Heartstrings (Rock With You #1) Rock Star Romance (10 page)

“I’m
disappointed, Melody. Maybe this case isn’t for you?”

Ryan
was looking at her critically, and she saw reproach and a sneer of contempt on
his face, something she’d never seen, ever felt from Ryan before.

“Maybe
you’re not the woman I thought you were. Perhaps partner isn’t for you either.
There are others…” He rose, standing in front of the window, his back to her,
hands clasped behind him.

“You
can go. We’re finished here, for now. Lori can make the changes and file in the
morning.” He spoke without turning around.

Melody
gathered her notebook and pen, hesitating a moment, but Ryan didn’t turn around.
She let herself out of his office.

* * *

In
her office, Melody tossed her notebook on the growing chaos of her desk.
Melissa’s absence was already creating havoc with her work, raising her anxiety
level. She was afraid she was going to miss something critical, some deadline
would slip by unnoticed and her client’s would suffer.

And
Ryan’s behavior wasn’t making her life any easier. In frustration she threw her
pen across the room, watching it bounce behind a chair. Sighing heavily, she
walked over and retrieved it from the floor. Everything was so complicated, so
muddled.

Ryan
was using her, no doubt. She’d wondered how women allowed themselves to become
victims, to let themselves be used by men. She’d always thought the women were
weak or really wanted the abuse.

But
now, in the midst of it all, with her own career on the line, she understood
how a man in power could manipulate a woman into a situation like this.
I’m
in that situation; I’m that woman.

She
reached for the phone, dialing Logan’s cell phone. He answered and the sound of
his voice, the accent, the hint of a smile…made her smile in return.

“Dinner
with you, Melody? Of course. And I’ll even let you eat this time.”

* * *

Melody
met Logan at a restaurant near his hotel. He was waiting for her, a small group
of fans gathered around him. She watched for a moment as he patiently signed
autographs and posed for pictures. He was in his element, relaxed and casual,
taking the time to sign a girl’s arm. She walked away with her friends, holding
her arm as if it were somehow cast in gold.

Logan
saw her and his face lit up. He excused himself from the rest of the group, and
took her arm. The maître d’ escorted them to a secluded table, leaving a wine
list. Logan pushed it aside, taking Melody’s hands briefly, kissing her
fingers.

“You’ll
make the fans jealous, if they see you holding my hand.”

“I
suppose I will. But they’ll have to get over it. You’re my only girl now.”

“Was
it hard to get used to that…being recognized? Asked to sign body parts?”

Logan
laughed, letting go of her hands. “Aye, at first it was a bit odd. I was always
shocked that someone knew my name, especially after we were out of Scotland.
Everyone knew me there, but the first time it happened somewhere else, I was
completely thrown. But now, I’m fair used to it.” He sighed.

“Signing
arms though…that’s a first. She said she was going to get it made into a
tattoo.” He shook his head in disbelief. “That’s a new one on me. I asked her
what would happen if she decided someday she didn’t like my music. She said
she’d always love me anyway.”

Melody
grinned. “The price of fame, your name forever tattooed on a girl’s arm.”

“I’d
rather have it etched on someone’s heart.”

Melody
felt a rising blush in her cheeks and grew suddenly shy as she looked at Logan
over her water glass. The waiter arrived, taking their order, returning with a
bottle of wine. Logan poured them each a glass. Melody toyed with hers, wishing
she could push the afternoon out of her mind.

“You’re
distracted. Is something bothering you?” Logan was watching her closely, for
once his eyes serious, no playful smile lurking at the corners of his mouth.
He’s
worried…about me, or about us?

She
kept her eyes down, debating just how much to reveal. “Just work. It’s
been…busy. Melissa was let go so…it’s been hard.” She raised her eyes to his.

Logan
was looking at her, a frown creasing his handsome face. “I feel I’m letting you
down somehow. You’re so focused on me, the case…and I don’t know what’s going
on with you.”

“Oh,
Logan. You can’t think that way. I don’t think that at all. Please don’t feel
you’re neglecting me.”

She
reached across the table for his hand. “You have to admit this hasn’t been a
very conventional relationship so far. Please…don’t for a minute think you’re
lacking in any way. You have so much to think about, with the band, with
Ashton. I’m fine, really.”

Logan’s
lips curved up in a smile. “It’s just my manly pride that makes me think I
should take care of you, in every way, all the time. And I should know how. But
you’re right. This is anything but conventional.”

He
squeezed her hand. “And I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

They
made small talk for the rest of dinner, Melody artfully avoiding any further
conversation about work. But on the short walk back to Logan’s hotel, he held
her hand and she told him an abbreviated version of Melissa’s firing.

“It
was just such a shock. I thought everything was going well. But I guess I have
a lot to learn about managing staff.”

“You’ll
be fine. You’re good with people. Are you sure it was really Melissa and not
something else? Something from higher up?”

In
the soft darkness, Melody tensed. Did Logan suspect there was more happening at
work? Or was she that paranoid? There was no way she could explain what was
happening with Ryan; she didn’t really understand it herself.

“No,
nothing else. I guess I grew too dependent on her and now I’m paying the
price.”

They
took the elevator to Logan’s room. There were several bouquets of fresh flowers
in the room and Melody bent to an arrangement, inhaling the sweet scent of the
blooms.

“From
adoring fans?” Logan’s arms were around her waist, his chin resting on her
shoulder. She leaned back against him and he nuzzled her neck.

“No.
They’re for you. I want to send them to your office, but I didn’t think it
would be the right thing, you know? So, they’re here, for you to enjoy.”

She
turned to Logan, her lips parted to speak, but he caught her in a kiss. He held
her gently, and she melted against him, her words forgotten, all thoughts of
work and Ryan pushed from her mind.

Eventually
he broke the kiss, leading her solemnly to the bedroom. With gentle fingers he
undressed her, carefully placing each item of clothing on a chair. He held her
hands when she reached for the buttons on his shirt, gently walking her
backward until her legs brushed against the bed. She sat down, sliding back,
pulling her legs up onto the mattress.

Silently
Logan climbed beside her, lying next to her, his legs wrapped around hers. With
slow fingers he brushed the hair from her forehead, tracing a line down her
cheek, her throat, down to the tops of her breasts.

“You’re
the most beautiful thing I think I’ve ever seen. I’ve told you that but it’s
true. The first time I saw you, I thought you were magical, even if you were
insensible.”

He
was looking down at her, his eyes serious, his mouth quirking up at the
corners. “Insensible or not, you’re mine now. For as long as you’ll have me.”

His
lips were on hers again, firm and gentle at the same time, his tongue dancing
across her lips. She opened her lips and his tongue found hers, the kiss
deepening, intensifying.

For
Melody, everything seemed new, yet somehow familiar. The giddy sense of
excitement, of discovery, now came with the feeling of comfort and growing
ease. She ran her hands over his body, not with the rushing eagerness she’d
felt before, but with a slow purpose with the pleasure of knowing she felt safe
with Logan. Her fingers trailed lightly over his body, caressing him softly,
moving on to touch and fondle, caress and hold. 

Logan
leaned on one elbow, looking down at her, his fingers slowly drawing circles on
the soft skin of her breast “You’re different tonight…softer, slower. Relaxed.
I like it.” He kissed her forehead, her eyelids.

“I’m
happy.” The words slipped between her lips before she realized she’d spoken.
But as soon as she heard them, she knew it was true. She smiled at Logan, who
had an amused look on his face.

“I’m
glad. It’d be a terrible shame if you weren’t. I’d feel very guilty being the
only one here who’s happy.”

He
leaned over, claiming her breast with his mouth. Melody ran her fingers through
his hair, holding him against her. As he moved lower, kissing a wandering path
down her body, she sighed, shifting as he moved between her legs, his hands
resting beneath her, cupping her to him.

The
rest of her body felt weightless and as he used his mouth and tongue to slowly
drive her crazy, she felt as if everything was concentrated down to her core,
to the searing sensation of fire between her legs. The fire that grew, surging
up through her body, rising as she writhed and twisted on the bed.

Her
cries were muffled in the pillow, her body arching against Logan as he took her
over the edge.

He
held her for a long time, his head resting on her hip, his breath soft across
her stomach, as her breathing slowed, as her heart stopped thudding in her
chest. She ran one hand through his hair, and he looked up at her, a slow smile
spreading on his lips.

 Without
a word, he moved up her body, the weight of him slowly pinning her to the
sheets, pressing her down as he settled between her legs. When he took her, it
was slow and focused, each movement fanning the fire he’d started.

She
was breathless as she watched him, his face close to hers, his eyes moving over
her face, taking in every detail.

When
Logan came, he buried his head on Melody’s shoulder. No soft words this time,
no murmurs against her skin. She felt his mouth open against her neck, an
exhalation as he let go and then a sound so primal, so full of lust and passion
that it sent a shiver down her spine. He shook and trembled and she held him to
her, the power and force of his release so evident in his body.

After
a long time he pulled away, rolling onto his back. Again, he searched for her
hand, holding it fast in his, bringing it against his chest.

When
he spoke his voice was soft, far away. “Ye remind me of home, Melody. Of hills
and green and sudden storms that cover the mountains, wild with thrashing wind,
and then it’s calm with a rainbow. And the sun comes out and it’s warm again.”

He
turned toward her. “I’d want to take you there sometime, to walk in the
heather, and see the lochs. It would be grand, just us.”

 “I’d
like that. Just us.” She smiled, sighing. “Just us and no one else.” Curling
against his shoulder, she let herself enjoy the fantasy of running away to
Scotland with Logan.

It
was much later, after they’d come together again, that she heard him murmur the
Gaelic words he’d said before. She didn’t need to ask this time what they
meant. They settled on her heart, etching themselves there.

“I
love you too, Logan.”

She
searched in the dark for his hand, holding it against her heart.

* * *

Even
with the lack of sleep, Melody was at her desk well before anyone else. She
wanted to keep off of Ryan’s radar, do her job and concentrate on Logan’s case.
But she found herself drifting into thoughts of her night with Logan, his hands
on her skin, the combination of gentle and forceful. The Gaelic words she now
recognized as he spoke them softly while making love to her. She caught herself
sighing more than once, idly tapping her pen against her teeth.

The
chime of her email brought her back again from one more daydream. It was from
Lori. She clicked the icon and opened the attachment. It was the confirmation
of the filing for Logan’s case. Her heart did a little flip. Filings were
routine for her, but this meant they had taken the first step in hopefully
repairing the damage Jack Ashton had caused. Now it was just a matter of
waiting for Ashton’s answer and, as Melody had told Logan, the possibility of
Ashton’s counter-suit.

She
dialed Logan’s cell phone, re-reading the email as the call went through.

“Hello.”
Logan’s voice was groggy and Melody cringed.

“I
woke you. I’m sorry.”

“Aye,
but I don’t mind being woken by you, or your voice. I should be doing things
anyway, not lying about in bed.”

“I
have news. We filed today. It’s official.”

“Well,
then. That’s progress. I feel better now, even though I know the worst is yet
to come.”

“The
worst may be the public side of it all, depending on how Ashton reacts in the
press. You’ll have to be prepared to hear some pretty ugly things, I would
think.”