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“Is there anything I can get you while you wait?” Rafael’s young assistant came over and asked. Her smile indicated she offered a lot more than water or juice. She’d checked on him every five minutes since he’d arrived. He knew, because it was how often he’d checked his mobile.
He gave her a smile but shook his head. “No, thank you, Tina. I’m fine.”
“I don’t mean to be a bother. I just know that I hate waiting. Sometimes it helps to have a distraction,” she said, emphasizing the last word.
Inwardly he groaned. If he wasn’t the Irvin Freeman and was just a plain bloke walking down the street, would she even give him a passing glance? He doubted it. When he was growing up, his looks were considered average at best. Amazing how swagger, money and fame had taken him from regular guy to sex symbol.
He held up the magazine. “I have a distraction,” he said, not letting the smile drop from his face. He might get annoyed with the groupies, but he was never rude. Full mouths couldn’t complain, after all.
“Oh, well, if you need anything, just call me.”
She turned to walk away, and he did watch her stride across the room. She was beautiful—he’d give her that. Nice bum, small waist and tan skin. When he’d first started in the business, he would have accepted her offer. Back when being desired by a multitude of women was new, not annoying.
Tina glanced at him over her shoulder and caught him watching. The light in her eye nearly made him cringe for real. Now he’d have to convince her that he might have looked, but he had no intention of touching.
The moment was interrupted when Kitty and the rest of the group burst into the room with a wave of conversation and laughter. Though he’d known they were coming, the arrival of Kitty and the entourage came with the anxious feeling he had back when he’d started out in some small off-Broadway play. Every move he made while they were around would be watched, scrutinized and reported on some social-media site if deemed interesting enough to boost his celebrity status.
He scanned the group for the winner. Kitty had texted him that she still didn’t seem very excited, so he expected to find the cool smile and reserved expression from her employee photo. His scan came to an immediate halt when it landed on the smiling cutie talking to one of the cameramen.
In his mind he let out an appreciative whistle. This was not the reserved woman from the picture, not with that smile. It was what he noticed first. She had the brightest, most beautiful smile he’d ever seen on a woman. Then there were her legs: long, shapely and enticing in the short denim shorts. The lavender shirt showed off toned arms and looked good against the red undertones in her skin. Her dark, thick hair was pulled back into a ponytail.
Coming from the UK, he’d never understood the girl-next-door thing that American men went for, at least not until this moment. This woman made him think of barbecues, bike riding and picnics. All that down-home stuff Hollywood portrayed in their good ole American films.
He slowly stood and grinned. The weekend wasn’t going to be as bad as he had originally thought. He’d still stick with the “look but don’t touch” approach, but at least this woman was nice to look at.
She stopped talking and turned his way. The smile on her face froze, then became stiff around the edges. She took a deep breath and just watched him for what felt like hours, but was probably just a few seconds. He waited for the excitement, frantic fanning, shriek of joy and tears. He was usually good for a tear or two.
They never came. Instead, she calmly walked over and held out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Irvin.”
That accent... Hers was a slow, husky drawl that wrapped around him and made him want to hear it whisper his name. He normally didn’t care much for Southern accents, but he could listen to hers all night.
He took her hand in his. “The pleasure is all mine.”
She swallowed and gave a short nod before pulling her hand back. She rubbed it across her shorts then stuck both hands in her back pockets. “I appreciate you saying that. I’m sure this is kind of an imposition on you.”
“I wouldn’t have offered if it were. I’m always excited to find new ways to raise money for alcohol awareness.”
She nodded, but the look on her face said she didn’t quite believe him. “I guess it’s time for my total transformation.”
At that moment, Rafael came out of his office. To see him on the street, no one would guess that Rafael was a famous photographer. His curly hair, thick square glasses and unassuming white shirt and gray khakis didn’t set him apart from any other guy in his midthirties.
“Is this our winner?” Rafael asked in a loud, excited voice. He took both of Faith’s hands in his and held them out. “We don’t have much work to do with you. Look at those legs and that smile. You’ve got the cutest face, my dear.”
From the way she glanced around, Irvin wondered if she was uncomfortable with the praise.
“That’s very sweet coming from a man who photographs women far more glamorous than me.”
“Glamour is a mirage. A mirage that I create,” Rafael said, placing one of his hands on his chest. “The lens can make the meanest person look like a saint when it’s in the right hands, and my dear, I’ve got the right hands.”
Faith smiled, and Irvin was blown away by how cute she was. “The right hands and a way with words.”
Rafael laughed, then snapped his fingers for Tina to come over. “If you think I’m good with words, wait until you see these pictures. Now on to hair and makeup.”
“Not too much makeup,” Irvin said.
Faith and Rafael looked at him with varying degrees of surprise. Though Rafael’s look was tinged with a bit of curiosity. Irvin was not a makeup expert, but he had a feeling too much would only take away from her charm.
“Irvin has spoken,” Rafael said. “Not too much makeup.” Rafael and Tina ushered Faith to the dressing room.
“What do you think?” Kitty asked as Faith and Rafael disappeared.
“I like,” he said.
“Good. She’s a bit reserved. I still can’t get a read on her, but I’ll figure out what makes her tick.”
He knew what that meant. He pointed at Kitty. “No more digging. She’s here and she seems normal.”
“Normal is a mirage,” Kitty said, waving her hands in an imitation of Rafael that made Irvin laugh.
Several minutes later, Faith was back with her hair out of the ponytail and framing her face in a sleek bob that gently curled below her chin. They’d replaced the sleeveless lavender T-shirt with a sparkling yellow tank top and followed his instruction to not put too much makeup on her. Only enough to enhance her rounded cheeks, brown eyes and full lips.
“I’ll start with pictures of you. Then we’ll move on to both of you,” Rafael said. He led Faith over to the gray backdrop where they’d pose for the shoot.
“What am I supposed to do?” Faith asked.
“Be your sweet Southern self, my dear,” Rafael said with a wave of his hand. “Where are you from, again?”
“South Carolina. Laurel County.”
“Hmm, I’ve been to North Carolina. Had a shoot in Charlotte once.” Rafael started snapping pictures.
Faith gave him a tight smile. “That’s not very close to where I’m from.”
“Either way, relax, my dear. Just be yourself.”
She glanced around at the background with barely concealed panic.
Irvin hurried over to her side. “Why don’t we start with both of us?” He took her hand. Her palm was slick. She was more nervous than she let on.
Her eyes widened and she tried to jerk her hand away. He held on more tightly and pulled her closer to his side. “Relax.”
Her hand flexed in his, and she cut her eyes toward Rafael snapping away. “Easier said than done. You weren’t hustled from a plane to a photo shoot without a chance to breathe.”
“Are you nervous?”
“Just a bit.”
He gave her his lady-killer smile. “Don’t be. I don’t bite.”
A frown came across her features before she lifted her chin. “That’s good to know, but it’s not why I’m nervous. I know I just have a few scheduled appearances with you, which is how I prefer it.”
She slid her hand away and wiped it on the leg of her shorts. How she preferred it? He hadn’t had a woman say she preferred spending minimal time with him since he’d left London. He started to ask why when it hit him. He’d had women try to play the reverse-psychology thing on him before. Pretend disinterest in hopes of gaining his attention. Several years ago he’d done a film in which the leading lady’s character used that dishonest tactic to win over the heart of the politician he’d played. Ever since, women tried it with him constantly. Thinking she would do that was surprisingly disappointing.
“So let me guess. You entered the contest to spend a weekend with me, but are hoping to limit our time together. Not secretly hoping that something would happen between us.”
Her incredulous look was almost believable. “You’ve got to be kidding. Do you really think I’d want to add my name to the list of forgettable women you sleep with?”
Rafael snapped faster. “Closer, my dears. You’re happy about this weekend.”
Irvin wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his side. She smelled good, a light flowery fragrance. And her body fit nicely with his. A fact he wished he wasn’t so acutely aware of.
“Are you accusing me,” he said through his fake smile for the camera, “of planning to seduce the winner of this contest?”
She was stiff beside him, but she relaxed and pasted on her own smile when Rafael ordered her to look happy. “Honestly, the thought never crossed my mind that you’d try to seduce me. Though I doubt you’d turn down sex if I offered.”
He turned to face her, almost entertained by her attempt to throw the offer out there in a backhanded way. “Oh, really. Please tell me why you think I’d take you to bed.”
She hesitated, and he could tell she was wondering whether or not to say more. When determination filled her gaze he grinned. She was playing this all the way.
“You’re used to women throwing themselves at you,” she said. “You’re linked to a different woman faster than I can change underwear, and this month Essence magazine’s readers voted you the man women most want to sleep with. I highly doubt you turn down many offers for sex.”
“Are you calling me promiscuous?”
“All I’m saying is that you don’t lack for women lining up to warm your bed, and I didn’t come up here to be your next electric blanket.” Her voice rose on her last words. She sounded almost sincere. He struggled with wishing she was and wishing she wasn’t. He no longer slept with groupies, but he had to admit, this particular one went from cute to sexy when she pretended to be angry.
It took a second for him to realize silence filled the room. They both turned to find Kitty nearly fuming, Rafael laughing and the rest of his entourage wearing expressions of disbelief.
“That’s a wrap,” Rafael said, balancing his camera on his shoulder.
Faith stepped away from Irvin. She looked from one end of the room to the other. “I’ve got to make a call. Is there a place where I can go for privacy?”
Rafael pointed to his office. “Right in that room.”
“Thank you.” She hurried to the office and pushed the door closed.
Kitty rushed to Irvin’s side. “I told you she didn’t want to be here. I knew I should have handpicked the winner instead of using a random selection. She should be happy—”
“If you’re going to say she should be happy to sleep with me this weekend, then save it. All that was a ploy. I’ve had women try to pull this on me before. She’s probably in there right now telling her girlfriend that she’s brilliant and has me fooled.”
He crossed the room to Rafael’s office. The door hadn’t closed all the way, and he felt no remorse about eavesdropping on her conversation. He would pay money that she was in there calling someone to say the plan was working. That she was on her way to convincing him she wasn’t just another fan out to land Irvin Freeman in bed.
He needed to hear it to take his mind off how incredibly sexy she’d been as she’d dressed him down. How her eyes sparked, and that accent of hers grew thicker. In that moment he imagined his name swirling out of her mouth in that drawl, and he needed to snap out of it.
He leaned close to the door, ready to hear her gloating or strategizing her next move.
“The man is exactly what I thought—another spoiled, rich playboy who thinks women are here only to please him. I told you I should have stayed home, Mama. This weekend is going to be terrible.”
Her angry rant immediately proved him wrong. And for Irvin Freeman that was a first.
Chapter 5
“What are you talking about?” Virginia asked.
“I’m here and already it’s a hassle. Irvin isn’t the nice guy he comes across as in those interviews. He thinks I’m here to seduce him.”
“Well, maybe you should.”
“Mama, please don’t say ridiculous things.”
“Okay, that was a bit much, but it won’t hurt to just let your hair down and have a little fun. You can do that without being around him.”
Faith sighed and pushed the hair away from her face. Now that the shoot was over, she was pretty sure Kitty had said she was going to the hotel. She could get away from Irvin immediately.
“You’re right. He’ll go his way and I can walk around and explore the city a little bit before going to the party tonight.”
“Can you say the word party without sounding like you’re going to the gallows?”
Faith laughed. “Fine. I can’t wait to go to the party with the arrogant actor who thinks I’m here to trick him into bed,” she said with false charm and cheer.
“Goodbye, Faith,” her mama said, chuckling.
“You and Daddy can call me whenever you need to. And be sure to warm up one of those meals I froze for dinner tonight. And if I forgot something on the grocery list, just call Marie and she’ll get it for you. And—”
“Seriously, Faith, goodbye. Don’t worry. Your daddy and I will be fine.”
Faith was being overprotective, but it had been her role for the past two years. One she took so seriously she sometimes forgot they were the parents. She took a deep breath and reminded herself that her mama was a thousand times better now than she’d been when Faith had first come home, and her daddy had been living with his disability for years.
“Okay, Mama, I’ll call you later.”
She ended the call, then tapped the phone on her chin. Now what? She wasn’t ready to face Irvin. Admittedly, she was very disappointed that he fit the entitled-guy mold. As her excitement had budded on the plane, she’d hoped he would be somewhat normal. If only Marie could have taken off work and come with her. She could relax if she had her friend along.
With a sigh, she turned and opened the door—only to jump back when she nearly walked right into Irvin. Her heart went from a tango to a standstill. The man was fine: square jaw covered by a precisely cut beard, wide, flat nose and piercing dark eyes that made her secretly swoon whenever he gave whatever lucky leading lady was starring opposite him a sexy stare.
Why, oh, why were good looks bestowed on men who didn’t deserve them?
He wasn’t handsome in the traditional sense. He made up for not having the classical good looks with a swagger that couldn’t be ignored. It oozed from every part of him: the way he walked, talked, dressed. He was classy and dangerous, gentleman and bad boy, nice and naughty all wrapped in masculine appeal.
And he thought she wanted to get him in bed.
Well, it’s not like it would be a hardship.
She gave herself a mental shake. No need thinking that. She would not be another fan tossing her panties at Irvin Freeman. No matter how seductive he looked.
“Were you listening in?”
“I was,” he said in that wonderful British accent that melted women’s underwear like butter on a hot skillet.
Her insides quivered. Literally quivered as if she were the virgin heroine in some medieval fairy tale. And though her virginity was long gone, something about the raw sexual energy he wore like a second skin made her believe all her previous sexual encounters were fumbling attempts at the real thing.
She crossed her arms and nailed him with the stare that used to make slacking nurses cower. “Care to tell me why?”
“I actually came over expecting to hear you gloat or come up with a new plan to flirt with me.” He held up his hands when her eyes narrowed. “But I was wrong, and I apologize. How about we give it another go?” He shot her that smile. The one that tugged up the corners of his full lips just enough to tempt a woman to forget the rules and follow him to the nearest bedroom.
She held her ground and stared him down. “Why don’t we simply agree to get through the weekend with minimal contact?”
“I can’t agree to that,” he said.
“Why not?”
“Because I offended you, and I want to make up for it. You must understand that I meant no disrespect to you. I’m bombarded by women, as you so readily pointed out, but I don’t take up every offer.”
He moved closer to lean against the door frame, and his gray T-shirt stretched over made for grabbing broad shoulders. His jeans were scuffed up just enough to make them look intentionally worn. A casual outfit that seemed sexy only because the clothes were on his perfect body.
“I understand, and accept your apology. Still, you don’t have to make up for it. I know this weekend is an obligation for you.”
“It might have started that way, but my outlook is definitely changing.”
His inviting gaze swept across her body. It was a quick and thorough examination. The kind of look a man gave when he wanted a woman to know he was interested. A look with all kinds of naughty promises. A look that tightened her nipples and sent an unexpected jolt between her legs.
“That’s nice of you to say.”
“I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it. Let me make it up to you.”
“It’s really not necessary. Your people flew me up here. We’re doing the party tonight and the premiere tomorrow. We just had an unfortunate misunderstanding, and everything will be smooth from here on out.”
“Have you been to New York before?”
The abrupt change in topic threw her for a loop. “No. It’s my first time.”
“Then let me show you around.”
Inside she squealed at the thought of getting a personal tour of the city from Irvin, but his apology and sex appeal were already making her forget that she wasn’t here for a Hollywood hookup.
“I’m tired. I just want to go back to the hotel and relax. But thank you, Irvin.”
He watched her for several seconds, then pushed away from the door. Before she could blink, he’d taken her hand in his. “Until tonight, then.” He brushed his lips across the back of her hand.
She fought very hard not to sigh and tremble in tandem with the shivers inside her belly. “I’ll see you at the party.”
He let go of her hand, then motioned for her to precede him. She breathed in the traces of his cologne, clean, crisp and completely delicious, as she swept past him. When she approached, the rest of the crew tried hard to pretend they weren’t paying attention, though she was confident they were doing nothing but. Kitty went into a flurry of instructions to her staff. In seconds they had their fingers flying across their phones. One even snapped a picture with his phone before typing something.
A sinking feeling went through her gut. Everything Irvin did ended up on some gossip site. Their little interaction was probably already posted somewhere. Another reason to limit her time with him. She didn’t need people probing into her past and discovering what her sister had done. Her family’s dirty laundry wasn’t for public display.
And neither was she.
She was so ready to get to the hotel, away from the prying eyes of his staff. And from Irvin’s hot glance and inviting looks.
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