“What about the woman, Izzy? What is it she wants?”
Isabella’s gaze lifted to his eyes. She had never seen a color so blue. Not even the seas could compete with the hues of his eyes. “She wants you,” she admitted honestly.
His sharp intake popped through her mind, seconds before all thought disintegrated with the touch of his lips.
“Izzy.” His breath was warm against her mouth as he stared at her, a slightly dazed look in his eyes.
This was why she had insured she would see Jeff one last time. Because she had needed more memories of his touch to hold her through a lifetime of royal service.
“Would you think me improper if I asked you to kiss me again?”
“No more so than my kissing a woman who just told me she intended to marry another man.”
She nodded, understanding the implications of his words.
“Jeff, I want much more than a kiss. Knowing we have no future together beyond the present, I want you to choose to go on JANE MILLIONAIRE’s week in paradise. With me.”
# # #
“Where’s Jessie?” Jill asked JP. She’d expected to find Jessie waiting for her in the hallway. She should have known better. Jessie had never been one to wait around.
Some of the crew milled around in the throne room. Jill’s gaze had immediately landed on where JP sat on one of the pews. He’d looked alone and she’d had the urge to wrap her arms around him. Not that the older man would appreciate her sentiments.
“Your sister wasted no time in snagging a bachelor of her own.” JP patted the pew. “Have a seat.”
Not surprised one bit, Jill collapsed onto the bench. “Steve?”
“Yep. Last I heard they were discussing his endurance and she’d asked him to explain why Seals did it better.”
“She didn’t.” Jill covered her face.
“I’m afraid she did. But she looks like she can handle herself. Now, tell me why you’re not with my boy.”
Jill peeked at him from between her fingers.
“Don’t act like you have no idea what I’m talking about. Do you think I couldn’t see what was happening right in front of my eyes? I may be old, but I ain’t dead.”
“He hates me.”
“Somehow I doubt that.”
“You didn’t see how he looked at me.”
“I imagine he was a little upset about Jessie showing up. Personally, I thought it made a nice twist.”
Something in his tone triggered suspicion.
“You brought her here.”
“Yep.”
“Then you knew I was a fake.”
“Not at first.”
“When did you figure it out?”
“Your personality is quite different from your sister’s. On her interview tapes, she was a total flirt. That’s one of the reasons I chose her. I wanted sparks to fly on JANE MILLIONAIRE. The more sensational, the better. Everything about Jessie screams sensational.”