Chapter 2 #3
His hands pressed harder to the wood of the desk.
“I made an arrangement with the kid. He could work for me as long as he kept his grades up in school. Started as a dishwasher. Became a handyman. Valet. Called him my Jake of all Trades.” His lips hitched.
“Kid wanted to get on track to manage a hotel. Started asking about being a bellhop. Thought he’d get a feel for the guests, but then I saw one of his games.
Hadn’t even realized Jake was interested in ball, not until last spring.
He’d started taking some classes at the community college, and he was pitching for their baseball team.
” A low whistle. “He’s got one hell of a fast ball. Talk about a thing of beauty.”
“So you saw him play, realized he was talented, and got him a tryout for the minor league team?”
He shrugged. “I’m a baseball fan. Always have been.” He and his dad had gone to so many games when he’d been a kid.
But that had been in another life.
Before both of his parents were murdered, and Logan found out just how cold and cruel the world could be. So I became crueler.
“Jake has worked for me since he was sixteen. He never asked for any favors or handouts. Didn’t even ask me to help him get that tryout.
The only time he ever came to me for anything was yesterday, when he asked if he could get an advance so he could start paying off his father’s debt.
” Jake had been taking care of his father for far too long.
“Kid deserves to follow his dreams. I’m helping him because Jake is one of mine. I protect my own.”
“And what? You destroy those who are in your way?”
“Yes.” Now she got the picture.
Her hands went to her hips. “That’s not the way the world works.”
“It’s the way my world works.”
“There are laws to follow.”
“You’re being boring again. You can’t look as hot as you look in those glasses and heels and say boring things like ‘there are laws to follow’—totally ruins the vibe.”
She stared at him.
His gaze swept over her. “And it was such a good vibe. So promising.”
“Logan.”
He looked back up. “Yes?”
“It’s Day One, isn’t it?” She nodded. “You told me I had five days. You’re just trying to run me off by being outrageous again.”
No, he’d been truthful, but, whatever. She did look incredibly hot in her glasses and heels and that delectable pencil skirt. “I believe this counts as Day Two. Yesterday was Day One.”
Her cute little nostrils flared. “We need to get down to business.”
Of course, she’d say that.
“You are planning a private game tonight. I will be at your side during that game. You’ll introduce me to all the major players who will be there for the exclusive event. And by major players, we both know they’re people on the criminal side of life.”
Now he let one hand rise so he could press it to his chest. “Are you suggesting that I associate with criminals? How dare you.”
She didn’t smile at him. Behind the lenses of her glasses, her golden eyes gleamed. “You’re Logan Sterling. You might be legit now, but the CIA is fully aware of your past. It’s why you are such a useful individual.”
He grunted. “You say the sweetest things.” His hand fell away from his chest.
“I need to be in that private game with you.”
Well, well. Someone was getting down to business.
His private games were highly coveted. Invitation-only.
The stakes were killer. Truly. “I don’t normally take my PAs into private, back room events with me.
” She deserved that warning. “You go in there, and people will notice.” They’d notice.
They’d speculate. Most of the people in that room would assume he was fucking her.
Should he specifically say those words?
Or would it be more fun for her to figure it out at the time?
“I want to be at that game.” A nod from her. All determined.
“Again, my past personal assistants have not gone into my private games. A certain amount of security and confidentiality is required for those events. The only guests who came are—”
“I misspoke. My apologies.” Her apologies cut through his words.
Right before he’d been about to tell her…
The only guests who come in are intimately connected to the players. Lovers, pricey one-night hook-ups…
She cleared her throat. “I will be attending that private event. You will introduce me to everyone there. You’ll tell them that I’m your new personal assistant. That you trust me completely, and that’s why I get to attend your VIP games.”
“You don’t really want to be in that back room. Trust me.”
Her determined little chin lifted. “It’s not a matter of what I want. It’s a matter of what will be. I will be in that room. I’ll be at your side.”
One more warning. “The people in that room will make Morris Hart seem like a teddy bear.”
“Then I will make sure I bring my taser with me.”
A low whistle escaped him. “You’re gonna need one hell of a lot more than that. Sweetheart, you will be walking straight into the lion’s den.”
“That is the plan.”
Oh, was it? “If you’re not careful, they will rip you apart.”
“Good thing I have you for protection, then, isn’t it? Because, for the time being, I am one of yours. And you protect what belongs to you. Isn’t that what you said?”
Need unfurled within him. Dark. Consuming. The pretty spy should tread very carefully. “Repeat that for me, would you?” he murmured.
“Repeat what?”
“The part about being mine.”