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  “It’s nothing, Ruby. Don’t worry about it. I’ve had far worse injuries than this one.”

  “But I didn’t cause them,” I replied, my voice heavy with regret.

  He sat up with a blanket still covering his legs. “You didn’t cause this, Ruby. In case you haven’t noticed, I had some pretty severe injuries from a helicopter crash two years ago. I’ve been doing workouts every day to strengthen my quads so it supported my bad knee better, but it was always going to be weak and prone to injury. I’ll heal.”

  “You shouldn’t have come after me,” I argued as I sat up and was able to look him directly in the eyes.

  We were both still in hospital gowns, and we were staring each other down. I might have seen the humor in having a hospital argument if I didn’t feel so crappy about what had happened.

  “There was never any question about whether or not I was going to find you,” he growled. “We were in a shitty area of Miami, and you were almost naked. I wasn’t going to leave you after I’d just gotten you out of harm’s way.”

  My chest ached from his words. “Most people would have,” I said in a voice that was almost a whisper. “But I guess most people wouldn’t have tried to help me in the first place.”

  I dropped my head and we lost eye contact. Jett was intense, and I wasn’t quite sure how to deal with a guy like him.

  Who goes off and rescues a woman he doesn’t even know? I couldn’t even call his sister, Dani, a real friend since we’d just met a few weeks ago. But these people had made it their business to help me out.

  “How do I ever repay you and Dani?” I said as I looked at the tile floor. “How can I ever make up for getting you injured?”

  They were senseless questions because I could never pay him back for the funds he’d shoveled out, or for the injury he’d taken because of me.

  “You can give the police your statement and then testify to put down the organization that profits off human trafficking,” he answered. “The people who kidnapped you were minions, part of a far more powerful group that operates all over the world. You can help put them out of business for good.”

  I shook my head, still unable to meet his gaze as I said, “Who is going to believe me? I’m a homeless woman with no real family. I’m a nobody. I always have been. And I’m sure the top guy is rich.”

  “He is. He’s well regarded in this city because he has money,” Jett said irritably.

  “Then they’ll never believe me,” I said in a shaky voice.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jett moving, but I was still startled as he put his fingers on my chin and forced it upward until our gazes locked.

  His green eyes grew stormy as he looked at me. “I know it won’t be easy,” he said in a gentler tone. “But I’ll be there to give my statement about what happened, too, and I’ll testify. These people need to go to jail, Ruby. The couple who kidnapped you should be behind bars where they can’t hurt any more women ever again.”

  “I’ll try,” I agreed.

  I wanted everybody involved in the human trafficking ring to be unable to hurt anybody else. I didn’t want to see any woman to go through what I had.

  But I was afraid because my word held no weight. “I’m just not sure they’ll believe me.”

  “You’re brave, Ruby. You can do it,” Jett encouraged.

  “Necessity makes even the timid brave,” I mumbled.

  “Sallust?” Jett said. “You’re into Roman history?”

  I sighed. “I spend a lot of time in the library. I read a lot of things that I remember at the weirdest of times.”

  His eyes bored into mine as he replied, “I don’t think you’ve ever been timid.”

  I stared back him and replied, “You’d be surprised.”

  He took my hand in his, and I didn’t pull away because it felt so good to be connected to someone.

  “Could you live with yourself if you don’t try?”

  “It isn’t that I don’t want to,” I explained in a rush. “I do. But because I’m some homeless nobody, they aren’t likely to believe me.”

  I was nearly invisible to most people, an unfortunate woman who people assumed was a drug addict, an alcoholic, or mentally ill when I was seen sleeping in a public place. Otherwise, the world around me never really noticed me.

  “I have a solution, but you might not like it,” Jett said in a guttural voice.

  I was falling into his beautiful green eyes, temporarily mesmerized by the determination I could see in the depths of his stare. “What?” I murmured.

  “Do you really want to pay me back?” he asked.

  “Yes!” I said immediately.

  Just ask me. I’ll do whatever you want.

  “Marry me,” he said huskily.

  “What?” I was certain I’d misheard him during my temporary stupor.

  “Marry. Me.”

  My eyes widened as I realized I’d heard him correctly. “What?”

  “Think about it, Ruby. I’m a well-known technical guy in my field. Nobody would ever know how we met, or why we’d married once it comes time to testify. You’d be my wife, and unless you have a criminal history, your background wouldn’t even be in question.”

  “I-I’ve never been in trouble,” I stammered. “To most people, I just don’t exist.”

  “You’d have a home address, and a life nobody would question.”

  “I don’t really know what it’s like to have a real home,” I blurted out.

  “You’ll have one if you marry me,” he vowed. “You’ll never see another day on the streets again. I promise.”

  My heart skittered as I looked at his sincere expression.

  I was a realist, but the deeply buried hope inside me desperately wanted to say yes to Jett’s insane proposal.

  I had very little to lose.

  “I’d get so much, and you’d get so little,” I said breathlessly.

  “I’d get a lot. I’d get you,” he answered simply. “And if you’re unhappy with the arrangement, we’ll get the marriage annulled.”

  I didn’t know quite what he meant, but I already knew he didn’t expect a sexual relationship. Not if he was offering to get our marriage annulled in the future. If I could somehow help this man, I was willing to go all in.

  The only thing that stopped me from saying yes was the fact that Jett was getting far less from the deal than I would.

  “Say yes, Ruby,” Jett prompted as he gently cupped my face with his hands. “I’m getting far more out of the deal than I can explain right now.”

  I nearly melted at the sensation of his tender touch.

  There was only silence as I tried to decide what to say.

  Was the proposal fair to Jett?

  But then, he was the one who had brought up the idea, so he had to have his reasons for wanting the arrangement.

  Could I really marry a guy I didn’t even know?

  Confused, jumbled thoughts continued to run through my brain until I finally made my decision.

  I broke eye contact with him as I muttered my answer in a barely audible voice. I was certain that I’d said the right thing.

  But for some reason, that single word that had come out of my mouth had somehow felt so very wrong that I didn’t look at Jett again as the nurse entered the room with our discharge instructions and we were ready to leave the hospital.

  My fate had been sealed with one little word.

  I just hoped I didn’t someday regret the decision I’d made.

  ****End of Jett and Ruby’s Prelude****

  Read Billionaire Unloved for the entire story of what happens with Ruby and Jett, Coming soon on February 27!

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0742L9RSD

  About the Author

  J.S. “Jan” Scott is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of steamy romance. She’s an avid reader of all types of books and literature. Writing what she loves to read, J.S. Scott writes both contemporary steamy romance stories and p
aranormal romance. They almost always feature an Alpha Male and have a happily ever after because she just can’t seem to write them any other way! She lives in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her husband and two very spoiled German Shepherds.

  Please visit me at:

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  BOOKS BY J.S. SCOTT

  Billionaire Obsession Series

  The Billionaire’s Obsession (Simon & Kara)

  Heart of the Billionaire (Sam & Maddie)

  The Billionaire’s Salvation (Max & Mia)

  The Billionaire’s Game (Kade & Asha)

  Billionaire Undone (Travis & Ally)

  Billionaire Unmasked (Jason & Hope)

  Mine for Christmas (Simon & Kara Short Novella)

  Billionaire Untamed (Tate & Lara)

  Billionaire Unbound (Gabe & Chloe)

  Billionaire Undaunted (Zane & Ellie)

  Billionaire Unknown (Blake & Harper)

  Billionaire Unveiled (Marcus & Dani)

  Billionaire Unloved (Jett & Ruby) (Coming February 27, 2018)

  Sinclair Series

  The Billionaire’s Christmas (Grady Novella)

  No Ordinary Billionaire (Dante)

  The Forbidden Billionaire (Jared)

  The Billionaire’s Touch (Evan)

  The Billionaire’s Voice (Micah)

  The Billionaire Takes All (Julian)

  The Billionaire’s Secret (Xander)

  Only A Millionaire (Liam Novella) (Coming April 24, 2018)

  Walker Brothers Series

  Release (Trace)

  Player (Sebastian)

  Damaged (Dane)

  A Dark Horse Novel

  Bound

  Hacked

  The Sentinel Demons

  The Sentinel Demons: The Complete Collection

  A Dangerous Bargain

  A Dangerous Hunger

  A Dangerous Fury

  A Dangerous Demon King

  The Vampire Coalition Series

  The Vampire Coalition: The Complete Collection

  The Rough Mating of a Vampire (Prelude)

  Ethan’s Mate

  Rory’s Mate

  Nathan’s Mate

  Liam’s Mate

  Daric’s Mate

  Changeling Encounters Series

  Changeling Encounters: The Complete Collection

  Mate Of The Werewolf

  The Dangers Of Adopting A Werewolf

  All I Want For Christmas Is A Werewolf

  The Pleasures of His Punishment

  The Pleasures of His Punishment: The Complete Collection

  The Billionaire Next Door

  The Millionaire and the Librarian

  Riding with the Cop

  Secret Desires of the Counselor

  In Trouble with the Boss

  Rough Ride with a Cowboy

  Rough Day for the Teacher

  A Forfeit for a Cowboy

  Just what the Doctor Ordered

  Wicked Romance of a Vampire

  The Curve Collection: Big Girls and Bad Boys Series

  The Curve Collection: The Complete Collection

  The Curve Ball

  The Beast Loves Curves

  Curves by Design

  Taken By A Trillionaire Series

  Taken By a Trillionaire

  Virgin for the Trillionaire by Ruth Cardello

  Virgin for the Prince by J.S. Scott

  Virgin to Conquer by Melody Anne

  Other Titles

  Well Played w/Ruth Cardello (Coming January 30, 2018)