Logan, p.7
Logan, page 7
He nodded, and she continued. “So they needed someone to do the testing to determine what was being created.”
“Why you?”
Snorting, she said, “I’d like to say that it was because I was the best person they could send…but more likely, it was because of my heritage.”
“Heritage?”
“You’re not much of a conversationalist, are you?” she joked, but her mirth died as she observed his unchanging expression. She blushed as her lips pressed together and nervously tucked another strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m from California, but my parents were born in Alaska. My mother is full-blooded Tanana Athabaskan. I think because of my appearance, it was thought that I would easily be disguised here. You know…integrating into the area and not really being noticed.”
“And the so-called marriage?”
Vivian visibly bristled, then shrugged again. “I was told that I would be in charge of determining what was being produced in the suspect’s house, and since I would be sharing a house with a security investigator, we would have the cover of being married so as not to draw unwanted attention to ourselves.”
“Security investigator,” he muttered to himself. Donald wants me to investigate… and then he wants me to exterminate.
Her eyes narrowed. “Are you just going to keep asking questions? What about you? What do I need to know about you?”
“I’m the investigator,” he said, leaning forward to snag his bottle off the table. He took another long swig. “And what else were you told?”
She must have been lost in thought when she didn’t speak, and a chuckle erupted at the lunacy of the plan.
Snapping out of her trance, she blushed. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
Now he was lost in thought at the slight rose spreading across her cheeks. Pulling himself back to the subject, he repeated, “What were the rest of your instructions?”
“I was told that the security investigator would be in charge, letting me know what I needed to do, and would let me know when there were samples for me to test. I was also told that we would be sharing a house next to the suspects and that our cover would be to appear as a newly married couple.” Seeing his eyebrows lift, she hastened to say, “I assure you, I was equally surprised, but it makes sense. Why else would two people be moving to this remote location and live in the same house? A newly married couple who can’t afford anything nicer right away is perfect.” Her shoulders lifted again in a shrug. “Anyway, we certainly don’t look like relatives.”
Logan had to admit the logic was sound—he just wished Donald had informed him of the complete cover. But then, would I have agreed to take the mission? And which other Keeper would I have sent? A strange flash rushed through him at the thought that he wouldn’t want any of his Keepers to be in this room with Vivian except him. As soon as that crossed his mind, he shut it down. Mission only. Get it done… go home. Just like every other mission.
10
Vivian’s attempts to steady her breathing proved futile as she sat in the cramped confines of the small living room. Her companion’s large and unhappy presence loomed over her, and since meeting him, her thoughts had flown from one thing to another.
At first, she felt heart-stopping fear at being accosted in the bedroom by a man holding a weapon while she was changing clothes. She’d never been around guns, much less had one pointed at her.
When she discovered he wasn’t a threat and her breathing had returned to normal, she noticed just how imposing he was. Well over six feet tall, he dwarfed her as he had peered down. He had broad shoulders and a chest that tapered to a trim waist. He was handsome in a rough-around-the-edges way, with a chiseled jaw covered in stubble. His penetrating eyes held a hard glint that paired with his deep, gravelly voice.
His jeans fit perfectly over his ass. She’d have to be dead not to notice that particular asset, and she was definitely not dead. Yet. The way he glowered and growled, she wasn’t sure how long that would last. Despite the ruggedness of his appearance, there was an undeniable magnetism about his raw masculinity that both captivated and unnerved her.
By now, her beer was drained and so were her emotions. She’d successfully shredded the label in a fit of nervousness but no longer had anything to do while he continued to ponder their situation silently. Taking the opportunity, she observed her partner in more detail. His square-jawed face, with its day-old scruff and short, dark hair, gave him a dangerous, don’t-fuck-with-me appearance. But it was his eyes that pulled her in. Greenish-gray. Or greenish-blue. Or bluish-gray. They seemed to change as quicksilver with his mood. Blinking, she stared…mesmerized. He’d be perfect for the cover of a romance novel. She pressed her lips together to keep from letting a nervous giggle slip out at the thought.
He shifted on the sofa, leaning forward to place his empty bottle on the coffee table.
Uncomfortable with the silence, she said, “I can see this doesn’t make you happy, but that’s what I was told. I don’t see any other way for us to make this work.” Vivian sighed as she also leaned forward, her gaze landing squarely on Logan.
He nodded and confessed, “I was basically given the same information, although I was just given the name of Sanders and had no idea we were sharing a house. I made the assumption you were male, and that was a stupid, sexist error on my part.” Blowing out a breath, he added, “And I wasn’t given any need for a cover. Certainly not pretending to be married.”
Standing, she collected the bottles and headed into the kitchen, chucking them into the trash. Her mind swirled with the new information. He wasn’t prepared for this, and she had no idea what he was going to do. There was no wedding ring on his hand, and she wondered if it was the state of matrimony or pretending to be married to her that he found so distasteful.
If he refused the mission the way it was, she would have to report back to work with nothing, and she hated not knowing what the neighbors were possibly cooking up in their house. Hearing a noise behind her, she startled, whirling around to find him standing right behind her.
“Jesus, you scared me,” she said, her hand to her throat. “You move so quietly for such a large man in boots.”
“Sorry,” he muttered. “I’ve lived and worked on my own for a number of years before having others around me recently. Guess I’ve lost my manners.”
Leaning her hips against the counter, she peered up at his face, holding his gaze. “Have you decided what you’re going to do?”
“I admit to being surprised, but I agreed to the mission, so I’ll do what is needed in order to adapt.”
Letting out a huff of air, she opened her mouth, but he got there first.
“But,” he added, “I have no idea about the marriage thing. Never been married. Never figured I would.”
She burst into laughter, thinking that a man who had no problem facing terrorists and could handle a weapon as easily as he probably handled a toothbrush seemed daunted by the idea of the simple pretense. “Logan, you don’t have to know about marriage. After all, we’re just pretending. We’ll just act like a normal couple for a week or so. It’s not like they’ll be peeking to see that we sleep in different rooms. It’s no big deal.”
Logan remained quiet, and she now wondered if she had said something to offend him. Sighing, she stepped closer and placed her hand on his arm. “Come on, let’s get the rest of your stuff inside, and then we can put our heads together.”
Still smiling, she walked to the kitchen door leading outside, and he followed in her wake. “Good God, you’ve got one of those old gas-guzzling trucks as well,” she huffed. Shaking her head, she missed the eye roll behind her.
“I’ll get my things. No need for you to assist.”
She sighed and nodded. “Sure. I’ll just go nuke something for linner.”
His expression remained the same, but his question came in the form of a slightly tilted head. She mimicked his head tilt and said, “You know… when you eat a meal between lunch and dinner. Linner.” When he gave no response, she shooed him away with her hands. “Well, that’s what my mom used to say. Just go. I’ll nuke some food.”
Vivian dug into the food that she’d bought. She looked over, glad to see him eating but wondering what he was thinking since he’d said very few words after coming back into the house. “I should apologize for the food. It was just simple for now, but I really can cook.”
“No need,” Logan commented, keeping his eyes on his plate as he shoveled another forkful into his mouth. “I didn’t buy anything like this because I wasn’t sure there would be a microwave. You don’t need to cook for me.”
“Well, I’m certainly not going to cook for just myself.” Popping the last bite into her mouth, she took a hearty gulp of tea before standing to take her plate to the sink. Washing it, she reached her hand out for his dish as he moved toward the sink.
“I’ll get it,” he said, sliding in next to her at the sink.
“How about you wash, and I’ll dry?” she offered, smiling up at him.
Logan nodded, lifting the dour frown on his face. Once finished with the plates, cups, and utensils, he wiped his hands as she finished drying. She stood on her toes to set the cups on the top shelf, and he reached around her, his front at her back as he took them from her to place them there. Their proximity hit her, and her breathing hitched. She tried not to think about the heat emanating from his body. Tamping down those thoughts, she forced her professionalism to take over. “Thanks,” she said, twisting her head around to smile up at him. “See? We’ll get along just fine.”
“Insufferable man!” Vivian grumbled under her breath.
Their pseudo-relationship devolved quickly after they’d eaten with an argument over her phone and their rooms. She had wanted to discuss their plan, but he appeared to be as closed-mouth about it as he was about everything else. Her earlier attempts to draw him out had been met with silence, and now he was invading her space and making demands. He’d asked for her phone, and as soon as she handed it over, he powered it off before shoving it into his pocket.
“As of now, this phone is off-limits for you—”
“What?” The screech she emitted was a sound she almost never used, but it seemed as though he managed to pull it from the depths of her lungs.
Handing her a burner phone, he said, “Use this. Only when you have to.”
She held out her hand, palm up, and demanded, “Give me my phone.”
“No. I can’t trust that you won’t forget and use it. While we’re here, you can’t have your personal phone in your possession. It’s just a precaution. And you need to get your things out of this room and into the bedroom across the hall.”
At that, she blinked, her mouth hanging open. “Why? My things are already in the closet and drawers.”
“I need the room on this side.”
Standing in the hall, she watched as he set his bags onto the bed she’d slept in last night. “The rooms are the same size,” she argued, following him into the bedroom and grabbing the handles of his duffel bag, attempting to lift it. Barely able to budge the heavy bag, she grimaced as he swiftly moved in, putting his hand on the top.
“Don’t,” he ordered. “Don’t touch my things.”
Whirling around with her hands now on her hips, she huffed. “Seriously? I normally wouldn’t consider touching someone else’s property, but you’ve entered my room, putting your bag on my bed, not to mention you stole my phone!”
“I’m taking this room,” Logan declared once more, his tone firm. “I need to be in this one.”
Stepping closer, with her hands clasped together in front of her, Vivian attempted to calm by taking a deep breath before letting it out slowly. “I will not leave this room without you giving me a reason. A good reason. You may be in charge of this assignment, but you owe me the courtesy of talking to me. You need to—”
“I need to be on this side because it faces the neighbor’s house.”
Her mouth snapped closed as her eyes darted to the window, knowing the neighbor’s house was in view or would be if the blinds were open. “Oh,” she muttered. Turning, she found him staring at her. Swallowing audibly, she complained, “If you had just said so to begin with, I would have understood.”
He scrubbed his hand over his face, sucking in a deep breath. “I’m sorry, but I’m not used to having to explain myself.” Moving to his bag, he unzipped the duffel, pulling out some sweats and running shoes. Moving silently around her, he stepped into the bathroom, shutting the door firmly behind him, leaving her standing in the middle of the bedroom.
A moment later, he walked out of the bathroom, bypassed her, and headed down the hall. She hurried after him, calling out, “Where are you going?”
“Running.”
“But why now? We need to talk about what we’re doing! I’m not sure when I need to—”
Turning on his heel, he faced her, and she skidded to a stop.
“Vivian.” He said her name as though it pained him to do so. “We will talk, but not now. I’m going for a run, and you’re going to get your things set up in the other bedroom. It’ll be late when I get back. Don’t wait up.”
Her jaw dropped. He placed his forefinger on her chin and lifted, shutting her mouth.
“And Viv? Get used to this, ’cause as of right now, I am your boss.” With that, he turned and walked out the front door, closing it behind him.
Fifteen minutes later, Vivian found herself going between the two bedrooms, transferring her clothes from one to the other. She hadn’t been told how long this assignment would last but had been told to prepare for a few weeks. As she put the last of her things in the chest, she slammed the drawer in frustration. It became stuck, and she shoved all her weight against it with her hip, crying out in both anger and pain. Stepping back, she sat on the bed, blinking back tears.
Glancing out the window, she saw the sky as the sun set, much earlier than she experienced in California. The beautiful, ever-changing colors over the deep green of the fir trees held her spellbound. Realizing this bedroom was gifted with the glorious sunsets and didn’t suffer from the glaring morning sun made it the better room even though they were the same size. He couldn’t have known that…he wasn’t being nice…just demanding. And now I look like an idiot for standing up for myself when I wouldn’t have had to if he’d just come out and explained things to begin with.
Hours later, Logan had still not returned. Walking back into his bedroom to make sure she had all her possessions, she looked at the bed, his large bag still sitting on the quilt. Heaving a sigh, she thought of the sheets that needed to be changed since she’d slept on them last night. Standing next to the bed, she grabbed the handles of his bag once more, struggling just to lift it. Indecision moved through her, but she decided to take some of his clothes out so she could move the duffel. He didn’t mind taking my phone!
Burying the feeling of guilt, she unzipped the top and reached inside to lift out a pile of clothes. Her fingers hit cold metal, and she snatched them back as though burned. Sucking in her lips, she hesitated before her curiosity got the better of her. Leaning over, she peered inside, seeing two guns in holsters, and another one partially visible underneath some clothes. Her breath left her lungs in a whoosh, and she plopped down heavily on the bed as her thoughts tumbled.
Lightheaded, she began to breathe deeply, acknowledging that nothing was going the way she thought it would. I thought I’d share a house with some nice man who would just sneak in next door, do his thing, get some samples for me to test, and then we’d be out of here. Guns? Weapons? And who knows what else is in that bag?
Jumping up, she bent over the bag again and fixed the handles the way they were before she began her ill-fated sheet changing. She stepped back and looked at the bed before letting out another sigh. Glancing around, she hurried out of his room.
11
Logan walked back into the house, locking the door securely behind him and turning off the porch light that Vivian must have left on for him. Staring at the lock, he knew he needed to add extra security since she’d be on her own a lot.
While running, he’d taken the time to report to LSIMT, receiving some good-natured teasing about how he must have known about Vivian, which was why he was so keen on being the one to take the lead in the mission. He’d allowed his Keepers their laughter, but he still couldn’t stop the gut clench that occurred when he thought of how this mission was already off the rails.
Now, he didn’t want to leave her vulnerable. Pulling out his phone, he called the night Keeper on duty.
“Hey, boss, it’s Dalton. What can I do for you?”
“I need security locks for this house. Didn’t think about it when it was just going to be me, but I want to make sure Ms. Sanders is safe when I’m not here.”
“You got it. Bert can stick them in the shipment he’s preparing with your new cameras. Anything else?”
“Yes, I’m going to get a list from Ms. Sanders as to what she’ll need for the makeshift lab. I’ll send it to Bert to include.”
“No problem. When it’s ready, Cole will fly it up.”
“Thanks. Appreciate it.”
After ending the call, he noticed the warm glow of a lamp illuminating the living room and the adjacent hallway. It was a thoughtful touch he silently appreciated.
Meticulously checking the back door in the kitchen, he turned off the lamp before heading to the bedroom. A quick glance inside his room satisfied him that she had completed the task of moving her things from that room. However, a handwritten note perched on the bed captured his attention. Curiosity had him immediately pick it up, and his gaze skimmed the words.
I didn’t want to touch your belongings, so I couldn’t change the sheets on your bed. They were clean when I slept on them last night, and I assure you I took a shower before I went to bed. See you in the morning, Vivian
He sighed heavily at the mix of emotions that her note sparked within him. He’d gone out to accomplish reconnaissance, as well as to actually run to drain the frustration from his body. Frustration he wasn’t used to feeling when on a mission. Vivian was a distraction he didn’t need. Or at least he didn’t want to need.
