Chapter 2

Logan

The laptop screen snaps as I slam it shut. I suck in a few deep breaths while staring out over the marble balcony, trying to clear my head. A little sunlight and the sound of the water against the coast while catching up on emails was supposed to distract me from thinking about Aimee.

It isn’t working.

How can a woman get herself inside my head so quickly? I didn’t ask for any of this. I didn’t want any of this. This weekend was supposed to be a relaxing reprieve from working on the deal before things get really crazy again.

And then she showed up…

Everything has been fucking chaos ever since. She’s the only thing I can think about. The only thing I want is to be at her side. To be inside of her. She makes me feel more complete than I’ve ever felt before.

My cock lurches.

Christ. It’s waking up again.

I’m usually able to control my urges, but there’s something about Aimee that turns me on in a primal way. There haven’t been many women in my life that could do that to me.

It’s just one more thing…

The clap of footsteps in the hallway pulls me back to the real world. I turn to find Mara staring at me from inside the bedroom. She’s wearing her blue bikini with that lacy thing she likes to wrap around her shoulders. There’s no denying she has a nice body, but there’s always been something about her that just doesn’t do it for me. I’ve never been even remotely tempted by her.

She smirks in a way that doesn’t help my mood.

“What is it?” I ask, hoping she’ll take the hint.

She draws her smile out for a moment before responding. Perhaps it’s her way of asserting control.

“I just had a lovely little chat with Lucas,” she says, finally. 

She makes a show of walking out onto the balcony and sitting in one of the sling lounges across from me.

“Are we still on schedule?” I ask, refusing to play her game.

“Everything should be ready next week, just as planned. Lucas isn’t going to be a problem.”

My brow pulls together. 

“Should?”

Mara looks out over the sound, taking her sweet time to answer the question.

“I know you think you know what’s best when it comes to… everything… but I still have my suspicions.”

“This is about Aimee again?”

She gives me an amused look.

“I made sure she won’t be an issue.”

My gut tightens.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” 

Her mouth gapes in mocked admonishment.

“There’s no need for that kind of language, Logan. You were delaying the inevitable by keeping her around. So, I…” she flicks her hand, “sped things up.”

Did she say something to Aimee? Is that why she wasn’t acting like herself?

“I’m not in the mood for games, Mara. Just tell me what you did.”

My tone is hard enough to wipe the playfulness off her face.

“I made her an offer that she can’t refuse.”

“You threatened her?”

“Oh, heavens no,” she says, her eyes wide. “There’s no need for anything that drastic.” She tilts her head to the side. “She’s just after some money—like all the rest. Instead of beating around the bush, I just made her an offer.”

I can’t believe what I’m hearing.

“You paid her off?”

Her smile spreads even wider.

“I must admit she surprised me. Turns out that girl can be quite the negotiator…”

“Negotiated? What are you talking about?”

Mara flicks her hand, dismissively. 

“She demanded I double my original offer. And I agreed to it immediately. Honestly, I would have paid that much twice over to be done with her…”

“How much?”

“Two million.”

I’m floored.

“That’s nothing. Why would she agree to that?”

Mara tilts her head and gives me a patronizing grin.

“Oh, darling. You’re dreadfully out of touch. Two million might be nothing to us, but to most people it’s life changing.”

I hold back a wince. Of course it’s a lot of money to most people—I know that. I only meant it’s nothing compared to what I’d lavish her with, just to put a smile on her face.

“When did you talk to her?”

“Before dinner. I found her in your kitchen… Really, you need to do a better job of hiding your little trysts.” Mara shrugs a shoulder. “I was honestly surprised she showed up to dinner at all. When I left her, she was so excited I expected her to pack her things and leave straightaway…”

So that’s why Mara had shown up to the banquet after me. And it’s also why Aimee took longer than I expected. This is all my fault. I never should have left her in there by herself. I never should have put her in that situation.

“Get out.”

Mara’s eyes widen in surprise.

“Oh, come now. Don’t get all bent out of shape. I did it for your own good.”

I round on her.

“I said get the fuck out.” My glare is ice-cold. “I don’t want to see your face again until we leave. I don’t want to hear your voice until we’re back in the City. So get… the fuck… out.”

Mara looks like she’s about to say something, but things better of it. Her nostrils flare and her jaw clenches. With a huff she pulls the lacy thing around herself and storms into the master suite before disappearing into the mansion.