Heart of Steel

Chapter 1

Chandler Santell studied the man behind the sprawling mahogany desk and wondered if she’d lost her mind. She took a deep breath and tried not to fidget, but her expensive celadon wool business suit was beginning to itch.

How could she make a business deal with one of the most powerful men in the finance industry? Every firm she had contacted in New York City had rejected her proposal. Desperate, and almost out of time to save her Yoga and Arts Center, she decided to take a shot on one last name.

Logan Grant.

She knew why he was the “man of steel.”

Chandler ran down his list of attributes: owner of L&G Brokerage—one of the most successful companies in the city; dubbed the “man of steel” by the business community due to his ruthless reputation in closing a deal; a man whose word was law—and whose name commanded respect. His hard, steely presence in a room made people step out of his way. One word from the man’s lips caused companies to double their profits or go bankrupt from loss of investors.

Now Logan Grant held another fate in his very capable, very large hands. He held her entire future.

He read her business proposal without looking up. She studied the strands of dark sable hair cut slightly longer than fashionable. A hint of silver at his temples helped Chandler place him in his mid-thirties. His features were too bold to be called typically handsome, but he had an interesting face. A tanned, almost olive complexion set off hard cheekbones and a strong jaw. Dark eyebrows lowered in a frown as he flipped through the pages of her proposal. His mouth tightened into a thin line, but his lower lip hinted at a devastating smile that could change his whole demeanor. Unfortunately, Chandler bet the man didn’t smile too often.

He wore a dark charcoal gray suit, and though conservatively cut, the quality of the fabric and elegant lines told her his clothes were custom made. When he had stood to welcome her, he towered easily over six feet and radiated a tightly contained raw energy. Even as he studied the figures in front of him, his presence pressed down upon her in a purely masculine intimidating manner. Another advantage the man held when closing a business deal.

Chandler pulled discreetly at the itchy neckline of her suit and wished she was back in her studio, conducting a class in her own comfortable clothes. Four years ago, she’d walked away from the corporate world and vowed to never return. The irony of the situation hit her full force. The Fates certainly possessed a sense of humor. She was now about to use all the skills she acquired from her past to convince Logan Grant to help save the Yoga and Arts Center, the school she built from scratch.

She hoped the Fates were also kind.

Logan dropped the proposal back on the polished wood and looked up. His gray gaze, as clear as ice but with a smoky intenseness, made her stare helplessly back, as if she had no choice. A shiver rose up her spine. She knew immediately he was not a kind man. Chandler fought against the sudden urge to walk out of his office and hide in a safe place.

An inner voice mocked her thought. If Logan Grant wanted to find her, there would be no safe place. She took another deep breath and braced herself for his decision.

“You are one gutsy lady.”

She blinked. “Excuse me?”

He leaned back in his chair and surveyed her. The leather creaked gently beneath his weight. “I’ve seen many projects looking for funding, but never one with so many—how should I put it? Good intentions. I’ve heard of financing a health club, but a class that helps my employees manage stress? The results are impossible to measure. How do I make a profit?”

Chandler leaned forward and resisted the urge to pull down the hem of her tight skirt. Her legs itched from the scratchy material, but she wasn’t about to drawn his attention there. “Your investment will come back to you time and time again, Mr. Grant.

As you’ve just read in my research, employees today aren’t working to their full potential. L&G Brokerage, like many firms, suffers from high turnover. An employee hired by your firm shows productive results for an average of two years. Then the employee exhibits signs of burnout, and your firm hires a batch of fresh blood. Teach an employee to deal with stress, and he or she will keep productivity steady over the years. This saves you from hiring and retraining a new work force.”

He studied her in silence. Chandler felt his piercing gaze try to strip away the cool, professional image she presented. She hoped he never saw her desperation, or she would fail. A man in his position respected strength, and she guessed he’d expected a mild mannered yoga teacher with no developed business plan. She’d spent weeks begging his secretary to schedule this meeting. Chandler knew she’d have one shot to sell her proposal.

She reached up unconsciously to push back her long hair, then realized the strands were confined in a tight bun. “Mr. Grant, if you’d let me—”

“Logan,” he interrupted smoothly.

“Logan, if you’d let me give you a brief rundown of my plan, I’m sure you’ll see the benefits.”

A soft knock on the door made her pause. A tall man with light brown hair entered the room and stopped beside her chair.

“Chandler, this is Richard Thorne, one of my attorneys. I asked him to sit in on this meeting, if you don’t mind.”

She forced a smile and stood. Offering up a quick prayer that her palms weren’t damp, she reached out and shook the attorney’s hand. Somehow, the idea of a lawyer listening to her proposal drove home the fact she was dealing with major league players. She fought back a nervous giggle when she remembered she’d never even scored in the minor leagues. “Nice to meet you,” she said.

The attorney’s hand held hers for a moment longer, and he smiled as if he knew her thoughts. Chestnut colored eyes showed a teasing glint. “Don’t let my being an attorney intimidate you,” he said, with a wink. “I’m really harmless.”

She laughed. His lean, angular face seemed kinder than Logan’s and his smile came quick and easy. He took a chair near the window and settled a legal pad on his lap.

Chandler managed to give one leg a quick scratch, and her skirt a discreet tug as she sat back down. She re-focused her attention back to Logan.

“You’ve made some good points but still didn’t answer my question.” Logan handed the proposal to his attorney, then tapped his gold pen against the arm of his leather chair. “Why funnel money into a program that can’t guarantee a profit?”

Chandler dug bronze fingernails into the seat cushion, and reigned in her frustration. Businessmen only liked the bottom line—money. People didn’t interest Logan Grant. Profit did.

She concealed her rising irritation and gave Logan her most convincing business smile. “When employees suffer from stress, job performance also suffers. My workshop will teach them to be calm under pressure, and attack problems with a clear mind. Employees will show a more positive attitude toward their jobs. Maybe my workshop won’t make you a million dollars, but investing in people always brings profit in the long run.”

She almost bit her tongue when she caught the hard steel gleam in his eyes. Damn, she wasn’t softening him up. In fact, he looked a little angry. She tried to casually re-cross her legs. Perfect. Both mens’ eyes went immediately to her hemline. The meeting was becoming a disaster, and she was definitely allergic to wool.

“Interesting point,” Logan said, his gaze rising to her face. “But you don’t sound as if you approve of million dollar profits.”

“Oh, but I do. As long as people aren’t sacrificed.”

He nodded. “Spoken like a true yoga teacher.” His gray gaze drilled into her. “I’m curious how you became involved in this field of work. Your proposal is impressive. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you graduated with a business degree.”

“I hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in business.” She tried to keep a straight face when she saw his surprise. “I confess I’m a vegetarian—or at least I try to be—but I hate green sprouts and tofu. I still have trouble standing on my head. But I do take a multi-vitamin daily.”

A smile tugged at his lips. “Am I that bad?”

Chandler nodded her head and laughed. “Most people equate the term yoga with an image of a guru in a turban. I was equally doubtful the first time I took a class. I completed a paper in college on the effect of meditation on society. I researched yoga, and became hooked. Learning to focus so clearly gave me the feeling I could accomplish anything. It also gave me the freedom to be comfortable doing nothing at all.”

She shook her head at the memory. “Everyone is so caught up in the rat race. Complete a degree, make loads of money, support a family.” She leaned forward. “We start to forget the feel of sunshine on our face, the salty smell of the ocean, the taste of chocolate. We sleep through the sunrise and ignore the sunset. We don’t know how to stand still and enjoy the moment.”

She watched as a slight frown creased his brow.

Logan studied her for a moment, saying nothing. When he’d first heard he was scheduled to speak with a yoga teacher, he’d been ready to wring his secretary’s neck. The last thing he wanted was to waste time discussing proposals with a flower child of the new millennium, so he’d decided to cut the meeting short.

He changed his mind the moment she entered the room. Maybe it was the banked flame he saw in her emerald eyes; or all that dark honey hair begging to be set free of her severe spinster bun. He wondered how far it would tumble down her back.

She moved with a natural grace and had greeted him in a low, husky voice that soothed his ears. As they exchanged pleasantries, he’d decided to humor her for a while and look over the proposal. After all, the time was blocked on his calendar, and he’d have the opportunity to satisfy his curiosity.

He hadn’t expected her business plan to be good.

But what was even worse, Logan decided as he watched her fidget beneath his stare, was his reaction to the woman herself. Her passion for her plan caused an odd hunger to stir deep in his gut. When was the last time he'd gotten impassioned over a sunset, or even thought of something other than his next business deal? Maybe, Chandler Santell lived moment to moment, with no intentions of settling down with a husband and family. Logan ignored the faint prickle of unease that shot through him at the image of her making love to anyone but him.

“You sound like you decided to give up the kind of life most people strive for,” he said.

A shadow passed over her face as she dealt with the memories. Then she forced a smile. “There’s a certain amount of reality in that world. I follow a different path. I’d like to see people made more aware of the simple daily pleasures, then they can make their own choice.”

“Sometimes there are no choices, Chandler. Sometimes people do the best they can.”

She blinked in surprise at her body’s sudden, feminine reaction to his words. Her mouth became dry. Her stomach clenched into a tight, silken fist. Funny, how the sound of her name from this man’s lips evoked a sensation she’d never experienced before. Her body seemed to vibrate, humming to a tune she couldn’t quite catch. Maybe it was just the way his voice caressed, deepening to a low, dark pitch as he spoke. Maybe it was the sudden glint of regret she caught in his eyes, that made her wonder what events had shaped this powerful man’s life. Or maybe she was finally losing her mind.

This time she caught her hand in mid-air before she pushed away honey brown strands that weren’t there. She tried to re-direct the conversation back to business. “This program will keep you on the cutting edge.”

“How would you implement the workshops?” he asked. “To be perfectly blunt, I can’t see my executives seeking out a stress reduction class.”

She nodded. This was the delicate part of the negotiations. She tried to keep her mind clear and calm her nerves. “I’ve given the matter some thought. When a seminar is offered in a company the employees take note of which groups attend and how important their function is. For example, if top management signs up for a seminar, the lower level managers usually follow, until it works its way down the hierarchy.”

She clasped her hands together and knew she had his full attention. “So, if we institute a stress reduction workshop, there’s only one way every employee will attend.” Chandler paused. “You have to be the first person to enroll.”

A short silence fell as her words hung in the air. Then he smiled. Chandler pulled in her breath at the sight of his dangerous, masculine smile which displayed a row of straight, white teeth. Logan Grant looked as if he’d found an interesting prey and wanted to toy with his catch. She shivered at the thought.

“You want me to go to these classes personally?”

Chandler gathered her courage and took the plunge. “Yes, I do, Mr. Grant. It’s the only way this program will work and—”

“Logan,” he interrupted softly.

“I think this class will be the best thing for you.”

“How so?” he drawled, leaning back in his chair.

She crossed her arms in front of her and vowed not to be intimidated by his tone. The words bubbled out of her mouth before she stopped to think.

“I’d guess by the dregs left in the coffee pot and the tired look in your eyes that you’ve been up half the night, going on caffeine and raw adrenaline. I’d also guess your temper hit full steam first thing this morning by the way your secretary looks at you with fear. Papers are stacked on your desk, it took me over a month to get an appointment, and I bet the door behind you leads directly to a bathroom and sofa. You probably work day and night here. All in all, I think a class teaching you to deal with stress couldn’t hurt.”

She inwardly cringed and waited for the explosion. No wonder she hadn’t done well in the business world. Her father always warned her blunt honesty never closed a deal. But how could she stay quiet and watch someone go blithely through life, without really living? Collecting the next degree or earning the next million didn’t ensure peace or happiness. Once, she lived her life by a similar philosophy, and searched for something to help her forget the emptiness. Alexander Santell taught her about money and power, confident his only daughter would follow in his footsteps and inherit control of the company. She’d watched her father ignore his own family to pursue the path of success, and he lost everyone who’d ever cared or loved him. She didn’t want to someday see the man across from her in the hospital because of a heart attack, where all the money in the world couldn’t help. If she implemented her stress seminar, he’d finally understand.

She’d teach him to understand. If he gave her the chance.

Logan studied the woman across his desk with amusement. Obviously, she regretted her impulsive words but decided to brazen it out. She held her chin high in defiance. Admiration flashed through him. Of course, he’d be insane to accept her offer. There was no sure way to measure the results. There was no guaranteed profit.

There was no way he’d agree to her proposal.

He tapped his pen against the desk in a steady rhythm, and tried to analyze his deep pang of regret at the thought of Chandler Santell walking out the door and out of his life. He heard honest concern and anger in her voice when she lectured him on his work habits. In his long climb up the ladder of success, many people gave advice regarding his next business move, and many shared in his rewards. But no one expressed interest in his personal health, or suggested a move to help him.

His eyes raked over her figure for about the twentieth time. He took in her professional appearance from her tawny polished fingertips matching her honey-hued hair pulled back into a strangled bun, to the high neckline and short wool skirt of her “show-me-the money” green business suit, to her too sensible low heeled black pumps. She projected the image of a serious businesswoman who desired to be accepted into a man’s world, but not be particularly noticed by anyone. Especially a man.

The problem, Logan decided, was that Chandler Santell was destined to fail at her goal of men not noticing her.

He knew by the way she unconsciously lifted her hand to check her bun that her hair would spill around her shoulders in riotous waves. Anger made her green eyes flash, which would challenge a man to turn temper into passion. Her lips may be drawn tightly together, but Logan glimpsed the gentle fullness to her mouth, hinting at a certain softness and vulnerability. Her business suit couldn’t hide ripe curves, or long slender legs. Even her scent bewitched him; a subtle fragrance of vanilla that teased his senses and kept him from concentrating on their conversation.

As she spoke, he realized beneath her constrained appearance lurked a passionate spirit yearning for freedom. He became intrigued at the thought of tapping into a hidden part of Chandler Santell. He wondered if such a spirit could be tamed to live with one man, or if she’d ever even met a man with enough guts to try.

Chandler expected ice, but his gunmetal gaze drilled into her core as if searching, testing. His eyes were the color of smoke, trapping her with his heat.

“You know a lot about me and my company. But there are certain things in life that even I allow time for.” His voice lowered to a deep, caressing pitch breaking the silence. He held the gold pen horizontal between both hands and his fingers met in the middle as he stroked it with slow, fluid motions. “Certain pleasures take away even my driving need to work…”

The pen gleamed against his bronzed skin as strong masculine fingers wrapped around the object and continued the pushing, pulling movements. His touch was light and fleeting. His gaze told her he was thinking of stroking other things. The thought caused liquid fire to race and singe every nerve ending, then pool between her thighs. Her tongue involuntarily dampened her lower lip. She saw him catch the movement, then lay the pen back on his desk. “…for a while,” he added softly.

Chandler knew he made a deliberate choice to refrain from questions, even though many were reflected in his eyes before he looked back down at her proposal. The rustle of papers cut through the pulsing silence.

She struggled for composure as she glanced over at Richard Thorne. The attorney’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he watched her, seemingly interested in her reaction to Logan’s words. She cleared her throat. “I apologize for my outburst. I never meant to imply something was wrong with your life, I know you made a choice to work hard for your success.” She smiled. “I worry about people too much. I once worked in this type of corporate climate so I’ve seen the kind of drive and dedication needed to climb to the top. I’ve also seen the damage. I’d like to help your employees handle their stress so they don’t wake up one morning and wonder what their lives are about. I think they deserve more.”

Logan Grant was probably one of the most controlled, self-contained men she’d ever met. She bet he carefully analyzed every emotion before he decided to express them, or bury them deep. A pang of regret confirmed her belief about corporate executives. They never let their emotions overrule business decisions. They pushed away messiness and made logic their God. A shiver ran down her spine when she thought of the way his fingers had glided over the pen. Something deep inside told her Logan Grant held many secrets behind a steel barrier, but it would take Superwoman to unveil the ray of vulnerability she glimpsed within his eyes.

She was not Superwoman, and she mustn’t forget that he reached the top by being cold-hearted. She needed to be on guard.

Logan nodded. “Apology accepted. I know you have good intentions. But good intentions don’t necessarily mean good profits.” Chandler braced herself for his next comment.

“Your outline is excellent. Your idea is creative. These figures show how well your clientele is expanding, but I also see your profits aren’t what you need to keep the business going. Even with your research, there’s still no proof these employees are doing more productive work. So, Chandler, the bottom line is that you want to use my company as a guinea pig because without my money, the Yoga and Arts Center is going under. Richard, do you agree?”

Richard Thorn looked regretful, but gave a nod. “Sorry, Chandler. Personally, I think you have a great plan, but Logan is right. We can’t take a chance.”

She almost closed her eyes in defeat. She’d been hoping, no betting, that with the proper appearance and some impressive paperwork, he may not see the truth. Of course, she should have known her ruse was a mistake the moment she met him. Logan made CEOs of billion dollar corporations fidget beneath his stare. A novice never had a shot.

“Yes, Mr. Grant. Your bottom line is correct.” Surprise flickered over his face, before the mask slammed back down. “So, I’ll guarantee a profit.”

“How?”

This was the riskiest part of the deal. “Test the program out for a six month trial period. If you don’t see a difference, our relationship will be terminated and I’ll reimburse you in full.”

It was a while before he spoke. When he did, his voice conjured up a number of disturbing images. Heavy velvet pulled over naked skin. Steel sheathed in satin. Smooth silk dragged over rough gravel. Definitely a bedroom voice. Definitely a mass of contradictions she wanted nothing to do with, so Chandler pushed away the thought and concentrated on his words.

“Do you realize your position if I decide to terminate this arrangement?” he asked. “You’d lose everything. If you invest all your capital and efforts into this program and it fails, your client base will be reduced along with your cash flow. Your whole business could go under.”

Chandler nodded. “I’m willing to take a risk. If you don’t want this offer I have a new list of names to approach. I’m sure one executive will give me a trial run.”

Logan glanced at Richard. The attorney shrugged his shoulders. “If she’s willing to back up her offer, we have nothing to lose.”

Minutes ticked by. Chandler sensed angry waves of energy radiating around Logan, and wondered why he seemed disturbed since she was the one risking everything. She waited patiently for his decision. She knew she’d done everything possible to save the Yoga and Arts Center.

“One gutsy lady,” he muttered under his breath.

Her lips curved in a smile. “Do we have a deal?”

“Yes. We have a deal.”

He rose from the chair and walked around the desk, reaching out to shake her hand. His fingers wrapped around hers.

Fire.

Possession.

Safety.

She fought for breath as the strange emotions whirled and crashed within her. The touch of his skin against hers made a million butterflies take flight in her stomach. She tried to reassure herself that he held her entire future in his grasp, and her body responded only to the fear of his control. An inner voice screamed she was a liar.

A smile played about his lips, as if only he knew the outcome of the game they decided to play. She tugged her hand out of his and caught the amusement in his face.

“Richard will draw up the contract,” he said.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to use my own attorney. Harry needs the practice.”

One black brow shot up. “Harry?”

“Yes, he’s a friend of mine who recently passed the bar exam.” Her tone reflected a warm affection. “I promised I’d give him all of my business once he passed the test.”

A dark scowl passed over Logan’s features. She rushed to alter his anger. “Oh, don’t worry, he’s perfectly capable of drawing up the contract. He’s really a hard worker, besides having a big heart.”

“I see.” Actually, he didn’t. Logan didn’t like the raw jealousy that shot through his system when he thought of Chandler belonging to another man. He frowned. This Harry couldn’t be right for her. She revealed too much passion behind her proper business suit, and obviously her current lover couldn’t handle her.

Knowing he wasn’t acting in the rational way he normally handled matters, Logan took a step forward and closed the distance between them. Satisfaction surged through him when he spotted the flicker of awareness in her green eyes. Hmmm, maybe he needed to explore these strange feelings more in depth. To satisfy his curiosity, Logan decided to move quickly.

It looked like she intended to ignore the current of sexual energy crackling through the air, and chose flight. He decided not to let her. “Why don’t we get together for dinner tomorrow night?” he asked. “We can discuss the program. We’ll be working closely together for a while.”

Chandler tilted her head back in order to meet his gaze. The clean scent of soap, lemon, and musk teased her senses. Waves of heat radiated from his skin, pulling her towards him. Chandler took another casual step backward and prayed he wouldn’t notice her panic. “Oh, I guess I thought you’d delegate another executive to work with me. I know you’re very busy.”

He gave her a lazy smile. “When I invest heavily in a project I like to oversee all aspects of the operation.” He paused. “Personally.”

She nodded in agreement and inched further away. Fine.”

Richard moved across the room and stood between them. “Chandler, it was nice to meet you. I’m looking forward to taking your class.”

She noticed Logan’s surprise at his comment.

Richard laughed and touched her arm briefly. “I discovered yoga and stress reduction a couple of months ago myself.” He shifted his feet and grinned sheepishly. “I even meditate.”

Her eyes lit up. “Richard, that’s wonderful. I can’t tell you how rare it is to meet someone in this industry who actually knows about yoga. Do you take classes?”

“I’ve taken a couple at the local YMCA.”

“Richard, we’ve got a meeting in a few minutes.” Logan’s words were laced with ice. “I’m sure you’ll get an opportunity to talk later.”

Richard nodded and said good-bye. Chandler took a step back, and suddenly over six feet of coiled muscle towered over her. She stood frozen in her spot.

“I’ll pick you up at seven tomorrow night.” Steel gray eyes burned into hers. “We can toast to our new relationship.”

With a shudder, Chandler walked out of the office and tried to ignore the flicker of unease, warning her there was hidden meaning in Logan Grant’s last statement.

Logan watched Richard Thorne neatly file his papers in his briefcase and set up for the next meeting. His gold embossed cufflinks gleamed in the sunlight as perfectly manicured fingers flipped through the pile of contracts. He was younger than Logan, by a good five years, and possessed an uncanny ability to put people at ease. His eyes reflected a pleasant humor clients immediately warmed up to, but Logan had hired him for a different reason. His laughing smile covered up a brilliant mind who could find a loophole in a clause and maneuver a client to sign on the dotted line. His easy-going nature hid an inward ruthlessness Logan spotted from the first moment. Richard liked the good life, and had more ambition than most people gave him credit for.

“I didn’t know you took yoga,” Logan said. He walked to the window and leaned against the wall. “Always thought you were more the racquetball type.” Richard shrugged. “I like to experiment with different things. I didn’t announce it because yoga isn’t a popular activity for men.”

“Hmmm, I suppose you’re right.”

“An interesting woman, Chandler Santell.” The rustle of papers echoed through the air. “I assume you know who her father is.”

An uneasy feeling flickered through Logan, but his voice remained bland when he spoke. “I never meet with a person I haven’t researched.”

“Thought so.” Richard looked up from his briefcase. The attorney’s eyes held a gleam of determination. Logan suddenly realized this man had the potential to be dangerous, and made a mental note to watch him more carefully. Though he trusted his attorney with business, he knew Richard hungered for success. Logan didn’t intend on becoming one of his attorney’s victims on the man’s climb for power. “I hear her old man still keeps a close eye on her, even though she wants nothing to do with him. Always wondered why she cut him out of her life.”

“Yes. I wonder.”

Richard snapped the leather case closed and smiled. “Well, the stress class should be interesting. I’m looking forward to it.”

“I thought your case load was too heavy for extra activities.”

“Like yourself, I always allow myself time for certain pleasures.”

The air sparked with primitive energy. A slight smile played about Logan’s lips as he recognized the challenge. He didn’t know Richard’s game yet, but he intended to find out. In the meantime, he needed to keep a close eye on Chandler Santell.

“Point taken.” Logan pushed himself away from the wall and headed toward the conference room. “I hope you’re ready to take on Tony Piscetti. I want Global Electronics on board.”

Richard’s tone held satisfaction. “Somehow, I feel lucky today, boss.”

Logan shut his office door behind them.