Eclipse of the Heart

chapter 6

Tuesday morning, Logan strode off the elevator, alarmed at the scent of pines that assaulted him. An unwelcome memory of Christmases past rushed over him – tall trees gracing their enormous family room, Lauren and he hanging their ornaments with pride. Music was always present, as was the scent of cider steaming on the stove, and sugar cookies baking in the oven. Surrounding everything, always, was the love of their parents.

A love he wished he'd never known. Its loss was too painful.

He banished the memories with a sharp verbal attack.

"Rosie!" Damn it, why had Ms. Lockwood gone and developed complications from her surgery? Rosie had turned the outer office into an enchanted village on steroids.

Was that a Santa sleigh outside his office, piled high with colorful presents? And who on earth had brought in the live tree and festooned it with lights and gleaming ornaments, complete with an angel on top?

"Yes, sir." Rosie sprang out of her chair, the Santa's hat on her head bobbing like Old Nick's belly.

"What the hell is the meaning of this?" He waved an arm to encompass the tree, the glittery red garlands curving across the windows, and, most important of all, Rosie's outfit. Red and white striped stockings? Black biker boots? Some kind of green felt jacket?

"This is a professional office," he barked. "Have Martha Stewart's elves paid us a visit?"

"It's Christmas," she said, her blue eyes wide. "I always decorate."

"This is not your home. This is a place where I try to conduct serious business."

"There's no need to be boring."

"Boring?" He stopped halfway across the large room on his way to his office. "Did you say I'm boring?"

"No, sir." She bit her lip, dropping her eyelids to cover the mulish expression in her eyes. "I thought the office was a bit boring."

"Get rid of it." He turned and strode into his office before she could say another word.

His temper hadn't cooled when Amanda appeared five minutes later. At least she was prompt. But his approval vanished when he saw her outfit. Good Lord. She wore a green tweed skirt that fell below her knees, a square-cut wool jacket that would have hidden the charms of Scarlet Johannsen, and the ugliest brown pumps he'd ever seen.

"What is it with you women? I've got the elf–" He waved a hand toward the outer office. "And now the hausfrau. I don't know which one is worse."

"I see nothing wrong with either outfit." Amanda smoothed a hand down her skirt, and his temper rose another notch. He wanted to be the one stroking her thigh.

"Why is she dressed like a freaking elf, anyway?" The display out there made him uneasy. All those toys. Ms. Lockwood arranged all his charitable endeavors, which involved attending dinners and writing checks. Nothing up close and personal.

"From what I've seen of her, I think your assistant enjoys dressing creatively."

"I think you two should exchange outfits." Now there was a brilliant idea, if he said so himself. Rosie was a good six inches shorter than Amanda. Her silver skirt would be a mini mini on Amanda, they could skip the biker boots and the jacket, and then things would be interesting. His cock saluted the idea.

"I think we should discuss the job," she answered coolly. "That is why you ordered me to appear this morning, isn't it?"

"Yes, of course." He tried to redirect his brain to the business at hand. "I'm sorry that the job offer I transmitted was not forwarded by Rosie. I'm sure you'll forgive her inability to follow directions since she does dress creatively."

Her brows snapped together at his quip, but her tone was cool. "Thank you for the offer. Are the terms the same as we discussed last time I was here?" She held his gaze, her mouth tight and her eyes cold. "Minus, of course, the inappropriate personal relationship."

"It never would have been a relationship," he clarified. He always wanted to be clear on that.

"The. Pros.ti.tu.tion. Then." She snapped off each syllable. "Better?"

"Good thing for me most women aren't so uptight," he muttered, just loudly enough so she'd hear.

"Are we in agreement?" Her tone could ice the windows out there in the enchanted village. "No sex."

"As you wish," he answered. For now.

She gripped her briefcase as if she wanted to secure it, and bolt. Then she took a deep breath, clearly reaching for calmness, and nodded. "When would you like me to start?"

"Immediately. You can go to HR when you leave here. I added you to the payroll last week."

"You were so sure I'd take the job?"

"Let's just say I was sure you'd do the right thing for your sister." Despite her legal guardianship of her sister, there weren't many companies that would have agreed to her request. She'd be bound to snap up the one that did.

"You're right," she said coolly. "I'm glad you understand my motivation."

His gaze flew to her face, and he bit back the words he wanted to say. He could withdraw the offer at any time. But that was hardly the way to begin his seduction. He drew his own deep breath. "How is your sister, by the way?"

"She's moved to Denver. They're evaluating her at the hospital now."

He nodded. "Good. I'm sure she'll get excellent care there." He had no intention of getting drawn into a discussion of her sister's problems.

She opened her mouth and he could see the next words were forced out of her. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." He passed a folder across the desk. "I've arranged for us to travel to Philly on Thursday to look at this company."

She stiffened in her seat. "I'm not sharing a suite with you."

"There's a husband and wife team with a business focusing on nutrition for kids. Fun Meals. Healthy ingredients. Things like that." He paused, allowing her a moment to absorb what he was saying. "I thought you might be interested."

She frowned as she picked up the folder. "You're interested in the nutrition business?"

"Not for myself, no. It's a narrow segment. But when the business plan crossed my desk, I thought of you." With great pleasure. He knew an opening when it was handed to him. "Why don't you look it over and we can get more details on Thursday."

"You're diabolical," she said, standing up. "Fine. I'll go to Philly. But my previous comment stands."

He watched her swish out of the room, her backside as pert as her words.

Then he picked up the phone. "Letty." He barked into the handset. "What's the story with Ms. Lockwood?"

He pulled up his emails while listening to Letty's explanation of Ms. Lockwood's continued absence. When he heard she wouldn't be back before the New Year, he had to suppress an exclamation of annoyance.

"Okay, then how did I end up with this assistant who belongs in a costume factory? Since Ms. Lockwood is out for a while, you need to find me someone else."

"Certainly, Logan. You don't wish to fire her, do you?"

"No." A lie. "You know my policy about retaining employees. But I can't have her here. She's got the outer office decorated like we're doing a Toy for Tots drive."

"Uh." Letty cleared her throat. "Actually, she has organized a gift drive. For older kids. In your name."

"In my name?" He focused on the only piece he could grab onto. "What the hell?"

"You'll have to ask her." Letty paused. "Or not. Since I'm going to reassign her." Another pause, ending with a sigh. "She's been everywhere at this point. I'll see what I can do."

"How did she end up working for me, anyway? You must know she wouldn't be able to handle my affairs."

"Ms. Lockwood specifically asked for this placement."

He laughed. "Ms. Lockwood is a robot. Why would she do a favor for Rosie?"

Letty sighed again. "Rosie is her niece."

"Shit." That put a different spin on the situation. Ms. Lockwood had served him faithfully since the day he opened his first office. She was hardworking, intelligent, discreet, and, most of all, loyal. She never asked for favors.

"Yeah." Letty drew his attention back to the conversation. "You see the problem."

"Fine. I'll try to deal with her. Damn. Shoot, sorry about all the cursing." He rubbed the back of his neck. "On another note, I just sent a new employee down to you that we discussed a couple weeks ago. Amanda Thompson."

"Ah, yes, your personal account." Letty was smart enough to keep any inflection out of her voice.

"Actually, I made a mistake." He couldn't let the office think Amanda was his mistress. "She's accepted a job as Director of Entrepreneurial Services."

"I see."

"Put her on the company payroll, but the insurance deal for her family is the same as we discussed last time."

"Got it. Logan, in case Rosie forgets to mention it, the company Christmas party is tonight."

Damn. He hated the office Christmas party. All that socializing. Women trying to flirt. Men and women angling for their next promotion. People getting drunk and hoping he'd do the same.

Until he had a brilliant thought.

"Letty, be sure you tell Ms. Thompson that attendance at the Christmas party is mandatory."

"Mandatory?" She couldn't keep the question mark out of the word.

"She needs to start meeting the other employees."

"Ah, yes." Letty paused. "Fine. I'll tell her."

They disconnected and he hit the intercom button. "Rosie."

"Yes, sir."

"I want to see you."

She appeared in the doorway immediately, as if she'd been waiting for the summons.

"Are the decorations down?"

"Not yet." She bit her lip. "I've been working on something else."

"What is this charity that I'm now supporting?" He tried to keep his tone even, but she must have realized she'd overstepped the line.

"It's very important, sir." She leaned forward with eagerness. "People enjoy buying toys for little kids at Christmas time. They forget about the older kids who don't get anything."

He thought of the junkyard outfit she'd worn yesterday. "Were you ever in that situation, Rosie?"

"Oh, no." Her eyes went round with surprise. "I had my a—"

She bit off the word.

"Your aunt?"

She clapped a hand over the gasp that flew out of her mouth. "I wasn't supposed to tell you. Aunt Bridget said I had to prove myself."

He nodded. "It's all right. I do owe your aunt something."

She turned to go. "I'll take those decorations down right away."

Logan watched her drooping shoulders. Damn. Why did he feel so guilty? Was it the memory of his own lavish holidays? Piles and piles of presents under the tree, everything he wanted and more.

But the main memory he had to quash was the overflowing love. The presents had paled in comparison. Even now, as a grown man who could buy anything he desired, he still knew that material things counted for little when measuring a man's happiness. But with children and teens—it was different. They needed to feel like they had at least some of the items that their peers had.

"Rosie!"

She turned back, her expression wary. "Yes?"

"Leave 'em up, then. It's a good cause." He swallowed. "Thank you for thinking of it."

"Yes, sir." This time she bolted.

***

An hour later, Amanda was standing in his doorway. The lick of pleasure he felt didn't please him. Especially when he considered the god-awful outfit she was wearing. No man should be attracted to a woman dressed like that.

She stepped into his office. "Letty in HR told me you have a mandatory Christmas party tonight?" She raised her eyebrows.

"That's right." He leaned back in his chair, allowing himself a brief fantasy about what he could say to her right now if she'd been hired as his mistress.

"I'm not one for Christmas parties," she said. "I think I'll skip it."

"If I have to go, you have to go." He used the strict voice that made his subordinates quake.

"I don't see the logic." She raised her chin a notch, as if she had no intention of recognizing his authority.

"You don't need to. Be there."

A delicate frown wiggled between her eyebrows. "Is that an order?"

Ah. There was an opening if he'd ever heard one. "I like the way you put that. Are you willing to follow my orders?"

She tilted her head to one side. "I'm willing to follow your business orders. Nothing more."

"Fine. Consider the party a job requirement. I'll see you there."

She muttered something under her breath as she turned to go. It sounded a lot like 'Tyrant'.

He repressed a smile.

"We dress up for the Christmas party," he heard himself say. Hell, why had he said that? Of course, anything would be better than what she was currently wearing. But he hadn't worn a costume since he'd been a kid at Halloween.

"So you'll be wearing a red suit and a beard?" She smiled with fake sweetness.

He pointed his pen at her. "If you come as a Christmas tree."

"Something green and pointy and sharp?"

An unexpected smile curved his lips. "A string of lights and two bits of tinsel would do nicely."

"You wish." She stomped out.