Microsoft Word - 49A4C18A-1A2A-28B97F.doc by Bad Thing She Did a Bad Page A

“Thanks. It was rather unexpected…I don’t think it’s sunk in yet.”
    He glanced past her and saw James standing next to her balcony door in the distance.
    “Jane, I don’t mean to pry, but have you contacted an attorney?”
    “No. Why should I?”
    “Because once people find out that you won the lottery, they’ll be coming out of the
    woodwork trying to get next to you.”
    “Is that so?”
    “Yes.”
    She took another sip of wine. “I appreciate your concern, but I think I can handle it.”
    Then she closed the door in his face.
    Perry straightened, then grimaced. Obviously, she couldn’t wait to get back to her ex. Was
    the guy trying to wheedle his way into her life again, with his eye on her multi-million-dollar bank account?
    He returned to his own condo and pulled a beer out of the fridge, irritated at everything in
    general and nothing in particular. He switched on the TV and watched a few minutes of a
    football game, but found his mind wandering. He glanced at the wall he and Jane shared. Was it his imagination, or had her music gotten louder? Perry scowled and stood, then walked to the
    wall and pressed his ear against it.
    Nothing. But maybe they didn’t make noise when they made out. Maybe Jane was the
    quiet type who bit her lover’s shoulder when she came.
    Then Perry smirked. If the guy could make her come. He took another pull off the beer and
    walked out onto his balcony, his pulse quickening when he heard their voices on the other side of the wall.
    “We had a lot of good things going, Jane. Let’s give it another try.”
    Perry rolled his eyes, then strained to hear her response, but it was too low.
    The sound of her balcony door sliding closed let him know they had gone back inside.
    To seal the deal?
    Perry realized with a startling clarity that he was jealous. Jealous that someone else would
    get close to Jane before he could show her that he hadn’t meant what he said…that they could be friends…
    And more?
    With that disturbing thought rattling around in his head, he retreated to the living room and forced himself to stare at the television. But subconsciously he was keeping his ears perked for any sounds of physical contact next door. The thought of that guy cajoling her into bed made his skin crawl. Jane deserved better than that.
    He woke up in the wee hours of the morning sprawled on the couch, his television a static
    “Off Air” picture. Perry dragged himself up and stumbled to bed, wondering if Jane’s guest had slept over. All was quiet next door as far as he could tell. Was she curled up next to her ex, her hair spilled on the pillow?
    He fell into a fitful sleep, and when his alarm sounded, he still felt groggy. A shower
    revived him, but he couldn’t shake the disgruntled feeling from the previous night.
    He was pouring a cup of coffee when he thought he heard Jane’s door opening and closing.
    He yanked up the mug, grabbed his briefcase, and headed to his door, driven by the
    unexplainable need to know if what’s-his-name had spent the night, had wormed his way back
    into Jane’s life in time to squander her money.
    He walked into the hallway and relief bled through him to see only Jane standing there
    locking her door. “Good morning,” he said.
    “Good morning,” she returned.
    She was wearing snug jeans and a blue ringer T-shirt, plus sneakers, and her ever-present
    ponytail. He glanced over her figure with appreciation, then he noticed her suitcase and frowned.
    “Going somewhere?”
    She straightened and looked up at him. “If you must know, then yes. And actually, I have
    you to thank.” “Me?”
    “Yes.” She smiled. “You’re the one who made me realize just how boring my life is. But
    now I have the money to change that.”
    He couldn’t very well protest. “Where are you going?” To visit an old aunt, he hoped.
    She grinned. “I’m flying to Vegas.”
    He frowned. “Vegas?”
    “That’s right.”
    “With that guy