Chapter 24: Chapter 24

LOGAN

^ONE WEEK LATER^

Yes. No. Yes. No.

Push. Pull. Push. Pull.

Logan Hawke was not a patient man, and Lauren Landon playing yo-yo with their fickle relationship had him irritated. And not only because no woman had ever done this to him before.

He could charm, buy, or intimidate his way out of almost every situation, and yet she was close to breaking him. He hated not being in control, but he was giving her the space she wanted, the text she’d sent the morning after their night together still in his mind.

She’d said that sleeping together after dinner had been a mistake, that she didn’t want to keep doing that, and that it’d be better to keep their relationship professional.

He’d thought things had changed that night, that they were going to keep seeing each other, but she’d given no explanation for her change in mind. Again. He hadn’t gotten into the details with her or asked her why because it hadn’t seemed to matter what he wanted.

So when she’d asked if he still wanted her to run the event, he’d said yes, but only that. And that had been the last time they’d spoken. All details now went through Shana.

Logan hadn’t slept with anyone but her since Valentine’s Day. He hadn’t been on a date—voluntarily—or responded to any romantic advances either, all because it was her smile he wanted. Her body stuck in his mind, making it impossible for him to be completely focused.

More than he’d ever wanted something or someone in his life, he wanted her. It was not the norm, but he wasn’t shying away from it. He had been prepared to offer her more, had she asked, but she hadn’t.

Having turned the order of events over in his mind a thousand times, he’d come to the conclusion that something had happened after she’d left the hotel room that morning, something, likely, involving Shana. Now was the time to find out.

Logan walked to his desk and picked up the phone. “Shana, can you come in here, please?”

She came in a few seconds later, and as usual, she was dressed impeccably, fresh and professional. She was a rare find, and he didn’t want to lose her, but his need for answers was getting the better of him. He had no choice but to muddy the waters.

“Mr. Hawke?” she asked.

Nodding to the seat in front of the desk, he said, “Sit down, please.”

After she sat, he did too in his chair and leaned forward, formulating the words and tone he wanted to use for such a delicate conversation. “I have a personal issue to discuss with you,” he said, his voice softer than the one he used to discuss business.

Shana went a shade paler, and her demeanor changed, but he had expected that. “I’m guessing this has to do with Lauren, then,” she said.

Usually, he admired that quick brain of hers, but Logan could barely hide his emotions when it came to Lauren, and he didn’t want Shana reading too much into that. “It does,” he said.

Scooting to the edge of the chair, she said, “All due respect, Mr. Hawke, but I would really rather we didn’t discuss these personal issues.”

Frowning, he nodded once and leaned back in his chair, not dismissing her just yet. He had a trick to play, which he didn’t want to use, but he wasn’t ready to give up. He just hoped she wouldn’t go off on him for it.

“Okay, look,” he said. “You don’t have to answer, I’ll say what I need to say, and then if you still don’t want to discuss it, you can leave. No consequences or repercussions.”

Moving back in the chair, she pursed her lips, folded her arms, and crossed her legs, then she nodded once.

“Lauren,” he began, “she’s a breath of fresh air. And I want to keep seeing her. Romantically. But every time I think she’s okay to do that, she suddenly disappears, and I get nothing from her but a stone wall. This time, I think it’s because she talked to you.”

Logan gauged Shana’s reaction, but she was a stone wall too, so he continued speaking. “I just want to know why you changed her mind so I can reassure you and her that I am not in this for the wrong reasons.”

Leaning forward, he placed his arms on his desk. “I understand my reputation and that my position as your boss makes things difficult, but I need to know if there are other issues here that I need to be concerned about.” He made sure his meaning was clear in his eyes.

Knowing Shana had no romantic interest in him but accusing her of it anyway would get her to talk, and he needed to get her talking so they could work through the real issues.

Shana scoffed, then sat up straighter and leaned her elbows on the arms of the chair. “Mr. Hawke, you’re handsome in a generic way, of course, but I’m definitely not holding her back because I’m interested.”

Logan softened his gaze, pulled his lips into a small frown, and nodded. And Shana’s body language reacted as expected. She scooted forward, sitting on the edge of the chair, one leg still over the other, and clasped her hands in front of her.

“Look,” she said. “I’m sorry she’s giving you the cold shoulder, but if Lauren doesn’t want to talk, then she won’t. She’s always had bad luck in love, and you’re a flight risk. You can’t blame her for wanting to keep her distance.” She shrugged.

“But in the interest of full disclosure,” she added, “I did ask her to stay away from you.”

He sighed and, trying not to sound irritated, said, “I assumed as much.” Clenching his jaw, he leaned back, letting the irritation kept from his voice show on his face and mix with disappointment and sadness.

Ever since he’d made a name for himself, Logan had always gotten what he wanted, and Lauren not letting him have her made him want her that much more. But that was just the appetizer of the meal that was Lauren; she was so much more than the chase.

She did something to him when he was near her. She flicked a switch on, lighting up his life so he could see the beauty in it. And when she pulled away, he was plunged back into the darkness.

He needed to find a way back to that light, and he knew that journey started with Shana. Looking over at her, he asked, “What can I do? Please, Shana, tell me.”

Shana sighed and relaxed her posture. “Okay, Mr. Puppy-Dog Eyes, I give. One part of why she’s staying away is because I told her to. My job is very important to me, and I don’t want it to be collateral damage when your relationship goes bad.”

“You do your job too well to be collateral damage, Shana,” Logan countered, perking up at the direction of the conversation. “You’re invaluable to me and the companies I manage. Our relationship will not change that.”

“Spoken words are fine,” she said, shrugging, “but I want it in writing. I want a contract of some sort to protect me and my job and my future in the industry.”

“Done,” Logan said. “I’ll have HR start drawing something up today. What else?”

“The other part has nothing to do with me, and we’re both really upset about it, and I won’t help you fix it,” Shana said, shifting in her seat and averting her gaze.

Her sudden unease made Logan’s stomach tighten, and he waited for her to continue.

“It’s just,” she said, her voice turning stern as she spoke, “Lauren falls hard and fast and always serves her heart on a platter for men like you to crush it. So if you want to make it work with her, you need to make your intentions clear with her. No more revolving-door women.”

“My intentions, Shana, are to keep seeing her, and only her,” he said. “I’m not asking for love or marriage, but I’m offering a chance to get to that point. I don’t intend to hurt her. Ever.” Logan’s expression was soft to convey his sincerity, but he wasn’t expecting Shana’s reaction.

Her eyes turned icy as she stood, putting her hands on her hips. And with a tone to match her glare, she said, “Then maybe you should stop bringing tall brunettes to your apartment after she leaves your bed.”

Shana stomped out of his office, leaving his brain going a million miles a minute.

Lauren had seen him with Whitney?

Fuck.