Authors: Janice Lynn
“I’ve already told you, I don’t believe in love.” Her eyes glowed a hypnotic green, like kryptonite. Fortunately for him, he was no super hero. His heart rate picked up anyway; throbbing so loud the booming beat probably echoed throughout the castle. Actually, his entire body throbbed, making him wonder if he should run while he could--before she sapped his ordinary male strength that was quickly succumbing to her supernatural feminine appeal.
“One bad experience and you’re shelving happily-ever-after for life?” It bothered him that he wanted to know as Rob the man, not Rob the producer. Maybe he should invest in a red cape and a bright “S” for his chest. If it would help him resist her allure, he might be tempted to wear blue spandex.
“How do you know it only happened once?” A quick shimmer of pain flashed in her eyes.
His grip on the computer mouse tightened. Just how many men had hurt her? And why the hell should he want to track down complete strangers just so he could pound their sorry faces?
And he certainly didn’t want to rehash any of his old flames. Not now, not ever. He looked at the computer screen, hoping she’d take the hint and let the subject drop.
He considered her question before answering. “I believe a man and a woman can have fun for as long as the attraction lasts. But once it’s gone, forever is a hell of a long time.”
“You say that like you’ve had a few
long
relationships.”
He didn’t turn from the computer monitor, but knew her gaze remained on him. “Only my marriage, and I doubt that classifies as
long
.”
“You’re married?” She sounded distressed, and he looked at her. She stared at his bare left hand, her face pale.
“Not in the past ten years. Mandy and I divorced when I was twenty-one.” He hadn’t regretted that decision a single time. Any bitterness he held came from how he’d given her his heart and all she’d really wanted was a free ride on his determined path to Hollywood success.
“Twenty-one? How old were you when you got married?” She leaned closer, her chair squeaking with her movement. He got a whiff of flowers, not strong, just a subtle scent that made him want to inhale deeply to fully experience her fragrance.
“Eighteen and old enough to know better.” Just like he was old enough to know better than to inhale.
Don’t inhale. Don’t inhale.
He inhaled.
The scent of roses seduced him.
“What happened?” Genuine concern and curiosity shone on her face and Rob shifted in his chair as much from his intoxicating lungful of Jane’s scent as from the conversation.
How had they gotten into a discussion about Mandy? And why was he telling Jane about her? He
never
talked about his disastrous marriage. Why bother when everyone else had already read about his biggest failure thanks to media rags such as
The Tattler
. His marriage had ended because his wife stayed busy sleeping with anyone she thought capable of advancing her career. He bit back an ironic snort. Not that she’d been doing any actual sleeping in her bed-hopping adventures. Over the past ten years, she’d periodically begged Rob to take her back. Usually when she was between husbands or her career was going a bit slow. Not once had he been tempted.
Just like during their run in the gardens, it surprised him he’d revealed so much about himself to Jane. He generally guarded his privacy with a tenacity that would frighten off the most determined.
“I’m sorry. I have no right to pry. Being a cop, I’m used to asking questions, and expecting people to answer.” She smiled apologetically, tucking a stray strand of highlighted chestnut hair behind her petite ear. “Sometimes I forget I’m not wearing my badge.”
Glad for the change of subject, he ran his gaze over her, trying to picture her in her every day life. “It’s hard for me to imagine you in a uniform chasing down bad guys.”
“Why?”
Their chairs were side-by-side. Less than two feet separated his body from hers. It wasn’t nearly enough space. Two miles might not be, not when her expression was warm, inviting and completely stole his breath.
“I see you as Jane and not a police officer,” he answered honestly. Why had he just leaned closer to her when he’d meant to shift as far away as his chair would allow?
Her eyes danced with humor. Apparently oblivious to his inner stirrings, she broke into the theme song from
Cops
.
Bad boys
was right. Rob could think of a few things he’d do if she
came
for him. Like explode deep inside her. Aw hell. Where had that come from--he grimaced at his own usage of the word. He needed to pull his mind from the gutter. His other wayward body parts, too.
“Seriously, I’ve been awarded Officer of the Year two years in a row.” Her chest puffed with pride and the hair she’d just tucked aside fell back across her face.
Still battling his lustful demons, he longed to push that strand back into place. His gaze traveled over her beautiful face, lower to the rise and fall of her chest with each breath. He glanced up and didn’t bother to hide the lust slamming through him. What would be the point when he’d been as obvious as daylight? “I can see why.”
Her previously bright smile faded. “Just what are you saying?”
Her chin jutted forward, her shoulders squared, and her glare slashed into him, which should have dampened the heat surging through him. So, why hadn’t it? He should have run when he’d realized her gaze packed kryptonite. Even the man of steel would have gotten out of Metropolis. He had to douse this flame between them. Fast. Too bad he didn’t have a red cape. Leaping tall buildings would be a breeze compared to ignoring his attraction to Jane or to intentionally hurting her. Damn, he hated this, but he’d do what needed doing.
She eyeballed him as if he was a snake that had crawled out from under the lowest rock. And even though he’d accomplished what he’d set out to do, the sinking feeling in his gut told him he’d messed up. Big time. That’s what he got for allowing his crotch to distract him. The only thing he should be worried about where Jane was concerned was ensuring this show’s success. Not anything personal. They had to avoid personal at all costs.
“I’m a damn good police officer and not because of anything I’ve done while lying on my back.” She quietly stood, pushed her chair up and walked out of the studio with her head high. Regal as a queen--er, Princess.
Remorse gnawed his insides. How had he instinctively known how to hurt her? Even worse, a part of him had believed his chauvinistic comment. He really was a lowdown, belly-crawling snake. But the women he normally dealt with used their bodies to get ahead, to accomplish what they wanted. Why should he expect Jane to be different?
Because she was different. Different from anyone he’d ever met. He liked her. Too much.
The thought of her sex with her had sent him into testosterone overload, and he’d purposely offended her. Now she’d think him a jerk and maybe the undercurrents between them would fizzle.
He grimaced and stood from his chair, not liking where he was headed. After Jane. Bad. Bad. Bad. He should let things stand as is, but he couldn’t. He owed her an apology.
Not to mention her thinking him a heel had him feeling like one in the worst kind of way. Bad boy indeed.
# # #
Jill pushed the castle door open and strolled to the garden with an outer calm she didn’t feel. Her insides bubbled with frustration and the need to escape Rob’s male arrogance.
Men! She’d thought he was different. Not that it mattered. He was totally unavailable. But, darn it, she’d wanted to believe in him.
He might see her as a woman--a desirable woman even--but he suffered from the same affliction as every other man in her life. She had to work twice as hard to get respect. So she had, and did. She’d finally earned her fellow officers’ respect. They’d voted for her because she’d deserved the honor and not because of any favors she’d given them--at least not the sexual kind. No one could accuse her of using sex.
Not even Dan. If anything, he’d done
her
a favor by their having sex. He’d probably had to clear cobwebs she’d been out of commission so long. It had been years since her previous lover. Her one and only previous lover and those few disappointing fumblings during college shouldn’t even count.
A blue bird flew over her head and landed on a flowering bush to her left. The bird tweeted a short melody. Jill sighed at her peaceful surroundings, so in contrast to the turmoil bubbling within her.
None of her fellow officers would accuse her of using her gender to advance on the force. She’d put in long hours, performed flawless investigations. Out-witted, out-maneuvered, and usually captured her quarry. How dare Rob question her integrity?
She kicked a foot-high stone container of sweet scented flowers. Along with a tiny puff of pollen, a bee buzzed from the bright yellow blooms.
“Don’t count on it.” She turned away. She didn’t want to see him. Just looking at him made her eyes water.
Water
. She did not cry. Not when her parents died. Not when Jessie had gotten involved with the wrong crowd and experimented with drugs. Not when she’d given up her athletic aspirations to take care of Jessie. Not when Dan had said he just wanted to be friends. Now certainly wasn’t the time to start.
“Jane?”
She blinked, hoping to clear the moisture. She must have stirred up more than just a little puff of pollen when she’d kicked that container cause she was
not
crying. Damn allergies.
“Look at me.”
She didn’t budge. His hand closed around her upper arm. Zing. Zing. Zing. There went those sparks again. She ought to toss him on his electrifying butt. It would serve him right.
If you kiss me and make it all better
.
Okay, so she couldn’t say that. But the intensity of his gaze made her want to, did that count? She had to get her emotions regarding Rob under control. She couldn’t afford any slip-ups that might reveal her as an imposter.
Annoyed with herself and consumed with guilt, she swiped at her eyes and faced him. “If you meant what you said.”
“About being a jerk?” His lips twitched.
She stifled the grin wanting to replace her glower. “Oh, I
know
you meant that. I was talking about the sorry for insulting me part.”
He threw back his head in laughter. Her insides fuzzed over--all nice and warm. Uh-oh. Rob Lancaster was wheedling his way beneath her protective armor. She already wanted his bod. What red-blooded woman wouldn’t? But she didn’t want to like the man quite so much. Maybe he should go back to being a jerk. For both of their sakes. Because she had a pretty good idea he wouldn’t be too happy to have his show ruined by discovering he had the wrong ‘princess’.
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and walked her back toward the castle as if all was just honky-dory. Didn’t he feel those zings?
The night of the bachelors’ arrival, Jill read over their letters in her private suite. One of the cameramen recorded her as she read out loud and pondered over her decision. Of course, she’d have to spend an evening with whichever one received the most viewer votes.
She tried to ignore the cameras recording her every movement and let thoughts of Rob fill her mind.
A shiver ran down her spine.
She couldn’t stop thinking about him. For the past week, she’d spent most of her waking time with him, JP, or Gregory. And yesterday when Rob had wrapped his arm around her…
She reached up and touched one of the tendrils hanging from the elaborate hairstyle Gregory had concocted for her debut with the men and sighed. What would Rob think about the magic Gregory had once again created?
“Oh, that was perfect,” the cameraman applauded.
Ugh. She’d forgotten he was filming. And she shouldn’t give a flying flip what Rob thought about the way she looked. She had twelve men to choose from. Surely, one of them would float her boat and make her quit pining after the producer.
She turned and smiled at the camera like a good little pretend princess should. “Wish me luck.”
# # #
Rob mingled with the newly arrived bachelors, as did JP, in the magnificent foyer at the bottom of the curved staircase. For centuries the large room had been used to host grand parties and introduce debutantes. Tonight was no exception. The air sizzled with excitement.
Along with lots of hidden video equipment, cameramen were everywhere, although most remained discreetly in the background. The entire evening would be recorded from every angle. All to catch the bachelors’ first sighting of Jane. How would they react to meeting her?