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)
“How about I order you a drink?”
“Absolutely not.” The last thing I needed was to get drunk around him. “This is supposed to be a professional meeting. We don’t need to add alcohol to it.”
“Tell that to the senior partners at my firm.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Are they fans of the three-martini lunch?”
“Definitely. Please sit down so we can talk.”
His insistence was making me wary. “What is so urgent about this discussion?”
“Nothing. I just thought it would be nicer to talk like this than in a stuffy office.”
“I keep my office at a nice temperature. We can meet there.”
Jay raised his brows. “You know what I mean.”
“I do, but that’s where these discussions belong.”
“Tell that to the senior partners as well.”
I didn’t even want to think about where the men and women at his firm were willing to take their discussions. “Just because you work for assholes who—”
Jay held up a hand. “Why don’t we get out of here and go somewhere less crowded and more comfortable?”
“I’m not going to your house.”
He laughed. “Of course not, I meant a bar down the street. It’s where I go when I want to drink and not be bothered.”
“You? Drinking alone? Surely not.”
“It happens.”
I sighed. “Let me grab my coat and tell my friends.”
Both Carter and Worth let me know I was making a stupid decision. They were right, but I needed to find out what Jay’s game was. He was up to something, and I was too stubborn to let that go—and too pathetic not to go with him if there was even the smallest chance he wasn’t so straight after all.
No matter what happened. I would absolutely not sleep with him, though. I was going to figure out his angle, then go home and get some rest. Tomorrow, I’d figure out how to wreck his plans.
Jay and I got our things from the coat check. He only had a light jacket, and once we were on the street, he shivered and wrapped his arms around himself. “If you’d been nicer to me, I would have knit you a warm hat.”
He turned to me, eyes wide. “You knit?”
“I do. Is there a problem with that?”
“No. No problem.” He pressed his lips together to keep from laughing.
“I made the vest I’m wearing.” Why did I feel the need to justify my skills?
“Really? You’re good.”
“I am.” Knowing I’d impressed him made me feel much warmer than it should have.
When we got to the bar, I hated how much I liked it. It wasn’t at all what I’d expected. It had a subdued, cozy vibe and old-fashioned looking booths with faux leather upholstery. Jay got us each a beer and we settled into a corner booth.
I reminded myself that I shouldn’t get comfortable, and one beer was enough on top of what I’d already drunk at Vincent’s. “So, what is your proposal?”
Jay looked nervous, and I braced myself for what he would say.
“If your client drops the suit, I can clear the way for the shipping contracts Montgomery needs approved.”
“How the hell do you know about that?”
“I do my research. I am actually good at my job.”
Miles had some contracts that needed government approval. He’d been bitching about them for weeks. “What kind of contacts do you have?”
“That’s confidential.”
“It’s also illegal and I could report your bribery attempt to the bar association.”
“You could, but you won’t.”
“How do you know that?”
“Montgomery isn’t exactly one to care about following the letter of the law.”
“I don’t know what you’ve heard, but all of Montgomery’s operations are legal.” I was openly lying, but Jay would never be able to prove it.
He sniffed. “I just bet they are. Wouldn’t you like to at least hear more details of our offer?”
“No, this conversation compromises—”
Jay laid his hand over mine, and I froze.
“Jasper, what are you doing?”
“Relax.”
“Around you? Never.”
He gave me a pouty face, one that I was sure worked very well when he was looking for a hookup. “I thought we were friends.”
“‘Frenemies’ maybe.”
“You’re really not interested in making this trade?”
“No. Miles wants the warehouse, and he’s going to get it.”
Jay blew out a long breath. “Fine. I’ll have to come up with something else.”
“Something other than bribery?”
“It was worth a try.”
I couldn’t help but smile. I would have done the same in his position. “I suppose that’s true.”
“Another beer?”
I hadn’t even realized I’d already nearly drained mine. Being around Jay made me nervous, and when I was nervous, I always drank too much, too fast.
I should say no. “Sure.”
“Be right back.”
He took our empty pint glasses and headed toward the bar.
I should have left then. It would have been wise, but I watched Jay’s well-rounded ass as he walked away.
When he returned to the table, he said. “Your turn.”
“My turn for what?”
“A proposal for a compromise.”
I shook my head. “My client doesn’t compromise.”