~*~
Lex studied Jillian’s expression and waited.When he’d ordered the lingerie set, his goal was to spice up things outside the bedroom.The panic in her eyes after he’d told her that he adored her said he had a long way to go to gain her trust.If she said she didn’t want him having that much control over her, he’d give her the remote.
“Are you planning on using it now?”she asked, sounding worried.
“No.Later.Or not.The fun is not knowing when or where.”
Her eyes lit up.“You’re so bad.”
He chuckled and pocketed the remote.That was one of the things he adored about her.She was adventurous, just like him.Maybe things between them would turn out right.In the meantime, he planned to win her heart, starting with fixing the mess with her father.Lex stood and offered her his hand.
“Mona has a few papers for you to sign.Then we’re on to the next stop.”
“What papers?”
“Accounts.Yesterday while you were resting, I made a few calls and set up accounts under your name at several stores.All you have to do is sign the papers.Tomorrow, we’ll need to stop by the bank to finalize the main account.What is it?”he asked when she stopped walking.She was frowning.
“Is this really necessary?”she said, sounding unsure.
“Yes, Jillian.Everything will be fine.We’ll pull this off.”
“How long before the guy from Japan comes to visit?”
“Three weeks.We’ll be married by then.”So much had happened in the last two weeks he’d almost forgotten the real reason he’d hired her.Actually, not forgotten.He’d chosen to push it aside as they explored the more pleasurable side of their relationship.“Come on, let’s get this over with.I have plans for lunch.”
She shot him a suspicious look.“What?”
“You’ll love it.I promise.”
“That’s what I’m worried about,” she murmured, her eyes going to his pocket where he’d put the remote control.
He grinned.Jillian was signing the final papers inside the front office when Mona looked up and whispered, “Mr.Manos is here.”
Lex spied Dom standing outside the store like someone about to rob the place.As usual, Dom was dressed in his trademark black clothes—jeans, shirt, and a trench coat, including aviator sunglasses.His shoulder-length hair wasn’t in its usual ponytail.
Most guys would have knocked on the glass door and asked for entrance.Dom expected his presence to speak for itself.The man liked to yank people’s chain and deliberately make them dislike him.Even in college, he’d gone out of his way to be a pain-in-the ass.Good thing Lex saw through the bullshit.The two of them were even tighter than Dom was with Sloan, which said a lot because they’d known each other in high school.
“Excuse me,” Lex said and went to let Dom in.They clasped hands, bumped shoulders in a manly hug, and stepped back.“What’s going on?”
Dom scowled.“I heard you were about to get hitched and had to see the woman before the others.They’ll hate that.”
Lex didn’t buy it.Dom never cared about competing with the other guys in their organization despite his humble beginnings.He’d had a nightmare of a childhood, but had risen above it.First was his stellar career as an “engineer” with the CIA, and then the proud owner of an oil company.He was the one who’d introduced Douglas to Lex.
“How the hell did you know?”Lex asked.“I barely told…” Lex looked toward the store.“Deidre.”
“She called Sloan.And since I was at his place… So where’s the little lady?”
“Inside.”Lex glanced at the huge truck parked behind his Rolls.
Dom followed his eyes and smirked.“Makes that foreign shit look pathetic, doesn’t she?”
Lex chuckled.The man had a sick sense of humor.“You know what they say about men driving big-ass trucks.”
“Screw you, Fitz,” Dom said and walked ahead of him.Lex followed, noting the manila envelope tucked under his arm.
“Is that envelope for me?”
“Sloan wants Deidre to sign some papers, but as usual she’s being difficult.Why am I the go-to guy whenever he has to deal with her?”
