Their original agreement. One night, then they moved on with the show.
“Okay.” Even if she’d tried, she couldn’t have hidden the hurt in her voice.
“Jil-Jane,” he corrected, looking uncomfortable.
When he insisted upon calling her by her show name, she knew he was once again throwing barriers between them. She’d lost him. No, she hadn’t ever had him to lose. He’d given her exactly what he’d agreed to, and she had to live with that.
And she would. Honor demanded it.
“Don’t say it. I don’t need a reminder that you’re a one-night stand man. As I told you when I came in here, I’m okay with that. I’ll stick to my end of the deal. I’ll choose one of the bachelors and continue with this crazy show. But know this.” She leaned forward and brushed her lips across his with a light, feathery touch. “That door,” she motioned to the one separating their rooms. “Won’t be locked on my side. I’m not looking for marriage or long-term commitment from you, but I do want you and freely admit to wanting a repeat of what we just shared. The choice is yours.”
With that she leapt out of his bed while she had the strength to do so, scooped up her clothes, dressed, and disappeared through said door as regal as any true royalty could ever have done.
# # #
Rob watched Jill leave his suite, her head held high. Heat, sweltering heat, spread through him. Which was utterly ridiculous since he’d just had the most guttural fulfillment of his life. Twice.
Or maybe the sensation running through him was regret. Regret at not being able to call her back. Regret at the knowledge he’d never again experience the emotional and physical high he’d just shared with her.
He’d made a mistake. A big mistake. Huge. Horrendous. Gigante. Enorme. Okay, he’d made his point. He’d messed up by thinking making love to Jill would ease the tension between them. Because now that he knew how hot she was, how she could bring him to places he’d never been, staying away was going to be almost impossible.
Jill. That was another thing. He needed to think of her as Jane, not Jill. Jane was off-limits. Jill wasn’t. He had to think of her as Jane.
Jane. Jane. Jane.
It was no use. No matter what he called her, she was still the woman he wanted. The woman he’d had, twice, and it hadn’t been nearly enough. A rose by any other name…damn.
What a fool he’d been to think sex would diminish the sparks between them. But then, he’d only been fooling himself, wanting to believe when he’d bought into that line.
He swung his feet over the bed and sat up. As he ran his finger through his damp hair, old insecurities filled him. Would he pick up a tabloid and read about the things he’d told her? Or worse, had she had sex with him because he was the producer and she believed he could do wonders for her career?
Why was it anytime he had sex that question always remained in the back of his mind? Which was why he normally avoided having flings with women working on his productions. Mandy had taught him that lesson well--only in a reversed kind of way.
Several girlfriends since had provided refresher courses. Sleeping with him until a bigger fish came along, or she landed the role she wanted. Sex to advance one’s career seemed to be par the course in this industry. But not where Rob was concerned.
Truth be told, sleeping with him was probably the worst thing Jill could have done for her career.
When JANE MILLIONAIRE aired, viewers were going to want her to fall in love with one of the bachelors. Having a hot affair with the producer probably wouldn’t ingratiate her in America’s hearts. If what they’d done leaked out. Which he’d do his damnedest to prevent.
For everyone involved, he had to pretend like he didn’t want her with a fervor that scared the hell out of him.
And just how was he supposed to do that when just the thought of that unlocked door sent him up in flames?
The next few weeks couldn’t go by fast enough.
# # #
Jill smiled at each one of the six bachelors remaining as part of the show before taking her seat at the breakfast table. They stared at her curiously. Heat tinged her cheeks. Could they tell what she’d done during the night?
Maybe having glorious sex made a woman look different. Certainly there had been a gleam in her eyes this morning when she’d stared at her reflection in the mirror. She’d looked…alive. Really alive for the first time.
“Good morning, gentlemen.” She nodded at Jeff and Steve in particular. “I’m sorry you had to wait on me. I overslept.”
Which was the truth. Once she’d drifted to sleep, she’d slept surprisingly peaceful considering she’d been kicked out of Rob’s bed.
Too bad she hadn’t even showered when Gregory woke her, expecting to do her hair and make-up rather than drag her from bed.
She glanced around the breakfast nook where they generally ate their meals. Large floor to ceiling windows that had been an addition made to the castle within the last century allowed the bright morning sunshine to filter into the room.