Page 27 of When He Plays

“Yes, sweetheart?”

She was not his sweetheart. “Did you know she was coming back in here?”

His relaxed pose did not change one bit.

“You saw her scarf, didn’t you?” Charlotte accused. “You knew she’d come back for it. You kissed me—you staged that entire scene because you wanted her to think that we were lovers!”

His eyes narrowed. “You were the one clinging tightly to me.”

“You were the one with your tongue in my mouth! And with your hand up my dress and—” Her eyes closed. “I wanted you.” Time to take responsibility.

She heard a sudden rush of air. Kinda like a whoosh, as if someone had just raced toward her.

Her eyes flew open.

Logan stood right in front of her. Towered over her. He’d certainly moved quickly.

“Say that again,” he ordered.

Nope. Because she knew serious danger when it confronted her. “My cover was supposed to be as your personal assistant.”

“Too bad. I guess your cover just changed. Now the world is gonna see you as my lover. I warned you, Charlotte. If you came into this back room game, I told you that there would be repercussions.”

This was a cluster situation. “I have to talk with my team.”

“Thought I was part of your team.”

“I meant the CIA. I have to talk with them. Check in. Immediately. Do damage control.” She tried to brush by him, but Logan’s hand flew out and curled around her wrist.

“You mean you want to see how much they heard, don’t you? Want to see if they heard you moaning for me?”

She could feel the heat in her cheeks. “I have a job to do.”

“Yes, and it would be fabulous if you shared that glorious mission with me. Because so far, all I know is that I’m supposed to help save lives, and that sounds just great, but I’m not really here to sell out every single person I know. You have a target, someone specific in mind? Then you tell me who that individual is.”

“It’s not that easy.” If only it was.

His thumb brushed over her inner wrist. “Make it that easy.” He let her go. “Check in with your team. Then come back and talk to me. We’ll go over the new terms of our partnership.”

That sounded ominous. And way, way too much like Logan thought he called the shots. With her spine straight and her head up, Charlotte marched for the door.

“I was never good at taking orders,” Logan called out. “But I have a blast giving them.”

Yes, she was sure he did.

She reached for the doorknob.

“Oh, hey, Charlotte, check your pocket.”

“What pocket?” She glanced over her shoulder at him.

He flashed her a wide smile. “The hidden one near your right hip. Come on, you had your ‘second favorite knife’ hidden in there.”

Yes, she had hidden it there. A switchblade that could extend in a blink and was dangerously sharp. But she hadn’t realized he’d known the pocket was there. Charlotte figured he must have seen her pull her knife from that spot. Yes, that must have been it. Her fingers slid into her hidden pocket.

And touched a card.

Slowly, she pulled it out. Bemused, Charlotte gazed down at the playing card.