AS209 Much Ado About Something Chapter Three, a dark angel fanfic

AS2.09 Much Ado About Something by Star24 and Lelu2

Chapter Three

Logan awakened in a tangle of sheets. He bolted upright. Where was Max, and what time was it? He squinted at the clock and made out the time. Damn, he thought. He flung himself out of bed and hurried for the shower, barely registering the disarray of his bedroom. As the hot water beat down on him, he grinned, remembering the previous night. They had started in the living room and worked their way to the bedroom, kissing, touching...

Logan was startled from his reverie by the ringing of the phone. He jumped out of the shower and grabbed a towel. Futilely glancing around for his glasses and then giving up, he sprinted for the phone.

"Hey," he said slightly out of breath.

"You okay?" came Max's voice. "You sound out of breath."

"I just got out of the shower."

"Oh..." Logan could hear the smile in Max's voice.

"You okay? I mean, you weren't here when I woke up," he said tentatively.

"No... it's okay...you know...it's just all so new. I had to think...about things," she replied softly. "Listen, Normal's even more pissed off than usual. I gotta go... Feed me later?"

"One PM, okay?" Logan said, smiling in relief. She's coming back.

"Sure," Max replied. He wants me back. She hung up the phone. Smiling, she grabbed a package and headed out for the day.

Logan held the phone and smiled. He turned as he heard his door opening. Realizing he was dressed only in a towel, he tightened it around his waist as Bling came in the door.

Bling walked around the corner and saw Logan hanging up the phone. He looked at the wreck that was the living room. The sofa was pushed out of place; its cushions, as well as the contents of the coffee table were scattered on the floor. Logan's glasses were perched precariously on the end of said coffee table.

"What happened here? It looks like a war zone." Bling commented, raising his eyebrows at Logan and suppressing a grin.

Logan looked as if he had just noticed the state of room. He spied his glasses and went to retrieve them, still holding his towel around him.

"Ahh...well...hmm... Max and I were sparring last night. I'm trying to get her to teach me some of her moves." Logan said flushing slightly.

Bling, enjoying himself immensely, grinned and asked, "What were you sparring with...your sword?"

Logan reddened to his ears. He drew himself to his full six feet two. Gathering his dignity around him like the towel, he tilted his head toward Bling and said in an exasperated voice, "What we were doing last night is none of your business."

"I understand, but you might want these. They were in the kitchen." Bling was having trouble controlling his features as he handed Logan a pair of black silk boxers.

If Logan was red before, he turned now purple with embarrassment. He grabbed the offending boxers, turned on his heel and walked toward the bedroom with what was left of his dignity in tatters. He was followed by gales of laughter as Bling gave in to his amusement and laughed his ass off. The bedroom door slammed behind him.

A few minutes later, Logan returned to the kitchen to find Bling sitting quietly, having a cup of coffee. He looked around to see the living room in order. Bling, knowing when he'd pushed far enough, said, "Fresh coffee. Mail's there on the counter."

"Thanks," came the reply. Logan went to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup. He picked up the mail and looked through it as he drank his coffee at the table. A heavy, embossed envelope bore a return address from Fund for the Children. He broke the heavy seal, pulled out the contents and went through them. Then he smiled.

"What's up?" asked Bling

"The opening I've been looking for. There's information on the net that someone is skimming the charity. This is my chance to find out who."

"Looks like an invitation," Bling said as he came around to peer over Logan's shoulder.

"Yeah, it is. 'Logan Cale and guest are cordially invited to a regatta weekend. A dinner and ball are to be held on Friday night followed by regatta and sailboat races on Saturday and Sunday.' Looks like I'm going to a ball."

"You going alone?" Bling asked archly.

Logan looked at Bling. "Why? Would you like to go?"

Bling spluttered as his answer fell off his tongue and he just stared at Logan. Logan grinned and said, "Payback is hell. I think I'll ask my personal cat burglar to go instead."

Bling laughed and said "Touché, man. If you don't have anything for me, I think I'll take off." Bling watched as Logan went into motion, already absorbed in planning his takedown. "Catch you later."

Logan nodded vaguely in Bling's direction as Bling headed for the door. Logan sat at his desk to write his RSVP and began to do serious research.

~~~

Logan was on the phone when he heard the door open. "Anybody home?" came Max's voice as she walked lightly into Logan's computer room. "I thought you were going to feed me!"

Logan hung up the phone and looked at Max sheepishly. "Sorry, I got sidetracked."

"So what's new? What do you have to eat?" Max tossed over her shoulder as she sauntered into the kitchen. "I've been busting my ass all morning... I'm starved."

Logan followed Max into the kitchen and began pulling things out of the fridge. Max sat on the counter, grabbed an apple, and took a bite, watching Logan all the while. She loved to watch him work. He put so much concentration into every thing, even something as simple as making lunch. She especially loved his hands. They were beautiful, the hands of an artist. Her thoughts drifted to the previous night and how those hands had played her.

Logan worked in silence for a few moments as he concentrated on putting a lunch together consisting of a poached-chicken salad accompanied by fresh fruit and tea.

"Max," he said, breaking her reverie. "Lunch. I thought you were hungry?" Logan carried the salad to the table. Max started and then followed him with silverware and plates.

"Looks good. I'm starving." Max began dishing food onto her plate, then sat down and dug into her food.

Logan grinned and served himself some lunch. He watched Max as she ate.

"So what've you been doing this morning? Any leads on the charity scam? When do I start kicking ass?" Max peppered him with questions. "This is good--what did you put in it? What's happening on the charity front? You want some more tea?"

"Max, slow down! As a matter of fact, I got a lead on the charity today. It's going to require some surveillance work."

"Cool, when do I get started?" Max, ready for any challenge, grinned at Logan.

Logan replied cryptically, "It's going to take all weekend; in fact it will take all next week. Think you can have a mysterious illness?"

Max furrowed her brow, cocked her head to the side, and contemplated Logan. She wasn't exactly sure what to make of the slightly mischievous look in his eyes. "Whaaaaaaaat?"

Logan rose from the table, walked to his desk, grabbed the invitation and presented it to Max. He sat back down, waiting for her response.

Max read the invitation and dropped it on the table. "Logan Cale and guest. You want me to be the guest?"

"Well, yeah, I asked Bling, but he had plans, so you were my second choice." Logan said, grinning.

Max raised her eyebrows. "Second choice...mmm... I'm not sure I can clear a spot on my calendar for a second choice. I'll need to check with my secretary."

She got up from the table and went to the phone. She dialed a number, and looked appraisingly at Logan, not giving anything away. "Hey, think you could cover for me next week? She said into the phone a few seconds later. "I think I'm having a relapse of progressive neurological brain dysfunction. Oh yeah? Cool...You da' bomb OC."

Smiling Max said, "I think I can clear a space, even if I'm only your second choice."

"Great! Because I would have to do a lot of serious explaining if I showed up with Bling."

Max couldn't stop herself as she began to giggle at the thought.

Logan wiggled his eyebrows at her and began laughing as well. "We have our work cut out for us. I have a week to turn you into a princess."

End of Chapter Three