Heartstrings (Rock With You #1) Rock Star Romance by Adriana Hunter Read Free Book Online

vulnerable spot right now, with this big case just
given to you. Let’s just say…we can help each other. You want something from me
and I can give that to you, along with helping you with this case. We both win.
The firm wins.”
    Melody
shook her head. “No, I don’t play that game.” She tried to stand, but Ryan
remained perched on the edge of the table, not giving her room to stand.
    “I
think we should schedule some time to go over the file, don’t you?” Ryan
glanced at his watch. “It’s late, almost quitting time…how about coming back
tonight? We could go over your notes…”
    “No…”
Melody was still shaking her head. What was this? This wasn’t the Ryan she’d
known, the mentor she’d grown to trust.
    “Why
are you doing this?” Her voice was barely a whisper.
    “I
want you…to succeed.” Ryan slid off the table, opening the door to his office.
“Think about it, Melody. Let me know tomorrow how you want to proceed.”
    Melody
shuffled her papers together with shaking hands, dropping her pen in her haste
to leave Ryan’s office. He bent to retrieve it, holding it out to Melody. She
regarded it warily, as if it might bite, clutching her files to her chest. Ryan
laughed, setting the pen on the table.
    “We’ll
start tomorrow then. I see you’re not really in the right mind-set for my help
right now. I want a willing partner on my team, not someone who’s indecisive.”
    Ryan
placed a hand on Melody’s back, guiding her toward the open door. For a brief
moment, his fingers slid lower, caressing her hip with firm fingers.
    Melody
was suddenly aware of the sounds of the office outside Ryan’s door, the others
who were leaving for the day, walking past the open door. She saw Lori at her
desk, holding her purse, watching as Ryan and Melody walked past her cubicle.
    “See
you tomorrow, Ryan.” Lori caught Melody’s eye, a frown passing briefly over her
face. “Good-night, Melody.”
    “See
you bright and early, Lori. We’ll have the MacKenzie case to work on tomorrow
so you can plan for that.”
    Ryan
walked Melody to the elevators. “You know, I’ve been thinking. We should use
Lori for this case, not Melissa.”
    Melody
opened her mouth but Ryan went on. “She’s more experienced and lately, well,
Melissa’s been all over the place. And she’s clearly ineffective when it comes
to working with someone of Logan’s magnitude.” Ryan shook his head. “Sad…I
thought she had promise.”
    The
elevator arrived and Melody hurried into the car, pressing the button for her
floor. She panicked briefly, thinking Ryan was going to ride down with her, but
he remained on his floor. She watched him disappear behind the doors of the
elevator, finally taking a deep breath.
    Melissa
was already gone when Melody got back to her office. One less confrontation
for today, thank heavens.
    How
was she going to tell Melissa she was off the case? Melody’s head was swirling.
She sat at her desk, the case file spread in front of her. Logan’s case.
    “Oh,
god. Logan…dinner.” She glanced at her watch. It was still early, she had time
to get home, change out of her business suit and get a cab back to meet Logan.
She gave a rueful laugh. Never thought I’d be looking forward to seeing Logan
MacKenzie.
     
    * * *
     
    Melody
was still late, arriving breathlessly at the restaurant. She stood at the
maître d’ station, restlessly scanning the dark restaurant, looking for Logan
among the seated diners. She jumped when someone touched her arm, as a warm
breath brushed against her cheek.
    “You’re
late, but still a welcome sight.” His voice was soft against her ear.
    She
turned, looking up at Logan. “Oh…you scared me.”
    “Sorry,
didn’t mean to. You’re a bit skittish, no? Is it me, or something else?” He
nodded over her head, steering her after the retreating back of the maître d’
as the man lead them to their table.
    She
waited until they were seated before she spoke.