Jane Millionaire

They hugged a moment longer, before Jessie pulled back.

“You know, I really don’t thing we’ll be in trouble over this. I mean, some guy from here called me and, like, invited me. He even sent a plane and arranged a hotel for me.” Jessie’s lip puffed out. “I slept for like sixteen hours after arriving and I’d meant to check out the local studs. But without his help, I could never have gotten into this country.”

“Someone helped you get here? Who?”

“James somebody.” Her gaze landed behind Jill. Her eyes lit up like she’d j

ust spotted a winning lottery ticket. Had to be a man.

Jill turned to see which male her sister seductively smiled at. Her heart fell.

Rob.

A pissed off Rob.

A very pissed off Rob if his narrowed eyes and staunch stance were anything to judge by.

Fine. She was more than a little ticked at him, too. He’d been willing to let her go with Jeff. And he’d known about Princess Izzypoo or whoever she really was. He’d made a fool out of Jill in more ways than one since crawling out of her bed this morning.

“Hel-lo.” Jessie’s voice dropped to an almost purr. In direct opposition to Rob, her stance welcomed. Sickeningly so.

Wait a minute. Wasn’t Jessie supposed to be in love? Engaged? Jill’s gaze dropped to where her sister’s large diamond ring had flashed a month ago. It was gone. Uh-oh. Looked like her European hiatus had been in vain in more than one way.

Frustration, ripe and raw, seized her. She looked at Rob, half-expecting him to be ga-ga over Jessie. Most men were. His gaze bore into her. His intense, accusing, betrayed gaze didn’t waver. He hadn’t even reacted to Jessie’s blatant invitation.

As elation that he seemed immune to Jessie’s charms filled her, so did the realization that it didn’t matter. Not one bit.

Rob’s eyes told her much more than she wanted to know.

He’d cared about her. She’d known it in her heart. But he didn’t bother hiding it from her now. Or maybe he couldn’t.

Still, he hadn’t cared enough to stop her from spending a romantic week with Jeff. If Rob had loved her, he would have stopped the show or at least let her know he didn’t want her on a tropical paradise with any man but him.

She’d hoped. Hoped she meant more to him than scratching a sexual itch as he’d once implied. The tenderness of his touch this morning had solidified that hope. He’d made love to her during their early morning tryst. There had been more between them than just sexual attraction, and not just on her side. He may not have said the words, but he’d shown her in his touch, just as she’d attempted to show him.

Whatever she’d meant, she could see the cold, harsh reality in his eyes. She’d hurt him and his frosty resolve announced he wouldn’t forgive her lies.

She’d lost Rob forever. Not that she’d ever really had him.

“Let me explain,” she began, despite the anger and hurt coursing through her. He’d lied to her, too. She took a step toward him and caught her slipper’s heel on the skirt hem. She stumbled, grabbed hold of the mahogany table again and managed to knock a vase off onto the hard marble floor. The probably priceless urn shattered. A physical semblance of the cracking of her heart at the thought Rob had cared and she’d destroyed that precious flame by not being honest with him. Maybe if she’d trusted enough to tell him everything, he would have risked his heart?

Her gaze flickered from the broken porcelain to the tense man eyeing her with disgust and disbelief. “I’m sorry.”

He didn’t speak, just watched as she stooped to clean up the mess she’d made. One of the messes she’d made. Maybe it could be repaired. She was afraid all the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put the one in her chest back together again.

Jessie bent down and covered her hand. “He’s who you slept with?”

Jill nodded, not meeting her sister’s gaze. Her hand shook beneath Jessie’s steady one.

“Go. I’ll take care of this.”

Shocked, Jill glanced at Jess. She’d seen the lust in her sister’s eyes when she’d looked at Rob. It wasn’t like her to back down. “You’re sure?”

Jessie looked taken aback. “Of course, I’m sure. He’s yours. I should have realized when he called me that you were involved with him.”

“Rob called you?” He’s who brought Jessie here? He’d known? That didn’t make sense.

“Right after you did.” Jessie got her duh look again. “I’ll tell you everything later. He just spun on his heels and vanished down that hallway to the left. If he’s the one you want, Jilly, go get him.”