Pistol Whipped - Ashley Bostock Page 0,16

was much smarter than she and would never fail.

Logan Reeves didn’t know how to fail. It wasn’t in his blood.

That was the reason Jack wanted him at his law firm. Jack could retire knowing Logan wouldn’t let him down. With Logan, he would give anything he did in life all his best. He liked to play on the surface, but deep down, she was one of the few who knew he took everything to heart. He contemplated everything, carefully weighing the benefits to the disadvantages—determining which option was most successful. He was the epitome of Auguste Rodin’s The Thinker.

Once closing time came and she did her normal closing routine, she got into her car and headed home. Brandi had called her earlier asking if she wanted to go to a movie, but she declined. Drinking hadn’t done her any favors. Which was probably why she didn’t do it often. She never heard from the chef, which was fine by her at the moment. She had received a text from Marilyn, inviting her to a picnic that she and Blake would be hosting this weekend. That would be perfect! She hadn’t seen the girls in a while, and it would be great to connect and relax.

Make it home sober?

She laughed humorlessly at his text. Yes! I wasn’t that bad…was I? She kicked off her heels and made her way to the bathroom where she started a bath and downed two more pain-relievers.

You weren’t that bad….you were that naughty.

She blushed. Naughty? Her? Whatever. She typed exactly that and sent it back. His next question surprised her.

Were you serious about what we talked about last night?

Hmm, what all did they talk about? She didn’t respond right away. She needed to think. Damn, she needed to remember. She did recall their conversation where she admitted she was afraid to have sex. Those were her own demons she knew she needed to deal with. Demons Logan knew nothing about. Is that what his question was referring to? Her being afraid to have sex? How embarrassing! Why was he so concerned? Absolutely! YES! Do you think I’m crazy?

He sent a message back. No, the more I thought about it, it actually makes sense. I can see where you’re coming from.

He could? That was the thing with Logan, she thought as she lay in the warm water soaking her aching feet and her body that still felt a little off, was that he accepted her thought process. He got her without even knowing the entire story and he just accepted it. He was a good man. Her phone buzzed again.

I have to go to Japan. Come with me.

What?! He really must be taking the job if he’s going to Japan. That guy he mentioned is a big deal at Jack’s firm. But to go with him? Was he crazy? She couldn’t leave work. For how long? When?

Gabriella fantasized for a few moments about going to Japan. She had always wanted to go there. Since she was in high school and she had been assigned Japan for one of her units. She’d had to study everything about Japan for an entire semester, thus, falling in love with the culture and the country. That was a someday dream of hers. And someday wasn’t any time soon.

While her business was doing okay, she wasn’t rolling in the dough. There was no way she could afford a trip to Japan. Gosh, she wished she could!

We would only be gone for five days. Fast trip. My treat.

She wished she could go. Wouldn’t that be amazing? Wait, what? She reread his last message. His treat? That was so tempting. She couldn’t let him do that…could she? No, she couldn’t. Tempting as it was, she couldn’t let Logan pay her airfare to go to Japan. How much would that cost? She didn’t know, but she knew it wouldn’t be cheap. Especially, if he was going to be heading there anytime soon.

Nice trips like that cost money and anything above what she paid for rent was more than she could afford.

But, oh, Japan.

It called to her like a flame called a moth. It was almost spring. The cherry blossoms would be in full swing soon enough. Lost in her thoughts of visiting Japan, she almost missed Logan’s call.

Chapter Ten

“Hello?”

Logan laughed. “Don’t tell me you’re sitting there pondering all the reasons you can’t accept my offer. While you are sitting there daydreaming about accepting my offer. You are, aren’t you, Gabriella?” As he waited for her