Page 5 of Stuck Together

Chapter 2

Logan

Cheers erupted nearthe bar, drawing my eyes to the TV screen on the wall. The replay of the Nicks game was on and apparently a rather large gathering of patrons was rewatching the win. Glancing at my watch I was surprised to see it was only a few minutes after eleven. Mornings in the bar were typically quiet and I didn’t usually see a crowd like this until after lunch.

I loved the buzz of a bar crowd. It was a comforting sound that helped me relax and focus on work.

This small sports bar, Recaps, had become a daytime retreat. I loved the solitude and enjoyed the noise. It was an odd creative environment, but one that worked well for me. I’d frequented this corner of Recaps enough that the owner and my good friend, Derek, started reserving this table for me during business hours. He’d even let me in before the bar opened so I could drink my coffee and work in peace.

Recaps was on the corner of the first floor of the building where my office was located. The closeness made it easy to escape the corporate, seventeenth floor environment and hide out in the dark corner in the back.

I don't know why I hated working in my office. It was so stuffy and sterile.And insanely quiet. Grandmother worked hard to create a pleasant work environment, and most employees loved it, but it didn’t work for me.

The dark, wood covered floors and walls of Recaps was more my style. Combine that with the smell of stale beer, yeast, and peanuts and my creative juices flowed.

I never could stand silence. I always needed to be surrounded by the buzz of voices and constant activity. Noise helped me think and concentrate while silence drove me mad. Without the constant hum of noises in the background my mind would wonder to places I didn’t want it to go. I’d made my fair share of mistakes in my life and the last thing I wanted was to focus on them.

Noise blocked out the memories of my past.

My usual table at Recaps ran the full length of the back wall, but I typically sat on the far left. I used the window ledge to hold my coffee or tea so could spread my files across the table without the worry of spilling a glass. I’d made that mistake one too many times in the past too.

I finished up my notes on a client campaign and refiled the draft layouts. Three projects down, two to go. I checked the time and was pleased to see it was only 11:30 am. The early morning bar buzz helped me stay focused and I was ahead of schedule. Once I finished reviewing these last two advertising campaigns, I’d be able to focus on the new client proposal for my Thursday meeting.

The proposal was almost ready, but this was a new client market for me, and I wanted to make sure I was prepared. I didn’t typically handle accounts for resorts and travel destination. But since Bill, one of our senior advertising executives, resigned, I had to take over the account.

I was less than thrilled.

Before I had a chance to review the next set of boards, my grandmother walked through the front door.

Fuck. What does she want now?

She never bothered me when I worked at Recaps unless it was urgent. Mostly, because unlike me, she hated the dark beer-filled atmosphere. She didn’t see the appeal. She also didn’t understand why I didn’t like working in the fancy office she provided for me upstairs. I tried to explain my creative process to her, but she didn’t get it.

In truth, she didn’t have to. As long as I continued to produce and create great campaigns that resulted in happy clients and added to our bottom line, I could work anywhere.

Grandmother marched toward my table with a scowl on her face. She was pissed and based on how her eyes narrowed in on me, I must have screwed something up. I couldn’t imagine what. I agreed to manage all of Bill’s accounts until a replacement was hired. It more than doubled my current workload. And right before Christmas.

What more could she want from me?

I caught sight of a woman with long blond hair walking behind her. I shifted my glare back to Grandmother and gave it a slight shake. I didn’t need another assistant, nor did I need my grandmother setting me up on another date. Grandmother had made matchmaking a sport and took advantage of every opportunity she found to set me up.

Whoever this woman was, she must be a looker. She’d attracted the attention of every man sitting at the bar. I refused to look at her and turned my attention back to my files. Attractive or not, I wasn’t interested.

“Logan!” My grandmother’s voice echoed through the bar. “What's wrong with the office I've given you.”

I rolled my eyes but didn’t bother looking up. “You know I prefer to work down here. I hate the office.”

Her stance stiffened and she let out a frustrated sigh. “I really don’t know why I bother.”

“Got me, Grandmother.” I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face. The woman could irritate me like no one else, but she was adorable when I got under her skin like this.

“One of these days, you’re not going to have a choice.” She huffed.

Here we go again. She was preparing to give me her retirement speech and go on about how important it’d be for me to show my face in the office as the new CEO. I had years to go before that day came. We both knew she wasn’t going to retire anytime soon. Until then, I’d work wherever I damn well pleased.

I held my hand up to stop Grandmother before she got going. If I let her start, she’d never stop. When I finally looked up, my eyes met a beautiful pair of familiar blue eyes. My gaze wandered down the blonde’s perfectly formed body and back again. Every curve was in exactly the right place. She was stunning, but I had no int ...

“Holy shit. Madison.” I jumped up out of my seat more than a little shocked to see one of the most painful memories of my past staring down at me.