Page 92 of Impulse

“She has the others wrapped around her little finger.You, on the other hand, don’t put up with her bullshit.”

Dom grinned.“Neither do you.”

“Doesn’t mean I’m immune to her charms.I just happened to have grown up surrounded by women and know their little tricks.”

“I didn’t know we had little tricks, Alexander,” Jillian said, coming to stand beside him.

“Not you, sweetheart.”He wrapped an arm around her waist and anchored her to his side.“Jillian, I want you to meet Dominic Manos.Dom, Jillian Finnegan.”

“Nice to meet you, Mr.Manos,” Jillian said, offering him her hand.

“Dom, please.”He trapped her hand in his large ones, green eyes narrowing as he studied her.“Have we met before?”

Jillian smiled, studying his face.“I don’t think so.I would have remembered.”

Lex squeezed Jillian’s shoulder.“Most people work really hard to forget crossing Dom’s path, or he makes sure they forget.”

Jillian elbowed him.“Don’t be mean, Alexander.”

Dom flashed a genuine smile.“Yes,Alexander.Heel and take this to Deidre while Jillian and I get to know each other.”

Dom still held on to her hand, which bugged the crap out of Lex.He tugged and regained control of Jillian’s hand.“I don’t think so, my friend.We have other appointments.”But Jillian dug her heels in when he nudged her forward.

“You designed the holograph they use here,” she said.Dom nodded, but when he cocked his eyebrows in question, she added, “Mona mentioned it.It is an amazing instrument.Every store should use them.”

“That’s the plan.The Fearless Finnegans?”

Jillian flushed and the smile left her face.“Maybe.”

“I recall a fair-haired changeling among them, until The Phantom Rider.”

Jillian’s cheeks grew pink.“Anonymity has its perks.”

“Your secret is safe with me.”

Lex had no idea what they were discussing.He’d never had a reason to be jealous of his friend until today.What the hell were The Fearless Finnegans and The Phantom Rider?Movies she was in and didn’t want anyone to know about?She’d cracked a joke about loving Phantoms, but he’d thought she meant his car.

“We’ll see you tonight, Dom,” Lex said, eager to leave.

Dom nodded, but he was back to scowling and staring behind Jillian.Lex looked over his shoulder and saw why.Deidre had entered the showroom.Instead of ignoring Dom the way she usually did, she gave him a cheeky smile.

At one time, Lex had thought there was something between them, but then she’d started dating some tennis pro, their pictures hitting the tabloids, including Ron’s.Dom hadn’t seemed to care.He’d continued to bring his one-night stands, two or three at a time, to Sloan’s parties.

“Dom, what a surprise?”Deidre reached up, pressed a kiss on his cheek, and fluttered her lashes.“Isn’t this wonderful news?Lex is getting married.Are you here to see me?”She didn’t wait for him to respond, just slipped her arm around his.“Let’s go to my office and catch up.You two”—she wagged her finger at Lex and Jillian—“don’t get married while I’m gone.I’ll be back in two weeks, so let’s do lunch, Jillian.I’ve decided we should be friends.Give Rod hell for the story and pictures, Lex.He deserves it.”

Lex shook his head.He’d never understand women.He whisked Jillian away from Noelle and, for the next several stops, learned a little more about her.He’d thought she was just reluctant to buy lingerie because they were intimate apparel, but it turned out she was a frugal shopper, which only made him want to shower her with more things.

She tried on shoes, sighed, and returned them.Lex had the saleslady wrap them all up while Jillian reluctantly signed papers for another account.

One day, she would appreciate the convenience of having access to things without worrying about making it to a store before it closed.He entertained clients often, sometimes more than once a week.Since quite a number of them were from out of town and often brought their wives, Jillian would need to accompany him.

After several more stores, she begged him to stop.“I’m starving, and my feet hurt.”

He touched the remote in his pocket and grinned.He promised to make lunch very interesting.“I know this restaurant not far from here—”

“Oh no,” Jillian said, gripping his wrist so he wouldn’t start the car.“We’re picking up food from my favorite restaurant, then going to my place to eat, put this stuff away, and rest my feet.”

Even better.“We can rest together.”