His Larkville Cinderella

Eva wasn’t going to allow it. Megan’s shoulders sagged.

  “Stand up straight,” Eva snapped. “You can’t have bad posture when you’re on the red carpet.”

  Megan straightened. Excitement stirred beneath her chest. “I can go?”

  Eva narrowed her blue eyes. “Yes, but you’d better not do anything to make me regret this.”

  “I won’t. I promise. On my father’s grave.” Megan wanted to hug Eva, but thought better of it. “Thank you.”

  Eva’s assessing gaze traveled the length of Megan. No doubt assembling an inventory of all the things wrong with her. It would be a long list.

  She fought the urge to squirm. She wouldn’t give Firebreather the satisfaction.

  “The Viewers’ Choice Awards is a formal event,” Eva said finally. “Do you have anything appropriate to wear? Shoes? Accessories?”

  Her boss’s critical tone bristled. “I have a dress.”

  “Off the rack?”

  Megan raised her chin. “I made it.”

  “For a class?”

  “For me.”

  Surprise flashed in Eva’s eyes, but vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

  The dress was one she’d mentioned to Rob. Stunning, if Megan said so herself. Glamorous, sexy even. Not the typical style she would ever considering wearing, but that had been part of the challenge. The fun. The dress wasn’t doing much good hanging in her closet.

  “Bring the dress in tomorrow,” Eva ordered.

  The thought of showing a talented costume designer like Eva Redding her dress knotted Megan’s stomach. “I... I...”

  “You’re my intern,” Eva said. “I’m not going to allow you to embarrass me and Adam by showing up at a huge media event in the wrong dress.”

  Good point. “I’ll show you the dress tomorrow.”

  * * *

  In his trailer, Adam played a game on one of his consoles. His cell phone beeped. A text message had arrived. He glanced at the touch screen. The text was from Megan.

  Thanks for talking to Eva!!!! I can go to the awards show with you!!!!!

  All the exclamation points made him smile. He typed a reply back.

  Great!

  Adam had looked for her this morning, but hadn’t seen her. He missed her smile. He typed another text.

  See you at lunch?

  As soon as he pressed Send, he winced. Why was he torturing himself like this? Hanging out with a woman he couldn’t have was stupid.

  Her response arrived quickly.

  Yes!!!!

  A thrill flashed through him at the thought of being with her. What was a little bit more torture, especially when she had such gorgeous eyes and a very pretty smile and made him feel like the king of the world? Even though he knew better, he typed.

  See you then!

  The next day, Megan carried a garment bag containing her dress into the costume department. She was awash with nerves, but a hint of excitement that Eva might like the dress kept Megan from wigging out completely. She found most of the wardrobe crew waiting for her.

  “Show us this dress of yours,” Eva ordered.

  With a trembling hand, Megan unzipped the bag and removed the dress. The purple fabric shimmered and sparkled. She showed the front of the dress to them.

  Kenna gasped. Rosie grinned. Two others stared in disbelief.

  Eva studied the gown. Her blank expression gave nothing away as to her opinion of the dress. “Show me the back.”

  Megan turned the dress around.

  “Interesting,” Eva said.

  Megan had no idea if interesting was good or bad. She was afraid to ask so she kept her lips pressed together in a half smile.

  “With a couple fixes, it’ll work for the Viewers’ Choice Awards,” Eva said. “The bow has to go. The slit needs to be higher.”

  Megan tightened her grip on the hanger. It was already slit to her midthigh. Any higher...

  “What shoes?” Eva asked.

  Megan pulled out a pair of sandals. They were the dressiest shoes she owned.

  Every person in the room shook their head. A few looked horrified by her choice of footwear.

  “No,” Eva said. “You need a higher heel. Slingbacks or a T-strap. Silver.”

  The others nodded their approval.

  “I’ll buy a pair,” Megan said.

  Eva shook her head. “I’ll take care of it.”

  As Megan stood there holding her dress, her coworkers debated what accessories she needed as well as what to do with her hair and makeup. More people joined in on the discussion until a plan had been made, one without any input from her. She felt like a mannequin in a store window. Was this how Adam felt during a fitting and when he was being dressed for a shoot?

  “You’ll get ready here.” A rare smile brightened Eva’s face. “You’ll be feeling like Cinderella by the time we’re finished with you.”

  Megan wiggled her toes. She would have never believed Firebreather had it in her to be a fairy godmother. Or Adam her prince. “Thanks.”

  She would happily enjoy the fairy tale for the night. Even if a part of her wished it could last a little longer.

  CHAPTER TEN

  PRODUCTION was halfway over. Shooting continued amid delays, including an unexpected rain shower on a day scheduled for an outdoor scene. Script changes slowed. The shoot would be moving on location shortly. That would mix things up a bit and make this bubble world of the set even smaller.

  Adam was looking forward to getting away from the lot. Being on location meant fewer distractions. More time to spend with Megan.

  He exited the set following a close-up shot, his eyelids heavy and his feet dragging. He had an hour and a half break. He wanted to make the most of it. No video games, no phone calls, no texts. His assistant, Veronica, was making sure his bed was turned down and a white-noise machine running.

  Napping wasn’t his usual way to relax on the set, but a fling wasn’t happening. At least not with the one woman he wanted. No one else interested him as much. At least he had a new friend.

  “Adam.” One of the grips ran up to him. “Chas is looking for you.”

  Damn. Adam didn’t want to waste his break talking to the producer. Now if it were Megan... He would see her at lunch. Mealtimes were their main time together. It reminded Adam a little of high school, except students got some action. He wasn’t getting any—no kisses or hand-holding even. But celibacy was turning out to be good for his acting. He could almost taste a nomination. “Tell Chas I’m getting a cup of coffee.”

  Adam trudged his way to the food and drinks table. He yawned, fighting a bone-weary tiredness that had set in over the past week and a half. A busy schedule and sleepless nights didn’t go well together.

  He downed half a cup of coffee. Maybe that would wake him up. Though it might wreak havoc with his nap.

  “Looks like you could use a jolt of caffeine.” Chas joined him at the coffee station. “Or a nap.”

  “Between the shoot and PR for the SEALs film, I don’t have time to breathe.” Adam had been running from one thing to the next, wherever he was told to go. The one constant amid all the chaos was Megan. She was always on his mind, day or night, awake or asleep. A little weird considering he’d kissed her only once. An air of mystery hovered around her. Maybe it was because they hadn’t slept together. But with only a few weeks left of the shoot he wasn’t going to analyze it too much. “I’ve lost track of the number of radio phone-in interviews I’ve done.”

  “Keep up whatever you’re doing. The dailies look great,” Chas said. “Everyone thinks I’m a genius for wanting you to play Maxwell.”

  Adam drank more coffee. The strong, hot drink tasted good going down his throat. “I never did ask why you were so set on me for the part.”

  “My wife,” Chas admitted. “She’s been a big fan ever since Neptune.”

  That one role had changed everything for him. He hoped bigger things happened with this film. “So she’s the true genius.”

 
Chas nodded. “And she knows it, too.”

  The sound of wheels rolling on the asphalt made Adam glance to his left. Megan pushed a clothing rack to the costume department. A camera bag hung off her shoulder. Worn jeans hugged her thighs like a second skin. A scooped-neck burgundy shirt with a sleeveless sweater over it complimented her ivory skin. More stylish than a plain T-shirt. If only she’d wear her hair down instead of clipped on the top of her head...

  Megan’s gaze met his.

  Her beaming smile took his breath away. He waved, then watched the gentle sway of her hips as she passed by.

  Chas tsked. “Texas, huh? I had no idea.”

  Adam’s gaze jerked from Megan’s retreating backside to the producer. “What was that about Texas?”

  “I didn’t realize the two of you were an item.”

  Unease slithered down his spine. “We’re not.”

  “Could have fooled me the way her eyes lit up when she saw you.”

  Yeah, they had lit up. He’d noticed that a couple of times. Her smile seemed wider and brighter. It didn’t mean anything. She must be getting excited about the Viewers’ Choice Awards on Saturday night. Adam was looking forward to it. He’d been nominated, but he wanted to see Megan all dressed up and walking down the red carpet. “We’re friends.”

  They were friends. Except when was the last time Adam had wanted to see a friend so much or thought about a friend all the time or dreamed about them? Hot dreams. Naked dreams. He gulped.

  Chas winked. “I know what kind of friend you are, one who funds shopping sprees after a night of hot monkey sex. No wonder you’re so tired lately.”

  The producer’s wink-wink, nudge-nudge tone bothered Adam. He didn’t like the insinuation that Megan might be trading sex for clothes. “We’re friends, period. No sex or shopping sprees.”

  Chas shrugged. “Well, given the way she looks at you, if you want her, she won’t put up much of an argument.”

  A weight pressed down on the center of Adam’s chest. “Megan might surprise you.”

  She had surprised him. He knew the kind of romantic relationship Megan wanted. It was one hundred and eighty degrees different from what he wanted.

  Maybe there was some middle ground where they both could be satisfied with more than their friendship right now. Or maybe things would continue as they were until production shut down and that would be it. They would say goodbye and move on to their next projects without looking back on what might have been. The thought of not talking to or seeing her again bummed him out. He drank the rest of his coffee.

  “Hugh wants to see you,” Chas said.

  An image of Rhys Rogers dressed as a clown, complete with red nose and frizzy orange wig, performing at a kid’s birthday party appeared in Adam’s mind. Dread coupled with a sense of foreboding knotted his gut. “Hugh’s never wanted to see me before.”

  Chas nodded. “Don’t worry.”

  “Easy for you to say. You aren’t the one rolling around in bed with Hugh’s fiancée.”

  During yesterday’s love scene shoot, Lane had her hands all over Adam. If she’d become Calliope and gotten wrapped up in the moment, he wouldn’t have minded so much. But what she did had nothing to do with acting like a husband and wife making love and everything to do with Lane being a sexual predator and him her prey. Damon had been pleased with the shot, but no one, not even the watchful director, knew what Lane had been trying to do to Adam under the sheets.

  Talk about awkward. He was relieved that Megan hadn’t been allowed on the closed set. Nonessential crew members were kept out during sex scene shoots. A good thing because Adam hadn’t wanted Megan to feel uncomfortable about his acting with Lane.

  “I’m serious. No worries,” Chas said. “Hugh has a favor to ask. That’s all.”

  The studio head was rich and powerful. Adam had nothing Hugh would want or need. “When and where does he want to see me?”

  “Now. In his office.”

  So much for a nap. Adam tossed his cup into the trash can. “Leave it to Hugh to know this is my biggest chunk of free time until lunch.”

  “He knows everything that happens around here.”

  Adam wondered if Hugh knew what his fiancée was up to, even when the cameras were rolling. Somehow Adam doubted it.

  “Hugh always reciprocates favors,” Chas said in a low voice. “He’s a good person to have in your debt.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  Five minutes later, Adam entered Hugh Wilstead’s office. Floor-to-ceiling windows along the back wall overlooked the entire lot. Movie posters covered the other walls along with a USC pennant and a Stanford flag. Framed photographs and awards filled bookshelves. Impressive.

  “Hello, Adam.” Hugh rose from behind a giant mahogany desk with a telephone and a laptop on top. The studio head wore a gray suit, yellow tie and white button-down shirt. Except for the patch of gray hair at his temple, he looked to be in his mid-thirties. He shook Adam’s hand firmly. “Thanks for stopping by. The shoot is going well.”

  Adam nodded. “Solid script. Talented cast. Great crew. You’re going to have a winner on your hands.”

  “I like your confidence.” Hugh motioned to a black leather chair. “Sit.”

  Adam did.

  Hugh sat and leaned back in his chair. “I find myself in a bit of a dilemma. I have to be in Europe this weekend. A meeting I can’t get out of.”

  Adam had no idea what this had to do with him, but Hugh didn’t sound pleased. “That’s too bad.”

  “Lane is not happy about it,” Hugh said. “When she’s not happy, everyone around her will be unhappy.”

  So that explained Lane’s tantrum this morning. At least it hadn’t been because Adam had turned her down. Again. “We don’t want Lane unhappy.”

  “That’s why I need a favor.”

  Adam should have known this “favor” might have something to do with Lane. He doubted Hugh would want him to sleep with his fiancée. The guy didn’t look like the type who shared his toys. But Hugh Wilstead was someone you wanted in your corner. Especially if they owed you a favor, as Chas had mentioned. “I’m happy to help out, what do you need?”

  “The Viewers’ Choice Awards are Saturday night. Lane’s nominated,” Hugh said. “I’d like you to escort her to the event, as a personal favor to me.”

  No freaking way. Adam’s stomach roiled at the thought of spending the evening with Lane instead of Megan. “I have a date.”

  Hugh straightened. “That does complicate matters.”

  Adam nodded. He remembered the excitement dancing in Megan’s pretty brown eyes when he’d invited her. He couldn’t wait to show her the glamorous side of the movie industry. “She’s excited to go. I would hate to let her down.”

  “No doubt,” Hugh agreed. “But this is just one awards show. There will be others.”

  Not for months. Who knew where either of them would be by then? He couldn’t imagine them together, but the thought of not being with Megan made Adam shift in his seat. He liked having her around.

  Hugh’s gaze hardened. “You’re a smart man. You’ll think of a way to make it up to her. The way I’ll make it up to you.”

  The carrot dangled. The consequences of saying no to Hugh weighed on Adam’s mind as much as the benefit of saying yes. He’d worked hard to get where he was. He didn’t want to derail the momentum of his career over something like this.

  But he couldn’t stop thinking about Megan. She would be disappointed and rightly so. He took a deep breath, feeling trapped. No matter what he decided someone wouldn’t be happy. Someone would be hurt. He didn’t want that person to be Megan.

  A few weeks ago, he would have said yes to Hugh without any hesitation. But the thought of hurting her tightened a vice grip around Adam’s heart. She’d come to mean a lot to him. The depth of his feelings for her took him by surprise.

  “This is a difficult spot to be in,” Hugh continued. “We never want to let down the women we love.”
>
  Whoa. Adam clutched the chair arms. Hugh might love Lane, but Adam didn’t love Megan. Okay, he liked her. Megan was nice. Pretty. Hot. He enjoyed kissing her and being with her. He cared what happened to her. But nothing would ever come of it. She wouldn’t be around for long. No one ever was.

  Friendship was one thing. But love...

  No way. He didn’t love anybody. Except his mom. And that hadn’t always turned out so well with men flitting in and out of their lives. Love was uncertain, out of control and left you hurting when it went south. Which it always did.

  Why would anyone want to fall in love?

  He didn’t plan on it, but Megan...

  I want my first time to be with someone I love and trust and who feels the same way about me.

  She wanted to be in love, but that didn’t mean she’d fallen for him?

  Could have fooled me the way her eyes lit up when she saw you.

  Well, if you want her, it doesn’t look like she’ll put up much of an argument.

  Chas noticing those things about Megan bothered Adam. He didn’t want a relationship or a girlfriend. He didn’t want any sort of attachments to slow down his career or put his heart at risk.

  Or hers.

  Megan had her whole life ahead of her and big plans, ones that would take her away from him. If she’d developed romantic feelings for him, then his not taking her to the awards ceremony would be a good thing for both their sakes. Neither of them could afford to get in too deep.

  “You and Lane attending the awards will drum up early publicity for the movie,” Hugh added. “It will help your SEALs film, too.”

  Adam found himself nodding, ignoring the voice inside his head reminding him about Megan. He’d promised her a good time. He hated breaking his promises. He remembered how badly it stung when his mother broke hers.

  Hugh steepled his hands. “So I can count on you for Saturday.”