Conviction (Club Destiny 1)

The next voicemail began to play. “Hey honey, its mom. I just wanted to check in and see how things were going with you. I’m sure you’re busy with work, but I hoped to hear from you today. Call me tomorrow if you get a chance.”

The voicemail said the call had come in about forty five minutes before. Sam made a mental note to call her mom back on Sunday. She just didn’t have the patience for a lengthy conversation at the moment.

The last voicemail began.

“Sam, it’s me, Logan. I’m worried about you. I’m coming by your apartment. You need to let me in when I get there.”

Fuck.

That was the last thing she needed. She looked over at the door and as if on cue, there was a sharp knock that jolted her heart in her chest.

Did she answer it? Did she ignore it? Would he go away if she didn’t answer?

“Sam, it’s me. Please open the door.” She stood motionless. Her traitorous emotions told her to answer the door, but her brain was screaming at her to ignore him.

Sam walked the few feet to the door, took a deep breath and opened it part of the way. The chain was still on the door, so it made it impossible for him to come in.

“Hey. What’s up?” She asked nonchalantly, forcing a smile she didn’t feel. Well, at least she hoped it appeared that way because she felt anything but.

“Can I come in? We need to talk.”

“About what?” She hoped her innocent act would be bought, but she doubted it.

“Let me in, please.”

Wearing a pair of soft, faded Levi’s and a black polo shirt, an outfit Sam would have expected on a much younger man, Logan looked incredibly sexy. The snug shirt outlined his defined upper body, the muscles in his chest protruded against the fabric and the short sleeves circled his muscular arms.

She shut the door, glanced down at her boxer shorts and tank top. Oh well. She had no intentions of letting him stay for long, and she didn’t feel as though this were a fashion show.

After removing the chain from the door, Sam opened it, taking two steps back to allow him to come in. She didn’t want him there, and she didn’t want to risk touching him.

She didn’t want to be within ten miles of him because she was angry and that was a side of her she wasn’t comfortable letting him see. Anger meant she felt something for him, and that was the last thing she would ever admit to.

“Can I get you something to drink?” She asked as she headed for the small kitchen.

“Sam.” Logan gently grabbed her arm and stopped her from walking away. “What’s going on?”

She didn’t turn back to face him, but she stopped in her tracks. After what felt like an eternity, Sam gained her composure and turned to look at him, taking a deep breath.

“Nothing’s wrong, Logan. I needed some time to myself today. After all, you and Cardio Barbie seemed to be having a terrific time. What? Did she kick you to the curb?”

“What are you talking about? Fuck. Don’t answer that.” He ran his hands through his hair before turning and going further into the apartment.

At least he didn’t try to deny it.

Sam continued to the kitchen, grabbed a glass tumbler from the cabinet. Pulling out a can of Diet 7-Up from the fridge and a bottle of Belvedere from the freezer, she set about making herself a drink. She was stingy with the 7-Up and generous with the vodka. This was one of those times when she needed a healthy dose of liquid courage.

After a few fortifying gulps, Sam planted herself beside the bar and proceeded to watch Logan as he took in her apartment. He hadn’t been there before, and Sam wondered where he’d gotten her address.

Deanna.

Sam glared at him, getting angrier and more defensive by the second. He was standing in the middle of the room, looking around at her things.

“What do you need, Logan? I’m really tired and would like to go to bed.”

When he turned to face her, Sam saw something unfamiliar in his eyes.

“Sam, I’m sorry.”

He sounded sincere, but that didn’t explain his little tryst with Cardio Barbie. Then his eyes swept down her, all the way to her bare feet and then slowly back up, sending a traitorous chill through her. He could look all he wanted.

But damn him, he wasn’t going to get his way. Not this time.

In a desperate attempt to fortify her nerves, she downed the rest of her drink and went back for another. Hell, at this rate, she might just get shit faced. It might be the only thing to make her body listen to reason.

Damn it.

Chapter Eleven

Logan watched Sam move through her apartment, her movement’s jerky with restrained anger. He was a fair judge of people, and he could tell she was pissed. If she saw him talking to Brittany at the gym, that was entirely understandable.