Blow(16)

He chuckled, and then as if reading my mind, he reassured me. “I am. I wasn’t seeing clients today. But trust me, I graduated from law school two years ago and currently work for the Ryan Corporation in New York City.”

Shocked, it took me a moment for his words to sink in. “The Ryan Corporation? Like in the largest international hedge fund management company in the country?”

He smiled. “That’s the one.”

So did I. “I’m impressed.”

Nonchalantly, he lifted his gaze to mine. “Don’t be. My grandfather owns the company and my position in the legal department was created solely for me. Associate counsel, Litigation and Employment. It’s a bullshit job.”

I was sipping my soda and almost spit it out of my mouth. “Your grandfather is . . .” I paused as it clicked.

“Logan Ryan,” we said in unison.

Logan. I got it.

“You know him?” he asked, seemingly surprised.

Wrenching my eyes from his, I said, “Well, not personally, but when I worked for the International Trade Center, he was our biggest client.”

Logan nodded in recognition. “Ah yes, he has a penchant for collecting exotic things.”

“So what are you doing in Boston helping your dad if you have a job in New York?”

Logan’s body stiffened, but he answered anyway. “When my father was arrested, I told him if he got back on the wagon, I’d come up here every Thursday and Friday and help salvage what was left of his practice. Like I said, my job at the Ryan Corporation is a joke, and to be honest, I much prefer working with my father’s clients. They’re people who need help.”

Surprised by his candor, I asked, “Then why don’t you work in Boston full-time?”

He shrugged. “That is a long story.”

Well, either way, it sounded like he made an honest living. Yet something in the back of my mind still nagged me. I wondered what part of the mess my sister had created his father was a part of and, in turn, what involvement, if any, Logan had. But I wasn’t about to just ask. The situation was way too delicate. And I was smarter than that. As I sat across from him, though, I had to question—was I? I wouldn’t be here if I were.

“I don’t understand. Why not just—” I started to ask, but he cut me off.

His expression hardened. “I think that’s enough about me.”

I felt myself flushing. I may have gotten a little carried away.

Expectedly, and within moments of shutting me down, he said, “Your turn.”

Mentally switching gears, I tried to think about what I could tell him. I never talked about myself. I hated it, so instead I lied. “Honestly, there’s not much to tell. What you see is what you get.”

He eyed me dubiously. My lie was just that—a lie.

I wasn’t surprised that he doubted what I’d said. I would have too.

The truth was, I often wondered if the word damaged wasn’t inked across my forehead for any man who might be even mildly interested in me to see, because they always seemed to know something was off.

Could Logan tell I wasn’t whole?

Much to my relief, he smirked and then nudged me under the table. “You’re not playing fair. I just spilled my life story and you’re giving me one of the oldest lines in the book? Come on.”

He hadn’t spilled his life story, but he did tell me more than he had to. I’d give him that.

“Here you go.” The waitress set two red plastic baskets down, each containing a huge burger and way too many fries. “Anything else?” she asked.

Logan glanced over at me just as my gaze darted to the ketchup. “I’m good.”

“Me too,” he said.

“Enjoy. If you need anything else, let me know.” She slipped the check on the table and left us to our meal.

Logan was handing me the ketchup before I had a chance to reach for it.

I raised a curious brow.

Was he reading my mind?

He shrugged. “I saw you eyeing it.”

With a quick twist, I removed the sticky white lid. “Can’t have fries without it.”

Logan seemed amused as I pounded the bottom of the ketchup bottle, failing miserably to make a pile in the middle of my fries. Nothing was coming out.

“Here, let me show you.” Instantly, his hand was across the table and I willingly relinquished the bottle to him. When he took it, he held the glass at the neck and tipped it in such a way that the thick red liquid poured out easily.

“How?” I harrumphed.

His hazel eyes lifted seductively. “The secret is knowing where the sweet spot is.”

My stomach did a full belly flop.

Oh. My. God.

Feeling heated, I knew a slight blush was coloring my cheeks. I sucked in a breath and willed all these strange feelings to go away. When I felt at ease again, I finally met his eyes. “Good to know.” I tried to act as if I was unaffected by his sexual innuendoes, but I knew I was failing miserably.

“More?”

My eyes widened.

“Ketchup.” He grinned.

Yeah, he knew what he did to me. I lifted the bun on my burger. “Of course,” I said as cavalierly as I could.

With that insanely hot smirk on his face, he poured some on top of the cheese before he pulled back.