Heart of Steel

Chapter 8

“Hi.”

“Hi.”

“Why are you—”

“I tried to—”

They both stopped at once and laughed together. Logan moved further into the conference room. Chandler shifted her feet. Her eyes roved over his figure, and she knew a silly grin tugged at her lips. She’d tossed and turned most of the night, haunted by erotic images dancing behind her closed eyelids that kept her from sleep. Now, with him standing before her, she felt like a teenager seeing her boyfriend after a night of heavy necking. “What were you going to say?” She fought the impulse to pull his head toward her for a long, passionate kiss.

His gaze focused on her mouth. “No, I interrupted you. Ladies first.”

The musky scent of his aftershave drifted in the air and teased her senses. “Why are you here so early? I thought you had a big meeting.”

He took a step forward and reached out to grasp a stray tendril of hair. Slowly, he wrapped the silky strand around his finger. “The meeting was rescheduled. I can’t make class tonight.”

She fought to keep the disappointment from showing and nodded her head. “Oh, sure, I understand.”

He released the lock of hair and trailed his fingers down the line of her jaw toward the wildly beating pulse at her neck. “I tried to call you this morning but I got your voice mail.”

“I had an early class. I didn’t sleep well, so I decided I might as well get up and do some work.” The moment the lack of sleep admission left her lips Chandler felt heat rush to her cheeks. Logan pounced.

“Didn’t sleep?” He gave a lazy smile. “Any particular reason?”

She cursed his sexy good looks and his damn confidence. Yesterday had been perfect. They played a rousing poker game, ate lunch with the residents, and took a stroll around the lake. He showed her a different side to his personality, a softness, and when the day ended he walked her to the car with a polite kiss good-bye.

His eyes told her he wanted to strip her naked and make love to her. His body told her he remembered every intimate detail and would claim her soon—when the time was right. Somehow, his polite kiss only made her fire burn hotter.

She wondered how many “morning-afters” had he gone through in his life? Was he used to putting a woman at ease and setting her up for the next time? Was it all just a bunch of bedroom games after all? He was way out of her league. Women probably threw themselves at him on a daily basis, all of them sexually experienced and quite capable of clever repartee after an encounter.

“No particular reason.” She tried to look unconcerned by the hand gliding down her throat to hover at the top of her breasts. Already, her body began to melt under his touch. Her nipples thrust toward the material of her sweat suit in bold demand. “I got caught up in an old movie. It ended after midnight.”

He laughed. “Liar,” he taunted. “You were up all night imagining what it would have been like if I made love to you.” He leaned over. His warm breath rushed over her lips. “You wondered what it would be like if I thrust deeply inside your body, over and over, until you were part of me.”

Chandler trembled. She wanted everything he described. “Yes,” she said, halfway terrified of the intense feelings she had.

Satisfaction carved out his features. He cupped her face with his hands and lowered his mouth. “Then kiss me. Let me show you how much I want the same thing.”

His lips covered hers. He sipped from her mouth lovingly, and slid his tongue between her lips to touch hers, imitating the merging their bodies would do. With a low moan, she opened and invited him in, shaken by the sweetness of the kiss.

He pulled away and smiled down at her. “Can we have dinner after my meeting?” he asked.

“I can’t. I’m meeting Harry for dinner.”

“Cancel.”

She sighed at his dark scowl. “No.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m not going to let you bully me! I told you Harry is a friend and nothing more. He needs to talk and I can’t let him down.”

He studied the stubborn tilt to her chin. “Is he gay?”

“No!”

“Girlfriend? Wife?”

“No.”

“Then I don’t trust him. He wants to be more than your friend. I know how men work.”

She took a deep breath. “Most of the conversation tonight will center around the woman he’s had a crush on for months. He hasn’t been able to get up the nerve to ask her out yet.”

“Who is she?”

She tried to keep the smile from her voice. “Her name is Rachael. She’s a stenographer who does a lot of work for McKenzie & Tetenbaum. Harry’s had a crush on her since she started, but he’s afraid she isn’t interested.”

He digested that, his face stony. “I still don’t like it.”

“I’m going, Logan. You’re going to have to trust me.”

For a while he didn’t speak. Then he reached for her. He dragged her against him and kissed her with combined frustration and hunger. Chandler surrendered, recognizing his need to assert control over the situation.

Breathless, she waited for his response when the embrace ended. A shutter dropped over his face. His hands clenched into tight fists. Knowing he had no choice but to accept her decision, Chandler waited for him to admit his uneasy feelings but concede defeat.

“I’ll call you tonight at nine thirty. That should give you two plenty of time to catch up and return home.” His tone held a firm warning. “Be waiting for my call or take the consequences.” He turned and strode out of the room and left her gaping at his back. By the time she recovered her power of speech, he was gone.

So much for compromise.

Cursing fluently under her breath, she stomped over to the easel and dragged it to the front of the room to set up her display of nutritional charts. The man was impossible. As soon as she started to think he could learn to be fair and open-minded in a relationship, he pulled a stunt like this. Demanding she be available for his call? Caveman tactics that should be extinct. He actually thought every woman he met would meekly accept the ground rules he threw out, grateful for the honor of being involved with the mighty Logan Grant.

Well, this yoga teacher would show him a lesson or two.

“Chandler?”

She shook off her thoughts and turned at the sound of a voice in the doorway. Jim Chrisetta hovered in the entrance of the conference room, a tall, lanky figure with dark hair and serious brown eyes. He always seemed to be the most somber in the group, taking her instructions as intensely as he did his financial sheets. They had spoken a few times and she’d been impressed with the responsibility he felt toward his wife and daughter. But Chandler knew responsibility sometimes took a drain on one’s own energy and left a person vulnerable to the stresses of life. She only hoped Logan recognized the sensitivity in Jim and saved his job.

With a bright smile, she waved him in. “Come on over, I was just setting up for class. Boy, do you have an exciting night ahead. By the time you leave, you’ll know everything about the fat contained in food, the benefits of vegetables, and how to discipline yourself not to have that second piece of chocolate cake.”

He smiled back and took a tentative step toward her. “I wondered if you had a minute to talk. I know I’m early and I don’t want to take time away from your preparation.”

She dropped the charts on the table and walked over. “Don’t be silly, I have this stuff memorized.” She studied him for a few moments, noticing the slight droop to his shoulders and the deep worry in his eyes. She dropped down on the mat and eased herself into Lotus position. “Come and sit down. Relax for a few minutes.”

He looked down at his business suit and then at her. He seemed to think it over, wondering if he dare wrinkle his freshly pressed slacks. Then with one determined motion he sat down on the mat. Chandler bit her lip at the satisfied look on his face from the tiny act of rebellion. “What’s up?”

“I’m going to be fired.”

She managed to keep her expression neutral. Had Logan spoken with him already? Were there rumors floating around? She kept her tone calm and even. “What makes you say that, Jimmy?”

“I don’t know if you’re familiar with the deal Logan’s working on with Thomas Weatherall. Tommy has a pretty healthy investment business, and the merger between them is friendly. We won’t have to set up new management, so Tommy will remain on top, with Logan overseeing the whole project. Anyway, Tommy gave us an important tip about a small computer company called Vicomdata that he wanted to acquire. Saw great potential in the creative staff. Vicomdata wanted nothing to do with a merger and wanted to remain independent. Logan was able to finagle placing one of his people into the company to get information about a specific loan. Once confirmation was received, Logan would be able to buy the loan out and force the company’s hand.”

“He used a corporate spy?”

He looked uncomfortable with the term but nodded. “Yeah. We all got a confidential fax regarding the status, and were warned not to leak any information. Well, the guy at Vicomdata used to work with me, and is actually a friend. Name is Charlie. Rumor must have gotten to someone over there—God knows how, and one night I get a call.”

He shook his head in disgust. “I was working overtime to catch up on some paperwork. I had at least three deadlines due by morning, and was still getting my feet wet on the job, so needless to say I wasn’t thinking too clearly. I spoke with a manager at Vicomdata who pretended to know Charlie well, and basically got me to confirm that he’s one of Logan’s employees. It happened so fast I didn’t even realize I had slipped up. The next morning, Charlie was fired from Vicomdata and back here without the information. Needless to say, Logan wasn’t too pleased. We lost the edge on the deal and a large future profit.”

Chandler let the story shift through her mind. “Jimmy, do you like your new position in management?”

He shrugged. “It’s okay. I enjoyed my old job better. I’m not crazy about telling people what to do and always calling the shots. But when Logan offered me a management opportunity I realized it was more money and prestige. This is the first promotion I ever got. My wife was really proud.”

She smiled. “When someone offers you a promotion it confirms you’re doing a good job.”

“Exactly.”

“But if your reward is to be locked into a position which makes you unhappy, do you think it’s worth it?”

He frowned. “I don’t know. I never thought about it. A promotion is supposed to be for the better.”

“Yes, that’s the idea. But sometimes a person doesn’t realize a simple raise would have done just as nicely.”

Jimmy nodded. “That’s what I wanted. But I couldn’t let Logan down. He was trying to help me.”

“How do you know you’ll be fired?”

“Logan will have no choice. Tommy was mad as hell for the screw up, so he’ll probably order me fired. Logan wants the merger so he’ll have to listen. And my old job is already filled, which leaves me out.”

Chandler almost winced at the correct assumption. She searched for a way out of the mess he was in. She couldn’t promise he wouldn’t be fired, no matter how much she wished she could. She needed to show him he’d be able to handle the situation.

“Okay, so you made a mistake. You were caught off guard, and this manager used your friendship with Charlie to get information. Quite unethical in my eyes, but I know business is business.”

His shoulders sagged. “Yeah.”

“Do you really think you should be fired because of one screw up in the last—”

“Four years.”

“Four years,” she continued.

“It was a big mistake. I probably deserve it.”

She thought about his remark. “Be honest with me. You’re a person who worries a lot, right?”

He grinned sheepishly. “That’s what my wife says. Yeah, I like to make sure all my responsibilities are taken care of.”

“When you get up in the morning, what thought is always in the back of your mind? What is your greatest fear, the thing you worry about on a daily basis?”

“Well, I guess that would be what just happened. Or what’s going to happen. Being fired.”

“Exactly. What scares you the most about being fired?”

He looked puzzled by the question. “I was afraid of not being able to support my family. Being called a failure. Feeling like a failure.”

“Do you feel like a failure?”

“No. I messed up, but I don’t think that negates the last four years of doing well.”

“Exactly.” She leaned forward. “Do you realize you’re finally free? Your worst fear is about to be confirmed. You’re going to get fired. And you’re still okay with yourself. They can’t take away your own inner core. You can get another job. You can follow a dream you’ve always had. You can march into Logan’s office, free of your fear, and tell him why he’ll be making the biggest mistake of his life if he fires you. From now on, any job you hold won’t have a hold on you. Your wife and baby is what's most important. Now you’ll be able to give them more of yourself, because your work won’t be holding all the cards.”

Jimmy stared down at the mat. She held her breath and hoped he understood what she said. She wanted him to be free of all the fear and stress he held close to his heart. If he realized there was a whole world out there and losing a job shouldn’t destroy his self respect. In fact, it could open up a new realm of possibilities. If he could only see…

Jimmy looked up. He smiled. Her heart lifted at the look on his face. He understood. The deep lines of worry that normally creased his brow disappeared. A determined glint shone in his serious brown eyes. She’d gotten through to him.

She smiled back. “Okay?”

Jimmy nodded. “Okay.” He got up from the mat, swiping at the wrinkles in his slacks, straightening his jacket and tie. “You know, Logan is usually a fair guy. He’d probably give me a good referral. Or I could even go back to school. I always wanted to finish up my Masters degree.”

“Anything is possible.” She watched him walk to the door, his shoulders set in a determined line. “Jimmy?”

“Yeah?”

“Do me a favor. Don’t forget about the deep breathing I taught you. Always focus. Never take life too seriously. And I promise to send you copies of the nutritional charts in the mail.”

He laughed. “Thanks. My biggest screw up was not listening to you in the first place. If I’d just taken a couple of deep breaths to calm down, I probably wouldn’t have slipped. Next time I won’t make that mistake.”

She watched him walk out the door. After a few moments she eased herself up from the mat. There was no way she would let Jimmy lose his job without a fight.

She needed to think of a plan.

“Mr. Grant?”

Logan swivelled around in his leather chair. A tall man with silver hair stood in the door way dressed impeccably in a black suit and red silk tie. Green eyes stared back at Logan with an openly assessing gaze. The man’s shoes were polished to perfection, and a gleaming gold Rolex flashed from his wrist. Everything about the man shimmered with raw energy.

For a moment Logan felt thrown by the striking resemblance Alexander Santell bore to his daughter. Logan carefully screened his expression to attain an element of blandness. Santell was a powerful adversary if crossed, and until Logan knew what game the man was playing it would be wise not to show any other thoughts that crossed his mind.

“Mr. Santell, please come in. I wasn’t expecting you until six.” Logan stood to welcome the man.

Santell strode across the room in long, graceful strides and reached out to grasp Logan’s hand in greeting. “I was able to wrap up my last meeting very quickly, and I thought it would be nice to talk to you alone before my lawyer and associate arrive for our conference.”

Logan nodded, but couldn’t help but be struck by the powerful aura the man projected. “I see. Please, take a seat. Would you like coffee, brandy?”

“No, thank you. Damn doctors are constantly on my case to cut my intake of caffeine and alcohol. I say if you can’t live the way you want why bother tacking on a couple of years?”

Logan smiled, and sat back in his chair, settling himself comfortably. “I agree with you. There seems to be problems with everything we eat and drink today. I’m just waiting until they tell us the air we breathe has been poisoned for the last decade.”

Alexander Santell let out a rich, booming laugh. They studied each other for a few moments, making mental notes. “So, have you thought about my offer?”

Logan nodded and kept his expression bland. “I must admit I’m curious. My employees and I have been trying to secure a meeting with you for a while, but you’ve insisted you want nothing to do with a merger. Then, suddenly, the offer of a lifetime drops in my lap. Naturally, I’ve been interested in your change of heart.”

Santell’s eyes narrowed. “And well you should. I don’t want my company merged with someone who trusts every offer thrown at him. I need someone who has the ruthlessness and business sense I’ve had since I was young. All the trade journals and even my fellow associates say, you’re the man of steel. I know quite well how you received your nickname. The real story, that is.”

Logan’s tone held a faint warning. “I don’t discuss my past, Santell, neither with my friends nor enemies. As you don’t fit in either category yet, I advise you to keep the topic to business.”

Santell gave another booming laugh. “Yes, I’m sure you would. But what if this business contract happens to involve my daughter?”

The mention of Chandler threw Logan for a few moments, before he quickly gathered his composure. A lazy smile curved his lips. “I had a feeling she’d be mentioned in this little chat. I assume you know we’re working together?”

“Hell, yes, I knew the moment she walked into your office. What surprised me was the reason you accepted her offer. Every other company in the city laughed her out of the office. Yet, you agreed to the proposal. Your actions made me start wondering. Do you mind if I smoke?”

Logan waved for him to continue as he reached for an ashtray he kept in the top drawer. The older man opened his jacket and pulled out a cigar. He clipped the tip, lit it, and drew the smoke into his mouth, sighing with pleasure.

“God, the Cubans sure know how to make a cigar.” He paused, enjoying his smoke while Logan waited. “I wondered about the real reason you accepted her offer. Knowing your business savvy, I doubted it was for the classes. So, it came down to two choices. Either you were interested in becoming involved with my daughter personally, or you decided it would be good to have her working for you as leverage.”

“Leverage?” Logan tapped the pen absently against the edge of the desk. “What kind of leverage?”

The older man grinned. “You’re a smart man. The moment she walked into your office you must have known she was my daughter, once worked for me, and that we haven’t spoken on an intimate level in years. You must also know how desperately I want her to marry the right man. Hell, I worry about her constantly. Ever since she started this crazy yoga business I hoped one day she’d come to her senses. She needs someone to show her she belongs in my company. But since she won’t talk to me, let alone run it, my second option is to give it to the man she marries and hope she takes her rightful place. I have a feeling the man could be you.”

Logan’s expression never changed. The steady tap-tap-tap of the pen was the only sound in the room. He gazed at the older man across the desk as the pieces of the puzzle finally fit together. Alexander Santell had made his first mistake by assuming he knew all the details of Chandler’s past. His more deadly mistake, was assuming he could manipulate Logan as he did his former business executive—namely Michael Worthington. The thought of the man who was once Chandler’s fiancee turned Logan’s stomach and made his gut wrench.

“What if I don’t want to marry her?” Logan asked.

A glitter of triumph lit moss green eyes. “Oh, I think the idea appeals to you immensely. Besides getting my company, you’d get my daughter. From my detective’s report the other night, it seems the two of you are on more intimate terms.”

Logan dropped his casual demeanor. He leaned over the desk, every muscle drawn with tension. His fist clenched over the pen he held and he lowered his voice to a silky pitch. “Listen to me and listen well, Santell. If you ever send another person to track me or your daughter, I’ll destroy you. If you know me half as well as you think you do, you’ll realize I don’t make threats. I make promises.”

The older man smoked his cigar. Slowly, he nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. “Point taken. It seems you’re more involved than I originally thought. Another reason to think about my offer. I miss my little girl, and I worry about her. I think you’d be a very good match.”

“As good as the last one?”

Alexander waved the question away. “That was a mistake from the beginning. Worthington wasn’t strong enough for her, and I regret the episode. He ended up ruining my entire relationship with my daughter. I admit I made a mistake when the deal of a lifetime was dropped in my lap. I needed to get my daughter married fast. I thought Worthington would be perfect for her. It didn’t seem like a bad idea at the time, since Chandler started to stray. I figured a marriage would help her settle down and focus.” He shrugged massive shoulders in an innocent gesture. “It would have worked if Worthington had been the right man.” Alexander pointed his cigar at him. “But I have a gut instinct about you, Grant. I think beneath your cool exterior, you have real feelings for Chandler. And I know you’ll make my company profitable.”

Santell stood up and stamped out his cigar in the ashtray. “The flock should be here in a few minutes to go over the details. If you agree, I’ll deliver on my promise when the ring is on her finger.”

Logan caught the triumphant expression on the man’s face and knew Santell thought the game was over. As an experienced player, Santell had recognized his hunger, and offered to feed it. Logan smothered a groan and cursed himself for letting his emotions about Chandler show so clearly. He’d gain a lucrative contract that would put L&G Brokerage over the top. And he’d finally possess Chandler, body and soul.

All he had to do was agree to the deal.

The swirling emotions ripped at his gut as he gazed at her father. Logan knew if he accepted the proposal, Alexander Santell would control him. If Chandler ever found out their marriage was based on her father’s business deals, he’d lose his chance at gaining her heart.

“And if I don’t agree?” Logan asked.

Disappointment glimmered briefly in Santell’s eyes. He shrugged again. “Then you don’t get the contract. And, because of my displeasure I may have to encourage my suppliers and business associates to put a little pressure on you. The contract with Weatherall was superb, by the way, but nothing like what I can do for you.” He turned to go, then stopped at the door. “Oh, I also forgot to mention that Chandler is quite sensitive to any ruthless dealings in business. It would be a shame to have to tell her all the details of your past, wouldn’t it?”

Logan chuckled. “I heard you like to play hardball. Again, I warn you not to involve her in your little games. You’ll regret it.”

Santell nodded. “Thank you for listening to my proposal.”

“It was enlightening. Did you ever stop to think about what Chandler might want?” Logan ground out. “Or does that even matter to you?”

Santell laughed. “Her welfare is what is most important. I’ve been taking care of her since she was a little girl, and I know what’s best. She may not realize it, but this will make her happy.”

“You’re a real son of a bitch, Santell.”

Logan heard the older man’s laughter as he walked out of the office. Swivelling back around in his chair, he stared blindly out the window and watched the hazy colors of sunset settle over the smog infested city. He raked his fingers through his hair and cursed under his breath. Things were becoming more and more complicated ever since Chandler Santell walked into his life.

What the hell was he going to do?

He groaned and replayed the confrontation. He’d learned a few interesting things about his adversary. First, in his own twisted way he loved his daughter. Second, the prime motivation driving him was the fear he was getting older and had no one to leave his legacy to. Evidently, he’d been taught that bullying the people he loved was a good way to control them, but that had ended up pushing everyone away.

Including Chandler.

Logan considered his options. A few years ago there would have been no doubt as to his actions. A contract with Santell’s finance company would put him at the top for a very long time. He would have achieved everything he set out to do—make his mark on the world. But now, there was Chandler to consider, and her reaction if she knew her father was trying to buy her another husband, who happened to be another corporate executive.

Logan had a pretty good idea her reaction would not be favorable. To either him or her father.

A sudden thought danced before his mind, and he paused before the window. Her father wanted to marry her off to a businessman, and he was the perfect target. But Alexander Santell was a smart man. He’d have a back-up plan to cover his gamble.

Richard Thorne.

Logan muttered an oath under his breath as the final piece fell into place. That was the reason his attorney was interested in Chandler. He’d bet his entire company Thorne had been approached with a nice fat carrot. Marry the daughter and gain the company. Prove yourself and get a prize. The old man was playing both of them at once, and whoever came out on top would win.

He shook his head with disgust. Now Chandler was in the middle of a war she knew nothing about. Somehow, there had to be a way to get everything. Without hurting Chandler.

Logan rose from his chair and buzzed his secretary to bring in a pot of strong coffee. It was going to be a long night. And he didn’t want to even think about Chandler meeting Harry for their dinner appointment this evening.

He wondered how a simple yoga teacher could wreak such havoc in his once logical, orderly life.