Page 103 of Sapphire Sunset

“Me neither. But we have a hotel to save.”

“True.”

“Also,” Connor said, “rest assured. You’re coming back toit. Tonight. With me.”

“Good to know.”

“You had other plans, mister?”

Logan kissed Connor on the forehead. Connor was disappointedby this until he remembered a thing called morning breath. It had been a longtime since he’d spent the night with someone, a long time since he’d woken upin anyone’s arms. Especially arms like Logan’s, arms that seemed like theycould carry him through a storm.

“Nope,” Logan whispered.

“Well, good, because keeping me under watch twenty-fourseven was your idea.”

“I don’t remember you complaining.” Logan moved his kissesto Connor’s neck.

“I’m not,” Connor whispered. “I’m simply figuring out thehousing arrangements involved.”

“But, Mr. Harcourt,” Logan said, effecting his best Southernbelle voice. “People willtalk.”

“Well, yesterday all they did was sing your praises overwhat you did to Rodney in the lobby. They might be letting you off the hook,Murdoch.”

“Here’s hoping. In the meantime, we need a shower.”

Again, the gentle kisses on his neck that worked their wayto his special, most sensitive spot. “Who goes first?”

“Didn’t you hear?” Logan said. “You’re under my protection.Whenever we shower, we shower together.”

Before Connor could catch his breath, he was rising into theair, and that’s when he realized Logan, also naked as the day he was born, hadhoisted Connor up into his arms just like all the brides that had probably beencarried across the threshold into this very suite.

“I’m hoping this protection will continue even after myuncle goes to prison,” Connor said.

“Definitely my plan,” Logan said before kicking open thebathroom door with one foot. “Until then, let’s get you nice and clean.”

Nice and clean left them both spent and gasping under thespray and clinging to each other until the last few seconds before they knewthe day’s work could no longer be ignored. But making up for lost time took alot of work too.

18

The breakfast buffet for the wildfire victimshad gone off without a hitch, so Connor and Logan headed to the managementoffices for another day’s work.

Logan had filled his morning with interviews for potential newsecurity agents, which he planned to conduct within sight of Connor’s closedoffice door. Connor had his daily check-in call with Lois Penry.

Even with a closed door between them, knowing Logan waswatching over him was a comfort, like a low, vibrating current connected to allthe delicious aches Logan had left throughout his body the night before.

What Lois suggested a few minutes in startled him so much hehad to stammer his way into a response.

“Is this a suggestion or a recommendation?” he finally asked.

“Neither. A possibility. If it makes sense to you.”

“Gotcha.” Connor felt like he should say more, but hecouldn’t. Lois’s suggestion had shocked him.

“Look, the way the trust is written, it gives a lot oflatitude to the GM position. And so there’s rarely going to be anything we canforce on you. What I mean is, if I bring up an idea like this, please don’tfeel threatened. I just…when I saw the tension between you two the other day, Ifigured maybe we needed to think outside the box.”

“How much would bringing in an outside security firm add tothe budget?” Connor asked.

“Some. But we’d no longer have to carry liability insurancefor the security team. So there’d be some reduction in costs that might offsetthe firm’s management fees.”

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