Page 12 of When He Plays

Her head whipped right back toward him. “Stop trying to blow my cover.”

“Stop saying I do good deeds. I don’t.”

Her hands fisted on her hips. “Then explain the situation with Jake. You literally fought four men for him last night. You stopped the kid from getting his arm broken and facing a serious beatdown. You say that you don’t help others, and yet⁠—”

“I said that I protect those who are mine.” An important clarification. “Jake is one of my employees. The kid has been working for me since he was sixteen years old. He was waiting outside my hotel at one a.m. in the morning.” Like he’d forget their first meeting. “Thin as a rail. Clothes dirty and ripped. Shoes that didn’t match. He saw me exiting my limo, and he ran forward. Barney was ready to throw the kid to the curb, but Jake begged for a job. Not money. Not a favor. A job. Said he’d been trying to apply everywhere in town. No one would hire him. So I put him in the kitchen. He started as a dishwasher.”

She waited.

His hands pressed harder to the wood of the desk. “I made an arrangement with the kid. He could work for me as long as he kept his grades up in school. Started as a dishwasher. Became a handyman. Valet. Called him my Jake of all Trades.” His lips hitched. “Kid wanted to get on track to manage a hotel. Started asking about being a bellhop. Thought he’d get a feel for the guests, but then I saw one of his games. Hadn’t even realized Jake was interested in ball, not until last spring. He’d started taking some classes at the community college, and he was pitching for their baseball team.” A low whistle. “He’s got one hell of a fast ball. Talk about a thing of beauty.”

“So you saw him play, realized he was talented, and got him a tryout for the minor league team?”

He shrugged. “I’m a baseball fan. Always have been.” He and his dad had gone to so many games when he’d been a kid.

But that had been in another life.

Before both of his parents were murdered, and Logan found out just how cold and cruel the world could be. So I became crueler.

“Jake has worked for me since he was sixteen. He never asked for any favors or handouts. Didn’t even ask me to help him get that tryout. The only time he ever came to me for anything was yesterday, when he asked if he could get an advance so he could start paying off his father’s debt.” Jake had been taking care of his father for far too long. “Kid deserves to follow his dreams. I’m helping him because Jake is one of mine. I protect my own.”

“And what? You destroy those who are in your way?”

“Yes.” Now she got the picture.

Her hands went to her hips. “That’s not the way the world works.”

“It’s the way my world works.”

“There are laws to follow.”

“You’re being boring again. You can’t look as hot as you look in those glasses and heels and say boring things like ‘there are laws to follow’—totally ruins the vibe.”

She stared at him.

His gaze swept over her. “And it was such a good vibe. So promising.”

“Logan.”

He looked back up. “Yes?”

“It’s Day One, isn’t it?” She nodded. “You told me I had five days. You’re just trying to run me off by being outrageous again.”

No, he’d been truthful, but, whatever. She did look incredibly hot in her glasses and heels and that delectable pencil skirt. “I believe this counts as Day Two. Yesterday was Day One.”

Her cute little nostrils flared. “We need to get down to business.”

Of course, she’d say that.

“You are planning a private game tonight. I will be at your side during that game. You’ll introduce me to all the major players who will be there for the exclusive event. And by major players, we both know they’re people on the criminal side of life.”

Now he let one hand rise so he could press it to his chest. “Are you suggesting that I associate with criminals? How dare you.”

She didn’t smile at him. Behind the lenses of her glasses, her golden eyes gleamed. “You’re Logan Sterling. You might be legit now, but the CIA is fully aware of your past. It’s why you are such a useful individual.”

He grunted. “You say the sweetest things.” His hand fell away from his chest.

“I need to be in that private game with you.”