Page 7

In which Logan redeems himself with charm and takeaway.

Arabella…

“Hello, Miss Blair, I’ve brought ye lunch.” He smiles down at me, looking like a well-groomed businessman versus the knife-wielding wraith I know he truly is. He’s holding an enormous bag of takeaway and opens it to put two of the containers on Lucy’s desk. “A hard-working lass like ye rarely gets to leave your desk for a proper lunch, aye?”

Lucy is forty-seven, stern, and if a pleasant disposition is searching for her, they’ve not yet met. I’ve tried to suck up to her all year with little treats like snacks and a potted plant, and never got her to crack a smile. But with him? Her cheeks are flushed pink and it’s possible she might be giggling.

“Well, thank you, Mr. MacTavish-”

“Please,” he put a hand to his chest, the smarmy bastard, “do call me Logan, and may I call you Lucy?”

“Of course!” She’s beaming. I canna help but feel put out that I’ve been currying her favor for months and he’s got her charmed in less than the two minutes it took me to get to the office.

Then the blood-splashed memories of last night hit me hard, and I grab the doorknob. Death follows this man everywhere. Are my kids in danger? Is he putting the school at risk by being here?

His gaze travels from my white knuckles to my face. “Arabella, sweetheart, I assure ye it’s nothing but lunch.”

Before Lucy can ask any questions, I give him a big, fake smile. “That’s so sweet of you… Logan. Let’s eat outside, there’s a nice bench with some shade on the other side of the school.”

I know everyone in the front office is staring as I not-quite drag him out the door. I canna blame them. A hugely muscled man with the face of a supermodel and a suit that costs more than my year’s salary is going to look as out of place at the Wallace School for Exceptional Children as a Disney princess would be at a sex dungeon.

My smile drops as soon as we’re out of sight. “What are ye doing here!” I smack his shoulder and I’m pretty sure it hurts me more than it does him. “Coming to my school after ye- ye-”

“Decapitated the two men trying to kidnap and murder ye last night?”

“Which was your fault!” I hiss. “What the hell have ye dragged me into?”

“That’s not really fair, lass.” He puts the takeaway bag on the bench and seats himself, smiling at me pleasantly. “Ye did insert yourself, though I am deeply and forever appreciative of your warning.”

The bloody faces of those men in the alley hits me again and I sit down heavily. “Are ye putting my students in danger by being here?”

“No. I understand your concern, though. I thought it was time we talked. And ye dinnae bring anything for lunch today.”

“Are you spying on me?”

“People are peering out the windows, eat your beef and broccoli. I promise I’ll explain if you take a bite.” He hands me a box and the smell is divine as he opens the lid. Sesame, soy sauce, a bit of garlic… “Dig in, sweetheart. Here’s a fork.”

“I love beef and broccoli,” I admit, scooping up the first forkful of crisp broccoli and tangy steak. The salty bite explodes against my taste buds and I groan in pleasure. Damn him, he’s right, I was too stressed to remember to pack anything to eat today.

“I know,” he says amiably, opening a container of Kung Pao chicken.

My chewing slows and I’m not hungry anymore. “Like how ye knew where I lived?”

“Like that, aye. I thought I’d finished off those two at the gala before they reported back to their boss, but someone noticed ye talking to me.”

“So those two last night at my place, they were…” I clutch my fork, sauce dripping off the beef and onto my sweater, “They were there to kill me.”

“Well, kidnap ye to an isolated location and then kill ye.”

Closing the lid on my takeaway, I set it aside and focus on my breathing.

“Hey, sweetheart. Hey now.” Logan puts a finger under my chin lifting it so I have to look at him. “I should have been there sooner. I’m so sorry ye had to go through that. Ye put yourself in danger to save me, and I owe you a debt for life. Aye, they targeted ye because of me, but those two arseholes are a good cautionary tale. No one’s going to go after ye now that you’re under my protection.”

I’m acutely aware of the heat radiating from him, the side yard is chilly and my thigh is pressed close to his. He’s huge, and the substantial feel of him is comforting.

“Tell me why this happened,” I say flatly. I canna let this man’s gorgeousness and soothing words distract me.

“Ye must know I canna tell you much, and that’s for your own safety, sweetheart. The short answer is, a bad man is angry at me for taking something away from him. Something he stole. He was trying to make an example of me.” He chuckles like that is the most hilarious thing in the world. “I made an example of the pricks he sent after ye instead. He’ll not bother ye again.”

He’s looking into my eyes, his hazel gaze is sincere.

And he’s lying to me.

There’s tension in his fingers holding my chin and he’s unnaturally still, like he’s trying to avoid showing any ‘tells.’ It’s an old poker trick.

“What if I say I dinnae believe ye, Logan MacTavish?”

He puts his lips to my ear, it must look like he’s kissing my cheek because Daisy, a student teacher, makes a little “Aww,” face as she stares out her classroom window.

“I will tell ye that if I am not the one looking after ye, a team of my men are. I will not compromise your safety again.”

The lights flash in the school yard, indicating lunchtime is over.

“I must get back to my students.” I rise, trying to stretch some of the tension out of my shoulders. Logan gathers up the rest of our lunch, throwing it in the trash. “A man who cleans up after himself? Now, that is a rare thing.”

“Wait until you see how well I cook,” he says, “and do the dishes. Dinner tonight. My place or yours?”

“Rather bold thinking I’ll say yes.”

Logan gives me the most rakish possible grin, the knowing smirk of a man who knows he is irresistible. “I’ll text ye after work.”

“I dinnae know. You’re a lot of trouble.”

“This is true,” he agrees easily, “but ye can ask me more questions.”

“Done.”

Laughing, this time he does kiss me on the cheek, and the students streaming back into the school hoot and holler at the sight. “Goodbye for now, Arabella Blair.”

He disappears around the corner of the building and I groan. The minute he is out of sight, there’s an insistent little nudge at the base of my spine.

Run. Ye should run.

That determined nudge keeps pushing at me as I gather my students from the playground and herd them back to class.

The afternoon is winding down and I’m watching the clock almost as much as my kids when the door opens and a blond man walks in, two more lingering just outside and all wearing school maintenance jumpsuits. The nudge at the base of my spine has turned into a frantic fist, pounding at me to run.

“Miss Blair? I need you to come with me, we require your help outside.” The blond man smiles at me, all teeth and leans forward to show an enormous gun, holstered under his jumpsuit. His back is to my students and he casually scratches his chest near the weapon. “It’s very simple. We don’t want to disturb the students at all, correct?”

Logan was wrong. This isn’t over.

“Ye dinnae- I’m coming. Dinnae hurt them,” I hiss, folding my arms to hide my shaking hands. My classroom is near the back of the school. There’s a janitor’s closet and then the emergency exit. The alarm will go off. Someone will see us.

“Wait.” Roger’s voice is loud and a little hoarse, he dinnae like speaking much because his siblings tease him at home. “You’re building maintenance. What do ye need her for?”

I shake my head sharply, signing, Sweet boy, this is not the time.

“Move your hands again and I’ll start shooting.” The bastard grins. “I’ll start with the pushy little boy.”

“I’m coming!” I hurry toward him, trying to smile at my puzzled students. Roger looks like he’s about to explode out of his seat and I shake my head again.

The door shuts behind us and I sag in relief. It’s only a thin layer of wood between my bairns and these men, but it’s something. The two who’d been hovering grab my arms and hustle me out the back doors. My heart sinks when I realize they must have disabled the alarm, there’s no siren, no lights flashing. No one’s going to know until my students come looking for me.

I can only hope they stay put until we’re gone.