Auctioned to the Bad Boy CEO

Hannah blew out a breath and nodded.

“Right, well, it’s late, or should that be early? We should probably get some sleep. I’ll be out of your hair the minute they bring me my clothes in the morning.”

“There’s no rush.” Even to his own ears the words sounded hollow. Hannah must have thought the same because she shook her head.

“Oh, but there is. I wouldn’t want Rhia to get the wrong idea. We both know what tonight was, so let’s leave it at that.”

Logan nodded, surprised and irritated by the pang he felt at her words. It was usually him delivering the speech. Hearing her sum up what they’d shared as though it was nothing out of the ordinary grated. Then again, for all he knew she did this all the time. He had no idea about Hannah Watson’s private life, and his previous assumptions about her had been all wrong. The thought of his little dove indulging in an active sex life, quite possibly of a kinky sort, made his blood boil. It wasn’t like him to be possessive, and he was all too aware of the double standard, but fuck him.

“What happened to your mother, I mean?” The minute he asked that question he wanted to take that back, because Hannah’s face dropped. What the hell was he doing, asking personal questions like that?

“Forget, I ask, it’s none of my business, after all, and you’re right, we should get some sleep. You can use the main bedroom. I’ll stay with Rhia. That way I’ll be on hand if she has another nightmare.”

Hannah nodded.

“That sounds a good plan. As for my mother, she went the way most addicts go. Died of an overdose.” He whistled through his teeth, and she shrugged. “It was always going to happen, well that, or she’d have been beaten to death by one of her boyfriends. If I had a penny for every time she thought herself ‘in lurve’.” She mimed quotation marks around those two words and winced.

“Every new one was going to the ‘the one’. Beyond ridiculous really, but she did do me one favor. It cured me of looking for love. Lust, well that’s true enough. Not sure I believe in love anymore.”

A wealth of hidden pain came through with those words, and Logan shifted on his feet. This was all a bit too close to home, but it sure as hell explained her reaction to his situation.

“Anyway, it’s all ancient history. I couldn’t help her, but I saved my sister.” Her face lit up in a smile. “She recently graduated, is a teacher at that school I mentioned by the way, so ask after Sarah Watson if you decide to go down that route. Tell her I sent you, and she’ll get Rhia in. They usually have long waiting lists, but they always make room for special cases, and you know, they need a new roof. It leaks, so I’m sure a generous donation will help to persuade the head teacher to find a space, too.” She winked at Logan, and he laughed.

“Money talks and all that, right?”

“Right, anyway, that’s enough of my sad story. If I don’t see you in the morning, thank you for … well you know.”

There she went with that endearing blush again, but before he could say or do anything, she’d walked away. The click of the bedroom door sounded too loud in the quiet night air, and Logan did the only sensible thing he could do under the circumstances. Joined his niece and tried his best to forget all about little Hannah Watson.

****

Morning couldn’t come soon enough for Hannah. After tossing and turning for hours she gave up on sleep the minute the sun crept above the horizon. Having made full use of the shower, she felt marginally better, even if the faint marks left on her tender butt gave her renewed palpitations.

As did the state of her dress, and her knickers. The dress was indeed ruined. She doubted even the best dry cleaners could get those stains out. Then again, she would never have worn it again anyway, not with all these memories attached. It was bad enough that she would have to face Logan back at work come Monday morning. Knowing what the man looked like underneath his suits, and having experienced what he could do with his body, and those large hands … she grew wet all over again.

Hannah stared at her reflection in the mirror while she scrubbed her knickers in the sink, and sighed.

Face it, girl. If it wasn’t for Rhia, you’d be jumping his bones again in an instant.

The urge to check up on both man and child was like a thorn in her side, but that wasn’t her place. So, instead, she used the hair dryer to dry her underwear, and having helped herself to some instant coffee, she waited for the knock on the suite door. Fortunately, neither Logan nor Rhia stirred, before the butler service delivered fresh clothes with a polite smile. Suitably clothed and impossible heels in hand, she made her way downstairs and into a cab without further incident. She highly doubted her return to work would be as uneventful.

Having spent Sunday quietly pottering about her flat, and not thinking about her far too sexy and enigmatic boss—none of her business what he and Rhia got up to today—Monday morning came all too soon. It was with a certain amount of trepidation that Hannah approached the office. Ignoring the knowing smirks from those who had been at the auction proved easy enough, and she breathed a far too audible sigh of relief, when she saw Logan’s office was empty.

It wasn’t like him to not be in at the crack of dawn, but then again, he was probably busy sorting out suitable childcare for Rhia. Sarah had been surprised at Hannah’s phone call to alert her to the possibility of Logan needing a nursery space for his niece.

“Wow, that’s something. Thanks, sis. I’ll let Aubrey know in the morning. Perfect timing, too, because we’re losing a major benefactor, as he’s moving back to Saudi. So, if your boss does ring, I’m sure we can find the girl a place. How did you find out about his niece anyway? Come on, spill. I mean I’ve seen the pictures, but…”

Sarah had giggled down the phone, and Hannah had wanted the ground to swallow her up.

“What pictures? What on earth are you talking about?”

“Chill, sis, I’m just pulling your leg, and I forget you don’t read the papers. George has just been winding me up about it, saying I should have inveigled an invite out of you. Congrats, sis, the auction seems to have been a huge success, and all the Sunday papers have covered it. I take it your job is safe now?”

“Right, yes, of course.” Hannah had rolled her eyes and crossed her fingers behind her back, even though her sister couldn’t see her. “As for my job, I guess so. How is that illustrious fiancé of yours anyway? We must get together soon. I haven’t seen either one of you in ages.”

Sarah had laughed, and George had shouted a hello down the phone. At least her sister had her love life sorted out. Her fiancé, George Manning, was a hardworking, no-nonsense builder, who worshipped the ground Sarah walked on, and they were saving up to get married sometime next year.

“Well, whose fault is that? I get your boss is a slave driver, a very handsome one from what I can see in the pictures, but ya know, live a little, girl.”