LITMIR.BIZ

       CHAPTER THREE

      ROWAN WAS GONE for two hours and twenty-odd minutes, and during those long two plus hours, Logan couldn’t let herself think about anything...

      Not Bronson, who’d been hurt. Or her family who were all being guarded zealously to protect them from a nut job.

      She couldn’t think about her daughter or how frightened she must be.

      She couldn’t think about her huge event taking place tomorrow and how she now wouldn’t be there to see it through.

      She couldn’t think about anything because once she started thinking, her imagination went wild and every scenario made her heartsick.

      Every fear pummeled her, making her increasingly nauseous.

      But of all her fears, Jax was the most consuming. She loved her brother and sisters but they were adults, and it sounded as if they now had a security team protecting them. But Jax...her baby...?

      Logan exhaled slowly, struggling to keep it together. Rowan had to be successful. And there was no reason he wouldn’t be. He was the world’s leading expert in hostage and crisis situations and removing a toddler from a Santa Monica bungalow was not a crisis situation. But that didn’t mean her heart didn’t race and her stomach didn’t heave and she didn’t feel frantic, aware that all kinds of things could go wrong.

      But Rowan being successful meant that he would be with Jax, and this terrified her. The haters and shamers had hardened her to the nonstop barbs and insults, but Jax was her weakness. Jax made her vulnerable. And maybe that’s because Jax herself was so vulnerable.

      A light from the cockpit drew her attention and she glanced up, noting the three men up front—two pilots and the male flight attendant.

      They were an interesting-looking flight crew bearing very little resemblance to the pleasant, professional, middle-aged crew you’d find on a commercial plane. These three were lean, muscular and weathered. They looked so fit and so tan that it made her think they’d only recently retired from active duty with the military. As they spoke to each other in low voices, she tried to listen in, but it was impossible to eavesdrop from where she sat.

      Abruptly the three men turned and looked at her and then the male flight attendant was heading her way.

      “Did you need something, Miss Copeland?” he asked crisply. He didn’t look American, but he didn’t have an accent. He was an enigma, like the rest of the crew.

      “Is there any water?”

      “I’ll bring you a bottle. Would you like a meal? Are you hungry?”

      She shook her head. “I don’t think I could eat. Just water.”

      But once she had the bottle of water, she just held it between her hands, too nervous to drink more than a mouthful.

      The minutes dragged by, slowly turning into hours. She wished someone would give her an update. She wished she knew something.

      But just when she didn’t think she could handle another minute of silence and worry, the distinctive sound of a helicopter could be heard.

      She prayed it was Rowan returning—

      The thought stopped her short. Just hours ago such a prayer would have struck her as ludicrous. But he’d gone after her baby and she was grateful for that.

      Who would have ever thought she’d pray to see him again?

      As the helicopter touched down the flight crew stood at the entrance of the jet as if prepared for battle.

      Logan arched her brows. Rowan was serious about personal safety, wasn’t he?

      But then the helicopter was down and the door was opening. Rowan was the first to step out and he was holding Jax, and as he crossed the tarmac, Joe Lopez was close behind carrying two suitcases.

      What was Joe doing? Had he insisted on accompanying Jax to be sure she was safe? Or had Rowan wanted Joe along in case Jax got scared?

      Either way Logan was delighted when the men stepped onto the plane with the baby.

      Jax squealed when she saw Logan. “Momma!”

      Logan opened her arms and Rowan handed the child over. “Hello, sweet girl,” Logan whispered, kissing her daughter’s soft cheek again and again. “How’s my baby girl?”

      Jax turned her head to kiss Logan back. “I love Momma.”

      “And Momma loves you. What did you think of the helicopter?” Logan asked her, giving her a little squeeze. “Was it noisy?”

      Jax nodded and clapped her hands to her head. “Don’t like ear things. Bad.”

      Rowan met Logan’s gaze over Jax’s head. “Not a fan of the headset.”

      “Not surprised. She has a mind of her own,” Logan said.

      “She does like Joe, though. She insisted on sitting on his lap during the flight. He’s good with her, too,” Rowan said.

      Logan glanced back toward the galley where the flight attendant was taking the two suitcases from her assistant. “It was nice of him to come. Or did you make him?”

      “I didn’t make Joe do anything. He is apparently very devoted to you—”

      “Don’t start again.”

      “Just saying, he’s here because he insisted.”

      “I appreciate it. He’s been awesome with her since the beginning.” Logan frowned at the size of the two suitcases. “How long are we going to be gone?”

      “Your buddy Joe did the packing. Apparently you girls need a lot when you travel.”

      Logan’s eyes met Rowan’s. She gave her head a slight shake, her expression mocking. “You sound a little jealous of him, you know.”

      “Me, jealous, of that...kid? Right.” Rowan made a scornful sound

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