Page 49 of The Lost and the Found

Hayden

The beginningof the event was to reacquaint people with each other. I realized quickly enough that the purpose of the charity wasn’t for the charity’s sake—it was all about business.

I met Mason Kade first, one of the partners at the firm. He was around Logan’s age, and just as attractive. He was a little bulkier—something the expensive tux he wore couldn’t hide—and surprisingly taller, too, but only by an inch. I had never met anyone taller than Logan before, so I was a little intimidated by Mason. He had dark hair with a hint of auburn, peculiar blue eyes, and a nice, charming smile that instantly put me at ease, despite my feeling a little apprehensive.

He was polite, but also very charming. And when another man showed up in our group, a man whose wife was probably fifteen years his junior, both Logan and Mason turned the conversation to business. The transition was so smooth, I was almost impressed.

I looked around the ballroom and noticed a few people looking our way, probably wanting to introduce themselves to either Logan, Mason, or the businessman whose name I had already forgotten.

I ignored some of the looks the women shot me and turned my attention to the only other female in the group, the businessman’s wife. She was older than me by at least two decades, and it was obvious by her appearance that she had some work done. Her face was forever frozen in a mask of indifference.

That was until I smiled at her a little reservedly, but what I thought was still politely.She all but sneered my way in response and I stiffened, something Logan didn’t miss. He leaned down and whispered in my ear. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” I whispered back, my eyes never leaving the other woman. It wasn’t like I couldn’t handle catty. I knew what I was doing when one side of my lips curved into a smirk, while I stroked Logan’s arms.

Had I not been watching her, I wouldn’t have noticed the way her eyes flared with jealousy as she took Logan in. It made me questions whether she and Logan had something before me, and how long ago it was.

I looked back at Logan and found his eyes on me once again. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’d never left me to begin with.

“Look at that, Logan is absolutely smitten,” Mason said, his voice tinged with amusement. I turned to him while Logan wrapped his arm around my shoulder. I noticed then that the businessman and the catty woman were nowhere to be seen. I hadn’t even realized they’d left.

“Absolutely,” Logan answered without hesitation. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. Was Logan lying? He couldn’t be smitten with me; he barely knew me. I was only just starting to get used to the idea of us—there was no way either of our feelings for each other had gotten that far, that deep, that fast.

“Well, I’m glad. It’s about time. I would love it if you and Hayden would come over to our house for dinner. It’s a shame my wife, Olivia, couldn’t be here tonight, but the pregnancy is really hard on her. I think she would like you, Hayden.”

I tried to keep my expression neutral. I didn’t realize how antisocial I’d become until the thought of being invited to a small, intimate dinner party made my stomach feel like lead.

“Of course,” Logan answered smoothly. His pulled me closer, and I let the familiar scent of him comfort me, burying my face as discreetly as I was able into his neck.

When I pulled away, he looked down at me, his eyes soft.

I smiled, showing teeth and everything, and he smiled back, as if he couldn’t help himself. Mason let out a chuckle and slapped Logan on the shoulder. “It’s good to see you like this. Ah, here’s Gage now. I don’t believe Hayden has met him.”

I shook my head and turned in the direction Mason pointed to. Sure enough, another attractive man walked toward us. He was lankier than Logan and Mason, but he was in no way lanky. He was still impressively tall and big, though more on the lean side.

His had dark blond hair that in certain light looked more golden brown with blond highlights, and he had it grown to his shoulders. There was something infinitely mean-looking about him, and his eyes were ones I knew well. They spoke of someone who had seen a lot of shit in life. Of course, I was familiar with those kinds of eyes. After all, I saw them every morning when I look in the mirror.

“Hey,” he said, his voice smooth like velvet and deep like his bottomless eyes. I shivered a little and moved in a little closer to Logan.

“Hey, man,” Logan said, clasping the man on his shoulder with his free hand. “Hayden, I want you to meet Gage Walker. The other founding partner at our firm. Gage, this is Hayden Bishop.”

The man met my eyes and smiled. I could see why Logan got along so well with Mason and Gage—they were all very similar. All of them wore their charms on the outside, and hid darkness close to their hearts. I should be scared being so close to such powerful men. I shouldn’t be thinking about spending the night with one of them.

“It’s nice to meet you, Hayden.” Gage held out his large hand.

I hesitated for a quick moment before taking it, his hand easily engulfing mine. “Same.”

His smiled widened a fraction. “You’re not very talkative, are you?”

I shrugged. “I’m more of a listener.”

He looked at Logan. “I think I like her.”

Logan’s arm tightened around mine, and under the guise of wrapping myself to him, I let my hand wander to his waist before giving him a pinch. He coughed and I smiled. Logan shot me a look of warning.

“She’s mine,” Logan said, his tone playful enough, but his eyes said something different. Gage got the hint.

He backed up a little, hands in the air. “Duly noted.”

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