The Gentlewoman Read Online Free PDF Page A

won’t be any companions for me. I’m just
here to work.”
    “Well you’re going to have to give yourself a break every
once in a while. Otherwise you’ll burn out and do no good here. And what about
the social activities you’ll need to attend? You’ll need an escort to those.
Half the deals in Congress are made at dinner parties and happy hours.”
    “Is a set of testicles mandatory for admission?”
    He laughed hard, throwing his head back. “No, but it’s
customary. Come to think of it, we haven’t had a single congresswoman in the
recent past. Or at all that I can think of.” He tried to recall such a
situation. “Well, this ought to give the gossips something to talk about, two
unmarried folks in Congress at the same time. What is the world coming to?” He
smiled again as the food arrived.
    Dinner was delicious and Jackson engaged her in conversation
about the shipyard. She explained the deal, how bringing that hull-building
industry to Cleveland would revitalize the steel business, and he listened
intently as she described the jobs growth and economic indicators she could
rattle off from memory.
    “I had heard Trojan Japan was looking to relocate their
hull-building yards, but didn’t know Cleveland was a frontrunner for the deal.
Congressman Powell from South Carolina has been courting them, a couple others
I’ve heard of as well. What’s your hook to beat them out?”
    “We’ve been talking to Trojan Japan for quite a while now,
pointing out the benefits of freshwater building. They’re interested; it cuts
down on their EPA licensing and filing fees. Plus they get the benefit of the
steel and iron distribution channels and other raw materials availability in
the region. It’s a money saver for them.”
    “Then what’s the holdup? Sounds like a no-brainer.”
    “The EPA is the holdup right now. Our Environmental
Protection Agency needs to release the report on Lake Erie in the next three
months so the deal can go through. This is a new one on the EPA. In addition to
the usual environmental tests on the lake, in order to be approved to support
building of oceangoing vessels, Lake Erie has to test negative on several
higher-based environmental standards that have never been routine to conduct in
fresh water. Very expensive tests, usually in the budgets for those oceanfront
locations that do shipbuilding. EPA has been awaiting appropriations, but time
is of the essence.”
    He pulled his cell phone from the holster in his belt and
looked at the caller ID. He held up his index finger. “Hold that thought one
moment, I’m sorry… Hey, kid, what’s up?”
    Rory took the opportunity to study him. He was very handsome
and her gaze slowly descended from his smooth aristocratic features and trailed
down his muscular neck. His Adam’s apple was pronounced, and the thought
occurred to her that she’d like to run her tongue over it. Her eyes continued
to travel to where his neck formed a V. She imagined her tongue laving that
spot as well until she looked up and noticed he was looking directly into her
eyes. She immediately swung her gaze in the direction of the waiter as she
considered how much she would love another drink.
    He hung up his phone. “Now where were we? You were telling
me about your bid for the shipbuilding yard. You’re going to need to chase
votes on the Appropriations Committee. They aren’t going to come easily.” As he
said this, his eyes roved over her.
    “Well, perhaps I can count on your vote, Congressman.” She
stared straight into his eyes. “What would that cost me?”
    He leaned forward in his chair and placed his elbows on the
table. With his chin propped on his entwined fingers, his eyes softened and
became seductive. His smile was very sultry, smirking. “I’d have to give that
some serious consideration, Congresswoman. I wonder what you’d offer me.”
    “I’m not sure I have much to offer in exchange. I just got
here, and I’m not very popular yet.” She