Heart of Steel

by Jennifer Probst

  Logan shook his head. His lip lifted upward. "Game's over. Chandler found out her father offered you money to marry her. She knows everything."

  Rage shot from chestnut eyes. His face transformed into a mask of hate. "You're lying."

  Logan shook his head. "Just got off the phone with Santell. He's signing over his company with no provisions. You see, Thorne, it was a test, and you failed. Her father was looking for the man to pick her over the money. You played into his hands, therefore, you lost. I doubt Chandler will ever talk to you again, let alone marry you." He chuckled. "And you sure as hell won't be invited to our wedding."

  The attorney looked somewhat desperate. "I'll convince her you're both lying. She'll believe me."

  Logan's eyes narrowed. "You will never see her again. If you do, I can promise you won't ever find work in Manhattan. There's a small computer firm I contacted, who I think you'll be perfect for. Cause any trouble and I'll call in my favors." He paused. "You're finished, Thorne."

  "You son of a--"

  Logan buzzed the intercom. "Connie, get security to escort Mr. Thorne back to his office. This is his last day."

  "Yes, sir."

  Logan switched off. "Get your belongings. Then get out."

  He turned back around in his chair as he heard a snarl of rage. Then the attorney was personally escorted out of the office by two burly guards. As the door slammed, Logan allowed himself to feel relief.

  Game over.

  Time to claim his lady.

  She was dreaming.

  A part of her knew the scene unveiling before her was just a misty image of her sub consciousness, but the rush of pleasure and happiness that surged in her blood made her go along with the fantasy.

  She watched Logan undress beside the bed, quickly shedding his clothes as he revealed the hard muscled length of his body. With a murmur of pleasure, she reveled in his masculine power, greedy to absorb his image as she knew once she awoke her lover would be gone. Naked, he slipped under the sheets and pulled her into his arms, taking her mouth in a hungry kiss.

  She responded heatedly to the embrace. Her heartbeat thundered as his hands drifted down her body and pulled off her nightgown. He caressed the ripe flesh of her breasts, lowering his mouth to take the hard crests between his lips, sucking with slow, teasing motions that urged her hips to press into his, her thighs opening to welcome him.

  In her dream he made love to her with all the passionate intensity she remembered, exploring every inch of her skin with his hands and lips and tongue, driving her into a wild frenzy of need, until she begged him to take her.

  Then with a single, powerful thrust he drove deep inside of her. The pounding rhythm escalated so rapidly she dug her nails into his shoulders as the tension grew, her head arching backward into the pillow as the tempo increased faster and faster, making the blood pound through her veins. Then the climax came, hard, pushing her over the edge until a scream broke from her lips, and she heard her name being whispered in her ear as she floated through the air.

  Knowing once she opened her eyes the image would be a distant memory, she breathed in the scent of male sweat and musk, reveling in the feel of his sleek muscled length pressing against her, his weight covering her.

  Then she realized she wasn't dreaming.

  Chandler's eyes flew open in disbelief as she took in the sprawling male figure on top of her. His lips curved in a satisfied smile. "Logan!"

  His hand stroked her breast with lazy motions. "It better be me, lady. If you had screamed the wrong name I would have had something to worry about." She blushed at the wild, open response she had given him. "What are you doing here? It's the middle of the night. Have you gone crazy?"

  "I was crazy to let three weeks drag on in the first place." He moved upward and pressed her deep into the pillows, moving her wrists above her head so she was trapped beneath him. Smoky gray eyes burned in the darkness. "I was crazy to let my pride and your stubbornness come between us. I spoke with your father today."

  Chandler kept her voice neutral. "What did he say?"

  "He offered me his company. The whole enchilada. No strings attached. Gave me a tidy little speech about trusting me to make him a profit."

  "What did you say?"

  His lips traveled down her neck. "I told him to go to hell."

  "What?"

  A laugh rumbled his chest. "I told him I never wanted the contract in the first place. That's when I realized you were behind the whole thing. You convinced your father to give me what you thought I wanted." He trailed kisses along the side of her jaw, then moved over her lips, his tongue slipping inside her mouth to kiss her hungrily. She clung to his shoulders and met each thrust of his tongue with one of her own.

  When he broke away Logan spoke in a fierce tone. "You little fool, don't you know the only thing I ever wanted was you? Not your father's company or his money."

  Chandler smiled radiantly as the realization finally dawned on her. Even after he was offered a contract with her father which did not include marrying her, he declined. Logan Grant had given up the opportunity to rule a financial empire because he wanted her more.

  "What about Richard?" she asked.

  "Thorne will never bother us again. He failed the test when he chose your father's company over you. Now he's going to be looking for a new job." She winced. "You fired him?"

  "Yes. He's a good worker, sweetheart, but I can never trust him again. And I want him far away from you."

  She nodded, knowing it was the only logical action Logan could take. "I love you," she whispered. She ran her hands over his hard features. "I was afraid I had lost you, that I had pushed you too far when I said I would never believe in you again."

  "You could never lose me, Chandler. The moment I realized you had set up the offer I knew I had to come to you."

  "So you decided to sneak into my bedroom in the middle of the night?" she asked teasingly. The crisp hairs on his thigh tickled her as he entangled his legs with hers.

  "Of course. What else do rational, logical businessmen do when they are crazy in love, and want to make love to their women?" His palm settled over the curve of her hip. "I'll never give you a reason not to believe in me. I love you too much." He paused. "You've changed me, Chandler. You looked past all the barriers, found my soul, and loved me anyway. I like the man I am with you." He smiled.

  His lips rubbed over hers, sweetly, lovingly, as all the emotions suddenly burst from between them, shedding all the doubts and fears for the very last time. What was left was a pure, lighthearted joy and a raging passion that send Chandler's soul soaring high above the heavens.

  "I think we still have something important to discuss, Mr. Grant." Her eyes sparkled with happiness.

  His palm coasted from the curve of her buttocks to dip to her inner thigh. She moaned. "Yes, Ms. Santell?"

  "The contract."

  His finger lightly tested the liquid heat as he found her core. Her breath came in short pants. "Ah, yes, the contract. I'm sure we'll be able to work up something beneficial to us both. Of course, this time there will be no escape clause. The arrangement will be on a more permanent basis."

  "No trial period?"

  A wicked grin transformed his features. With one quick movement, he moved inside of her and joined his body with hers. Slowly, he started a teasing rhythm that coaxed throaty moans from her lips.

  "Logan!"

  "This trial period ends on our wedding day," he growled, raining tiny kisses over her cheek.

  "Where do I sign?"

  Logan's gave a husky laugh and interlaced his fingers with hers, starting a sensual journey of love as old as time.

  THE END

  Jennifer Probst

  I've always wanted to be a writer. At twelve, I took a pen in hand and wrote my first love story. I haven't stopped since. Those heroines taught me valuable lessons that served me well. I learned to keep my head up high and surge forward when I was afraid; I learned to demand respect in a relations
hip; I learned about compromise and dreams and independence. Those are the stories I want to write, and I can only hope I give back some of the joy I received over the years.

  I live in the beautiful Hudson Valley in upstate New York. I've traveled to many places but always seem to be drawn back to the mountains. I graduated with a proper business degree and a master's in my passion, English Literature. I've pursued many career paths such as travel agent, yoga teacher and insurance salesperson. I've wanted to be an airline pilot, a cat burglar, a dancer, an archaeologist, and a vineyard owner. I have been all of the above through romance novels, and intend to explore many more.

  I met the love of my life when I had finally given up on my own romantic journey. The first time he asked me out he promised to buy my book if he could buy me dinner. We had dinner and fell in love over sushi and haven't been apart since. I learned it wasn't about happy endings. It was about happy beginnings.

  I welcome any response to the following email address romancewriter121@yahoo.com. Please visit me on the web at www.jenniferprobst.com or my blog, jenniferprobst.wordpress.com

  Jennifer Probst

  "Delightful opposites attract. Complex, interesting characters with a refreshing bonus of a hero. Logan Grant tugged at my heart. A high-stakes gamble worth every reader's time. Highly recommended."

  Eileen Charbonneau, author

  "A compelling read, highly sensual and very enjoyable. The romance between Chandler and Logan held me captive."

  Janet Lane Walters, author of Mysteries and Romances

  Logan Grant knew he was in trouble the moment Chandler Santell walked into his office. He agrees to her crazy deal only when she risks all and guarantees him a profit. Behind the scenes a dangerous game of love, power and greed begin to play out--a game Chandler knows nothing about. The payoff is worth millions to the man who can win Chandler's heart.

  Chandler Santell avoids men--especially the rich and powerful ones who believe more in money than people. Desperate to save her struggling Yoga & Arts Center, her last hope is the most powerful man in the finance industry, a man reputed to have a "Heart of Steel."

  "'Heart of Steel' is a wow! You will love the sexual tension and conflict...wonderful characters...well crafted twists. Jennifer Probst is one talented writer."

  Nan Doporto, Romance At Its Best