Jane Millionaire

by Janice Lynn

  “What are you thinking, Jane?” Rob’s voice murmured in her fantasy.

  “Kissing.” Jill blinked. That had sounded as if she’d actually spoken. Had she just said what she thought she had? Out loud? Her wistful voice had been all too real.

  “Kissing?” Rob and JP asked simultaneously. “What does kissing have to do with you playing the bachelors in a game of basketball?”

  Thinking fast, she grabbed JP’s pen, wrote “kiss” across the top of her notepad, and slid it across the table.

  “Instead of playing regular basketball, we’ll play a version of H-O-R-S-E, only we’ll call it K-I-S-S. If my opponent beats me, I’ll kiss him.”

  Rob’s throat worked, his eyes narrowed, then he nodded. “Okay, each bachelor will be given the opportunity to ‘score’.”

  A harassed crewmember rushed into the studio and headed straight for Rob. He looked like the bearer of bad news who feared for his life. Jill’s watched curiously as the man leaned over and whispered something in Rob’s ear.

  “What?” Rob’s pen landed on the table with a clangity-clang. “You’re kidding.”

  The man grimaced and shook his head.

  “Aw, hell.” Rob looked directly at JP. “William’s agent called and says he’s canceling. Personal reasons.”

  Every male mouth at the table dropped open.

  “So some guy canceled. We’ll just have eleven bachelors instead of the twelve. No big deal.” Jill shrugged. Eleven, twelve, it made no difference. She was afraid an entire army of men wouldn’t be able to distract her from Rob.

  “William wasn’t one of the bachelors,” Rob corrected her mistaken assumption. “He was the host.”

  “There isn’t time to line up someone else,” JP announced, not looking worried one bit. “We’ll just have to use someone here who’s already available.” The older man shot a glance in Rob’s direction. “Rob’s got showbiz experience. He’ll just have to fill in.”

  “Hell no.” Rob was on his feet.

  Several of the crew and Jill flinched at his exclamation.

  “You know I’m not into publicity. Putting me in front of the cameras is asking for an invasion of my privacy.” Rob’s jaw set in a determined clench. “I won’t do it.”

  JP’s bushy brow quirked upward. He and Rob stared at each other, silent messages flying back and forth between the two tense men. Just as Jill wondered if they would come to blows, Rob flopped down in his chair in apparent defeat.

  Her mouth fell open as the crew visibly sighed with relief and more than a little disbelief that Rob had conceded to JP.

  The older man flashed a triumphant grin and slapped Rob’s shoulder. “Say hello to our new host with the most.”

  Chapter Three

  “I don’t appreciate how you put me on the spot a few minutes ago.” Rob leaned back in his worn leather chair, toyed with an ink pen, and tried to remember his friend had meant well.

  JP had walked Jane out after Rob had called a quick end to the meeting, then hung around until they were alone in the make-shift studio.

  “Had to.” JP didn’t look one bit repentant as he flopped into the chair next to Rob.

  “Explain.”

  “I know you.”

  Rob frowned and waited for JP to continue. He didn’t have to wait long.

  “You’d have found a way to wheedle out of going on screen if I hadn’t made my suggestion in front of the crew. Now, they’re all excited at the prospect of you hosting and it’ll be more difficult for you to squirm you’re way out.”

  He ran a hand through his hair. What was JP talking about? Why would he even want him to be onscreen?

  “Exactly why is it that you think I shouldn’t refuse? You of all people know that being in front of the camera holds no appeal to me.”

  “But you were damn good, boy.”

  Rob snorted. “Circumstances and you put me in the limelight. My goal was never to continue acting. I can’t say I’d change the past if I could, but the thought of being center-stage again gives me heartburn.”

  “Don’t you think it’s about time you got over that?”

  “Uhm,” Rob thought about his answer for all of two seconds. That’s about how long it took to come up with the right answer. “No.”

  JP shook his head. Disappointment similar to what Rob imagined a father felt toward a son who’d fallen short shone on the older man’s face. JP had been more of a father to him than the Puerto Rican bastard who’d ran off when Rob had been barely out of diapers.

  “Aw, hell, JP,” Rob relented, not being able to stand the look in JP’s eyes. “I’m a behind the scenes man. Not some pretty boy host.”

  JP’s lips twitched as he stood and clapped his hand against Rob’s shoulder. “Now, that’s not how I hear it. According to The Tattler, you’re a pretty boy, indeed. Although your hospitality is only known when it comes to charming the ladies.”

  The Tattler. He hated that rag magazine. He’d been raked over the coals one time too many, but not in the past few years. He’d intentionally skirted situations that would call media attention to him other than professionally. Until this crazy reality TV stuff.

  “Yeah, well, thanks to you, I’ll probably make the cover. Reality TV Host has Millionaire Alien Baby Who Looks Like Oprah or some other such nonsense.”

  JP laughed. “Just think of the free advertising that would give Jane.”

  Rob shook his head, but grinned, grateful the disappointed expression on JP’s face had vanished. “Always planning ahead, heh?”

  Practically rubbing his hands together in glee as he agreed, JP grinned in a way that left Rob’s stomach unsettled. “Always.”

  # # #

  “Rob, wait,” Jill called as she jogged to catch up with him. He’d not said much after he called an end to the meeting. She’d wanted to linger, but JP had practically pushed her out of the room and it would have been too obvious if she’d gone back.

  Obvious, and stupid, much as she was right now. But she didn’t seem to be able to stay away from the man.

  Spotting him running in the gardens while she’d been staring out her suite window had been a Godsend. Or the devil’s most seductive temptation. Either way she intended to take full advantage of the opportunity to spend time with him. She’d jerked her hair into a ponytail, thrown on some jogging clothes in record time and bolted through the castle and the garden to catch up with him.

  Which explained why her chest heaved and her lungs burned.

  At least that’s what she was blaming her out of breath state on. Rob’s damp hair, glistening skin, and bulging muscles ran a close second.

  His pace slowed, but he didn’t turn to look at her. The high, tense set of his shoulders made her question whether or not he welcomed her intrusion. Had he and JP argued after the meeting broke up?

  “Hey, you.” She intentionally kept her tone light as she fell into stride beside him.

  His gaze cut to her briefly. “Hey.”

  That quick look was enough to set Jill’s heart to pounding. Of course, the fact that he’d managed to scan her from head-to-toe might have played into her racing pulse.

  “What did you think of my K-I-S-S plan?” she asked just to have something to say.

  He shrugged and kept running. “Brilliant.”

  She grinned. Brilliant worked for her. “You really think so?”

  “Sure. It’s competitive, fun, and yet sexy. Viewers should love it.”

  Viewers smeewers. She just wanted Rob to love it.

  “Maybe I should practice a little before the bachelors arrive.” Okay, so she was trying to flirt without technically flirting. She certainly wouldn’t say no if he offered to help her practice. Not that she needed to. For a few glorified years, she’d lived, eaten and breathed basketball. Then her parents had died and her life had crumbled around her.

  “Maybe.” She blinked her depressing thoughts away and focused on Rob. She wasn’t going to live by Jill Davidson’s rigid “have to be respo
nsible” guidelines for life. She was free to enjoy every moment without having to make the overly conscientious choice. For once, it was okay for her to go with the flow. To take chances. Just so long as she didn’t forget that Rob thought she was her sister. “You wanna play me sometime?”

  “A game of K-I-S-S?” Rob stumbled and came to a halt. They were at the far end of the gardens, the castle far off into the distance. A soft breeze blew through the leaves creating rustling background music.

  “Well, I meant regular basketball, but,” she wiped moisture from her brow, wishing the breeze would whip this way to help cool her down. “I’m game if you are.”

  His lips twisted in a smirk. “Seems like everyone is trying to set me up today.”

  He stretched forward, touching the tips of his white sneakers. Jill almost sighed in appreciation of the play of muscles beneath his thin T-shirt and gray gym shorts. Yowzas, the man was built like an athlete.

  “You two had me worried there for a bit,” she admitted, trying to keep the drool in her mouth from running down her chin.

  He motioned toward a path to the left and she nodded. They fell into a brisk walk.

  “Who JP and I?” Rob laughed. “There’s no need. We go way back.”

  “Really?” The scenery around them was amazing with tall trees full of vivid green leaves and flowers of every color and variety. Fresh, crisp air filled her oxygen hungry lungs and the breeze had finally descended enough to blow against her clammy skin. Yet the glistening man walking two feet from her held more than his share of Jill’s attention, barely allowing her to register nature’s bounty.

  “Let’s just say he feels comfortable pushing my buttons and for some crazy reason I let him get away with it.” The good-natured way he spoke hinted at a deep bond between the two men.

  “Sounds like you’re good friends.”

  “The best.”

  Odd that his best friend would be a man twice his age.

  “What about you?” he asked, causing Jill to steal another look in his direction.

  A tiny drop of sweat trickled down her breasts as she stared at his tanned features. “What do you mean?”

  “Tell me about your friends.” He flashed a grin. “I doubt your best friend is as ornery as JP.”

  “No. My partner on the force is my best friend.” Although things had been a bit rough right after Dan had given the “Let’s just be friends” spiel, he was still her dearest friend and she his. Too bad his latest girlfriend wasn’t overly thrilled by their continued closeness. Dan’s overtly jealous girlfriend. Just another reason she’d wanted to leave California for a while.

  “How many female officers are there in San Padres?”

  “Just one. It’s a small community. Very quiet and family oriented. A great place for raising a family.” Jeeze, she sounded like a walking ad for the San Padres Chamber of Commerce. What was she trying to do, convince him to move there?

  “Just one?” He turned toward her, his brows drawn together. “Your best friend is a man?”

  “He likes to think he is,” she teased, wondering why they’d stopped walking and why he didn’t look pleased.

  “Is he your lover?”

  She inhaled deeply and faced him. Her breath caught. His eyes swirled with a mixture of disbelief that he’d asked the question and downright male curiosity. He wanted to know and fool that she was, she wanted to tell him.

  “Not anymore. I’m not involved with anyone.” She laughed although the sound came out as fake. Her insides churned in what she’d guess had to be called feminine coyness. Rob’s blatant sexual interest reduced her to a sniveling idiot. “I wouldn’t be here if I had someone waiting on me at home.”

  “Good point.” He glanced around, almost nervously, which didn’t fit with his usual confident air. Maybe she wasn’t the only one sniveling? His stance tightened. “We should head back. Gregory will be looking for you.”

  Had she just heard a loud thump as he’d slammed those walls up between them? She sighed, free to take chances and enjoy life or not, she didn’t need to forget that there were some chances she couldn’t take. One slip up, she and Jessie would be in a whole heap of hot water.

  “Yes, you’re probably right.” But she’d really rather keep walking with Rob and ignoring the little voice warning her that spending time with Rob was riskier than facing an armed robber. “Tell me, how is it that a famous big screen producer is working on a reality television show?”

  “I’m not that famous.”

  She snickered. “Yeah right. Since when?”

  Rob chuckled. “Had you ever heard of me before you auditioned for Jane Millionaire?”

  “I remember hearing the girls talk about you when I was in college. You starred in some young romance movie that was all the rage. But I’ve never seen any of your shows. I’m not a big TV or movie person.” Sports had been her life. Watching a movie would have required sitting still too long.

  “Really?” He sent her a look of mock horror.

  “I rarely watch anything more than the late night news. Too busy working and doing volunteer work.”

  “Good thing there aren’t more people like you in the world or I’d be out of a job.” He grinned and the tension from moments before eased. “What kind of volunteer work?”

  “I teach self-defense classes to women and am involved in San Padres High School’s after school drug-prevention program, among other things. But somehow I think you already know all these things about me. They would have been listed in my bio information, right?”

  “Yes, I read about your extracurricular activities.” He grinned. “Still, I find your volunteer work interesting. Noble, even.”

  “Necessary.”

  “In quiet, family-oriented San Padres?” His tone teased. She reached out and punched his shoulder without putting any force behind the blow.

  “Even in the most serene of settings, you just never know when someone’s going to knock you off your feet.” She tossed him a challenging look, like he’d better watch out or he might find himself on the ground. Of course, that being the case, she’d be right there with him. “I’ll race you back. First one to touch the castle wins. Loser has to buy the first round at the tavern tonight.”

  “You’re on.”

  They bolted toward the castle.

  After slapping her hands against the cold stone wall of the castle, Jill doubled over with laughter and the need to catch her breath. “Who won?”

  “I did.” Laughter and breathlessness inflected his words.

  “No, you didn’t.”

  “Yes, I did.” He laughed. “But I’ll be a gentleman and spring for the first round tonight anyway. I’m a gracious winner.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I can tell. Apparently, you’re a gracious loser, too,” she teased.

  His rich chuckle warmed her insides in a way the heat from her brisk run couldn’t touch.

  “You better get inside. Gregory’s not going to like the damp hair look.”

  Her hands lifted. Oh, she bet she made a pretty picture all hot and sweaty. She looked at Rob and realized he stared at her clingy T-shirt, not that he could see much through the material and her sports bra. But it didn’t matter. Her nipples budded, straining toward him in a manner where he didn’t have to see through her clothes to know she was physically aware of him. Heat of a different kind spread through her.

  Maybe she didn’t look as bad as she’d imagined. Or maybe it was because she was the only high estrogen producing body he’d seen in over a week.

  “Uhm, I’ll see you later.” His gaze lingered a moment longer, before he waved and took off.

  Jill watched as Rob disappeared. If he’d moved that fast during their race, he really would have won.

  # # #

  Jill glanced around the tavern, eyeing a pay phone at the far end of the room. Apparently, all phones had been removed from the castle. It was unlikely she’d get another opportunity to make a call home.

  What was Jess
ie doing?

  She slid out of her barstool and smiled at the seven men sitting at the two pushed together tables. She grinned. Jane Millionaire and the seven studs.

  “Be right back.”

  Rob’s hand shot out and grasped around her wrist, stopping her departure. Zing. Zing. Zing. Electricity shot through her. “Where are you going?”

  “The ladies room.” And she’d make a detour by the phone on her way out.

  “Just give a shout if you have any problems.” JP raised his mug in salute.

  Jill smiled. She doubted JP would be able to do a thing if she had problems she couldn’t handle, but it was sweet of him to offer.

  “I’ll do that.” She winked at him, eliciting a lot of good nature ribbing from the crew. Rob watched without commenting and Jill scooted away before he saw she had duplicitous motives.

  Three minutes later, she hid behind a burly man as she charged a call to Jessie’s cell number. Ring. Ring. Ring. Come on, answer.

  Jessie’s voice mail picked up.

  “Jessie, where are you?” she mumbled into the phone. “I’m not sure when I’ll get another chance to call, but if you need anything, call Dan.”

  She hung up the phone, snuck a glance at where the crew sat. No one had noticed her. She eyed Rob for a moment, enjoying soaking up his features unawares. In his usual garb, he wore snug blue jeans and a T-shirt depicting a superhero character from a film she’d read that he directed a couple of years ago. JP had kindly provided her with an entertainment magazine that had done an unauthorized spread on Rob.

  As if sensing he was being watched, Rob scanned the room. Jill ducked back out of view.

  She needed to quit dallying and check on Jessie. She grabbed the phone back up, punched in Dan’s cell number and her pin to charge it to her home number.

  “’Lo,” Dan answered on the third ring. His voice sounded muffled. Still the familiarity of his voice felt good. She hadn’t realized she was homesick. Maybe she was just a little.