“If so, then you’re weaker than I thought, not really partner material, in any sense. If you’re so easily manipulated by any man that exerts the slightest bit of control over you, real or implied, then what are you? A pawn in a man’s world.”
Ryan straightened and before she could move, he was standing in front of her, close enough for her to feel his hot breath on her cheek.
“And in a man’s world such as this, you’re never going to succeed. Never.”
And then he was gone. With a start, Melody realized she was trembling. She drew a deep breath, took a hesitant step forward, then another. By the time she was at the elevator, she was calmer. And by the time she was back in her office, she was no longer shaking. But her mind was in turmoil, playing back Ryan’s words.
* * *
She was distracted during the interview with Logan. He answered her questions patiently, but the underlying tone of his voice made it obvious he knew something was wrong.
After an hour she dropped her pen. Logan reached for her hand and she let him massage her fingers.
“Seems ages ago you were doing this upstairs in the conference room, and I was still mad at you for taking advantage of me.”
Logan regarded her for a moment, his eyes serious. “It does seem like a long time ago. So much has happened. And you remember what we said, we’d trust each other, no matter what. No secrets either.” His grip tightened on her hand.
“Now tell me what’s wrong.”
She drew a breath before answering. “Ryan was in his office. We had a…chat.”
At the sound of the man’s name, Logan’s jaw clenched. “You shouldn’t have stayed there, Melody. The man’s deranged…dangerous. You should have come back here.”
“I know, but…he took me by surprise and then...you know, when he starts talking, it’s like I’m hypnotized by him, by his words. I can’t move.”
She shook her head impatiently, pulling her hand away from Logan, standing up to pace the room. “I’m disgusted with myself for even listening to him, for letting what he said bother me. Because you’re right, he’s not stable.”
“What did he say this time?” Logan’s voice was tight, a scowl darkening his features.
“It’s all nonsense, I know, but he said if I was so easily manipulated by him and then by you, how was I to succeed in a man’s world?”
Despite knowing Logan was right, Melody started to cry. Logan rose, enveloping her with a hug.
“You know he’s wrong. You’ve made it this far in life on your own, Melody. Without being a man and without tagging on the coat tails of one.”
Logan held her face in his hands, his gaze intense. “You know that, don’t you? And our little scheme with Ryan… that was all you. I take no credit for that, save for an off-hand comment.”
Melody nodded. “I know. It’s just…he knows how to hit close to home, how to say something that hurts and then twist it even more. The things he’d said about you, same thing. None of it is true, but when Ryan says it, somehow it sounds like the truth.”
“He’s a bastard, is what he is. An abusive manipulator. Has he a wife?”
Melody shrugged. “I don’t think so. Maybe divorced, but I’ve never really known. He’s always been very private about his own personal life.”
Logan hugged her briefly before stepping away. “Are we done here then? Do you need to stay?”
“You’re incorrigible, you know that? Yes, I have work to do. I do have other clients, ones that I’ve neglected. I have to…”
The chirp of Logan’s cell phone lying on the table interrupted her. He glanced quickly at the display before double tapping a button on phone. The ringing stopped.
“You were saying? You have to…come back with me to the hotel?” He was smiling at her but there was a shadow lurking in his eyes. Melody shook head.
“Are you avoiding someone, Logan? That’s at least the third time you’ve done that. Is it someone from the band? Or Ashton? If it’s someone harassing you, I need to know.”
Logan shrugged, looking at Melody. “No, it’s nothing like that. I was just…I was hoping the calls would stop.”
“Why? Who is it?”
“Claire.”
Even though she’d never heard the name before, Melody’s hands grew clammy and her heart began skittering erratically in her chest.
“Claire?” Her voice was a dull whisper. And then Logan confirmed her darkest fear.
“Aye. I told you about her. She’s the girl I was engaged to, back home in Scotland.”
* * *
Melody sat down heavily in her desk chair. “Why is she calling you now?”
Logan paced back and forth, looking down at the floor. “I don’t know. I haven’t answered any of her calls, nor listened to any of her messages. I’ve just been deleting them.” He nodded toward the phone on the table. “Except for this last one.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Like I said, I was hoping she’d just go away.” Logan shrugged disconsolately. “Like you with Ryan, I guess. I just didn’t know how to tell you. You were busy with…him. And I was busy breaking up the band. It just was one more thing out of everything I didn’t want to deal with.”
“But she’s kept calling?” Melody watched Logan closely. The worry lines she’d thought were gone had returned, furrowing his brow.
“Yes. She’s been calling more often. Odd times at night, during the day.”
Melody sat forward in her chair. “Listen to the message, Logan. Let’s figure out what she wants. Otherwise, if you avoid her, it’s only going to get worse. Like you told me, you need to trust me.”
Logan nodded. “I know. It’s just…I haven’t spoken to her, ever, since that night. I’m not sure I really want to know what she wants.”
“Logan, it’s not…there’s not any chance…could she have been pregnant?”
The dismissive shake of his head and the scowl on his face told Melody all she needed to know. “No. Not a chance. She’d told me enough times she didn’t want children, ever. Was probably the only thing we ever argued about. But it was the biggest.”
“You want children?” Melody’s voice was low, her heart suddenly beating in an oddly erratic way in her chest.
“Aye, more than anything. When the time’s right. And it wasn’t, not when I was with Claire, not then. But it will be…it could be.” He met her eyes, and the pain she saw there almost broke her heart.
“Do you?” His voice was barely audible.
Melody nodded, not trusting her voice. Logan crossed the space between them, kneeling in front of Melody. He took her hands in his, his face turned up to hers. The love she saw in his eyes was almost overwhelming, the strength of it taking her breath away. Tears welled up in her eyes.
“If we’re meant to be together, and I believe in my heart we are, then promise me you’ll tell me when it’s time. I want a family and I want it with the woman I love. I want that with you.”
He released her hands and she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him against her. He buried his face in her neck and the soft shaking of his shoulders set her own tears loose. They stayed like this, wrapped in each other’s arms, gently rocking back and forth.
The ringing of Melody’s phone broke the moment. Logan rose, turning away from Melody, but not before she saw him swipe a hand across his face.
“Melody Lawson.” To her own ears her voice sounded thick and she cleared her throat.
“Melody, Joe Hunter. I’d like to come down and talk with you. It’s about Ryan Marshall.”
“I’m just finishing up with a client, if you’ll give me about ten minutes.”
Logan shook his head, a rueful smile on his face. She stifled a laugh, turning her attention back to Joe.
“I’ll see you in ten then.” The line went dead.
“Back to work? I guess I’m a free man then, for the rest of the day.” Logan scooped up the cell phone and Melody watched as his face fell.
“I guess no listening to messages then?”
“Do you want to wait till I come home, and we’ll listen together?”
The smile that spread across Logan’s face took her by surprise. The bemused look on her face made the smile turn into a chuckle.
“Home…you said when you come home. I like the sound of that. It sounds good.”
Melody stood and Logan pulled her against him in a hug. The rumble of his laughter against her cheek made her smile.
“You’re an incurable romantic, you know that, Logan?”
“Aye. I am. I’m not afraid to admit it either. You bring it out in me. Words, songs, poems…you’ve triggered the flood.”
She raised her head, looking up at him. “You’re writing songs? When can I hear them?”
Logan shook his head. “In a bit. They’re just scratching’s on paper at the moment, things that come to me at odd times. But it’s been a long time since I’ve been inspired to write anything. I owe that to you.”
There was a knock on the door. Logan kissed the top of her head, releasing her from his arms.
“That’ll be Mr. Hunter. He said he had something to talk to me about, something to do with Ryan.”
Logan took a step away from Melody, adopting a client-like demeanor. Melody opened the door to Joe Hunter.
“Melody. Ah, Mr. MacKenzie.” Joe extended a hand and the two men shook. “I’m sorry to interrupt.”
“I’m just on my way out. It’s nice to see you again, Mr. Hunter. Melody, you have my number, if you need anything.”
Melody closed the door after Logan, taking a seat at her worktable. Joe sat across from her, his hands folded on the polished surface.
“First, let me apologize on behalf of the firm for Mr. Marshall’s actions. They were absolutely unconscionable.”
“Thank you, Joe. That means a great deal.”
“As you know, with a case like this, we’d have gone through all of the proper steps, starting with your filing of a grievance. We’d have gathered evidence from both sides and then worked toward a settlement. But something has happened to alter that process.”
“What’s happened? Has someone else come forward? Has someone come forward backing Ryan’s story?” Melody’s mouth went dry and her heart gave an uncomfortable lurch in her chest.
“No, not at all. Nothing like that.” He paused, his face reflected his apprehension.
“Ryan Marshall has disappeared.”
Melody shook her head. “No, I just saw him… this morning.”
“Where?” Joe sat forward, frowning deeply.
“Here. In his office, I mean. I went to get a case file and he came in after I did. Said you’d given him permission to get some personal items from his desk.”
Joe sat back, the color draining from his face. “I never did. The last I talked to Ryan was yesterday, in his office. He left shortly after that. I told him he was on administrative leave until further notice. Until we’d started a formal investigation.”