Читать книгу Straight from the Heart - Linda Warren, Linda Warren - Страница 7

LUCAS DROVE to his office to check his messages and finalize his plans for a long vacation with Jacob and the family. He couldn’t believe how much he missed the kids and he couldn’t believe how much he enjoyed being an uncle. It would be nice to have his own kids, but he didn’t see that in his future.

As he let himself in the side door of his office, Blair’s face flashed into his mind. A Blair with her blue eyes dreamy and her dark hair mussed. He shook his head, smiling. He had a feeling that picture was going to haunt him for days.

He sat at his desk dealing with messages, when his secretary, Joan, stepped into the office. At sixty, Joan was a stoic, unflappable woman, an invaluable asset. Her hair was blond with streaks of gray that didn’t bother her. She had a husband, three kids and a grandchild, yet she managed to handle all his affairs with effortless ease. She was better than a wife, or so his friends told him. She kept his life organized but didn’t nag or complain. At the moment, though, she seemed flushed and out of breath.

He lifted an eyebrow. “What is it, Joan?”

She leaned over and whispered, “Sam Logan is here to see you.”

Lucas frowned, thinking he’d heard her wrong. “What did you say?”

“Sam Logan. He wants to see you,” she whispered again.

“Why are you whispering? He can’t hear us.”

“I know…but I’ve heard all these stories about him and I’ve never met him. He’s very impressive in person.”

Lucas had heard the stories, too. Logan was overpowering in a courtroom. In college Lucas had wanted to be like him—a winning lawyer with the respect of his peers. These days Lucas just wanted to be himself.

Why the hell was Sam Logan calling on him?

Had Blair told him what had happened in her office? No, she wasn’t that kind of woman.

“What should I tell him?” Joan asked.

“Have you cleared my schedule for a couple of weeks?”

Joan’s eyes widened in shock. “Of course, but…surely you’re going to see him.”

“He doesn’t have an appointment, does he?”

“No,” Joan said slowly. “But it’s Sam Logan.”

“So what?”

Joan planted her hands on her hips. “Lucas Culver, what are you trying to pull? You know you’re going to see him, so why are you giving me a hard time?”

“I’ve just never seen you so flustered before.” He smiled mischievously. “If it’ll make you happy, send the man in.”

“Really, Lucas, sometimes…” Her voice trailed away as she left the room.

Lucas got to his feet and fastened a button on his dark gray suit. What a day, he thought. Sam’s daughter had just beaten him in court and he’d seen that same daughter in a state of undress. What next?

Sam Logan entered the office. He was solidly built, about five foot ten and weighed maybe one hundred and eighty pounds, Lucas surmised. He had dark hair, almost black, that was beginning to turn gray, and blunt masculine features. Nothing out of the ordinary, but there was something about Sam Logan that drew one’s attention. An unmistakable aura of power and strength…

Lucas stayed behind his desk instead of joining him at the door. He felt as if he could now meet Sam Logan on equal ground.

Sam walked over, and they shook hands. “Thanks for seeing me on such short notice,” he said, and sat in one of the leather wingback chairs. He was dressed in a tailored navy-blue suit, a pinstriped shirt and navy tie—impeccable in dress and manner.

Lucas glanced at his watch as he took his seat. “I have a few minutes between appointments,” he answered. “What can I do for you?”

Sam placed his fingers together in a thoughtful gesture. “I know we’ve never met, but I’ve watched your career over the years. You’ve become a great lawyer and I admire your work.”

Praise was the last thing he’d expected from Sam Logan, and he had to resist the urge to shift uncomfortably in his chair. But Sam wasn’t going to make him feel like a bumbling lawyer without any experience. A smile touched his face. “I find that ironic since your daughter just beat me in court.”

Sam dismissed the comment with a wave of his hand. “Any A.D.A. could have won that case.”

For some reason, Lucas didn’t like the way that sounded. Sam Logan made it seem as if he didn’t have any confidence in Blair. “Don’t underestimate your daughter,” he said more sharply than he’d intended.

Sam raised a dark eyebrow. “I don’t,” he answered. “Blair’s getting very good in a courtroom, but you and I both know that your heart wasn’t in the Raye case.”

Was that obvious to everyone? Lucas wondered. Was he losing his edge?

“However, I don’t want to talk about that case,” Sam said. “I want to talk about the future.”

That caught Lucas’s interest. What the hell did his future have to do with Sam Logan?

“You see, I’m thinking about retiring,” Sam went on, studying the end of his fingertips. “My associates, Derek Johnson, Frank Mann and Theo Barker, are also getting on in years. I have other attorneys, but they’re not measuring up. I need new blood, someone who can control a courtroom and maintain the prestige that is synonymous with my firm.” He raised his eyes to Lucas. “You’re the best I’ve seen in a long time. I’d like you to consider working for my company.”

“You’re offering me a job?” Lucas asked with deceptive calm; he knew there had to be more to this than a job offer. But what?

Sam nodded. “Yes, you can come in as a senior partner with a salary commensurate with that status.”

Few things in life shocked Lucas, but this one threw him right into orbit. Logan and Associates offering a senior partnership to a new attorney was unheard of. Like the old saying went—it had to be earned. Sam Logan had the best defense team in the state and no one entered that prized sanctum without paying some dues. So what was Sam Logan up to?

Lucas met his gaze. “How will your top guns feel about this?” It was well known that Sam called his best attorneys “top guns.”

Sam suppressed a smile. “You’ve heard about that?”

“Hasn’t everyone?” Lucas quipped. “And I’m not too eager to get involved with office politics.”

“I am head of Logan and Associates and I make all hiring decisions. Anyone who has a problem with that can leave.” Sam spoke quietly but with force, and Lucas didn’t miss the fire in his voice.

Before he could respond, Sam continued. “To be honest with you, my top guns, including me, have begun to lose some firepower. We need someone younger—someone like you.”

Lucas didn’t blink. There were more than forty attorneys in Sam’s office and some of them were very good. “I’m happy with my job at Harris and Harris.”

“I’ve checked into your job status,” Sam returned. “You’ve gone as far as you can go here. Even though you bring in most of the money, Clive and George are not going to promote you over their sons.”

“You seem to know a lot about me.”

Sam stood up. “I do my homework. You deserve prestige and everything that comes with it. Logan and Associates can give you that.”

Lucas also stood, thinking this day had turned pretty darn interesting. A job offer from Sam Logan… It didn’t make sense, and he still wasn’t buying a word out of Sam’s mouth. There was something else going on; Lucas knew it.

Sensing Lucas’s hesitation, Sam reached inside his jacket and pulled out a card and gold pen. “My wife’s giving a dinner party tonight for our son, who’s home from London. Some of my business associates will be there. Why don’t you come and meet them? Maybe it’ll put your mind at rest.” He scribbled something on the back of the card. “This is my address. Dinner’s at eight.”

Lucas took the card and stared at the prestigious River Oaks address. A dinner party? Oh yeah, this was more than interesting. It was getting bizarre. He wondered if Blair would be there and how she’d react to him sitting down to dinner with her family. She’d probably throw knives and forks at him. Oh yes, this was bizarre.

“I know you’re having doubts,” Sam said. “But I don’t make offers lightly. Give this some serious thought. It could only help your career.”

Lucas’s dark eyes caught his. “Why are you so concerned about my career?”

“I’m not,” Sam admitted frankly. “I’m concerned about my firm and its future. The bottom line is numbers, and I believe you have the talent to bring in big numbers.”

Now they were getting somewhere. It all came down to money. Was that what all this was about? Lucas didn’t think so, but for the moment he had to go with what Sam was telling him.

“Think about it,” Sam added. “Come to the party, meet the team and then make your decision.”

Lucas fingered the card. “I have other plans.”

“Break them.”

“It isn’t that easy.”

“Yes, it is, Lucas,” Sam said. “If you want to play with my team, you’d better straighten out your priorities.”

“I don’t like being pressured,” Lucas said tersely.

Sam ignored the warning. “If you want to play in the big leagues, get used to the pressure.”

Lucas was about to tell him what he could do with his job offer, when Sam walked to the door.

“Think about it, that’s all I ask,” Sam said. “Dinner’s at eight.”

FROWNING, Lucas sat staring into space. Sam Logan was manipulating him—but why? Why would a man he’d admired for years suddenly turn up at his office, offering him the job of a lifetime? All he knew was that Sam’s offer had made him very curious. He wouldn’t be able to concentrate on anything else until he figured out what was behind this generous deal.

Could it have something to do with Blair? No, he didn’t think so.

Joan walked in with a piece of paper in her hand. “Well, well, well,” she said smugly. “A job offer from Sam Logan. Are you feeling very pleased with yourself?”

Lucas glanced up. “Are you psychic? Or were you listening at the door?”

She smiled. “A little of both.”

“There’s some ulterior motive here, and I’m going to find out what.”

“Has it occurred to you that maybe this is just what it seems to be—a great offer for a great attorney?”

“If I was naive, I’d believe that,” he said. “But I haven’t been naive since I was fifteen years old.”

“What are you going to do?” Joan asked.

Lucas picked up the card on his desk. “I don’t know, but I’m thinking of showing up at the Logan house for dinner.”

“Oh,” Joan said quickly, handing him the piece of paper. “Jennifer called and said she has to work late. She said to meet her at her apartment at eight-thirty, and she wants you to pick up some wine from that little shop she likes. I wrote the address down and the type of wine.”

He took the paper with an exasperated sigh. Jennifer was giving him orders. Why did that upset him? Because he didn’t like bossy women who wanted to control him. Oh hell, was he having a bad day or what? He wasn’t usually this touchy. Jennifer was trying to take their relationship to another level and he could feel himself backing off—as always.

“Thanks, Joan,” he said offhandedly.

“Lucas…”

He stopped her. “Don’t worry. I’ll let you know how it turns out.”

She bit her lip, then murmured, “You know, Lucas, I never thought I’d have to stroke your ego, but you’re an exceptional attorney. I’m sure Sam Logan recognizes that. So don’t do anything stupid.”

Lucas grinned. “Have I ever done anything stupid?”

Before she could answer, Lucas held up his hand. “Don’t answer that. I’d probably have to take the fifth.”

She laughed, shaking her head. “I’d better get home. I’ve got a family waiting.”

After Joan left, he sat thinking about this strange turn of events. He had to make a decision. Did he go to River Oaks or did he spend the evening with a beautiful woman—even if she was just a bit controlling? Blair flashed into his mind again, not the Blair in the courtroom but the seductive, dancing Blair. What was she like in her home, with her family?

He ran both hands through his dark hair. Why couldn’t he get her out of his head? She was just another woman, he told himself, but he had a hard time believing that.

Dammit, Blair, what are you doing to me?

He crumpled Sam’s card and threw it into the trash. He wasn’t going to get mixed up with the Logan family. He had enough problems of his own.

SAM LOGAN CHARGED into his office and sat in his high-tech office chair, lightly drumming his fingers on the padded arms.

Derek Johnson, Theodore Barker and Frank Mann followed him inside. Frank quietly closed the door. Frank was short, bald and stocky and always had a ready smile. “How’d it go?” he asked.

“What did Culver say?” Derek put in just as quickly. Derek was of medium height, with reddish-blond hair, and was known for both his temper and his finesse in a courtroom.

Sam shrugged. “Hard to tell with Lucas. He knows all the tricks—doesn’t let anything show on his face—but I have a feeling he’s not planning to accept the offer.”

“That bastard,” Derek growled. “Doesn’t he know when something’s being handed to him on a silver platter?”

“That’s just it,” Sam told him. “Lucas is doing very well where he is. He doesn’t need us, but we sure as hell need him.”

“That’s not true,” Derek answered. “I told you from the start that I could handle things. I—”

“Shut up, Derek.” Theo spoke up. Theo was tallest of the three men, with a thatch of curly brown hair and blue-green eyes. “You’re not Perry Mason, even though you think you are. If Sam doesn’t think you can handle it, then—”

Frank interrupted. “Okay, let’s just calm down and let Sam tell us what happened.”

Sam watched his three top attorneys, his gaze hooded. He folded his hands across his desk and began to speak in a slow forceful manner. “I am still head of Logan and Associates, and I make all hiring decisions without asking your permission. I’m only consulting you as a courtesy. If anyone has a problem with that, you’d better say so now so you can pack your things and get out.”

“Wait a minute, Sam.” Derek put up a hand. “I was only voicing my opinion…what I think is best for the firm.”

Sam’s mouth twisted wryly. “You know, Derek, I don’t remember ever asking you to take the responsibility for my firm.” He put a heavy emphasis on the word my.

Derek didn’t say another word.

“We either do this together, or I do it alone,” Sam added. “Your choice.”

“I’m with you, Sam,” Frank immediately said.

“Me, too,” Theo stated.

All eyes swung to Derek. “I was just questioning whether Culver’s the best choice, that’s all.”

Sam eyed Derek, his expression calculating. “If you have any problems with Lucas, we’d better get them out of the way now, because if we’re lucky enough to have him join us, I won’t tolerate any dissension among my staff.”

Derek glanced down at the desk, clearly struggling.

Sam got up and walked to the window, looking out at the glass skyscrapers of downtown Houston and the busy streets below.

Silence ensued.

Theo broke the stalemate. “Hell, Derek, why don’t you just admit it? You’re afraid Culver might outshine you in a courtroom. But this isn’t about you and your gigantic ego. It’s about the future of the firm.”

“I know,” Derek admitted grudgingly. “I’m behind Sam all the way.”

“That’s good to hear.” Sam turned from the window. “I just hope things don’t come to a head before I get Lucas on board.” There was a pause, then he added, “Damn bad luck to have Blake pay us this surprise visit.”

“You need to get him back to London, Sam,” Theo suggested quietly.

“I will, but first I’ll let him spend some time with his mother and sister.”

“We don’t have the valuable commodity of time,” Derek said.

“I’m well aware of that,” Sam muttered.

“Have you heard anything else?” Frank asked.

“Not a word,” Sam muttered. “Holt’s keeping a lid on everything until he’s ready to pounce.”

“Hell, Sam,” Frank said. “Your daughter works at the D.A.’s office. Surely you can get some information out of her.”

Sam’s eyes turned a steel blue. “I will not drag my daughter into this. Do you understand me?”

Frank’s brown eyes narrowed. “My God, you haven’t told her, have you?”

Sam looked away. “No. I need to have all my i’s dotted and my t’s crossed before I tell her. Besides, I won’t compromise her job.” His face was grim. “Everything depends on tonight.”

“What’s happening tonight?” Theo asked.

“I invited Lucas to the dinner party,” Sam answered. “If he shows, I know we have a chance of convincing him to accept the offer. If not…”

Sam let the words hang, and each knew exactly what he meant.

Finally Frank asked, “Will Blair be there?”

“Of course,” Sam snapped.

“I don’t think you’ve thought this through,” Frank said slowly. “After the day Lucas and Blair just had in court, do you think it’s wise to expect them to sit down to a friendly dinner? You know how she is about defense attorneys.”

“Dammit,” Sam clenched his fists. “This is all happening too fast. I haven’t had time to think about Blair and her feelings.”

The three men shared a secret glance.

“Well.” Sam slapped a hand on the desk. “Blair’s a mature adult woman and I know she can handle it.”

Theo gave a gruff laugh. “I don’t mean any disrespect, Sam. But do you actually know your daughter? She’s been trying to beat Culver for two years. It’s common knowledge around the courthouse—and so is her dislike of the man.”

“I know,” Sam said tightly.

“Again, I don’t mean any disrespect,” Theo continued, “but are you sure Culver is the right man for the job? After all, Blair did beat him today.”

“Have you ever seen him in a courtroom?”

“Not lately,” Theo murmured.

“Today was just a fluke. Raye was guilty, and everyone knew it, even Lucas, and though he wouldn’t admit it, he didn’t give this case his best.”

“Why do you say that?” Theo wanted to know.

“Because Lucas has this chemistry, especially with female jurors. You have to see it to believe it, but he can razzle-dazzle a jury better than anyone I’ve ever seen. I need that type of charisma on my side. Someone who can beat the odds and win.”

“Why didn’t he do that with the Raye case?” Derek asked.

Sam shot him a piercing glance. “Because he didn’t choose the jury. Tenney did, and Lucas didn’t get to establish that intimacy with them. Besides, Raye was guilty as hell.”

He paused, then asked, “Are you questioning my judgment?”

“No, of course not,” Derek was quick to say.

“I’ve researched this, and I know Lucas Culver inside and out. He’s the best, and we need him.”

“What about Blair?” Frank asked again.

“Blair will understand…in time.”

“Why don’t you just tell her the truth?”

“I can’t—not yet.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Derek put in.

“I do. Everything depends on Lucas.”

BLAIR RUSHED from her office. She was running behind, and her mother hated it when she arrived late. She had just enough time for a shower and a change of clothes. Her mother also hated it when she wore business suits to her dinner parties. She was considering what to wear, when Lucas’s smile entered her mind—the smile that had lingered on his lips as he watched her dance…his dark eyes touching her in ways that… No, don’t think about him, she warned herself. Any decent man would have apologized profusely for intruding on such a private moment, but not Lucas. Oh no, he had to capitalize on it for his own pleasure. She wouldn’t think about him. She wouldn’t.

She had the whole evening ahead of her, an evening with her brother and family, and she refused to let thoughts of Lucas ruin it. If she hurried, she might have a few minutes alone with Blake before dinner. She missed their long talks and—

Blair came to a complete stop. Her briefcase dropped to the pavement and her purse slid from her shoulder. All she could do was stare at her car in growing horror. Across the windshield was scrawled in red lipstick, I’ll get you, bitch.

Her body started to tremble, and fear was on the verge of consuming her—a fear from the past, a blinding, helpless fear. No, no, no, she told herself. She would not allow Hector Raye to do this to her. He wasn’t going to manipulate her with threats. Summoning all her strength, she forced the fear away. She had survived worse than Raye, and she would survive this.

She retrieved her purse and found her cell phone. She dialed Roger Collins’s number, and he was at her side in less than ten minutes; in another five, he had the situation under control.

Evan Holt was notified and the police were taking prints from the car, prior to beginning their investigation. Blair just wanted to go home.

“Are you okay?” Roger asked for the third time.

“I’m fine,” she answered with a stiff smile.

“It has to be Raye’s gang trying to scare you,” Roger said, gesturing at the ugly words.

“I know, but I don’t scare easily,” she said with more bravado than she felt. Glancing at her watch, she asked, “How much longer do you think it’ll be? I have to be at my parents’ for dinner.”

Roger spoke to a policeman, then turned back to her. “I’m sorry, Blair, but this is going to take a while. We don’t want to miss anything.”

“I really have to go.”

Roger looked at the car and shrugged. “Tell you what, I’ll drive you to your parents’.”

“Thanks.” She smiled slightly. “But I need to have my own wheels. Could you drive me to a rental agency?” She thought of Roger as a good friend, but she realized his feelings for her went much deeper and she didn’t want to encourage him. But right now, it was hard not to let him take over and protect her.

“I don’t think you should be alone. You never know who’s waiting out there. I’d feel better if—”

She stopped him. “I’m not alone.” She opened her purse and showed him the small handgun. She’d had it for years, and Roger had actually given her shooting lessons.

“I’d forgotten about the gun,” he said. “Still—”

“No.” She stopped him again. “I’m not letting Hector Raye and his gang frighten me with threats.”

Roger shook his head. “I’m just worried about you, that’s all.”

“I know.” She shifted her purse strap higher on her shoulder in a nervous gesture. “You’re a very good friend.”

“Blair, I could be—”

“Are you driving me to the rental agency?” she interrupted, knowing what he was about to say and not wanting to deal with another emotional upheaval. Not at that moment, anyway. She’d have to talk to Roger in the near future about his feelings for her, and she wasn’t looking forward to it.

“Your wish is my command,” he answered.

“Great,” she said with a sigh, and they started toward his car.

“I think I’ll give Lucas a call and let him know what his client’s up to,” Roger said.

Blair grabbed Roger’s arm. “No, please don’t call Lucas.”

Roger frowned. “Why not? He should know what Raye’s doing.”

Blair took a deep breath and tried to explain. “I just can’t deal with Lucas Culver anymore today.” The words sounded stupid to her own ears, but she was hardly going to tell Roger that she couldn’t face Lucas.

Roger’s frown deepened. “If that’s the way you want it.”

“It is,” she told him, hoping he’d leave it at that. He did, and Blair was grateful. If she never had to see Lucas Culver again, it would be too soon.