Page 100 of Impulse

He grinned.He distracted her.Still, he asked, “Why?”

“You know why.”She looked beyond him, and she groaned.“Oh no.Douglas.This is so embarrassing.”

Lex turned, expecting to see Douglas.Instead grocery bags were on the floor by the archway leading into the kitchen.Douglas must have returned while they were kissing and decided to give them privacy.

“I’m never going to look him in the face again,” Jillian wailed.“And it’s your fault.”She shook a spoon at Lex.He grinned.“It’s not funny.Go find him and… and apologize.”

He wasn’t apologizing for kissing her.“Jillian—”

“Ask him to join us for dinner.Please.”

She looked so adorable flustered, even though it was over nothing.Douglas was a grown man who understood the nature of their relationship.And it wasn’t the first time he’d walked in on Lex and a woman, except Jillian wasn’t just any woman.

“Lex,” Jillian begged.

He couldn’t refuse her anything when she looked at him with those gorgeous turquoise eyes.He got up.“He’ll understand.”

She glared at him.“I don’t.I should have stopped things before they went too far.”She shooed him.“Go talk to him.”

Lex was still grinning when he knocked on Douglas’s door.He liked that he had that much power over her.Just like she had over him.

“Jillian would like you to join us for dinner,” Lex said when Douglas opened the door.

“Thank you, sir, but I already have my dinner.”Douglas indicated behind him.Lex wondered if he really had bought food or just wanted to give them privacy.

“Jillian will be disappointed,” Lex said.

Douglas didn’t crack a smile.“Offer her my apologies, sir.”

“I’ll do that.Goodnight, Douglas.”

“Will you need me to cook breakfast tomorrow morning, sir?”

“That would be great.I want you to stay with her until this situation with her father is fixed.Mathews will fly the two of you to the studio.I’ll have a talk with Barbs about your presence there.”

“Can I contact Mr.Manos to find you another driver?”

Lex thought about it and shook his head.“I’ll be in the office the next few days.If I need to go anywhere, I’m sure I can manage.Keeping her safe is a priority now.”

Back upstairs, the scent of garlic bread filled the air.Jillian had already set the table for three, laid out a fruit and vegetable tray, and was serving the stew into bowls.

“Is he coming?”she asked.

“No.He’d already prepared his dinner.”

Jillian frowned.“Are you sure?Were you polite and nice and genuine?”

“Very.”Lex closed the gap between them and carried two bowls back to the table.He patted the chair beside him.“Come sit here.”

She shook her head and took the seat across from him.“I’m not going to fall for that trick.We’re eating, not kissing or doing whatever naughty things those eyes are promising.”

“My eyes?”

“Very expressive.”She picked up the spoon.“I don’t know how you conduct business.I know when you want to kiss me or”—she grinned—“rip my clothes off.”

Dinner was fun.He focused the discussion on his friends, what they did and how they met in college and forged a relationship that had endured for years.He didn’t bring up her family, the Fearless Finnegans, or the Bay Area Circus, though he needed to find out more.The mood was too perfect to spoil it with morbid discussions.Still, he noticed that she didn’t touch her wine.“I have other vintages if this is not to your taste.”

“That’s not it.I don’t drink much.A sip here and there at parties, but that’s it.”