Carol Marinelli - The Chatsfield Short Romances 6-10

Chloe was still shocked that she’d even confided her story to the stunning model but there was something about her that had gained Chloe’s confidence. Or maybe she had just needed to talk to someone. Get some advice. She wasn’t exactly the vengeful type and what if he laughed at her inexperienced attempts at seduction? Fortunately Cara had given her plenty of ideas and added stiletto heels to her purchases so she could be sure to really leave her mark on Liam Hunter as she used him as a doormat on her way out.

Yet even as she’d told Cara how much she disliked Liam, Chloe could still feel the way his long fingers had felt wrapped around her own. Still see the chiselled perfection of his face, still smell his woodsy male scent. Part of her obviously did like him. Very much. And it had nothing to do with her brain.

Did he really find her attractive now or had it all been in her imagination? And was it pathetic of her to feel just a little thrilled at the prospect?

Chloe swallowed. The more she thought about her marvellous plan for revenge the sicker she felt.

Chapter Four

She wasn’t coming.

Liam paced around his vast hotel living area taking no notice of the lavish furnishings which were currently draped with a throng of party goers he didn’t know. When he’d first made it big in Hollywood he’d soaked up parties like this one. Parties strewn with near naked girls who were more than willing to put out even in a room full of people, and guys who wanted to bask in the glow of his overnight success.

What would they all think if they heard about the horrible prank he’d been a part of five years ago? His father would be ashamed of him if he knew the full extent of it and while Liam hadn’t been personally responsible for the romantic banner pinned to the wall asking Chloe to marry him he’d been responsible for leading her on. He’d been responsible for letting her wrap her arms around his neck and for letting her say she loved him when he could have prevented it. Yes, he’d been dumbfounded by the joke. Dumbfounded that his friends had taken things to that level. But he’d done nothing to stop it and he still hated himself for that more than anything.

His ex -friends had uploaded the secret video straightaway, calling Chloe the plain pony to his sexy stallion. A frown marred Liam’s brow. She might not have been one of those girls who played on her looks but that didn’t make her plain. Not with those striking blue eyes and wavy red hair. That lush mouth that she’d nibble on in between explaining verb conjugations and negative infinitives. The fact that he’d been able to retain half the stuff she was telling him was thanks to that mouth and the amount of time he’d spent watching it.

And she wasn’t coming.

‘Hey, dude, great party.’

Liam studied the public school guy who looked like he’d had too much to drink and whom he didn’t know. Noelle had handed him a guest list at the start of the night but the only name he’d looked for was Chloe’s – aka Candy Lane. Married or a pseudonym? He hadn’t had a minute to himself all afternoon to find out. ‘Thanks, man.’ He nodded. ‘Say, you got the time?’

Preppie swayed on his feet as he pulled his phone from his pocket. ‘Quarter past twelve. Hey man, we should totally do a selfie.’

Liam obliged and pasted a smile on his face. He was learning to manage the fame aspect of his life and he certainly didn’t resent having fans. It was just that the more people who wanted to be around him because he was famous the more disconnected he felt from them.

And now he was ridiculously close to feeling sorry for himself and – there she was. Standing just inside the main doorway looking like a vision. The sight of her made Liam’s entire being rise to full alert. Damn she was pretty.

His eyes skimmed over her curvaceous figure in a pale dress that clung in all the right places. Her hair was loose and rippled down her back like a thick blanket, the overhead lights making it look as if it was on fire.

No, she’d never been plain and if his friends pinned that corny banner up now asking her to marry him everyone in the room would think it was real.

God, he had to apologise for that. But first he had to get rid of his suddenly sweaty palms, get her a drink and just talk to her. Find out why she’d changed her name to something that sounded like it belonged to a pop star and whether she was single.

For some reason that information seemed vitally important as he crossed the room to her before some of the other men checking her out got there first.

Her eyes widened as he approached and he glanced at her ring finger. Bare. That meant she was single because he instinctively knew she wasn’t the type to play games with men. The type who thought loyalty meant dumping someone right after they’d slept with someone else. And he only just realised how sick of that type he was. ‘I’m glad you could make it.’ He grinned. Somehow he felt like a weight had been lifted now that she had arrived.

She nodded but didn’t catch his eye. Okay, so this wasn’t going to go as easily as he had hoped. ‘Champagne?’ he asked.

‘No thanks.’ She smoothed her hands down her skirt. ‘I’m not really thirsty.’

Liam felt his grin widen. The last time he met a girl who drank because she was thirsty he’d been in grade school.

‘Oh, you mean alcohol.’ She blushed as she realised her gaffe and something inside his chest pulled tight. ‘Um, I probably shouldn’t anyway. I’ve already had some wine.’

Unfortunately that bit of information made his mood instantly darken. ‘So you’ve been out already?’ He knew his voice sounded sharp but he wanted to know where she had been and who with. The bite of jealousy as deep as it was unexpected.

‘No, not really.’ She glanced around and he realised he’d made her nervous. Way to go, Casanova . ‘Great crowd you have here.’

Liam scowled. He couldn’t give a damn about the crowd. If he had his way he’d clear it at once. No doubt that would piss off his PA who had worked her tail off at the last minute to put it together. Right now he didn’t care. He just wanted to be alone with Chloe.

***

Chloe pretended rapt interest in the milling crowd to try and steady her nerves. She still didn’t really have a plan as to when she was going to reveal her big ta-da moment but Cara had proposed that she lead up to it. ‘Flirt with him first. Flatter his ego and flash your amazing cleavage and make him so hot that when you deliver your “not interested” punch line it takes him a moment to register it. Then turn away and swan out the door.’

Easy peasy , Chloe thought. Only when you had paddles for feet swanning wasn’t really something you could do that well – it would be more like clomping – and she wouldn’t know how to flirt if instructions magically lit up above Liam Hunter’s head.

There was also the not so small problem that she found him so incredibly attractive in a black shirt stretched over his torso and denim jeans riding low on his lean hips; the casual slouch in his broad shoulders that had been there even before Hollywood had scooped him up adding to his sex appeal.

He’d always been too cool for school and it made her blush just to think that she could have imagined that someone like him could have ever been interested in someone like her.

‘I didn’t think you were going to turn up.’

Chloe’s eyes cut to his. Was that apprehension she heard in his voice? For a moment she couldn’t think how to respond and then her head said ‘ Flirt, flirt’ and she said, ‘Oh, really?’ and ran her hand oh-so-casually through her hair.

‘Yes,’ he said gruffly.

Wondering at the sudden roughness in his voice, Chloe decided it was a lot easier to look at the crowd than at him. ‘Why wouldn’t I? You’re a famous actor.’