Jennifer Probst - Heart of Steel

     Chandler walked out of the office with her head held high, leaving the two men staring after her in silence.

     He would be coming for her soon.

     Chandler stared out the window in her living room and tried to gather the last shreds of her self control for the confrontation ahead. After she left the office she headed straight home, knowing Logan would soon follow. She knew her lover well. He was going to do everything in his power to convince her he was innocent in the whole mess, and try to repair the damage. He would use whatever skills he could, and focus on every weakness to further his goal—mainly the traitorous response of her body.

     And, of course, the knowledge that she still loved him.

     She sighed and walked to the clear square space in the corner of her room. She knelt on the thick carpet and let her head hang down, rotating her neck in a clockwise, circular motion to release the tension. Focusing completely on her body and breath, she moved with grace and strength into each yoga posture, clearing her mind.

     Four years ago she had left everything she’d known and started a new life. But now she was twenty six years old, an adult who was responsible for her own decisions, and she knew there was no running away from the problem. She would have to face Logan one last time and convince him it was over between them.

     She only hoped she had the strength.

     Chandler heard the door open behind her. She rose from the carpet and turned around. Logan watched her from across the room, his gaze hotly roaming her body, his jaw clenched with determination. Slowly, he removed his suit jacket and tossed it over the side of the chair. He moved with the lean, easy grace that was a part of who he was. Chandler stood her ground.

     “I’m glad you realized there was nowhere you could run where I wouldn’t find you.”

     “I realized there was no reason to run this time.” Her eyes moved over the hard, sensual lines of his face. “I’m not the same girl I was four years ago. This time I’m stronger.”

     “You were always strong, Chandler. I knew that the moment you walked into my office.”

     “You knew a lot more about me than I realized. For instance, you knew all about my father and my past. You saw an opportunity to further your company and you took it. How could I blame you? After all, it was just business.”

     A variety of emotions flickered across his face. Black brows lowered in a fierce frown. “I knew nothing about your father until he approached me weeks later. He made an appointment to talk to me about a contract that would give me full control of his company. Under certain conditions, namely that the papers would be signed, sealed and delivered the moment I put a ring on your finger.”

     “So you knew nothing about me until my father approached you with his offer?” she asked in disbelief. “No idea about my past or my disaster with Michael Worthington?”

     A muscle worked in his jaw and his hands reached out to grasp her shoulders. “I told you about the dossier, and I told you I never finished reading it. I learned everything when your father finally met with me.” He paused. “I also learned he offered the same type of deal to Richard Thorne.”

     Chandler closed her eyes and struggled to hear this new lie. Now he was trying to use Richard to place the blame. Her stomach lurched sickeningly and she pulled away from him with one strong movement. “What a brilliant business move on your part.” Her eyes shot dangerous sparks. “Richard came to me this morning and warned me you were meeting with my father. He’s the one who tells the truth. And he’s the one who wants to marry me.”

     He grasped her chin with his hand and forced her head upward. “Don’t play games with me.”

     She gave a humorless laugh. “I retired from business games long ago. Complements of Daddy dearest. It seems Richard wants to build a life with me, one based on truth. Perhaps that’s something you’ll never understand.”

     Anger burned from his eyes. “Thorne wants to marry you so he can get his hands on your father’s company. He knew all about you the first day you walked into my office.”

     “Oh, did he order a dossier also?”

     “No, he knew Michael Worthington years ago. I did some research and found they ran in the same circles. Both wanted money and power, and didn’t mind marrying to get it. He’s using you, Chandler. Hell, woman, he doesn’t love you the way I do. He’s the one who would choose the money every time.”

     “You’re not still trying to convince me to believe you by saying you love me?” she asked, amazed at his arrogance. “I’m not one of your bimbos, Logan Grant, and once I learn a hard lesson I try never to repeat it. I will never become involved with a man who lies to me. You did. I’ll never give you another chance.”

     “Oh, but you will. You don’t have a choice in the matter. You can’t pretend everything that’s happened between us is null and void just because you want it to be. You lay in my bed and cried my name and took my body deep inside of yours. You gave me your heart and your mind and every inch of that delectable body.”

     He lowered his head. His breath rushed hot against her lips. The hard length of his body pressed against hers, the heat from his skin radiated in waves, overpowering her senses with the scent of musk and lemon and soap.

     In that moment she hated him as much as she hated her own traitorous body, already trembling, her breasts swollen and aching, the liquid throbbing heat pulsing between her thighs. She hated wanting him, needing him, loving him still, even though she knew it was all a lie.

     “I will never give you anything willingly,” she said fiercely. Her nails dug into his upper arms in response to the raging emotions coursing through her. “My body may want sex, but my mind and heart will hate you.”

     His mouth came down on hers, hard, demanding, his tongue plundering the dark recesses of her mouth with all the raw, seething sexual energy burning between them. She fought him just as hard, but his body slammed against hers, his hands pulled her toward him, forcing her thighs to open so she could feel his desire. His tongue thrust over and over again, until she gave him everything he asked for. Her hands gripped his neck and she opened her mouth fully to accept every dark, stroking motion of his tongue.

     Her senses whirled out of control; she became a creature of feeling, each movement of his hand stoked the flames hotter and hotter, until nothing seemed to matter except to slake the hungry, empty space inside of her. His hands dragged across her breasts and rubbed the tight nipples, eliciting a low, animal groan. His teeth bit at her lower lip, soothed with his tongue, then slipped back into her mouth to taste her again, bending her backward over one arm as the kiss went on and on and on—

     Suddenly, she was out of his arms. Her breath came in deep, ragged gulps, and she fought the dizzying sensation of being dragged away from his body. His gunmetal gaze drilled into hers, and his hand trembled slightly as he reached up to push the hair away from her face. The silence stretched between them as the sexual electricity sizzled through the air.

     “I never wanted the damn contract,” Logan said. “This morning I told your father to go to hell, that I wasn’t involved with you to achieve the big prize. You were the prize. After everything we shared together, do you still believe I would choose money over you? And I never lied. I told you when we first made love that my body could never lie.

     “Before you came into my life, I believed what everyone said about me. That I had no heart, and if it did exist, it had turned to steel over the years.” He paused. “But you looked into my eyes and showed me they were wrong. You made me whole. What you gave me is worth more than any damn business deal your father can offer. But I guess you don’t believe that either, do you, Chandler? I guess it’s still easier to believe a man who pretends to tell you what you want to hear. A man who’s safe.”

     The words were like hard stone dropping between them. She struggled for control and stared at him. Her heart wanted to believe him, but her mind told her she needed to walk away from this man before he took everything she had and completely destroyed her.

     “I don’t believe you. I don’t think I’ll ever believe you again.”

     With a muttered curse, his whole body shook. Raw emotion shimmered in smoke gray eyes. She held her breath in fear as she waited, and then he turned on his heel and walked away.

     “So be it. I won’t bother you again.”

     “You look like hell.”

     Chandler laughed at Harry’s concerned look and continued dragging over the mats for the start of her next class. “Thanks, buddy. I needed a little cheering up.”

     “No, I mean it. I’m worried about you.”

     She faced her friend. “I’m okay. Just a little tired. I’ve been working some extra hours.”

     He grabbed her hand and led her into the office. Pushing her gently into the worn cushions of the sofa, he stared at her hard. She knew his gaze took in the circles under her eyes and the pale tone to her skin. Then he went over to the tea pot to pour her a mug of the steaming herbal brew. She sipped at it gratefully and prepared herself for one of Harry’s lectures.

     “We need to talk.”

     “How did I know this was coming?” The hot liquid trickled down her throat and warmed her belly.

     “You can’t keep this type of schedule. Linda told me you doubled your class load, and you’re busy from six in the morning to late at night. You don’t eat. You don’t sleep. And Linda caught you the other day chugging down coffee when you thought no one was looking. You’re falling apart and the main reason is Logan Grant.”