“Seeing you at the office was certainly a surprise, yes.” She took a deep breath, feeling the warmth of the wine radiating through her limbs. For the first time that day she relaxed.
“But…it’s nothing.” She waved her hand. There was no way she could explain to Logan Ryan’s behavior…she didn’t think she even understood what was happening.
“The rest is work stuff and you said you didn’t want to talk about that.” She resisted the urge to take another gulp of wine, instead toying with the wine glass, twirling the stem between her fingers.
“Tell me about your band, Logan. I don’t know much about the type of music you play. I’ve only heard the one song on the radio since…well, since that night.”
Logan laughed. “That’s what you call our night of passion, together? ‘That night?’”
Melody grimaced. “I don’t know what to call it, because I don’t know what it was…is.” She pulled her glass closer, finally giving in, taking another swallow.
Logan sat back, watching her for a moment. “Alright…the band…Revival. We’d been mates in school, messing around in garages and playing for our friends. Got the idea we were good…started playing for free in the pubs, although we got in more than one stramash…” Logan caught Melody’s puzzled look. “Bar fight, I guess you’d call it. But failin’ means yer playin’, so we kept playin’. And we got better. Enough so we were getting paid.”
There was a wistful smile on Logan’s face as he spoke. “It was good back then. Sleeping on the road, writing songs in the wee hours of the morning, playing out that night and singing the same, the words on a paper stuck to the floor so I wouldn’t forget them. But it was us then, only us, and we were happy.”
“And that’s all gone now? Because of Jack Ashton?”
“Aye. It is…or it’s going fast. Me striking out on my own wasn’t so bad, but Jack’s made it seem as though I’m leaving the band. And that’s not what I’m doing. The band is my heart; the solo stuff’s just messing about. I’d leave that in a heartbeat, to be honest. But Jack’s driven a wedge between us and I don’t know if it can be pulled out.”
Logan looked across the table at Melody. “And then you, not knowing if you’re mad at me or hate me or what. It’s been tearing at me, Melody. I thought I’d lost you before I even had you.”
Melody laughed, shaking her head. “You haven’t ‘had me’ yet, Logan. You slept with me—once. That does not make for a relationship. And now you’re my client.”
Logan shook his head, that charming smile of his playing around the corners of his mouth. He reached across the table, taking her hands in his. “I know. But I’d like the chance to make it something more.”
“You would? After just one night?”
“Don’t you believe in love at first sight?” Logan rubbed his thumb briefly across the knuckles of her hands, before turning them palm upward.
“Do you?” she whispered. It seemed to Melody the room had gone completely still, leaving just her and Logan.
His dark eyes met hers and she saw the same passion she remembered from their night together. Her breath caught, and in that instant she wanted him again, wanted to go with him to see if there was something more…if there could be more to this than just one night of lust. But he’s your client.
“Aye, sometimes I do. I just might believe it happened to me…at least I want the chance to find out. Do you want the chance to find out, Melody?” Logan’s voice was low, the smooth voice she remembered, the one that did magical things to her.
Logan was still holding her hands when the waiter arrived with their dinner. Logan spoke without looking away from Melody.
“Have dinner sent to my room, please. And a bottle of Macallan, the best year you have.”
Melody was unable to hold back a laugh. “I should have known you’d pick the restaurant in your hotel. I was too distracted by being late to even notice.”
Logan smiled as he rose, pulling her up from her chair. “You can’t fault me for trying. And unless you’re starving, I think there’s a better use for our evening, don’t you?”
Impulsively Melody stood on tiptoe, kissing Logan. “I do at that, Mr. MacKenzie.”
It was Melody who reached back for the half-empty bottle of red wine.
“Never leave the wine, even for a handsome wanton man. I heard someone say that…or something like that…not too long ago.”
* * *
Logan let them into his room, tossing the key on a side table. Melody set the wine on the coffee table, surprised at the modest size of the suite, just a small sitting area with a bedroom visible through a door to her right.
“This isn’t quite…somehow I expected something bigger.”
Logan had turned on a few lamps, lighting the room in a glow. As he walked toward her, she took in everything about him, how the light caught his dark eyes, with the ever-present hint of a smile, the high cheekbones, straight nose. And those lips. God, he’s handsome.
“I don’t need all that much…just a bed and a closet. I’d rather spend my money on good Scotch and good food…” He reached out, one hand slowly caressing Melody’s arm.
“Or you, if I had the chance. I’ve never really had a woman to indulge. Might be something we’d both enjoy.”
“I can’t believe you’ve never had a girlfriend. None at all?” The touch of his fingers on her skin was setting a small fire alight deep inside. As handsome as he was, and as much as she was attracted to Logan, she was suddenly shy, nervous. It was easy to be brazen in the crush and noise of the restaurant, but here, alone in his room, with his intentions clear, Melody found herself unsure, hesitating. That he was her client complicated matters tremendously. Unethical, goes against everything you stand for…but only if someone finds out.
“None serious, no. There are always girls around, hangers on, groupies you’d call them. Nothing serious there. I can’t say I’m immune to them; probably bedded more than I should have.”
“Any recently?” Melody tried to bite back the words, but it was too late.
Logan pulled her to him, his arms going around her waist. “No, not a one since you. Don’t want anyone but you. The others…usually I was just tired of being alone on the road. Sad reason to bed a woman, but there it is.”
Melody could feel the warmth of his body against hers, his strong arms holding her. She looked up, lost herself for a moment in his eyes. He leaned down, his lips soft as he kissed her. But beneath the gentleness of the moment, she sensed his arousal, the passion from their first encounter barely contained beneath the surface.
Her body remembered this feeling, his lips on hers, his hands on her body. But she wasn’t drunk this time, and the voice in her head that had been absent—or a sodden drunk—last time, spoke up, loud and clear. This is uncharted territory and it’s not safe…it’s wrong on so many levels.
But louder and more insistent was the voice that told her that this was a once in a lifetime chance at something she’d never experienced before. Is it more important than your career? It just might be…
Logan broke their kiss, looking down into Melody’s eyes. “I see I have my work ahead of me. Maybe it was the Macallan last time that aided me. I’ll just have to win you over with my charm alone then, without the Scotch.”
“You had me at a disadvantage last time, Logan. You know that. But I am here now…I want to be here. But it’s…I’m different…this time, and there’s more at stake now. You’re more real…everything’s in sharper focus, I guess. I’m not seeing you through a haze of alcohol fueled self-pity.”
“ ‘More real’. Hmm…I don’t believe I’ve ever been called that. But…I have been called worse.” He pulled her back against him, his hands splayed across her back, his smile lighting up his eyes.
He grew serious for a moment. “Are the stakes too high? Is this worth risking whatever it is that you have to lose?”
Melody wrapped her arms around Logan’s neck, pulling him close. Her body responded to his touch, his solid warmth, his undeniable sex appeal. A smile pulled at the corners of her lips, despite her anxiety.
“Yes, I think so. But you’ll have to work at winning me over this time, I guess. I’m not falling for your magic potion.”
The knock on the door and the discreet call of ‘room service’ made her jump. Logan kissed her forehead before stepping away to open the door. A deferential waiter pushed a cart carrying their dinner into the room, prominent among the covered dishes a bottle of Macallan and two glasses.
As the waiter left, Melody saw Logan slip the do not disturb sign on the door before turning the lock. She tried unsuccessfully to suppress a giggle. Logan turned; mock serious, a frown on his face, but amusement lighting up his eyes.
“I’m serious here. You said I have work to do. I want no chance of being interrupted.”
Melody waved her hands. “Oh, I know. It’s just…” She collapsed on the couch in a fit of giggles. “I’m sorry…it’s just…I’m not laughing at you.”
“Aye, you are. But I don’t mind. I’d rather have you laugh at me than wallop me alongside the head.”
Logan watched as Melody regained control. “You’re scared and I understand. A bit skittish, nervous giggling, all designed to put off the inevitable There’s something holding you back….” He reached out a hand to her, and she took it, Logan pulling her off the couch.
She took a final deep breath as the giggles faded away. “Things were different last time, Logan. I’d just won a big case…and was dumped by my fiancé. My emotions were all over the place. And yes…I was on my way to being drunk when you rescued me.” She shook her head.
“I’ve tried to make you out to be the bad guy, but I can’t think that way anymore. You’re not the bad guy. You’re actually quite nice…I think you’re growing on me.”
“Now I’m ‘quite nice’ then? You’re damning me with faint praise, girl. I see I’ll have to do much better than last time.”
Melody opened her mouth to respond, but Logan’s lips found hers and her reply was lost.
His kiss was not only sensual and skilled, but intense, full of passion and the hint of longing that she remembered his kisses held. She let herself relax into his arms, let this kiss consume her.
It was several minutes later when he ended the kiss, straightening, his arms still loosely around her waist. Eyes still closed, she leaned forward, lips parted.
“Oh…” Melody opened her eyes, a bit dazed as she looked up at Logan.
“So, was that just ‘quite nice’ or something better.”
“Something much better than quite nice. Very much better.”