Million Dollar Devil (Million Dollar #1)(58)

What am I nervous about? I can’t quite describe it, but it’s gnawing inside me and making my skin crawl.

I’m pacing in the suite when James steps out with his hair slicked back, the fit of the suit perfect on his athletic body. My breath catches.

My eyes hurt.

In that suit?

James is David Beckham in a suit at the royal wedding.

I’m speechless.

He’s beautiful, and though I should feel some pride in playing a part in bringing out this man’s beauty, all I can feel is a knot in my stomach. A knot I can’t quite seem to loosen, no matter how much I try.

It’s starting to hurt to look at him.

Ignoring the sudden weakness in my knees, I step out of the room. He follows me, his tall frame sort of making me feel shorter than I should feel.

What’s going on?

I can’t think when he’s near, and I can’t even bear to think what it will feel like when this is over and he’s gone.

“I don’t know if I can do this monkey shit for a whole evening, let alone weeks on end.” He tugs on his tie, already restless and feeling caged in.

I bite back my smile and grab my bag before we step out and ride down the elevator. “Don’t say shit. Say, ‘I don’t know if I could get through this ordeal . . .’”

He pulls me close. “I don’t know if I could get through this ordeal. I need incentives. Give me some gas.”

Before I can even think of what he means, he’s already fueling himself. With my mouth.

When we peel away, his eyes are heavy. As heavy as mine feel. “Better.”

My voice is barely audible through our breaths. “We need to leave.”

“Give me a minute. I just need to cool down.” He exhales, his nostrils flaring as his gaze connects with my own.

He eases back for a long moment, gives my mouth a hot look, makes me wet between the legs, and takes my hand as we step out of the elevator.

The restaurant is only two blocks away, so we walk there. I know there’s a risk I could see someone I know who might tell my father his daughter is out and about holding hands with some gorgeous man. But at this point? I’m in Los Angeles courting buyers. My father’s in China. LB is in Atlanta. The breeze is delicious. The scenery perfect. I’m too far away from all of that to care right now.

“Are you nervous?”

He laughs deeply, sexily. He leans close to my ear. “I just want to get through the night so I can get to the part where I can kiss that smirk of yours to pieces.”

I can’t just pretend the thought didn’t make my heart and every cell in my body skip.



We’re on our way to Nobu Malibu—a place frequented by Hollywood’s elite and the perfect venue for our first dinner with some of our potential buyers.

The restaurant sits on Malibu beach with the Pacific Ocean stretching out in front of it, the last rays of the setting sun painting millions of diamonds upon its glassy surface. We’re meeting with representatives from some of the biggest stores in the US, including Barneys New York, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, and also representatives from luxury online stores such as Net-a-Porter. I plan to have our new line available everywhere to maximize sales and exposure.

As James and I step into the lobby, we’re greeted by a tall thin man with perfectly manicured eyebrows and colored hair, who promptly walks us to a round table by the porch, right next to the railing overlooking the ocean.

The breeze catches my hair, and I finally feel myself exhale. The smell of blue ocean and warm sand intoxicates my senses. I catch a glance of us in a wall of windows, and my confidence surges. Damn, he looks fine. “You know how to make an entrance, James.”

He smiles and murmurs, “If I was making an entrance, I’d be scaling the side of the wall like Spider-Man. Or maybe skydiving in.”

“Not tonight. Do you always see potential stunts in every place you go?”

“Doesn’t everyone?”

I laugh and shake my head. “All I see are potential disasters.”

And oh, I definitely see potential disaster here. But not for James. James, I think, can do anything. Me? I’m not so sure. I’ve spent so long grooming him that it’d be ironic if I couldn’t pull this off myself.

James pulls out my chair and winks. I walk in front of him, and right before I sit down on the chair he’s holding out for me, I feel him plant a discreet but delicious kiss on the side of my exposed neck. “Don’t be nervous, beautiful; we got this,” he whispers before taking his seat next to mine.

I get goose bumps.

Then, I start to see the buyers float in and fill the remaining seats. I introduce James to all of the buyers.

“Nice to meet you. James Rowan,” he says as he greets each of them.

I watch him take charge, completely awed by him.

He’s got this to the point that everyone at the table can’t tear their delighted gazes away from him.

After some small talk about their flights, the city, and the delicious food we’re about to have, we get down to business.

“When I first came up with the idea for the line, I had a very clear vision for what I wanted it to be. I wanted it to be a line made for the young businessman: sleek, modern, elegant, masculine, but still playful and youthful. All of our suits are made to stand strongly as individuals. Even the most streamlined and basic suits have beautiful accents and fabrics that elevate the look and turn the traditional black suit into a statement piece.”