Free Diamonds & Desire: The Priceless Collection by Angelita Gill Page A

talked exclusively about her. The only part she left out about her recent years in the city was how she had been engaged and then dumped last spring. He didn’t need to know that sliver of shameful information.
    “So you came out here to watch over Lucee,” he said after their plates were taken away, “Graduated from Santa Clara, seriously considered working for a cruise ship, got a job with Doctor Palecki instead, and rescue complete strangers from conniving friends in your spare time.”
    She laughed. “That’s about it in a nutshell. My life story is a little boring, isn’t it?”
    “Whenever I think of you Jordana, boring is the last thing that comes to mind.”
    Smiling, she couldn’t hold his sexy gaze, and looked away. “Compared to some, I am. You, for instance. I’d say owning two companies and having your own driver instantly makes you much more exciting to discuss.”
    “Believe me, it doesn’t,” he said in a droll tone. “The only reason I have Tom is so I can work on my way to work. And when I’m leaving work, I can continue to work on the way home.” He chuckled at her wide-eyed look. “See?”
    “I think you’re wrong. That dedication, ambition, is admirable. I can’t imagine it’s easy, but you clearly like to work, admit it. Or else you’d be in your Lazy-Boy at home sipping Mai Tai’s, letting someone else run your company. Am I wrong?”
    He laughed again. “No one has ever put it quite like that before.”
    Jordana never had so much fun on lunch hour and hated for their time together to end. If all he wanted to do was thank her, then there wouldn’t be a next time, unless she ever came to him for that return favor.
    “No wonder you ditched me for lunch, Savant.”
    Jordana and Logan both looked up to the face of the man she recognized as Logan’s friend. The handsome, witty, unabashedly arrogant Neil. Hard to forget a face like that. With his gorgeous green eyes, chestnut brown hair, and roughish smile, one could easily assume he was Logan’s brother. However, the differences that distinguished them were evident after more than surface observation.
    Logan gazed with intensity, walked with an elegant air, and spoke with an unrushed measure. His friend flashed his smile with eyes alight with secret mischief, and talked fast with facetious undertones, as though he was the host for a headlining act.
    “What a coincidence,” Logan spoke in a wry manner. “You remember Neil. My friend who finished magna cum laude at UCLA, but still can’t remember the meaning of the word tact.”
    With a small laugh, she stood and shook Neil’s hand. “I remember. Nice to meet you. Officially. Would you like to join us?”
    Neil and Logan both answered “no” at the same time, but with dissimilar inflections: Logan’s with a bit of annoyance; Neil’s with humor.
    Neil slanted Logan a look with a half-smile. “I only came over to say hello. I have a lunch date of my own.”
    “Oh, this isn’t a date—” she started.
    “And I wanted to make sure he’s invited you to the party this weekend.”
    Jordana looked from Neil to Logan. Other than the barest lift of a brow, Logan’s expression remained steady as he gazed at his friend.
    “A party?” she asked.
    Neil nodded, tucking hands in his pockets. “Nothing major, just a little get together to watch a pay-per-view MMA fight and kick back. It’s a good time. Don’t worry, it’s not just a bunch of guys yelling and drinking. Our friend Miranda comes too. She’d be thrilled to see another gal in the mix. Wouldn’t she, Savant?”
    “She would.” He set his gaze on her. “It’d be great if you could join us.”
    Did he really want to invite her or was he just being polite? “I’d love to,” she said, unsure.
    “Perfect,” Neil grinned.
    Logan was giving his friend a slightly annoyed look, and Jordana decided now would be a good time to give them a few moments alone. “Excuse me, gentleman. I need to run to the ladies