Jan Colley - Mistress & a Million Dollars / Satin & A Scandalous Affair

“You like to snuggle up against a man.”

“A natural reaction.”

“And you like to be kissed all over.”

“Shhh,” she hissed.

“It’s all true.”

“So is the million dollars.”

The amusement left his eyes and his gaze hardened, but just as quickly he arched a brow at her. “You don’t want to know about me?”

She looked at him long and hard. “I know all there is to know.”

“Really?”

She assumed a thoughtful expression. “You have no hesitation in taking what you want.”

“True.”

“You’ll go to any means to get it.”

“True.”

“You’re suspicious of beautiful women.”

“True.”

“Oh, I forgot. They have to be beautiful and greedy.”

“Now you’re getting there,” he said in a dry tone, just as the waiter brought over their first course.

But Jarrod didn’t seem fazed by her comment, and after that they ate in silence for a while. She used the time to recover from the constant barrage of awareness Jarrod’s presence caused. In her job she was used to being constantly “on,” but this was different. Being with Jarrod was being turned on.

They had just finished their appetizer when the waiter brought over a bottle of wine.

Jarrod frowned. “I didn’t order this.”

“No, sir, you didn’t. It’s compliments of the gentleman over there.” The waiter’s gaze went across the room to the gray-haired man sitting at a small table by himself, watching them. “For Briana,” the waiter added as the older man raised his glass at her.

“Send it back,” Jarrod snapped.

“No!” Briana exclaimed, horrified. She speared Jarrod a dark look then smiled at the waiter. “Please pour me a glass,” she told him as she got to her feet. “I’ll be back in a moment.”

“Briana,” Jarrod said through gritted teeth.

“Pour him one, too,” she instructed the waiter, turning away but not before she saw the glint of humor in the waiter’s eyes.

Laughter bubbling within her, her steps were light as she walked across the room with a natural smile on her lips. She couldn’t help but feel good that she was winning this battle against Jarrod.

Then she thanked the older man and spent a few minutes talking to him. He turned out to be a fan of hers and was a thorough gentleman.

When she returned to the table, Jarrod’s eyes burned through her. “Made an arrangement to meet later?” he snarled.

She shot him a dark glance. This was going too far. “No, but I can go back and ask him, if you like.”

“How much did he offer you? One million or two?”

She sucked in a sharp breath. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Isn’t that why you went to thank him?”

He sounded jealous, and the thought sent a weird thrill through her. Then she realized this wasn’t about jealousy. This was about belonging to Jarrod Hammond, as temporary as that was.

“He was just being nice,” she said firmly. “He’s a gentleman.”

“He wants to take you to bed.”

“So does most of the male population, I imagine, including yourself.”

A second ticked by, and a smug look crossed his face. “Ah, but I did, you see,” he drawled, his voice silky-smooth now.

Her mouth tightened. “I hope you marked it on that belt of yours with all those other notches.”

Sexy amusement flickered in his eyes. “You know something, Briana? I really like fighting with you.”

She ignored that, even as she privately acknowledged enjoying a verbal victory with this man every now and then. “By the way, it’s part of my job as the face of Blackstone’s to maintain good public relations. I wouldn’t want to offend him.”

“As long as they are only public relations.”

“If they weren’t, it’s none of your business.”

“Don’t bet on it, sweetheart.”

So, she’d been right to be worried about his thinking he could boss her about. Her chin tilted in defiance. “You don’t own me, despite the million-dollar check.”

His eyes grew cool. “No, but I do own three weeks of your time. And don’t forget you’re the one who suggested the million dollars. And you’re the one who took the money. I would have just been happy to go to bed with you.”

“Yes, and I’m the one who’ll pay the price,” she said, suddenly feeling sickened by it all. “I think I’d like to leave.”

Jarrod’s gaze swung across the room. “Won’t your number-one fan over there be offended if you don’t drink his wine?”

“Oh, you’re so right.” She picked up the glass and drank it in one go. Thankfully it was only half-full. “There.” She put her empty glass back down on the table.

Jarrod’s brow rose. “You can handle drinking it that fast, I presume?”

“It was only half a glass.” She went to get to her feet but all at once he leaned across the table and put his hand over hers, his touch heating her skin.

“Unless you want our little tiff in tomorrow’s papers, you’d better stay here and finish your lunch.”

Her forehead creased. “What do you—”

“Here we are, madam,” the waiter said, startling her as he slid a plate on the table in front of her. Not that she had much of an appetite by this time. Jarrod seemed to rob her of that once again.

The waiter walked around to Jarrod and did the same. “If there’s anything else you would like—”

“No,” Jarrod cut across him. “We’re fine.”

“Very good, sir.” The younger man left them alone.

Jarrod waited a moment before speaking. “I saw your fan talking to some guests at the table over there. They’ve been checking us out, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he said something about the bottle of wine. If you get up and storm out it’ll be in tomorrow’s paper.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t have acted like a jealous husband, then,” she said without thinking.

He actually looked surprised. “Is that what I sounded like?”

“Either that or a jerk,” she said as the rush of wine made her feel a little light-headed.

He grinned. “I think that wine’s gone straight to your head.”

“No.”

“Yes,” he insisted.

“Okay, just a little,” she acknowledged, finding it easier to give in this time. “But I’m used to it.”

“Really?” he mocked.

“I don’t have a drinking problem, if that’s what you’re implying.” But somehow she couldn’t seem to summon up much anger. She was beginning to feel relaxed and mellow. And, oh my, Jarrod Hammond really was a hunk. And that slow smile…combined with his expert hands…

“I think we’d better finish lunch,” he said, breaking into her thoughts, “then I’ll take you home.”

Would he make love to her?

“Come on, eat. It’ll soak up some of that wine. The media would have a field day if they heard the face of Blackstone’s was drunk off her face.”

That brought her out of her trance. He was right. It could jeopardize her contract renewal. And then she wouldn’t have the money to repay Jarrod….

She took a steadying breath, picked up her fork and started eating. Not long after, Jarrod began speaking of general things and she was glad to answer. Polite conversation she was used to. Personal, she was not.

She refused dessert but as they drank their coffee, he sat there looking at her. “How do you feel now?”

“Back to normal. The food helped.”

“Good.” His eyes took on a sudden sensual warmth that made her heart start hammering. “Now that you’re no longer tipsy, I’m going to take you back to my apartment.”

Her mouth turned dry. “Why?”

“I want to make love to you. I want you in my bed. Today. Tonight. Right now.”