Logan's Redemption

by Cara Marsi

  “I only eat like this when I’m around you.”

  His mouth quirked in a knowing grin. “Why is that?”

  “Shut up and eat your turkey sandwich.”

  His unaffected laugh made her laugh too. It had been too long since she’d laughed like a kid. Being with Logan stripped away the years, making her feel young and carefree again. She picked up her over-stuffed sandwich and took a bite, as if she could chew away her traitorous thoughts.

  Logan watched her. She stopped chewing, lost in the intensity of his eyes. Could he read her mind and know the effect his nearness had on her? Of course he did. She’d practically begged him to make love to her the other morning. Face burning, she tore her gaze away.

  A prickling at the back of her neck made her look toward the door. A man, slender and dark-haired, with a sharp nose and whip-thin body, watched her. His pale blue eyes impaled hers. She shuddered.

  “What’s wrong?” Logan followed her gaze to the door. “Who is he?”

  “I don’t know.” Her voice shook slightly.

  “Mean-looking dude,” Logan said. “He looks familiar. I don’t like the way he’s staring at you.” He pushed up from his seat.

  Doriana placed her hand on his arm, stopping him. “Let it go. Maybe he thinks I’m someone else.”

  With a smirk in her direction, the man slunk away.

  Doriana picked up her glass of iced tea and took a sip, hoping the cool liquid would calm her. And cleanse her. Why did a man she’d never seen before make her feel so dirty?

  Anger lit Logan’s eyes. “After what happened to you over the weekend, I don’t like strange men looking at you. There was something weird about him.”

  She shrugged, trying for a composure she didn’t feel. “It was probably nothing. I’m perfectly safe.” But was she? A small shiver worked its way up her spine.

  “Hell, I don’t like any man looking at you, Dorie.”

  The possessive tone of his voice almost made her drop the glass she held. “What?”

  “Forget it,” he said, his voice tight. He picked up his sandwich but his gaze held hers. “Until we find the scum who called you, I don’t want you going out alone.”

  “Are you telling me what to do? I can take care of myself.”

  He slapped his sandwich onto the plate and leaned closer. “I know you can take care of yourself, but that phone call Thursday night wasn’t anything to dismiss lightly. Take precautions.”

  “Okay. I’ll get Josh to go with me.” The breath whooshed out of her lungs. What had possessed her to say Josh’s name?

  Logan tensed. “Do whatever you need to stay safe.”

  They finished their lunch in silence. The crowd at the deli thinned. Doriana glanced at the clock on the wall. The hour had gone by quickly, too quickly. She paid the bill and asked to have half her sandwich wrapped up.

  “Thanks for lunch,” Logan said.

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Admit this was better than sitting at your desk.” He gave her a teasing grin.

  “It was,” she said, laughing. The tension between them disappeared with the lunchtime crowd.

  “I love to hear you laugh,” he said softly. He studied her. “Why didn’t you ever marry?”

  She froze. “That’s really none of your business.” She leaned closer. Two could play this game. “Why didn’t you ever marry?”

  His eyes glinted. He folded his arms across his chest and smiled. “How do you know I’ve never married? Or that I’m not married now?”

  Chills, as if someone had dropped a cup of ice down her back, raced through Doriana. “Married?” The word came out a croak. She cleared her throat. “You can’t be married.”

  He tensed. “Why not? You think no decent woman would marry me because I don’t have a regular job?”

  “Of course not.”

  The waitress brought the bag with her sandwich. Clutching the bag, Doriana stood. She needed to get out. Now. She’d let Logan kiss her. Wanted him to do more. And he might be married. She’d never thought. She’d just assumed.

  Logan grabbed her hand. “Sit.”

  The deli’s few other patrons glanced over at them. Only her fear of attracting more attention kept her from running. She sat slowly down.

  Logan smiled. Damn his smile that could melt her bones a mile away.

  He reached out to skim his finger over her lips. “Does it bother you that I might be married?”

  “I couldn’t care less.”

  His eyes lit. “Liar. But don’t worry. I’m not married. Never been married. I was just teasing you. You’ve always been so easy to tease. I couldn’t resist.”

  Relief flooded her. She squashed the urge to smile. But she wouldn’t let him off too easily. “I knew you were teasing,” she said, standing. Head high, she walked away.

  Laughing softly, Logan followed her out of the deli.

  * * * *

  “Damn it, Tanner. You’re supposed to be one of the best in the business. And I’m paying you a truckload of money. I want results.”

  Logan sat at the small conference table and watched Dan Callahan pace the spacious room like a caged lion, impatience and frustration on his rugged features.

  “You know I’m the best in the business,” Logan said as calmly as he could. He knew enough about Callahan to know the man was as much bluster as action. “I’ve been on this assignment less than a month. I’ve made progress. Things would have gone a little easier if you’d been upfront with me.”

  Callahan whirled to face him. “What do you mean by that?”

  “James’s gambling problem,” Logan said.

  Dan waved his hand. “Oh, that. I’d forgotten all about it. Bryce is rehabilitated. All that happened a long time ago. No need to bring it up again.”

  Some of the air had gone out of Callahan’s bravado. He sat on the wide windowsill and faced Logan. Behind him the muted Philadelphia skyline jutted through the gray sky, a shrouded contrast to the pale sunlight earlier in the day when he and Doriana had lunch at the small deli. Logan brushed away the image of Doriana. He had trouble enough with her father.

  Tamping down his annoyance with the older man, Logan said, “You can’t decide what’s important and not important. Leave that to me.”

  “You accuse Bryce of stealing from me,” Callahan said. “He wouldn’t do that.”

  “You can’t tell what people will do if pushed,” Logan said. “I’ve pretty much ruled out the others who have access to the bids. But I’ll delve into their backgrounds a little more.” His gaze held Callahan’s. “Bryce James might have an incentive for needing money. Gambling debts or maybe a woman.”

  Sadness passed over Dan’s features. “You’re sure he has a mistress?”

  “Positive.” Logan leaned forward. “But something bothers me about this whole thing. James is almost too convenient.”

  “I agree,” Callahan said. “Bryce’s betrayal would hurt more than anyone’s, other than Doriana or Franco.”

  “We need to set a trap,” Logan said. “We catch James or prove his innocence. You never know what a trap might snare.”

  “What do you have in mind?” Callahan asked.

  “Do you have any jobs coming up for bid?”

  Callahan nodded. “The Devlin project.”

  “How about two bids,” Logan said. “A fake bid Bryce knows and the real bid that only you know. If the fake bid is leaked, we’ve got our man.”

  Dan massaged his temples. He looked haggard. Pity for the older man settled over Logan. Callahan carried a lot of responsibility on his broad shoulders.

  “It won’t be easy,” Callahan said. “Three other people besides Bryce and me are privy to the bids.”

  Logan nodded and glanced at the clock. “See what you can do. I’d better get back. Doriana thinks you wanted to see me about the fire at the site. I don’t want her suspicious.” He stood and began gathering papers. A thought that had been gnawing at the back of his mind made him stop.

&n
bsp; “Callahan, did you start this business alone or with a partner?”

  Dan slid off the windowsill with a questioning look. “Why do you ask?”

  “I read as much as I could on your background before I started this assignment,” Logan said. “One obscure article mentioned a partner. I’d forgotten until now.”

  Dan shrugged. “I started with someone, but he didn’t have the heart for it. A little lazy. I bought him out long before the company took off.”

  “What happened to him?”

  “Sad story,” Callahan said, shaking his head. “Turned to alcohol. He’s dead. Died broke.”

  Memories wrenched Logan. He knew what alcohol could do to a man, to a family. His own father could be broke and living on the streets. Or dead. He didn’t want to care, but a small part of him did. He shoved aside the painful memories.

  “What was your partner’s name?” he asked.

  Callahan frowned. “Chuck Rove.”

  “Does he have family in the area?”

  “Wife and son. Lived in Delaware County last I heard.”

  Logan stuffed papers into his briefcase. “I’ll run a check on Rove’s family. Seems like a long shot, but you never know.”

  Logan slipped into his office and put his briefcase under the desk. Doriana’s door was partially open. He tapped lightly on it before opening it all the way and stepping into her office.

  She looked up. Awareness warmed her deep chocolate eyes before a professional mask settled over her fine-boned features. Sadness for what might have been threatened his composure. He straightened and plastered a smile on his face. He’d been dwelling too damn much on the past lately.

  “Just wanted you to know I’m back.”

  She nodded. “That took a little longer than I thought.”

  “You know your father. He likes to talk.”

  She lifted one beautiful black brow. “Apparently he likes talking to you.”

  “Am I interrupting anything?”

  The deep voice, laced with humor, came from behind Logan. He turned quickly.

  Franco stood in the doorway, his arm around the waist of a curvaceous blonde who towered over him by about six inches. The woman’s green gaze raked Logan like a cobra looking at dinner. Where did Franco get these women?

  He heard Doriana’s breath hitch. “What do you want, Franco? Can’t you see we’re busy?” she asked.

  Franco lips quirked in a leer. Logan held himself rigid, hands curled at his sides. He’d sure like a go at wiping that smirk off Franco’s face.

  “Busy?” Franco said. “Is that what you call it?”

  Doriana stood up and walked to the front of her desk. “If you came here to foist another job on me, forget it.”

  Franco made an attempt to look offended. “You’ll give Linda a bad image of me.”

  “Linda?” Doriana glanced at Franco’s latest piece of arm candy. How did she keep track of Franco’s women? Logan wondered.

  Franco walked into the office, his arm still around Linda. “Doriana, Logan, this is Linda.” Franco squeezed Linda’s waist.

  “Nice to meet you both,” Linda said in a sultry voice. She stared at Logan and ignored Doriana.

  “What do you want, Franco?” Doriana asked.

  “I don’t want anything, sis. I came to thank you for helping with the Tremont report.”

  Doriana coughed. “You want to thank me?”

  “Sure.” Franco threw her a charming smile that made Logan want to gag.

  She rolled her eyes. “Spare me.”

  Franco reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out two tickets, and handed them to Doriana. “For the Flyers game tonight. Luxury suite. You’ve got to share it with a couple of contractors, but they’re good guys.”

  He rubbed his hand down the blonde’s arm. “You and I have other plans, don’t we, baby?”

  Linda giggled. Doriana and Logan exchanged looks.

  “I’ve got a lot of work to do,” Doriana said. “I can’t take time for a hockey game.”

  “Screw the work,” Franco said. “Take Josh. He’ll love it.”

  “Josh can’t make it.” Doriana’s hands holding the tickets shook.

  Franco shrugged. “Those are good tickets. Hate to see them wasted.” He looked over at Logan. “Take Logan. He helped you with the report. But don’t tell Josh you took someone else to see the Flyers.”

  “We’ll work out something,” she said. “I’m busy now.” She grabbed papers from her desk, ignoring Franco.

  “Enjoy the game,” Franco said.

  Consumed by jealousy at the mention of Josh’s name, Logan barely noticed the sound of the office door closing.

  “Take the tickets, Logan,” Doriana said.

  He turned to her. She looked pale and scared. Scared of what? Her face had drained of color when Franco mentioned Josh. What hold did this Josh guy have on her? Pride stiffened Logan’s spine. To hell with Josh, whoever he was. “I’ll only take them if we go to the game together.”

  She jerked her head up. “Together? We can’t. My son. Can’t leave him.”

  “We’ll take him with us,” Logan said. “Kids love hockey.”

  Her face got even paler.

  Logan moved closer and touched her chin with his fingers, tilting her face toward his. “Don’t trust yourself alone with me?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” she said, pulling free.

  “Then get a sitter and come to the game with me. You deserve a night out.”

  They stared at each other. The apprehension in her eyes softened to an awareness that made his groin tighten. She shrugged. “I guess one hockey game can’t hurt.”

  ~~~~

  CHAPTER TEN

  “Go, Flyers!” Doriana screamed and jumped up. Her knees hit the table in front of her, tipping the bucket of popcorn and spilling kernels onto the floor. Beer from the glass she held sloshed down her jeans. Beside her, Logan was also on his feet, shouting for the Flyers to score.

  The Flyers’ puck slid into the other team’s net. Logan grabbed Doriana in a crushing hug. More beer splashed.

  “My drink,” Doriana said, laughing.

  “Can’t have you wasting good beer.” Logan took the glass from her and placed it on the table. The luxury suite at the Wachovia Center had plush seats, tables, a bar and even a hostess to serve them.

  Doriana, held in the circle of Logan’s arms, smiled up at him. She hadn’t had this much fun since...the last time she was with Logan.

  “Logan, you’re...” She looked into his eyes and the words dried in her throat.

  “I’m what?”

  “Too much,” she whispered.

  “Really?” His sexy grin could melt the ice on the rink. “Is this too much?” He bent his head and captured her lips in a kiss that promised much, much more.

  He tasted like beer and popcorn and magical nights. She wanted to devour him. The cheering of the crowd and the loud music faded in the passion of Logan’s kiss.

  “We are at a hockey game, you two.”

  The laughter and good-natured jibes from the others in the suite cooled Doriana’s ardor like chunks of ice hitting her. She pulled out of Logan’s arms.

  Smoothing her hands down the sides of her jeans, Doriana turned to the three middle-aged men who stood at the bar smiling at them. Lost in Logan’s feel and taste, she’d momentarily forgotten the others who shared the luxury box with them.

  The trio, contractors she knew slightly from business dealings, had started out merely cheerful a few hours ago and were now very drunk. She and Logan had become fast friends with the men in a short time. What was happening to her? Drinking and joking with business associates. Kissing Logan in front of them.

  Her professionalism vaporized like steam whenever she was with Logan. She should feel embarrassed, but she just felt…free.

  “I guess I got caught up in the moment,” she said to the smiling men.

  Logan leaned closer to whisper in her ear. “You can get caught up like tha
t any time.”

  “Stop it,” she whispered back. He laughed.

  The game over, Doriana and Logan threaded their way through the crowd to the parking lot. Doriana sighed. The Flyers win had capped off a perfect evening. And it was perfect. She couldn’t deny that. For a few hours tonight, she’d been able to forget all her problems and pretend she was young and carefree and desperately in love with Logan. In love with Logan? It could happen again. A knot of fear constricted her chest. She couldn’t open her heart to that kind of pain a second time.

  When Logan pulled his Jeep in front of her house much later, regret wound its way through Doriana’s heart. Back to the real world with its problems and fears.

  “Doriana, are you okay? You’re so quiet.” Logan’s voice, husky and thick, filled her with a longing that threatened to melt her right into his arms.

  She forced a smile and reached for the door handle. “I’m fine. Just tired. I really had a good time tonight. But I’d better go. We’ve got a heavy workload tomorrow.” She needed to get out of the car before she did something stupid, like kiss him.

  “I’ll walk you to your door,” he said.

  “I’ll be okay.”

  “I will walk you to your door. I want you safely in the house.”

  Apprehension traveled up her spine. What if Josh opened the door?

  She hopped out of the Jeep and hurried up the stairs, Logan close behind. She pushed her key into the lock. Please, God, let Josh be asleep.

  “I’ll see you at work,” she said with a quick glance at Logan. She unlocked the door with a shaking hand.

  “Doriana.” Logan turned her toward him and took her face between his calloused hands.

  Her whole body thrummed with awareness. Unable to stop herself, she reached out to touch his high cheekbones. She’d always adored his face, the curves, valleys and ruggedness that gave him a dangerous air. The danger was still there and more potent than ever.

  He dipped his head. She lifted her face, on fire for his kiss.

  The blast of heavy metal music from inside her house yanked her back to reality. Josh! She pulled away from Logan, losing her balance. He held onto her arms, steadying her.