Logan (Wild Boys After Dark, #1)(22)

She went into the office to clock in. She turned and Logan was right there.

“Hi, darlin’,” he said quietly.

“H-hi. I…um…have to get to work.” Why did he have to be so good-looking? So kind? So in control and confident? So damn big? She sighed inside, adding a great lover to the most ridiculous list of woes she’d ever made. A big, protective, good-looking, great lover who took the time to walk her to work and beat the snot out of some drunk guy who was harassing her. Even now, when she wasn’t in imminent danger, she felt safe with him. That was why he was there, wasn’t it? The big broody soldier helping the damsel in distress?

God, she hated that idea almost as much as she hated Kutcher for making her feel that way.

“I’ll be back to take you home after your shift.”

“Logan.” She gave him a deadpan stare, sort of hoping it might dissuade him and sort of hoping it wouldn’t.

“Stormy.” He smiled, and she noticed a scar at the edge of his jaw that she hadn’t noticed before.

Without thinking, she reached up and touched the bare spot in his stubble.

“How did you get that?” She remembered the pain she’d seen in his eyes last night when she’d felt like he was opening his soul by sharing his secrets.

He shrugged. “Don’t remember.” He brought her fingers to his lips and kissed them. “I paid a visit to that guy from last night. He shouldn’t bother you anymore.”

“You…How? When?” The guy from last night? But Logan was gone only a few hours. How could he possibly have tracked the guy down so fast? And why would he?

He touched her elbow. “The best kind of stalker, remember? Only I’m not a stalker at all.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek, then turned to leave.

“Where are you going?” She didn’t want him to go. Even the few steps away that he’d just taken made her feel vulnerable. She was being stupid. She had handled life before him. Certainly one night of amazing sex and a few sweet gestures couldn’t make her into a needy girl.

“To do important PI stuff.” He blew her a kiss and disappeared, leaving her feeling like she’d just met the Lone Ranger.





Chapter Seven


IT WASN’T HARD to track down Kutcher. There was only one inmate in Connecticut with that surname, Carl Kutcher. The trickier part was tracking down the people who had been associated with him on the outside. If Logan could prove that Kutcher was still dealing drugs while in jail, it would make keeping him behind bars much easier. It had been Logan’s experience that major dealers don’t stop dealing because they’re in the pen. They just get more creative.

Using his sources, he was able to track down four possible drug connections, two outside Connecticut, two within an hour of Mystic. He jotted down the information on the connections and eyed his vibrating cell phone on the edge of his desk.

Heath.

He’d expected a call, especially after what his mother had said. Heath possessed all the qualities that were common of being the eldest child. He was overprotective of his very capable younger brothers, each of whom had bodies built for a brawl and sharp minds that didn’t need babysitting. He’d always gotten superior grades, and of all his siblings, Heath was the one who had gotten in the least amount of trouble over the years. He was prone to being just careful enough never to get caught, whereas Logan, Jackson, and Cooper had always been a little reckless.

He answered the call while scrolling through the information on his computer.

“Hey, bro. Thanks for helping out last night.”

“Sure thing. Ma said you came by.”

Logan heard voices and shuffling in the background and knew his brother was doing rounds at the hospital.

“Yeah. I was out that way and just checking in.” He didn’t want to admit that the attack on Stormy had rustled up bad memories and driven him to check on his mother.

“Good. She was glad to see you. I had coffee with her this morning before work.” Heath covered the mouthpiece and said something Logan couldn’t make out, then came back on the line. “Sorry, man. Listen, I’m just calling to see how Stormy is doing. Please tell me you got her real name before you took her home.”

Logan was only half paying attention, as he had another hit for a connection to Kutcher, this one on the outskirts of Mystic.

Bingo.

He jotted down the information. “That would be a negative, but I’ll get it.”

Heath didn’t respond.

“What, Heath? Spit it out.”

“Just…you know, Logan. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you look at someone like you were looking at her. Possessively.”

“She was hurt. I had just nailed her attacker.” He’d deny whatever he was feeling to his brothers until he understood it himself. Hell, he didn’t even know why he was telling Stormy that he felt so much for her after one night. It wasn’t like him to latch on to anyone. He’d never had a serious girlfriend, and he sure as hell wasn’t looking for one.

“Listen, she’s obviously got some shit going on. I’m just trying to find out what it is. It is my job, you know.”

“Yeah, okay.” He could tell by Heath’s voice that he wasn’t buying it. “Well, dinner at Mom’s Sunday night. You’re on for the wine.”