Page 49 of Required Surrender

Jameson shook his head as he chuckled. “Yes, she would.”

I rolled my finger across my lips. It had been difficult to keep my mind off Lark the entire afternoon. I could get used to having her in my life far too easily. That wasn’t in my best interest.

Or hers.

“Just how are you getting along with Ms. Winston?” he asked after a few seconds.

I knew Jameson meant well. There was no skirting around my less than stellar private life, although both had been averse to dragging me through the mud more than I’d done to myself. Jameson had also suffered a loss over the years, his personal life considered off limits to almost everyone, often including the two of us. “The problem is that I like the woman, maybe too much.”

He and Grant shared a knowing look.

“Don’t go there. She’s made it perfectly clear that after the week is over, or before then if she can figure out to break the contract, she wants nothing to do with me.”

“One week, huh?” Grant threw at me. “A lot can happen in a week.”

“Yeah, like death,” I tossed back.

They laughed.

I didn’t.

“Let’s get down to business,” I suggested. I’d had a bad feeling all morning Senator Winston wouldn’t take my win the night before lying down. He’d continue to try to make my life miserable and with Davidson’s case heading to trial, he’d attempt to make Carnal Sins look dirty for his benefit.

Or for no other reason than I’d gained control of his little girl for a short period of time. I took a sip of my drink, trying to get Lark out of my mind. It was more difficult than I’d imagined.

Jameson brought the Paris architectural plans to the table, spreading them out. Grant slipped onto the other end of the couch, the financial whiz just as curious as I was as to the requested changes.

“What are his requests?” I asked.

“More like demands. Essentially, he wants to add a small destination hotel.” Jameson pulled up the page of the plans highlighting the possible addition.

“Interesting concept.” Grant glanced in my direction, curious as to my first reaction.

“Does he have the real estate for it?” I’d yet to make a trip to Paris, leaving that to my director of construction and development.

Nodding, Jameson headed for his briefcase, tugging out a folder. “The area is stunning and, in my opinion, a perfect location. He’s had everything approved with the locality, which I confirmed. He’s just waiting for our final agreement. Everything is in order. From what Dumas told me on the phone, the market in Paris is ripe for a boudoir inn catering to the lifestyle.”

He tossed the paperwork onto the middle of the table. I let Grant look it over first. “You mean a brothel,” I said as I huffed.

Jameson’s grin told me I was right. “Well, Paris isn’t the United States. If we’re going to expand into other countries, we need to leave our minds open to considering alternatives.”

I thought about the proposition, uncertain I wanted to expand our offerings at this point. I wanted to laugh given I’d been the one to push our limits every step of the way. Now I was suddenly being conservative.

“I think we should agree to his terms,” Grant said, tossing the approval documentation in my direction.

I didn’t bother looking at it. “Seems like the two of you have made up your mind. You don’t need me.” I jerked up, returning to the bar.

There was rarely tension between us, but I felt it strongly today.

“What’s really going on, Lachlan?” The sound of concern in Jameson’s voice continued.

“Call it a bad feeling.”

“About the club in Paris?”

I poured another drink before turning around, leaning against the bar. “About the situation with Davidson as well as the constant interference from the pain in the ass senator.”

“What are you thinking?” Grant asked.

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