Wild Girl: A Cowboy Romance Trilogy (Wild Men Texas Book 3) Page 15

  His words reach my ears, but they sound far away.

  When I come down from my high, I lay my head on Logan’s chest, and he strokes my hair.

  “You and I are the same,” he says softly. “I never wanted to commit because I never wanted to feel the pain of a terrible break-up. I never wanted to end up like my parents. But since we got married in Vegas, I’ve been wanting to tell you how I felt all summer, Macey.”

  “You have?”

  “Yes. And when it came out like that at Brick’s, I felt terrible.”

  I freeze. “Logan, it’s fine. I understand.”

  “Over the years, I’d had dreams of telling you I loved you. But the way it happened wasn’t in any of my dreams.”

  I blink. “Wait. You had dreams of telling me that?”

  “I’d deny it when I woke up. But my emotions were so strong the first time we had sex when we were seventeen. I couldn’t shake the intense feelings,” Logan says in a low voice. “Honestly, I know now that I was in love with you long before then. I just didn’t think I was the kind of guy who could be in a relationship, and that belief clouded everything. But when I stopped and actually listened to myself—the truth is, I’ve always loved you, Austen Macey Henwood.”

  My response catches in my throat.

  Logan cups my jaw and turns my head to face him. “I really hated this summer. Because I realized something—I do want to get married.”

  I stare at him. “Logan…”

  “But the only person I want to marry is you.”

  Oh, my God. Did he just confess…

  “I know you won’t say it back,” he murmurs. “I know you don’t love that way, but I don’t care. I love you now, I loved you then, and I always will.”

  But I do love that way, I want to tell him. I just did.

  Before I can speak, he says, “And I would rather be with you once a year with no commitment than marry some woman—any woman—who’s not you. That I can promise you. I’ll never commit if I can’t commit to you, Macey.”

  “Logan.” I put my hand on his cheek.

  “So I’m not trying to box you in. You don’t need to change for me to love you. I love you just as you are—my independent, sexy-as-fuck best friend who I want to make love to whenever she’ll have me.”

  My eyes fill with tears and some of them spill out onto his bare chest. He reaches out and catches one with his thumb.

  “Too much?” he asks me.

  I’ve officially lost the power of words. I sit up and raise my hand, asking him to give me a second.

  Far longer than a second passes.

  “Um…Mace, what’s going on?” Logan finally says as the silence continues.

  Tell him, you freaking idiot.

  My internal demons are having a moment of war with my heart. Those demons that have warned me over and over again not to put my heart out there, to never put my heart out there because then it can never be stomped on. My demons have taught me well, and I’ve consistently listened. If I keep my heart locked up, it can never be hurt.

  But I’m not listening to my demons anymore.

  “Are you freaking out?” Logan takes a deep breath. “Because that’s cool. It’s probably crazy fast and…”

  He tries to close down his expression, but the pain is all over his face.

  I take his hand in mine and look into his eyes. “No, that’s not it at all.” I reach into my purse and retrieve my diary. “I want to read you my Vegas entry.”

  Logan’s already shaking his head. “No. Please, Mace. Not that one. I can’t hear it.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because.” He averts his gaze. “I know how you felt about marrying me and how despicable it was to you. And I don’t want to hear your even more honest feelings on the matter from Drunk Macey.”

  I open the diary to the last entry. “You’re gonna want to hear this,” I say firmly.

  Logan reaches for the diary to close it, but I lean away from him and turn the diary on its side so I can start reading aloud the brilliant ramblings of Drunk Macey.

  I’m Austen Macey Henwood, and I’m very drunk.

  Logan snorts with laughter.

  I’m in bed with Logan Darcy Wild. My husband.

  I sneak a peek at Logan’s face. His eyes are looking down, and his expression is blank. Guarded.

  Logan’s my husband. I have a husband. I never wanted a husband. I never wanted marriage. But marrying Logan was the best decision I’ve ever made.

  Another peek at Logan. His head jerks up, and we make eye contact. I smile and return to the diary.

  Here are the reasons why—

  He’s my best friend.

  He’s super-hot. And really strong.

  When we have sex, it scares me so much because it’s so real. But it’s so good that I always cry when we say good-bye. I don’t want to have to keep saying good-bye.

  He gave me three orgasms tonight. I gave him two.

  He’s a cowboy. Cowboys are hot. And independent. And they get restless, in a good way. Like me.

  He’s been to hell and back with me, and I never once doubted he’d be by my side. He’s the most loyal person I know, and he loves me with everything he has.

  We have matching tattoos.

  We have the same color eyes.

  We bought each other our wedding rings when we were teenagers.

  He knows all my dirty secrets, and he loves me anyway. I can always be myself with him.

  We protect each other.

  I pause and then read the last reason—

  I’ve loved him my whole life.

  I close the diary.

  Logan’s cheeks are wet and pink, and he’s swallowing hard. I put my arms around him and kiss the tears off his face before pulling back to meet his gaze.

  “I love you, Logan Wild.” I kiss him again. “I love you, and I always have. I’m sorry it took me so long to quit fighting myself. But I’ve never loved anyone else, only you. The truth is that Vegas wasn’t as much of a mistake as I thought, because you are the only man I would ever break my own no-marriage rule for.”

  He points to my diary. “Why did you turn it sideways to read?”

  “Apparently I decided to turn the paper that way when I wrote. Must have been a really good drunk idea. I also wrote so freaking big, no wonder I finished the book.”

  “Maybe the book was finished with your decision to open your heart.”

  “Maybe it was.” I take his hand in mine.

  He squeezes my hand and kisses me lightly on the lips.

  “You were right. I’m glad you made me hear your Vegas entry.” He kisses my cheek.

  “I tried everything to distract myself this summer.” I shake my head. “I tried to focus on marrying off Ginny and Dave. But I couldn’t marry you off. Not unless it was to me.”

  He kisses my neck and then climbs out of the sleeping bag. “Wait there. Be right back.”

  I enjoy watching him walk across the grass and over to the truck. I’ll never get tired of looking at a naked Logan and his perfect ass.

  He disappears into the passenger side, and I think he opens the dashboard, but I can’t see anything else.

  When he returns to the blanket, he kneels down in front of me and takes my left hand in his.

  Oh, holy shit.

  I’m sure my eyes are as big as Texas, but Logan’s too nervous to tease me. His hands are shaking, and he clears his throat before—

  “I know you always swore up and down we could never work and that marriage is something you promised you’d never tie yourself down with, but I’m gonna ask you again—Austen Macey Henwood, will you marry me?”

  Logan opens his free hand to reveal the ruby ring that he won for me so long ago—sitting in his palm.

  I throw my arms around his neck, and we fall together onto the blanket.

  “Yes,” I say as I kiss him over and over. “Let’s get married.”

  I touch the ring with my index finger. “Did you keep i
t in your truck all summer?”

  He nods. “I never wanted you to give it back to me. I could hardly stop from telling you what was going on with Gigi and me after you did. But now, it’s yours forever. Just like I am.”

  Logan pulls us up into a sitting position so he can slip the ring onto my left ring finger.

  “It looks better on you now,” he says. “I know that sounds weird.”

  “No, you’re right. We weren’t ready in Vegas. We were meant to get married, but our hearts weren’t ready yet.”

  He grins. “Plus, you look really hot wearing just the ring and nothing else.”

  I climb onto his lap. “I think it’s the company.”

  “So tomorrow’s Independence Day, huh?” he says suddenly as I admire how my ring shimmers in the fading firelight. “How’s your family doing with the whole ghost legend drama?”

  I throw up my hands. “You know, that ghost isn’t gonna budge. But it doesn’t mean I can’t.” I look at Logan so I can be sure to see his reaction. “I asked Ben if he wanted to run The Cowherd instead of me. He does. And my daddy gave his blessing. We all signed a new contract yesterday.”

  Logan stares at me, trying to make sure I’m serious. When he sees I am, he grins. “So you let it go.”

  I nod slowly. “Yeah. I guess I did.”

  “I’m happy for you.” He raises his eyebrows impulsively. “Do you want to get married there tomorrow?”

  “Tomorrow? Seriously?”

  He nods. “No more curses, or jinxes, or haunted cells. Just you and me saying ‘I do.’”

  I take his hand. “You and me at The Cowherd Whiskey Chapel on my birthday. Independence Day. Getting married.”

  He smiles. “Kind of perfect, don’t you think?”

  “Yeah,” I say. “I do.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Logan was right. By morning, the sun has dried enough of the mud that we’re able to drive easily and fairly smoothly out from the backwoods of the lake. I call the mayor as soon as we hit Main Street and tell him what we want.

  “You and Logan?” he asks me, confused. “Logan Wild? I thought you two were divorced. And you said you’re never getting married again.”

  “I’m marrying Logan,” I say firmly. “Today. My psychic even pulled the wedding card for me, but I didn’t understand the meaning until now.”

  “Sweetheart, are you sure you’re all right? Logan’s in Florida about to marry Gigi. Is this because of the Darcy Gazette story and how you think you’re cursed? Poor child. Sometimes children of alcoholics feel an enlarged sense of responsibility from having to grow up too fast, or they blame themselves unfairly for things that are not their fault.”

  “Yes, you’re correct about that, Mayor Huggins. But that’s not what this is about.”

  I hand Logan the phone, and he tells the mayor that he and Gigi broke up.

  “I mean, I never liked Gigi much myself,” I hear Mayor Huggins say through the phone. “You and Macey are perfectly matched. I don’t know what you were thinking, son. Not much, I see.”

  “Tell him the truth,” I whisper.

  Logan shakes his head at me.

  “I was…stupid,” Logan says finally.

  The mayor laughs loudly. “Well, isn’t that the truth? At least you came to your senses, boy!”

  Logan hands the phone back to me.

  I cover it with my hand and say, “Why didn’t you tell him everything?”

  “Because your father has enough problems,” he says. “Let’s keep this between us and my parents. They’ve already agreed.”

  “But that’s not fair to you,” I whisper. “Everyone will think you were really with Gigi.”

  “I don’t care what anyone thinks but you.” Logan leans over to kiss me.

  “I love you so much,” I say as I kiss him back.

  “Hello? Hello?”

  Whoops. I nearly forgot about the mayor on the line.

  “Sorry, sir. So you’ll do it?” I say into the phone. “It’s my birthday, too. What a great present you’d be giving me.”

  “It takes three days for a wedding permit,” he reminds me.

  “I know, sir, but I’m sure with your status, you can pull some strings. You’ve pulled strings before for people on military leave and other emergencies.”

  “But this is a holiday,” he continues to complain. “I was just about to get the grill fired up.”

  “It’s the holiday,” I remind him. “The entire town had been preparing for a July fourth wedding. This is Darcy’s last chance to use the legend for anything and everything you’ve always used it for. After tonight, Jane Austen’s ghost is locked up. Forever.”

  Logan gives me the thumbs up as I reduce Mayor Huggins to silence.

  “You know you’re right,” the mayor agrees after a long pause. “The press was furious that Logan and Gigi skipped town after planning to marry here, and that Ginny and Dave debacle was simply awful.”

  I hold my breath.

  “Yes,” he says enthusiastically. “I think a wedding tonight is exactly what our town needs. It will help tourism, not to mention our reputation. If y’all can swing by my place, I will personally administer your license myself. I’ll even call Reverend Sands and make sure he’s free. We’ll fill up the chapel. The entire place. It’s our last chance before the ghost legend comes to a close. I think seven o’clock is the perfect time for a wedding, don’t you?”

  I thank him profusely and hang up. Then, I check my voice mails.

  “Oh no,” I say as Logan drives us toward my place.

  “What?”

  “Mama ran into your mother at the theater this morning.” I repeat the message word for word as I listen. “She was shocked to see Brenda Wild because she was certain that she was in Florida, which is over four states away.”

  Logan grins. “I’m sure that was a fun conversation.”

  “Brenda told her very little except that she and your dad just got in after flying the red-eye, and she was on her way home to call everyone who has plane tickets and make sure they don’t use them. Mama’s dying to find out the details. All she knows is the wedding is off, which she thinks is a very good thing because she never did think Logan and Gigi were right together.”

  Logan stops at the red light. “Sum it up, Mace. I don’t want to feel like she’s here in the car with us.”

  “Right. So now that Mama knows I’m not going to Florida, she wants me to stop by their house for an alcohol-free barbecue this afternoon to celebrate my birthday.” I look over at him. “Do you want to show up at the Henwood den and invite them to our wedding tonight?”

  “As soon as we change and get our marriage license in place.”

  “By the way, I’ve thought about it, and I’ve decided to hyphenate my name with yours,” I say to him. “So call me independent or whatever, but that’s my final offer.”

  “Macey Henwood-Wild,” Logan says, trying it out. “They sound damn good together.”

  I squeeze his hand. “Yes, they do.”

  I put my bare feet up on the dashboard and check my email next. I have one that was sent yesterday evening.

  The agent who asked for my manuscript is offering me representation.

  I turn to Logan with a scream. “Oh, my God!”

  He grins and leans over to kiss me as we pull into my driveway.

  I change into a sundress, and then we go to Logan’s cottage. He’s just changed when we run into his parents coming up the front walk.

  Mr. Wild looks startled to see us. “I was just coming to deliver a message. The Austin gallery called the house and said they want to see more of your paintings.”

  Logan stares at him.

  “A whole show.” His father’s face beams with pride. “It’s set for next month. Your West Texas landscapes.”

  “See, baby.” Logan turns to me with a grin. “That trip did even more than we thought.”

  I smile and take his hand. “You’ve got a new career.”


  We turn to his parents, who are looking at us very curiously.

  “This time, everything feels right.” Logan puts his arm around me. “Are you both free tonight? I hear there’s a kick-ass wedding happening at The Cowherd.”

  Mrs. Wild throws her arms around Logan and then me. “I’m so happy it’s you,” she whispers in my ear. “Little Lo is getting married for real!”

  “So round up Reid, Ty, and Jesse, and tell them to get their best usher suits ready tonight at seven,” Logan says. “Rather than have them fight over who’ll be the best man, I’m going to ask Blake. Luke will be pissed to miss it, but I’m not going to ask my Montana cousins to have to get here this short-notice. We’ll celebrate with them later.”

  When Mr. Wild takes me aside, I’m so surprised at the tears in his eyes that I don’t know what to say to him.

  But he speaks first. “I’m happy Logan got the heck out of Florida. Marriage is hard enough without throwing in a kink like that.”

  “Yes. And thank you, Mr. Wild, for helping Logan to find a different solution. I had no idea what he was up to. And to keep the whole thing quiet to make things easier for my parents is so kind of you and your wife. My daddy’s getting off easy for this. But I’ll never forget your kindness.”

  “Everyone makes mistakes. Especially fathers.” Mr. Wild puts his arm around my shoulder and lowers his voice. “Ever since you and Logan were small, the way you always were together…and how he looked at you like the sun rose and set over your sweet head.” He clears his throat. “He deserves love. Even if I couldn’t give it to him right.”

  I reach out and hug him.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Mayor Huggins is more relaxed by the time we arrive at his home than he was on the phone. He’s already contacted his assistant, who drove over with all the necessary paperwork. And he has a grand plan: the entire chapel of guests, wedding party included, go down to the town square after the ceremony, “So everyone can enjoy the July fourth fireworks together.”

  “That sounds nice,” I say slowly. “Eerily reminiscent of Ginny’s wedding—but nice.”

  Mayor Huggins interrupts me. “That was all her mother’s stupid idea, to set off fireworks a week early.” He harrumphs. “I think that’s probably what cursed them. You can’t pretend it’s Independence Day when it’s not. Can you?”