Angel?"
I swallow past the lump in my throat. With my eyes trained on the coffee mug in front of me, I reply. "I can't explain it, Logan. My heart is drawn to her. I know it sounds crazy and you probably think it's because of everything we have gone through, but it's not. There's something about her. When I'm near her, and when she's in my arms I feel…"
"Whole." Logan finishes for me.
I snap my head up and let my eyes lock on his. The look on his face is a tender one of understanding. "Yes," I choke out.
After a beat of silence, Logan speaks again. "Tell me what you're thinkin', Angel?" He asks even though I'm confident he knows what my answer will be.
This is something I have been thinking about for days but haven't had the nerve to bring it up. "I want her," I confess with absolute certainty. "Everything in me tells me she belongs with me… with us." I add.
"Why haven't you told me how you feel?"
Sighing, I give him the truth. "I wasn't sure what your thoughts on adoption would be, and I was afraid you'd think I was crazy for feeling the way I do about her."
"You should never just assume, Angel. I want you to come to me with everything you are thinking and what you are feelin'. I would never think your feelings are crazy. And as for adoption, I'll admit that I've never given it much thought, but knowing how you feel about this baby girl you've been visiting, I think we should go for it."
Sitting across from Logan I feel my heart pounding in my chest. His last statement has rendered me speechless, and I can't stop the tears from flowing. Standing up from his seat, Logan makes his way around the table before scooting my chair to face him, then goes down to his knees in front of me and cups my face in his large hands. "Bella, I want a family with you. Whether it by us or adoption, I welcome any children we have. If that baby girl means somethin' to you, then she means somethin' to me. If your heart says she's yours and she belongs to us, then we're going to try making that happen. I'm all in, beautiful."
At Logan's last words I throw myself into his arms. I'm crying so hard my body is shaking. After a few minutes my tears subside, and Logan pulls me back and kisses me on the lips. "I love you, Angel."
"I love you too," I breathe out between kisses.
"Why don't you take the day off work. Go to the hospital and talk with Emerson and see if she can help you figure out what steps you need to take when it comes to the baby."
"Breanna," I tell him.
"Who?" He asks with a confused look.
"I've secretly given her the name Breanna," I tell him sheepishly while looking down at my feet. "It means strong. Because she is strong and she's a fighter. I hated referring to her as Baby Doe."
Placing his finger underneath my chin, Logan forces me to look at him. "Breanna is a beautiful name." Standing up, Logan pulls me into him and I wrap my arms around his middle. "Come on, babe. You call Emerson, and I'll let Jake know you won't be in today. Okay?"
With a nod, I kiss him one last time before he heads out the door. Once I hear his bike roar down the driveway, I walk over to the kitchen sink and splash cold water on my face. After taking a couple of deep breaths I walk over to the kitchen table and pick up my phone so that I can shoot off a text to Emerson.
