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

room.”
    Logan rose with a smile. “Take your time.”
    ***
    After Jordana departed, he gave his friend an admonished look. “You have no shame, do you?”
    “Do I need it?” Neil sent him a smirk, then sat in Jordana’s chair.
    Logan suppressed an irritated sigh as he sat back down. “Why did you invite her to the party?”
    “I thought it’d be a nice thing to do.”
    “Bullshit.”
    Neil lifted his brows. “Don’t you want her to come?”
    “Answer my question first.”
    His friend leaned back, arm over the chair. “You want the truth? Here it is then. I walk in, and I see you. You looked—I don’t know—for lack of a fancier word, happy, enjoying yourself, which is something I have to say I haven’t seen in a while. What’s the difference, I ask myself. Then I see your guardian angel Jordana is with you. She’s the difference.”
    “Have you been leaving the soap operas on in your lobby again? I feel like I owe her and want to pay her back. That’s it. I’m not starting anything with her.”
    “Now I call bull. I see the way you look at her.”
    “Regardless of how you interpret my looks, I have no romantic interest in her.”
    “Really? You practically tripped over yourself to chase after her when she left.”
    “No comment.” He set his mouth in a flat line.
    “Right. Well, my mistake.” He planted his hands on the arms of the chair and pushed up. “Just a friend then?”
    Jordana came around the corner from the restroom, smiling as she stepped aside for a server to pass. His heart skipped a necessary beat, but he’d get over it soon enough. “Yes, Caenon, she’s just a friend.”
    ***
    Jordana’s heart sank. He’d meant for her to hear it. Clearly Neil had questioned their relationship and Logan had set him straight. So now she knew his only design on her was the friendship kind. A knot of disappointment lodged in her chest.
    Neil stepped back as she approached. “Hm-mm. I better get back to my date. You two enjoy yours. Jordana, hope to see you on Saturday.” With that, he sent her a grin and walked away, meandering through the zigzag of dining tables before sitting down across from a voluptuous brunette.
    “About this weekend,” Logan said as the server set down the bill, “I really want you to come. I’m sorry if Neil made the invitation a little awkward. He has a tendency to put people on the spot. It’s the lawyer in him. Irritates the hell out of me.”
    “I’ll come.” She tried to smile. “I’ve never watched an MMA fight. What should I bring?”
    “Just you.” He kept his eyes down, paying the bill, and checked his watch. “We should go. Unless you’re positive you don’t want dessert?”
    “Just thinking the word dessert makes me fuller. Usually for lunch I settle for a yogurt and some Goldfish crackers.”
    He smiled at her. “All right, I won’t twist your arm.”
    As they walked through the restaurant, Jordana heard, “Savant! Still on for next week, right?” and “Logan, I owe you for connecting me with that contractor!” and other various comments and greetings that made her want to shake her head in disbelief.
    After they got seated in the car, she smiled. “Thank you for lunch.”
    “I’m sorry for the interruptions. Next time, I’ll take you to The Ham Hut. Is it more private?”
    “Oh sure,” she flipped a hand, “it’s the epitome of private dining. I’ll bet none of your friends will be there. Outdoor seating only with picnic tables and plastic cutlery. No bar.”
    “Sounds ideal,” he chuckled. “But those men were business acquaintances. I have very few close friends.”
    “Oh? I find that hard to believe.”
    He laughed. “Really? What’s your idea of a friend, Jordana?”
    “Someone you can count on. Tell your secrets to, and know you won’t be judged for them. A person who’s loyal, makes you laugh. Who you can count on to get you out of a bind.”
    “I agree. Those gentlemen, they’re not the kind I could do any of