Free Less-than-Innocent Invitation by Shirley Rogers

tone turning slightly brusque.
    â€œAnd we appreciate it.” He gave her a nod. “I’ll be in touch.”
    With a tight smile, Gretchen said goodbye and strode away, her heels tapping sharply on the sidewalk.
    Melissa released a slow sigh, then realized she was still holding Logan’s arm. He looked at her at that moment, and she pulled away. “Sorry,” she mumbled.
    He shook his head. “That woman is something else.”
    â€œShe has quite an overwhelming presence, doesn’t she?” Melissa remarked. “Why do you think she was so interested in holding onto the map?”
    â€œNo idea,” Logan answered. “She could be concerned about preserving the town’s history as part of her platform.”
    â€œProbably.”
    He opened the passenger door of his truck and waited for her to get in, then went around and climbed behind the wheel. After merging into traffic, he headed out of town toward the museum.
    â€œHow did your meeting go?” she asked, curious to know what he and his friends had talked about at the club. She’d asked around about the Texas Cattleman’s Club. Some people had suggested it was a social club where the men could go for conversation and relaxation. But when she’d lived in Royal she’d heard rumors that the club was some sort of secret organization of men who performed dangerous missions, solved crimes and ran rescue operations.
    It was a silly notion, of course. It wasn’t as though they were superheroes. But she did wonder about Logan’s involvement.
    â€œThe meeting went fine,” Logan replied, not revealing what he’d discussed with his friends. Melissa would find out soon enough about Jonathan’s murder. For now, he’d keep it under his hat, use it as leverage to keep herinvolved in reporting from Royal if she made noises about leaving.
    â€œReally?”
    Her inquisitive expression sent a warning to him. “Yes.”
    â€œHmmm.”
    Not sure he really wanted to know, but curious as to the direction her mind was going, Logan asked, “What’s that ‘hmm’ for?”
    â€œWho else was there?” she asked, ignoring his question.
    Logan shrugged. “A few of my friends.”
    â€œSuch as…” Melissa waited for him to fill her in.
    â€œJake Thorne and his brother, Connor.”
    â€œJake, who’s running for mayor against Gretchen, right?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAnd what does Connor do?”
    â€œHe runs his family’s engineering firm.”
    â€œAh. And who else was there?”
    Studying her, he said, “You sure are full of questions.” He began thinking he was treading on dangerous ground. It wouldn’t do for Melissa to know too much about the club or its operations. As far as the public was concerned it was an ordinary club.
    â€œJust curious.” She smiled.
    â€œRight.” The force of her smile hit him all the way to his heart. He’d always loved her shapely mouth, her tempting, kissable lips. After all these years, he still remembered her taste. Hot, sweet—and capable of driving a man to his knees, begging for more.
    â€œI am a reporter,” she reminded him.
    Logan hadn’t forgot that. She’d be leaving within a week or so, as soon as she’d finished her story. “From what I’ve heard you’re good one.” Her smile grew wider, reminiscent of the younger woman he’d loved.
    â€œDon’t try to sidetrack me with a compliment.” His comment was interesting. Had he been checking up on her? Or had he seen one of her reports?
    He chuckled. “All right. Mark Hartman, who is another rancher and runs a self-defense studio in town, Tom Morgan, who’s related to the Devlins and owns a demolition business, and the sheriff.”
    She raised her eyebrows.
    He glanced at her, his expression guarded. “What’s that look for?”
    â€œWell, you’re a