“What?”
“I’m imagining, uh, the chopper hovering behind me all the way to the studio and the mess that might cause on the highway.You cannot put me through that, Lex.I’m riding Rod and that’s that.”
She named her bike?“We’ll have to compromise on that then.At times you ride and at times you don’t, depending on our evening plans or morning ones.”He could keep her in bed just a little longer to get his way.
“We’ll see,” she mumbled.Then as though she’d read his mind, she tapped the contract.“Are you sure you can go without sex for a year?Because if I’m flying solo, you sure as hell must fly solo.”
He choked on his coffee and took a moment to wipe his lips.Fly solo?Was she saying she would be pleasuring herself in the bedroom next to his?From the grin on her face, she’d deliberately worded that last sentence to get his reaction.
He could be celibate, but he didn’t intend to.He’d give them a week, two at most.Or he might just make her wait until their wedding night.“Yes, Jillian.I can be celibate.”
She sat back and tapped the pen against her lips while studying him quizzically.“Okay.This is going to be an adventure, I think.I just need to add my demands and we’re good.”
His phone buzzed.He checked the screen and saw Douglas’ name.
“I need to take this.Excuse me,” Lex said and stood.“Oh, you need a lawyer to take a look at the final draft before you sign it.”
She nodded.“Greg will.He has a law degree.”She went back to scribbling on the paper.Watching her, Lex grinned.He couldn’t wait to see what she was adding to his list.
He left the room and headed to the bar.Douglas was talking to a familiar sandy-haired man and nursing a drink.Likely club soda.Drinking on the job had destroyed his military career, but he’d been sober for six years.
“We should be ready to leave in five-ten minutes,” Lex said, joining Douglas.
“I’ll bring the car around, sir.”Douglas drained his drink and left the bar.
Lex waited until he was gone before he turned his attention to the sandy-haired man—Greg Underwood’s partner.Lex had also seen his pictures in the agent’s office.He’d been at Perris Valley Skydiving Field with Jillian, too.
“Hank, the usual,” Lex told the bartender.The bar was nearly empty except for him, the bartender, and Greg’s partner.
Lex didn’t wait long before the man faced him.He neither cracked a smile nor offered a hand in greeting before saying, “Alexander Fitzgerald?I’m Chris Lander.”
“I expected Underwood to be lying in wait for me, not his partner.”
“I sent him home because you and I need to talk alone.”
Lex cocked his eyebrows.“About?”
“Jillian.”
The bartender placed a finger of amber liquid in front of Lex.“Thank you.”Lex sipped the drink and savored its silky taste as he debated how to deal with the situation.According to Greg Underwood, Jillian worked exclusively with this guy.
“Mr.Lander, I’m aware that you work with Jillian, but I explained to Underwood that she won’t need your expertise while working for me.”
Chris’ eyes narrowed.“Greg told me the same thing, but this is not about me.This is about you.Why do you need a bodyguard when you have an ex-CIA employee?”
Douglas must have talked.Strange, he rarely discussed his career with the CIA.“One can never have enough bodyguards, Mr.Lander.”
“In other words, this bodyguard business with Jillian is a sham.What concerns me the most is you only met her this afternoon, yet you’re ready to sign a contract binding her to you.”
“I think you’ve been misinformed,” Lex said, eyeing the man with annoyance.“She will finish her present contract.”
“But afterwards—”
“Mr.Lander,” Lex said firmly.“I don’t owe you an explanation, and Jillian is a grown woman.If she chooses to work for me or someone else, it’s her decision.No one is forcing her.Frankly, it’s none of your business what she does when not working with you.”
Lander moved closer.“That’s where you’re wrong, Mr.Fitzgerald.I’m her uncle, and her father put her in my care when she came to Hollywood.Her cocky, tough exterior hides a vulnerability ruthless people might exploit.So if this is some elaborate game you’re playing, stop now before you hurt her.”His voice lowered.“Because if that happens, you won’t be able to hide behind your lawyers or country club buddies, Mr.Fitzgerald.I’ll come after you.I’m a special effects guy, and there are things I could do to make your life miserable and you’d not prove it was me responsible.Then there are her brothers.They’re the meanest bastards you’ve ever met, and they don’t take kindly to anyone messing with their only sister.Consider yourself warned.”Then he turned and walked away.
Lex watched the man, his mind racing.He drained his drink and placed the glass on the bar.Without making eye contact with the bartender, he went back to find Jillian.She’d never mentioned siblings.
