Haydn (Steele Protectors 5) by Carole Mortimer

Author:Carole Mortimer [Mortimer, Carole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781910597811
Publisher: Carole Mortimer
Published: 2019-12-26T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“I really don’t advise you do that,” Logan remarked conversationally as he stood to cross the room and pour himself a refill of the strong coffee.

Hailey eyed him warily. “Do what?”

Logan leaned back against one of the kitchen units to lift up his mug and take a sip of the strong brew before answering her. “Haydn would really lose his shit if you even attempt to leave here without telling any of us where you’re going.”

She ceased her slow but steady inching toward the hallway and elevator. “Damn it, how did you…? Never mind.” As she had acknowledged to herself yesterday evening, she was as guilty as everyone else of underestimating Logan. “Look, surely you can see that my leaving, and taking Ernesto with me, is the only logical thing to do?”

He grinned. “I think we both know that logic isn’t high on my list of character traits.” He sobered. “I’m also not sure Haydn would ever forgive me if I allowed you to leave and something happened to you.”

“Of course he would. This…attraction to me is just an aberration on his part. Once I’ve gone— No?” she questioned at the firm shake of Logan’s head.

“Rourke warned you last night about Haydn’s slow temper and how it’s fierce and destructive when it blows. What you should also know is that Haydn, once his emotions are engaged, is loyal to the core and protective as hell.” Logan straightened, his expression more serious than Hailey had ever seen it before. “He’s also my favorite big brother, and I’ll do anything I can to ensure his happiness,” he added huskily. “Do you want to know why?”

She swallowed. “Would Haydn mind my knowing the reason?”

“Probably,” he conceded ruefully. “But only because he’s such a self-effacing bastard."

“Unlike you?” she teased.

“Unlike me.” He nodded before his expression turned grim. “One winter, when Rourke and I were twelve and Haydn was thirteen, Rourke fell through the ice in the lake near the cottage where we were spending Christmas. Instead of rising to the surface again, Rourke just sank like a stone into the black water beneath. All the other brothers, including me, were so shocked, we were as frozen as that bloody ice.”

“But not Haydn?” she guessed.

“Not Haydn,” Logan confirmed. “He jumped straight in after Rourke, diving to the bottom of the lake again and again until he found him and pulled him up through the hole in the surface.” His eyes were dark with the pain of that remembered nightmare when he look at Hailey. “Apparently, Rourke hit his head when he fell through the ice and knocked himself out, which was why he wasn’t able to help himself. For those long agonizing minutes while Haydn searched for him, I thought I’d lost them both.” The stark terror of those minutes was etched into Logan’s face as he relived that memory. “We almost did lose Haydn to pneumonia, but a couple of weeks in hospital and he was fully recovered, thank God.” He drew in a shaky breath.

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