Broken Melody (Rock With You #2) Rock Star Romance (4 page)

Logan
held her close. “It’s part of the history of the place and if nothing else,
Scots love their history.

His
hands were roaming over her now, restlessly exploring her back, sliding down to
cup her ass. He pressed himself against her and it was clearly evident where
this was heading, brushed teeth or not.

“We
have a monster, too, ye ken.” A corner of his mouth quirked up in a devilish
grin.

“You
do? Where?” Melody raised an eyebrow in return.

“Well,
they say it’s in Loch Ness…but…” He pulled her hard against him, his hips
pushed against hers.

“I
think we’ve got one in the room with us. Would you like to see it, Melody? I’d
be happy to show it to you.”

She
was laughing when his lips captured hers, her giggles lost in his kiss. After a
moment she broke away, looking up at him.

“I
think you better let him out, then. By the feel of things he’s a persistent
little monster.”

Logan
snorted. “Little? Woman, haven ye not been paying any attention? Little…I’ll
show you little.”

He
had her on the bed then, his hands tugging at her jeans and his, over her
laughter and squeals of delight. Her laughter changed to other sounds as he
finally removed enough clothing, lying between her legs, sliding into her.

When
they were done, lying spent and gasping, Logan raised up on one elbow. His dark
eyes were alight with such a range of emotions, chiefly love, followed closely
by the teasing glint that had returned, all of them so welcome after the pain
and sadness she’d seen there.

“I’ll
dare you to call it little again, Melody.”

She
struggled to sit up, leaning back. “And if I do?”

“Aye,
well, then I’ll have to prove you wrong.”

He
leaned over, kissing her hard. “And it’s something I’d gladly prove wrong, as
many times a day as I can.”

* * *

The
flight back was much more enjoyable for Melody than the trip from New York. She
and Logan discussed the case, all the possible scenarios that could play out
with Ashton.

Logan
finally brought up Ryan and asked what Melody was going to do when she was back
in the office. She could hear the tension in his voice.

“I
can’t hide from him, but I can’t let him manipulate me anymore. But I’m certain
that if I file a complaint against him, right now he’ll manipulate it to look
like my fault. And I’ll lose everything I’ve worked for. And I don’t want to
jeopardize your case either. I think, for now, until your case is settled, I’m
just going to have to put up with him.”

She
sighed, leaning her head against Logan’s shoulder. The sun had set and it was
dark as they flew over the Atlantic.

“I’m
sleepy and I don’t want to think about Ryan right now.”

Logan
laughed. “Fair enough. There’s time to think about him when we’re in New York.
Just a question though, something to think about. If you had a witness to his
harassment, would it make a difference? It wouldn’t be your word against his
anymore, would it?”

Melody
looked up at Logan, a frown creasing her brow. “You mean like what you saw at
my apartment? I’m not sure…he wasn’t at work then.” She closed her eyes, and he
slid an arm around her, pulling her against him.

She
was almost asleep and his voice so low she wasn’t sure if she really heard him,
or if she’d imagined it when he spoke.

“That’s
not quite what I meant.”

* * *

Victoria
greeted her warmly if not a little cautiously as Melody walked toward her
office. She stopped in her doorway, a little shocked at the chaos that was her
desk. Victoria trailed behind her, another stack of files in her hands. Melody
scowled at her desk before dropping her purse on the floor and sinking into her
desk chair. She waved Victoria toward the chair opposite the desk. But Victoria
hesitated in the doorway.

“Mr.
Marshall asked that I tell him when you’re here…”

Melody
held up one hand. “I am perfectly capable of letting Mr. Marshall know that I’m
back. Have a seat and tell me what’s what here.”

Victoria
sat down, leafing through the stack of files in her hands. “Well, there’s not
much, actually. Most of these have been handled by Mr. Marshall and Lori. The
things on your desk are copies and confirmations. I haven’t had a chance to
file everything yet.”

“What
about the MacKenzie-Ashton case?”

Victoria
shook her head. “Mr. Marshall has the file and from what Lori said, is now the
lead attorney. So I’m out of the loop on that. She said he’d address the
counterclaim himself.”

Victoria
looked up in alarm as Melody muttered a curse under her breath.

“I’m
sorry if I did anything…”

“No,
Victoria, you didn’t. It’s fine.” She passed a hand across her face, forcing
herself to smile. “I’m suffering from a bit of jet lag.”

“Did
you have a nice trip? You left so suddenly. I hope it wasn’t an emergency.”

“It
was an emergency but it turned out for the best.”

Melody
rose. “I’m going up to Ryan’s…Mr. Marshall’s office. If you could…” she waved
her hand across her desk. “I guess file everything and put them in some kind of
order. I’ll be back to look at them later.”

In
the elevator Melody tried to control her anger at Ryan. There were grounds for
taking over the case in her absence, but without Logan’s knowledge, he couldn’t
just appoint himself lead council.

Lori
looked up and Melody noticed the look of surprise on the woman’s face. Melody
knocked at Ryan’s door and she heard Ryan’s muffled voice from inside.

He
was sitting at his work table, files and papers spread out around him. He
looked up, a smile spreading across his face.

“Melody.
Glad to see you. Your trip was shorter than you anticipated, I see. But I
assure you, you were missed every minute you were gone.”

Ryan
stood, coming toward Melody, taking her gently by the elbow. The touch of his
hand on her arm made her cringe and she tried hard not to pull away. “Sit. We
have things to discuss.” He held the chair for her and she reluctantly took a
seat.

“Ryan…”

Ryan
held up a hand. “Let me start. I’m not going to reprimand you for your leave.
It’s in the past. We’ll just move forward from there.”

“Alright.”

“But
I did need to step in on a few cases, most notably the MacKenzie-Ashton case.”
He raised an eyebrow, regarding Melody from across the table.

“I
assume you’re still seeing your client?” He shook his head, looking at her
disapprovingly.

“I
have yet to say anything to the other partners, since I have no actual proof, just
a very substantial amount of circumstantial evidence, and a very strong hunch.
And I always go with my hunches.”

Melody
glared at Ryan. “You’ve done enough damage. Things are…” Her voice trailed off
and she dropped her eyes, twisting her hands in her lap. She really did not
want to discuss her relationship with Ryan.

Ryan
was watching her closely. “Things are not so good in paradise? I can’t say I’d
be unhappy knowing that, if that’s the case.”

“It’s
really none of your concern.” She raised her eyes, meeting his gaze.

“What
concerns you concerns me, especially if it affects your work here at the firm.
And let’s talk about that. Ashton is filing a counterclaim, as you know. Breach
of contract. We’ll need to have Mr. MacKenzie interviewed in light of these new
questions. I’d like to have that happen this week…in the next couple days. Do
you think that could be arranged? We’ll conduct that interview together.”

Ryan
waved a finger at Melody, a smirk on his face. “No leaving you two alone here.”

Melody
felt her anger rising again, but fought to maintain control. “Ryan, I’m still
capable of doing my job. And you can’t appoint yourself lead attorney just
because.”

Rising
from his chair, Ryan walked behind Melody. The snick of the door closing softly
behind her made her jump, and then Ryan’s hands were on her shoulders, his
fingers rubbing her shoulders, thumbs working into the nape of her neck.

“I
haven’t. If you heard that, you heard it from someone who doesn’t know what
they’re talking about.”

His
fingers were sliding slowly down the front of her blouse. “Melody, when I tell
that the health of your professional career is in my hands…” His fingers slid
lower, brushing the tops of her breasts. “…I am not exaggerating. You are
hanging by that proverbial thread and I am the only one who can pull you back.”

The
touch of his hands on Melody was almost too much, but she gritted her teeth,
tense in the chair.

“What
do you want from me, Ryan?”

“The
same thing I’ve wanted all along. You. Your success. But mostly you.”

His
breath was stirring the hair near her ear. She closed her eyes, willing him to
let go of her. But he leaned closer, his lips brushing her ear.

“I’m
still waiting for you to see the light, Melody. I’m hoping when this case is
over, you’ve won, and the client has departed to be a rock star on the road,
leaving you in the dust, you’ll come to your senses. Until then, I can only be
supportive…” Ryan leaned over, kissing the side of her neck “…and persistent.”

There
was a soft knock at the door. With unhurried ease, Ryan removed his hands from
her shoulders. Melody turned, watching as Ryan moved with unhurried calm to the
door. Lori was there, holding a file.

“Sorry
to interrupt, but I need a signature.”

“Fine.
No trouble.” Ryan took the file, reading as he walked to his desk. Melody
glanced at Lori and found the woman looking at her intently. She wondered for a
moment if a button had come undone on her blouse, but she couldn’t very well
check now.

“Here
you are. Are you filing this now?” Ryan handed the file back to Lori.

“Yes.
In the next hour or so. I’ll email you the confirmation.”

As
she left, Lori gave another pointed glance in Melody’s direction.
What’s
with her today? Am I on everyone’s black list?

Ryan
returned to the table, leaving the door open. Melody was wary but for the next
half hour he discussed the MacKenzie-Ashton case, laying out a strategy for her
to follow in interviewing Logan.

“I
think you should schedule that interview soon. Tomorrow, if possible. I suspect
you know how to reach Mr. MacKenzie on such short notice?”

Melody
grimaced at the condescending tone in Ryan’s voice, but chose to ignore it.

“Yes,
I’ll have Victoria make the arrangements and let you know.” Melody rose,
turning toward the door. She felt Ryan behind her and as she stepped out of his
office she felt his hand briefly brushed against her hip in an all-too familiar
gesture.

“Remember:
we’re on the same page here. We want success for you, and we do want to win
this case. Remember that, Melody.”

* * *

Logan
had checked into a small hotel not far from Melody’s office. She met him there
after work, excited to see him again, but still irritated by Ryan and his
latest advances.

“I
had room service send up something for dinner. I think it’s best if we stay out
of sight for a time, rather than give Ashton any more ammunition for his case.”

Melody
dropped her purse and coat on the couch, walking into Logan’s open embrace. She
nuzzled against his chest, breathing in the complex scent of his aftershave,
clean soap and the underlying scent of Logan himself, rich and warm and utterly
masculine.

“I
think you’re brilliant.” She smiled up at him, taking in the lines of his face,
his eyes, and his sensuous mouth. Out of habit and now almost an obsession, she
traced his lips with her fingers. He looked more rested than he had in days,
but there was worry and tension in his eyes, in the way he held his mouth. The
case and especially the breakup of the band, which he had yet to talk about,
were weighing on him.

He
held her gently, his lips on hers, and for a moment all thoughts of the case
and Ashton and Ryan left her mind. When he broke the kiss, she sighed.

“I
wish we could just stay here, in a cocoon, for a long, long time.”

“Aye,
I’d gladly agree. But, we’re stuck with what we have at the moment. A case and
a jackass. Actually two jackasses.”

“That
reminds me. Did you get a call from the office, from my paralegal? Ryan wants
to interview you as soon as possible.”

“She
did call. Left a message.” Logan pulled his cell phone out of his pocket,
scrolling through the messages.

“I
wanted to ask you first about it, before I agreed. Make sure I wasn’t being set
up again.” He gave her a wry grin. “I’m not fond of being set up by that man.”