Jane Millionaire (26 page)

Words hadn’t been needed.

He’d devoured her, and she’d been his willing captive.

Of course, in round two--or had it been three?--she’d devoured him right back. A smile played on her lips. If his powerful climax had been anything to judge by, he’d been a happy camper as well.

In some ways she was glad he’d insisted upon no words and not just because of the camera.

What could be said at this point?

They were two very different people stealing a few passion-filled moments in time, a fantasy affair in a fantasy castle, nothing more. For sanity’s sake, she’d leave it at that and not ponder that had they talked this morning, she might have whispered words of love.

Which would have been totally dim-witted.

Thank goodness they hadn’t been talking because she did
not
love Rob Lancaster.

She swallowed the tasteless lump of egg in her mouth.

She didn’t love Rob. She couldn’t.

What she needed was to finish this day, go home, and be thankful no one had figured out she wasn’t the woman who’d signed up to play this part.

Which amounted to fraud.

Fraud.

She, Miss Upstanding Citizen and Dedicated Police Officer, had committed fraud. If she got discovered, she would most likely lose her job, not to mention the possibility of going to jail for thirty days. Not a pleasant prospect for a cop to be incarcerated along side criminals she’d helped put away. Life would be hell.

Might be anyway.

Jeff leaned close and whispered, “Are you okay?”

She stared at him, but didn’t speak. Maybe she still wasn’t talking? Maybe she’d never talk again. Then she wouldn’t have to choose to go on a fake honeymoon with the wrong man.

Not that Rob was the right man. He was a big shot producer. A man with money and prestige.

“Everything’s going to be alright.” He patted her hand, offering assurance. “Just wait and see.”

He was wrong, of course, but then for Jeff everything would be all right because before the day ended he’d be a hundred thousand dollars richer to go along with his new tie, Rolex, flat screen television and media center--to watch reality TV on no doubt, and, after the last round of bootees, a new luxury car. All generously provided by the show’s sponsors.

Her stomach roiled.

She took another bite, hoping the tasteless food settled her stomach.

As the morning passed, Jill jumped through all the hoops JP put forth. She smiled, spent time with each bachelor and discussed her choices with the cameras recording every move she made. She posed for
more
publicity shots. Hadn’t they done enough between all the hours prior to the bachelors’ arrival and the ones they’d done of her with them since? Apparently not. Rob stayed conspicuously hidden for a man who’d supervised all her previous photo shoots.

Despite the deep hurt in her chest, she smiled some more.

Her face ached from smiling so much.

She was so ready to have this over and be on her way to California, back to her own familiar, safe world. But even as she thought it, she knew she’d never view her world the same again.

Rob had changed how she looked at life.

At the dreaded noon hour, she, along with the four bachelors sat in a gym-sized cathedral appearing room with marble floors and tall wooden support pillars, a room where kings had once decided fates much grander than the one she’d make today.

The bachelors were seated on wooden pews, like subjects at her court. The walls were stone, but beautiful paintings of victorious battle scenes covered each one.

Shivers ran down her spine.

Surely, kings had knighted brave men in this very room once upon a time. It seemed a travesty that she, with a jewel-encrusted tiara upon her head, sat on the large, elaborately ornate throne. Under less stressful circumstances, she’d laugh her butt off at the pure hilariousness of it.

Most of the crewmembers had gathered in the back of the large room to watch as she made her choice. Rob in his fancy duds and host-with-the-most smile stood a few yards away. But he’d yet to meet her gaze. She fought the urge to make him look, make him admit that this was what he really wanted.

It had to be, since he was going along with the whole scenario.

If he cared about her, he’d stop this foolishness.

Bright lights focused on where they stood, almost blinding her with their intensity--not to mention how hot their glare was. She might just melt.

Hmm, would melting save her from an even worse public humiliation?

Regardless, the cameras were rolling and sweating wasn’t allowed today as JP had reminded her after breakfast. You’d have thought fanning herself was a major crime with the way he’d carried on. But then again, this gown was too gorgeous to sweat in anyway.

A white material that resembled pearls accented the shape of her upper body and the skirt flared out at her hips, falling in soft, pearly folds. Hints of gold laced the material. Tiffany’s had once again provided jewelry that probably outshone many a real princess’s jewels. Teardrop shaped diamonds and pearls encrusted on a heavy platinum chain draped her neck. A matching tiara graced her head.

At least she appeared her royal role even if she didn’t feel it.

She glanced at each bachelor, following JP’s instructions to the T. She listened to Rob make his speech, then began her own rehearsed spiel.

“As each of you know, I have to make a decision today. I’ve enjoyed the past month, having been given the opportunity to know each of you.” She paused, wishing her heart was into this. “But I can only chose one.”

She looked at each bachelor on the pew. Why was her pulse throbbing so fast? She fought the need to glance at the host, all decked out in his tuxedo and looking snazzier than any man should be allowed.

And lost her battle.

He looked so good in his spiffy clothes. So very good out of his clothes.

She shuddered with an onslaught of memories of what they’d been doing only hours before. With memories of how the moonlight had illuminated his tone flesh from time to time, as he’d loved her.

Another glance revealed that his dark hair was stylishly tousled; much like she’d imagined it had looked when he’d crawled into her bed. Had he been running his fingers through it? Was he as frustrated about this set-up as she was? What would he do if she said she wouldn’t choose one of the bachelors because she wanted him?

When her gaze collided with his, she knew. Knew why her heart wasn’t into anything but the man with the hot whiskey eyes staring back at her.

She could deny it all she wanted, but the truth couldn’t be suppressed. Jill Davidson loved Rob Lancaster. Forever and always. With all her heart and soul and most definitely all of her body.

She swallowed and looked away, accidentally catching Jeff’s gaze. His eyes were warm, friendly, and he genuinely smiled at her. Not an “I’m in love with you smile”, but a nice enough expression that showed he cared about her as a person.

Why? Why couldn’t she have fallen for him?

She felt totally ridiculous. The cameras were rolling. Everyone waited on her to make her great revelation. Time was ticking away. She had to say Jeff’s name. For her sake. For Jessie’s sake. For Rob’s. JP’s. Everyone’s.

Just say the words. Say Jeff’s name and be done with it.
She told herself.
It’s not like you’ll have to go on the trip
anyway. He’ll take the money. You want him to take the money.

Still unable to speak, she tilted her head to stare at Rob once more.

His eyes were unreadable from the ten feet separating them, but she doubted she would have been able to read him had he been standing directly in front of her.

Unless it was to see the message for her to forget her feelings for him and do what needed done.

“I choose--”

“Stop.” Every head in the room spun to stare at the willowy blond woman gracefully floating up the aisle toward the throne. “This woman is not who she says she is. She’s an imposter.”

Jill’s mouth fell open.

Uh-oh. Somehow this regal woman about the same age as herself, only much prettier and more feminine, had discovered the truth about her and Jessie.

Not what she was expecting her to say, but nonetheless true. Jill watched pensively as the woman stepped up to stand between her and Rob. She went on the offensive. “Who are you?”

The blond smiled with graceful elegance, but casted a nervous glance toward where the bachelors sat. “I’m Princess Isabella Jane Strovanik. The real Princess.”

Oh heck. Now what was she supposed to do?

Jill searched the crew for direction. JP had stepped closer to the front of the room, but he offered no guidance. She glanced at Rob. His face was blank, but his eyes had turned to tumultuous molten gold. Neither of the producers seemed surprised.

They’d known about this woman? That she would be here today? Why hadn’t they told her? What was going on?

“Gentlemen, it seems we have a dilemma.” Rob stepped up, seeming to have shaken whatever had caused the turmoil in his eyes earlier. With finesse and an ease that belied the possibility that the interruption hadn’t been planned, he spoke to the cameras and the bachelors. “Which one of these lovely ladies is the real princess? The gorgeous Jane who you’ve spent the last month getting to know or this majestic vision who claims she’s of true royal lineage?”

The bachelors murmured among themselves. All, but one. Jill stared at the open-mouthed Jeff. He looked as if he was seeing a ghost.

Jill frowned. Had Jane Millionaire turned into an episode of The Twilight Zone or what? She expected to hear creepy music start up any moment. Maybe Rod Serling’s voice announcing some unusual phenomena. Remembering the cameras, she forced the frown from her face and glanced around the room, looking for a clue as to what was really going on.

“It’s time. Make your choice of who you want to spend the next week with on your Caribbean ‘honeymoon’,” Rob said. For her benefit or for the cameras? She glared at him, wishing she could demand to know how he could do this to her. Why demand something she knew the answer to? He’d used her and she couldn’t even blame him. Hadn’t she practically asked for him to?

Honeymoon, he’d said. God, just hearing the word made her stomach pitch. How would she manage another week of pretending? And why should she when they’d deceived her?

Her gaze flicked back to Rob. He’d stepped closer, and she could make out the remorseful anticipation in his honey-in-sunshine eyes. Her heart thudded and her tongue stuck to the roof of her dry mouth.

She knew what her responsibilities were.

For Rob she had to do this. This was his career. Her career. Her life. Jessie’s life. So many people could be hurt if she didn’t do the right thing. She knew all these things, so why was she still hesitating?

“I choose Je--” she gulped.

“Wait one moment,” Rob interrupted, dragging out her decision. Was this planned? Or had he been unable to hear her say Jeff’s name? She wasn’t sure and waited for him to continue.

“The bachelors don’t know the new rules. Once Jane makes her choice, the chosen bachelor gets to take the proffered romantic getaway with Jane, or he can choose a cash prize of one hundred thousand dollars and walk away.”

The men’s eyes widened. Except for Jeff who had gotten over his initial shock and now looked torn between unbelieving and pissed off as if he too believed he’d been mislead in some way. The newcomer stared at him with her heart on her sleeves.

What was going on?

“Or he can opt to stay at the castle for another week with this woman claiming to be the real Princess Isabella Jane Strovanik.”

Jill’s eyes widened as well. This new woman, who might really be a princess for all she knew, had been thrown into the prize pool? And Jeff knew her? From the looks passing between the two of them, they’d known each other quite well.

She had to be having a nightmare. She’d wake up and be at home in California and the past month would only be one long, bad nightmare--except for the Rob parts. And all his parts were dreamy.

Maybe this really was The Twilight Zone in disguise as reality TV.

Chapter Sixteen

Rob’s heart lurched and lodged in his throat.

Jill was going to choose Jeff Kensington and the two would spend a fun-filled, romantic week together on a tropical paradise. One thing might lead to another…

Jealousy pricked the armor around his heart. Jill was his. He’d claimed her this morning. The other night. He’d branded her as
his
woman. Urgency to stop this disaster from unfolding stomped all over his better judgment.

She was unlike any woman he’d ever met, and he was going to lose her for a television show?

A damn reality show, at that. Why had he let JP talk him into this drivel?

After loving her this morning while the first streaks of dawn filtered into her suite, he refused to risk her falling for Kensington. Not when he was confident she had fallen for
him
. He’d felt it in her touch, in her kiss. He’d be a fool to send her on a romantic interlude with another man.

Rob Lancaster wasn’t a man known for foolishness.

Jill’s eyes were locked with his. She was more beautiful and royal than the regal woman standing between them, the real princess. Jill looked confused and unsure of how she should proceed. She also appeared more than a little ticked off. He should have told her about the real princess. He should have told her that she made him want things he’d never dreamed of wanting.