Jane Millionaire

Impossible or not, her sister stood two feet away looking as if she’d just stepped off the cover of Cosmo.

Jessie was here.

Jill noisily sucked air into her lungs. If Jessie was here it meant something terrible had happened.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Dan?”

“He’s fine, too. We all are. Except I’ve been worried to death about you.” Jessie gazed at the elaborate surroundings of the hallway, the authentic paintings, the handmade rugs, and the sculptures. She whistled. Loudly.

“Doesn’t look like you’ve been roughing it. And those men are absolutely scrumptious. Much more so than they appeared on television.” She waggled her brows. “Lucky you.”

“Why are you here?” Jill tapped her slipper-covered foot on the hardwood floor, the sound seeming to echo up and down the long hallway.

Jessie’s glossy lower lip pouted. “I’ve already told you, I came to rescue you. Come on, let’s go.”

Her sister grabbed her arm, but Jill resisted. “No.”

“No?” Jessie’s eyes widened. “What do you mean no?”

“I’m not leaving like this. Not without saying goodbye.”

A perfectly drawn eyebrow arched. “Well, duh, that’s like what we just did.”

“I have to stay,” Jill paused. Maybe Jessie was right. Maybe it would be better to just disappear. Technically, she had fulfilled the terms of the contract.

The contract. Now everyone knew she was a fake fake. Oh God. Rob.

“You idiot,” she blasted. “By coming here you’ve ruined everything.”

Jessie grimaced. “What are you talking about? I thought you’d be glad to see me.”

Jill took a deep breath and glanced around. They were alone in the long corridor. “I am glad to see you, but don’t you think someone on the crew might figure out you’re who auditioned for Jane?”

“So what? I spoke with some guy on the crew before I flew here. How do you think I found you?” Jessie nonchalantly waved her perfectly French manicured hand. “Besides, you got what you wanted. What you needed. A month of men lollying after you.” She grinned, a wicked and naughty expression on her face. “Did you have a good time?”

Jill wanted to scream. Instead, she took another deep breath. Not that it made a difference. She didn’t think breathing all the oxygen in Europe would help.

Jessie’s mouth dropped, her eyes danced with bedevilment. “Oh my God.” She did a little bounce that only Jessie could keep from looking ridiculously childish while doing. “Tell all.”

The last thing Jill wanted was to tell Jessie about Rob. “Jess, you seem to be ignoring the fact we’ve committed fraud by my coming instead of you.”

Jessie shrugged. “What do they care if you came instead of me? Obviously, you gave them what they wanted. The show’s been wildly successful, and there are only the three episodes left—the one that airs tonight, the honeymoon trip next week and then the wrap up grand finale. America loves Jane. Your picture is everywhere.”

“My picture?” Jill gulped. Was she going home to a media circus?

“You’re on the cover of half the magazines on the newsstands.” Jessie pointed a long nail-tipped finger at her. “You, my dear sister, are famous.”

“Famous?” Why hadn’t she thought about what would happen when she returned to San Padres? Her life would never be the same.

“There’s even a letter from Playmate magazine at the house.” Jessie crowed. “They want you to pose nude for them.”

“What?” Jill reached out to a long carved mahogany table along one wall and used it to steady herself.

“Oh yeah, but for what they were offering to pay, I don’t think you should do it.” Her sister waved a hand dismissively. “At least, not unless you get them to triple the amount.”