The next morning, Logan reported to Stryker, who was more than a little put off that he
didnʼt just snatch her the way his team did.
"Did I make it clear that time was of the essence? I need that girl!"
Logan sighed, "You will have her. You asked me to do a job, Iʼm doing it...I just need
time to do it right."
He was losing his nerve, but he couldnʼt admit that to anyone…including himself. He
was determined to prove to everyone, and himself, that a pretty face, bright smile and
amazing body couldnʼt steal his ability to serve his country and follow orders.
The next night, he returned to the diner, determined to get the job done.
Marie smiled brightly when she saw him, "My favorite customer! Eveninʼ, Logan. Didnʼt
think Iʼd see ya back so soon."
Loganʼs heart skipped a beat when she said his name, "Hey…"
"Coffee?" she said as she raised the pot.
"Yeah, please."
Marie set a clean mug out for him and poured the coffee before sighing and leaning
against the counter, being sure to squeeze her breasts together, "My feet are killinʼ me. I
pulled a double today."
Loganʼs mouth dropped open as he got an eyeful of her breasts, "Sorry to hear that." He
was, somehow, able to keep himself from drooling as he sat back and took a sip of
coffee, "Do that often?"
She nodded, "Every now and then, when I need the extra cash. Not all of my customers
tip as well as you."
"So thatʼs the reason why youʼre beinʼ so nice to me tonight?" he said as he raised an
eyebrow. He honestly couldnʼt help himself when it came to her. He felt more
comfortable talking to her than he ever had with anyone else...and damned if she wasnʼt
the sexiest woman heʼd ever laid eyes on.
Marie laughed, "Well, maybe thatʼs part of the reason…but itʼs nice to have you around."
Logan sat down on the stool, "Thatʼs definitely the first time someoneʼs ever said that
about me."
"Well, youʼre a good listener. I can tell youʼre a silent, brooding type...and youʼre a big,
strong guy. Helps keep the weirdos away."
"Brooding? You think I brood?"
Marie hunched her small shoulders and scowled a little in an attempt to mock him,
which prompted him to laugh in earnest.
She laughed with him for a few moments, but when he remembered that tonight would
be the last night in which she would look at him the way she was right now, his laughter
faded and his smile fell.
"You OK?" she asked, noticing the change in his demeanor.
Logan cleared his throat and took a sip of his coffee, "Sorry just...uh...rough time at
work."
"Wanna talk about it?"
He looked at her, "Nah. Itʼs boring. No need to bother you with boring details."
Marie smiled and gently nudged his arm, "Ah come on. All Iʼm gonna do is refill the
creamer and sugar containers. I doubt your work day is gonna bore me."
Logan smiled, "Iʼm fine, really...but thanks."
She shrugged a little, "Suit yourself."
He stayed for a full hour, and alternated between silently sipping coffee and talking to
her about everything from the weather to her future career ambitions.
"Did you ever wanna go to school?"
"I did have this dream that I would go to college one day...maybe become a pediatric
nurse..."
"Pediatric? You uh...you like kids?"
Marie nodded eagerly, "Love kids."
"Do you have any?" he asked as she refilled his coffee.
She laughed, "How old do ya think I am? No way!"
"Sorry."
"Itʼs OK...but I donʼt have any...yet. But I canʼt wait to become a mother."
Logan stopped in mid-sip as he watched her go on and on about her excitement of one
day having her own kids. She noticed how he was looking at her and quickly shut up,
realizing that talking about babies and motherhood was a sure-fire way to drive away a
man she hoped to bed.
"Sorry. Iʼm sure Iʼm borinʼ you."
He shook his head, "No...no, not at all. Just...realized how late it was getting. I should
go."
Marieʼs face fell in disappointment, "Oh. Well...thanks for hanginʼ out."
"It was my pleasure", he said as he placed a fifty on the table.
She watched as he started to get up and walk toward the door, but she rushed after him
and called his name, "Logan!"
He stopped and turned around to look down into her eyes, "Yeah?"
Marie slowly stepped up to him and ran a hand to the back of his head and pulled his
head down so that she could lean up and lay a hungry kiss on his lips. Logan moaned
into her mouth as he wrapped his arms around her waist and yanked her body to his.
Logan slowly released her and shook his head, "Marie...I canʼt..."
She nodded and leaned back down, "Iʼm sorry."
"Donʼt be sorry. I just...I should go."
He left without another word, leaving Marie to kick herself for being too forward.
She had no other customers that night, so she waited for the next waitress to show up
at 4am, then began walking home.
Marie had never been a paranoid girl. Years on her own had made her hyper aware of
her surroundings, so she could immediately sense if she was being followed or in
danger. Tonight, she was having that feeling.
She power walked the three blocks to her building, entered her apartment, and promptly
shut the door behind her before locking it. Now inside of her apartment, she slowly
allowed herself to unwind. She quickly undressed, then climbed into the shower, where
she luxuriated underneath the hot spray.
By the time she climbed into her bed, she was fully relaxed and at peace. All thoughts of
paranoia were gone as she closed her eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep, continuously
recounting her heated kiss with Logan. She tried to figure out what sheʼd done wrong,
but ended up falling into a restless sleep.
Sometime later, she shifted in her sleep and turned over. In her half-awake state and
through her nearly closed eyes, she could have sworn she saw Logan standing directly
above her. She started to wake up completely, but a cloth covered her face and
rendered her unconscious before she could make another noise.
Logan felt sick with guilt when he arrived back at the facility, carrying an unconscious
Marie in through the loading dock like she was some sort of delivery.
Stryker was there, rubbing his hands together and grinning like a Cheshire cat as his
workers took her away from Logan and placed her on a gurney so that they could wheel
her away.
Suddenly and without thought, Logan defied his own good judgment and principles by
blurting out a question, "Where are you taking her?"
The lab workers who were about to wheel away Marieʼs gurney suddenly stopped to
look back at him. Stryker quickly waved him off as Logan continued staring after her as
they wheeled her out of his line of sight, "I thought you were a soldier who didnʼt ask
questions?"
Logan stuttered slowly, "I donʼt…I just figured that…I canʼt protect this place if I donʼt
know what Iʼm protecting."
Stryker regarded him carefully, "Youʼre right. Actually, I have a lot to discuss with you
now that youʼve brought us this interesting creature...I need to process and test her
before she wakes up. I will meet with you tomorrow."
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