Page 60 of Sapphire Sunset

“That I’m innocent, you mean?”

“Are you innocent?” Connor asked.

“Yes.”

“You’re the only member of the department that wasn’t in ona criminal conspiracy?”

“Correct.”

“How’s that possible?” Connor asked.

“Well, for starters, none of them liked me.”

Imagine that, Connor wanted to yell.

“Why’sthat?” Connor asked.

“Because I was good at my job. Better than most of them. AndI can be a hard-charging asshole who doesn’t put up with other people’s stupidmistakes.”

“You got any evidence of that?” Connor asked.

Logan gave him a sly grin as he slowly closed the distancebetween them, aggression coming off in waves. Waves that did things to Connorthat confused his brain. And other parts of him he wanted to stay out of this exchange.

“If you check the hotel’s server,” Logan said carefully,slowly, “you’ll find several emails over the years from me to managementsuggesting changes in procedure and repairs to different systems that I thoughtwould make the hotel safer and more efficient. Including an indictment of thecamera system and how improperly it was installed. You’ll also see that afterSteve Wasserman, the last security supervisor, left, nobody responded to thoseemails. Because they weren’t well received. By Buddy Haskins or your uncle.”

“I’ll be sure to look.”

“Also, one other thing. If they’d asked me to take part intheir blackmail scheme, I would have said no. Because I’m a good person.”

“You got any evidence of that?” Connor asked.

Logan laughed silently, shaking his head, his tongue makinga lump under his upper lip. But his dark eyes were glassy. Angry. And Connorcould feel his pulse beating in his ears, his neck. His sweaty palms. “Well, forstarters,” he said, “I don’t hold grudges.”

“When you’recomfortable,that is,” Connor growled.

“Huh?”

“Gentlemen.” Lois Penry slapped her hands together as shetried to move between them. “I don’t really know what’s going on right now, butwhat I do know is I have a text saying the department heads are all gathered.So why don’t we take all of this reallyinterestingenergy and shiftit in the direction of Seal Rock II. Because that’s where they’re waiting forus.”

“Let’s do it,” Connor said.

“Sounds like a plan,” Logan said.

Prick,Logan thought.Arrogant,entitled, spoiled, immature prick.

Ironically, growing up, striking out on his own and buildinghis own career had turned Connor into everything Logan had feared he’d be fiveyears before, and that meant the decision Logan had always regretted had beenthe right one.

The goddamn roof was falling in on their heads and theprince had the nerve to walk in here bent out of shape about a kiss fromyesteryear, raking Logan’s ass over the coals.

What the hell was wrong with him?

Maybe he was stressed out and exhausted and Logan shouldgive him the benefit of the doubt, or at least twenty-four hours on theproperty to adjust.

But still, as if anything about the way Logan had treatedConnor back then had suggested he’d join a criminal conspiracy based in secrecyand lies. If anything, Logan had been unfailingly, bracingly honest. Even whenhe didn’t want to be. Even when it had embarrassed and hurt him.

Except for the part about what Rodney had said to him inthat scary meeting.

Or his family situation.

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