Questing (Cosmis Connections, Book One) Read Online Free PDF Page A

some reason you’re interested in me.”
    “Stop exaggerating,” she said as if she assumed he was being outrageous just to help her relax.
    “I’m not,” he insisted. “I don’t think you realize the way you affect people. You—”
    “Please, let’s talk about something else,” Kiley interrupted.
    “Okay,” he agreed pleasantly. “Your topic or mine?”
    “Mine,” she said quickly. “I like listening to you talk. Tell me where you guys used to have lunch.”
    “You mean, before I decided that I needed to see you as often as possible to survive?” She laughed. “Hey, you don’t know how many times I’ve forced myself to resist the urge to come back for dinner. I was afraid I’d be too obvious if I was there more than once a day.”
    “You think you’re not obvious, having lunch every day for months?” she teased in return. “Come on. Tell me where you used to go.”
    “All right. Brett and I ate at a variety of places but I think we went to Bruno’s more than anywhere else.”
    “I love Bruno’s! What’s your favorite?”
    “I’d have to say the eggplant parmesan. It’s a little heavy for lunch but it’s too good to resist.”
    “I know what you mean. There must be half a pound of cheese in every dish.”
    “Yeah and I think they put the other half pound on the salad.”
    “Even the garlic bread is perfect.”
    “A woman after my own heart,” Jordan said smoothly.
    “Does Brett like that too?” she asked curiously.
    “Nope, he prefers the veal. He maintains a vegetable isn’t suitable as a main course even at lunchtime.”
    “Ah. Beer or wine?”
    “Definitely wine. As I said, it’s almost too much as it is. A beer on top of that meal would be more than I can handle.”
    “Of course,” she agreed.
    From there, the conversation meandered to various other topics. Jordan was thrilled that Kiley seemed to have overcome her nervousness. Hopefully, the ease of their phone time would transfer over to their next meeting.
    Kiley was amazed when she realized how comfortable she had become with Jordan. After a few awkward gaps that he smoothed over at the beginning, the conversation fell into an easy rhythm. Now it felt as if they always chatted like this.
    “Jordan, I’d like to apologize for earlier today when I asked if you’d done something illegal. I don’t really think you would.”
    “There’s no need to apologize. After all, I’d just given you the number for an unsanctioned ticket procurer and stated that he owed me a favor. It’s perfectly understandable that you’d reach that conclusion,” he said, then paused. “I won’t lie to you, Kiley. I do know some unscrupulous people. I also know some criminals who could be classified as downright dangerous. But I assure you my business dealings are one hundred percent legal. I will never compromise that. Before I accept a client, I thoroughly investigate every aspect of his or her life, both professional and personal. If there’s anything unethical I turn him away, no exceptions. The same with corporations.”
    “You don’t have to tell me this,” Kiley interrupted.
    “Yes, I do. I want to. I’d like to get closer to you and I know that’s not possible unless you trust me. It’s very important to me.”
    “Do you trust me?” Kiley asked, considering what he said.
    “Without a doubt,” he answered instantly.
    “Did you investigate me?”
    “Sure. I’ve asked Dee lots of questions. Some she answered, some she didn’t. Will too. And I spoke with Henry, not that I planned to but once he initiated the conversation I took advantage of the opportunity.”
    “Henry started it?”
    “He wanted to know my intentions toward you.” Kiley groaned. “He’s very protective of you. Of all of you at the restaurant. I appreciate that.”
    “When was this?”
    “About a month after Brett and I started coming in. It was a Friday and there was a group from a convention. We were finished but I didn’t want to