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“Getting back to the moving in thing,” Michael said, providing a welcome change of topic. “Have you talked to Gabby about it?”
“Not yet,” he admitted. He hadn’t broached the subject for two reasons. First, he didn’t want to push for something she might not be ready for. Second, he was afraid he’d do something to screw it up.
“Hmm.” Michael sounded thoughtful. “I have to ask, would you consider moving in together so quickly if she wasn’t carrying your babies?”
Logan sighed. He’d asked himself that same question a dozen times over. He probably wouldn’t even be dating her if not for the babies, because he’d still be holding himself back from a relationship out of fear of repeating his dad’s mistakes. If, by some miracle, they had started dating, he probably would wait longer before making such a big move. But at the end of the day, the point was moot, because she was pregnant and the babies were coming. They couldn’t just pretend that wasn’t true.
“None of you are any help,” he complained, keeping his tone light so they’d know he was joking.
“Just do what feels right,” Gray said, speaking for the first time. “If that’s asking to move in, fine. But work on your own timeline, not anyone else’s.” He flushed and looked down. “At least, that’s what the doctor tells me.”
By “doctor,” Logan assumed he meant his therapist. Whoever the message had come from, Gray had a point. There was no sense in worrying about what everyone else considered acceptable—including Shane. He just needed to do what was best for them.
* * *
On Sunday,Gabby returned from walking Thelma and Louise and saw Logan’s car parked in front of the house. She knelt to put Louise down—the little dog’s three legs had grown weary on their walk, so she’d carried her home—and let them both off their leashes. Thelma immediately bolted toward the goats, eager to sniff them. Gabby paused to make sure the dog didn’t startle any of them before she continued inside.
Logan was in the nursery, sitting on one of the wooden chairs from the dining table and just taking it all in.
“Hey.” His smile was slow and hot, and an answering warmth crept up her spine. “You ready to do some shopping?”
“Yeah, just give me two minutes to change this shirt and get a bag.” She smiled back, pleased when he stood and pulled her into an embrace.
“Take your time,” he said. “We’re not in a hurry.”
She drew away and winked. “You might regret saying that.”
Today, they’d made plans to shop for baby stuff in Serenity Cove.
“I can handle it.” Somehow, it made the innocent phrase sound dirty. As if they were talking about more than a morning spent exploring the boutiques.
Gabby went to her bedroom and swapped her t-shirt and hoodie for a purple blouse and a jacket, then checked through each room of the house to cuddle its occupants. Luna was the only one she couldn’t find. The cat was probably out exploring the paddocks.
“Ready,” she said, returning to the nursery. “Are you figuring out where everything will go?”
He laughed and flicked his hair off his face. “Hardly. I have to confess, I might not be much help today. I know the little guys will need beds, clothes, blankets, toys, and nappies, but that’s about it. I’m sure there are a heap of other things I have no clue about.”
“We’ll figure it out,” Gabby said. She’d finally gotten around to messaging Tristan, and he’d made recommendations for the basics they’d want to start with, and also suggested she revisit the shop where they’d met, which apparently belonged to his sister and stocked almost everything they’d need. Not that she’d told Logan that. The one time she’d mentioned Tristan, he clearly hadn’t been happy. He seemed to view the other man as competition. She didn’t know why. Sure, Tristan was handsome and nice, but she’d met him twice, whereas she’d been sneaking around with Logan and breaking her moral rules for him for years.
She held out a hand to Logan and he took it and stood. He kissed her cheek and gave her hand a quick squeeze. Her heart fluttered. He tapped her bum as she started out the door, and she glared at him over her shoulder but couldn’t help laughing.
They took his car to Serenity Cove, which meant she was able to doze during the drive. A couple of times, she opened her eyes and found him looking at her as if he had something to say, but whatever it was, he kept it to himself.
When they arrived, there was a parking space directly in front of The Stork. Logan pulled into it and Gabby clambered from the car and stretched, hoping to wake herself up. As had been the case last time, beautiful hand-carved cribs were displayed in the windows and the interior of the shop was an array of pastel hues.
“This looks expensive,” Logan said.
She rolled her eyes. “Babies are expensive, but I want them to have everything they could possibly need, and we can afford it, so why not?” She’d always been good with money, so she had a healthy savings account and she was adding more to it each week in preparation for the twins’ arrival.
“Come on, then.” Logan’s hand brushed hers, and she grabbed hold of it and led him in.
“Hello.” A pretty brunette greeted them from behind the counter. Her sky-blue eyes flicked over Logan without lingering and settled on Gabby. Her smile grew. “You must be Gabrielle.” She rounded the counter and approached them. “I’m Steph. Tristan told me you might drop by today. It’s so nice to meet you.”
Logan shot her a look and his hand tightened reflexively around hers. She had a feeling she’d be hearing about this later.
“Nice to meet you too.” Gabby hadn’t expected Tristan to have said anything, so she was caught off guard. Steph’s eyes dropped to Gabby’s tummy. “I heard you’re having twins.”
“That’s right. This is their father, Logan.”
