“You know me better than that.”

     Tension swirled in the room between them as Logan waited for an answer. After a few moments Tommy let out a short laugh and shook his head. “You’re a real son of a bitch.”

     Logan smiled. “I know. Do we have a deal?”

     Weatherall reached for the papers and slipped them into his briefcase. “Do I have a choice?” They shook hands. “Reschedule the lawyers. Let’s do this before I get pissed and change my mind.”

     Tommy moved toward the door. “And to think I was worried you could be getting soft on me,” he said in disgust. “By the way, can I tell Laura to stop making pork chops on Tuesdays?”

     Logan chuckled. “Tell her I’ll be calling for the recipe. I have a feeling my body can’t take too many vegetables all at once. I’ll go into shock.”

     “Yeah, but think of the other benefits your body is getting.” With a laugh, Tommy let himself out of the office.

     Logan walked to the window and stared out at the view of the Hudson River. He knew for the first time in his life he had made a business decision not wholly based on clear headed logic. For the first time, he felt an instinct in his gut that told him it had been the right decision.

     Tommy was right. Chandler Santell was a hell of a lot of trouble.

     Drumming his pen absently against the windowsill, he admitted his plan to seduce Chandler had been perfectly executed except for one tiny detail. By luring her so carefully into his trap, he had ended up in the same cage.

     He was in love with her.

     “Logan, I need to speak to you. Immediately.” He turned his head at the intrusion, surprised when he saw Jim Chrisetta standing in his office with a determined look on his face. With an inward sigh he resigned himself to smooth the ruffled feathers of the employee he had just rescued from termination. He had a feeling Chandler’s advice was going to make his job more difficult.

     As he waved the younger man into his office and motioned for him to shut the door, he made a mental note to exact punishment from his lover for putting him through a day of hell.


     “Tell me what happened.” Chandler practically pulled him into her apartment.

     Logan ignored her demanding words and hauled her into his arms for a long, hungry kiss. After the first muffle of protest, she melted against him and responded with equal fervor. When a satisfying length of time passed, he eased the pressure of his mouth and nibbled gently at her lower lip. “Somehow I’d hoped for a different type of greeting.” He slid his hands up and down the length of her spine.

     Chandler shivered. “We practiced that type of greeting for two days and nights.”

     “Sometimes it takes years to achieve perfection.”

     Laughing, she stepped out of his arms and led him into the living room. “You’re early. Dinner won’t be ready for an hour. Now tell me what happened.” She settled herself on the sofa and looked at him with expectation.

     Logan’s lips curved in a smile. “I sold Tommy my business and decided to start teaching yoga classes with you. We’ll make an unbeatable team.”

     “Logan!”

     He laughed and walked to the cabinet to pour a glass of cognac. “After my meeting with Tommy, I had an interesting chat with Chrisetta. Seems he’ll be staying on after all.” He sat beside her, taking a long healthy swallow of the amber liquid. “Also seems one of his important reasons for staying had to do with you. He wanted to make sure the stress management classes would continue under your instruction.”

     Chandler’s eyes widened. “Jimmy really asked about my contract with you? Do you realize this means I’ve gotten through to your employees? They’re finally learning to handle their stress and want to continue their training.”

     “I think half of the male work force I employ is in love with you. The female portion admires the way you yell at me in class if my mind wanders or if I do the positions wrong.”

     “I don’t yell. I have to be firm, since you always insist on arguing with me. You hate to be corrected.”

     “I mess up on purpose so I can feel your hands all over my body,” he said wickedly, giving her a naughty wink.

     She fought a smile. “Was Tommy angry with you about your decision?”

     “He disagreed, but after I persuaded him to see my point of view, he decided to sign. He felt I was basing my business decisions on pleasing my new lover. I quickly discouraged him of that thought.”

     “You must have threatened to ditch the whole deal!”

     Logan nodded. “He knew me well enough to realize I don’t bluff.”

     A dazzling smile lit up her face. He was fascinated by the transformation of her features and the sparkle in her eyes, and thought briefly that he had never seen her look so radiantly beautiful. “You decided not to fire Jimmy even if it meant not signing the contract?”

     He shrugged. “I’m not a monster. I thought about it and made the decision I could live with.”

     “You chose a person over money.”

     He looked puzzled by her tone. “I guess I did.”

     A surge of joy raced through Chandler and filled her with an energy that made her feel like she could conquer the world. Logan had made the right decision. When she left her father and her old life four years ago, the only thing she knew was the kind of person she desired to be, and the type of man she wanted to share her life with. Logan had seemed to be the opposite of everything she demanded, but now, suddenly, she realized he was everything she ever wanted. He was a man with enough strength to fight for what he believed in, no matter what the cost. Even if that cost was a major deal to profit his business. Her father couldn’t have walked away from such a temptation.

     But Logan had.

     He watched her with an odd expression, probably wondering why she looked like she stumbled upon some truth that was about to change her life.

     “Chandler? What are you thinking?”

     She opened her mouth to tell him she was madly in love with him; that she saw the future in his eyes; that she trusted him with her whole heart and soul. The sound of the doorbell cut off her response.

     With a hint of annoyance, Logan rose from the sofa. “Why do I think this is going to be another one of your strays seeking comfort? I think it’s time I inform them your shelter is now full.” He grasped the knob and hurled it open.

     Harry rushed through in his usual manner. “Hey, Logan, how are you? Chandler, guess what? I had a big legal dispute to handle at McKenzie & Tetenbaum, and when I walked into the conference room Rachael was waiting for me. So, naturally, I was excited to see her and decided to finally ask her out.”

     “And?” Chandler asked.

     “Then the most incredible thing happened. She asked me out for coffee. Do you believe it? Maybe she’s been interested all this time but was waiting for me to make the first move.”

     She laughed in delight at Harry’s excitement. “I told you! I want to hear the whole story, why don’t you stay for dinner?”

     “Sure, I’ll—”

     “Excuse me.” Logan tapped Harry’s shoulder. Harry turned. Pure masculine irritation bristled from Logan’s figure. “I think we have a problem.”

     Immediately, Harry backed towards the door and grinned. “Oops, I knew I should have called first. Guess I’m still getting used to the idea that Chandler isn’t alone anymore, waiting for news about my life.” He ignored her protests and paused on the threshold. “Sorry about the inconvenience. Maybe we can all meet for a drink one night. Talk to you later.” Harry rushed out as fast as he had rushed in.

     The room fell silent.

     Chandler crossed her arms in front of her and glared at the man who leaned against the couch in a relaxed stance. He shrugged his massive shoulders and walked into the kitchen. “What are those heavenly smells coming out of the oven?” He breathed in deeply. “It doesn’t smell like tofu is in this recipe.”

     “Logan, how could you?”

     “Well, we still have some time left. I think I’ll get a refill on that cognac. Want one?”

     Chandler followed in his footsteps as he made his way toward the liquor cabinet. “You can’t continue treating my friends like this. I thought you understood my relationship with Harry, yet you practically toss him out the door.”

     “All I said is that we have a problem.” He refilled his glass calmly.

     “It was the way you said it and the way you looked when you said it.”

     “I refuse to give up an evening with you so I can listen to another man’s woes. From now on they can all look for another woman to nurture them.”

     “You’re doing it again!” Frustration vibrated through her body. “You’re trying to order me around and give me rules to follow. Just because I’m sleeping with you doesn’t mean I’ll do everything you say.”

     He took in her defiant stance and lowered his voice to a silky drawl. “You seemed to be pretty responsive to my instructions last night.”

     Heat rushed to her cheeks at the mention of that wildly erotic evening in his arms. “I won’t let you bully me by using seduction.” Her chin lifted. “Why were you rude to Harry when he told you he’s interested in another woman? He specifically came over here to tell me he had date.”

     “I knew the moment I set up the date he’d rush over to tell you, and I was right. Harry needs to learn I’m first in your life.”

     “That’s ridiculous, he’s always in a rush to tell me things. And of course you’ll always be first in my life, I don’t think that’s even a—what did you say?” She broke off and glanced at him with suspicion. “Did you say you set up their date?”