Page 22 of Sin Bin

He laughed as he navigated out of the parking lot and pulled onto Speer Boulevard, the main thoroughfare running through downtown. He drove with restrained power, as if he were trying to be on his best behavior for her sake.

When his phone rang from his jacket pocket, he ignored it. Meadow figured the caller was probably a woman. She could only imagine how many women he had calling him night and day.

As she stared out the window at the twinkling lights of downtown, Logan asked conversationally, “This your first trip to Denver?”

“Yup,” she answered. “I’ve been meaning to visit ever since my aunt moved here four years ago. But I was super busy with school and internships and work. I just never found the time.”

Logan nodded, slowing for a red light. “What made your aunt move here?”

“She got a job at KUSA.”

“The TV station?”

“Yeah. She’s a news anchor.”

“Really? What’s her name?”

“Rosalie Ryan.”

“Get outta here,” Logan exclaimed. “That’s your aunt?”

“Yeah. You know who she is?”

“Of course. What, you think I don’t watch the news?” He grinned at her. “Your aunt’s a local celebrity, Jupiter. That’s pretty cool.”

Meadow grinned. “I think so, too.”

The light changed, and they moved forward.

“Speaking of celebrities,” Meadow said teasingly, “what do you have against meeting fans? And I’m not talking about the gushing bimbo who asked you to autograph her boobs. You obviously have no problem with those types of fans.”

He grinned. “Jealous?”

She rolled her eyes. “You wish.”

He laughed.

“Seriously though, Logan. Why’d you bail on the meet-and-greet tonight? Wasn’t it kinda mandatory?”

His smile faded, a muscle clenching in his jaw before he gave a hard shrug. “I’m not a company man. Never have been. My job is to play hockey and help my team get into the playoffs. Everything else is a courtesy.”

“Touché,” Meadow murmured.

He threw her a sardonic look. “Those people at the party weren’t even real fans. Real fans sit in the stands, not in cushy suites.”

“Oh, come on,” Meadow scoffed. “You don’t really believe that, do you? The Gamenetic people are diehard Rebels fans who never miss a home game. Just because they can afford a suite doesn’t make their support any less worthy.”

Logan grunted, switching lanes. “The point is, I’m not into schmoozing and kissing ass. I just wanna play hockey.”

Meadow smiled sweetly. “Then you should probably try not to get ejected from any more games.”

He scowled at her.

She laughed.

When they arrived at their destination, Logan surrendered the truck to the valet and then guided Meadow inside the black brick building. The upscale skybar and lounge boasted sleek leather furniture, metal accents, custom light fixtures and a neon hue that completed the swanky vibe.

They took an elevator to the rooftop patio and got off. The black-jacketed guy at the hostess station looked like a Tom Ford model. He greeted Logan like an old friend, coming around the desk to vigorously shake his hand and clap him on the shoulder.