Straight from the Heart

“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—”