Authors: Janice Lynn
Why had he insisted upon tagging along on her date with Jeff? Most of the time he stayed hidden in the studio. Which eased her mind tremendously in regards to fear of being found out. Too bad her heart was breaking in the process.
Sending him a quick frown, she turned her attention back to Jeff. “Well, I thought your letter was endearing and apparently a lot of other women did, too.”
Jeff cast a confused look toward Rob, then offered his hand to her. “Let me help you sit down.”
Jill took his hand and lowered onto the rough, thick blanket. You’d think the crew could have found a more comfortable blanket. The material almost felt like wool beneath her palm. Thank goodness she’d worn slacks rather than a skirt like Gregory had tried to talk her into. Otherwise she’d have had to cut the picnic short from itching to death.
“What can I do to help?” she asked, resisting a peek in Rob’s direction. She refused to acknowledge his presence again even if her body seemed unable to focus on anything but his near proximity.
“Nothing. Just sit there and look beautiful.”
Jill felt like an even bigger fraud at his words. Look beautiful. Funny how she’d never felt that way until she’d crossed an ocean and had men compete for her affections.
Jeff pulled out containers of assorted cheeses, a bottle of wine, and two goblets. Delicious aromas filtered from the basket. “May I?” he asked after uncorking the bottle.
“Please.” She lifted one of the goblets and allowed him to pour her glass three-fourths full of the sparkly red liquid, then waited as he filled his own. “Allow me to make a toast?”
“To new friendships that last a lifetime.”
Jeff raised his glass.
“And to ratings that soar.” Oops. Why had she added that out loud? Grimacing, she met Jeff’s blue gaze and was relieved when he merely shrugged and clinked his glass to hers.
“To friendships.” The corners of his mouth curved upward as he winked. “And to soaring ratings.”
Jill took a slow sip of her wine, enjoying the woodsy flavor that remained on her palate. “This is good.”
Jeff grinned. “Wish I could take credit, but I’m told it comes from one of the many vineyards in this beautiful country. Seems this place has all kinds of hidden treasures.”
“Really? It’s delicious.” And it was, although she admittedly wasn’t an expert of any kind. “So, tell me, Jeff. Why did you decide to come on a reality television show and let the world in on your every move?”
“You tell me.” She popped the lid off the cheese and eyed its contents, hoping the microphone wouldn’t pick up the rumble of her stomach.
“I’ve devoted most of my adult life to mission work and there isn’t an over abundance of eligible women around. I came here hoping to fall in love with a woman who could share my dream.”
Jill almost dropped the container, which would have been a shame. Food should never go to waste. But Jeff’s admission had startled her. He’d come on this show hoping to meet the woman of his dreams. He’d probably been sorely disappointed in the show’s choice of her. Well, of Jessie. Damn, she’d have loved for her sister to meet and fall in love with a man like Jeff. For that matter, falling for him herself wouldn’t have been a bad thing.
“You know, when I agreed to come on this show, I really wasn’t expecting to meet someone like you.”
Yeah, she’d just figured that out on her own.
“Oh?” She asked, once again eyeing the cheese and wondering how many chunks of cheese she could take out without looking like a pig. Three? Four? Should she push it and take five? She took five. They were only small wedges, after all. And who knew what all else he had stuffed in that basket?
She mentally scolded herself for obsessing over cheese when Jeff was having a serious conversation with her. If only she could have fallen for him.
Jeff laughed, a soft self-deprecating sound. “You’ll think me a tad foolish, but I actually thought I’d met you before.”
“Really?” Jill’s eyes widened as she stuffed a piece of the cheese in her mouth. Yum, this was the same smoky flavored cheese she’d made her sandwich with. “We’ve never met that I recall. Until this trip I’d never traveled outside of California.”
“As I said, it was foolish to even think I’d ever met a real princess, much less,” he stopped, shrugged, and grinned. “Well, I’d met a woman a year ago from this country and her name was similar. My imagination played tricks on me.”
“I hope you weren’t too disappointed when you saw me.”
He took her hand in his and squeezed it reassuringly. “Jane, a man really would be foolish if he were disappointed with meeting you.”
With wonder, Jill stared into Jeff’s intent blue eyes. Maybe she’d only imagined that his kiss had been brotherly? Maybe she should—
“Hard to do when you keep interrupting,” one of the cameramen mumbled under his breath, but Jill heard and had to stifle a smile. Had Rob heard him as well?
She met his eyes and heat scoured her insides.
No need to keep wondering. Jeff’s kiss had been brotherly, would remain brotherly, and she had the feeling only one man’s kiss would ever fill her with passion.
And he’d ordered her to kiss another man.
She turned back to Jeff and changed the subject from their previous conversation. “JP told me you went to the daycare today. How did it go?”
Jeff glanced back and forth between her and Rob, but didn’t comment or ask the questions she saw in his gaze. “It was a riot. Those little scrappers practically had Bachelor #11 tied up before I could rescue him.”
“Tell me more. The idea of all you hunky guys teaching a day of preschool fascinates me.” Why couldn’t she forget that Rob’s gaze bore into her? Why didn’t he go do something else? This was difficult enough without him scrutinizing her every move.
“Well, I think we probably gave a good imitation of comic relief today.” Jeff pulled their food out and mouthwatering spicy aromas filled the air. Man, she was hungry. How long had it been since lunch? If you could call that measly meal Bachelor #2 had served her lunch.
“Yep, but that’s not all.” Jeff launched into more tales of his adventures at the daycare. Jill laughed so hard her stomach hurt. Which seemed appropriate as her chest ached from longing to picnic with Rob. To lie on this itchy blanket and spend hours talking with him. Then hours making love with him.
Her breath caught at the image of her and Rob tangled together under the moonlight sans cameras and crew.
She snuck a glance and caught a deep scowl on his face. There would be no moonlight picnics between she and Rob in her future.
With a heartfelt sadness, she faced Jeff, listening to his tales. She laughed again, although the sound came out a tad high pitched.
Chapter Ten
God had sent Jane to torture him. That had to be the explanation for why she kept sneaking glances at him.
Of course, one might argue that he deserved his current state of torment since he’d booted JP and insisted upon supervising the filming of Jeff and Jane’s date.
What had he been thinking?
That the crew would hear him this time if he yelled cut?
And there for a few seconds he’d almost expected Jane to lean over and kiss Dr. Doolittle. He’d seen the curiosity in her eyes.
Cause they’d definitely missed something while the man had Rob’s attention. Jane now leaned forward and brushed her napkin at the corner of Kensington’s mouth.
“Thanks. I brought strawberries and chocolate syrup for dessert.” He pulled out two more containers from the basket. Rob frowned. How had he gotten all that stuff into that basket? Next thing you know, he’d be pulling out a violinist for mood music.
On cue, the sound of crickets chirping filled the air.
Well, hell. Even Mother Nature wanted these two together.
He turned to the cameraman. “I’ve changed my mind. I’ll be in my suite, as I’m not needed here. Just carry on without me however you see fit.”
“What do you think about Kensington’s date?” JP asked the elegant blonde who appeared much as a bird trapped in a cage. Why she had insisted on staying at the castle when it meant not leaving the west wing he’d never understand. Only on a few occasions had she left the castle and then only for short periods of time.
Well, maybe he did now that he’d started putting pieces of the puzzle together.
“I do not think about it one way or the other.”
She lied. He’d made a point to show up during the date just to catch her reaction to Jane and Kensington. That’s why he’d let Rob talk him into accompanying the couple in the first place. Otherwise, he’d never have willingly let Rob go on that outing.
“You’re the woman Kensington met in Central America, aren’t you?”
Her gaze lifted. “Why would you ask?”
“Because it’s the only thing that makes any sense.” JP shrugged. “You know the network had to donate a hefty sum to his mission work to convince him to agree to come on this show? Then someone let your name slip and the report is he started packing his bags quicker than you can say undercover princess.”
“He did this?” Her eyes glimmered with interest.
Oh yeah, she’d been playing clandestine princess long before Jane Millionaire came on the scene.
“Yes.” JP twirled his cigar, wishing he could light the Cuban and take a deep puff. Isabella would have a fit if she knew he’d had more than one puff in his suite and again on the rare occasion in the studio. Still, what the princess didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her. “Why do you think hearing about Princess Isabella Jane Strovanik would put the good doctor into a tail spin?”
“Perhaps he is a man who is excited at the prospect of spending time with royalty.” But she gave herself away by uncharacteristically clenching her hands.
“Or maybe he thought Izzy Strover, who just happened to be from the same small European country, was really an undercover princess?”
Her distressed gaze lifted to his.
“You truly believe he came expecting to find me?” She shook her head and walked across the room. “Why would he think that? I have not seen or spoken to Jeff in over a year.”
Did she realize what she was admitting?
“Too much time has past since I volunteered incognito at the clinic he operates in Central America.”
“Obviously he made an impression on you that withstood however much time has passed. Why shouldn’t you have made just as lasting an impression?”
She visibly considered his suggestion.
“Perhaps if my father had not fallen ill.” Her eyes closed and she took a deep breath before continuing. “Perhaps had he not passed on to his creator, things could have been different. However, King George has died and I have obligations to meet. Whether or not, Jeff came here looking for a woman he thought he knew is of no matter. That woman was as much a fraud as the one he currently dines with.” She sighed, staring at the couple on the screen. “I should not have summoned him into this deception I have created within my home.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I think it does matter. A great deal.” JP stuck the cigar back into his shirt pocket and leaned forward. “Why don’t you tell me all about it?”
# # #
Four days had passed since Jill’s date with Jeff. Four days in which she’d spent almost all her waking time with the bachelors and had barely seen Rob.
Was he hiding from her?
She truly believed he was, which she should be grateful for. So why was she currently in the studio hoping to at least see him for a few minutes? Torture though it was to be so close and yet so far away.
From the night of her date with Jeff, Rob had accompanied the remaining bachelors as they worked their shift at a local daycare. Meanwhile, Jill spent one-on-one time with whoever remained at the castle. JP had told her that they’d arranged for three men to teach twenty three-year-olds for four hours each and were capturing it on film--all in the name of finding out what kind of fathers the bachelors might make. The children had been hired to create as much havoc as possible for each group--and from all reports they had. No wonder she’d cracked up when Jeff had recounted some of the kids’ stunts from their daycare experience.