Page 15 of Impulse

“Fifty grand a day.That’s three-fifty a week.”She cringed and waited for his laugh or ahell no.

Lex whistled instead, and she could imagine his gray eyes narrowing.“That’s a bit steep, don’t you think?”

“I’m worth it.I can improvise, and I’m discrete.Besides, women love me.I’m what they call non-threatening.”Most actresses weren’t threatened by stuntwomen.“However, I’ll give you a discount if you’re thinking long-term.Twenty percent.”Which she hoped he wasn’t.Men like him didn’t stay single for long.“Since we’re in the middle of filmingTerra Frost, we do have to work around my schedule.”And she had her Phantom Rider nights, which he must never know about.

There was silence on the line, then, “And for a year?”

Was he serious?The amount would be staggering.Millions.“Still twenty percent and three-hundred-and-fifty thousand in cash the moment I sign the contract.”

More silence.She waited for him to call her bluff.

“That sounds reasonable,” Lex said calmly as though she hadn’t just asked for an insane amount of money, the kind she’d never earn in Hollywood.“Let’s discuss the details over dinner, shall we?”

Hewasserious.Just how loaded was this guy?

Jillian blew out a breath, the relief coursing through her was so sweet she almost yahooed.She was desperate for any gig, and this was it.She now had twenty-four hours to mentally prepare herself for a one-on-one with Lex.Somehow, she didn’t think she’d be ready.But she would try.Physically, she had to find a way to dampen his effect on her senses.Maybe she’d think of him and prune-faced socialite triplets.Jillian smothered a giggle.

“Jillian?”

“Sounds good, but I have plans for tomorrow evening.”The Phantom was riding again, and that was one date she refused to cancel.“Can we make it lunch or maybe meet in your office?”

“I’ll be out of town during the day, until evening.What are you doing tonight?”

“Uh, nothing.”

“Then let’s have dinner tonight.”His voice changed timbre from indulgent and amused to sexy and hypnotic.“I’ll send my car for you.Is six-thirty okay?”

Jillian’s brain scrambled to come up with an excuse.She couldn’t possibly meet him today.She wasn’t ready.

“Yes,” she said.

“Great.”She heard amusement in his voice.

“Do you need my address?”

“No, I’ll get it from Mr.Underwood.See you this evening, Jillian.”

Greg was back on the line while Jillian was still trying to figure out how she’d gone from needing more time to prepare for their meeting to agreeing to see him tonight.The man had a way of making her agree with him before she knew what she was saying.He must have placed some spell on her, which didn’t bode too well for a working relationship.

“Let me call you back in ten minutes.”Greg’s voice implied he’d said something, but she hadn’t heard it.

Scowling, Jillian put her cell phone in the pocket of her robe and padded to the kitchen.She paused in the middle of the room, not exactly sure why she was there.Her stomach churned and her mind was pure goo.What was she thinking agreeing to meet Lex Fitzgerald tonight?What was she going to wear?

She turned around and went straight to her closet.There should be something decent beside the jeans and the tees.Nothing that screamed perfect-for-dinner-with-a-billionaire.She checked her watch.She had less than three hours.Maybe she should go shopping and buy something nice.Do her hair and nails.

Her phone went off, and she jumped.Jeez, she was a hot mess.“Greg?”

“So what’s the job?”

“He wants a bodyguard.”

“What?You mean he wants you toactthe part of a bodyguard?”

“No, he wants a real bodyguard.”

“Did you brag to him you’re licensed to carry guns?”Greg sounded outraged and worried at the same time.He was a pacifist by nature and hated guns with a passion.His parents and only sister were gunned down during a break-in at their home when he was in his late teens.

“No, G.No guns.He’s been having problems with women.”She quickly explained Lex’s problems.“I agreed to be available to him for, I don’t know, as long as he needs me.We’ll iron out the details later tonight.”