Logan's Redemption (29 page)

He collapsed against her. She welcomed the crush of his body. She couldn’t move. Her body ached in places she’d forgotten.

Logan’s breathing finally slowed. He rolled off her, pulling her into the protective curve of his arms. She rested her head against his chin. She wanted to stay locked in his embrace forever.

They lay in blissful silence until sounds from the outside world intruded. Children shouted and cars raced by on the street. Wishing the world would go away, Doriana snuggled closer to Logan. “Afternoon delight.”

“What?” He kissed her temple.

“Like the song,” she said. “Afternoon delight.”

He laughed softly. “You delight me any time of the day or night.”

“Do I?” She propped herself on her elbow to study him. “You’re beautiful. There’s never been anyone like you in all these years.”

Pain flashed in his eyes and he put a finger to her lips. “Don’t. I don’t want to think about you with other men. That’s in the past.”

“What’s in the future?”  The words slipped out.

He gave her a long look. “I don’t know.”

The mask had slipped over his eyes again. Logan hid something. They had no future if he wouldn’t trust her with the truth.

She shivered. He pulled her next to him and wrapped the covers around them. Her body felt satiated and spent. But her heart felt ready to break. She’d lied to herself. This one moment wasn’t enough. A lifetime with Logan wouldn’t be enough. If he walked away again, her heart would shatter.

* * * *

Pale shadows of late afternoon fingered the room. Doriana slept next to him, breathing softly. Logan held her tightly and stared at the ceiling. Soon he would have to wake her. They had to dress before Josh got home from school. Josh couldn’t find them like this. Logan tamped down the anger that threatened. He was Josh’s father. He shouldn’t have to hide his relationship with Doriana. For these next peaceful minutes he’d hold her and pretend that the hurt and lies of the past sixteen years didn’t stand between them. Doriana filled the emptiness in his soul and excited him like no other woman ever could. Fear vined around his heart. He’d loved her once. He’d hurt her. She’d hurt him too. In subtle ways she’d always shut him out of her world.

Did she care about him now, or was he still the rough kid from the bad neighborhood, exciting, but not someone she wanted in her life permanently? If he told her the truth, would she ask him to stay and be a father to Josh? But he’d never know if she accepted him for what he was or because his wealth made him part of her world.

He pulled her closer. He wasn’t being fair to her. But he had to know that she wanted him for himself. Logan closed his eyes against the old pain. He’d walked away from her once. The next time would destroy his soul.   

~~~~

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“Logan, did you hear what I said?”

Logan turned from the window in the penthouse office to face a perplexed-looking Callahan.

“I heard you. You and James worked on the final bid for Devlin. You submitted the bid and then you promptly replaced it with one that only you know. If another outfit submits a bid close to your original, you’ll know James sold it to them.”

Dan smiled, looking relieved. “Damn, you are good. I was worried there for a while. You spent so much time staring out that window I wasn’t sure you were still with me.”

“Don’t worry,” Logan said. “I’m with you.”

“You sure everything’s okay?”  Dan gave him a searching look.

Callahan would probably throw him through the window if he knew about him and Doriana. Logan’s body tightened thinking about their passionate lovemaking yesterday. She’d  trusted him enough to give her body to him. He wasn’t so sure about her heart. Did he and Doriana have a future or would all the lies, past and present, forever haunt them?  

“You look distracted,” Dan said.

“I’m fine. Just a little tired.”
And
distracted by your daughter
.

Dan gestured to a chair. “Sit down. We need to discuss our plan.”

Forcing himself to concentrate on the assignment, Logan sat across from Dan at the large conference table.

Dan adjusted his glasses and pulled papers out of the folder in front of him. He slid some papers to Logan. “That first sheet is the bid Bryce submitted, with my okay. The next piece is the replacement bid.”

Logan studied them. “Not much difference between the two,” he said, looking at Dan.

Dan nodded. “But just enough. Most bids are close for these types of jobs.”

“Let’s hope this flushes out the culprit,” Logan said.

Callahan steepled his fingers and stared toward the window. When he looked back at Logan, sadness shadowed his eyes. “I want to catch who’s doing this to me. But I don’t want it to be Bryce.”

“I know,” Logan said. “I can’t quite figure Bryce out. He might steal the bids if he needs money, but I can’t see him vandalizing the sites.”

“That bothers me too.” Dan leaned closer. “Any luck on finding Rove’s kid?”

“Not yet. The police promised to stake out Candi’s house. Let’s hope they are and let’s hope no one gets hurt before we get him.” Logan fisted his hands on the table. If that scum laid a hand on Doriana....

Dan took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. Lines of fatigue feathered his eyes and mouth. Too much stress for a man his age, Logan thought. Compassion for the older man washed over Logan.    

Callahan met Logan’s gaze. “You really think Rove might be Candi’s boyfriend and Doriana’s caller?”

Logan nodded. “My instincts are usually right. The theft of your bids resulted in losses of millions of dollars for your company. If we can get Rove on grand larceny, assault on your watchman, malicious threats to Doriana and destruction of your property, we can put him away for a very long time.”

“How do you think Candi figures in all this?”  Callahan made a wry face. “I know she’s sleeping with Bryce. But does she know what’s going on?”

“I suspect Candi is up to her pretty neck in all of it,” Logan said.

Dan slipped on his glasses and leaned back in his chair, folding his hands across his stomach. He studied Logan. “I’m putting my trust in you, Tanner. Don’t disappoint me.”

Uncomfortable under Dan’s close scrutiny, Logan held himself still, his gaze never wavering from the older man. “I won’t let you down.”

“Doriana tells me she invited you to our Christmas Eve party,” Dan said.

“Is that a problem?” Logan asked. Old insecurities spiked him like knife points. Maybe he wasn’t welcome in the Callahan house.

“No problem at all,” Dan said. “If she hadn’t invited you, I would have.” He gave Logan a sly look from behind his glasses. “My daughter likes you.”

Logan struggled to keep a bland expression. Dan would definitely throw him through the window if he knew in just what way Doriana liked him. But he and Doriana were no longer teens and their affair was their business. Their affair. Was it as temporary as this job?  

Pushing the gut wrenching thought aside, Logan stood and began gathering his papers. “I’d better get back to the office before Doriana wonders what’s taking me so long.” He missed her and needed to hold her, needed to reassure himself that yesterday was real.

“When will you hear about the winning bid?” Logan asked.

“A few days after Christmas.”

“Hopefully things will stay quiet till then,” Logan said.

* * * *

Logan entered his office and locked the door. He wanted to take Doriana in his arms and kiss her until she begged him to stay with her forever. He threw his briefcase on the desk and headed for her office. She looked up from her computer, a question in her wide-eyed gaze.

He quickly closed the distance between them and took her hand to pull her gently from her chair. Her eyes darkened and she parted her full lips, waiting for him.

He gathered her to him and kissed her, telling her with his body how much he needed her. She opened to him, giving herself. He tasted the softness of her mouth with his tongue. Moaning, she swayed into him. He slid his hands under her sweater to cup her breasts. She was fire in his arms, hot and sweet and all woman. His woman.

He unhooked her bra and massaged her swollen breasts. The nipples pebbled under his touch. Desperate to possess her again, he licked and nibbled his way down her neck, inhaling her heady scent of roses. Her pulse beat a staccato under his lips.

“Logan,” she whispered in a shaky voice. She raked fingers through his hair.

He cupped her buttocks and pulled her against his hard erection. “I missed you,” he rasped.

“I can tell,” she said with a husky laugh.

He stroked her silky hair, letting the soft strands slip through his fingers. “You made me sleep alone last night. Do you know what hell that was?”

She snuggled closer. “We can’t make love with Josh in the house. You know the rules.” Her voice was muffled against his chest.

“You’re going to break that rule,” he said.

“I’ve never let anyone....” She pulled away to look up at him. “You know what I mean. Josh has never seen any man...”

Logan put a finger against her lips. “You’re with me now. And Josh is my son. And I’m not just any man.”

“You certainly aren’t just any man,” she said, running a slender finger down his cheek.

He turned his head and took her finger in his mouth, sucking it.

She let out a small groan and pressed her breasts against his chest. “The things you do to me.” His blood heated.

Giving him a seductive smile, she said, “Josh isn’t here now.”

“What?”  Logan stopped breathing.

“We need to have a private business meeting,” she said.

He swallowed. “A business meeting?”

She nodded. “Here and now.”   

She kissed him lightly on the lips, then pushed gently away to kick off her shoes. Her gaze, sensual and dark as velvet, never left his. She pulled off her sweater and bra and reached under her skirt to slowly peel off her pantyhose and white lace panties, dropping them on the floor. Her full breasts thrust out, enticing and seductive. An invitation in her eyes, she skimmed her hands over her breasts and down her body to her hips.  

Logan released a breath. “You never fail to surprise me. Or excite me.”

Laughing, she turned to sweep a hand over her desk, knocking everything to the floor, and hoisted herself onto the cleared surface. Her skirt slid up her thighs, exposing the ivory smoothness of her skin. Logan’s heartbeat drummed in his ears.

“Lock the door and join me,” she said in a sultry voice.

“It’s locked.”

“A man who thinks ahead. I like that.”

“I’ve got lots more you’re going to like,” he rasped. He quickly shed his slacks and underwear and drew on protection.

Her smoky gaze swept him. “You have remarkable business assets.” She ran her tongue over her lips and held her arms out to him.   

With a growl, he went to her. She laughed softly. He pulled her toward him until she sat on the edge of the desk. Her skirt slid higher. He kissed her waiting lips with a need that shook him and ran his hands over her satiny thighs to her hot center. He slipped his fingers into her slick folds. She was wet and so ready for him.

With a small cry, she wrapped her legs around his waist and slid her tongue into his mouth.

He moved his fingers in and out of her velvety softness. Her tongue slid in and out of his  mouth, matching his thrusts. He plunged deeper and watched the passion on her beautiful face. She belonged to him and always would. Her body shook and she cried out her release. He held her until she stilled.

“More,” she whispered. “Please.”

He entered her, hard and fast. She arched her hips against his. Her moans filled the room. He drove harder and faster. He couldn’t get enough of her. Her fingers dug into his shoulders. She met his every thrust, wild and passionate, and all his. Spasms quivered through her. He covered her screams with his mouth. His body shook with the force of his climax.

Doriana trembled in his arms. They clung to each other. Finally, she let out a long, contented sigh and he released her. She slid off the desk and smoothed her skirt over her nakedness. They dressed quickly and he took her in his arms again.

Doriana rested her head against his shoulder. He rubbed his hands up the smooth line of her back and kissed her lips and the tip of her nose.

With a throaty laugh, she looked up at him. Her flushed face and swollen lips filled him with a possessiveness he’d never known. From now on only he would make her look like that, satisfied and thoroughly loved.  

“I’ll have to call more of those business meetings,” she said with a smile.

“I’m ready any time, Boss,” he said with an answering grin.

* * * *

“Happy Birthday, Josh.” Logan handed the teen a brightly wrapped package. Doriana, Josh and Logan sat around the Christmas tree drinking hot apple cider. Logan had insisted Josh open the birthday and Christmas gifts from him before going to Doriana’s parents’ house for their annual Christmas Eve party tonight.