“Tell him the truth and ask him to hire the troupe for a few gigs.Corporations hire troupes all the time for their employees.His friends can do it, too.Your brothers can charge whatever they want per event.They can sign for several events in the coming year and pay up front.Your father saves face and no one knows the truth except the two of you.”
Jillian followed his eyes to where Lex was talking to Barbs and her husband.Warmth unfurled deep inside her.His back was to them, and she found herself following his broad shoulders, remembering biting him there.He was back in his leather jacket and scruffy boots, worn-out jeans hugging his powerful thighs.The warmth in her belly became molten heat and shot straight to the throbbing sensation between her legs.
Focus, Jillian.It was just sex.Maybe the best you’ve ever had, but sex nevertheless.
Chris’ idea was brilliant, but would Lex go for it?She hoped so.He ran a huge corporation with hundreds of workers who wouldn’t mind the best circus performance this side of the Rockies.The best part was her father would not feel like a charity case.
Lex looked over his shoulder and straight at her.The wraparound sunglasses blocked his eyes, but she felt their effect down to her core.It was as though he was touching her with his eyes.She couldn’t look away.
A bolt of arousal rippled through her, causing her stomach to tighten and her nipples to pucker.Of course, with all the padding she had on for her next scene, she alone was privy to her traitorous response.His lips lifted in a sexy, half smile.He knew.
Some men drew attention by the sensuality of their smiles.Others let the wicked twinkle in their eyes speak for them.Lex’s sheer magnificent presence was the first lure.The roguish smile came later.Even now Jillian wasn’t the only female on the set watching him.Watching and lusting.It didn’t matter what he wore.He exuded a potent sensuality women couldn’t ignore.
Chris blocked Jillian’s line of vision and peered into her eyes.She’d completely forgotten his presence.What had they been discussing?Oh, yeah, her father’s financial woes.
“Why are you looking at me like that?It’s a brilliant idea.”
“I’m going to say it again.Be careful with him.”He frowned.“Powerful men like him get away with a lot.”
She watched Chris walk away, then glanced at Lex.He was getting the grand tour from Michaels, Barbs’ husband.Jillian’s eyes followed them to the storyboard.Lex glanced her way again, and she imagined his eyes flashing with heat.
He would never hurt her.She’d have to give him the power to do that.That could only happen if she allowed herself to be vulnerable.If she dropped her guard and fell in love with him.She had no intention of doing that.Theirs was a sexual attraction.She would enjoy the ride, then walk away with her heart intact.
Jillian frowned when she noticed the odd behavior of the females around the set.Some had found a reason to do things or talk to others near his vicinity.
What the hell was their problem?They’d never seen a hot guy before, or was it his pockets that had them acting like vultures?Shameless bitches!Lex was hers.Temporarily, but still hers.Hadn’t she arrived in his chopper this morning?And wasn’t he here for their lunch date?
Jillian was about to cross the set to claim him in front of everyone when she remembered she was wearing the ugly wig and the clown makeup from their first meeting.He hated both.Not a morale booster.On top of that, she had on a padded suit for her jump.
“Does he have a brother?Please tell me he has one, or a distant cousin who looks just like him.”
Shay.Jillian turned and hugged the actress.Shay hadn’t been at the set since the night of the party at Mrs.Fitzgerald’s.Jillian didn’t have a copy of the script and wasn’t sure whether Shay was done with her scenes or not.In this business, sudden disappearance usually meant your character had been written off.
“Where have you been?”Jillian asked.
“Filming a sitcom.I don’t have a big part here, so I only come in for my scenes.So, you and the billionaire have started your rounds in the tabloids.”She made a face, green eyes twinkling.“Sorry I played a part in that, but I didn’t like the things”—she glanced around for eavesdroppers and whispered—“the Wicked Witch of the West was saying.The pool incident aside, you upstaged her that evening.”
Shay had made it obvious from day one she wasn’t on Team Margo, but Jillian had no idea her feelings were this strong.“As long as I continue being the mystery woman, I’m okay.”
“Oh, honey.”Shay laughed out loud, drawing the attention of the people around the set, including Lex.“You can’t escape the paparazzi forever.This morning’s paper proves that.”She glanced at the group around Lex.“I like how he looks over here every few minutes as though checking on you.You need to tell me your secret, because he’s smitten.”
Jillian smiled, but her heart wasn’t in it.“This morning’s paper?”
She took Jillian’s arm.“Chris is signaling you.”
“What paper, Shay?”
“One of the tabloids.The National Observer.Haven’t you seen it?One had a picture of the two of you at the airport, kissing.From the looks of things, you picked him up last night.Another showed you driving away, but the last one...”Shay fanned her face.“You must have pulled up on the side of the road to make out because you were steaming up the windows.”
Jillian’s face burned.Her stomach had dropped to the bottom of her shoes, and now it churned.The stares from people around the set had nothing to do with her arrival this morning.But pictures of her in some stupid magazine, having an orgasm by the roadside...She wanted to crawl somewhere and never show her face again.
She glanced across the set at Lex, wondering if he knew.The only person who’d known she’d gone to pick him up was Douglas.After Lex’s speech on loyalty, Jillian doubted he’d called the paparazzi.Now that her name and her association with Lex were out in the open, her feud with Margo could take on a new meaning.
Jillian focused on Shay, who was waving at another actress.“You, uh, don’t happen to have a copy, do you?”
“No, but there are few around the set.”
Chris appeared beside them.“Excuse us, Shay,” he said, then cupped Jillian’s elbow.“It’s time for your scene.”
