BAD Beginnings by Shelley Wall

unload. Control, baby. Control. You’ve lasted this long. Now that he’s finally loosening his control, don’t give up. Or screw up. No, she’d somehow manage to convince her superiors to keep her on the case and by Monday, she’d find hard evidence that supported the suspicions she’d raised.
    Logan’s rumbling voice broke the silence. “So, Daddy checks up on you regularly?”
    “Yeah. Sorry.”
    He snickered. “He’s just looking out for you. Nothing to be sorry about. We all need someone to do that.”
    There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice, and she thought back to Sharon and the new hubby. Had she never looked out for his best interests? Doubtful, judging by the way she’d trounced in and taken over without his consent. Was his dad like that? Uh, obviously. Idiot. He erased himself from their lives when Logan was a teenager.
    The fleeting light from the streetlights did nothing to display his expression. Would he lower the barricades that had kept her at bay? “Yeah, I guess we do. What about you? Tell me about your parents?”
    He let out a low whistle. “You saw my mother. That pretty much says it all, doesn’t it?”
    “You’re avoiding the question. Too close for comfort? It’s okay to ask about my life but yours is off-limits? What is that—a boss’ prerogative? One of those ‘it’s okay for me to pry into your life but don’t touch mine’ thing?” His months of crazy, awkward silence pissed her off. The new found personality or whatever it was he’d turned on also made her angry. Why now? What had changed? Recovery surely hadn’t been the come to Jesus that made him human. No one changed their spots that much.
    He shifted and threw an arm behind her on the seat, his palm resting on the jacket he’d provided earlier. Awkward. His voice held a measure of threat…or admonishment, “You know as well as I do, everything about Logan Indiris’ family is a matter of public record. All you have to do is read the paper or search the internet, and you’ll know pretty much all you need. So, don’t act like I’m keeping secrets or that you don’t know me. Everyone does.” He glanced at the driver.
    Do they really?
    “Something tells me there’s a lot more than just what the public has seen, Logan. You’re hiding. Maybe you want people to think you’re an asshole just to keep the real you protected. Or maybe the real you isn’t something people should see?”
    “So, now you’re a psychiatrist? Take a look at your own inner workings, honey. There’s nothing to see here. Besides why are you getting so defensive and combative just because I asked about your dad? I thought it was nice he called. What’s wrong with calling your daughter to make sure she’s okay?”
    Nothing, if that’s what it truly was. She sighed. “I’m just…edgy. I guess. It’s been a stressful week.” She ran a hand across the back of her neck and yanked it down when he covered her fingers with his. When the feel of strong knuckles massaging her neck made her want to groan, she tried to salvage that control she had searched for earlier. “Stop that.”
    “Why? You’re tense.”
    “And you’re my damn boss. That is totally inappropriate.” When his fingers stilled, she wasn’t sure whether to apologize or get some distance between them. Her stomach churned. This man was kneading her neck muscles. God, if her real boss saw that through the window, she’d be fired for sure. She reminded herself that he was the same boss she hung up on seconds earlier. Yep, her job was in serious jeopardy.
    “Well, I certainly don’t want to be inappropriate, so it’s a good thing we’re home.”
    She looked out the window. His home. “I am not going in, Logan.”
    “That’s good because I wasn’t asking you to.” He tapped on the glass that had kept them separated from the driver. “Can you please drop Gemma home?”
    A car passed them and slowed into a driveway down the street. It was very likely someone from