Just then, the door behind Marti busted open, and Mel stepped into the hall.
Marti jumped away from him and cleared her throat. Her eyes widened, and she averted her gaze like she was a kid caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
Mel’s gaze shifted between them before her lips twisted into a knowing grin.
Logan motioned down the hall. “As I said, take a left and you’ll see a sign for the waiting room.”
“Thanks, Doc.”
He bit the inside of his cheek, and his amusement mounted as Marti sent him a look that could skin the hide off a grizzly bear. Then she grabbed Mel’s arm and all but dragged her outside.
He laughed to himself, even though he realized he should probably feel sorry. He was using her, and he just blackmailed her. Yet the only thing he felt was satisfaction, because aside from the coppery locks, eyes the color of his favorite navy suit, and those long, lean legs, she was entertaining. She made
him laugh, which was more than he could say about anyone in a long time.
But Marti was a one-time treat, like a decadent dessert you know is bad for you, but you just can’t resist. One bite and you’re addicted. One bite might take you to heaven or hell.
So he’d take her to the gala. He’d have his treat, this one bite. He earned it. He’d just have to find the willpower to refuse the rest.
CHAPTER SIX
MARTI
IT WAS WEDNESDAY—TWO days since agreeing to her date on Friday night, and she had a deadline fast approaching.
Marti stared at her blank computer screen. It was like she wanted to get fired. The only thing worse than having her fan base fizzle and die was having no column at all, and unless she got typing, she’d have no article to meet her next deadline.
She groaned, knowing she needed to write about her chance run-in with Logan and how he asked her out. It was the perfect lead-in to their date and establishing a relationship. It was exactly what Blue wanted. Yet she hesitated. Why?
She thought of his smug smile, so sure of himself. He was attractive, yet so awful, and he kept turning up. First the pub, and then Mel’s OBGYN, and now she had to face him at a formal event on his arm. He’d probably flaunt her around like arm candy. In fact, it was probably his reasoning for asking her in the first place. Heaven forbid the hotshot doctor go alone. Worse yet, if she were even to entertain using him for her column, she’d have to act like she enjoyed every second of it.
Her stomach rolled at the scene she painted in her head.
Shoot me now.
The man was like a rash she couldn’t shake, and though she should take advantage of him for her column, she just couldn’t bring herself to do it.
Caroline popped her head over Marti’s cubicle and wiggled her blond brows at her. “Writing about the hot doctor.”
Marti groaned. “Mel told you?”
“Pretty big coincidence. If you ask me, I’d say it’s kismet.”
Caroline and her romantic notions of love. Marti’d better watch or next she’d start throwing around words like fate and soulmates—both completely fictional concepts. “I’m starting to regret telling you guys about that.”
“Hey,” Caroline said, rounding the corner fully, “I, for one, think this is a great thing. I mean, you’ve been single for far too long. It’s about time you really put yourself out there.”
“Eeh,” Mel chimed like the buzzer on a game show. “Wrong.”
“What she said.” Marti pointed a finger at the cubicle next to hers where Mel clearly sat eavesdropping.
Caroline rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “Whatever. All I know is that after Googling him, you’re crazy if you don’t use him as your subject because he is ridiculously good looking. And—”
“A doctor,” Marti finished for her. “I know. He’s every woman’s cliché dream.”
“And the problem is? You need a man for your column, don’t you?”
Maybe.