"That's not what I said. I said youshouldleave. But trust me, that's not what I want."
"Youdoknow that's another mixed, message, right?"
"I do," he said. "And you haven't heard the full favor."
"Okay, so what is it?"
"Stay," he repeated. "But stop asking questions, all right?" He paused. "And you might see things. I need you to ignore them, pretend youdon'tsee."
It was one of the oddest requests I'd ever received.
And now I didn't know what to say. As I considered his request, I studied his face long and hard.
A few years earlier, I'd gone through this whole paranormal romance phase, where most of my reading list consisted of stories where the guy had a secret life as some mythical creature or another.
For some reason, his request made me recall all of those stories. With a shaky laugh, I asked, "So what are you? A vampire or a werewolf?"
"Neither," he said. "I'm just a guy."
Nowthatwas a joke. He wasn't just a guy. He was a billionaire, a world-famous author, and the sexiest person I'd ever seen.
And, as if this weren't fantastical enough, he was also looking at me likeIwas the interesting one.
What he was asking, it was no favor – other than the one condition I'dneveragree to.
I said, "So let me get this straight. If you come back with lipstick on your collar, I'm supposed to pretend that I don't see it?"
"If you see lipstick on my collar," he said, "it'll be yours." Slowly, he shook his head. "There's no one else. And there won't be. I promise."
Desperately, I wanted to say yes. But it felt like I was giving in way too easily. Plus there was the fact that I actually enjoyed working on the book tour.
I liked meeting his fans, and I liked going places with him. And I hated the idea of getting money or credit for something that I wasn't doing.
With sudden inspiration, I said, "If I say yes, do I get a favor, too?"
"Name it," he said.
"All right. I want to keep working."
"That's no favor," he said. "Name something else."
"What are you saying? You won't let me do my job?"
"I'm saying, that's a favor forme, not for you."
I wasn't quite sure I agreed. But I didn't want to be too hasty either. I said, "Then maybe you'll owe metwofavors."
"Done."
A reluctant smile tugged at my lips. "But you don't even know what I'm gonna ask."
"It doesn't matter," he said. "Ask it, and it's yours."
It was an odd thing to consider, because Jack was one of the few people in the entire world who could probably deliver just about anything.
But at the moment, I didn’t want just anything.I wanted him.
Nowthatwould be a favor.
