She stood her ground, glaring at him, hands on hips. “A human being is more important than any business deal. You told me not to get emotional when I tried to explain how I felt about the situation.”

     Logan struggled with his temper. “I assume you tried to convince Tommy not to insist I fire Chrisetta?”

     She nodded. “Yes. I explained the problem and told him about Jimmy’s dedication to his family and the baby on the way. I told him it would be a mistake to let him go.”

     “And he agreed to let him stay?”

     She paused. “Not exactly.”

     Logan let out an impatient breath. “What exactly did he say?”

     “He said he understood my position but he’d have to stay with his original decision.”

     “So, you left.”

     “No." His eyes narrowed. “I told him most of your employees were very loyal and always stuck together. I explained that once they discovered the real reason Jimmy was fired, they could become very difficult to work with when the merger was completed. I told him the error Jimmy made shouldn’t be counted against him, because the Vicomdata manager used Jimmy’s feelings of friendship and loyalty against him. The man tricked him. Once the other employees discover those circumstances, they’ll back Jimmy up.”

     Silence descended. Logan tapped the pen he held against the edge of the coffee table. The rat-a-tat-tat seemed loud and nerve wrangling against the deadly quiet. “You threatened him.”

     “No, of course not! I gave him a picture of what the future could hold if he made the wrong decision.”

     “You threatened the man who could dissolve this merger for the sake of one employee. This merger will actually create new business and new jobs for many more workers. But worse, you jeopardized my standing in my own company by sneaking behind my back, giving Thomas Weatherall the impression I don’t know how to run my business.”

     “No, I didn’t mean—I didn’t want to give him that impression at all. Why can’t you understand?” she cried out. “Dammit, you used a corporate spy! You were totally unethical, and it’s not fair to punish Jimmy because he was acting like a human being!”

     The temperature in the room dropped a few degrees. “I don’t involve myself in unethical or illegal activities. I planted Charlie there for certain reasons, and Jimmy was well advised ahead of time. You may not like it, but there are things I need to do for the sake of my company.”

     “Why do you always have to be so damn rational and cold-hearted about every decision you make? Why do you have to be such a, such a—businessman!”

     With one swift movement he rose from the couch and closed the distance between them. Dragging her against his body, he lowered his head and kissed her fiercely, parting her lips with a single thrust, conquering and invading her mouth with all the hot passion he showed her throughout the weekend. Her body melted against his and she responded just as fiercely to the kiss.

     When he pulled away she gasped for breath. Logan’s eyes burned like twin flames of smoke. “Do you think my actions around you are rational and cold-hearted?” He pressed his thumb over her swollen lips. “Do you think when I take you in my arms I’m making the logical decisions you always accuse me of? Lady, from the moment you walked into my office you’ve thrown my life into chaos. Invading my thoughts and dreams was bad enough, but now you’re taking over my business piece by piece.”

     He bent toward her. “I’m angry because you didn’t come to me first. You knew how I felt about the situation but you still couldn’t resist trying to save yet another human being from the big, bad world of corporate America. Dammit, do you really think I’m the type of person to make a decision about firing one of my employees without thinking it through? After the time we’ve spent together, in bed and out, I thought you’d at least trust me.”

     Chandler looked deep into his eyes and searched for her own answers. Slowly, her instincts grew sharper and she realized she'd made a mistake. This weekend had shown her the depth of the man who many believed had no soul; who possessed a heart of steel. He may be ruthless in the corporate climate, but her heart told her he was a man who made her laugh, a man who made her spirit soar while he brought her endless pleasure. A man like that would not make a decision to hurt someone unless he was positive it was justified or his only recourse.

     She needed to trust Logan regarding Jim Chrisetta.

     “No,” she answered softly. “I don’t think you’re that type of person at all.”

     His arms tightened around her. “Do you trust me?” he asked. “I need to know you have complete trust in me, Chandler. I can’t settle for anything less.”

     She slid her arms around his neck. “I have complete trust in you.” She spoke the words against his lips. “I’d never do anything to hurt you. I’m so used to operating on my own instincts and fighting my own battles that I never stopped to think how this would affect you.” She pressed her mouth to his and rubbed back and forth in a light caress. “I love you.”

     With a low groan, he pulled her toward him and deepened the kiss. His tongue swept through her mouth as if to collect each sweet word she uttered and pull it deep inside of him.

     “Don’t think you’ll win every argument like this,” he growled against her neck as he lowered her to the floor.

     Her fingers worked deftly at the buttons on his shirt.

     “I’ll have to come up with a better way to punish you.”

     “I’ll look forward to it.”

     Clothes were removed rapidly as the familiar hunger took hold. It was a while before they realized the phone was ringing insistently. He dragged his mouth from hers and stared into her eyes.

     “We should probably answer it.”

     “Yep.” His hand moved across her naked breasts and down her soft belly.

     Chandler fought for breath. “You answered every message that machine threw at you. It would be criminal to let it keep ringing.”

     “You’re right.” His palm settled over the apex of her thighs. Slowly, he pressed. His fingers invaded her core and he watched with interest her emerald eyes cloud over in a sensuous haze.

     “It could be a client,” she gasped as his thumb massaged her.

     “It could be Tommy.”

     “Let it ring.” They laughed as he covered his body with hers.


     “I should have known the problem would involve a woman.” Thomas Weatherall let out his breath in disgust.

     Logan laughed as he shut the door to his office and walked behind his desk. “You always were a smart man, Tommy.”

     “And you look pathetic. You have a sparkle in your eye, and my sources say you came into the office late this morning. You didn’t answer my message until late this afternoon. And I left a 911 message on your cell.”

     “I was busy.”

     “I’ll bet.” A half smile touched Tommy’s lips. “Okay, dammit, I like Chandler Santell, she’s a hell of a woman. Hell of a lot of trouble too, from the last confrontation I had with her.”

     “I’ll never be bored.” Logan tossed the final proposal on the polished wood and leaned back in his chair. The leather creaked gently under the shift of weight. “I assume these are the papers you were waiting for.”

     Tommy picked up the contract and gave it a cursory glance. “I’m sure everything is in order, just as we discussed.”

     Logan lifted his coffee mug and took a swallow of the strong brew. His gaze cut to the man across the desk. “Jim Chrisetta stays.”

     Tommy waited a beat. Then chuckled. “You can’t be serious. I’ve already told you his screw up cost us too much money. There’s no way I’m going to open the door for more mistakes.”

     “I was the one who made a mistake by offering him the management promotion. I should have realized it wasn’t suitable to his working style. I want to move him back to a similar position recently vacated.”

     Tommy studied him thoughtfully. “Hmmm, so Chandler already said. Are you telling me you agree with her?”

     “She has nothing to do with this. She made some points I thought were worth considering, but my decision is my own and it’s final. I don’t cut employees for one mistake in four years. I’ve also taken into account the nature of his mistake. He got caught off guard, Tommy. Vicomdata got wind of it and was looking for confirmation. Jimmy thought he was talking to someone who was a friend of Charles. Unfortunate he cost us money. But not enough to let him go.”

     “Profit is profit. I don’t make deals where I can’t be guaranteed efficiency in all operations.”

     “Profit can easily be guaranteed and you know it. Good employees are hard to find. Jim is loyal, and he’s a good worker. You’re being a stubborn hard ass, Tommy, and I think you know it.”

     Tommy shook his head in amazement. “Hell man, you can’t afford to walk away from a deal like this for one employee. Give him a good reference and he’ll find something else. Don’t let your emotions screw up one of the best deals you’ll ever make. Now let’s stop haggling and get down to it. If he doesn’t go, I don’t sign the contract.”

     “Then we don’t sign the contract.” He reached over and buzzed his secretary. “Connie, will you please call Tommy’s lawyers and cancel the meeting for 4:00,” he said. “Then push up my next appointment so I can be out of here early tonight.” The red light on the phone went out. Logan studied Tommy, his jaw tight with determination.

     Tommy cursed. “You’re bluffing.”