“Until now.” Logan frowned.
“And maybe that’s a good thing,” Adele said pointedly. “This whole thing proves that you aren’t as slick as you think you are, sneaking around.”
“Oh, I think it proves a lot more than that,” Jace said.
“And what’s that?” Logan asked.
“What Proctor did was a dick move, there are no doubts about that. But your reaction was… intense. Sure, you might’ve gotten in his face if he’d insulted any woman, but I thought you were about to shove his head through the wall. And maybe it’s because I know you more than most, but the look on your face was not one of a man who ‘doesn’t know what it is’ when it comes to the woman he’s currently seeing.” Jace’s statement came complete with air quotes and a pitying shake of the head.
“How about the two of you not worry about it? Look, it’s the perfect situation. She can’t be in a public relationship with me and I hate having my private life in the public eye. It’s working.”
Or at least it had been.
“Hmmm,” Adele hummed as she studied her brother. “I’m going to need more evidence.”
“Well, good luck collecting it,” he said, tipping his beer bottle to her before he took a sip. He wasn’t able to spend any time with Abby lately, so he didn’t know how Adele was going to get any information on the situation. “So what was the second question?”
“Jace said you went somewhere with her?”
“Yeah.” He nodded slowly, putting his bottle back on the table. “A friend of Abby’s is a teacher over in Mirabelle, Florida. One of her students has cancer. He’s seventeen years old and just had a tumor removed from his brain. Should make a full recovery, but he was having some difficulty with the chemo.”
Some of the harshness left Adele’s face as she looked at her brother. “How was that?”
“I’ve done easier things.” Logan looked down to his dinner to scoop up another bite and he caught a glimpse of Jace’s now somber face.
Jace was the only one on the team who knew about Madison. On the fifth anniversary of her death, Logan had been at the bar in whatever hotel the Stampede was staying. He didn’t even remember; that time of year he tended to function on autopilot.
Jace had joined him when he was a couple of drinks in, and somewhere along the way the story had slipped out.
It wasn’t that Logan had kept his daughter a secret because he was ashamed of her. Not in any way, shape, or form was that the case. From the second she was born he’d been hell bent on protecting her. She’d already had a crap mother. Cassidy had been in and out of Madison’s life, showing up whenever she felt like it and leaving just as quickly. So he’d been bound and determined to do everything in his power to shelter his daughter from anything else.
Turns out, there were some things that were impossible to shelter her from.
As Madison had Cassidy’s last name—something that Cassidy had done to spite him—no one had made the connection that her father was the now famous hockey player Logan James. Besides, that was before Logan had been anything really notable on the ice.
After college, Logan spent two years in the minor leagues where pretty much no one was paying attention to him. Life had been a lot simpler then, and he’d been happy.
He forgot what that was like.
It was a year after Madison’s death when he was drafted to the majors. He played for the Detroit Redwings for two years, the first of which he spent more time on the bench than anyone else on the team. Then he’d been off to Florida where it was another couple of years before his career had taken off and his name started to show up on a regular basis in the wide world of sports news.
A close group of friends, both from college and when he was in the minors, had obviously known about Madison. But as they were close, they obviously respected his privacy and his wishes. So she wasn’t a story that the press knew to look for. And he hoped it stayed that way.
So yeah, it wasn’t about keeping his daughter a secret, it was more that her memory was sacred. Something he kept close at all times. She wasn’t a story to be exploited, or talked about. She was to be cherished, and that was something strangers couldn’t do.
No, only those who knew her could do it. Those who loved her.
The table around Logan was quiet for entirely too long, and the silence made him twitchy. He cleared his throat before he looked up, his eyes landing on his sister first. He knew she was tempted to reach over and touch his hand, but he was glad she refrained.
Adele knew that being around a kid with cancer was bound to remind Logan of Madison, and whenever it came to things with his daughter he was too raw. That was something he didn’t want to deal with at the moment. And after spending his evenings over the last two weeks alone, he’d been particularly vulnerable.
Logan had long since been used to nights where he’d fall asleep on his sofa with the TV running and an empty glass of scotch balanced on his knee. But things were better when he’d been seeing Abby on a regular basis, when he’d spent evenings with her feet in his lap while they sat outside on his back porch. When they ordered room service in the hotel rooms and ate breakfast wrapped in bathrobes after they showered together, when he got to feel her against him… she made everything better.
That bottomless sadness that he was always fighting hadn’t reared its ugly head. No, it had been kept at bay, pushed to a place where there wasn’t that constant dull ache. He’d also been without those days where it was a blinding stabbing pain.
Better. Abby just made things better. And this whole not getting to see her wasn’t working for him.
Not in the slightest.
Chapter Seven
An Evening of Surprises
Abby had been running around like a crazy person for the last hour working on the final touches for the St. Ignatius charity dinner. When she finally walked into the ballroom of the Brogan-Meyers Hotel, it was packed with men in suits and women in designer gowns.
“Champagne?” a waiter asked, coming up next to her.
“Thank you.” She smiled, nodding at him as she grabbed a glass from the tray.
She took a sip, letting the cold bubbles trickle down her throat. She closed her eyes in pleasure and took just a moment to enjoy what she knew was a very expensive bottle.
But when she opened her eyes, her moment of pleasure was gone.
Logan was standing on the other side of the room with a stunning brunette. The woman was wearing a gorgeous cream flapper dress, the delicate fringe hitting her just above the knees of her long legs. Two strands of pearls hung from her neck, satin gloves up to her elbows, and her hair pulled back with a rather elaborate headpiece.
It could have looked costumey, but she pulled it off in spades.
One of Logan’s arms was wrapped around her waist and he was laughing as she leaned against him and whispered something in his ear. Then she moved her mouth and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.
The jealousy that bubbled in Abby’s belly had nothing, nothing, to do with the champagne.
He came with a date? He came with a fucking date?
Okay, yes they’d had an argument, they’d been cooling things down over the last couple of weeks, but she didn’t think that they’d broken up.
Broken up?
Was it even at that point? They’d never talked about being exclusive or discussed anything about their “relationship.” The only thing they’d discussed was exploring wherever “things” would go.
Apparently he was done exploring. He’d just forgotten to tell her.
She wasn’t even remotely prepared for the sinking disappointment that hit her, and that combined with the jealousy that was coursing through her was potent.
But she refused to be hurt by him. Refused.
She tipped the glass back and took a mouthful of champagne before she turned away. But she wasn’t going to be given even a minute to collect herself. Rodger Dingle was making his way over to her, that smarmy smile of his that she d
espised so much leading the way.
“D.C., I see you’re pulling out all the stops tonight.” His eyes moved up and down her body, taking in her red dress.
It was formfitting, clinging to all of her curves and stopping just short of her knees. The top was a halter and showed just a hint of cleavage. It was sexy no doubt, but in no way immodest. Though she was now immediately regretting her decision to wear it, and not because of the way Dingle was looking at her.
No, she regretted it because she’d specifically chosen it for Logan. He liked her in red, and she thought it would be a nice first step in attempting to smooth things over with him.
Well, hadn’t she been spectacularly wrong?
“I always pull out all the stops. I guess you aren’t familiar with what that looks like.”
His eyes narrowed on her and he took a step forward, dipping his head down close to her ear. “I think that your reign as the golden child is going to run out very soon,” he whispered before he moved off.
Well, tonight was already off to a fantastic start. But she refused to let any of these jerks get to her. Refused. She’d worked too damn hard for this night, had started working on it almost immediately after she’d been hired. This event was for an amazing cause, something much bigger than an ended fling or a bitter co-worker.
She took a deep breath before she finished off the last of her champagne, determined to get her head back in it… and her heart?
Well, who the hell cared about that?
* * *
Logan had noticed Abby the second she’d walked into the room, and he was doing everything in his power to not openly stare at her. The dress she was wearing looked like it had been painted on, and his fingers itched to peel her out of it.
Her auburn hair was curled and hanging down around her shoulders, and she was wearing a pair of black heels that he would be dreaming about for the rest of his life.
“So that’s her?” Adele asked as they sat down at the dinner table.
He had been beyond surprised to find Adele here when he walked into the ballroom tonight. He wasn’t at all prepared for her presence. Apparently the cast and crew of Ponce had all been invited to the event, something Adele had conveniently left out of every conversation over the last few weeks.
She hadn’t wanted Logan to know she was coming, the element of surprise and all. He was pretty sure it was a reconnaissance mission now more than anything else. He knew his sister, and she was eager to figure out what was going on with him and Abby.
Well, she wasn’t the only one.
“Yeah.” He nodded, pulling his gaze from Abby.
“She’s beautiful.”
“She’s a lot of things, and her beauty isn’t even half of it.”
Adele’s eyes went wide and her mouth split into a grin. “Well, that’s high praise from you.”
“It’s the truth.” His eyes moved back in the direction he’d seen her last, landing on her in an instant.
God he missed her. They were going to get this whole thing resolved tonight. He wasn’t going to let this problem with Proctor keep him from what he wanted for another fucking night.
Though, that wasn’t something he could take care of at the moment. She was talking to Willis Fisher, the owner of the team, and two other men in tuxes. Logan liked Fisher all right, or at least he thought he did. Because a second later he was restraining himself from jumping out of his seat and pulling Abby away from the group of men.
Abby’s assistant Brooke came up to the group and as Abby excused herself to step aside, the other men all took the opportunity to check both women out as they walked out of the ballroom.
It was the first time the word mine had ever sounded in Logan’s head loud and clear when it came to a woman.
There was a certainty to it that he knew all too well. It was the gut feeling he got whenever he was on the ice. When instinct ruled all and everything else went by the wayside.
He’d had it when it came to Madison and her diagnosis. So many doctors hadn’t been able to figure out what was wrong with her. But he’d known that his daughter was sick and he hadn’t rested until they’d figured it out.
He’d never run from his instincts before. Never went in the opposite direction when his gut was screaming at him to take action.
And he wasn’t going to now, either.
That was what had him standing up. That was what had him walking out the doors and looking for Abby.
* * *
The chair on the board of directors for St. Ignatius had wanted a quick word with Abby before dinner started. Over the last few months, Gemma Faro had been nothing but pleasant. That wasn’t to say she wasn’t very direct, though, and not even remotely timid about voicing her opinion.
As Abby herself was on the assertive side, she found a kindred spirit in Gemma. They’d been able to work out the details for the whole event, maybe not with ease, but they’d agreed on most decisions and compromised on the rest.
At first sight this evening, Abby thought Gemma might be a cast member from Ponce. The woman never looked her fifty-six years, more like thirty-six, but tonight she was especially stunning. She’d let her black hair down, and that combined with how she filled out that shimmering black dress was a rather lethal combination. It was definitely different not seeing her in business clothes.
Though the same could be said for Abby. In fact, Logan had said the exact same thing the night they’d spent in Mirabelle, right before he’d stripped her out of her jeans.
Well that was something she didn’t need to be thinking about.
He’d moved on. And she would, too.
The pang in her belly was more than a little staggering and she had to take a deep breath to get past it. She was probably just hungry.
Yup, that was what it was.
“Brooke is keeping an eye on the auction.” Abby turned to indicate her assistant who was standing next to her; it was the only way she could stop herself from giving Gemma a beyond forced smile in that moment.
“People are bidding left and right. The sheets are filling up with names,” Brooke said as she practically bounced on her sparkly pink heels.
It was a feat to be sure to pull off the shoes and that long platinum blonde hair of hers and not look like Barbie. But Brooke’s long-sleeved, off-the-shoulder, navy blue dress somehow toned down the glitz and made her look elegant.
The girl was beautiful to be sure, and Abby had a feeling that people were going to underestimate her. She was fresh out of grad school and a little naive, but she had so much potential it was ridiculous. She also had the ability to babble like it was nobody’s business, but she was reining herself in tonight.
“Well, I should get in there and get my name on something I think,” Gemma said, raising her eyebrows.
Abby took a deep breath, steeling herself before she headed into that room… with him.
They were just outside the ballroom when Gemma was pulled aside by a rather dashing man in a tux. He had a thick beard and long hair that brushed the back of his jacket. The streaks of gray blended subtly among all of the ebony black. He slipped his hand into Gemma’s, lacing their fingers together.
“Abby, Brooke, this is my husband Dr. Alejandro Faro, head of oncology. Alejandro, this is Abby and her assistant Brooke.” Gemma beamed as she waved her free hand between the two of them.
Abby had heard a lot about Alejandro, she’d just never met him. Apparently, St. Ignatius didn’t have a no fraternization clause in their contracts. Lucky bastards.
Not that it mattered anymore.
Abby was pulled out of her bitterness when Alejandro reached forward and grabbed her hand. He bent his head as he kissed the back of it. “A pleasure. Gemma has told me all about you. The Stampede better be careful, otherwise I think she might steal you away for St. Ignatius.”
“It’s true.” Gemma nodded. “They better watch out.”
Brooke shot Abby a surprised look, but she was distracted—understandably so—a moment
later when Alejandro bent to kiss her hand in turn.
Movement out of the corner of Abby’s eye had her turning to the open doors of the ballroom. Logan came through them heading straight for her. There was a look of determination in his eyes that she’d never seen before.
Well, at least not directed at her.
“Sorry to interrupt, I was just hoping for a brief word with Ms. Fields before dinner starts.”
Ms. Fields? Was he freaking kidding her? But how the hell was she supposed to say no and not look unprofessional?
It took everything in her to straighten her shoulders and smile up at him. “Yes.” She nodded before she turned to Gemma, Alejandro, and Brooke.
She forced herself to keep that smile in place as she introduced Logan to the group.
“Oh, I know Mr. James,” Gemma beamed. “He’s been visiting the kids the last couple of weeks at the hospital with Mr. Kilpatrick and Mr. Fabian.”
“What?” Abby’s mouth dropped open.
“Yes. They were Batman, Robin, and Superman the first time. Then Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man the second time. Who will it be next, Mr. James?”
“I’m thinking the Hulk, Hawkeye, and Spider-Man. Jace thinks he can give the blue and red spandex suit justice.”
All sense and logic seemed to vacate Abby’s brain. Logan was dressing up as superheroes to visit sick kids in the hospital?
No, no, no. You are not allowed to find him sweet and sexy right now.
“Who did you dress up as?” Abby asked before she could stop herself.
“Batman and Captain America.” There was a gleam in his eye that should be illegal.
God, he was infuriating. Who was this man in front of her? She was beginning to think she had no idea. He was a complete and total ass one second, bringing a date to the event tonight without telling her that whatever they had was over, and then she finds out he’s been visiting sick kids in the hospital.
How the hell was she supposed to process this?
“A pleasure seeing you tonight, Gemma, and very nice to meet you, Alejandro,” Logan said before he nodded to Brooke. “Ms. Fields, if you’ll please?” He indicated the hallway behind them with his hand.
Undressed Page 7
