Free Hypnotic Seduction (The Seduction Series) by Laurie Kellogg, L. L. Kellogg Page A

doesn’t have to know about it. I sent the check out of my bonus and made it clear Calder wasn’t assuming any legal responsibility and it was simply a charitable donation.” Jordan shrugged. “Besides, it was a shrewd business move. If for some reason the boy has any future problems, the mother will already have accepted compensation.”
    That sounded a bit lame to Hannah. If the family didn’t have a legal leg to stand on from the beginning, they would have even less of a case now that the child’s health had improved.
    For some reason, Jordan didn’t want anyone to know he had a marshmallow center under his crusty exterior. His compassion for the Russell family made her like him more than ever.
    “Their situation is the whole reason I decided to sponsor the pediatric conference.”
    “I don’t understand. What happened?” Hannah asked.
    Jordan turned and propped himself against her desk. “The additional testing to get FDA approval for pediatric use is expensive and time consuming. A lot of drug companies don’t bother, and pediatricians then prescribe—on an off-label basis—medications that have only been proven safe for adults.”
    Her chest tightened at his fervor and genuine concern for the public’s well being.
    “Unfortunately, a child’s liver isn’t as well developed as an adult’s,” he continued. “So with some drugs, the age of a patient is more critical than his weight, and simply decreasing the dosage isn’t the answer.”
    “Can’t the FDA order drug companies to run clinical trials on medications they believe will be used off-label on children?”
    “Yes,” Edward interjected, “but that also slows down the approval process and keeps drugs that are desperately needed from going to market. When at all possible, Calder spends the extra time and money to run pediatric trials.”
    “I’m hoping our conference will publicize that to the medical community,” Jordan explained, “and send the message that Calder cares about kids.”
    “Hey, that’s catchy,” she said.
    “I hope so, since it’s going to be our new advertising slogan.” Jordan straightened the papers he’d placed in her in-basket. “I realize it’s the Friday before Memorial Day, and you have a three-day weekend. But do you think you could work late tonight? I don’t want to be finishing the presentation at the last minute on Tuesday before the board meeting. If you have a date, I understand.”
    “Don’t you have one?” She could’ve sworn she’d made a dinner reservation for him earlier that week.
    “I cancelled.” His virile scent wafted around her and kicked her pulse into overdrive. “If it’s a problem and you’re not doing anything tomorrow, we could finish at my home, instead.”
    “N-no, I don’t mind. This evening is fine. I was just planning to order some Chinese takeout, rent a movie, and do some studying for my exam.”
    Damn. She mentally kicked herself for agreeing so quickly. She would’ve loved to see his house.
    “Great.” Jordan smiled and jerked his head toward the door. “Since you’ll be staying late, do me a favor and get the old man out of my hair for an hour or so.” He dug a credit card out of his wallet. “Lunch is my treat since you’ve been working so hard.”
    Hannah stood, picked up her purse, and snatched the plastic from Jordan’s grasp. “In that case—” She linked her arm around Edward’s elbow. “Maybe we’ll bring you some scraps in a doggy bag.”
    Edward’s bushy eyebrows wiggled at her like a couple of albino caterpillars dancing the minuet on his forehead. “Since my grandson’s picking up the tab, I think a magnum of Cristal would go nicely with lunch, don’t you?”
    “You don’t scare me, old man,” Jordan growled past the good-natured curl in his mouth. “You forget who you’ve granted power of attorney to if you’re ever mentally incapacitated.”
    “Is that a threat?” Edward asked him, escorting her out the door.
    “No,