Millionaire Romance: In Love With My Personal Assistant - A Contemporary Romance (Millionaire Romance, Contemporary Romance, Comedy Romance Book 2)

by Tolhouse, Audrey

  Jennifer smiled. “I never knew you had friends like that.”

  With a chuckle, he responded, “I’m human just like anyone else.”

  “I know, but I thought men like,” she paused and frowned. “Well, I guess I thought wealthy men preferred their own kind, you know?”

  “You mean other wealthy people?”

  “Yeah,” Jennifer nodded and took another sip of the wine. She wasn’t even focused on the spectacular view of the city. Maybe if they passed the Statue of Liberty she’d glance outside.

  “There’s a little truth in that,” James commented, after mulling over the words and taking another swig from his glass. He leaned on his left arm towards Jennifer and held the glass in his hands loosely.

  “After 9/11 I kind of stepped in to help her,” he said softly. Jennifer’s eyes widened. She thought again about what Melony said, how she was widowed. Her daughter was just 13.

  “And Lydia?”

  “Still in the belly.”

  Jennifer whistled. That meant her daughter never saw her father. Pain tapped at her heart. She couldn’t imagine anything like that. She was old enough to remember that terrible day. It seemed like the world stopped and she was in high school at the time in Beloit. Still, the news affected them and everyone paused, frozen in fear and uncertainty at what the next few days would bring.

  “What about her brother?”

  James pressed his lips together. After a moment, he met Jennifer’s eyes solemnly. “He worked with her husband.”

  Without thinking, Jennifer sat her glass down and reached across the console to touch James’s hand.

  “I’m so sorry,” she breathed in a near whisper. “I’m so sorry; that must have been so hard for you.”

  James ran his eyes over Jennifer’s face. He blinked and almost chuckled. “I mean, I lost a friend, but think about her. She lost a brother and her husband. She’s been a single mother the entire time.”

  A hand covered Jennifer’s mouth. She always thought James was just a lucky man with a great life. She hadn’t know that he knew pain like others felt.

  Dropping his gaze, James sat his glass down and looked over Jennifer’s hand still covering his own. His fingers twitched beneath her palm and Jennifer withdrew it back quickly as if burned.

  “You know, nearly everyone in Summit has a story like that,” James met Jennifer’s eyes again. “Many people were lost that day.” Jennifer remained silent, unable to offer any more words of solace.

  “I was visiting Chicago at the time because I was looking to get away. I hated Summit,” he laughed, “I wanted to leave so bad.” Jennifer nodded. She understood those feelings. That’s how she felt about Beloit, Wisconsin.

  “Flights were grounded though,” she said softly.

  “I know. I ended up in Chicago for a lot longer than I originally planned,” he grinned at Jennifer. “That’s when I fell in love with the city.”

  “And Melony?”

  James looked away suddenly. “Well, she found out within the month that she was pregnant.”

  “Wow,” Jennifer sat back in her seat.

  James turned the glass of wine in his hands and took another drink with leisure. “I’ve helped her along the years,” James glanced at Jennifer. “She had the life insurance policy, so I helped her determine how she should spend that. I’ve also helped her invest and stuff to help with the future,” he paused. “I take Lydia sometimes on the weekends and during the summer to give Melony a break and be something other than a mom all the time.” Jennifer raised a brow.

  “You take Lydia?” James nodded. “How’d Katie like that?” With a grin, James chuckled. He hesitated before he answered, but Jennifer was sure she knew the answer.

  “She hated it.”

  Jennifer threw her hands into the air and looked at James again. “And you were going to propose?” James laughed suddenly. Relief spread over Jennifer, as her tone wasn’t the nicest. In fact, it seemed to hint that James was stupid for making such a choice.

  “But I didn’t,” James offered as an afterthought.

  “But you would have,” Jennifer said, awe still in her voice. She didn’t understand how a man could stay with someone who clearly wasn’t for them. Before she even finished the thought in her mind, she remembered Dick. That was a man who was definitely more interested in himself than in her, and yet she had given him two years of her life.

  “You know,” James said suddenly, “Katie wasn’t all bad.”

  Jennifer nodded. She supposed Dick wasn’t all bad either. The air began to prick with a sense of intimacy again. She met James’s gaze and wondered if she should dare to ask the question that swirled in her mind. After a moment, she decided to go for it.

  “Why did you ever date Katie?”

  James’s look down for a moment. When he met Jennifer’s eyes again, he smiled and pointed to the right of her head.

  “It’s the Statue of Liberty.”

  “What?” Jennifer glanced behind her and gasped. It sure was. The lady stood there on her perch holding up the torch while she gripped her tablet with dignity and grace. Jennifer pressed her face into the glass. They circled around it from a short distance, so wide that the woman seemed to swirl slowly in a circle. Then the helicopter moved in for a closer look. Jennifer pulled out her phone to take photos.

  “This is so amazing,” she spilled over with glee. As the helicopter turned to fly the length of Manhattan along the river, she continued to take more shots. After several more, she sat back in her chair and took in a deep breath.

  “Today has been so incredible. I mean, it started one way and…” her voice trailed. Being in New York City was definitely nothing she could have ever predicted when she woke that day. She didn’t know what the night would bring either; she just knew that she liked where it was going—she liked that a lot. Jennifer turned to James. He tapped at the screen on his phone.

  “There’s a lounge I like to go to sometimes when I come here. It’d be a great place for your friend to meet us since it’s Midtown,” he looked up from his phone and grinned. “I think it’s right up your alley.”

  Jennifer brightened with a shining smile, and glanced out the side of the helicopter. The passing skyline took her breath and she stopped to watch. Over her shoulder, James called to her.

  “You should really take a moment to watch the tour. It’s really one of a kind.”

  Will do. She brought her phone out again and planned to take videos. The tour lasted just under 40 minutes and looped from the Statue of Liberty and Governor’s Island to go north along the length of the Hudson River. The pilot turned at the George Washington bridge, giving way to a spectacular airborne view of Central Park, a lush green oasis squared perfectly in the city center.

  Her mouth fell agape at the sight of the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings. On the second pass along the length of the city, Jennifer leaned her head against the glass and closed her eyes. Everything she saw could encompass why she loved the city so much.

  There was something about the modern architecture and towering buildings that could just astound you and steal your next breath. She loved nature and the serenity it could bring, but similarly, she could also find that same peace in the city. It was probably something that made her a city girl at heart.

  James informed her when the tour was over, as they cut over the city Midtown to get to 34th street and land. It was just as smooth and almost unnoticeable as their takeoff. There were two other helicopters parked, with a handful of ground controllers wearing large headphones that covered their ears. By the time Jennifer and James left the cabin, the blades had slowed down to eliminate excess noise.

  They were ushered to a waiting vehicle, sleek, shiny and black about 20 feet away beyond the blast fence. Inside, Jennifer hummed. It was another luxury vehicle with warm, black leather seats and had what appeared to be a custom console in the middle of the back row. She wondered if it was hiding another beautiful bottle of champagne.

&nb
sp; Judging from how giddy she was getting, she made a note not to risk any more drinks. She wasn’t the type to hold her liquor well and usually maxed out at three drinks for the night. She wasn’t even sure how many she had devoured that day, but she knew it was well over three.

  “Did you contact your friend? What’s her name?” James slid into the seat from the opposite end of the car. He smiled at her as he made himself comfortable and the driver shut his door.

  Jennifer placed the briefcase and purse on the floor in front of the console. The driver rounded behind the back and shut her door on the way to the front seat.

  “Her name is Nicole,” she answered James after a pause. “Actually, I think I forgot to let her know we were on. What time is it?” Jennifer reached for her purse to get her phone.

  “It’s five till six,” Andrew answered.

  Jennifer bit her lip and swiped through the menus on her phone. She sent Nicole a quick message. Nothing fancy, just: [We’re good. I’ll see you at 7:30.]

  Jennifer lifted her head. “Where will she meet us?”

  “Tell her Upstairs, at the Kimberly Hotel.”

  “Okay,” Jennifer quickly typed the information in a text. She wondered what they were going to do for an hour in a half. “So um, where are we going now?” She asked with a timid voice; she tried to clear her throat with a small cough.

  “A rooftop lounge,” James glanced out the window casually as Jennifer’s mouth dried. He said it so easily, as if it were a commonplace occurrence. Jennifer chuckled smugly.

  “Do you blow your money like this all the time?”

  James smirked. “I don’t blow my money ever.” He paused and grinned at Jennifer. “I can’t remember the last time I took a car in to Manhattan, driving or being driven. I can’t do it.”

  Jennifer nodded. “So you fly in helicopters instead.” James nodded in reply. His grin grew wider by the second.

  “You think that’s funny?”

  “Amusing,” Jennifer replied. “So, what else do you do that I don’t know about?”

  With a smirk, James ran a hand over his left brow. “There’s quite a bit I do when I’m not working that you don’t know about.”

  “So you have a life,” Jennifer mused.

  “I should hope you have one too,” James nodded. His smile fell when he watched Jennifer’s face darken. She broke their contact and looked down, to her nails. She didn’t know why she kept looking at them. They still looked the same as they did earlier that day. Perhaps it was the glossy finish of the no-chip paint that kept teasing her eyes for another look. She ran a thumb over one of her fingernails. Slick and sleek, just as she imagined chrome would be.

  “I used to race my car,” Jennifer offered softly. James nodded.

  “That I wouldn’t have pegged you for.”

  “A racer?”

  “Yeah,” James looked over Jennifer casually. “You raced for money?”

  “Do you race for anything else?”

  “Always the smart ass,” James grinned. “I own a vineyard in Virginia. I go there sometimes to help harvest.” He laughed. “Well, I don’t really harvest. I go there to drink the wine.” He and Jennifer chortled together. Their eyes lingered on the other’s. If there was one thing the both of them loved, it was drinking wine. They had done a lot of that over the past five years. In fact, it James’s fault Jennifer came to crave the taste of finer wines, aged and blended to perfection. He didn’t do cheap wines, so she learned to raise her standards—but like it was very hard.

  “Looks like we’re here,” James breathed softly, looking past Jennifer’s head through the window. She gripped her purse and looked outside.

  “Wow.”

  “Wait until you see your room.”

  “I thought we were going to a lounge,” Jennifer began.

  “We are. Upstairs is located on the roof,” James smirked as Jennifer’s mouth fell open again.

  Chapter Thirteen

  All Is Fair in Love and…Lust

  Yet James didn’t want her to check out her room just yet. They entered the hotel and 15 minutes later, they were on an elevator to push their way to the upscale lounge resting 30 stories above Manhattan.

  It had a dark, romantic décor to the atmosphere and screamed a place for lush and wealthy individuals to mix and bond over lowered inhibitions, soft music, and a breathtaking backdrop. Jennifer had lost the count, but her breath was gone, again, and she took in the incredible sight with an open mouth.

  James gave her a moment, walking behind her leisurely as she toured the three different seating areas. They chose an outside lounge. In the distance, the Chrysler building towered, its incredible lights starting to glow confidently against the darkening skyline as the natural light slowly bled from the sky.

  At a railing, Jennifer glanced over the side, and then around her at the looming skyscrapers. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath in. If she didn’t know any better, she might have believed she were back in Chicago at the Terrance, minus the smell of Asian cuisine sizzling in the background.

  Attending the auction within the Yankee Stadium was something incredible. It had only been a fine taste of the luxuries James basked in, though. He had never shown her anything like this. She couldn’t help but wonder why now? This couldn’t all be about business and killing time.

  Jennifer opened her eyes and turned around, expecting to see James watching her coyly. Instead, there was no one there, just other patrons enjoying the black leather armchairs. She cleared her throat and looked around again.

  Inside the lounge, she saw James heading towards her with two drinks in his hand. He stepped outside to join her on the terrace and nodded towards her, raising a cup majestically in her honor.

  As he neared, he extended the crystal glass to her. Jennifer took it in her hands carefully and turned it about. It was definitely a cocktail, but nothing like she had ever seen.

  “Are you going to try it?” James asked. He sipped on his and savored the taste.

  “You realize I’ve had more alcohol on this trip with you than,” she paused, “Well, I’ve had a lot.”

  James grinned at her. “It’s still not more than that night I had to come pick you up,” he teased. Jennifer’s face fell flat and she wrinkled her nose.

  “I’m pretty sure we agreed not to talk about that night,” she said softly with furrowed brows.

  With a lighthearted shrug, James took a deep breath and stood tall. “It’s been three years, good enough,” he took another swig from his glass. “What happened then anyway?”

  Jennifer rolled her eyes and looked away. “I’m pretty sure I’d just been dumped.”

  James scoffed. “What jerk would dump you?”

  Turning, Jennifer looked over James and felt something prickle the surface of his skin along her neck. It traveled from the base of her spine and up towards her shoulders. Swallowing, she pressed her lips together and remained silent. James shrugged again and took another drink.

  “I don’t always drink like this, I promise. But this is a signature mix exclusive to this lounge,” he gestured to her glass. “It’s called The Chrysler,” he grinned devilishly.

  Jennifer lifted the glass to her lips and took a tiny sip. Her eyes budged with the flavor, a perfect blend of honey, lemon, and other citrus she couldn’t place over the champagne bubbles. James smiled and nodded.

  “This can be your last drink if you want,” James offered.

  Hesitantly, Jennifer went for another taste. It was longer and deeper. It didn’t sting or burn, but slid, and it fell, molding against her insides and meshing into all the right parts. Her fingers felt loose and her body tingled with heat.

  “Do you want to order something? I’m really hungry,” James pointed to a set of chairs as he spoke. Jennifer didn’t notice her own growling stomach, but she agreed they could have a snack.

  “They only serve small dishes,” James informed her as he took a seat and crossed a leg man-style. His ankle rested on his kn
ee.

  Jennifer tried to just glance at him, but as she shadows fell from the smoldering sky, they hit the features of his face in a splendid way. He was absolutely gorgeous. James finished his drink with another sip and turned to Jennifer, his expression changed as their eyes met.

  “You’re staring at me,” he said softly.

  Jennifer shook her head. “No, I’m not—I wasn’t. No.”

  James chuckled. “Okay. Well, you were looking at me for a really long time.”

  Blinking, Jennifer nodded. “Maybe, a little bit,” she sighed suddenly. “I feel like I don’t even know you.”

  “What?” James laughed. “Of course you know me.”

  “No,” Jennifer’s headshake grew stronger. She gestured around them and then tried to form words, but couldn’t.

  “You mean all the things you didn’t know about me?” James asked. Jennifer shrugged.

  “Yeah. Maybe,” she sat her drink down in front of her. “I mean, I’ve just worked for you and I feel like you’ve had this double life, sneaking off to Jersey to help youth with sports—”

  “I haven’t done that in years. I just set up the scholarship,” James interjected. “Still,” James swallowed, “there’s quite a bit that I don’t know about you,” he countered. “I didn’t know you raced. And where are you from? Have you always lived in the city?”

  She shook her head. “No, I’m from Beloit, Wisconsin. It’s on the border between Illinois. I moved like you. As soon as I was able.”

  James nodded, and then grew serious. “Why haven’t you seen your friend in so long?”

  The question startled Jennifer and she began to stutter. “Well, I. You know, she and I,” Jennifer cleared her throat with a forced cough. She didn’t readily try to spit out an answer afterwards, instead, she just considered the question silently. She could have blamed it on the money, but the truth is, she had the money. She had the time. She just didn’t because she chose to work instead.