Page 79 of Token

“Don’t go claiming victory just yet. We’re not entirely in the clear,” Nate cautioned.

“Ah, come on. I think you can both claimsomevictory.” Jack’s gaze made a general sweep of the kitchen and the family room beyond. The next statement he directed at Kennedy. “I’d say you’re doing well for yourself. The way the situation with the presser was resolved was a master class in crisis management. And that kind of exposure can only be good for your agency.”

“The agency does well enough on its own. If anything, that kind of exposure makes attracting new business harder, not easier,” Nate said, taking exception to the wrong part of his friend’s remark.

I’d say you’re doing well for yourself?Kennedy was still stinging from the oh-so-clever dig. How the hell had Nate missed it? Jack hadn’t meant it as a compliment. Not a word of it. And he was making his disapproval of her known in clear but subtle ways. For those paying attention.

Kennedy sprinkled paprika on the chicken. Well, this sucked. Her boyfriends’ friends usually liked her. Some a tad too much. But then, all her ex-boyfriends didn’t have net worths in the millions, much less billions, and they didn’t have Nate’s background.

In too many ways to count, Nate occupied a plane of his own.

The man was out of her league.

And then, like a daily absolution, a voice inside her shouted,Stop it! You’re no better than anyone, and no one is better than you.Kennedy didn’t know where she’d first heard it, but it had sounded like words to live by.

“Has business been down?” Jack pointedly asked her.

Kennedy hated to prove his point, but she couldn’t bring herself to lie. “Uh, no.”

Jack had the decency to not look smug.

When a beat of silence passed, it seemed incumbent on Kennedy to fill it, so she did what any good hostess would. “Would you like to join us for dinner? We’re having curry chicken and I’m making more than enough.”

To her gracious invitation, Jack smiled and shook his head. “No, I’m good. I already ate. I’m here with news about the lawsuit. Thought I’d deliver it in person.”

“I hope it’s good news,” Kennedy said, relieved he didn’t intend to stay long.

“It’s the best that we could hope for right about now,” Jack replied.

“That’s great. What have you got? Are we getting any closer to getting them to agree to arbitration?” Nate asked, a spark of hope in his eyes.

“Maybe we should—should discuss it somewhere else and let Kennedy get back to cooking,” Jack said, clearly reluctant to discuss the matter in front of her.

Kennedy forced a smile. “Of course. Nate, why don’t you go to your office?”

Nate sent his friend a shuttered look. “Yeah, sure. This way.”

“She’s a sweetheart. Leave it to you to get the whole package,” Jack said once they were inside the office.

“Isn’t that what everyone wants, the whole package?” Nate asked, making his tone light. There was something about his friend’s comment he found unsettling. Something he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

Jack looked around as if he had never been in the room before. He had a number of times. “Yeah, but we don’t always get what we want.”

True. Nate couldn’t deny that.

Parking himself on the edge of his desk, Nate casually asked, “If she’s so great, why couldn’t you say whatever you have to in front of her? Better yet, why didn’t you just call? I know damn well you didn’t happen to be in the neighborhood.” Jack lived on the other side of the city with a more happening nightlife.

“Are you saying I’m not welcome here anymore?” Jack shot a glance out the window, taking in the sight of Central Park, which was one of the biggest selling points when Nate bought the place.

“Cut the crap,” Nate muttered. “I’m just saying, you could’ve called. I told you I was spending tonight with Kennedy.”

Jack shifted his gaze to the books on the oak shelves lining the back wall. “Whendon’tyou spend your nights with her?” He looked over his shoulder at Nate. “And if I hadn’t shown up uninvited, when were you going to introduce us? It’s like you’re hiding her away or something.”

“I’m not fuckinghidingher away. We go out,” Nate shot back, trying not to read too much into his friend’s choice of words.

“You two go outalone.” Jack returned his attention to the shelves, his gaze idly skimming the books.

Damn. What the fuck is his problem?

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