“Yes, your damn butt should be kicked to Dallas and back! These men are hurt. They are your men, your friends, hurt by you, and yet you would not let me help them? When they bleed to death … are you still going to blame the Daltons, or are you going to lie awake at night realizing you are all to blame because you refused any medical team to assist them?”
She got angrier by the moment since she noticed the emergency services were held off at the gate leading to this area.
The red head rubbed his neck and scuffed his boots in the ground. His voice was softer and more controlled.
“We just wanted to get their attention. We did not want to hurt anyone. Some of the younger guys got a bit excited.”
“Ever thought of just asking for a meeting to sort out whatever issues you have?”
“We did yesterday afternoon! We want to talk to Logan. He listens and always takes our suggestions into consideration, but since his father took over this plant, everything has gone to hell! Especially this last week! We’re not bloody sheep!” He got angrier and his voice rose, and the discontent mounted in the group behind them again.
She felt hard hands fold over her shoulders. Logan turned her towards the hurt man and faced the angry mob. He looked at Red and shook his head.
“I expected more from you, Red. You know better, how could you have allowed this get out of control?”
“Sorry, Logan. We just got so frustrated. Jonathan … well I respect your father, but this past week, he treated some of the guys … well bad.”
“I am here now, so let’s go to the office and talk. But first, let the emergency team in to look after these mates of yours.”
He nodded and shouted instructions and everyone scattered to obey. Logan searched for Madison and watched in amazement as she efficiently cleaned the wound and took out a syringe. The next thing he knew, she was stitching up the gaping wound on the temple of the injured man. He shook his head and called Shane over.
“Keep an eye on her. I’d like you to chat to Larry’s team and see if you can find out who started the violence. This was more than just excitement getting out of hand. It was planned, and I want to know how serious of a threat this can turn into.”
Shane nodded and started chatting with some of the men. They were well liked by all their staff and it was easy to get them to talk. He kept an eye on Madison and smiled when he thought of her spunk. The three of them stood watching with their jaws slack when she stood up to the mountain sized man, Red Schultz.
The cap on her head had disappeared a while ago and he only noticed now that her face was free of any make up. She was just as beautiful as when they saw her in town. He grinned, thinking of how she sassed Logan. He was used to women falling at his feet, flattering their lashes in sweet innocence, wanting to be pampered and acted the way they thought he wanted them to. Little did they realize, he just didn’t care. To him they were there for release when he needed it. He never had to work to get any attention from females; rather they fell over their feet for his favors. Maybe she was the one that could get past the iron shield, he casted around his heart when he was still a little boy.
Chapter Three
“Dad, you do realize what led to triggering this incident in the first place?”
Logan stood staring out of the window into the darkness, his back to the room. They were in Jonathan’s luxurious office. Shane and his father sat on the comfortable couches behind him. He heard his father sigh and turned around to watch him run his hand through his silver hair.
“Yeah, I know and I am sorry.”
“I am not the one you should apologize to.”
“I know that too, Logan! I am not daft.”
His amber colored eyes flashed at Logan. He shook his head and a small smile hesitated on his lips.
“Where are the days when you were scared of me? You have become a real force to reckon with, even for me.”
Logan did not return the smile. He knew what type of man he was, ruthless and merciless some said; others hard and cold and then those that saw him as loyal and fierce. To date, there has been none who called him caring, loving and tender. His mouth tightened in an even thinner line. There probably never would be. The same hate that drove his father the past week, was what drove him to become the man he was today; from the day of his tenth birthday.
The very day his mother packed her bags and left them. He did not start to hate immediately. It took another two years of praying and wishing for her return, before he realized she really did not care. She never phoned, she never asked to see them; she just left them with Jonathan Dalton, who became hard, uncaring and ruthless.
Logan grew up very quickly. He became the mother of the house. He protected his brother that was three years younger than him, especially during the times his father took to the bottle to try and forget the deceit of his one true love. Logan shook his head to clear his mind. After clearing the air with Red and the team he realized with a start that for once in twenty five years, he did not brood over his mother and how she left on his tenth birthday. His thoughts the whole of yesterday was filled with a sexy long legged wildcat.
He sighed and copied his Dad’s gesture and ran his hands through his short cropped hair.
“It has been twenty five years, Dad. Maybe, it’s time to let it go.”
Shane held his breath and looked at Logan in shock. He knew how much he hated their mother, perhaps even more than their father did. He had to grow up and become the adult in their household at the age of ten. When their mother left, Jonathan became a shell of the man he used to be and put all his energy in his work. He left the boys to their own defenses more often than not. Logan became his father, his mother … his protector. He did not have a youth or even the carefree life someone of their financial means usually had. Not like he made sure Shane had. His head swung to his father and his eyes widened when he saw the defeated look in his eyes.
“Maybe we should have let it go years ago. I am sorry boys. My bitterness against your mother has made your lives hell, especially yours Logan and for that I am sorry. You have not had a proper birthday in twenty five years and it is entirely my fault. I fed your hate with my actions. You closed your heart against all love and feelings, something that should never have happened. I only came to that realization this week and that is why … why I have been so … argh dammit!”
He looked at his eldest son with torture in his eyes. “I am so sorry, my boy. You had to take a whole household on your shoulders from your tenth year. I was lost and so full of hate that I did not see what I was doing to you. But you are right, it is time to let it go, starting right here and now. I know it is a day late, but tonight we are going out to town and celebrate your birthday properly.”
Shane jumped up from the couch and slapped Logan on his back. “I’m in! Come on, big bro, what do you say?”
Logan saw the regret in his father’s eyes and he nodded. “Why the hell not!” He returned his father’s relieved smile.
“Where shall we go? We are not limited to Dallas … we have us a pilot now.” Shane stood rubbing his hands.
Jonathan’s eyes widened when he noticed the look of possessiveness that flashed in Logan’s eyes at Shane’s words and he smiled. His son has found his future, the one that could defrost the ice around his heart! He just didn’t realize it yet.
“The little spitfire outside is your new pilot, Logan?”
He nodded and Shane smiled broadly at the warning glare he got from him.
“A female? You appointed a female pilot?”
“Shane did.”
“Hmm … and you allowed her to stay?”
“I allowed Shane a respite to give her a chance. It is too soon for a verdict”
A slight movement by the door drew their attention and Logan’s breath caught when his Wildcat walked in. He realized for the first time she wore no make-up and was just as beautiful as when he saw her in the Bistro. The now familiar tightening in his groin intensified.
�
��Am I interrupting?” Her eyes locked on Logan.
“Of course not.” Shane walked closer and took her by the elbow and led her to his father.
“Dad, this is Madison Phillips, Logan’s pilot, Madison, our Dad, Jonathan.”
They shook hands and Jonathan was impressed with her strong handshake and how she unflinchingly returned his direct look.
“I want to thank you for assisting the hurt people out there and your quick, albeit reckless stance against that rowdy bunch. You even stitched some wounds … that are more than what first aiders normally are capable of doing?”
“American Airlines embarked on additional development for their staff and safeguarding passengers at the same time. I volunteered to qualify as a Medic.” She shrugged.
“Impressive, but not something normally done in a year or so?”
“I’ve been told I have an above average IQ. I just wanted to tell you all the injured people have been seen to. Is there anything else you require from me, sir?” She turned her attention to Logan and he grinned.
“Sir? Don’t you think we moved past that, Wildcat?”
She blushed and glanced at his father who watched the interlude with interest. She glared back at him and his grin widened.
“That was before I realized you are my new employer.”
“So, you are a fickle woman after all?”
Her glare turned him to cinder. “What do you mean?”
“It seems you changed your mind. You made it very clear earlier that you were not taking the job and why.”
Her face flushed a deep red and her eyes glittered warningly. “Mr. Dalton, you are being deliberately obtuse. You know exactly why I said what I did.”
“This sounds like a very interesting discussion. Care to enlighten me, son, so I also understand the hidden meaning here?”
Logan ignored his father and kept his burning eyes on Madison. Jonathan turned a questioning look at Shane, who only shrugged.
“Sorry Dad, at this point both of them is likely to clobber me over the head if I said anything.”
“That is a pity. Are you sure you won’t reconsider?” Logan asked softly.
“No. I’ll wait at the chopper. Evening, Sir.” She nodded at Jonathan and escaped out the door.
All three men stood watching her leave. Jonathan was the first to come out of the trance. He lifted his eyebrows and turned to his sons.
“Well … she is quite a beauty, I must say. If I was twenty years younger …”
Anger flashed in Logan’s eyes and Jonathan laughed. Shane was too shocked to laugh. He shook his head and stared at his brother.
“Hell … you really have it bad, don’t you? Getting angry at a simple joke! I never thought to see the day!”
“Don’t be silly, little bro. As soon as she has scratched the itch … I’ll move on to the next one.”
“ITCH! You atrocious jerk! You … you … hormone … no, testosterone enriched asshole! Listen and listen well, Logan Dalton. I. Will. Never. Scratch. Your. ITCH!”
She swung around amidst his laughter in her ear and she screeched loudly in anger as she stormed down the passage. Before she slammed outside, she recalled the reason she went back there. Thankful now she did. At least now she knew for a fact what he wanted from her. She sighed and turned around back to the office, thumping her boots loudly as she neared the door. The murmuring inside stopped. Three pairs of eyes met hers the minute she walked through the door.
Logan thought he has never seen something as enticing, and full of fire as her. He wanted her with a desire and burning passion he never felt before in his life.
“Sir, Red asked that you please come outside. They want to apologize to you personally.” She spoke directly to Jonathan and spun around and stomped outside again.
Shane and Logan started to follow her.
“Boys. I … I am going to look for your mother.”
Logan froze. His heart beat a mile a minute and he struggled to breathe. He turned very slowly to face his father. His face turned to stone.
“Why?”
“As you said, it is time to forget. Biggest part of that is for me to forgive your mother. For you, Logan, to forgive me.”
“What do you mean?”
Jonathan shook his head, his eyes veiled. “For being blind to how my actions affected how you see women and relationships today.”
“Do you know where she is?” Logan chose not to respond to his statement.
“No.”
“I do.”
Both of them turned to Shane where he still stood in the doorway. His smile nearly wrapped all the way around his face.
“She is in Florida.”
“How do you know?”
Shane returned their stares and swallowed at the lump in his throat. It has been very difficult for him to keep it from them over the years. That he has been visiting her for the past five years, since he found her.
“I started looking for her when I turned twenty one. I found her eight years ago. Since then we have been in contact and I have been to visit her a few times as well.”
“What … how is she?” Jonathan’s voice was strained.
“She is fine and hea …”
“Let’s go. It has been a trying morning and I’d like to get home and take a shower.” Logan interrupted shortly and stalked outside.
Shane looked at his father. “Give him time Dad. His hate runs very deep. Even though he is the one that said it is time to let it go. Coming face to face with her is not part of that.”
Madison was instructed to have the private plane ready for them at their private airstrip at the Meacham International Airport at five o’clock to fly them to Las Vegas. Logan owned two private planes, a Bombardier Global Express XRS Jet that seated nineteen people and a Boeing BBJ that seated sixty three people. Both were kept in the private hangar they owned at the airport.
She overheard the discussion so she knew they were going to celebrate Logan’s birthday. Her heart was in a quandary. Compassion on the one side for the little boy deserted and who clearly had to take on responsibilities no one at that age should be expected to. Fury on the other for indicating she was only good enough to scratch his … itch! That more than anything cooled her ardor for him. There was no way she was becoming another notch on his damn bedpost!”
“How many passengers do I log, sir?”
“Ten … eleven, including you. Make sure you take a party dress with.”
“What time should I log the return flight for?”
“Hmm … what do you think, Wildcat? One, two in the morning?”
“I’m sure I don’t know your partying habits, sir.”
He chuckled. She was entertaining. Her panties were still in a knot about what she overheard earlier at Keller.
“Let’s make it around one am.”
“Very well, sir.”
She abruptly cut the connection and he smiled at her audacity. He looked forward to taming his wildcat! He startled, realizing his possessiveness towards her for the first time. He has been calling her his wildcat since he saw her in the Bistro. His smile broadened. Yes, she would be his and somehow he knew a few romps between the sheets would not be enough for him. He wanted her too much and his lust would not be expunged that easily.
Madison seethed. Plain and simple, that man was a … jerk … a snake …a rake … a libertine! If he thought for one moment she was going to join his party to look on whilst he seduced some socialite, he was in for a surprise. She might have to be on call twenty four seven, but nowhere in her contract was she expected to join him for anything else, except to pilot his goddamn expensive and top of the range planes and choppers!
Her eyes narrowed. She knew he wanted her. He made no effort to hide the desire and lust for her when he looked at her. He could have had her, easily, because she has never wanted a man as much as she did him. That was until he admitted it would only be to scratch his itch!
A slow smile curved on her lips. Well, two could p
lay that game! She walked to her room and pulled out her formal black and gold pilot uniform. She discarded the slacks and took the tight skirt from the hanger, which she normally used to wear to formal Airline Customer functions. Before she could change her mind, she took the scissors out of the drawer and promptly turned the below knee length skirt to a short … ehm … make that indecently short … mini skirt!
She flew to the Airport with the chopper, in case they wanted to go back to the ranch after. Her heart beat radically inside her chest. She glanced towards her naked legs and winced when she noticed the mini skirt was so short, it pulled all the way up when she sat and just … only just … covered her crotch in the front.
The interior of the Bombardier Jet was luxurious beyond belief and she shook her head. She would never have associated Logan Dalton … any of the Dalton’s really to flaunt their wealth this way. On the other hand, it was designed for comfort and work at the same time. The seats were big and made to offer comfort over long flights. The back corner of the plane was converted into a mini office with all the gadgets one would need to conduct business in the air.
Two minutes before five she took stance just outside the door at the top of the stairs, her hair severely pulled back and pinned up beneath her formal pilot’s hat. Her face was perfectly made up and she had a broad smile on her face. Two luxurious SUV’s pulled up behind Logan’s black Bentley. Her eyes narrowed when she noticed the blond in the seat beside him, then she smiled when he looked in her direction as he exited the car and froze. His eyes moved slowly over her naked legs and the high heeled pumps on her feet.
Logan cursed and looked towards Shane and some of their friend they invited to join the party. All the males’ eyes were drawn to the beauty on the plane. He rushed around his car to open and assist Candy from the car, hardly noticing her arm gripping his tight against her breast. She literally had to run to keep up with him as he started towards the plane.
“Jeez, Logan buddy, you really know how to pick them! Why are there never such gorgeous air hostesses on the commercial flights?”
“Yip … quite scrumptious. Is she attached, Shane? I’d like to get to know her better!”
The Wildcat that Tamed the Tycoon Page 3
