Heartstrings (Rock With You #1) Rock Star Romance (11 page)

“I
know Ashton and yes, he has a very sharp tongue and a very short temper. I’ll
be on my own in this. There’s nothing I can do but tell the truth.”

“I’d
advise you to say nothing, actually. But we can talk about that later, as
things progress. You and I and Ryan can meet and decide on how we want you to
handle the publicity.”

“I
want to see you again.” Logan’s voice was low, seductive and Melody’s heart
started beating faster.

“You
just saw me, something like six hours ago.”

“It’s
been that long? Too long…any time is too long.” She heard his soft laugh. “You
bring out the romantic in me, Melody. I’ll be writing love songs now in the wee
hours instead of rock.”

 “I
should go. I’ll call you when I’m home. Come to my apartment and I’ll make you
dinner. I’ll even find a bottle of Macallan for us.”

“You
cook and I’ll bring the Macallan.”

The
afternoon passed quickly. Joe Hunter called to set up interviews for a new
paralegal. Melody mentally chastised herself for not calling Melissa and made a
mental note to do that as soon as she got home.

It
was almost five o’clock when her phone rang. She answered the phone and was
greeted by a very angry sounding Ryan.

“My
office. Now.” The line went dead.

What
did I do now?

She
was standing outside Ryan’s door a few minutes later. He was seated at his work
table, with what looked like a stack of glossy photos.

“Come
in. Close the door. Sit.” He gathered the photos, tapping them square and laid
them on the table in front of Melody.

She
looked down at the image on the top of the stack. It was Logan, with a pretty
blonde woman Melody recognized as a model, or former model.

“Logan
MacKenzie…in all his glory.”

Melody
sat on the edge of the chair, looking through the photos. Each showed Logan
with a different woman. In all of them he had his arm around the woman; in many
they were kissing. She felt a sharp twinge of jealousy at seeing Logan with
other women, but he’d told her there had been some…more than he’d liked to
admit. But it still was uncomfortable to see in black and white.

“Where
did you get these?” She looked up from the stack, her eyes filled with
suspicion.

“They
were delivered today by courier. I suspect from Ashton, but there was no note attached
so I can’t be sure.”

Melody
put the stack down. “I don’t really see the point of this. Logan’s personal
life isn’t part of the suit…”

“Keep
going.” Ryan pointed to the stack.

Melody
flipped through the remaining photos. And there it was. The last photo in the
stack.

It
was of her, very clearly her. In the bar with Logan, almost sitting on his lap.
They were locked in an embrace, one she remembered very well. She closed her
eyes.

“Care
to explain?” Ryan’s voice held something more than professional disapproval.
His jaw was tight and his words were uttered through clenched teeth.
He’s
jealous of Logan.

“It
was before he became my client.”

“And
since he’s been your…
our
…the firm’s client? Has this relationship
continued?”

“No.”
Melody felt a flush creep up her cheeks, something she knew happened when she
was caught in a lie. She hoped Ryan would think it was just embarrassment at
the photo and nothing more.

“Do
you know what this will do to the case, much less your career…and the
reputation of this firm…if this goes public? It’s a serious conflict of
interest. And if this package came from Ashton, which I strongly suspect that
it did, it will be splashed across every tabloid willing to listen. You’re
seriously damaging this case even before it’s started.”

“But
this was before the suit.” She knew her protests weren’t going to make any
difference. Something was wrong, a nagging feeling she was missing a vital
connection. But she couldn’t put her finger on it.

“Is
there anything that can be done? Any damage control the firm can do?”

Ryan
stood, pacing in front of the window. The tension in his body was obvious and Melody
felt her own body tense as she watched him, heard the rising anger in his
voice.

“Damage
control? Yes, for one, you can be taken off the case. Two, you can be let go
from the firm. Any damage control starts with getting rid of you first, Melody.
You can’t expect us to sweep this under the rug. Sleeping with a client…”

“Ryan.”
Her voice was louder than she anticipated. He turned, scowling at her.

She
knew what it was, the nagging inconsistency in her mind. Ryan had no way of
knowing she was sleeping with Logan. He suspected the worst, leapt to that
conclusion, but he had no proof. And the photo in her hand was not evidence of
an affair, even as damning as it might seem.

She
made the effort to lower her voice. “Listen. This photo was taken more than a
month ago. And…” She held up the photo. “I am not sleeping with him in this photo.
Based on this, why are you accusing me of sleeping with Logan?”

“Because
everyone else will accuse you of sleeping with him. You’re missing the point.
This has nothing to do with me…You’ll be tried in the public media and it will
destroy your client’s case”

Melody
sighed. “So now you know the worst, Ryan. Let’s wait, see how this plays out.
You don’t know where these photos came from. Planning for the worst is one
thing, but you’re convicting me based on no evidence at all.”

Melody
tried to maintain some kind of professional calm, but her heart was pounding
and she knew her face was still flushed.

Ryan
turned away from the window and Melody pressed herself back into her chair as
he walked toward her. He stopped in front of her, looking down at the photo of
her with Logan.

“You’ve
turned against me, Melody. And that hurts. I’ve done everything for you,
everything you’ve wanted, and you repay me with this?” Ryan rapped one finger
on the photo. His jaw was tight and his words were uttered through clenched
teeth.
He’s jealous of Logan. That’s what this is about.

“I
didn’t think you were this kind of woman. You’d said you had a one-night stand,
and this was it, wasn’t it? How stupid of me, not to realize sooner. And you
weren’t going to tell me, were you?”

With
a swiftness that caught her off-guard, Ryan had her by the shoulders, pulling
her up from the chair. “You’re throwing everything away…for him? When you could
have everything you wanted…in your career, and with me.”

He
brought his lips down in hers, hard and painful, not a kiss as much as a brand.
There was nothing Melody could do but struggle weakly in his grip, pushing at
his chest with her hands.

When
he broke away, Melody barely resisted the urge to spit in his face. She felt
violated, demeaned and confused.

“You
know this is what you want. We both know it.”

Ryan’s
eyes were focused on hers, burning and intense, but not with passion. It was
outright conquest, predator holding prey, and Melody did not like being the
prey.

“I’ll…still
file a complaint.”

Ryan’s
laugh was harsh, his face close to hers. “Go ahead. I’ve got evidence now of
your morals and ethics, in black and white. You’ll be admitting to far more
than you care to, if you go anywhere, talk to anyone.”

His
grip tightened, his fingers digging painfully into her skin. “You are in a
pretty serious situation here, and you’re not the one calling the shots. You’ve
made a serious mistake, Melody, and I’m the only one who can help you now. You
know that.”

“Ryan…you’re
hurting me.” She was dismayed at the passive tone in her voice. “Please…”

Ryan
looked at her a moment longer, then released her arms. She fell back into the
chair, breathing fast.

“Think
about this…” Ryan ran his finger over the photo, lingering over her face, his
voice eerily gentle. “Think about what you’ve done and what you can do. Your
options are severely limited.”

He
turned, looking down at her. “And who the only person is who can help you…now.”

Melody
bolted from the chair, fumbling open the door, running away from Ryan’s office.
There was no one to see her, the cubicles of the secretaries and paralegals
were empty, the offices around her dark.

Pushing
open the stairway door, she ran down one flight of steps, finally stopping,
leaning against the cool tile wall. Tears sprang into her eyes and she sank
down on the top stop, resting her face on her knees.

She’d
hoped it would go away; it didn’t. She’d threatened to file a complaint; Ryan
had just laughed. And now, how could she tell anyone? Ryan had something to
hold over her, by her own admission. She’d slept with a client…she was still
sleeping with the client.
I’m such a fool.

She
cried silently for a long time, until the sound of someone opening a door above
her echoed down the stairwell. Straightening, she wiped her face, went back to
her office and closed the door.

The
message light was flashing on her phone and with shaky hands she pressed the
buttons, retrieving the message. It was Logan.

“Looking
forward to dinner tonight…don’t go to any trouble. Whatever you make will be
fine with me.”

She
could hear the smile in his voice and her heart did a little flip flop. And
then sank. She’d promised dinner. How could she see Logan now, after the
afternoon in Ryan’s office?

But
how could she not?

He
answered his cell phone on the first ring and she gave him directions to her
apartment.

“Are
you sure you have time to cook? You’ve had a busy day, no doubt. I don’t want
you slaving over a hot stove when there’s other things we could be doing.”

Hearing
his voice, the sexy teasing, she relaxed, sitting back in her chair. “I like to
cook. It’s relaxing. I never have anyone to cook for though, since…well, you
know. So I’m looking forward to tonight.”

“As
long as you’re not too tired. What time do you want me there, bearing the
Macallan?”

Melody
glanced at her watch. “Let’s say seven-thirty or so? Dinner about eight. And
then…whatever you have in mind.”

“When
it comes to you, Melody, there’s always lots on my mind. There’s no end to what
I want to do with you.”

* * *

Melody
was distracted in the cab on the way home, trying to remember what was in the
freezer, what fresh vegetables she had, what she needed from the corner deli.
Salad, chicken breasts with a jar of her homemade marinara sauce and bread.
Bread
and cheese from the deli…that’s it.

She
was back home, with the sauce simmering, the chicken in the oven, by seven. The
doorbell rang just as she was coming out of the bedroom. She padded barefoot to
the door, finishing up the last few buttons on her blouse.

“You’re
early…” She froze in the open doorway.

Ryan
Marshall was standing in the hallway, a bottle of Macallan in his hand.

“Not
who you were expecting?” He brushed past her into the apartment and she stared
after him, trying very hard to understand why Ryan would be in her apartment,
much less with a bottle of Macallan.

“Ryan…what
are you doing here?”

“I
wanted to bring you something…a present. Peace offering, as it were.” He held
out the familiar oval-shaped bottle of amber liquid. Melody looked down at it,
taking a step back as if he were offering her snake. Her mind was reeling; the
last person she expected to see was Ryan. And the second to the last person she
wanted to see now was Logan.

“I
came to apologize, Melody. For my behavior. I know you’re only trying to do
your best… I know that you want to succeed. And maybe I’ve been pushing you a
bit too hard.” He took a step toward her and she backed up, bumping into the
kitchen counter.

“Melody.
Why so tense? Here…let me open this and you can pour us a glass. I think a nice,
stiff drink would do both of us some good. We can sit, have a talk…I’d like
that. Wouldn’t you?”

“No,
Ryan. I don’t…this isn’t right. I don’t want a drink with you. I…would like…I
want you to leave.”

Ryan
took another step toward Melody. As he reached past her to set the bottle on
the counter, she tried to move away but he outmaneuvered her, placing his hands
on the counter, effectively pinning her between his arms.

Ryan
looked down at her and she saw a mixture of so many emotions on his face. But
chief among them was something that made her heart pound and her stomach drop.
He was looking at her with a feral lust, a look she’d never seen in Ryan
Marshall’s eyes before.

“Ryan.
No. You have to leave.”

She
tried to slip beneath his arm, but he pulled her against his chest. She could
smell him, the heat of his body, aftershave, and something else, something
primal and masculine. He smelled like a predator. And she was the prey.