Million Dollar Devil (Million Dollar #1)(67)



It takes everything I have not to whirl at him, fists blazing. But I have more meetings tomorrow and can’t get into this shit. I promised Lizzy. I start to walk faster, as I hear their footsteps pounding on the concrete behind me. Before I know it, one of them smacks me on the side of the head.

I spin on them, fists raised.

Then I lower them. I am not Jimmy Rowan, no-good, classless asshole anymore. I’m beyond that. And I have a contract that says it. “Look, guys. I’m done. Stay away from Charlie. Stay away from me. And let’s all just live our lives, okay?”

They stare at me for a second of complete silence. Then the three guys all look at Denny.

I turn to continue down the street.

“Fuck you, Prince James.” The first punch hits me in the side of the head, catching me unaware. The ground rises up to meet me, and I’m out before the second impact hits home.





GOLDEN BOY

Lizzy

I go home after another stellar day at the office, checking my phone.

I have one message from James. Busy as hell. Hope you’re having a better day than I am.

I smile and sigh. Funny how a text can get me horny. But that’s all I’m getting from him these days, sadly enough.

I’m the new hero in my office. Everyone absolutely loves James. He creates a buzz everywhere he goes. They’ve been pouring so much love on him that this is the first time he’s even texted me since LA. I’ve seen him, briefly, for appearances, but he’s always surrounded by people. And at night, does he stop by? No. He’s completely MIA.

I understand. He’s busy. He’s working from morning to late at night, every day, earning that million dollars.

I know this because my father has me working on compiling all the press for his appearances. I wonder if Dad simply wants me to have some experience with all the aspects of Banks LTD before I turn CEO, or if he secretly knows I crush on James and wants to torture me—but whatever the reason, there is a lot of good press. So while I’ve been seeing the dirty details on everything he’s doing, and I’ve scheduled most of it along with LB, I haven’t truly felt a part of it. It’s like I created him, and now he’s left the nest, never to return home.

And I feel like the stupidest mother bird on earth.

As the driver pulls up in front of my building, I see a man leaning against a bright-red Porsche 911 Turbo, checking his phone. He’s hot. If it weren’t for the bruise over his eye, I’d have thought it was James. I pause, half out of the car, when he looks at me, that unmistakable lopsided smile on his face.

It is James.

My stomach starts to flutter.

“James?” I ask, looking at the car. His car? “You . . . cashed the check?”

He nods. “Well, I delivered, didn’t I?”

“Well, only half, so—”

“You only gave me half the money. Like it?”

“Yeah, but I thought you were going to send Charlie to a private sc—”

“I’ll do that too,” he says, wiping some imaginary dust off the hood of the car. “It’s a lot of money.”

“Not that much,” I tell him. “I can put you in touch with a financial advisor, who’ll—”

“Lizzy, what did you say when you gave me this?” He holds up his phone. “I needed James’s phone. Well, I needed James’s car too. Right?”

I gnaw on my lip. “I guess. But you still have to be careful, because . . .”

“Relax.” He pushes away from the car and clicks a button on his key chain to secure the door locks. “Anyway. I need your help.”

“Come up, come up,” I tell him, every part of my body buzzing. I don’t think we’ll be able to make it to my bedroom. I want him so bad. Now.

In the elevator, he kisses me, tangling his hands in my hair. “Mmm,” he murmurs. “God. Fuck, I missed this.”

I taste the blood. When he pulls back, I study his face. His nose is bleeding, and he has that black eye. I don’t know; I’m kind of glad about it. It shows there’s still some of the old Jimmy left. “I thought you said you weren’t going to fight anymore?”

“This is what happens when I don’t fight. When I try to follow the contract,” he growls. “Your father called me this morning. He wants to meet me and take me out to some place for dinner. With the people from . . . I can’t remember. Saks?”

I swallow. “My father is taking you to meet with the people from Saks?”

He nods.

Oh god.

“Did he forget to ask me?”

“He said you were busy with another project.”

I frown. James is my project. “I’m not too busy. I should call him and see if he wants me to go instead.”

Up in my apartment, I dial my father as I watch James go behind the bar. He sets out a tumbler and pours himself a splash of Macallan. When he answers, I say, “Hi, Dad. Listen, James just told me you have a meeting with Saks. I’m sure you’re busy. Don’t you want me to—”

“No, Lizzy. I think it’s better if I handle our model from now on.”

“What?”

“There have been some rumors of inappropriate behavior on your part with our model.”

I freeze, and my eyes flash to James. “What?”

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