Page 16 of Pursuing Desire

“Are you having trouble hearing?” I ask.

Jake bounds out of his chair with barely suppressed mirth. Humor is dancing in his eyes as he sticks a hand in his pocket. “I can’t believe this. Oh my God. I gotta tell Lana about this. She’s going to die. This is unreal. She’ll think I’m making this up.”

Jake doesn’t give me time to respond. He rushes out of the office without a backward glance and already has his phone pulled out of his pocket. No doubt he’s calling Lana so that they can laugh about this together.

At least I got that out of the way. My brother will make sure everyone else in the family is informed of this latest gossip.

I left a few truths out of my conversation with my brother. I told him that I was doing it to help out Jess, which is true. It’s just not the whole truth. I’m not that altruistic. I’m doing it for the adventure, the fun. And I find myself wanting to prove that I’m not the type of person Jess thinks I am. She may want nothing to do with me now, but I find myself wanting to get to know her. She and I might have a lot of fun on this trip, if she’ll allow it.

However, none of this is going to happen if Kenneth doesn’t get that contract over here. Maybe I should text Jess while I’m waiting for him. It wouldn’t hurt to check on her and make sure she didn’t change her mind.

Just as I’m typing out a text, there’s a tap on my office door. My assistant walks in carrying a package.

“This was just dropped off for you, Mr. Anders.” She puts the package on my desk. “I’m heading out for the day. Do you need anything before I leave?”

“No, thanks. Enjoy your daughter’s play.”

“Thank you. I sure will.” She flashes a grateful smile before leaving the room.

I take a look at the package my assistant just gave me. This must be the contract from Kenneth. I tear open the package and take out the packet of paperclipped and stapled documents.

Yep, it’s the contract.

And it’s already five thirty, not enough time to have the lawyers comb through it today. I’ll have to take it home and read over it myself. I might as well put that fancy law degree to use, though I try to delegate these tasks to our lawyers who deal with this type of stuff on a daily basis.

I also need to have Jess sign it, so I pick up my phone and finish texting her. She immediately texts me back.

Hope you didn’t change your mind about the show?

Jess

No, I’m committed for better or worse. I’m actually a bit excited :-)

Me too! Can you meet tonight? I have the contract for us to sign.

Yep. I’ll come to your office. I’m close by.

That works.

K. Be there in 20 min.

Look at that. A perfectly respectable conversation, and I didn’t tease her a single time. I knew I could do it.

As I wait for Jess, I spend the next several minutes reading the contract. It’s mostly your standard they-won’t-be-held liable stuff. Nothing too crazy or unexpected.

I only make it about three-fourths of the way through reading the contract when Jess taps on the door and walks in.

“Hey,” she says as she breezes in, wearing a small gym bag across her body. Her face is red, and her hair is pulled back into a bun on the back of her neck. Curly, damp tendrils of hair have escaped the bun and are stuck to her neck.

“Hi. Come on in and have a seat. Did I interrupt your workout?”

“Nah, I was just about done. I finished up by jogging here when I got off the subway. Hope you don’t mind smelling me.”

I wrinkle my nose in mock disgust. “It’s pretty bad. I’m going to ask you to stay on that side of the desk.”

She smirks at me, then smiles. “I can do that. Have you read over the contract?”

“I’ve skimmed it mostly. There are some interesting parts, but nothing is throwing up a red flag. I’ll go over it in more detail tonight. For now, I’ll go ahead and read the rules section out loud. That way, we can discuss if needed.”