Page 34 of Consuming Logan

“Get out of here,” he growled. “Now.”

Ava tried but failed to regulate her breathing. Fear and rage battled within her. In that moment, the realization that she might have to hurt someone in defense of her family dawned. Whoever had entered this house would leave on a stretcher. Logan, honestly, the man thought she questioned his manhood by staying at his side. Nothing could be farther from the truth. His size alone intimidated most men. Add in that charging bull attitude, and sane folks steered clear of her man. The noise above their heads grew louder.

“You and your Mary Poppins defense system don’t move,” Logan murmured, his tone hard with finality.

This was no place for a singing nanny. Ava’s mind veered more towards the 2015 Kingsman spy drama’s chestnut handled, bullet proof canopy umbrella. Footsteps moved, closer, closer. Ava tightened her grip on the base of the umbrella, counting down to a possibly deadly encounter.

“Ava?” A female voice called from the top of the stairs. “Is that you?”

At the musical sound of Janna’s voice, the tension bled from Ava’s muscles.

Lieutenant Janna Williamson Wright, bestie since college, mother of two beautiful children, and beloved wife to one fierce Marine appeared at the top of the landing. Face bare of makeup, her inky strands hung needle straight past her diamond-studded earlobes. Brown skinned with almond shaped eyes, Janna’s usual shade of brownish green stared back at her.

Ava gulped in a breath. Gemma Noelle’s chubby limbs sprouted from the Baby Bjorn carrier strapped to Janna’s chest. They were safe.

“Oh my Todd.” Ava exhaled a ragged breath, relaxing her batter’s grip on the umbrella handle. “It’s you.”

With one hand on the railing, the other curled around Ava’s Vera Bradley print weekender, Janna smiled down at what had to be a wild-eyed Logan and an equally crazed Ava.

“Oh,” she said, tilting her head. “When did it start raining?”

Logan snatched her would-be weapon, tossing it aside. He pulled her into his chest. She crashed into the hard planes of his chest, inhaling the fresh-cut pine scent. Instantly, his potent masculinity and steady heartbeat calmed her. Logan being the skilled communicator chose more colorful words.

“What in the hell are you doing in our house?” he demanded.

She wasn’t sure he was aware of it, but the arm around her waist tightened, crushing her to him. Heavens, had his thoughts mirrored her own? He’d been ready to risk his life to save her, again.

“Obviously scaring the s-h-i-t out of you, Mr. Manners.”

Dawson and Janna’s nine-year-old adopted son, Jonah was a walking listening device. Both parents had taken to spelling words they didn’t want him to repeat in the company of others. Parents were often the last to know, so Ava wouldn’t break it to her fellow Nurse corps officer. Jonah knew how to spell ‘bad’ words.

Ava looked up into the hardened planes of Logan’s face. Lips thinned into a straight line. A visible tick pulsed in his jaw.

“Logan,” Ava whispered, “we’re fine.” Thinking of the baby growing in her belly, her voice cracked. Already they were worried parents.

The thud of something hitting the floor drew their attention. Janna had dropped the tote she carried. One hand pressed to her forehead.

“Oh, Ava. I shouldn’t have let myself in,” Janna cried, suddenly processing the impact of finding her in the house following the attack. “It was a last-minute decision to swing by here and move your things downstairs.”

“It’s okay,” Ava replied for Janna’s sake.

“I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I did this,” Janna stammered. “I thought relocating you two to the first-floor suite would save you and the patient a few trips up this wicked staircase.”

Ava gave an audible sigh. “Don’t apologize.”

With hardwood floors throughout, the five-bedroom, four bath Victorian boasted an impressive grand iron-scroll staircase, an upper and lower floor master suite, and a kitchen equipped to feed a football team. Ava remembered the first time Logan had invited her inside. With the size and breadth of his house, it was as if he’d built his life around a future family.

Stooping to grab the bag in one hand, Janna waved her off with the other. “I should have called and cleared it with you when you didn’t answer my text.”

“Agreed,” Logan interjected. “Until they catch the guy, we all have to be more vigilant.”

Ava released him. “Well, everything is alright for now.”

She motioned for Janna to join them. “Let me grab Logan’s pain med, and then I’ll help you.”

Janna descended to the bottom floor. “No worries. I’m almost done relocating your love den. It’ll make Ava feel better to know you are at ground level when she’s away.”

“What?” Logan frowned. “I can get my own medicine and manage a flight of stairs without falling on my ass.”