At the moment, my reputation for honesty and integrity has been destroyed. If your friends would rather withdraw from the venture, I'll understand."
"They've already withdrawn," Jordan admitted reluctantly. "I'm staying with you."
"It's just as well they have," Ian replied, reaching for the contracts and beginning to scratch out the names of the other parties. "In the end, there'll be greater profit for us both."
"Ian," Jordan said in a low, deliberate voice, "you are tempting me to take a swing at you, just to see if you'll wince when I hit you. I've taken about all I can of your indifference to everything that's happening." Ian glanced up from his documents, and Jordan saw it then-the muscle clamping in Ian's jaw, the merest automatic reaction to fury or torment, and he felt a mixture of relief and embarrassment. "I regret that remark more than I can say," he apologized quietly. "And if it's any consolation, I know firsthand how it feels to believe your wife has betrayed you."
"I don't need consolation," Ian clipped. "I need time."
"To get over it," Jordan agreed.
"Time," Ian drawled coolly, "to go over these documents."
As Jordan walked down the hall toward the front door he wasn't certain if he'd only imagined that miniscule sign of emotion.
"They've already withdrawn," Jordan admitted reluctantly. "I'm staying with you."
"It's just as well they have," Ian replied, reaching for the contracts and beginning to scratch out the names of the other parties. "In the end, there'll be greater profit for us both."
"Ian," Jordan said in a low, deliberate voice, "you are tempting me to take a swing at you, just to see if you'll wince when I hit you. I've taken about all I can of your indifference to everything that's happening." Ian glanced up from his documents, and Jordan saw it then-the muscle clamping in Ian's jaw, the merest automatic reaction to fury or torment, and he felt a mixture of relief and embarrassment. "I regret that remark more than I can say," he apologized quietly. "And if it's any consolation, I know firsthand how it feels to believe your wife has betrayed you."
"I don't need consolation," Ian clipped. "I need time."
"To get over it," Jordan agreed.
"Time," Ian drawled coolly, "to go over these documents."
As Jordan walked down the hall toward the front door he wasn't certain if he'd only imagined that miniscule sign of emotion.
( Judith McNaught )
[ Almost Heaven ]
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