From Single Mom to Secret Heiress

by Kristi Gold

  On that thought, he returned Hannah to the seat beside him and leaned back to stare at the soundproof ceiling while his respiration returned to normal.

  “What was that?” Hannah asked, her voice somewhat hoarse.

  Logan straightened to find her perched on the edge of the seat. Fortunately she’d pulled her top back into place, otherwise he wouldn’t be able to concentrate. “That was uncontrollable lust.”

  “And, might I add, two adults acting like oversexed sixteen-year-olds,” she said. “All we need now is to climb into the backseat of your car and have at it.”

  He didn’t need to entertain that notion, but damned if he wasn’t. “Hey, it happens.”

  “Not to me,” she said. “I have never, ever been that bold.”

  He liked her boldness. A lot. “Not even with your husband?”

  “Not really. We were both young when we met, and not very adventurous.”

  Interesting. “What about the men before him?”

  Her gazed faltered for a moment. “Danny was my first. There wasn’t anyone before him and there hasn’t been anyone since.”

  Man, he hadn’t predicted that. She kissed like someone who’d been around the block. Apparently she was a natural, even if she was somewhat of a novice. “Had I known that, I would’ve stopped sooner.”

  She frowned. “Why?”

  “Because I don’t want to do anything you don’t want to do.”

  This time she released a cynical laugh. “I would think it’s fairly obvious I wanted to do what I did, or I wouldn’t have done it.”

  “Neither of us was thinking clearly.” But he sure was now.

  “Probably not, but since we’re both consenting adults, I certainly don’t consider our behavior shameful by any stretch of the imagination.”

  “I’m not sure I’m ready for this.” He’d heard those words before, but never coming out of his own mouth.

  Hannah looked perplexed. “Excuse me?”

  He leaned forward, draped his elbows on his parted knees and focused on the popcorn-riddled carpet. “I’m not sure this is the right thing for either of us. More important, I don’t want to hurt you, Hannah.”

  She touched his shoulder, garnering his attention. “I’m a big girl, Logan. I don’t have any wild expectations of happily-ever-after. I want to feel desired by a man I can trust to treat me well. I know that man is you.”

  Yet she didn’t know what he’d been concealing from her. She didn’t know the demons still chasing after him. And she had no idea that his feelings for her were going beyond animal attraction.

  He needed time to think. He needed to get away from her in order to keep his libido from prevailing over logic. Being the second man in her life would be a big burden to bear. He’d gained skill as a lover through experience, but he sucked when it came to the possible emotional fallout. If they continued on this course, they would only grow closer, and she might begin to have expectations he couldn’t meet, regardless of what she’d said about not having any.

  For that reason, he grabbed the remote from the adjacent chair, turned off the movie and stood. “I have an early day tomorrow and I’m pretty tired. We’ll continue this discussion later.”

  Hannah stood and propped both hands on her hip. “That’s it? You’re going to run out on me without explaining why you’ve suddenly gone from hot to cold?”

  He couldn’t explain unless he made a few revelations that he wasn’t prepared to make at this point. “I have some thinking to do, Hannah, and I can’t do it with you in the same room.”

  “Suit yourself,” she said as she moved past him and headed toward the exit.

  He couldn’t let her leave without telling her one important fact. “Hannah.”

  She turned at the door, anger glimmering in her eyes. “What?”

  “I just don’t want you to have any regrets.”

  “I don’t,” she said. “But I’m beginning to think you do.”

  Logan only regretted he might not be the man she needed. The man she deserved. And he had to take that out and examine it later before he made one huge error in judgment.

  * * *

  For the past two days, Hannah had barely seen Logan. He’d left for work before she’d awakened, and returned well after she’d retired to her room. She’d whiled away the lonely hours researching her possible family until she was certain her eyes might be permanently crossed. Her only human contact had come in the form of Logan’s fiftysomething housekeeper, Molly, who’d been extremely accommodating, right down to preparing meals in advance.

  Of course, on several occasions she had spoken to Cassie, who had reinforced that she was having the time of her life with her best friend. Out of sight, out of mind, Hannah realized, at least when it came to her daughter and the attorney. And that hurt.

  But after spending the morning in the public library perusing archived newspapers, Hannah had the perfect excuse to seek out Logan. She’d intentionally dressed in her professional best—a white sleeveless silk blouse, charcoal-colored skirt and black three-inch heeled sandals that Gina had fondly termed “do-me shoes.” Hopefully she wasn’t wasting those on a possible lost cause named Logan.

  She didn’t bother to call ahead before she arrived at the Drake, Alcott and Whittaker law firm located not far from the library. After playing tug-of-war with the strong Wyoming wind for control of the heavy wood door, she simply marched up to the very young, very pretty brunette receptionist and presented her best smile. “I need to see Mr. Whittaker please.”

  The young woman eyed Hannah suspiciously. “Do you have an appointment?”

  She finger-combed her gale-blown hair back into place as best she could without a brush. “No, I don’t. But I’m sure if you’ll give him my name, he’ll see me.” If luck prevailed.

  “What is your name?” the receptionist asked, sounding as if she believed Hannah might be some crazed stalker.

  “It’s Ms. Armstrong. Hannah Armstrong.”

  “Just a moment please.” She picked up the phone and pressed a button. “Mr. Whittaker, there’s a Ms. Armstrong here and she... Of course. I’ll send her right in.” She replaced the phone and finally put on a pleasant demeanor. “His office is down the hall to your right, the second door on the left.”

  “Thank you.”

  Hannah traveled down the corridor with a spring in her step, feeling somewhat vindicated, until she realized she probably looked a whole lot disheveled. She paused long enough to open her bag for the appropriate tools, then brushed her hair and applied some lip gloss before continuing on to Logan’s office. A brass plate etched with his name hung on the closed door, but the raised blinds covering the glass windows lining the hallway gave her a prime view of Logan, who happened to be on the phone.

  She wasn’t sure whether to wait until he hung up, or barge in. She opted to wait, until Logan caught her glance and gestured at her to come in.

  Hannah stepped into the office, closed the door behind her and chose the chair across from the large mahogany desk. In an attempt not to appear to be eavesdropping, she surveyed the office while Logan continued his conversation. She had three immediate impressions—massive, masculine and minimalist. Neutral colors with dark blue accents, including the sofa and matching visitors’ chairs. Blue-and-white-tiled fireplace with a barren mantel. A few modern Western paintings. Overall, a nice place to visit, but she wouldn’t care to work there. The whole area could use some warming up.

  Hannah couldn’t say the same for herself. Seeing the sexy attorney dressed in coat and tie, his dark hair combed to perfection, his large hand gripping the phone, she had grown quite warm.

  He seemed to be listening more than speaking until he finally said, “I understand, Mom, and I promise to do better with the calls. Tell Dad to stop giving you grief, and I’ll talk to you next w
eek. I love you, too.” He then hung up and sent her a somewhat sheepish grin. “Sorry about that.”

  “I think it’s nice you’re close to your mother.” The kind of relationship she’d wanted with hers, but never really had. “Are you an only child?”

  “Actually, no,” he said. “I have an older sister. She and her husband are both geologists living in Alaska with their five kids.”

  That could explain the picture in his desk drawer. “Wow. Five kids, huh?”

  He grabbed a pen and began to turn it over and over. “Yeah. All boys.”

  She could have sworn that the baby in the photo she’d found in the desk had been a girl. “I suppose when you live somewhere as cold as Alaska, you have to find creative ways to keep warm.”

  “True, but constant procreating seems pretty extreme to me.”

  Hannah let out a laugh, but it died on her lips when she noticed his obvious uneasiness. “I was hoping you might introduce me to some more Lassiters.”

  He loosened his tie, a sure sign of discomfort. “It’s been crazy busy around here.”

  Like she really believed that after he’d told her his schedule happened to be light this week. “Are you sure you haven’t been avoiding me?”

  He turned his attention back to the pen. “Not intentionally. I’m sorry that I haven’t spent much time with you.”

  So was she. “Anyway, that’s not exactly why I’m here. I came upon something at the library this morning that I found interesting.” She dug through her bag and withdrew the copy of the archived article, then slid it across the desk. “This is a picture of J.D. and his brother, Charles, at a rodeo here in Cheyenne over thirty years ago. Charles won the roping competition.”

  Logan studied it a few moments before regarding Hannah again. “And?”

  She reached across the desk and pointed at the text below the photo. “Look at the list of winners.”

  Logan scanned the text before looking up, sheer surprise in his expression. “Your mother was a barrel racer?”

  “Yes, she was, but she gave it up after I was born.” Only one more thing Ruth had blamed on her daughter. “Now I’m wondering if she met J.D. through his brother during one of these competitions.”

  Logan seemed to mull that over for a moment. “I planned to question Marlene Lassiter about J.D.’s past. They were very close, so she might know something about an affair.”

  “I’d appreciate that, Logan.” She would also appreciate a better explanation for his behavior the other night in the media room. “Now that we’ve settled this matter, we do need to move on to our other issue.”

  “What issue would that be?”

  She refused to let him play dumb. “The one involving our attraction to each other, and your concerns that I don’t know my own mind.”

  “Hannah, I’m worried that—”

  “I’ll have regrets...I know. You’re worried I’m going to get hurt. But as I told you during our last conversation, I don’t have any expectations. I don’t need poetry or candy or any promises. I only want to enjoy your company while I’m here, whatever that might involve.”

  “I don’t want to do anything to hurt you.”

  Time to set him straight. “I’m not some fragile little flower who needs to be sheltered from life, both the good and the bad.”

  “I never thought of you as fragile, Hannah. But you have to know that I’m not in the market to settle down and have a family.”

  How well she understood that. “Fine. I get that. I’ll hold off on picking out the engagement ring. Now I have a question for you.”

  “Shoot.”

  She scooted to the edge of her chair and stared at him straight on. “Do you still want me?”

  He tossed the pen aside. “You really have to ask that?”

  “Yes, and I want an answer.”

  When he rolled the chair back and stood, Hannah expected one of two things—Logan was going to kiss her, or show her to the door. Instead, he walked to a control panel mounted on the wall, pushed a button and lowered the electronic blinds, securing their complete privacy. Then he moved in front of her chair, clasped her wrists to pull her into his arms and delivered a kiss so soft and sensual, she thought her knees might not hold her. As if he sensed her dilemma, he turned her around and lifted her onto the desk.

  Her skirt rode up too high to be considered ladylike, but frankly she didn’t care. She was too focused on the feel of Logan’s palms on her thighs, the strokes of his thumbs on the inside of her legs that seemed timed with the silken glide of his tongue against hers. Higher, she wanted to tell him. Please, she almost pleaded. But before she could voice her requests, he broke the kiss.

  “Are you convinced I still want you, Hannah?”

  This time she decided to play dumb in hopes he’d make more attempts at persuading her. “Almost.”

  “Maybe this will help.” He took her palm and pressed it against his erection, showing her clear evidence of his need.

  “I’m convinced.” And veritably panting.

  He placed her hand back into her lap. “Do you know what I really want right now?”

  Hopefully the same thing she wanted—for him to have his very wicked way with her on top of his desk. “Do tell.”

  “Lunch.”

  Clearly the man was bent on driving her straight into oblivion. “Are you serious?”

  Logan lifted her off the desk and set her on her feet. “Dead serious. There’s a café right down the street that serves great burgers where we can eat and talk. I’ve been meaning to take you there.”

  Hannah wanted him to just take her. Now. But a talk was definitely warranted. She sent a pointed look in the direction of his fly. “Are you sure you’re up to it? Oh, wait. Obviously you are.”

  He let go a boisterous laugh. “You’ll need to walk in front of me for a few minutes. Just don’t shake your butt.”

  Oh, how tempting to do that very thing. Instead, she picked up her purse and took her time applying more lip gloss. After she popped the cap back on and dropped the tube into her bag, she smiled. “Are you recovered now?”

  “Enough to retain my dignity, so let’s get out of here before I change my mind, lock the door and tell Priscilla to hold all calls while I hold you captive for a few more hours.”

  “Promises, promises,” Hannah teased as they walked into the hall and started toward the lobby.

  When they rounded the corner, an attractive sixtysomething, brown-haired woman wearing a tasteful red tailored coat dress, nearly ran head-on into Hannah. “I’m so sorry, honey,” she said. “I shouldn’t be in such a hurry.”

  “You’re always in a hurry, Marlene.”

  She patted Logan’s cheek and smiled. “Not any more than you are, young man. Particularly the other evening when you rushed out of my house like your hair was on fire.”

  Hannah sent a quick glance at Logan, then returned her attention to the first Lassiter she’d encountered thus far.

  Logan moved behind Hannah and braced his palms on her shoulders. “Hannah, this is Marlene Lassiter. Marlene, Hannah Armstrong.”

  The woman gave her an odd look before she formed a tentative smile and offered her hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

  Hannah accepted the brief shake, but she couldn’t quite accept that the woman found the situation nice at all. “And it’s a pleasure to finally meet you, too. Logan has told me a lot of good things about you.”

  “Well, you can’t believe everything he says,” Marlene added with a sincere smile directed at Logan.

  “Were you here to see me, Marlene?” Logan asked.

  “No,” she said. “I’m having lunch with Walter, provided he’s ready to go. The man still works like a field hand when he should be considering retirement.”

  The sparkle
in Marlene’s eyes, and the telling comment, led Hannah to believe the couple must know each other beyond any business arrangements. “I suppose that comes with the territory.”

  Marlene fiddled with the diamond necklace at her throat. “Yes, I suppose it does. And I better see if I can hurry him along.”

  “Again, it’s nice to meet you,” Hannah said as Marlene hurried past them.

  “You, too, Hannah,” she said over one shoulder before disappearing into the office at the end of the hall.

  Hannah and Logan remained silent until they exited and stepped foot onto the sidewalk, where Logan turned to Hannah. “I suspect there’s a story there with Walter and Marlene.”

  Considering Marlene’s uneasy expression when they met, Hannah wondered if the woman might actually know the story of her life.

  * * *

  Before Logan could open the glass door to the Wild Grouse Café, a brown-haired man walked out, blocking the path. At first he didn’t recognize him, until he realized the guy happened to be a client, a premiere chef, and the second Lassiter he’d encountered that day. “Are you checking out the competition, Dylan?”

  “Hey, Logan,” he said with a smile as he shook Logan’s offered hand. “Actually, I grabbed a bite here because it’s still one of the best eateries in town, at least until the grand opening of our newest restaurant. I’ve barely had time to eat since I’ve been working on grabbing some good press for this venture to circumvent the bad press over the will dispute.”

  Bad press compliments of Dylan’s sister, Angelica. “I hear you on the bad press, and finding time to eat. I’m actually going to have lunch for a change.”

  “So they do let you out of the law cage?”

  “It happens now and then.” When he remembered Hannah was behind him, he caught her arm and drew her forward. “Dylan, this is Hannah Armstrong. Hannah, this is Dylan Lassiter, CEO of the Lassiter Grill Corporation, a veritable restaurant empire.”

  Dylan grinned. “Pleased to meet you. And where have you been hiding her out, Whittaker?”

  “I’m his maid,” Hannah said as she returned his smile.