Less-than-Innocent Invitation (6 page)

“It must have been. It's on the handles of her guns, too.” She drew a quick breath, her heart not quite steady. “And there are rose petals from her purse.” Dried petals in muted colors of purple and pink lay scattered about the small, antique purse. “A woman who could shoot and was considered an outlaw, yet she kept rose petals.”

Meeting Logan's eyes, her gaze softened at the sentimentality. “The roses must have been from someone she loved.” Running her fingers across the glass protecting the items, she ached for the outlaw, a woman who also possessed a soft heart.

Logan reached over and touched her shoulder. “You think so?”

Reeling from his touch, Melissa felt heat rush to her cheeks. “I can't explain it. I just feel it inside.” She struggled to maintain her distance from Logan. Clearing her throat, she focused on the display to get her bearings. “Do you think the map is authentic?”

“Authentic is one thing, but accurate is another.” Not wanting to, but knowing he should, Logan removed his hand from her shoulder. “The markings are unusual and difficult to understand. It may be useless.”

“Unless someone figures it out and uses it to find the treasure.”

He shrugged. “Anything's possible.”

Studying it, Melissa sighed. “Look at all the hearts on it.”

Logan leaned over the display case, which brought him within inches of her. Her gentle lilac fragrance drifted to him, shifting his already active libido into high gear. He steeled himself to ignore his body's urges. If he touched her now, he might do something reckless, such as kiss her the way he'd been wanting to since he'd seen her at the ball. “Yeah,” he replied, aware his voice wasn't as steady as he'd like. “But it's anyone's guess as to what the hearts mean.”

“It's an interesting design, as if Jessamine made sure
she was the only one who could decipher it.” Melissa turned toward him. “Look, Logan, I know I have no right to ask a favor, but with your association with the Cattleman's Club, apparently you have some influence. I really want to use the map in my story.”

“When do you think you'll be ready to shoot it?”

“In the next day or so. Do you think you can arrange it?”

Logan shoved his hands in his pockets. “Depends.”

“On what?”

“What do I get in return?”

Wary, her eyes narrowed. “What do you want?”

His jaw set, he stared her straight in the eyes. “The truth, Melissa. Why did you leave me?”

Gritting her teeth, she sighed heavily. “That's not fair. You're putting this on a personal level.”

Logan shrugged as if he didn't care what she thought. “No one ever said life was fair. You want the map. That's my offer. Take it or leave it.”

It took Melissa several seconds to calm down before she could speak. When she did, she surprised herself. “All right.” She'd tell him what he wanted to know. But what would happen when she did? Was it possible that she'd been wrong to believe Cara? No, she told herself. Logan himself had confirmed what Cara had told her.

Melissa couldn't have been wrong.

“I'll see what I can do,” Logan said, pleased with himself.

“Thanks. I'm going to find the museum director, set up a time to meet with him and ask for permission to film here. I'll be right back.”

Logan watched her walk away, mesmerized by the sway of her hips. He sighed. Whether it would bring relief or anguish, finally he'd get what he wanted from her.

 

They decided to double back to town and stop at the Royal Diner for lunch. Logan had to twist Melissa's arm because she'd wanted to head straight to the ranch and start working on her story. So he'd used hunger as a diversion to keep her with him a while longer.

Foolish, he knew. He was kidding himself. The more time he spent with her, the more he wanted to be with her. Though she'd broken his heart, it was as if the years she'd been gone had melted away. The attraction between them still sizzled. Had all of the work he'd done to get her out of his system been for nothing? He needed peace of mind, not complications.

And Melissa had
complication
written all over every inch of her luscious body.

As they were approaching the door of the diner, Logan was surprised to see Lucas Devlin, a local rancher, leaving.

“Hello, Lucas.” Logan shook his hand. He'd deemed Lucas, Jonathan's grandson, as the peacekeeper of the Devlin clan. When trouble started brewing between the Devlins and the Windcrofts, Lucas was the one always willing to listen to both sides of the argument. With good sense and a cool head, he attempted to calm down his family.

“Hi, Logan. How are you?”

“Doing fine. How about you?”

Lucas nodded. “Can't complain.”

Logan touched Melissa's arm, then slid his hand behind her back, drawing her forward. “This is Melissa Mason. She's a reporter from Houston. They're doing a story on Royal. Melissa, Lucas Devlin.”

Melissa smiled. “Hello. It's nice to meet you.”

“The pleasure's mine, Miss Mason.” A muscle worked in Lucas's jaw. He turned to Logan. “I hate to keep you if you're busy, but I'd like a few minutes of your time.”

“Sure,” Logan replied. “What can I do for you?”

“I'm concerned about my grandfather's autopsy findings.”

At the sparkle of interest in Melissa's eyes, Logan suggested she have a seat and he'd join her in a few minutes.

Melissa nodded. “Yes, of course.”

After Melissa left them, he turned to Lucas. “So word of the autopsy has already reached your family,” Logan stated. Gavin's investigation at the hospital must have started rumors flying. It didn't take long for news to travel in the town of Royal.

Lucas nodded. “Now that the autopsy is in, we know he was murdered, but we haven't been told how it happened. Since he was in the hospital, I assume it took place there, but I don't know for sure. I wanted to know if you've heard anything else.”

Gavin had made it clear that he wasn't ready to release the autopsy findings to anyone, including the family, until he investigated the circumstances further. Unable to tell Lucas what he'd learned, Logan replied evasively, “There's nothing I can tell you that the sheriff hasn't. He's actively investigating the murder.”

Lucas put his hand on his hip. “My family's upset and rightly so.”

“Gavin will get to the bottom of things.”

“I hope so. He was out to my place asking questions, but said he didn't have anything concrete as yet.”

“These things take a while. Be patient and give it some time.”

Lucas nodded reluctantly. “All right. Well, I'll let you be on your way.” He settled his hat on his head and walked away.

Logan joined Melissa at their table. One glance at her and he could read the questions in her eyes.

Melissa tilted her head with determination. “Okay, what was that all about?”

“L
ucas?”

“Yes.” Melissa studied Logan with interest. “I get the feeling you know something. Want to fill me in?”

“Let me ask you a question. Do you have enough information for your story?”

“Not yet. I have to work on the Jessamine Golden angle, then compile my notes. Rick and I will come back into town over the next couple of days and go to the library to research the history of the town and the legend of Jessamine, then go to the museum. I still have to interview Aaron Hill.”

“And then what?”

She shrugged. “Daniel wants more on Jessamine and the map. Do you know something that's connected to the investigation that you're not telling me?” she asked pointedly, picking up on his elusiveness.

As a reporter, she suspected Logan knew more than he was admitting. As a woman, she hoped he wasn't. If she finished the story in a few days without another lead, she could leave by the end of the week.

For her, it was easier not living in the past. She'd put her love for Logan under lock and key in her heart. It frightened her to think of opening that box. Because leaving Logan while loving him had been the hardest thing she'd ever done.

“I see.” Logan thought about that. Although Daniel had assigned her to work on the mystery aspects of the map and the vandalism of the Halifax exhibit, Logan was sure she would try to leave Royal as soon as she could.

Too bad. He was just as determined to see that she stayed. “I may have something that will keep you here a while longer.”

Melissa looked at him, her expression serious. “Okay, you've got my attention.” All of her journalistic instincts kicked into high gear. Something was definitely going on with the Devlin murder case and Logan was in on it, which probably was related to his secret meeting at the Cattleman's Club this morning. Which was another subject she'd like to investigate. What exactly was that club all about?

“Off the record?”

“All right. Off the record.”

“You know about how Jessamine apparently stole that gold, then disappeared, right?”

“Yes, we've talked about that.”

He leaned toward her, propped his elbows on the table and folded his arms. “Well, there have been more recent developments than what I told you.” Logan re
layed the facts Gavin had given him. “Valid or not, someone seems to believe the map leads to the gold, someone who seems willing to kill for it.” These new details definitely added to the mystery of Jessamine Golden.

“Why do you think Jonathan didn't use the map himself to look for the treasure?” Melissa asked.

“We don't know that he wasn't doing that. Maybe that's what got him killed,” he suggested.

“That's possible. This definitely adds a twist to the story. If there's a killer on the loose, I want to continue investigating.”

Logan should have been happy that he'd manipulated Melissa into staying in Royal, but the way she'd said
investigating
made him uneasy. He gave her a stern look. “I don't want you out asking questions that could get you hurt or, worse, killed.”

Finding his statement humorous, she bit her lip to keep from laughing. “That's ridiculous, Logan. I'm an investigative reporter. This is what I do for a living.”

A muscle worked in his jaw. “I'm not doubting your experience, but until we know what's going on here, you're not going to stick your neck out. Whoever's behind the murder has proven they'll stop at nothing to get what they want.”

Her green eyes narrowed. “You can't stop me.”

“I don't intend to. I know you have to do your job. But wherever you go, I go,” he told her, his tone resolute.

Melissa frowned. “I don't need you watching over me.”

His gaze drifted over her. The problem was he liked watching over her. Too much. “Are you ready to order?”
he asked, changing the subject. When she nodded, he signaled the waitress. As Melissa set the menu aside, the fabric of her silk blouse stretched tightly over her breasts, defining them, teasing his imagination.

Yeah, he wanted her, plain and simple. But this time if anything happened between them, she'd be a sweet diversion while she was in town.

He wasn't looking for anything except a good time.

 

Later, as they drove back to his ranch, Logan stole a glance at Melissa while she talked about her work. He was struck once again by her beauty and the way her eyes darkened with passion telling him about the stories she'd done. She was sharp, intuitive and persistent.

And sexy as hell.

How would it feel to have all that sexual power focused on him?

By settling her in at his ranch, all he'd done was manage to torture himself. He didn't want to be attracted to her, but from the way his heart squeezed whenever he thought of her, he couldn't deny that he felt something akin to what they had shared years ago.

And that was the crux of his problem.

He didn't love her.

No, his feelings had nothing to do with love. Hell, he'd loved her before and it had only brought him heartache. And that was when she'd been young and pretty. Now she was beautiful and intelligent and fascinating, everything a man could want in a woman.

Everything
he'd
wanted.

But she wasn't the same woman now. And he wasn't
the same man. For years they'd lived two completely separate lives. Yes, he still found her attractive, but it didn't mean he wanted to do anything about it.

Logan simply wasn't interested in getting hurt again. He wasn't searching for a long-term relationship. If he wanted sex, he knew women willing to go to bed with him without strings attached.

He tightened his hand on the steering wheel. Who was he kidding? He wanted Melissa all right—wanted to touch her, wanted a chance to feel her beneath him, to feel himself inside her.

“Logan?”

Realizing she'd asked him something, he shook his head to clear his thoughts. “Yeah?”

“Where were you?” Melissa asked.

What could he say? That he'd been fantasizing about kissing her? That he'd been dreaming of stripping her naked and loving her until dawn? Wouldn't that make her day?

“Thinking about Jonathan Devlin and who would have wanted him dead.”

“I'd like to talk to Gavin about the investigation.”

“So would a lot of other reporters.”

“Still, I'm going to call him when I'm in town tomorrow.”

Logan shrugged. “It's worth a try,” he agreed.

At the ranch, Melissa spent the afternoon compiling her notes and verifying her facts. While the stories about the anniversary of Royal and the vandalism of the Halifax exhibit were interesting, she decided she would use
those stories to draw attention to the town's history and the legend of Jessamine Golden.

Having the map displayed while she did her report remained her goal. Maybe she'd been foolish to give in to Logan's ultimatum, but she knew she'd have to face him at some point and discuss their past. He wasn't going to let up until she did. At least now she'd get something she needed while satisfying his need to hash out what had happened between them.

Actually, Melissa was ready to get it over with. Thinking about whether or not she'd made a mistake years ago was exhausting. What if Cara Young had been wrong? What if Logan hadn't tried to use her?

No, he had. Logan's marriage shortly after she'd left was all the proof she needed.

Trying to get her mind off of Logan, she called Daniel to discuss the story. Melissa told him about Jonathan Devlin's murder and the possibility that it was tied to Jessamine Golden's map. She wasn't at all surprised when Daniel instructed her to keep digging to find a clear connection.

After hanging up with Daniel, she went to Rick's cottage. They spent an hour or so discussing their itinerary for the next day and talking about the map at the museum.

Heading back to the house, Melissa wondered if Logan had made the necessary arrangements for them to film the map. But she wasn't able to ask him because it wasn't until dinnertime that she saw him again.

When Melissa walked into the dining room, Logan looked up. “Hi, I'm sorry I kept you,” she said.

“You didn't,” he assured her. “Where's Rick?”

She chuckled. “He said he was going to a bar to check out the hot cowgirls. His description, not mine,” she clarified. Logan was sitting at the end of the table so she took the seat to his right.

Melissa took one look at the starchy foods gracing the table along with the roast beef and green beans—macaroni and cheese and homemade biscuits—and nearly sighed. She loved this kind of meal, but usually kept herself on a more moderate diet. She took a helping of each and decided to enjoy the meal. Buttering a biscuit, she took a bite of it.

“This food is delicious. You know, I usually jog a few days a week at home to combat my indulgences. I should have bought some running shoes while I was in town. Maybe I will tomorrow.”

“Speaking of tomorrow, what are your plans?”

She sipped her sweetened iced tea. “Rick and I are going to the museum. If all goes well, we may shoot a segment.” She was dying to know about the map. Unable to wait for him to bring it up, she put her fork down and looked at him. “Did you find out if I can use the map in my story?”

“Yeah, it won't be a problem. Mark Hartman will keep an eye on it while you're using it.”

She frowned. “Won't you be there to do that?” He'd said he was going everywhere she went. Apparently he hadn't meant it. She should have been pleased by the change in his plans, but couldn't deny feeling a bit disappointed.

Logan finished the last of his meal. “I'll be there.”

Looking confused, she asked, “Then why won't you be guarding the map?”

He gave her a direct look. “Because I'll be watching you.”

Melissa tilted her head as she thought about his answer. “Me? What on earth for?”

“Because if someone's after the map and you're using it, that makes you a target.”

“I don't live in Royal. Why would anyone hurt me?”

He shrugged. “They might not want to hurt you, but if you get in their way, you could be in danger. The map will be out in the open near you so that's reason enough.”

“I think you're worrying about nothing.”

“Then it shouldn't bother you if I'm there to guard you.”

“All right,” she conceded. “But you're just wasting your time.”

Logan seriously doubted that. Watching her could become his favorite pastime. Definitely a bedroom activity. “Now that you have approval to use the map, it's time you held up your end of the bargain.”

Melissa finished the last bite of her meal and wiped her fingers clean with her napkin. “All right. But is there somewhere more comfortable we can talk?”

Logan stood. “We can go into my study.”

Getting out of her seat, she preceded him into the hallway. She'd made a deal with him and he'd held up his end of the bargain. Now it was time for her to do the same. Well, that was fine by her. She couldn't wait to hear Logan admit the truth. After they talked, he would regret that he had forced the issue.

Stepping into his study, she looked around. When she'd been in here last night, she hadn't paid attention to the decor. Bookcases lined the wall behind a large wood desk where a computer sat. The brown sofa looked soft and inviting, as did the man-size chair in front of the desk. The faint scent of leather gave the room a masculine appeal.

“Make yourself comfortable,” Logan said from behind her as he shut the door.

How was she supposed to do that? Except for the one on the day when she'd broken up with Logan, this was going to be the most difficult conversation she'd ever had.

Choosing one end of the sofa, she sat, then watched Logan move across the room to occupy the other end of it. He leaned toward her, his elbows resting on his knees, his hands clasped together.

Under his direct stare, doubts about her sanity in agreeing to talk with him arose. “I don't know exactly what you want to hear.”

“Don't play coy, Melissa. You're too good at what you do to pull that off.” She'd done good job of dodging his questions until now.

Her defenses went up. “You were good, too, Logan. Good at fooling me, making me believe you cared about me.”

He frowned. “I loved you, Melissa. I thought you loved me until you broke up with me and said you were leaving to become a reporter.”

Shaking her head, she said, “That's not why I left and you know it.” Melissa had to give it to Logan. He still was trying to pretend that he was innocent of hurting
her. Why? What good would it do him? He was the one who wanted to get to the truth.

“What are you talking about?”

She gave a bitter laugh. “You were using me and you know it.”

“Using you?” He straightened. Suddenly he had a bad feeling about where this was going.

“I knew about your father's will.”

Logan didn't move. How could she have known about his father's will? “What about it?” he asked carefully, panic thrumming through his pulse.

“You wanted to get this all out in the open,” she stated harshly. “Tell me about how you asked me to marry you so you could hold on to all of this.” She swept the room with her hand.

He felt the blood drain from his face. “I asked you to marry me because I was in love with you.”

“Right. And the fact that if you married before your brother the ranch would be yours never played into it?”

He wanted to deny her accusation. Would she believe him if he did? Trying to figure out the best way to explain, he shifted topics to buy some time. “How did you know about the will?”

“So it was true.” She didn't want to break down in front of him, didn't want him to know that what he'd done still mattered to her. But it did.