Standing four inches shorter, Rick's glare sharpened under the shelf of his brow. " The look you give that woman every time she walks into the room."
" That woman is the reason we've tapped into the international market so fast. You could show her a little more respect."
"I will when she gives me a reason. Haven't found one yet."
Defensiveness spiked Logan's blood. "Since when do you shoot first and ask questions later?"
"Since you decided to mix business with pleasure." Rick exhaled. "I don't care where you dip your wick. But when it interferes with this company and your judgment, it affects me. So yeah, I have an issue."
Logan warned, "Stay out of it."
"Like hell I will." A guest glanced at them. Rick lowered his voice. "I won't stand by and watch you botch your career to pursue a woman. Again."
A storm gathered inside Logan. "Don't go there."
"Someone's got to remind you what's at stake. Allison Dupree is a minefield, and you're walking right into it. Need I mention Natalia?"
Icy tension seized Logan, chilling him to the bone. Any defense froze on his tongue, because Rick had been there. Had gone with him to accomplish the two-year undercover mission in Siberia. Had watched him fall head-over-combat-boots in lust with a woman who'd entranced him with her startling green eyes, seduced him with her made-for-sex body. She appealed to his protective instincts with her sob story about risking her life to feed his team information on Russian arms dealers.
He'd walked right into her trap-worst of all he'd pulled his team into the deadly crossfire. Natalia had turned out to be a Russian spy, and his team had barely made it out of there alive. The two-year operation had been compromised. So had U.S. intelligence. Logan's decade-long military career had ended.
Disgust consumed him at the memory. Rick had warned him then, and he'd ignored it. He'd vowed to never make that mistake again.
Less hostile and more curious, Logan regarded Rick. "What's got you convinced Allison is some kind of threat?"
"A gut feeling." Rick's hazel eyes darkened to gunmetal gray. "That should be enough."
Maybe it should. "We're not in the field anymore. Or on enemy ground. This is my turf. I'd know if something was wrong."
"You're too close to this. To her."
"I need more than a hunch. Find me proof before you go off half-cocked."
Rick's nostrils flared. "Trust me. I will."
"Until then, back off." Logan flexed his hands, abruptly ending the conversation.
Logan didn't like being second-guessed. His pit bull CSO was totally off base. He admired Allison's intelligence and work ethic. Sure, he was attracted to her. What man in his right mind wouldn't be?
When the demonstrations concluded around five that evening, Logan met his crew of bodyguards assigned to the guests, gave them specific orders, and made sure everyone found their correct limousines and arrived safely at their destinations. The roads were a slushy, snow-covered mess. November in the Mile High City could be mild with endless vistas of sunshine. Or, like tonight, an early storm could make travel next to impossible.
As the last limo pulled into rush hour traffic, he headed toward the bank of elevators. He had a sole mission. And he refused to take no for an answer.
Before shutting down his computer, he checked the camera that looked in on Allison's office. She hadn't left for the day. Perfect . When he saw her reach for her jacket, he flicked off his monitor. Grabbing his coat, he cut the lights, locked his office and headed in her direction. He poked his head inside her door. "Got a minute?"
She jumped at his intrusion. "Oh!" Then she sighed. "You startled me."
"I want a second of your time." A lot more than that, actually .
"Sure." She approached him, pulling her long hair out from the back of her coat. The blond strands floated around her shoulders, wispy with static.
Yellow light from a street lamp shone in through the window of the darkened office, bathing her face in warm tones, illuminating pure gold highlights in her hair like glitter. His fingers twitched yearning to tangle in the silken strands.
"Got plans for tonight?" he asked mildly.
She hesitated. "Not really. Why?"
"The company dinner to celebrate the Elite System's release starts at seven." He slid her an appealing smile. The one he used when a girl was taking the last sip of her martini as he convinced her to go home with him. Tonight, there was only one woman he wanted. "I want you to come with me."
She licked her lips. "I don't think that's a good idea."
He shoved his hands in his pockets, preparing for heavy negotiation. "What if I promise I won't overstep my bounds?" She wasn't budging. "C'mon, it's the best idea I've had all day. Don't ruin the moment for me."