Page 125 of This Woman Forever

“Well, it’s a nice atmosphere. I don’t know why you wouldn’t have your meeting in here.”

“Here in the bar?” I ask, taking another look around.

“Yeah.” Drew shrugs. “Here in the bar.”

“In front of many interested members?”

“They’re not interested.”

I raise my brows and jerk my head in indication, and the boys look, seeing some very interested members all with eyes on John and Owen. “You sure?”

Drew throws them all a filthy look. “Can I come?” he asks.

I laugh. “You want to come into my meeting?”

“Yeah, as a friend. Support. I’m a businessman, Jesse.”

“You’re an estate agent.”

“Which makes me one of the best salesmen on the planet.” He smiles. “I could sell condoms to a convent of nuns.”

I laugh. “You’re not coming in.”

“That’s not fair,” he whines. “Why?”

Sam laughs, but it dries up when his mobile rings and he stares at the screen. “It’s Kate,” he murmurs, looking up at me. “What should I do?”

“Answer it,” I say, and with those two words, he connects the call and wanders out of the bar, no longer interested in my meeting.

“Look,” Drew says. “I just want to know if I need to go speak to Hux or not.”

“Hux?” I gape at him.

“Well, where else do you expect me to get my kicks?”

“Hold your horses,” I say, leaving them. “I’m just hearing what he’s got to say.”

“I’ll be here when you’re finished!” he yells at my back.

I flick a semi-friendly smile to Owen. “Afternoon,” I say, and he stares at me, somewhere between realization and disbelief.

“You’re Jesse Ward,” he breathes.

“I’m Jesse Ward,” I confirm. “My office is this way.” I pass him and head toward the summer room. “So something came up earlier today?”

“I can explain.”

I laugh. “Only my wife ever needs to explain to me.”

“Oh, you’re married?”

“Yeah, I’m married.” I stop in my tracks and look back at him. “You sound surprised.”

The guy was so together previously. Almost cocky. Now, he’s in a bit of a fluster, looking between John and me, his mouth opening and closing like a goldfish. “I heard?—”

“You heard?” Has he been asking around about me?

His shoulders drop, and his eyes roll. “It’s just part of our background checks.”

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