Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 67711 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67711 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
“You know,” Jay said. “I enjoyed talking to you last night.”
“You enjoyed getting me drunk last night.”
He glanced away. Was that hurt I’d seen in his eyes? I shouldn’t worry about it. If I’d hurt him, it was no more than he deserved.
“You’re rather amusing when you’re drunk, but just so you know, you didn’t spill anything important, not that I remember at least.”
“Thank you so much for letting me know.” I meant to keep my tone sarcastic, but I ended up sounding much too sincere. Jay looked away again. He was confusing the hell out of me.
“We’re here for business,” I said. “So let’s talk business.”
“I want you to hear me out before you comment.”
The waiter arrived with our drinks. Jay ordered the calamari as an appetizer, and the server disappeared once more.
“I spoke with my client today. I know Miles wants to take possession of the warehouse.”
I nodded. “That’s right.”
“Why does he need that particular property?”
Exactly what I had been asking myself. “Because it’s the one he signed a contract for.”
“What if he could have a larger property of equal or higher value for the same price?”
I shook my head. “That was not in the contract.”
“My client has access to other properties.”
“But my client is not interested in that access. He’s interested in ownership of the property for which he’s already signed a purchase agreement.”
“He signed an initial offer, that is not the same as having possession. There has been no closing.”
“Your client has no legally legitimate reason not to do as promised in the initial contract. She is obligated to sell this property to my client.”
“If what your client needs is a warehouse for storage, and he can be provided with one that will fit his needs, then—”
“That’s not going to work for us.”
“And why not?”
That was a question I couldn’t fully answer. I knew Miles was trying to shut out a competing business of a shady nature, but he wouldn’t give me the details. All I knew was that the people Jay’s client was working for had no concern for whom they hurt with their business. Miles only dabbled in illegal sales, and what he did harmed no one except other businessmen who were nearly as rich as he was.
“There must be a reason,” Jay insisted.
“The reason is as simple as this. That is the warehouse my client wants, and that is the one he signed a contract for.”
“Surely one warehouse in the same area is as good as another.”
“Not if you’re Miles Montgomery. He always gets what he wants.”
Jay huffed.
The calamari arrived a moment later, and our waiter asked if we were ready to order our entrées. Before I had a chance to answer, Jay shook his head. “We need more time.”
I almost contradicted him and said I was ready, but I hadn’t actually looked at the menu, and it had been a while since I’d been to Pasta. I supposed it wouldn’t kill me to delay a little longer.
I reached for a piece of calamari. When I looked up, Jay was watching me. He held my gaze until I raised my brows. That made him looked down. It was the first time I’d ever won a challenge between us. Why did that feel so significant?
We ate in silence for a little while, then he said my name in a soft voice. If he was someone else, I would have sworn his tone was filled with longing. It was just the way I would want him to say my name in bed. I looked up at him and glared. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?” he asked, giving me his most innocent face.
“Try to make this about seduction. You had your chance with me, and you made it very clear how you felt. You’re not interested in men. I’m here with you to do business and nothing else.”
“But last night….” His words trailed off. I wanted to know what he had been about to say, but I didn’t dare ask. I was already too close to falling under his spell, despite knowing exactly what he was trying to do.
Maybe I should talk to Miles and see if there was any way he would compromise. I needed this suit to end quickly, but Miles was never going to agree to give up the warehouse, not when he knew what was at stake. His idea of a compromise was to ignore the law, and the last thing we needed was him leaving behind a trail of bodies. I had no sympathy for the men who wanted to keep possession of the warehouse. Only a fool would mourn them if Miles had them taken out, but the more times Miles solved his problems the illegal way, the more likely he was to get caught.
I met Jay’s gaze again. “Last night was a mistake.”