Page 10 of Keeping Kasey (Love and Blood #3)

CHAPTER SEVEN

Logan

Between Kasey’s incessant disrespect, Ford’s palpable anger, Moreno and Elise’s bickering, and Damon’s visible amusement, I have no patience left.

After Kasey’s role was established, James handled the remainder of the meeting.

He covered the plans moving forward to allow Moreno to establish a base in Texas, which was a condition of our families’ alliance.

Kasey isn’t needed for this part, but I don’t bother kicking her out since she probably already knows the plans from her research .

When the meeting finally ends, all I want to do is retreat to the quiet of my office, drink an entire bottle of whiskey—which is hidden for Damon’s sake—and pretend I haven’t let a banshee into my home.

But there’s something I need to do first.

“Kasey, my office in ten minutes,” I order and turn to follow the others out.

“How am I supposed to know where that is?”

When I face her, she crosses her arms over her chest as if that could make her five-two frame intimidating—it doesn’t. She stares at me, but I don’t meet her gaze. Instead, I let my eyes trail down to her chest, which she’s pushing up in front of me.

She clears her throat, and only then do I lift my eyes to meet her glare. “See something you like?”

“Nothing worth my time.” It’s a less than chivalrous answer—not to mention a lie—but the last thing Kasey needs is an ego boost.

If I thought offense would taint those blue eyes, I’m sorely mistaken when they crinkle with her soft laugh. It’s not the same snorting laughter from our first meeting, but something lower that strikes my chest like a match.

“As if you’d get the chance to find out,” she says and turns around, leaning over far more than necessary to reach for her phone, knowing full well that I have an unobstructed view of her leggings-covered ass.

Those shouldn’t even be considered pants. They cover nothing.

I’m still staring when she whirls around with a knowing smile.

“But you’re probably right. It’s not worth your time.” She bounces back on her heels as she says the words, and her chest shakes with the movement.

And for her metaphorical checkmate, her eyes wander down my body with boredom. “You definitely aren’t worth mine.”

With that, she shoulders past me and out the door.

I openly rejected and insulted her, yet somehow she’s the one who landed the final blow.

That flame in my chest spreads across my skin.

One breath. Two. Three.

Elise and Moreno—the only other people in the room—are caught up in some tense conversation, but it cuts off abruptly when I storm out after Kasey, and I ignore my sister calling my name.

“Where do you think you’re going?” I call after Kasey, who is only a few paces down the hall.

“Anywhere you’re not.”

Before I can form a coherent thought, I close the distance between us and take hold of her arm. She thrashes in my grasp, but I barely notice as I drag her toward my office.

“Let go of me!” she shouts. Directly. Into. My. Ear.

“What are you doing?” Elise’s voice finally breaks through my furious haze, and I freeze, still holding Kasey’s arm in an iron grip.

What am I doing?

I can’t allow Kasey’s blatant disrespect. I would never let my men get away with what she’s pulling, and I’m not about to let her off the hook just because she’s a girl.

Call me a feminist.

I retain my grip and keep walking. “Taking care of a problem.”

“Logan, you’re acting insane,” Elise accuses.

I’m starting to feel insane.

“Come by my office in ten,” I call over my shoulder. “You can give Kasey a tour of the base.”

To my pleasant surprise—and Kasey’s apparent horror—Elise doesn’t pursue us as I drag her to my office.

“I swear, Logan, I will make your life a living hell. Let me go!”

And I do, just as soon as the door is shut and locked, with my back pressed against it.

Kasey whips around, face red and chest heaving. “What is wrong with you?”

“Me?” I laugh humorlessly. “What’s wrong with you ? I give you a damn good job, making damn good money, and a damn nice place for you and your mutt to stay. And how do you repay me? By repeatedly running your mouth and disrespecting me in front of my men.”

“You came to me for help—not the other way around.”

“And my wallet is suffering for it, which means I won’t be.

If you were one of my soldiers, I’d have beaten you to hell and back for your attitude, and I’m close to going that route anyway.

I’m the head of this family, and I know you’re new to this, but that title deserves respect.

Either respect it or get out, but I’m done with this attitude. ”

Her head tilts to one side, blonde curls falling over the pale skin of her shoulder as she studies me.

I brace myself for the shouting, cursing, and arguments that I’ve come to expect.

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“You’re right,” she says. “You’re the boss. I’m the employee. I’ll watch how I talk to you in front of people.”

Her careful wording isn’t lost on me, but getting an agreement out of this girl is like pulling teeth, so I take the victory.

I straighten my back and adjust my tie. “Well, in that case, we’re fini—”

“But I’m telling you right now”—she steps forward, pressing one slim finger into my chest—“my respect isn’t given; it’s earned, and you have not earned mine. You don’t get to push me around.”

My lip turns up, and I take her small hand, pulling it from my chest but not releasing it. The floral scent that wafts off her fans the flames of whatever fire is burning me alive from the inside out.

“You’ve been pushing me since the second we met. You just don’t like it when I push back. Don’t start a game you can’t handle playing, beautiful. I won’t go easy on you.”

“Beautiful?” she repeats as blush creeps up her cheeks, and I’m hit with a sharp satisfaction.

When I don’t say anything, she shakes her head with a scoff.

“You’re ridiculous. It’s going to take more than flashy cars, a pretty face, and flattery to win me over.”

I use her hand to pull her closer. “You think I have a pretty face?”

She rolls her eyes. “You’re a narcissist.”

“You find me attractive.”

“And delusional.”

“Am I?”

During our exchange, I’ve pulled her so close that I’ve traded oxygen for her perfume—and it’s not an unpleasant trade. Her forearm rests against my chest, and our labored breaths mingle as she studies my gaze, searching for an answer I can’t give her.

Because this—whatever warmth is still spreading through my chest—isn’t a result of the irritation that usually fuels my frustration. It’s not a particularly comfortable feeling, but for some reason, I want more.

I want her .

My fingers itch to tangle in those wild curls as I tug her bottom lip between my teeth. I want to feel how her small, delicate body would fit against mine.

So, in the interest of achieving this goal, I go against my very nature and tilt my head in silent question.

Kasey’s eyes dilate as she reads the gesture, and I can’t help but think I’ve found the perfect way to finally shut her up.

When she lifts her chin and parts her lips in a wordless consent, I don’t hesitate.

I take Kasey’s lips with every ounce of the anger she’s inspired over the last week. There’s nothing sweet or romantic about how our lips move against each other—just pure, animalistic need.

I release her hand and wrap one arm firmly around her waist, anchoring her to me as my other hand freely explores the wild curls that have taunted me all day.

She responds by wrapping her arms around my neck and using a tight grip on my hair to hold my mouth to hers. My scalp burns, but I don’t even slow.

I take her bottom lip between my teeth and bite down as she releases my hair.

Her nails rake down my neck, stopping to dig into my shoulders.

I trail my hand from her hair down her body, and in one swift move, I lift her into my arms. Kasey’s legs wrap around my waist like ivy as I turn us so she’s pinned between me and the door.

Searing Kasey’s lips to mine, I decide it’s been too long since I got laid, and it’s messing with my head. It’s not Kasey’s fault she’s the only woman around here, but I’ll be taking advantage of having her around these next three months.

There’s a lot I can do in that time.

I tighten my hold as I carry her to my desk. I pull my head back just enough to be sure I won’t run into something, and Kasey’s lips trail down my jaw and throat.

I’m about to shove everything on my desk to the floor like some cheesy movie, but a soft knock acts as a bucket of ice-cold water being poured over my head.

“Logan, are you in there?” my sister calls through the thin metal door.

I drop Kasey, and she barely gets her feet beneath her before she falls on her ass. Her glare communicates every violent thought she’s harboring, and I wonder if having her is worth it after all. I suppose as long as her mouth is occupied, I won’t be tempted to strangle her…

“Come in,” I call as I round my desk.

I’ve just schooled my features into their usual stoicism when Elise opens the door. If she suspects anything about Kasey’s messier-than-normal hair, swollen lips, or my hesitation to invite her in, she doesn’t show it.

“Ready for the tour?” Elise asks, her attention solely on Kasey, who masked her emotions just as I did.

“Anything to get away from him ,” Kasey mutters as she follows my sister out the door.