Page 60 of The Acquisition

"Are you sure you're okay?" I asked once we were outside. Maybe I should reschedule with Hans and make sure Jana made it back to our room without an issue.

She stretched up on her toes and pressed her lips lightly against mine. "I can make it to bed by myself, but I appreciate your concern."

I growled low in my throat thinking about how Hans would love to help her into his bed.

"He was hitting on you."

She fisted the lapel of my jacket and pulled me to her. "While I find this possessive side of you kind of hot, it's unnecessary. I'm not interested in him."

The car pulled up and I opened the door for her. "Let me know when you're in the room. I've still got to go and discuss business with that asshole."

She kissed me on the cheek. "Yes, bossman."

"At least it's better than gramps," I grumbled.

Her lips curled. "I can call you daddy if you prefer."

"I really don't, but if you want to play dirty secretary later, I'm game. I've got some dictation you can take when I get done here. In fact, leaving a meeting early will earn you a long, hard tongue lashing."

"Promises, promises," she said as usual. The teasing look fell off her face. "All joking aside, be good. Don't let your jealousy get in the way of the deal."

"Get some rest. I'm going to have some frustration to work out when I get back."

She shivered. "Can't wait."

* * *

Hans was waiting for me when I reentered the building. "You could have just told me the two of you were together."

"You wouldn't have flirted with her if you knew we were married?"

"Married? Why would you hide being married to a beautiful woman like that?" he asked.

"It's a long story, and you didn't answer my question." I was surly, but I hated not being able to claim her in public.

I'd never been a jealous man before. Not even with Jenny. I don't know if we didn't know each other long enough or if I was too young, but I did know that I'd never felt this way before.

"I wouldn't have asked her out, but you can't not flirt with a beautiful woman. You Americans are so prudish. One does not encounter beautiful things and not show appreciation."

"Jana is a person, not a thing."

"A beautiful woman is nature's masterpiece. They deserve to be showered with attention, appreciated."

"See that's the thing. Jana is beautiful, yes, but she's also brilliant. She doesn't like to be defined by her looks."

"Then you are a lucky man. We come from similar backgrounds, and you know that the women who run in our circles can be superficial. To find a woman who possess both beauty and brains is rare. I can understand why you married her. What I can't understand is why you are hiding the fact that she's yours."

"We're going to need a drink to discuss this," I grumbled.

"Follow me," he said and turned toward his office. "I've got a twenty-five-year-old bottle of scotch. We can discuss numbers anytime."

We settled into his office, and while we drained our glasses I filled him in on the tangled web that tied Jana and me together.

"I take it back," he said and refilled both our glasses with a couple fingers of scotch. "You might be the most unlucky man I've ever met. Your long-lost daughter married your best friend, and you fell forherbest friend?"

I tipped back my glass, swallowing the remainder of my drink. "Now you understand why we're keeping it quiet for now. My daughter is having complications with her pregnancy, and she's supposed to be lowering her stress."

"Sounds like a difficult situation. Don't wait too long. These things have a way of coming to the light whether it's a good time or not. We can't control everything."

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