Jane Millionaire

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.

She found herself gravitating more and more toward Jeff. Several of the bachelors were great guys--or seemed to be. But of her options, Jeff interested her the most. Unfortunately, he didn’t make her body throb with just a look, but that response remained limited to one man.

Rob. He’d stolen her breath during his host gig. He’d been wearing his tuxedo and no man had ever looked finer. He’d glanced at her and smiled at all the appropriate times, but his eyes had never met hers. She’d meant to say hi, to find some excuse to accidentally touch him, to see if he still sent electrical shocks with each graze of his skin against hers. But the gutless man disappeared off the set faster than she could blink.

Oh yeah, he was avoiding her all right.

She should be grateful and not think him a coward.

&

nbsp; But she wasn’t and she did.

She’d not been sorry when bachelor #3, 7, and 9 had gotten booted from the show. Although, she admitted their obvious disappointment had stung. And two more bachelors would be booted during the next show. JP had told her she’d be sliding Rolex watches onto the wrists of the remaining seven men. The only Rolexes she’d ever touched had been hot or knock-offs.

If Jeff, or even Bachelor #6, Steve, got booted, she didn’t know what she’d do. She’d really come to enjoy their company. They both sort of reminded her of Dan.

She’d been willing to settle for a passionless relationship once, why not now?

But she knew the answer.

She glanced futilely around the empty studio one last time. Where was Rob? He wasn’t in any of the main areas or the exercise room. She’d hoped to catch at least a glimpse of him today, but so far zilch.

She eyed the fancy computer equipment with all the monitors. Hmmm, maybe she could find him via the cameras stationed throughout the estate. She’d sat with Rob often enough before the bachelors arrived she should be able to figure out how to operate the system. The cameras were always on, recording. All she’d have to do is figure out how to flip through them and she would know where Rob was hiding.

“Looking for someone?” JP’s question caused her to jump just as she reached the well-worn chair where Rob often sat.

“Oh. You startled me.” Did she look as guilty as she felt?

“Not who you were expecting?” The older man’s face told her he knew exactly who she’d hoped to find in the studio. Was she that obvious about her feelings for Rob?

“I wasn’t looking for anyone in particular, but I did have a question.” Okay, she was covering and had the feeling they both knew it. She glanced at the monitors and thought fast. “There are cameras everywhere. Including my bedroom. I was wondering, just how much privacy do I have? Gregory told me there were no cameras in any of the bathrooms because of some kind of privacy act. Is that true?”

“Yes.” JP appeared amused. “Nothing that goes on in any bathroom is recorded in any form. Thank God.” He grinned. “That’s why Gregory informed you to always change in your bathroom rather than your bedroom. No free peep shows for whoever edits the film.”

“No sound?”

“Not unless you’re wearing a mike at the time.”

Oh, she’d have to remember that. Just in case.

“Planning on needing some privacy?” he teased.

“Well, a girl does need some time to herself. Besides, it’s nice to know that if I need to escape for a few hours all I have to do is take a long bubble bath.”