Tattered (Lark Cove, #1)

by Devney Perry

People always wanted what was out of their reach. And this man was so far out of my reach, he might as well be standing on the moon.

“That’s a shame. A beautiful woman drinking whisky is my weakness.” The water glass in my hand bobbled and I nearly spilled it on my apron. I’d heard a lot of pickup lines standing behind this bar, and I’d mastered the art of turning down a man without bruising his ego—or losing his tip. But I’d be a fool to dodge that line. “Then maybe I’ll give it another try.” “I’d like that.” He smiled wider as he reached across the bar, his long fingers leading the way. “I’m Logan.” I placed my hand in his, already lost in the fairy tale. “Thea.”

It had been over six years—nearly seven—since I’d spent the night with my hands wrapped up in that hair. Since I’d memorized that smile while I’d held Thea in my arms. Years, and she looked exactly the same.

He finally looked up and whispered, “Do you think she’ll like me?” The air whooshed out of my lungs and I wanted to cry again. He wanted to know her. Logan wanted Charlie. “She’ll love you.”

he’d unknowingly bought Charlie her favorite flower. She loved sunflowers because the birds could eat the seeds.

“No!” Charlie’s wide eyes snapped to mine. Her chin quivered. “I don’t want a dad anymore.” My feet froze as the pain hit because from three feet away, I felt Logan’s heart break.

I wanted him to choose Charlie over everything else. I wanted him to prove that she was his most important priority. I wanted the impossible.

In twenty-four hours, Charlotte Faye Landry had become one of the most important people in my life. Maybe the most important. I’d already missed five years. I’d missed seeing her as a baby and toddler. Earlier tonight, as I’d stood in Thea’s living room, staring at the portrait she’d painted of Charlie as a baby, I’d made a vow not to miss any more.

If you make my daughter fall in love with you and then you leave her behind, I will find you and smother you in your sleep.”

“Logan,” she whispered when I pressed even closer. “This is stupid.” Still, her hands came to my waist, gripping my shirt. “You’re probably right. But I’m going to kiss you anyway.”

Charlie had given me unconditional love and a real family, two things I’d craved my entire life. But the most important thing she’d given me was confidence. Because of her, I demanded more from life and more than I’d been given as a child. I demanded more, so I could give it to her.

Present-day Thea wanted more than a memory. She wanted a man who would kiss her every morning. A man who would kiss her before falling asleep every night. She needed a man who would share in the life she’d worked hard to build in Lark Cove. The man disappearing around the block—the one who lived a world away—wasn’t him.

Charlie’s eyes were flooded with tears when she looked up to her mother. “Logan is going to miss my birthday.” Fuck. It felt like someone had just taken a hammer to my chest.

If hooking our pinkies together made the tears stop, I’d do it a million times. Charlie sniffled and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. Then her crooked pinky looped around mine.

“Good night, Charlie.” I pulled her closer into my side and kissed her forehead. “You’re coming back?” I rested my cheek against her hair. “I’ll always come back for you.”

“I hate leaving her,” I whispered. “But you have to.” “I do.” I had overdue responsibilities waiting for me at home. “But I’ll be back.”

“I’ll be back, Thea.” I inched closer, brushing my jeans against hers. “I promise.” With the hand between us, I held out my pinky. She looked at it for a minute before curling her own around mine.

I wasn’t just coming back for Charlie, but for her too.

My childhood had been full of disappointment. I didn’t want that for Charlie. I didn’t want her to know that people let you down more often than not and that counting on others was usually pointless.

She touched me and I came alive.

“I like to take the tattered and lost and make it shine. Garbage doesn’t have to stay garbage. Things just need to find their right place.”

The one thing I’d always wanted to be was part of a family. A real family. The illusion of Logan with me and Charlie was too tempting to pass up, even if it only lasted a while.

“I love your bed.” “I love you,” he whispered into my hair. My eyes popped open just as he added three more words. “In my bed.”

“I like it when you call me Daddy, but you don’t have to. Would you rather call me Logan?” Say no, Charlie. Please, don’t take it back. She shook her head. “I want to call you Daddy.”

I flew out of my chair, sending it sliding backward a few feet. Then I scooped Charlie off her bench and hugged her close. She didn’t hesitate to wrap her arms around my neck. Over her shoulder, Thea swiped her eyes dry. “I love you, Charlie,” I said into her ear.

“I don’t know how to dance to this,” I whispered. “But I do.” Logan pulled me closer. “Hold on to me and I’ll take it from there. Don’t let me go, Thea.” The passion in his voice and the intensity of his gaze nearly broke me. Because his plea had nothing to do with dancing.

Because unlike fairy tales, there was more to real happiness than just being with someone you loved. Loving yourself was just as important. So was finding a place where your soul was at peace.

“I can’t wait to go home.” “You and me both, my love,” Thea whispered. “You and me both.”

The woman I loved—the love of my life—was leaving me for Montana. She was taking my daughter with her, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to stop it. All along, I’d believed that we could make this work. I’d believed that I could convince them to move. But as I listened to Thea and Charlie talk about going home, my beliefs slipped into the night. Because I knew, deep down, the right thing to do was to let them go where they would be happiest.

“Maybe one day, you’ll want to come with me. I understand it might take time, but I’d love the chance to show you the part of the city I love. We can make our own memories there, good ones to overshadow the bad. If it takes ten years, then I’ll wait. If it never happens, then that’s okay too.”

“Logan?” “Hmm?” She looked up at me. “I love you.” “I love you too.” “It’s hard to believe this is really happening.” I smiled. “Believe it. Always believe.”

“I’m so tired.” I leaned deeper into Logan’s side and yawned. “I know you are, baby. I wish there was something I could do.” I smiled. “Just love me. Even when I’m acting crazy and hoarding lemon wedges.” He chuckled. “I love you no matter what.”

And by nine the next morning, Logan and I were cuddled together in a hospital bed with Charlie, Collin and our baby girl, Camila Hazel Kendrick. My family. Finding them had been so worth the wait.