Charade by Cindy Gerard

Author:Cindy Gerard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cindy Gerard

CHARADE

Cindy Gerard

SIX

Logan gazed disinterestedly across the gleaming walnut surface of the boardroom table. The board members’ heated discussion droned on around him like the irritating wheeze of a poorly oiled machine.

Tuning out the conversation, he rose, walked to the window, and stared at the Transco Tower. The obelisk-shaped structure rose seventy stories above the other corporate and residential buildings making up the Galleria Area. He shifted his gaze to the city streets below; they were bustling with activity.

Heat shimmered on the pavement in waves as an arid August wind sent dust and debris swirling. In the midst of a crowd of people, he spotted a dark-haired woman holding the hand of a little dark-haired boy. He superimposed the image of another woman, another child.

“Logan?”

Ben’s voice broke through the void he’d tried to create, the one he’d blended into too often in the past two weeks to suit either Ben or the other board members.

Ben’s footsteps were silent on the plush gray carpet. “Logan,” he said softly as he walked up behind him. “We need your input to tie up this offer.”

Logan turned in stony silence. He recognized the look on Ben’s face. He’d seen it often lately. Behind a facade of unruffled control, Ben was frazzled down to his imported Italian loafers.

“Just handle it,” Logan said quietly. He turned back to the window. “Then get them out of here.”

Ben tensed, collected himself, and faced the group.

“Gentlemen,” Logan heard him say with a cheerfulness that betrayed none of his underlying irritation, “the time seems to have gotten away from us. I know you’ll understand that we need to adjourn for today. Mr. Prince has prior commitments.”

Peripherally aware of a round of grumbled protests, Logan listened with half an ear to the sounds of the room clearing. When the double brass doors shut with a muffled click behind the last board member, he turned to face Ben.

Frustration spurred a surly impatience totally foreign to Ben’s nature. Logan felt a twinge of guilt over causing it. Ben Crenshaw was one of the few men Logan trusted implicitly. They’d met in college and had kept in touch from a distance until ten years ago when Logan had brought him into the company. He’d never regretted the decision.

Ben’s diminutive stature and penchant toward plumpness fooled many into overlooking his business acumen, his Yankee perspective, and sharp mind. All those qualities along with innate integrity made him invaluable as a friend and a business adviser.

He didn’t look too friendly at the moment, however. His warm brown eyes, usually dancing with good humor, were snapping with irritation.

“Logan, this has got to stop. You’re losing their confidence. If it keeps up, you’ll also lose control.”

Ben was right. Logan knew it. He just didn’t know how he felt about it. At the moment indifference was the best he could muster. It must have shown on his face.

“Dammit, Logan. What’s wrong with you?”

Logan thought of a pair of soft Spanish eyes. Eyes he’d last seen two weeks ago. Eyes that had gone from caring to closed in a heartbeat when the truth of his deception had come to light.

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