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“Don’t be sorry. Be my boss.”
He angled his head. “How, exactly?”
“I know I said I wanted to work for a government agency, but that was when I thought it was my only way to have wide reach and make a big impact. After working with you and Fostering Sweet Dreams, I realized I was wrong. I’ve thought about it a lot, and I think I’d really love a job like that. Not only do you reach a ton of families, but I also realized it’s not always about the numbers. Every family and every child matters. And I have a lot of ideas about how to help with organization, fundraisers, and community awareness. You said yourself you’re drowning in your donations and having trouble keeping the finance side up-to-date. You need a director to oversee the organization. I know it’s a nonprofit and it wouldn’t pay much, but it’s not like I made much as a social worker. I’d love to be a part of that mission. I used to think CPS was all I wanted, but now I think for me, this might be even better.”
Logan sat unnaturally still, watching her.
Now that she’d gotten the first part out, she took the time to really study him. He needed a haircut, and he looked tired. Were those circles under his eyes?
He rubbed the back of his neck then dropped his hand. “Okay.”
“Okay?” she echoed.
He nodded. “Yes. I’ll hire you. You’re right. I need someone. Not just to help me out but the organization deserves the full attention of a formal director. The families we serve deserve a more organized service. You’re already familiar with everything, from the foster families to the nonprofit. Win-win.”
“Wow.” Jeni shifted on her feet. “Great then.” She cleared her throat, unsure where to go from here.
“What’s the other question?” he prompted.
Jeni opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She’d started with the easier of the two, and while she was pleased with how that one worked out, the question that remained was the real reason she was here. She needed the job, but she wanted this more.
Her entire heart depended on it.
“I was hoping you might marry me.”
Logan’s eyes went wide, and he froze. She might have thought he stopped breathing if it weren’t for the slight tremble in his hands.
“I’m sorry I’ve been so difficult,” she continued. “I was letting my past experiences determine my future, and I refuse to do that anymore. These few weeks without you has shown me how empty my life is without you. I know I can do whatever I want on my own, but now I don’t want to. From something as simple as making beer to playing softball and serving children in need—it’s all better with you. I want to watch football with you and eat tacos with you, and I damn sure want to make love to you. A lot. And you know what else?”
His response was a little delayed, like he came out of a trance. “What?” he rasped.
“I’ll never not love you, Logan Davis. I’ll never not want your lips on mine or your arms wrapped around me. I’ll never not tease you about cheering for the worst team in the NFL. And last but not least, I’ll never not choose you. I’m sorry I took so long, but I choose you as my partner, my teammate, and my husband. If you’ll have me.”
Logan swallowed visibly and sat back against the cushions, looking stunned and a little bewildered. “What do you love about me?”
She hated that he needed to ask that, but she hadn’t really been forthcoming with her feelings. Not even to herself and certainly not to him.
“Everything,” she said with conviction. “I love your heart and compassion. Your dedication to put your all into everything you do. I love that you chose a career in sports and one that brings people together. Your sense of humor. Your taste in movies and the fact that you’d get bored sitting through a documentary because I hate them with a passion. I love watching you play softball and goof off with Andrew. Your laugh is the best sound I’ve ever heard, and your smile completely ends me. I love your loyalty to your family and friends and the fact that I know you’ll be an incredible father. But I also know you’ll never neglect us. Should I keep going?”
A sweet smile was on his lips, but his eyes remained tentative. He rubbed a hand up and down his forearm.
He had no idea what that part of his body did to her, did he?
“How do I know you mean it?” he asked. “That you won’t freak out and throw in the towel the first time things get rough? Or the first time we disagree and someone has to compromise?”
“You don’t, I guess. I know I haven’t done anything to make you believe that. But I know in my heart this is what I want. I want you, and I need you, and I’ll fight for you. I understand if you need time. We can take it slow, and I’ll show you. Prove to you I’m not a quitter, and I’m in this one hundred percent. However long you need—”
Logan stood then, and she stopped speaking. He rounded the table, his blue eyes boring into hers. He shook his head, and her heart plummeted, threatening to break into a million tiny shards of pain.
“I don’t need time,” he said. “If you’re serious and you mean this, we’re getting married. Like, now.”
“Now?” she squeaked.
He took one step forward, and only a few inches between them remained. He radiated warmth and life, and looking at him right now was like standing in the sun, face turned toward the sky.
“Well, not now now,” he said. “But tomorrow, maybe. Next week. Actually, I don’t really care when, just as long as you’re in.”
She nodded. They still weren’t touching, but she didn’t want to make the first move. Her skin tingled and her heart raced, and her gaze moved across his face to take in his beautiful eyes, messy hair, and addictive lips. “There’s one more thing.”
