Rhyme

by Lexy Timms

  Her heart broke for him. And then for the sweet words he’d said about her. No one had ever said that to her. No one had ever made her feel the way he did. And she still felt like she was only scratching the surface.

  Logan turned toward Olivia, arms around her body, pulling her close. “You’re still the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen. And I love you. I should have trusted you instead of listening to my fears. I shouldn’t have run away. I promise you, Olivia, I’ll never run away again. Whatever it is, I’ll be right there beside you through it. Always.”

  She touched his face in the dark, felt the warmth of tears on his cheeks.

  “I promise too. Right there beside you, always.”

  He kissed her, slow and gentle, broke it to whisper words against her skin. “’S ann leatsa a tha mo chridhe gu brath, a thasgaidh.”

  They weren’t words she knew. She curled closer to Logan. “What do they mean?”

  “They mean ‘My heart is yours forever, my darling.’”

  Olivia smiled in the dark.

  THEY STAYED IN INVERNESS another day, Logan talking her on walks around the town, along the River Ness. They stopped at sunset on the Young Street Bridge, watching the setting sun coloring the undersides of the scattered clouds in pink and brilliant orange. Logan told her the names of the churches along the banks, and she watched the wide river flowing toward the sea. The air was crisp and clean, and Olivia closed her eyes, drawing a deep breath.

  She turned at the sound of Logan’s gentle laugh beside her. “If it’s clean air you’re looking for, I’ll take you up in the Highlands sometime. There’s no petrol fumes there to muck up the air.”

  “This is clean, compared to New York. I’d take this in a heartbeat.”

  Hand in hand, they walked back through the city center, to a small pub where they had dinner, talking about everything and nothing. Over dessert, Olivia finally brought up the lawsuit.

  “We need to talk over your case, Logan. There was a letter just before I left, Ashton’s attorney talking about filing a counter suit. He’s claiming breach of contract on your part, that you used Revival’s name and materials in your solo venture, and that by doing so it damaged his ability to earn royalties.”

  “That was expected, no? Nothing unusual about that. Ashton would want his date in court, not settle out of it. And that’s all bullshit about using Revival’s name or songs. Ashton was the one who set up those deals, set up the contract. He’d have known then it was a breach, if it was.”

  Logan snorted in disgust. “Talk about playing both sides against the middle. That man would sell his own grandmother for a dime, if he thought he could get away with it. Listen, for now, as long as we’re in Scotland, let’s not talk about Ashton. We’ll have a long time on the plane back to figure out what to do. Let’s just enjoy our last night here. Pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist.

  Olivia looked across the table at Logan. The smile had come back into his eyes. At least until she’d brought up Ashton.

  “Okay. Yes. I agree. No more Ashton. At least not until we’re in the air and over the Atlantic.”

  After dinner, Logan led her back through the dark streets to his hotel. She’d checked out of her run-down little inn, moving into Logan’s room. The resulting chaos of her belongings strewn about the place had them both tripping over luggage and shoes and clothing.

  “Sorry about the chaos. I’m taking over your room with my things.” Olivia knelt on the floor, rummaging through her suitcase in search of her toothbrush.

  Logan laughed. “You are. But other than the occasional stray shoe underfoot, I’m not too fashed.”

  “Fashed?” Olivia cocked an eyebrow up at Logan. “I’m not sure I know that one.”

  “Troubled. Worried. Bothered. It’s temporary. And if I had known you were going to track me across the Atlantic, I’d have gotten a larger room. But as it is, this is fine. We’re only here one last night, you know.”

  Stepping around her open suitcase, he crossed the narrow room. “I promise from now on I’ll get rooms big enough for the two of us.”

  He pulled her up from the floor and held her, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead.

  “I meant what I said on the bridge. I’d like to bring you back here, on holiday, take you up into the Highlands.”

  Olivia relaxed against Logan, the search for her toothbrush long forgotten. “I’d like that.”

  “There are places I’d like to show you—wild places—lochs and hills and caves.”

  “Caves?” Olivia shuddered. “Not sure I’d like a cave. You’re not talking spelunking, are you?”

  “No, not that sort of cave exploring, though you can go inside. It’s not particularly large, though. Legend has it a man, James Fraser of Foyers, hid in the cave for seven ears to evade the British after the Battle of Culloden.”

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

  His hands had grown restless as he talked, and they roamed over her, exploring her back, sliding down to cup her ass. He pressed himself against her, and it was clear where his thoughts were heading.

  “We have a monster too, ye ken.” He’d deliberately emphasized his accent, and one corner of his mouth quirked up in a devilish grin.

  “You do? Where?”

  “Well, they say as it’s in Loch Ness, but...” He pulled her against him, his hips pushed against hers. “I think we’ve got one in the room with us. Would you like to see it, Olivia? I’d be happy to show it to you.”

  She was laughing when his lips captured hers, her giggles lost in his kiss. His hands held her close. After a moment, she broke away, a little breathless, and looked up at him.

  “I think you’d better let him out, then,” she said, reaching down to rub her palm up the length of him through his clothes. “By the feel of things, he’s a persistent little monster.”

  Logan snorted. “Little? Woman, have you not been paying any attention?” He took a step forward, forcing her to take a step back to match him, pressing until her knees hit the bed and she fell back onto the mattress. “I’ll show you little.”

  His hands tugged at her jeans and his. Olivia, laughing, was very little help. But that laughter changed to other sounds as he finally removed enough clothing, flipping her onto her belly and sliding into her. His chest pressed warm against her back as he moved over her, and his mouth trailed bites and kisses along her shoulders and the nape of her neck. The noise of their pleasure filled the little space around them.

  When they were done, lying spent and gasping, Logan lifted up on one elbow. His dark eyes were alight with such a range of emotions. She saw love there, and the teasing glint that she had so missed, gloriously welcome after the pain and sadness that had lingered there after that night in her apartment.

  “Have I gotten your attention yet?”

  Olivia struggled to sit up on arms that still hadn’t quite regained their function. “Hmm. I don’t know. I think I might need another demonstration, just to be sure.”

  It was Logan’s turn to laugh. Gathering her into his arms, he pulled her in close, one hand slipping down between her thighs. He kissed her hard.

  “Lucky for you,” he purred against her ear. “I’m very thorough.”

  They did no more talking.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The flight back was a much different thing than the trip from New York had been. For one thing, she had slept. More importantly, though, Logan sat in the seat beside her, his fingers linked with hers. As the plane hummed around them, they discussed the case, and any possible scenarios that could play out with Ashton.

  When they had exhausted that, Logan brought up Ryan, and what Ryan had done.

  “What are you going to do about him when you’re back in the office?” She could hear the tension in his voice—worry for her. And anger.

  “I can’t hide from him.” Olivia swallowed. They weren’t a small firm, but they w
ere small enough that it was impossible to avoid other employees, particularly when that other employee was also a partner and one’s direct supervisor. “But I’m certain that if I file a complaint against him he’ll manipulate it to look like my fault. I’ll lose everything I’ve worked for. And I don’t want to jeopardize your case either. Until it’s settled, I’m just going to have to put up with him.”

  Logan’s expression tightened, and Olivia squeezed his hand. “That doesn’t mean I’m going to give in to what he wants. I’m just going to do my job, and when this is one, I’ll find a way to put a stop to him once and for all.”

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

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

  Logan laughed. “Fair enough, a thasgaidh. 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?”

  Olivia 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, that she wasn’t sure if she really heard him, or she’d imagined it when he spoke several moments later.

  “That’s not quite what I meant.”

  THE NEXT MORNING, VICTORIA greeted Olivia warmly, if not a little cautiously, as she 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. Olivia scowled at the mess before dropping her purse on the floor and sinking into her desk chair. She waved Victoria toward the chair opposite the desk, but the paralegal hesitated in the doorway.

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

  Olivia held up a hand to forestall any further protest. “I am perfectly capable of letting Mr. Marshall know that I’m back myself. Have a seat and tell me what’s 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 time to file everything yet.”

  “What about the Graham-Ashton case?”

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

  The younger woman looked up in alarm as Olivia muttered a curse under her breath.

  “I’m sorry if I did anything wrong.”

  “No, Victoria. You didn’t. It’s fine.” Olivia passed a hand across her desk, 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. But it turned out for the best.”

  Olivia rose. “I’m going up to Ryan’s- Mr. Marshall’s office. If you could...” She waved her hand over her desk. “I guess file everything, or at least as much as you can, and get the rest in some kind of order. I’ll be back to look at them later.

  In the elevator, Olivia tried to control her anger at Ryan. There were grounds for taking over the case in her absence, but he couldn’t just appoint himself lead counsel without Logan’s knowledge. And she knew for a fact he hadn’t spoken to Logan.

  She stepped out of the elevator and stalked toward Ryan’s office. At her desk, Lori looked up. Surprise crossed her expression. Olivia knocked at Ryan’s door, and heard his muffled voice from inside biding her to come in.

  He was sitting at his work table, files and papers spread out around him. When she stepped inside, he raised his head, a smile spreading across his face.

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

  He stood, coming toward Olivia, and took her gently by the elbow. The touch of his hand against her arm made her cringe, and she forced herself not to pull away. “Sit. We have things to discuss.” He held out a chair for her, and she reluctantly took a seat. On his way back to his own seat, he closed the door, and she felt tension settle into her shoulders.

  So far, he’d acted more like his old self than the man he’d become since Patrick broke up with her. Part of Olivia hoped that he had realized how he’d been coming across and just how disgusting his behavior had been. But the rest of her didn’t trust him. He’d played at being nice for years before he revealed his true nature; she wasn’t going to be fooled again.

  “Ryan.”

  He cut her off before she could continue. “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.”

  “Okay.”

  “But I did need to step in on a few cases. Most notably, the Graham-Ashton suit.” He raised an eyebrow, regarding Olivia from across the table. “Of course, it’s been very difficult to move forward with, since I haven’t been able to get in contact with the client. But I assume that you have been?” His expression was disapproving.

  He didn’t wait for Olivia to confirm before continuing. “I have yet to say anything to the other partners, since I have no actual proof of ethics violation—though the fact that you didn’t come to one of us when you were assigned the case and reveal your relationship with the client is damning enough. But currently all I hold is a very substantial amount of circumstantial evidence, and a very strong hunch. And I always go with my hunches.”

  Olivia glared at him. “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, of all people. And all of his misconduct aside, he wasn’t lying about the potential consequences of confirming her relationship with Logan.

  Ryan was watching her closely. He smiled. “Things not so good in paradise? I can’t say I’d be unhappy knowing that, if it is 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 counter claim, as you know. Breach of contract. We’ll need to have Mr. Graham interviewed in light of these new questions. I’d like to have that happen this week. In the next couple of days. Do you think that could be arranged? We’ll conduct the interview together, of course.” Ryan waved a finger at Olivia, a smirk on his face. “No leaving you two alone together here.”

  Olivia felt her anger rising again. Fought to maintain control. “I’m still capable of doing my job. And you can’t appoint yourself lead attorney just because. You need to have Mr. Graham’s approval, and you said yourself you haven’t been in contact with him.”

  Ryan’s head tilted slightly to one side, that infuriating smug smirk still on his face. “I haven’t. If you heard that, you heard it from someone who doesn’t know what they’re talking about.”

  She wasn’t so sure that was the case, but Olivia bit her tongue and said nothing. It wouldn’t help to antagonize Ryan, especially when he appeared to be in what was almost a good mood.

  “Olivia, when I tell you that the health of your professional career is in my hands, I am not exaggerating. You know as well as I do that while I may not have been able to get in contact with Mr. Graham to confirm that he wants a new lead attorney—and while I am certain that he will not accept one—you left on leave without proper notice or a genuine emergency. You’ve been negligent. You’ve all but admitted to an ethical violation that, while it won’t get you disbarred, will certainly end your career here at the firm.”

  As he spoke, Ryan slowly paced
toward her. Olivia watched him, hands curled around the arm of her chair. She wasn’t going to let him trap her again. Her restraint in not breaking his nose didn’t mean that she was going to let him keep molesting her.

  “You are hanging by the proverbial thread,” he said, voice low.

  One hand came to rest on her shoulder. Olivia gritted her teeth but allowed it. While the touch made her skin crawl, it was close enough to harmless that she didn’t want to anger him over it. She had to pick her battles if she was going to come out of this with her career and her life intact.

  “I am the only one who can pull you back.”

  “What do you want from me, Ryan?”

  “The same thing I’ve wanted all along. You. Your success. But mostly you.” His hand tightened on her shoulder, and the other came to join it, pressing her into the seat. His thumbs worked over the nape of her neck. “I’m still waiting for you to see the light, Olivia. When this case is over, and you’ve won, the client will no doubt depart to be a rock star on the road. When that happens—when he leaves you in the dust—I hope you’ll come to your senses. Until then, I can only be supportive...” He rubbed her shoulders with the heels of his palms. “And persistent.”

  There was a soft knock at the door. With unhurried ease, Ryan removed his hands from her shoulders. Olivia turned, watching as he moved without any sign of haste to the door. Lori was there, holding a file. Olivia found herself grateful for the other woman’s appearance; she didn’t think she’d had it in her to withstand Ryan’s touch for another minute.

  “Sorry to interrupt,” Lori said, glancing from Ryan to Olivia. “But I need a signature.”

  “It’s fine. No trouble.” Ryan took the file, reading it as he walked to his desk. Olivia glanced at Lori and found the woman looking at her intently. She wondered for a moment if there was some sign of what had just happened between her and Ryan in her face, or her appearance, but she couldn’t very well check in front of the paralegal.