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“Wou
ld you rather I lied?”
“Of course not, we both know what this is.”
Chapter Seven
Knowing what this engagement was and actually living with it were two very different things, as Hannah discovered in the next four weeks of frantic activity. Logan had been true to his word. He hadn’t touched her in any sexual way, the result of which being that Hannah was slowly climbing the walls of sexual frustration, not least, because it seemed wrong to avail herself of her little purple friend.
While Logan would never know what she got up to in the privacy of her bedroom, it seemed disloyal somehow, which should have been a ridiculous notion. Besides, she wanted him, not some plastic dildo. The more time she spent in his company, the more she wanted him, and not just sexually. A dangerous road to go down, for sure, but she couldn’t help but like this Logan.
While she knew his attentiveness to her in public was an act, designed to make folks believe they were indeed love’s young dream, it would be all too easy to be swept away by the fantasy. Not helped one iota by the expensive, yet understated diamond ring Logan had put on her finger, three days after that conversation in the office.
They’d been due to attend a charity ball, the first of many she was to attend with him over the month of their engagement, and he’d pulled that ring out of his jacket pocket, as they pulled up outside the grand stately mansion this particular event was being held at.
“Here, you need to start looking the part, especially as you’ll have the dubious pleasure of meeting Rhia’s grandparents tonight. They usually ignore me, but, under the circumstances, they’ll be sure to want to meet you, if only to hurl insults your way.”
He’d thrust that little velvet box at her almost carelessly, as though it didn’t mean anything, and she might have believed him, had it not been for the white knuckled hold he’d had on the seat of the limo.
She was starting to read him pretty well, and that was not only a tell for his temper, it also showed his emotions, emotions which he tried to hide from the world at large. Only with Rhia and his mother—that had been another emotionally charged meeting—did he ever let his guard truly down. The frail old woman had welcomed Hannah with open arms, and she smiled recalling that meeting now.
“Come here and let me take a look at you, my dear. My, you’re a sight for sore eyes. Never thought I’d see the day that boy of mine would settle down. Not like Rick. Where is Rick? Logan, is he here, too? It’s been ages since I’ve seen him.”
“He’s just outside, Mum. He’ll be here in a minute. Let me go get him, while you chat to Hannah.” He’d dropped a kiss on his mother’s hand and disappeared. When he’d re-entered the room, he’d ruffled up his hair, and taken off his jacket, and there had been quite a swagger in his walk as he’d approached the old woman.
“Mama, there you are. Damn that brother of mine for hiding you away. See you met his bird. Cute, isn’t she? If I wasn’t happily married…”
Hannah had to swallow hard to keep her composure as Logan had pretended to be a brother he despised to save his mother pain, and when they’d eventually gotten out of there, and Rick had disappeared she hadn’t known what to say to Logan.
“That was… I don’t even know what to say to that.”
Logan had shrugged, and smiled.
“It’s no big deal. It keeps her happy, and that’s all that counts. Don’t sweat the small stuff, Hannah.”
But it had been a big deal, just like the engagement ring had been. Hannah held it up to the light, and smiled at her sister’s soft exclamation behind her as she entered the room.
“Wow, you look stunning. That sex pot husband to be of yours will not know what’s hit him when he sees you walk down the aisle like that.”
Sarah, looking utterly radiant in her soft purple bridesmaid’s dress, smiled at her, while little Rhia, dressed in matching colors and holding a basket of rose petals jumped up and down, an act which dislodged several of them.
“Careful there, sweetheart, you won’t have any left to scatter at this rate. Doesn’t Hannah look pretty?”
Rhia cocked her head to one side, and made a big show of studying Hannah, which made the grown-ups in the room, including the wedding planner, who’d been responsible for getting Hannah ready this morning, laugh out loud.
The middle-aged, kindly woman had been another surprise which Hannah had not seen coming, though perhaps she ought to have done. Logan was so much more than he first appeared, after all. When he announced that they were to be married at the end of the month, she had expected nothing more than a quick registry office wedding, and instead she found herself here at Duchray Castle—a freaking castle—could he have made this any more perfect?—on the morning of her wedding in the most stunning surroundings, about to become Mrs. Logan Bryce.
If she didn’t think it would make her look like a lunatic, she’d have pinched herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming all this.
Even the contrary Scottish weather was behaving itself. While they’d woken up to a fine drizzle, or a dreich morning as the locals called it, the sun had broken through the clouds, and it promised to stay dry for the ceremony. Hannah could see them setting up chairs on the lawn by the lake, where she was going to take her vows in just under an hour.
“Mama Hannah looks velly pletty.” The slight speech impediment that came out when Rhia was nervous or excited made Hannah smile through her tears, and she turned away to compose herself. The make-up artist would kill her if she ruined her work, and she didn’t want Rhia to think she’d done anything wrong. While the little girl called Logan Daddy Logan all the time, this was the first time she’d bestowed such an honor on Hannah.
“Doesn’t she just.” Sarah’s voice sounded choked, as though her sister, too, had to fight to keep hold of her emotions. “Well, we have grown up things to discuss, so go with Margaret and make sure everything is ready downstairs, will you?”
“Yes, I could do with some help.” Margaret agreed, and Rhia whooped in delight, before the click of the door signaled their departure. Sarah wrapped her arms around Hannah from behind in a bear hug, which made holding in the tears even more difficult.
“Don’t you dare cry. You’ll make me start, and the we’ll look a right mess.” Sarah’s murmured admonishment had the desired effect, and Hannah laughed. Sarah released her, snatched a tissue from the box by the mirror and dabbed at Hannah’s eyes.
