Free Diplomacy by Zahra Owens Page A

support, if necessary guide the Americans, but not dominate them. You are by all means his subordinate and you should act accordingly. He is a much more experienced player in this game and there’s a lot you could learn from him.”
    I’m sure the feeling is mutual, Lucas thought.
    A smile appeared on the more seasoned diplomat’s face. “We go way back, Christensen and I. Got bombed out of the hotel we were running negotiations from in Beirut. Was a close call, that.” Sean Gallagher was obviously remembering those times with some fondness.
    “Now, back to business. Carlton, even if these negotiations with the Belgians about the war fail, don’t forget that although it may be a small country, we have important trade relations with them and we can’t afford to lose those, so make sure you leave the table as friends, okay?” Lucas nodded, his thoughts about a ten minute walk away.

    ABOUT an hour later Lucas walked past the American security guard and up to the Ambassador’s office.

    56 | Z a h r a O w e n s

    “He’s been expecting you,” Gertje told him with a wink as she walked around her desk to open the door for him. “Tell him I’ll hold his calls.”
    Lucas kissed her hand, which made her blush terribly, and entered the office.
    Jack sat behind his desk, papers literally everywhere. There were deep lines on his forehead and he was frowning incessantly. “This is an asinine country. They’re one of the world’s biggest small arms dealers, but they’re against going to war.”
    Lucas moved a stack of papers and leaned against Jack’s desk.
    “Yes, makes it interesting, doesn’t it?”
    Jack couldn’t help but smile. It never ceased to amaze him how calm and collected the young man could be, unless of course, Lucas felt he was being watched. Then he could turn into this fidgety, stammering teenager who didn’t know where to put his hands. Not now though. While they were alone, in the privacy of the office, Lucas was effortlessly calm and this rubbed off on Jack. He gently placed his hand on the young man’s thigh.
    “I missed you this weekend. I’m glad you could come by.” Lucas smiled as he looked out of the window behind Jack. “Well, I had the perfect excuse. Sean thinks we should plan strategy, and who am I to argue with my boss?”
    Jack loved how the summer light played with his lover’s olive skin and chestnut curls. Was this real? Was this young man becoming his lover? Or was the kiss just a tease, a trial thing that wasn’t to be repeated?
    He hoped not, so he got up from his comfortable chair and moved in between Lucas and the light. “I’m still glad you could come by, excuse or not. I played our kiss back over and over again in my mind.” Lucas simply smiled, uncrossed his ankles and spread his knees, inviting Jack to move closer to him. Just as Lucas moved his arm around Jack and touched his lower back to pull him closer, a short double knock on the door made Jack step back and away from Lucas.
    Gertje walked in, her eyes on the contents of a folder she was carrying. “I found another bit of information from your predecessor, Mr.
    Christensen. Memos and minutes from meetings he had with the French D i p l o m a c y | 57

    Ambassador and with our Ambassador to France about arms dealing to the Middle East.”
    Jack walked over to her and accepted the folder, nodding to her,
    “Thank you, Mrs. Claessens,” and then, hoping she would take the hint,
    “You are holding my calls, yes?”
    “Of course, sir,” she answered, smiling enigmatically as she exited his office.
    Jack walked back over to where Lucas was still sitting patiently on the edge of the desk. “Now, where were we?” Lucas grabbed him again and pulled him closer, this time a little more forcefully. There was nothing hesitant about how their lips locked now. Jack could feel his heartbeat speed up as he was turned on by the determination of the man he was kissing. Lucas’s hands pulled their bodies close