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“No.” Logan’s answer came quick and sharp.
“Why not?”
“By the time Eric finishes grilling you, you’ll both be pissed. I’ll keep him on point.”
“His over protectiveness is getting old. Who I’m friends with, date, o
r have sex with is none of his damn business.” She waved off the shocked look on Logan’s face. “I understand that Eric felt he had to take over for our father, and I love him for it. He was too young to shoulder such a responsibility. Now it seems he’s too old to let it go.”
“He’ll let go when the right man comes along. When he sees you’re happy, he will be too.”
Logan punched in a number and left a message for Eric to call. A knock on the door drew both of them to their feet.
“I’ll get it.” Logan leaned down and removed a small pistol from an ankle holster.
“You brought a gun?”
“Never without it. Hardest thing I’ve done in a while was checking my lockbox at the airport.” His movement was fluid but strong as he checked to see who stood on the other side of the door. “Housekeeping.”
The housekeeper offered to turn down their beds and build a fire. Logan thanked her, stating he’d handle the fireplace. True to his word, within minutes of closing the door, he had a roaring fire crackling, sending orange and red flames dancing.
Logan left the room and returned with his laptop. He’d kicked off his shoes, unbuttoned the top two buttons on his shirt, and rolled up his sleeves. The sheer casualness of the situation seeped into her soul, turning her muscles to putty.
His fingers moved across his keyboard. With his gaze locked on the computer screen, she watched as he shifted into cop mode.
“What are you working on?”
“Trying to brush up on our boy Brandon.” Logan glanced up. “Damned slow Internet is killing me.”
Elle didn’t ask additional questions, allowing him to continue working. In the quiet, she planned tomorrow’s activities. Logan, Nicki, and Brandon’s ski outing would keep them busy for hours. Elle would use that time to again search for his laptop. She was taking a huge risk, but this was something she had to do. She snuggled deeper into the couch, watching Logan as he worked. Her eyelids grew heavy as images of hot, sweaty sex with him crept into her thoughts.
* * * *
Brandon’s background check held no great surprises for Logan. He’d already guessed that Nicki was not Brandon’s daughter. In fact, no record existed of him having fathered a child. Logan ran the name Nicki Ethridge through the system. He’d expected nothing, and that’s exactly what he got...a handful of air.
Elle had fallen asleep. Her long dark hair had fallen across the pillow, circling back to softly caress her graceful neck. The vibration of his phone snapped him out of his daze. Eric was returning Logan’s call.
“What’s up?” he said, quickly moving into his bedroom so he wouldn’t disturb Elle.
“You called me,” Eric said. “Something wrong with Elle?”
“No, but there’s been a change of plans, and I need your help.”
“I’m listening.” The hesitant tone in Eric’s voice came through loud and clear.
Logan quickly explained that the owners were the target of Ethridge’s next fraud. “I’m going to alert the Fitzgeralds. Make sure they pass on the deal.”
“So how can I help?”
“I’ve started laying the groundwork to make myself a replacement target. I’ve spoken with my dad, and he’s on board. A benefit of being a junior. He’ll alert his people to cover for me. I need you to make sure a background check on me looks good.”
“Shit.” Eric ground out the words. “I should’ve known she’d sucker you into some wild-ass scheme.”
“This is my plan. My idea. Her being here will actually help me pull this off.”
“Keep her out of it. Your mission is to keep her out of trouble.”
Logan walked to the door into the common room where she lay sleeping on the couch. A hard tug on his heart surprised him. Could a relationship with Elle work? Would Eric come around? “Nothing is going to happen to her. I’ll make sure of that.”
