“So, this wasn’t all just an exercise in getting into my knickers then?” she asked.
Logan threw his head back and laughed.
“No, though once I saw you up for auction I had to have you.” He sobered and tapped her nose. “Just for tonight, of course. I meant what I said about this having no effect on our standing at work.”
Hannah blew out a breath and nodded.
“Right, well, it’s late, or should that be early? We should probably get some sleep. I’ll be out of your hair the minute they bring me my clothes in the morning.”
“There’s no rush.” Even to his own ears the words sounded hollow. Hannah must have thought the same because she shook her head.
“Oh, but there is. I wouldn’t want Rhia to get the wrong idea. We both know what tonight was, so let’s leave it at that.”
Logan nodded, surprised and irritated by the pang he felt at her words. It was usually him delivering the speech. Hearing her sum up what they’d shared as though it was nothing out of the ordinary grated. Then again, for all he knew she did this all the time. He had no idea about Hannah Watson’s private life, and his previous assumptions about her had been all wrong. The thought of his little dove indulging in an active sex life, quite possibly of a kinky sort, made his blood boil. It wasn’t like him to be possessive, and he was all too aware of the double standard, but fuck him.
“What happened to your mother, I mean?” The minute he asked that question he wanted to take that back, because Hannah’s face dropped. What the hell was he doing, asking personal questions like that?
“Forget, I ask, it’s none of my business, after all, and you’re right, we should get some sleep. You can use the main bedroom. I’ll stay with Rhia. That way I’ll be on hand if she has another nightmare.”
Hannah nodded.
“That sounds a good plan. As for my mother, she went the way most addicts go. Died of an overdose.” He whistled through his teeth, and she shrugged. “It was always going to happen, well that, or she’d have been beaten to death by one of her boyfriends. If I had a penny for every time she thought herself ‘in lurve’.” She mimed quotation marks around those two words and winced.
“Every new one was going to the ‘the one’. Beyond ridiculous really, but she did do me one favor. It cured me of looking for love. Lust, well that’s true enough. Not sure I believe in love anymore.”
A wealth of hidden pain came through with those words, and Logan shifted on his feet. This was all a bit too close to home, but it sure as hell explained her reaction to his situation.
“Anyway, it’s all ancient history. I couldn’t help her, but I saved my sister.” Her face lit up in a smile. “She recently graduated, is a teacher at that school I mentioned by the way, so ask after Sarah Watson if you decide to go down that route. Tell her I sent you, and she’ll get Rhia in. They usually have long waiting lists, but they always make room for special cases, and you know, they need a new roof. It leaks, so I’m sure a generous donation will help to persuade the head teacher to find a space, too.” She winked at Logan, and he laughed.
“Money talks and all that, right?”
“Right, anyway, that’s enough of my sad story. If I don’t see you in the morning, thank you for … well you know.”
There she went with that endearing blush again, but before he could say or do anything, she’d walked away. The click of the bedroom door sounded too loud in the quiet night air, and Logan did the only sensible thing he could do under the circumstances. Joined his niece and tried his best to forget all about little Hannah Watson.
****
Morning couldn’t come soon enough for Hannah. After tossing and turning for hours she gave up on sleep the minute the sun crept above the horizon. Having made full use of the shower, she felt marginally better, even if the faint marks left on her tender butt gave her renewed palpitations.
As did the state of her dress, and her knickers. The dress was indeed ruined. She doubted even the best dry cleaners could get those stains out. Then again, she would never have worn it again anyway, not with all these memories attached. It was bad enough that she would have to face Logan back at work come Monday morning. Knowing what the man looked like underneath his suits, and having experienced what he could do with his body, and those large hands … she grew wet all over again.
Hannah stared at her reflection in the mirror while she scrubbed her knickers in the sink, and sighed.
Face it, girl. If it wasn’t for Rhia, you’d be jumping his bones again in an instant.
The urge to check up on both man and child was like a thorn in her side, but that wasn’t her place. So, instead, she used the hair dryer to dry her underwear, and having helped herself to some instant coffee, she waited for the knock on the suite door. Fortunately, neither Logan nor Rhia stirred, before the butler service delivered fresh clothes with a polite smile. Suitably clothed and impossible heels in hand, she made her way downstairs and into a cab without further incident. She highly doubted her return to work would be as uneventful.
Having spent Sunday quietly pottering about her flat, and not thinking about her far too sexy and enigmatic boss—none of her business what he and Rhia got up to today—Monday morning came all too soon. It was with a certain amount of trepidation that Hannah approached the office. Ignoring the knowing smirks from those who had been at the auction proved easy enough, and she breathed a far too audible sigh of relief, when she saw Logan’s office was empty.
It wasn’t like him to not be in at the crack of dawn, but then again, he was probably busy sorting out suitable childcare for Rhia. Sarah had been surprised at Hannah’s phone call to alert her to the possibility of Logan needing a nursery space for his niece.
“Wow, that’s something. Thanks, sis. I’ll let Aubrey know in the morning. Perfect timing, too, because we’re losing a major benefactor, as he’s moving back to Saudi. So, if your boss does ring, I’m sure we can find the girl a place. How did you find out about his niece anyway? Come on, spill. I mean I’ve seen the pictures, but…”
Sarah had giggled down the phone, and Hannah had wanted the ground to swallow her up.
“What pictures? What on earth are you talking about?”
“Chill, sis, I’m just pulling your leg, and I forget you don’t read the papers. George has just been winding me up about it, saying I should have inveigled an invite out of you. Congrats, sis, the auction seems to have been a huge success, and all the Sunday papers have covered it. I take it your job is safe now?”
“Right, yes, of course.” Hannah had rolled her eyes and crossed her fingers behind her back, even though her sister couldn’t see her. “As for my job, I guess so. How is that illustrious fiancé of yours anyway? We must get together soon. I haven’t seen either one of you in ages.”
Sarah had laughed, and George had shouted a hello down the phone. At least her sister had her love life sorted out. Her fiancé, George Manning, was a hardworking, no-nonsense builder, who worshipped the ground Sarah walked on, and they were saving up to get married sometime next year.
“Well, whose fault is that? I get your boss is a slave driver, a very handsome one from what I can see in the pictures, but ya know, live a little, girl.”
Hannah smiled, recalling that conversation now, a smile that slipped when a furious Monique appeared at the desk next to hers.
“He’s not going to get away with this.” She bashed things about in the process of emptying the contents of her desk into the box she’d placed on top of it and glared at Hannah.
“This is all your fucking fault.”
Hannah reared back at the sheer vitriol behind that statement. Face contorted into an ugly caricature of her normal self, spittle flew out of Monique’s mouth as she addressed Hannah.
“Now, listen up, I’ve just come in, and I’ve no idea what on earth you’re going on about, so—”
“Just come in, your fat ass. What? Too busy getting another shag in with the boss, were you? I see he isn’t in ei
ther. Fucking asshole, can’t even sack me to my face. He had HR do it, and those Neanderthals are to escort me off the premises.”
Monique swung her stapler through the air, and for one horrifying minute, Hannah thought she was going to throw that office implement at the two somber looking security guards, who were indeed standing watch by the office entrance. The older one of them, Sean—Hannah stopped to chat to the sweet old guy every day on her way in—she loved hearing him talk about his grandkids’ latest antics—winced at Monique’s outburst. Poor Sean had worked here even longer than Hannah had and was due to retire soon. He so didn’t need this on a Monday morning. His younger sidekick, whose name escaped Hannah right now, a new addition to the team, employed by Logan himself, stepped forward.
“If you don’t want me to physically remove you from the premises right now, you’ll start behaving. Your conduct is unbecoming.” He crossed his arms over his massive chest, and Hannah swallowed hard. There was no doubt in her mind that he would follow through on that threat, but Monique took no notice.
“Hah, that’s rich, my conduct? I’m not the one who got herself a promotion by sleeping with the new boss. That would be all Miss Goody Two Shoes here.”
A collective murmur went around the open plan office, and Hannah wanted the ground to swallow her whole. This was exactly what she’d been afraid of happening.
“How dare you, Monique. I won that proposal fair and square, and if you’re being sacked you only have yourself to blame for your conduct at the auction. Last time I checked falsifying records was a sackable offence. You didn’t think of that when you decided to put me on the auction block, did you?”
“Hah, as if you cared about that. Just gave you another in with the boss, or is this where you going to tell me he forked ten grand out just for the privilege of holding your fucking hand? Admit it, you slept with him.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to refute that notion, but that would have been a lie, so Hannah reined in her temper and turned her back on the raging woman.
“I’ve got work to get on with, and I shan’t dignify that with an answer.”
“Because it’s the truth, that’s why. Get off me, you oaf.”
Hannah did her best to block out the other woman’s ranting and raving, which carried on all the way out the office. She could still be heard through the open windows, once she was on the street, and Hannah groaned under her breath.
“Well, that was enlightening.” Rosemary, who had been PA to the previous boss for the last twenty years, and had retained her position under Logan, smiled at Hannah once the commotion had died down. “Don’t worry, none of us really think that. You’re one of the hardest working employees here, and it was about time that got recognized. Say what you will about Mr. Bryce, he recognizes and rewards talent when he sees it. Monique isn’t the only one who got called into HR first thing. Herringey from accounts got a dressing down, too, from what I can gather, so relax. This will all blow over. You’ll see.”
Hannah smiled back at the older woman, and glanced at Logan’s empty office.
“He won’t be in today for personal reasons he said.” Rosemary’s explanation didn’t make Hannah feel any better about the situation, and her unease only grew as the week wore on and there was still no sign of Logan at the office.
Lord only knew what was going on. His continued absence had nothing to do with Rhia, at least. Sarah had been gushing down the phone about the little girl and Logan’s extremely generous donation, which had earned the mite a place straightaway. Money most definitely did talk, and for once Hannah was glad that it did. That little girl needed some stability in her life rather badly, and there was no one better equipped than Sarah to help her.
“She’s a sweetheart, and she’s finally stopped calling me Hannah. Is there something you’re not telling me about you and your uber-handsome boss, who by the way has been asking a lot of questions about you, too?”
“There’s nothing to tell, and what do you mean, what sort of questions?”
Sarah’s giggle down the phone had done sweet FA to calm Hannah’s growing indigestion, whenever she thought of Logan Bryce.
“Oh, just the usual, did you have a boyfriend type of questions? I didn’t tell him anything private, don’t worry. But he likes you.”
Hannah had done her very best to dismiss that notion. If he liked her that much, then why wasn’t he at the office? It was almost as though he was avoiding her, which was ridiculous. So much for this not affecting their working relationship.
When he did eventually swan in four days later, she was in the middle of a phone call with one of their most important clients. How she managed to keep talking and make any sense at all was something of a miracle because Logan made a beeline straight for her, glared when he saw she was busy, and all but snarled his instructions at her.
“My office, asap. Finish that call.”
When she shook her head, and mouthed the client’s name at him, he growled under his breath, yanked the phone out of her hand, and ended the phone call for her.
“Logan Bryce here. Hannah will have to call you back. Something’s come up.”
He slammed the phone back on its receiver so hard, it bounced straight off again with an ominous internal rattle.
“Rosemary, get maintenance on that.” Logan ran a hand through his hair, which made the dark strands look even more messy, and grasping Hannah by the elbow yanked her out of the cubicle. “I said my office, Hannah, unless you want us to have this conversation in full view of everyone.”
His fingers dug into her arm with enough force to leave bruises, and Hannah swallowed nervously when his brooding attention settled on her. He looked… Well, he looked awful, truth be told. The deep purple smudges under his eyes indicated a man who must have gone days without proper sleep. He had at least three days’ worth of beard growth on his jaw, and as for his clothing…
Hannah had never seen him in anything but immaculately tailored suits at the office, yet he was in scruffy jeans and a stained t-shirt, which clung to his muscled torso and showed off his tats to the world. No wonder the office had fallen silent. Never mind his odd behavior, the way he looked would be enough to send tongues wagging anew.
Damn the man.
“Stop manhandling me and I’ll come. What on earth is the matter with you?” She hissed the words to him under her breath, all too aware that everyone was staring and she was adding fuel to the rumor mill, but she wasn’t just going to let him drag away from her desk like some caveman.
Regardless of the fact that her heart leapt in excitement at seeing him, and she wanted nothing more than to smooth away that deep frown line over his eyes, as he continued to glower down on her.
Logan inhaled sharply, looked around as though he was just realizing they had an audience, and released her.
“Move, Ms. Watson. We have things to discuss.”
He stalked away from her and slammed the door to his office shut behind him. The whole structure wobbled, and a picture frame fell off the wall next to his partition.
“Goodness, what on earth? You best follow him, but are you going to be all right, my dear?”
Rosemary’s concerned voice shook Hannah out of her Logan-induced haze, and she forced a smile on her face for the older woman’s benefit.
“Yes, of course, I will be.”
As she knocked on his door and heard his holler to come in she wasn’t at all sure of that fact, however. She rather felt as though she was entering the lion’s den, about to be torn to shreds.
Chapter Six
Hannah looked parts terrified, parts furious, when she stepped through that door. She also looked good enough to eat. Now that he knew what exactly she was hiding under her sensible work clothes, his hands itched to strip her out of that blouse and to reacquaint himself with her lush curves. A body which had haunted his dreams ever since that night, and despite the mess he was dealing with right now, had him waking up hard and horny when he did manage to sleep. He had
n’t jacked off this damn much since his teenage years. The damn woman had bewitched him. Sure enough, his cock rose to greet her the minute her sweet, flowery scent filled his office.
“Finally, what took you so long? Shut the door, will you.” He grimaced at the rough timbre of his voice, and reached to adjust his dick away from the zipper of his jeans. If she noticed his state, she made no mention, just shut the door and faced him hands on hip.
“Fine, I’m here. What in all that’s holy did you think you were doing out there? Lord only knows how I’m going to smooth things over with Jenkinson and Co. now. They’ve been dithering about signing back on again as it is, and you treat him like that? Seriously, what in the ever-loving hell—”
“Enough!” Logan brought his clenched fists down on the desk, and Hannah visibly jumped. She didn’t back down, however, but took a step closer, slapped both of her hands down on the mahogany surface, too, and got right in his face. The action afforded him an unrivaled view down her blouse, thanks to her having left the two top buttons loose for once, and he groaned.
“If you can’t behave in a sensible manner, then I’m leaving.” She straightened back up and would have made good on that threat, had he not clasped her wrists in his hands and held on. Her pulse jumped under his fingertips, and her gasp was music to his ears. She did still want him then. That would work in his favor when he made his proposal. And that was all this would be. Business. Logan prided himself on achieving his goals with the minimum amount of fuss, and Hannah was a means to an end. One that he had every intention of enjoying, but a necessary move regardless. All he had to do was make her see the advantages for her.
“Let me worry over Jenkinson. Let him walk for all I care. There’s plenty more like him in the shark pond.”
Hannah yanked on his hands and rolled her eyes.
“Easy for you to say, but I worked hard on that account and—”
“And you’ll work equally as hard on another one, if he decides to walk, which I highly doubt. The man is all bluster, and besides, I have a different business proposal for you.”
Auctioned to the Bad Boy CEO Page 7
