by Girard, Dara
Unfortunately, scheduling was critical, and they were nearly two days off because Claudia kept getting her cues wrong and forgetting her lines. And when she did get her lines right, she sounded stiff and rehearsed. If he didn’t do something soon, Peter knew he was about to see years of effort disappear like a soap bubble.
He knew he was to blame. The kiss two days ago had rattled her. That hadn’t been his intention. He hadn’t even planned to kiss her. He’d rehearsed how nonchalant he’d be when he finally saw her again. He’d take his time and let her simmer until he was ready to turn up the heat. He would be slow, steady and patient. She wouldn’t know she was his until there was no turning back. It was the perfect strategy.
And it would have worked if the lights hadn’t gone out. That changed everything. Suddenly, in the darkness, his senses were on high alert. It was instinctual—a result of his experiences in the dark forests of Russia to when he’d gotten caught in the cross fire of warring ethnic tribes in a remote village in Gambia. The night could be dangerous, and you were only one of two things—prey or predator. He knew his prey, and that made him more attune to her. When she’d stepped through the door, the first thing he heard was the sound of her earrings and bracelets, clinking together like a wind chime, followed by the sound of her heels clicking against the tile.
The scent of her floral perfume came next: a heady mix of passion fruit and vanilla, which reminded him of how she used to smell after a shower, leaving the steamy bathroom behind her. But he’d steeled himself from that memory, determined not to be distracted. He had to maintain a calculated distance, but that night her fear of the darkness shattered his resolve. It was a weakness he had yet to master. Her fear had always been a trigger for him, and it still was. That’s when he’d made his mistake and touched her. The feel of her damp skin sent an electric shock of awareness through him. When she’d refused to sit because her clothes were wet, he had to steel himself from acting on his impulse to pull them off her.
But the image stayed, even though he covered her with a blanket. He thought of her wet body underneath, pictured the fabric of her blouse clinging to her chest and imagined being a raindrop sliding down her stomach and disappearing in her panties…
He managed to stay in check. He was determined not to sacrifice years of preparation for an impulsive desire. And it would have been fine if Claudia hadn’t used her clinical tone with him. That’s when he didn’t care about risking his plan. His only goal was to make her as aware of him as he was of her. His kiss made it certain. Her voice may have been neutral, but her body wasn’t. He could sense how quickly she responded to him, and it was an intoxicating drug.
He’d had to use all his strength to pull away and keep his gaze on her face instead of the outline her bra made through her still-damp shirt. But the moment he left her, he knew he’d made a tactical error. He shouldn’t have kissed her so soon. He should have waited a few days. Because of his haste, he couldn’t stop thinking about the feel of her lips, the touch of her hand on his chest, silently begging her to go lower. The attraction was stronger than he’d expected, but he wouldn’t let it rule him.
He was going to prove that he was completely over her by using every trick in the book that had made him famous. This time he’d be the one to walk away.
But he had to fix his current problem. He’d come on too strong, which wasn’t like him. He wanted Claudia to be aware, but not at this price. It was bad for business, and he needed this show to work. Few knew that he was the money behind Frank’s production company, Productions Unlimited Inc. It was only one of his investments in an industry filled with risk. His father thought he was wasting his time, but he would show him. If this show was a hit, Peter knew he’d be able to segue into other projects that mattered to him and use his celebrity status to raise money to fight curable childhood diseases.
But right now he had to make his selection of the cohost, Claudia Madison, work. Luckily, the screen lit up every time the camera had her in view. She had the perfect “it” factor, a special innate quality that drew viewers to her. From her bob haircut and lithe body, to her dazzling smile and bright brown eyes, she gave a person the feeling that good times were ahead. That was the quality he’d fallen in love with all those years ago.
Peter looked away and frowned. Thank God he wasn’t still in love with her. His love for her had made him as weak and pliable as wet cardboard. She’d used it to her advantage to humiliate him. He was glad they hadn’t married. He would have been miserable. He hadn’t known who she really was until that night in the Las Vegas chapel where she’d left him standing at the altar. He’d waited there for hours, called her cell phone until his battery went dead while he sat in a pew watching other couples start a life together as his fell apart.
But he wouldn’t think about that now. She wouldn’t hurt him again, and he would make sure this project worked.
Peter patted Frank on the back. “Give me twenty minutes.”
“But—”
“Do you trust me?”
“Certainly,” Frank said with some apprehension. “But—”
“Claudia’s a woman, right?”
“Yes, but not just any woman.”
Peter held up a hand. “Watch and learn.”
Frank’s unease didn’t leave his eyes, but he began to smile.
Chapter 4
“Walk with me.”
It was a command, not a suggestion, but Ashley didn’t care. She rested a hand on her hip and narrowed her eyes at Peter. “Can’t Claudia walk with you later?” she said, annoyed. “I have to get her ready.”
The set became quiet. The crew members knew that Peter didn’t like when people questioned his orders. Ashley didn’t care. A petite woman sporting a series of close-cropped twisted dreds, she liked to keep Claudia on schedule. The energetic makeup, wardrobe mistress and overall “gopher” was responsible for making sure the hosts looked great in front of the camera. She had no trouble working on Peter. He just needed powdered makeup to keep the shine off his forehead. And only once in a while, she would need to substitute his tie selection when he inadvertently selected a hideous color or pattern. But because he’d spent a lot of time on TV sets behind the camera, he knew what was expected. Claudia was the one who needed more attention. She wasn’t one to wear a lot of makeup, and when she did, she did so sparingly. She had no idea the time it took to get her ready for a shoot, and she couldn’t understand the two hours needed to make her look “natural.”
“Must you use that much foundation?” she complained. “I’m going to look like a clown!” But when Claudia started to break out after only two days of filming, Ashley was forced to hold back a little on the foundation.
Ashley had familiarized herself with the hectic schedule planned over the period of seven weeks in four different countries. Thankfully, the entire crew would have either a week or several days off between the first three places, before having to travel to another location. This provided Ashley plenty of opportunities to shop for any additional items she needed. But she didn’t like interruptions, and she didn’t take kindly to Peter’s suggestion that Claudia go for a walk with him. At least, not at that moment.
“This won’t take long,” he said in an indulgent voice that made everyone relax.
Claudia cast an uneasy glance at Ashley then looked back at Peter. Since their kiss, she’d done her best to avoid being alone with him. Distance was her best defense. It’s what she’d told her friend Tamara, who was one of the few who knew about her past with Peter, a month ago when she’d asked how she would handle him.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Tamara asked, unsure after Claudia told her about the project. “I know the money is good, but I have several exes I don’t want to see, let alone work with.”
“It will work out. He won’t want to deal with me, and I’ll stay away from him.”
“But you’re going to be cohosting a show with him!”
“I know.”
“Ju
st remember to be careful.”
She thought of her friend’s words now as she looked at Peter’s face, which gave nothing away. “I know I keep screwing up, and I’m sorry. I—”
Peter shook his head. “That’s not why I asked you to walk with me. Come on.” He left.
“I guess you’d better follow,” Ashley said, resigned.
Claudia jumped out of her chair and did just that.
Once she’d caught up with him, she tried not to bite off her carefully applied lipstick, but she couldn’t imagine what Peter had to say. She knew she was awful. The thought of the past two days galled her. She was used to being a success, of wowing a crowd. But recently she produced only eye rolls and groans from some of the crew members. Peter hadn’t spoken directly to her since that first night. The past couple of days, he’d gone to bed late and gotten up early, and except for a cursory hello or good-night they didn’t converse. Claudia gazed down the stretch of white beach with its sparkling aquamarine water and powder blue sky, amazed she could feel miserable in paradise.
The silence seemed to deepen as their distance from the crew grew. Claudia took a deep breath. “Before you say anything, I know you’re disappointed in me and you have every right. Putting me on TV was a gamble, and so far it’s not working out. Everyone has been patient, and I really appreciate that. So—ow!” She glared at him, rubbing her arm where he’d pinched her. “What did you do that for?”
“I told you, that’s not why I wanted to walk with you.”
“Then why?”
“I want you to tell me why anyone should visit here.”
Claudia threw out her hands. “That’s obvious.”
“Not to me. I’ve come here so often, it doesn’t mean the same anymore.”
She wasn’t surprised he’d been to Hawaii before. She knew he enjoyed life’s luxuries. “The women and the wine aren’t enough?”
Peter ignored her comment and said, “Why should people—single people—come?”
“This beach is gorgeous.”
He shrugged. “I’ve been to a lot of beaches.”
“You cannot ignore the sugar white sands and gorgeous weather.”
“Sure I can.”
“It’s the perfect place to show off one’s figure.”
“So?”
“To enjoy the sensuous smell of the many varieties of tropical flowers found on the island. Listening to the cry of native birds. The—”
He pointed at her. “That’s it!”
She halted. “What?”
“That’s what we need on camera. That passion. Be yourself—natural, fun, friendly. You’re talking to the women who’ve bought your books and made them bestsellers. They want to connect with you. Give them that chance. Be their friend. Can you do that?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Also, don’t memorize your lines. Believe them. Own them. Make them yours.”
Claudia nodded. “Okay.”
Peter reached into his trouser pocket and took out a tiny digital video camera and focused it on her. “Okay, you’re on.”
“What?”
“Talk to me.”
She blinked but said nothing.
He let his hand fall. “Pretend that the camera isn’t there. Just talk to me.” He held up the camera again. “Now, begin!”
“What am I supposed to say?”
“Anything you think is interesting.”
Claudia looked out over the beach. “Hawaii is an island of secrets and mysteries—” her tone was calm, yet forceful “—with tales of gods and goddesses that could rival those found in ancient African and Greek stories. As I look out at the calm waters, I think of a story. Want to hear it?”
Peter nodded and continued filming. Then Claudia told him a story about a Hawaiian princess and her love, betrayal and death. It mesmerized him. He no longer heard the sound of the ocean or felt its breeze. Her words kept him spellbound. They both moved and angered him. How could she tell him a story about a woman betrayed by the man she loved?
“The end,” she said.
Peter stopped filming and shoved the camera back in his pocket.
Claudia rested her hands on her hips with a smug grin. “Will that work?”
“Yes,” he said curtly. He walked up to her, cupped her chin and studied her face. His gaze, which had once caressed her with tenderness, was unreadable. “Tell Ashley to soften your makeup, and be careful of your expressions.” He let his hand fall and tilted his head. “You show too much emotion. You have to be more guarded. The camera catches everything—especially fear. Be an actress.”
She raised her eyebrows in protest. “But I can’t act.”
“Sure you can. You’re excellent at showing emotions you don’t really feel.”
Claudia scooped up a fistful of sand and threw it at him.
Peter wiped his face and glared at her. “What the heck was that for?”
“How dare you say that to me. I’ve always been honest about my feelings.”
“You certainly fooled me.” He pointed at her as she scooped up another fistful of sand. “You’ll regret doing that a second time.”
“I regret a lot of things when it comes to you. But it won’t be this.” She threw the sand.
Peter stood still a moment then rushed forward. Claudia turned and ran, but she couldn’t outrun him. He grabbed her from behind and swung her up into his arms and walked toward the water. “I should throw you in.”
“Ashley would kill you.”
“It would be worth it.”
Claudia struggled to release his hold. “Put me down.”
He continued toward the ocean. “I know a few myths of my own, including the ocean god Kanaloa.”
Claudia wrapped her arms around his neck. “He’s also the god of death, so if you let go I’ll take you down with me.”
Peter met her eyes. “I don’t doubt it.”
“Is it your guilt that makes you want to see me dead?”
He abruptly released her so she could stand. “My guilt?”
Claudia stumbled but steadied herself. “Yes, after what you did to me?”
Peter raised his eyebrows, stunned. “After what I did? Are we talking about the same night? I wasn’t the one who didn’t show up on our wedding day. You left me standing there and I waited for…” He stopped and shook his head. “You could have told me you changed your mind the day before or the week before, but you waited until one of the most important days in a man’s life to let him know that he wasn’t good enough for you.”
Claudia frowned, confused. “What are you talking about? I thought I made myself clear.”
“Yes, you made yourself very clear. I’d actually thought something had happened to you and checked all the hospitals. You didn’t even make it on the flight. But I still had hoped that maybe you’d missed the day. Even when I returned to our apartment and found all your things gone, I still didn’t think you’d left me. Then I found your note where you explained that you’d made a mistake and didn’t want to see me again. That our love affair was over. And…what is it?” he asked when Claudia gasped. “What’s wrong? Did you get bitten or something?”
“Yes,” she lied, pretending to rub a bite on her leg. She straightened. “We’d better go.” She turned.
Peter grabbed her arm, making her face him. “You didn’t get bitten, did you? What’s wrong? Am I missing something?”
Claudia pulled her arm away and kept her face averted. She couldn’t allow him to read her thoughts. Not now. She couldn’t bear it. Her mind raced as she tried to fathom the magnitude of the truth. All this time Peter hadn’t known the real reason she hadn’t shown up, and she couldn’t tell him. “No, you’re right. What I did was cruel and thoughtless.” She took a deep breath then finally turned to look at him. “You can see me as a selfish bitch or a pathetic wimp. Either way, I panicked and you’re better off without me.” When his dark eyes continued to search her face, she forced a smile. “Look how successful you are now, and you
can have any woman you want and still stay a happy bachelor. You’re living every man’s dream.” Before Peter could probe deeper, she turned, eager to escape into the safety of a crowd.
But Peter stopped her. “I said I wouldn’t let you run away from me, and I meant it.”
Claudia took a hasty step back. “Please, Peter, don’t. Not here.”
He stared at her, surprised by the fear in her eyes. Not weariness. Not unease. True, glittering fear. Of him. It shook him. He reached out to her, but she moved away. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing.” She held up her hands in surrender when he opened his mouth to argue. “You win. I regret everything and I’m sorry. I don’t expect you to forgive me.”
He hadn’t anticipated this. She was supposed to be haughty. Fight him. Not surrender with tears gathering in her eyes. And for one wild moment he just wanted to hold her. He gripped his hands into fists. What the hell was going on? Why was she still able to get to him? Was this another trick? A way to manipulate him?
Claudia brushed the clinging sand from his shirt, desperate to divert his attention. “I’m sorry—”
Peter grabbed her hand. “I promise if you’re hiding something from me, I’m going to find out.”
She didn’t reply.
He let her hand go. “Let’s get back to work,” he said, then walked past her.
