Page 127 of Structure of Love

“Oh, that’s usual tactics from him. Whenever I told him no, that’s what he always did in return—try to tear me emotionally down.”

“Woooow. What an utter asshole.”

“You see now why Erin wants absolutely nothing to do with him. Him and my mother both are the worst emotional blackmailers you’ve ever seen.”

“I thought my mother was bad, but he might rival her.”

“Sadly, yeah.” Logan let out a long breath. “Hopefully, though, he’s finally gotten the message.”

“Hopefully.” And if not, I’d call Zar and make this police official. Zar would back us up one hundred percent.

I felt like Raymond needed a little fear of repercussions put into him.

Really, Logan’s whole family was as screwed up as mine. Maybe Raymond was a result of his father’s emotional abuse. It would make a lot of sense. I knew, through Logan, his father had eventually gotten the DNA test done. He really was his father’s child. Logan held mixed emotions, because it had been spiteful to push the entire family aside on a suspicion that proved unfounded. It was so senseless, to live in that dark depression, cutting off ties to family. Grandpa McNair had a lot to answer for.

But that wasn’t our focus today. “Ignore him. We don’t have time to dwell on him anyway.”

Logan grimaced. “True, I have a full bar to move. Alright, let’s get hoppin’.”

“Sure.”

We made a good team, he and I, and we loaded up the truck pretty quickly. It would take multiple loads to get all of this done but I was determined to stick with it until the job was done. I wouldn’t leave Logan to do all of this himself.

I climbed into my truck with a grin. With the future this bright, I’d need shades pretty soon.

I really had to find the right time to propose, though. Busy as we were, god knew when I’d manage it, but I was determined to do it within the next two months, at least.

Maybe Riggs’s magic scheduling powers could help me find one clear evening in the next month or so?

40

Logan

Finally, everything was in place. The bar had fully been moved over and our grand reopening was tomorrow. Every glass was in place, everything fully stocked, and I had an opening special to encourage the crowds to visit me here.

I also had a ring burning a hole in my pocket.

Gage was expecting a private celebration with just the two of us about an hour before the rest of my friends and family descended for a party. That was what I’d told him, anyway. In truth, I had Shanice lurking upstairs, armed with a camera, to get some candid engagement shots.

I tried not to pace, because if Gage walked in on me pacing, the jig would be up. Still, I ended up fidgeting with a glass and a towel behind the bar, like I was some kind of walking Hollywood meme.

Finally, I heard his truck pull into the parking lot.

He was here! Okay, so, music was playing (I had a mix of favorite love ballads I knew Gage liked), lights were mellow but still bright enough for good pictures (Shanice had taken test shots), I had champagne, wings, and fries on the table, becauselet’s face it, I was blue-collar bougie. I had dressed in the nicest clothes I owned, which were dark wash jeans and a white cable-knit sweater, and left my hair down because I knew he liked it best loose. I’d gotten a trim and applied beard oil today so I’d look my best.

I was good to go.

Somehow, knowing for a fact Gage had been prepping to propose didn’t seem to settle my nerves any. I still felt downright jittery and prayed I didn’t fumble this. Why the hell was I so nervous?

Granted, I was asking a drop-dead gorgeous, educated, and charming man to stay with me for the rest of my life…oh. Yeah, that’d be a good reason, I guessed.

Gage walked in, and I could tell he’d come straight from work, with the white button-down shirt and deep, inky dark blue blazer. God, I loved that color on him. Asher was rubbing off on me, I guessed, since I knew colors now. That one on my man was stunning, as it complemented his eyes.

I abandoned glass and bar as he came in, discreetly texting Shanice a single letter:G.

Go.

I trusted her to move stealthily.