Page 104 of Sapphire Sunset

His face hot, suddenly feeling as if Pacific Crest Bankmight have hidden cameras in this office, the sea caves, and the penthousesuite, Connor measured his next words carefully. “I appreciate yoursensitivity, but Logan and I have had some extensive discussions and thingshave worked out.”

“Oh. Okay, then,” she said.

“Actually, I think the security director thing is going tobe permanent.”

“Oh, okay,” she said.

“He’s got a lot of experience here, and I found some itemson our email server that attest to his commitment to the resort.”

“Yeah, well, we reviewed his work history before Irecommended him to you the other day, and it was pretty spotless. So I’m notsurprised. But my sense was,yourhistory with him went back furtherthan that.”

Oh, shit.

Connor swallowed. “All water under the bridge.”

And water streaming down my naked body as he stroked meinto soapy heaven this morning.

“I guess that’s good news then,” she said, “so long as youhave a security director you can trust.”

“We have established trust. Yes. I can say that for sure.”

And so many other things that have me hurting in all theright places, for a change.

“Okay. There’s also the matter of the rest of thedepartment. I’m not sure if all the positions have been filled, but we canbring in an outside company for that too. Even if they’re only temporaryhires.”

“I think we’re working on that as we speak,” Connor said.“But if we don’t turn up anything good, I’ll let you know.”

“All right, well, great. Security at Sapphire Cove is goinga lot better than I thought it was.”

“Well, it had nowhere to go to but up.”

Lois moved into some formalities intended to end the callwhen suddenly a thought occurred to Connor. “Before you go, Lois. I justthought of something. About this whole outside security company thing.”

“Yes?”

“Is there a world where we bring in an outside firm and Logankeeps his new position?” Connor asked.

“Of course. I mean, we’d be doing the hiring, not the otherway around. So we could make whatever arrangement with the company we wantedto.”

“Could we make an arrangement where they answered toyou?”Connor asked.

“Who’stheyin this scenario?” she asked.

“The security department.”

“So the security department would answer to an outside firm,and we here at the bank would manage the outside firm.”

“Correct,” Connor said.

There was a brief silence. “And as GM, you wouldn’t. Am Iunderstanding you correctly?”

“Yes.”

“Which means you’d no longer be Logan’s boss.”

“Right,” Connor said.

There was silence from the other end, silence that leftConnor short of breath. It was a question he had to ask, but he was pretty surethe asking had tipped his hand to the woman who held almost as much power overthe resort as he did.