Part 13 (1/2)

”Thank you.”

Dan asked, ”A daughter, you said?”

”Yes. Margaret Rose. We call her Rosie.”

Helen said, ”That's lovely. And your wife? Lacey...?”

”Bravo. Her last name was Bravo.” He gave out that information fully expecting it to ring some bells.

It did. ”Bravo?” Dan's right eyebrow shot toward his receding hairline. ”I wonder. Is Lacey any relation to-?”

Loganlet him have it. ”As a matter of fact, Lacey is Jenna's younger sister.”

Dan's jaw dropped. ”Oh,” he said. ”Well, isn't that...” He didn't seem to know how to finish, so he coughed into his hand instead.

Both Dan and Helen had met Jenna on a number of occasions. They had each said they liked her immensely. Dan's wife had seemed very fond of her, too. As a matter of fact, Fiona had thrown a big engagement bash for Jenna and Logan. It had been a great party-and then three weeks later, Jenna had run off with MackMcGarrity .

Dan lurched to life and tried again. ”This is just ... such a surprise,” he said.

A painful silence followed, during which Helen took on the task of b.u.t.tering akaiser roll and Dan evinced great interest in his rack of lamb.

Logancould almost hear their thoughts.

Hmm. Jenna left him. And that's when the sister came on the scene. An affair on the rebound. And the woman became pregnant. Now he's married her. I suppose he's made the best of a bad situation. But how long can it be expected to last?

Helen set her b.u.t.ter knife on the corner of her bread plate. ”I'm sure you're going to be very happy.” She bit into herkaiser roll.

Logandid not flinch and he did not allow his eyes to s.h.i.+ft away. ”Yes. Lacey and Iare very happy. And of course, we have the most beautiful baby in the world.”

Helen finished chewing and swallowed. ”I can't wait to meet both your wife and your daughter.”

”And you will, I'm sure. Very soon.”

Dan had recovered his equilibrium enough by then to exclaim, ”I'm just stunned.” He reached for the bottle in the center of the table and began topping off their gla.s.ses. ”This calls for a toast.” He set the bottle aside and raised his gla.s.s high. ”Ahem. Here's to you, Logan. And to your bride. And your new daughter.”

Loganthought of the long series of toasts at the Bravo table during his wedding dinner. He had liked those toasts better than Dan's. They'd seemed a lot more sincere.

Still, he had to admit that his partners were taking this pretty well.

And then again, why shouldn't they? The situation was something of an embarra.s.sment, but nothing that couldn't be easily handled with the judicious application of proper damage control.

Helen raised her own gla.s.s and chimed in, ”Yes,Logan. To your new family.” She knocked back a big gulp of merlot.

Dan braced an elbow on the table and rubbed his chin. ”I have an idea. Why doesn't Fiona give you and

your bride a little party?” Helen sat up straighter. ”That's an excellent suggestion.” She swung her sharp gaze Logan's way, thenlooked at Dan again. ”But not asmall party. A big one. A big party in honor ofLogan's new family. GetGabriella Rousseau to cater it. She's the best.”

The corners of Dan's mouth drew down. His wife and herhostessing skills were a big a.s.set to him, and he was always protective of her territory. ”That's Fiona's department. She'll choose the caterer.”

Helen dipped her perfectly groomed blond head. ”Of course. It was just a thought.”

”And I'll pa.s.s it right on to her.”

”Great.”

Dan was smiling, way too pleasantly. ”You're quiet,Logan. Is a party a problem for you?”

A party, with most of the local medical community invited, no doubt, was probably not Lacey's idea of a great time. But he could talk her into it.

He'd have to warn her to be on her best behavior. She did have that wild side-the side his partners would most likely be hearing about once the gossip mill kicked in. But for this, she'd tread the straight and narrow. For his sake. Because she did love him. He had seen it in her eyes. And heard it from her lips on the day that their daughter was born. ”Logan?” Dan was waiting for an answer. ”I think a party is an excellent idea, Dan. Thank you.”

”No problem. Now, tell us some more about your new wife.”

Loganset down his winegla.s.s, thinking, she's reckless and a little wild and absolutely captivating. He said, ”Well, she's ... a very adventurous woman. She's not afraid to take chances. She goes after what she wants.”

”And whatdoes she want?” Helen asked. The question was a particularly irritating mix of sly interest andcondescension. ”She's lived inLos Angelesthe last few years, pursuing a very promising career as an artist.”

”An artist. How fascinating...”

Loganwished he were anywhere else right then but here at this restaurant discussing his private life with his professional colleagues.

He wished he were home. With Lacey.

Lacey.

All at once, he found himself holding back a fool's deep sigh as a swift series of images flashed on the screen of his mind.

Her incredible face, mottled and slick with sweat, grinning at him between the V of her spread legs on the night that their daughter was born.

What had she said right then?

It came to him:”I feel so utterly demure...”

And then later, not long after the birth, laying her palm against his cheek, confessing that she loved him.

And the night she finally said yes, giving him that grin of hers again across the rough pine table in that tiny, dark cabin, declaring,”I have something of a reputation myself in Meadow Valley...”

Right then, he could almost wish himself back there with her, in that cramped little cabin, just the two of them and Rosie.

”Logan?” Helen was frowning at him. ”Are you with us here?”