Rhyme

by Lexy Timms

  Olivia pushed her drink away, the cherry in tattered pieces. “Maybe you’re right. I’m beating myself up instead of letting myself think about Patrick. I don’t know.”

  She wasn’t thinking clearly—again—and the last time she’d been like this she’d made a terrible mistake. But this was Ryan. She knew him.

  “Olivia...” Ryan’s voice was suddenly very close, his breath moving the hair on the nape of her neck. She turned toward him and found him right there, his gaze locked with hers. Before she could speak, their lips were pressed together and she was kissing Ryan.

  With a gasp, Olivia broke away. “Oh shit.” Her cheeks burned. “I’m so sorry.” When she turned back to Ryan, he was looking at her with an intensity that startled her, but it was quickly replaced with concern.

  “You’re confused right now,” he said gently. “I think maybe we’d better call it a night. Before you lose control.”

  “Ryan, really. I’m so sorry. I don’t know—This isn’t me. You know this isn’t me.” But maybe it was. Maybe any time you’ve been drinking you throw yourself at the nearest handsome man.

  “Let me call you a cab, okay? You should go home. Don’t worry about it; I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Olivia apologized again, more than once, as he led her out of the bar and they waited on the curb for the cab to pull up. Each time, Ryan brushed the words aside. Even so, the cab ride home was miserable. All she could focus on was the fact that she’d kissed her boss. He could have fired her for that. Her head was spinning, and by the time she let herself into her apartment she was in tears.

  She set her alarm, crawled into bed, and pulled the covers over her head. What the hell did I do? It was a question she’d had to ask herself far too often recently. She closed her eyes and tried to shut the thoughts down.

  But sleep was elusive. The longer she lay in bed, tossing and turning, the more muddled the night became in her memories. Had she kissed Ryan, or had he kissed her? The more she thought about it, the more it seemed to her that he’d initiated the kiss. She remembered him touching her, his fingers skating over the tender skin on the inside of her arm, brushing against her breast. That had happened, she was sure of it. But then...

  She rolled over, punching at her pillow in frustration. No more alcohol. Ever again. And no more men.

  Sleep finally overcame her, along with the disconcerting memory of Ryan’s lips on hers. And that memory was swiftly replaced by one of Logan Graham, his irresistible hands on her body. Logan, who had taken her on a whirlwind ride of passion like nothing she’d ever experienced before.

  As she drifted off, she wondered if she really regretted that after all.

  Chapter Four

  As much as she wanted to, Olivia knew she couldn’t avoid Ryan all day. So just after lunch, she worked up the courage to go to his office.

  He was sitting at his desk, dictating, when she knocked on his open door. He waved her to the chair in front of his desk as he finished his sentence. Olivia sat down silently. Setting aside his notes, Ryan rose, closing the door before taking a seat, not behind his desk but next to her.

  “I haven’t seen much of you today,” he said, smiling at her as if nothing had happened. Olivia found herself wondering if the kiss had really taken place the night before. But she knew she hadn’t been that drunk. She hadn’t imagined that. “How are you? Nose to the grindstone again?”

  “Ryan. About last night—”

  Before she could continue, he held up a hand. “Olivia. It’s in the past. What happened, or whatever you think happened, let’s just leave it alone okay? You’re under a bit of stress, and I’m willing to overlook a momentary indiscretion on your part.”

  Olivia stared at Ryan. “Oh. Okay. Um... Thanks.” Whatever you think happened. Last night she’d been so sure it was his indiscretion, but under his gaze she couldn’t help but wonder if she’d had it wrong after all.

  “I’m glad you’re here, though,” Ryan said, moving quickly on. “We have a really big case that came in today, and I’d like you to take it. I’ll be here for you, as always, but I want you to take the lead. It has the potential to be a high-profile event. Probably lots of publicity.”

  Indiscretions, and who was to blame for them, momentarily forgotten, Olivia leaned forward in her chair. “Who is it? What’s the suit?”

  Ryan laughed. “Slow down. I don’t have a file yet. Lori is gathering preliminary information. You can stop by her desk on the way out, see if she’s finished. Otherwise, you’ll meet the plaintiff this afternoon. He’s coming in around two. I thought I’d set up the meeting through Melissa; she should’ve let you know. I was surprised when I didn’t receive a reply to the meeting invitation.”

  “There was nothing on my calendar.” Olivia frowned. It wasn’t like Melissa to drop the ball.

  “In any event, we’re meeting on the twelfth-floor conference room. I’d like you there about fifteen minutes early, if you can, so we can go over what we know. The case is still pretty straight forward at this point; our client is suing his manager. But from what I understand, the client is also part of a group that uses the same manager. It probably has its complications, but I’m sure you’ll be able to handle it with no problem.”

  He stood, Olivia following his lead. When he stepped forward, she turned toward the door, placing her hand on the knob. She had to say something. But before she could speak, Ryan blocked her exit with his hand against the door, almost pinning her between him and the solid wood.

  “I want you to know this is important,” he said. “Not just because it’s a high-profile case for the firm, but because of how important it will be for you, and for your career. If you win this, you have a really good chance of making partner.”

  As he spoke, Ryan moved closer still. Olivia could smell his cologne. Feel the warmth of his breath on her neck. His voice was a dangerous rumble.

  “I want you to succeed at this. You’re an incredible woman, and the firm could use someone like you at the top. I take pride in knowing I’m helping you succeed, and I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to get you where you deserve to be. Are you willing to do the same?”

  Olivia bit her lip. A twist in the pit of her stomach warned her that something was wrong, but there was nothing she could think of to say. Of course she wanted to be a partner in the firm. Who wouldn’t?

  Ryan reached out, his hand on her arm again, fingers caressing. An involuntary shiver ran down her spine and she swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. The intensity she’d seen the night before—the look she hadn’t been sure wasn’t imagined—was back in Ryan’s eyes, desire prowling across his face.

  “Good. Then we’re on the same page.”

  She nodded again, and Ryan reached for the doorknob, pulling the door open. The sudden movement of the door and the pressure of Ryan’s touch on her arm forced Olivia to take an awkward step forward into him, who didn’t step back. Her hands came up automatically against his chest, and for a moment they were pressed together.

  Her breath caught in her throat. Until the night before, she’d never thought of Ryan in any terms except the professional, but now, pressed against him like this, a flush heated her body. Ryan looked down at her, gaze locked with hers.

  “Remember. Same page.” His voice was low, a conspiratorial look flashing in his eyes. He stepped back quickly, and Olivia stumbled forward as the door swung open behind her. Ryan’s hand, still on her arm, steadied her, his fingers gripping her elbow.

  “You okay?” His voice was full of concern as she stumbled into him for the second time.

  Once more she was pressed against him, hands splayed across his chest, but this time they were standing in the open doorway of his office. Ryan’s paralegal, Lori, was looking at them with wide eyes.

  “Oh. Sure. Yes. I’m fine.” Olivia tried to jerk away from Ryan, her face flaming, but his hand still held her elbow, guiding her through the open door. “That was clumsy of me. Sorry. Really sorry. See you at two.”


  He finally released her, and she all but bolted for the elevator, feeling as though every eye in the office must be following her as she fled. Her heart was beating too fast in her ears. She sucked in a breath, waiting for the doors to open. What was wrong with her lately?

  Back in her office, still cursing herself, she checked her schedule. There was a new appointment in her schedule, entered by Lori, but nothing from Melissa. It seemed like Olivia wasn’t the only one having problems.

  She glanced at her watch. It was almost time for her to go upstairs to the conference room. As confused as she was about Ryan, she was looking forward to another high-profile case. Fontaine may have been a pain in the neck, but there was something thrilling about the challenge of a big client. Taking a quick trip to the ladies’ room, she combed her hair and checked her face in the mirror, pronouncing herself presentable for the meeting with her new client.

  Back in her office, Olivia shrugged into her suit jacket and grabbed her legal pad and pen, tucking a couple of business cards into her pocket before heading out to the elevator. Melissa was at her desk, head down over a stack of files, and Olivia briefly debated asking her to join the meeting. On impulse, she detoured past the elevator toward Melissa’s cubicle.

  “Melissa. Come with me. Ryan’s assigned a new case—something big—and I want you to be there. You can take notes and we can talk after. There are few things we need to discuss anyway. Did you get a meeting invitation from him?”

  Melissa shook her head, a slight frown briefly crossing her face. But she grabbed her legal pad, following Olivia to the elevator.

  “What’s the case?” she asked as the car rose toward the twelfth floor. “Do you know who the client is?”

  Olivia chuckled. “No. You sound like me in Ryan’s office earlier.” Briefly, the memories of their short meeting distracted her. Something had happened that she wasn’t quite sure she entirely grasped. But there were other things to worry about. She forced herself to concentrate on the upcoming meeting. “I just know that it’s high profile; the client is suing his manager. I didn’t even get a name yet.”

  The conference room was at the end of the hall, its door closed. Male voices were already speaking inside, too low to be understood outside the room. Olivia glanced at her watch. It was five past. Later than she should have been. She knocked once, then swung the door open.

  She stopped dead in her tracks. Melissa, unprepared, bumped into her back. Sitting at the far end of the conference room table, next to Ryan Marshall, was none other than Logan Graham.

  Chapter Five

  Ryan turned toward her, a welcoming smile on his face, but reproach in his eyes. Olivia recognized immediately that she’d committed a faux pas by being late, but this wasn’t the time to worry about it. She pasted a matching smile on her face and entered the room.

  “Here she is. Logan, this is Olivia Dane, the attorney who will be the lead on your case. Olivia, Logan Graham.”

  Logan rose, and she felt his eyes on her as she walked into the room, praying he wouldn’t say anything. As much as she wanted to look away—to run away—Olivia knew she couldn’t. But there was a tiny part of her that fluttered alive as she looked at him, her breath catching in her throat.

  He was wearing a dark suit and tie, and a crisp white shirt. Even conservatively dressed, he exuded the charm and charisma of a rock star. And, she had to admit, the latent sexuality that had drawn her in before was still there, just beneath the surface.

  He extended a hand and she took it, the touch of his skin against hers making her heard beat faster.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Olivia.” His voice was low, and he held her hand a moment longer than necessary. She did nothing to pull away, even as she knew she should. Everything else in the room faded away as she looked into those dark eyes. Finally, she found her voice.

  “Yes. Nice to meet you as well, Mr. Graham.” She hastily pulled her hand away and took a step backward, hitting the edge of the table with her leg. She heard a noise behind her and recovered enough of her composure to introduce Melissa. “...my paralegal. You’ll be seeing a great deal of her as well.”

  Logan turned to Melissa, smiling and shaking her hand briefly. She looked a little star-struck, gazing up at Logan with parted lips and wide brown eyes. Olivia coughed softly in an effort to get her attention. Ryan stepped forward into the breach.

  “Shall we get started?” He looked at Olivia, an eyebrow cocked. She gave him an equally puzzled look and a brief shrug of her shoulder.

  Melissa had apparently remembered that she was actually working and hurried to take a seat next to Olivia across the table from Logan. Ryan took his accustomed place at the head of the table, the case file open in front of him.

  “Okay,” he began. “A brief history. Logan is the lead singer in a band called Revival. His complaint is against his manager, Jack Ashton. Do you want to explain in your own words the basis of the suit, Mr. Graham? Why do you want to pursue action against Mr. Ashton?”

  “Ashton’s been Revival’s manager since we were playing little pubs in Glasgow, trying to get noticed. He’s the one who got us our first major contract. Back then, he wasn’t any bigger than we were; we pulled each other along.” Logan shifted uneasily in his chair. “But when we hit it big, things changed. My band mates and I, we were happy to finally be paid in money instead of pints. But Ashton wanted more. He convinced me to try for a solo album; it did well, but my heart is with the band. I’m not looking to go it alone. The problem is, Ashton has started driving a wedge between us. Pushing me toward something I don’t want.”

  He hesitated and Olivia caught up with taking notes, her head still down. She didn’t want to stare too long at Logan, paranoid her cheeks would flush and he’d say something about it.

  “And then the money started disappearing.”

  Olivia, looked up at Logan at the change in his tone. He was impassioned when he talked about his band, but his voice grew suddenly cold at the mention of the missing money.

  “And that’s the reason you want to bring the suit against him?” Ryan asked. “For the embezzlement?”

  Logan shrugged, shifting again. “Yes. He stole the money from me, from the band. And he should be held accountable for that. But...”

  “You want your band mates back.” Olivia’s voice was low.

  He nodded. “Aye. I do. I miss them and the music we make together. This tour has been torture: four guys on stage going through the motions and trying not to bash each other’s brains in. Truth be told, while I don’t mind making actual money, those months we were getting paid in pints were some of the happiest times I’ve ever had. It was just us, playing our music and making people happy. There’s no living to be earned by that, but we had each other. Ashton took that away, and that’s worth a great deal more to me than the money he stole.” Still looking at Olivia, he spread his hands on the table in a gesture of despair.

  Olivia smiled. Logan returned the expression, but there was pain in the curve of his mouth. Something in her let go, then, a tiny part of her irritation with Logan dissolving. She was struck by his honesty, by the earnest way he spoke. By his integrity. And, more than that, by his simple desire to get back the moments in his life when he had been happy.

  Maybe she had misjudged him. Jumped to conclusions. But it was still just a one-night stand. And you’re his lawyer now. Nothing more.

  Ryan coughed, and both Logan and Olivia turned to him. “I think it might be helpful if you continued your meeting with Olivia alone. She can do the rest of the initial intake for the case, get some hard facts. I’ll leave you two alone.”

  He slid the case file across the Olivia, and he and Melissa left the room, though the other woman cast a glance back over her shoulder at Logan as she followed Ryan out. When the door closed behind them, Olivia sat back in her chair, arms crossed over her chest. What the hell just happened?

  Logan leaned forward. “It’s good to see you again, Olivia.” He smiled, then, as she
continued to stare at him silently, growing serious. But she noticed that the smile never really left his eyes. “I get the feeling you’re not so happy to see me, though.”

  “Why should I be?” Olivia glared across the table at him. “You took advantage of me when I was at my lowest. I was emotionally compromised. And drunk on that hateful Macallan of yours.” She was surprised by the sharp edges on her own voice. She took a deep breath, smoothed them out. “We had a one-night stand. Nothing more. And now I’m your attorney. So the only option is to put that time behind us, because it’s definitely not going to do you or your case any favors if people find out what happened.”

  “Olivia...” Logan’s expression tightened. “I don’t sleep with women too drunk to say yes. You were there. A bit hazy around the edges, maybe, but so was I. You were absolutely there with me.” He stepped around the table, and took the seat next to hers, leaning in closer. His knees brushed against hers. “Listen to me, Olivia. That may have been a one-night stand to you, but it was much more than that for me. I meant what I said in my note; I had every intention of calling you, of seeing you again when I came back to New York. But this shite with Ashton exploded in the middle of the tour. It’s taken all of my time and energy to hold the band together long enough to perform every night. It’s been driving me crazy that I haven’t called you. You’re all I’ve thought about since that night.” He reached out and laid his hand over hers, and the touch of his fingers on her skin sent a not wholly unwelcomed tingle through her body.

  Watching Logan closely, Olivia saw what she hoped—wished, maybe—was sincerity in his face. In his voice. She wanted to believe him, if only because it made her look less like an idiot throwing herself at a stranger, and more like maybe this could be the beginning of something between them.

  But he was a client. And she couldn’t risk her career for him, no matter how good he looked with that earnest expression. “Logan... This, um, whatever it is, or was, it’s... We can’t right now.” She slowly pulled her hand from his, not missing the hurt look that briefly clouded his gaze. “Let’s concentrate on the case for now, okay? That’s the real reason you’re here. Not me.” She picked up her pen and pulled her legal pad closer.