Logan lay back on the pillow and Melody rested against him, hands splayed across his chest, looking down at him. The pain had receded from his eyes, replaced with confusion.
“You risked your career for this…for me?”
She nodded. “Yes. And I’ll keep risking it. But you need to know…I should have told you last night…before we…well, you know. It’s your risk too now, I guess, although I’d be the one facing the consequences, or the most serious ones.”
“Such as? Your career?”
“Yes. Pretty much.”
Logan sat up, pulling Melody onto his lap. “Melody, you know I can’t ask you to risk your career for me.”
“I’m not asking…I’ve already made my decision.”
A smile tugged at the corner of Logan’s mouth. “And God knows once you make up your mind, there’s no changing it, is there?”
She shook her head, winding her arms around his neck. “Not a chance.”
He pulled her against him, his mouth finding hers, briefly tentative but as she deepened the kiss, Logan responded with the passion she was familiar with.
She reached past him to turn off the lamp. But he caught her wrist, pulling her down to the bed with him, rolling on top of her.
“I want to watch you.” He bent his head, kissing her hard now, no hesitation, claiming her lips. Melody kissed him back, just as hard, and gave herself over completely to Logan.
* * *
When she finally left, the sky was just turning pink in the east. The cab Logan had called for from his room was waiting in front of the hotel. On the ride to her apartment, she replayed her night with Logan. Everything had changed in the space of twelve hours; he wasn’t the opportunistic rock star who’d taken advantage of her. He was an honest man who had apparently fallen for her hook, line and sinker. And had told her he loved her, in two languages.
She smiled at the improbability, the utterly amazing series of events that had landed her here, in this tentative but exhilarating new relationship with Logan MacKenzie. If she’d tried to imagine this, nothing in her wildest dreams would have come close.
And she chastised herself for letting this happen.
The cab finally arrived at her apartment. Melody nervously checked her watch, tempted to have the cab wait, but decided to chance getting another one after she was dressed. Right now, a hot shower and clean clothes sounded like heaven.
But luck deserted her once she was ready. The cab she called was late, and as she waited impatiently in front of her building, she calculated just how late she was going to be. She debated calling Melissa then, letting her know she was going to be late, but maybe traffic would be light. She really couldn’t tell anyone she’d decided a second session in bed with Logan was more important than work.
The cab finally pulled up and she climbed in, giving the driver the address.
“I’m late, can you hurry?”
“Yeah, lady. You and everyone else.”
Melody sighed, settling back against the seat. It was her own fault. And now she really should call someone.
She opened her cell phone, dialing Melissa’s direct line. The phone rang for what seemed like an eternity before going to voice mail. Odd, Melissa should be there by now.
Pushing buttons on her phone, she maneuvered her way through the company phone system, eventually ending up with the receptionist.
“Hey, Jenny. This is Melody Lawson. Is Melissa Montgomery there? I’m running late and wanted to let her know. If she is there, just put me…”
Jenny interrupted her. “Melissa? Oh, um…well…just a minute. I better connect you with Mr. Marshall.”
Before Melody could speak, Jenny’s voice was replaced with canned phone music. Melody listened impatiently, bewildered as the call went through. The cab was stuck behind a truck belching smoke, obviously not going anywhere soon.
“Melody? Where are you?”
“I’m stuck in traffic. Where’s Melissa? I tried…”
“You should be more concerned about being at work…on time…than with Melissa. We’ll talk when you get here.” The line went dead.
Melody made a beeline to her office, gathered her files and notes and took the stairs two at a time rather than wait for the crowded elevators.
When she arrived at Ryan’s office, the door was open. She knocked, stepping inside.
“I’m sorry…”
Ryan was at his desk, head down. Without raising his head, he held up one index finger, silencing her.
Melody clutched her files and papers to her chest, trying hard not to shift from foot to foot in the doorway. Ryan finally closed the file in front of him and looked up at her.
“Have a seat. We have a great deal of work to do. Close the door.”
Melody closed the door quietly, taking her usual seat at Ryan’s worktable.
“Ryan, I…”
Ryan held up his hand. “We have work to do. You can tell me your excuses after we finish discussing the MacKenzie-Ashton case. Please, we have a great deal of work to do.”
They spent the next hour going over the case file, Ryan reading through Melody’s notes, helping her to start the first draft of the initial complaint. Finally, Ryan sat back, scanning the document once more.
“I think this will do for now. You can work on this today and then bring it back to me to review at the end of the day.”
He looked at her over the top of his reading glasses, smiling for the first time since she’d entered his office. “You’ve done good work here, with your notes and your interview with Mr. MacKenzie. I must say I am impressed.”
Ryan removed his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “But there are other issues we need to talk about, things that aren’t going so well. Let’s start with being late. That’s not like you, especially when you’re keeping a partner waiting. So don’t do that again.”
Melody bristled, feeling like a child being reprimanded, but held her tongue. Ryan was right, she was late. But Ryan went on.
“And about Melissa. I’m afraid Melissa has been let go.”
“Let go? You mean fired? But why?” Melody felt the color drain from her face. Melissa was her rock, her organizational system, the person who kept her on track. She was her friend.
“You know she’s been dropping the ball lately; you remember we had a brief conversation about that earlier. And her behavior with Mr. MacKenzie was inappropriate and unprofessional. I’m sorry, but it’s something that needed to be nipped in the bud before it became a real issue. It impacted her performance. And it reflects on you that you let it get so far out of control.”
“But…who…what am I supposed to do about having a paralegal? Melissa knew everything I did, she’s the one who keeps…kept me on track.”
“Lori will be available for the MacKenzie-Ashton case. For the rest, you can use the float pool; Human Resources will send you someone later today. Your schedule is light right now, so it shouldn’t be a problem until we hire someone new.”
“But I don’t want anyone new!” Melody had the irrational urge to stamp her foot. “I like Melissa.”
“That’s part of the problem. You had lost your objectivity. She became your friend and that does not work well in a relationship like this. You let things go too far, let things slide that should have been addressed.”
Ryan grew thoughtful, gazing past her as if she were invisible. “You know, I should probably have a talk with the partners about this as well. As a partner, you would be responsible for your staff. If you’re not able to handle disciplining one paralegal, how would you be able to manage an entire department?”
He stood, moving around the table. Melody watched in alarm as he thumbed the lock on his office door as he passed.
“You know, there is something you can do to help this situation. I know you’re willing to do almost anything to succeed, with this case and with making partner. We can chalk up this issue with Melissa as a learning experience, and I won’t talk to the senior partners.”
Ryan was standing in front of Melody, his legs almost touching her knees, his body looming over her. He leaned forward, placing his hands on the arms of the chair. She wanted to look away, to turn in her chair, but there was nowhere to go. Her heart started pounding and she was forced to crane her neck to look up at his face, only inches away from hers.
“What do you think you could do, Melody, to help me make up my mind not to go to the senior partners with this?” Ryan’s voice was low, barely audible.
Ryan slid his hand behind her neck. Melody stiffened, her arms braced against the chair as he pulled her forward.
“Why so resistant? You’ve made it clear, Melody, that there are things you’re willing to do. We can resolve this issue right here, right now, and we can all go back to work. Otherwise, I’ll have to take your unwillingness as a sign you’re not ready for this…either the case or partner.”
“But…you can’t…this is wrong!” Melody blinked in disbelief.
“You’re the one who’s made the first moves, Melody. I’m just following your lead.”
“I’ll go to Human Resources, file a complaint.”
Ryan laughed, a low sound that sent chills up her spine. “Go ahead. I could follow right behind, counter every claim you make. You kissed me, remember? You threw yourself at me the other day; there are witnesses. You’ve locked the door today. Who do you think will be believed?”
Melody felt the blood drain from her face. “Who are you? Why are you doing this?” Her voice was barely a whisper.
“I am your mentor, Melody. I’m the one responsible for your success here.” Ryan leaned forward, his lips almost touching hers. She could feel his hot breath on her cheeks as he spoke.
“I am the person who stands between you and being made partner. And I stand between you and the door out of here…and if you choose to go that route, then I stand between you and your entire career outside of the firm of Marshall, Avery and Shaw. I don’t think you realize how much clout I actually carry, both here and out there.” Ryan inclined his head toward the window, the New York skyline visible.
“The firm is, after all, Marshall, Avery and Shaw. My name comes first, for a reason.”
Ryan was still holding Melody and with a sinking awareness, she realized he was pushing her knees open with his legs, her skirt sliding up her thighs as he moved her legs further apart.
“You’re teasing me again, Melody, and if we were somewhere other than here, I’d show you just how that teasing makes me feel. But, alas, there are other matters to deal with.”
Ryan stood suddenly, his hand trailing across Melody’s cheek as he straightened. He was standing in front of her, his legs spread, and against her will her eyes dropped to the front of his pants. There was an unmistakable bulge that had formed at the apex of Ryan’s thighs.
Melody’s eyes went wide and she turned her head away, but not before she saw Ryan watching her, his lips turned up in a knowing grin.
“See what you do to me, Melody? It’s always been like this, you lead me on and then leave me wanting. Even when you were engaged to Patrick.”