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Jane walked into the ladies’ room and leaned on the marble counter for support as her

knees finally gave way.

Perry had feelings for her…something she never thought—hadn’t dared to hope—would

happen. She’d convinced herself that she’d developed strong feelings for Perry simply because their incredible physical chemistry was new to her. And she’d been certain that things were one-sided.

She covered her heart with her hand. She was in love!

She hugged herself, fighting back a squeal of pure delight. She had to get out of there,

before she did something stupid like write their initials on her napkin. Just Between Us had done a show once on how to chase away a man. Number one had been overreacting when he finally

admitted his feelings. She could see why women did it—his words had made her positively

giddy.

She sighed. Her boyfriend was handsome, successful, smart, and sexy. Life was just about

perfect.

Inside her purse, her phone rang. Jane pulled it out, delighted to see Eve’s name on the

caller ID. She couldn’t wait to tell her friend what had happened.

“Hi,” she said, smiling into the phone.

“Hi, yourself. Are you still in Vegas?”

“Yes. But my flight leaves in a couple of hours.”

“Is your, uh, neighbor still there?”

“Yes. We had such a wonderful weekend! And you’re not going to believe this—he told

me this morning that he has feelings for me.”

“Really?” Eve asked, her voice flat.

Jane frowned. “Really. We’re going to keep seeing each other when we get back to

Atlanta.”

“Oh.”

“Eve, is something bothering you?”

Eve sighed. “Okay, don’t hate me. But I have some information about Perry Brewer that

you should know.”

Jane blinked. “You…checked up on him?”

“I was worried about you, so I made some discreet calls. He’s an ambulance chaser, Jane.

And worse, he’s on the brink of financial ruin.”

Anger, frustration, and confusion squeezed Jane’s chest. “No. That couldn’t be.”

“It’s true. I think you should face the fact that this man is probably after your money.”

Jane shook her head. “No. He really cares about me.”

“I’m sorry, Jane. But I phoned his office this morning, pretending to be a bill collector. The office manager who answered said that he was expecting a windfall shortly. Then she made a

crack about his girlfriend having won the lottery.”

Jane’s heart stood still. Deep down, hadn’t she known it was too good to be true? A man

like Perry wouldn’t follow her to Las Vegas simply because he felt bad about calling her a

homely little geek who’d probably never had a good lay.

Men like that didn’t exist.

“I’m glad you had a fun weekend, Jane,” Eve said wistfully, “but maybe it’s time to cut

your losses and walk away.”

She lowered the phone. Eve’s voice became more distant, then Jane disconnected the call.

Slowly she lifted her gaze to her reflection, except this time all she saw was herself, trying to be someone else. What a fool she’d been. Perry himself had told her that there were all kinds of con men in Vegas who’d try to take advantage of her. And he should know—he was one of

them.

The number one con of a con man, she recalled from a recent episode of Just Between Us,

was warning his victim of supposed dangers, then presenting himself as the savior.

She’d fallen for it hook, line, and sinker.

Anger and hurt flooded her body. Tears filled her eyes, but she wiped them away angrily,

determined not to shed any more tears over what Perry Brewer had said or done.

She stalked back to the table, faltering a bit when he looked up and leveled that killer smile on her. But she was through being played.

“Dig in while it’s hot,” he said, gesturing to her omelet.

But she didn’t sit.

“Is everything okay?” he asked, giving her a look of mock concern.

“Change of plans,” she said, her heart squeezing.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I’m on to you.”

“Huh?”

She inhaled for strength. “My friend looked into your business and found out that you’re

going under.”

He wiped his mouth with his napkin. “That has nothing to do with us.”

So it was true. “She talked to your office manager, Perry, posing as a bill collector. The

woman told her that everything would be okay, that your girlfriend had just won the lottery.”

He winced. “That’s my fault. I do have a lot of debts at the moment, and I told Theresa to

put off the bill collectors until one of my cases is settled. Since she knew I’d followed you, she probably said it as a joke.”

He had an answer for everything.

“How does she know about me?”

He wet his lips and looked away, then back. “Because I…did a background check on you.”

Despite what she’d said, her eyes watered. “What? Why?”

He lifted his shoulders in a slow shrug. “I was curious, I guess. I can’t explain it, but I’m sorry.”

Empty words.

“Jane,” he said quietly. “I don’t need or want your money.”

“Excuse me, sir,” the waitress said, setting the bill and his credit card on the table. “I’m

sorry, but your credit card was declined.”

Jane pursed her mouth and watched Perry go through the motions of pretending to be

embarrassed.

“It’s on me,” she said, digging out cash and handing it to the waitress.

“Jane, don’t,” he protested. “I have another card.”

“It’s okay,” Jane bit out. “Consider it payment for all the ‘tutoring’ over the weekend.

Thanks. I learned a lot.”

Then she picked up her bag and walked out.

Jane opened her condo door quietly and checked the hall before stepping out, wearing

sunglasses to cover the damage that a night of crying had wrought.

She glanced at Perry’s door with contempt, and hurried to lock her door before he could

emerge. She’d heard him arrive home last night a couple of hours after she had, had heard him moving around next door, but he hadn’t tried to contact

her. He hadn’t knocked on her door to say he was sorry and try to worm his way back into

her bed.

Good thing, too, because she would’ve slammed the door in his face.

When she got to the parking garage, she noticed idly that his big black SUV was gone. He

must have gone into the office early, probably to strategize how he was going to come up with the cash to save his business since his plan to woo the geeky lottery winner had fallen through.

She drove to work, chastising herself—she’d just won over six million dollars, and she was

moping around about Perry Brewer. She should be thanking her lucky stars that Eve had had the clarity of mind to question the man’s motives in time to stop her from doing something really stupid.

Like fall irrevocably, head over heels in love with him. It was just an infatuation that

would fade shortly.

It didn’t matter—soon she’d be way too busy trying to figure out how to spend her lottery

money to worry about Perry Brewer.

She inhaled and smiled. A new car. A new condo, or a house. Anything she wanted.

She had no one to answer to.

And no one to share things with, her mind whispered.

With a sharp pang she realized that from this point on, she’d never know if a man was truly

interested in her or in her money. In fact, since she hadn’t found anyone to share her life before winning the lottery, it only made sense that any man who was interested in her now, was most

likely in it for the cash.

Hadn’t both James and Perry taught her that?

A sense of despair crowded her chest—it was an emotional side effect of winning that she

hadn’t thought about.

She parked in the station parking lot, suddenly self-conscious about her “new”

look. She’d pared it down from the weekend, but was still several steps above her normal

wardrobe in overlong white slacks, stiletto heels, with a green and blue striped tunic and silver belt. The ponytail was gone—instead she wore her hair long and loose.

People she’d worked with for over three years looked at her and did a double-take when

they realized it was her. First came surprise, then the compliments, followed by more surprise.

She heard them whispering as she passed.

By the time she reached the makeup room, she was nursing a self-conscious nerve rash.

She felt as if she were trying too hard, that she wanted people to notice her, that she was

showing off after winning all that money.

Inhaling deeply to calm her mind, she set down her things and headed to Eve’s office to

field the inevitable questions and to talk about today’s show, which was…She checked her

calendar, then frowned.

How to Get Over a Bad Boy.

Jane shook her head. Timed that one well, didn’t she?

Wishing she’d thought to take an aspirin, she headed toward Eve’s office, thinking that

they’d soon have to talk about an ending work date. She’d meant what she’d said to Perry about doing something good with her life. Just because he’d faked interest didn’t mean that she hadn’t been sincere.

On the other hand, she didn’t want to leave Eve high and dry at the show.

Although, then again, Eve might have plans of her own.

She slowed as she approached Eve’s office, frowning at the sound of raised voices.

Rounding the corner, she came up short at the sight of the woman standing in Eve’s office, arms crossed.

“Liza?” Jane asked, astonished.

From Eve’s rigid posture and flushed face, Jane realized she’d interrupted a heated

argument.

Liza Skinner spun, her trademark wild hair swirling around her shoulders. “Jane? Oh, my

God, is that you?”

“That’s what I want to know,” Eve murmured, eyeing Jane with shock…and disapproval?

“It’s me,” Jane said, extending her arms for a hug.

Liza hugged her briefly, but it was clear she’d come to Eve’s office with an agenda other

than just a reunion.

“Jane just got back from Vegas,” Eve offered.

Liza raised her eyebrows. “Did you now? Well, it must agree with you. You look great—

like you’ve been thoroughly laid.”

Jane’s cheeks flamed, while Eve’s mouth turned down at Liza’s typical bawdy humor.

“Where have you been?” Jane asked, trying to deflect attention away from herself. “Why

didn’t you let us know you were safe?”

Liza snorted. “Christ, Jane, you should know by now that I can take care of myself.”

“We missed you,” Jane added, glancing to Eve for support, but receiving only a sour look

in return.

“Right,” Liza said dryly. “My job’s been filled and the show’s going gangbusters. It looks

to me as if everyone has pretty much gone on without missing a beat.”

“That’s not true,” Jane said. “We talk about you all the time.”

“Oh, that I don’t doubt.” Liza’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

“Can’t you be nice?” Eve cut in. “You owe us an explanation, Liza, for taking off the way

you did.”

Liza emitted a bitter laugh. “Why don’t we talk about what you two owe me?”

Jane glanced at Eve, who seemed equally confused. Eve crossed her arms. “What are you

rambling about?”

“My share of thirty-eight million dollars, that’s what I’m rambling about.”

Jane was speechless, but luckily, Eve had never experienced that affliction.

“Your share? Are you out of your mind? We haven’t seen you in over a year!”

“I had money left in the lottery pool when I quit,” Liza said, looking to Jane for

confirmation because she’d always handled the money.

“Not enough to buy tickets for a year,” Jane sputtered.

Liza gave a dismissive wave. “We covered for each other lots of times.”

“Other people joined the pool after you left,” Eve said. “Cole, Zach, and Nicole.”

“They each picked numbers,” Jane added.

Liza raised her finger. “Ah, but you’re still playing one of my numbers—thirteen. Don’t try

to deny it. I saw the winning numbers.”

Jane exchanged a glance with Eve. It was true—thirteen was Liza’s lucky number.

And they had kept playing it for a while after she left out of respect for their friendship.

Then it had just become a habit.

Eve pressed her lips together and gave Jane a small shake of her head as if to warn her not

to say anything.

But Liza noticed and seized upon the body language with gusto. “See? You know I’m

right—you know I deserve a share of that money.”

“If the lottery money is the only reason you came back,” Eve said evenly, “then we have

nothing to talk about.”

Liza gave Eve the smirk that Jane knew drove Eve crazy. “Okay, I’m leaving. For now.”

As she passed Jane, she looked her up and down. “Of all people, I thought the lottery wouldn’t change you, Jane. Guess I was wrong.”

Jane lifted her chin. “I guess everyone has their secrets.”

Liza smiled. “Touché.” Then she disappeared down the hallway with a flourish, leaving

them once again standing in the wake of Tornado Liza. Jane looked after her, biting her lip. Liza had been stirring up trouble since they were kids, and still seemed hellbent on cloaking herself in controversy. If she wasn’t such a creative genius, no one would be able to put up with her.

“Do you believe her nerve?” Eve asked.

Jane sighed. “It’s Liza, Eve. What did you expect?”

“Oh, I don’t know—a little maturity? A little respect for our friendship? Maybe even an

apology for dropping off the face of the Earth? Instead, she plows back into our lives and expects us to give her millions of dollars?”

“Do you think she’ll try to…do something?”

Eve scoffed. “Liza’s bark has always been worse than her bite, so let’s not say anything to

the others.” She angled her head. “So…how are you?”