Page 102 of Consuming Logan

“Is she okay?” a little boy’s voice asked.

Granny Lou marshalled a tuxedo clad Thady next to Jonah. “Don’t worry Thady. Mrs. Ava is just happy.”

Ava sniffled and smoothed her trembling fingers down her wedding dress. Today she would say I do, to her king. Logan had saved their family. “Granny is right, Thady. I love everything about today.” She angled her head looking down at both boys. “Both you boys look so handsome. You sure you can handle the twins?”

Lucy had procured two Silver Cross Kensington vintage baby carriages for the twins. Her mother had draped the strollers in magnolias and English ivy to match Ava’s bouquet.

Ava bent and picked her daughter and kissed her cheek. “Mommy loves you, London.” The pianist struck a chord. Logan Jr. began to fuss. Next to her Granny Lou picked up her grandson, a word she loved saying to anyone who would listen.

“Shh, your daddy’s waiting for you on the other side of that door,” her grandmother cooed. “He loves you so much.”

The babies had been healing for both families. Ava had awoken from her cesarean delivery to find Logan in Papa Bear mode, both their babies in the fold of his left hand, her fingers in his right. The Masters, the Walters, and the O’Connors formed a semi-circle around her bed.

“Come here, little attention lover,” Ava smiled, placing a kiss on LJ’s forehead. The wedding march began to play.

Drew Walters appeared at her side with a proffered elbow. “You ready, baby girl?”

“More than,” she smiled, as Jonah and Thady preceded her, each one pushing a secured baby in a buggy.

“Well, let’s get you married.”

Ava hugged her father. “Thank you, Daddy.”

“The man makes you happy and a little bit crazy,” her father chuckled. “He even agreed to relocate if the Navy transferred for you out of state.”

“He makes me want to conquer life,” she smiled. “And, the Navy has found another assignment for me in Shell Cove.”

Her father quirked his brow. “Have you told him yet?”

“Nah,” Ava grinned. “I will when he’s ready.”

“Yeah, you’re definitely the wife he needs,” her father grinned, pushing open the doors to the sanctuary.

Ava couldn’t agree more.

Chapter 38

Fifty-two days. Twelve hours and ten minutes. Logan had counted the seconds since Ava had walked away from their life together. Standing there watching the blood drain from her body had been a living nightmare. Thankfully, Tyson’s security team, headed by one kickass female, had discovered a hidden door in the adjoining penthouse suite. Susan, being the silent partner funding the construction of the Tower, had added this feature just in case of emergencies. Detective MaKenzie “Mac” Young had located Susan and Randall in a room built between the walls of the twin penthouses. Both were in police custody.

Now, standing at the altar in the Blessed Life sanctuary, unspeakable joy flowed through Logan’s chest as his bride stood next to him. The pianist keyed a soft melody of When God Made You.

This woman was God’s perfect reflection of his love. Logan now understood that nothing, not success, money, or prestige, served as a substitute for true love. And thanks to the breathtakingly beautiful woman at his side, he knew the difference.

“You’re a lucky man,” Darwin whispered. Logan looked over his shoulder to eye his best men. Darwin, Graham, Gideon, Dawson, Maximus, and Tyson had tears in their eyes. Logan found himself tearing up too.

“I know.”

He’d invited Bishop and Lance to serve as groomsman. Logan hoped both men considered him a brother because the dedicated cops were a part of his and Ava’s growing family. He couldn’t really say the exact moment he’d understood the importance of true family and great friends, but he remembered the vast emptiness he’d felt when Ava had cut him out of her life. No way did he deserve Ava, but God knew he was thankful for a second chance.

“You ready, Doctor Amazing?” Ava sniffled and touched his hand.

The board had selected Dr. Nariah Pierre to fill the chief position. Nariah was more than qualified. Susan had been right about him. Logan had underestimated the women in his life. He’d made the mistake with Ava and would spend his lifetime ensuring she would love every day of her life as his wife. The news of Nariah filling the chief position revealed another truth. Logan thought he would feel disappointed or cheated. All he felt when he received the call was respect for his colleague’s accomplishments and relief. Ava and the twins were his priority.

“More than ever,” he whispered.

Ava wore a full-length gown of delicate eyelet lace with three-quarter sleeves. The scoop neck enhanced her fuller breasts, but the part Logan loved the most, was the slim silhouette revealing her pregnant tummy. Yes, he’d said yes to this dress. To echo the song lyrics, she was so beautiful to him. His bride wore a pearl and crystal hair vine woven into her elegant twist. He laughed to himself. The head dressing was one of the many projects he and Granny Lou had worked on together.

Logan watched as Ava dropped a kiss to her father’s tear-stained cheek. “I love you, Daddy.”