Chapter 8
CHAPTER
EIGHT
Payden
“I eat here two or three times a week, usually when I have no food in the house.”
My god. Is this how Logan looks first thing in the morning?
I mean, I have seen him once before in this state, but I dashed out the door.
He’s disheveled, but it’s so damn sexy. His dark hair is ruffled, like he just ran his hand through it and nothing more—he literally wakes up looking fucking gorgeous.
His gray t-shirt has a beer slogan on the front, and you can’t mistake his cut.
His biker name is Hustle, but it clashes with his best friend Hustler, so everyone calls him Logan. Bikers are so damn weird.
I think his brothers only had that patch made to annoy the shit out of him because he hates the nickname.
“So how was Dozer’s first night?” I ask, albeit a little awkwardly. “Has he settled in okay?”
“So far so good,” he says, looking down at the little pooch.
Dozer has his head resting on Logan’s thigh, and I’ve never wanted to be a Frenchie so much in my life.
Especially because I know what he has underneath those jeans.
Holy macaroni—it isn’t like I could forget anytime soon.
That damn piercing has been the star of my private viewing pleasure for the last couple of nights, and I admit, I’ve used my vibrator more than once.
It isn’t as good as the real thing, of course, but something has to take the edge off.
Thanks to Logan, my personal toys no longer cut it, though.
So I’m annoyed about that, but I’m not willing to let him gloat by telling him.
Meg excuses herself as she interrupts, bringing Logan’s breakfast, coffee, and Dozer’s pup cup.
“Thanks,” Logan says as Meg smiles at us both.
“Are you staying, honey? Or was your order still to go?” she asks me.
“To go,” I say at the same time Logan says, “She’s staying.”
Okay.
So, he wants me to stay? Huh.
“Uh, I’ll still take it to go,” I say to Meg. “I have to get to work in a few minutes.”
She gives me a good natured wink and says, “Got it.”
“I didn’t mean you had to stay,” Logan says, looking anywhere but at me. “I just meant if you want to. Hoverin’ over the table while I’m eatin’ makes me nervous.”
Hovering?
“Don’t flatter yourself,” I throw back. “I was only admiring your dog while I waited for my order.”
The corner of his mouth turns up. “Right.”
I deadpan him with a look. “You seriously like the sound of your own voice, don’t you, Loges?”
I remember how he hated me calling him that.
“Aww, and here I was thinkin’ you were happy to see me again.”
“Well, you thought wrong.” I have no clue why I just said that.
If he thinks I’m going to beg for that big dick of his, he’s got another thing coming. I don’t beg.
Not for him. Not for anyone. As tempting as it would be to drag him back to his place for another round of ‘how many times can I make you orgasm,’ I do have to get to work.
The case is picking up and new evidence has come to light.
He smirks again, and as if reading my mind he asks, “You still workin’ on that big case?”
Shit. This is probably the most he’s ever said to me. I don’t know what to make of that.
He’s usually battling to win first place for the grumpiest biker award against Tag and Brew.
I clear my throat. “Uh, yeah. It’s getting messy. When the DA involved the firm, all hands were on deck, hence why I haven’t had a decent night’s sleep in six weeks.”
He nods. I wish I had some kind of clue what he was thinking.
One would probably imagine after being a lawyer for so long, I’d have some kind of gut instinct.
And I do, with most people. But Logan isn’t like most people.
Getting any kind of read on him is difficult, but I know this: he looks me in the eye when he speaks. I know he’s telling the truth.
He winces. “That’s rough.”
“Yeah, but it’s all in the name of keeping this city safe,” I say. “It could be worse. I could have Willow’s job.”
I don’t envy my friend being captain, but she takes it all in her stride.
Logan opens his mouth to answer, but Meg interrupts with my order.
“Oh, thanks,” I say, taking my coffee and the box with the bagel inside.
“You’re welcome, honey,” Meg says cheerfully.
When she’s gone, I thumb behind me. “Well, I’d better get going.”
He gives me a chin lift. “Okay. Don’t work too hard.”
That’s it?
What a jerk.
I want to open my mouth to say something snarky, but he holds Dozer’s pup cup to his mouth and it’s so stinking cute that it halts me in my tracks.
“I won’t,” I mutter. Then to Dozer, I smile adoringly. “Bye, D-Dog, enjoy your treat.” And then I leave.
I don’t know, but I’m sure I hear Logan chuckle after me.
So, it really was one night?
Wow. Just wow.
I mean, I wasn’t expecting a marriage proposal or anything, but I’m not a dud in the bedroom. At least, I don’t think so. Sex is pretty freaking basic, and he took me several times, so if I was actually a dud, he surely wouldn’t have come back for second, thirds and forths… Now I’m overthinking it.
I chew on my lip all the way to the office, unsure of what to make of that entire interaction.
There was no mention of us having another rendezvous, though he did tell Meg I was staying without actually asking me. Why would he do that?
I swear my brain is wired differently to most people’s, and I overthink everything.
As I’m walking I realize I have a voice text. My phone was on silent while I was talking to Logan so I didn’t hear it ringing.
It’s from an unknown number.
“Hey, Payden, it’s Becca Mercer…” Becca is one of the whistleblowers in the safehouse.
She’s been in hiding because of threats on her life, and those of her colleagues.
I’ve no idea how she got my personal number, but I frown when I listen on.
“Call me back when you get this. You’re the only person I trust. I…
I have something you might be interested in… We’re moving locations again…”
This shit isn’t looking good, but I’ve no idea what the heck she’s talking about. I’m one of the lawyers assisting, but my colleague, Ryan, is heading the case.
“Ryan has been great,” she goes on. “But I-I don’t know, I get this awful feeling I’m being watched, even though that’s ridiculous.”
I’ve had many hours of phone calls with Becca over the last few months, and she’s been a tower of strength through all of this.
Uprooting her life, putting herself and her family in danger because she knows bad stuff is going on, but she still did it.
I respect that. These corporations are going down, one way or the other, and Cini Media is next if my firm has anything to do with it.
Speaking of being watched, for the last few months, I’ve had the same feeling.
I know I’m being paranoid, or maybe I’ve watched too many late-night TV crime shows.
It’s starting to make me overly suspicious of every little thing.
Like last week, I was sure someone was following me, so I dove into a nearby cafe to see if the person behind me followed and they didn’t. I swear, it’s the perils of the job.
I’m interrupted by Ryan calling me.
“Hey,” he says. “Are you far away?”
“Nope,” I reply. “Just around the block.”
“Cool. We have a meeting as soon as you get in, and tomorrow we’re going to reconvene with the DA.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Ryan has propositioned me a couple of times over the years, but I always declined. He’s not bad looking, but thinks he’s hotter than he is, and plus, suits don’t really do it for me. I also don’t mix work with pleasure, and the way Ryan goes through women? I’d just be another notch on his belt.
“I don’t suppose you’d pick up coffee and a snack from that little place around the corner?”
He also thinks I’m his office bitch, hence the real reason for his call which could have waited until I got in. It’s not like I’m ever late.
“Nope,” I say cheerfully. “I’m not your maid, and I already left.”
“Damn shame.”
“Bye, Ryan.”
“See you in five, hot shot.”
I roll my eyes. I’ve always hated the way he calls me that.
Yes, it’s in jest, but it’s the way he says it.
Like I’m a joke. I did go to college, and I’m more than qualified for this job, but in Ryan’s eyes, I’ll never be on par with his level.
Hell, I’d not even be a level under him, let alone beside him.
He comes from a long line of lawyer assholes so I guess it’s in his genes.
“Hey,” Molly says on the reception desk as I pass by. “Jones is in a foul mood.”
“When is he not?” I whisper back with a smirk. “And jerk face Ryan thinks he can send me running errands across town like he owns the place or something.”
“Jesus, did he hit you up for coffee, too?”
She nods, rolling her eyes. “Hasn’t he ever heard of delivery? It’s what makes this city tick, after all.”
“You can say no,” I remind her. “It isn’t your job to run around after him and get his coffee order. You’re needed here. I’ll have a word with him.”
Her cheeks pinken. I like Molly. She’s a sweetheart and though she’s only new, she’s already become a favorite along with Marcus—one of the family lawyers down the hall. I wanted to matchmake them, then I found out Marcus prefers the company of other men. I don’t know how I missed that one.
“No, it’s totally fine,” she says, waving me off. “I mean, I don’t want to cause any waves. I’ve only been here a month.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll make sure he knows to call DoorDash or something and explain you’re hired as a receptionist, plus you’re not supposed to leave the desk.”
There is a second receptionist, Deidre, but she doesn’t come in until eleven.
“Uh, okay, I guess you’re right. I do have this habit of just saying yes when I mean to say no. It’s no trouble to go get the coffee?—”
“It’s the principal,” I tell her. “Mr. Jones won’t be happy if he comes by and sees you missing from the desk. I’ll explain in a way that he understands.”
“Thanks, Payden, you’re the best.”
“Don’t mention it.” I wave her off. “I better get going, meeting in five minutes.”
“Good luck!” she calls after me.
“Thanks, I might need it,” I call back.
Somehow, today’s mood is slowly going downhill.