She nodded, uncertainty entering her eyes.He wasn’t sure whether the cause was the agreement they were about to enter or the fact that he could have kissed her and had chosen not to.Either way, he needed to give her space to get used to the idea of the two of them as a couple.
“I’m going to be gone most of next week, but I should be back in town by Friday.”Lex walked to his desk.Instead of just retrieving the folder with the contract and the duffel bag with the money, he sat behind the desk and indicated the chair across from his.
Jillian stood, and he took a moment to study her as she walked toward him.She had a sense of style and looked good in whatever she wore, but he couldn’t wait to drape her in the latest fashion from the finest designers.His family didn’t care about such things, but his friends and business associates were a different breed of people.Wives and girlfriends could be catty.He didn’t want Jillian subjected to ridicule.
“We should have dinner on Friday,” he suggested, handing her the contract and a pen.
She glanced at it then him and frowned.“We might be in Vancouver filming.”
“Then I’ll fly in.”
Without hesitation, she scribbled her signature.He liked that she wasn’t reneging on their deal despite her doubts.It made him respect her even more.
“I have various phone numbers you could use to reach me, starting with my private cell phone number.”He pulled out a card and scribbled his private cell number, which only his family had, the direct line to his office, the penthouse, and the mansion.The last number was Douglas’.He handed the card to her.“Mrs.Sandoval, the housekeeper, is always here to answer the phone.My assistant, Paula, is in charge at the office, but she’ll always patch you in to me.And Douglas is at your disposal whenever you need him, starting now.”
She studied the card, removed a cell phone from her clutch, and punched the numbers in.“Where do you live?”
“I divide my time between the penthouse at Dublin Building and here.”She was biting her lower lip again, an action he now realized was a sign of nervousness.The need to connect with her and reassure her had him standing and walking around the desk.He lifted her chin and studied her face.“What is it?”
“I thought I was prepared for this.”
He stroked her cheek.“Me too, but now that it’s a done deal, it’s a bit surreal.”
She peered at him.“You’re nervous, too?”
Not in the least.He was looking forward to knowing her.Not just who she was, but intimately.When he exchanged vows with her, they would be real.When he made love to her, he would do it with one intention, to brand her so when she left his bed she would never want another man again.
“Would it make you feel less uncertain?”he asked.
She sighed and rolled her eyes.“Will you ever give me a straight answer?”
He chuckled.“Always.No, sweetheart.I’m not nervous.I’m looking forward to our association.I’m also confident that once you think of all the benefits of this arrangement, you’ll be happy with your decision.Then there’s the money.You’ll be a rich woman by the end of the year.”
Her stoic expression said the money wasn’t a big deal for her.He reached down and plucked the duffel bag from the floor.
“And there’s this.As per your request”—he unzipped the bag and poured the bundled, crisp bills on the desk—“three hundred and fifty thousand upon signing the contract.”
Jillian’s eyes widened.She looked at the money, at him, and then the money again.She didn’t seem eager to count every bill and confirm it was all there.In fact, she cringed, which didn’t make sense.She’d asked for the money.
“You… I, uh, can’t take that,” she said, her hands nervously smoothing her dress.She glanced at him and must have seen his confusion because she added, “I mean, I can’t lug around that amount of money or keep it in my house.”She laughed nervously.“I’d never sleep.”
Lex frowned.“But you asked for it.”
“I know.I just can’t have it with me.”
He hadn’t wanted to ask, but he’d been curious.If she’d asked for a check, he would have just assumed she planned to pay off her mortgage or something.But cash could mean she was into different things, none of them good.“What is it for?”
Jillian shook her head, confidence sipping back into her and straightening her spine.Her chin went up.“It’s personal.Can you keep it until I need it?”
“Of course.When you’re ready, just call Douglas and he’ll drop it off at your place.”
Relief flashed in her eyes.“That would be nice.”
“You sure you don’t want to count it?”he teased.
She winced again.“No.I trust you.Can you put it away now?”
Again, her reaction was bizarre.Maybe she felt guilty about asking for it.He picked up several bundles when muffled sounds came from the hallway behind the door.The next second, the knob turned and his mother’s voice reached them.
