“You’re welcome, Alex. See you Monday.”
Finally the weekend. Riley couldn’t wait to put her feet up and have a glass of wine. She loved being a teacher, but some weeks were exhausting and this had been one of them. She began straightening up the room, pushing in chairs and retrieving stray pencils that had rolled under desks. Her usual Friday routine.
“Riley, do have a minute?”
Having crawled under a table to pick up some loose crayons, she didn’t have to turn around to know who that was. She’d know Paula Collins’s voice anywhere. She spent every Tuesday in Riley’s class helping the children who were struggling with their reading and writing skills. A former teacher herself, Paula was invaluable and had become a good friend to Riley.
“Just a second,” Riley called out. “I just need to grab…this…crayon.”
“Can I help? I have longer arms.”
Freezing at the sound of another, unfamiliar voice, Riley slowly twisted her head around but she could only see a set of masculine legs. Well-muscled, strong thighs. The skin revealed by a pair of cargo shorts was tanned with a sprinkling of golden brown hair.
That was when she realized that the view he was seeing was far worse than her own. Her rather ample bottom was sticking out from under the table, and the denim skirt she was wearing didn’t do much to make it look smaller.
Stretching her arm out as far as possible, her fingers were able to wrap around the offending red crayon. “Thank you, but I’ve got it. I’ll be out in a sec.”
It turned out that there was no graceful way to back up on your hands and knees while two other people watched so Riley didn’t even try. She managed to get to her feet without tripping over herself and that was a victory as far as she was concerned, especially as she wasn’t the most graceful person on the planet. Her dignity would just have to take the dent because there wasn’t anything she could do about it. Tossing the crayon into a storage bin, she finally took a good look at the man attached to the nice legs and almost had a coronary. Or a stroke. Or a coronary and a stroke. Either way it felt like her heart was racing and stopped dead all at the same time while her brain exploded into a million little pieces.
Holy smokes. Paula had brought her son. The movie star. The extremely famous and sexy Sam Collins.
Paula was extremely proud of her son and rightly so. She talked about him all the time and had pictures all over her house, but Riley had never met the man. Until today. She’d never expected to either, so this was a shock to her system.
He certainly looked good with his dark hair, light blue eyes, and tanned skin. Just as good as in the movies and on magazine covers, maybe better. But then Paula was a beautiful woman, looking far younger than her actual age. It must be in the Collins genes.
“Riley, I wanted you to meet my son, Sam. Sam, this is Riley Bridges.”
Rubbing her suddenly sweaty palms on the denim of her skirt, she held out her hand for Sam to shake. He accepted it, enfolding it in his much larger one, the skin warm and slightly callused. It was a firm handshake, not too hard and not too wimpy. Some men didn’t seem to know how to shake hands with a woman or were uncomfortable with the entire business.
“It’s nice to meet you, Sam. Are you here to visit your mother?”
“I am,” he replied easily. “Hoping to get a little rest and relaxation.”
“Our little town is a good place to do that.”
In fact, the tiny Gulf coast community of New Hope Beach hadn’t had anything exciting happen in it since the last time a few Weather Channel guys had hung out here waiting on a hurricane that had turned more east and went elsewhere.
The conversation lagged and Riley glanced back and forth between Paula and Sam. It was sweet of her friend to introduce her son, but they hadn’t turned to go yet. Did they need something else?
“We’d like to talk to you if you have a moment,” Paula finally said. “Can we sit down for a minute?”
“Sure, we can sit here.” Except that a large man like Sam would look ridiculous in one of these miniature chairs. “Let me get my desk chair for you, Sam.”
Apparently he’d been thinking the same thing because he smiled gratefully. “Thank you. I might be able to sit down but I might never be able to get back up again.”
Sam settled into her chair and she and Paula sat down in the small chairs around the art center table. “So what did you want to talk to me about?”
Riley had a sinking feeling that Paula was about to tell her that she was moving to be closer to her son and wouldn’t be able to volunteer anymore. As much as she hated to lose the best reading tutor she’d ever had, she was determined to be happy for her friend.
Patting her son’s hand, Paula gave Riley a smile. “I’ve talked to Sam and we want to help you if you’ll let us.”
Huh? Did Sam want to volunteer as well? Did he need to research the role of a teacher?
“You want to help in the classroom?”
Paula laughed and shook her head. “No, dear. We want to help you with your problem. You know…that asshole Chad and our ex-skank friend Monica.”
Those were the exact same words Riley had used to describe her ex and former best friend. She had several other names to call them as well, but they weren’t nearly as polite and as an educator of young minds she tried to keep her vocabulary as clean as possible.
Sneaking a glance at Sam, she couldn’t quite make out his expression. He wasn’t smiling but he didn’t look unhappy, either. He looked…neutral. As if he didn’t have an opinion about what Paula was talking about. She kind of hoped he didn’t have a clue as to what his mother was talking about. The details were mortifying enough without him knowing her humiliation too.
“And how do you want to help me?”
I ask with true fear in my heart. What are you up to?
What did Paula think she could do?
Now Paula was beaming, her hand on Sam’s shoulder. “Isn’t it obvious? Sam will pretend to be your boyfriend. You can show those two cheaters that you’re not heartbroken at all.”
Whoa. Just…whoa. Had Paula had an early Happy Hour? Riley snuck another glance at her son and this time she was caught red-handed. Sam was watching her as well and their gazes collided, causing her to flinch and look away. He saw way too much. She’d never been good at hiding her emotions.
“I don’t think it is obvious. I think it’s really sweet that you both want to help me but that sounds like an outrageous plan that no one would ever believe.”
Never in a million years would anyone believe that a movie star and sex symbol was dating a boring plain Jane such as herself. Riley didn’t have an exciting, seductive bone in her body and Chad leaving her for Monica was Exhibit A of that fact. She was many things – practical, hardworking, well read, organized, and notoriously punctual – but she simply wasn’t Hollywood girlfriend material.
Paula waved away her concerns. “Of course they’ll believe it. We’ll just say that you and Sam met through me and hit it off. You’ll make a cute couple.”
Sam would make one half of a cute couple if he were dating Quasimodo.
So far he hadn’t said much and Riley was getting the horrible feeling that he’d been dragged here kicking and screaming, holding on by his fingernails. She turned her attention to him.
“Listen, I’m sure this is the last thing you want to do. I’ve been dealing with Chad and Monica and I’ll continue to do so. On my own. I really do appreciate your offer, though. This is certainly going above and beyond for your mother.”
From the look of things, Sam was an amazing son. Riley loved her parents, but she wasn’t sure she was prepared to date a stranger for them. They’d offered a few times over the years to set her up with a son of a friend, but she’d turned them down in no uncertain terms. She’d choose her own man, thank you. The problem though, according to her mother, was that she was far too picky.
Of all the problems in the world to have that didn’t seem like a bad one.
&
nbsp; Sam was looking at her again, that appraising gaze that seemed so discerning, and she squirmed underneath its weight.
“Mom, can you give me and Riley a minute?”
No! Don’t leave me here alone with him.
Paula smiled and slipped out of the room despite Riley wanting to run after her and beg her to stay. This conversation was going to be nothing but embarrassing and she didn’t want to talk about it. Living through it had been bad enough.
When the door swung shut, Riley took the bull by the horns. “Listen, your mother is such a wonderful person and friend. I know she’s worried about me these days but honestly, I’m fine. There’s really no need for you to help me. I’m sure you have better things to do.”
Give an interview. Date a groupie.
Sam didn’t answer her right away, instead standing and walking around her room looking at the finger-painted pictures on the walls along with the clay works of art on the shelves. Finally, he stepped back and seemed ready to reply.
“I know this has to be a delicate situation for you. My mother told me what happened.”
Riley couldn’t help but wince. He did know the worst. Dammit.
“You must think I’m completely pathetic.”
Her words tumbled out before she could stop them. What the hell? It was what she really thought.
“I don’t.” Sam shook his head, but his expression hadn’t changed since he arrived. He still looked rather…bland. She couldn’t read him at all. “I do think this Chad fellow sounds like a real jerk and your so-called friend needs a visit from karma.”
Where was the karma bus when you really needed it?
“People like Monica never get a visit from karma. They just skate through life unscathed.”
A brow quirked up in question. “Do you really believe that? I think karma always pays them a visit. It may not be today or tomorrow, but eventually. It’s just that we’re not always around when it does. She must be a thoroughly miserable human being to have taken up with your boyfriend. It might have made her feel better for a little while but if he’ll cheat on you, he’ll cheat on her. Trust me on this. I come from a town that’s known for its cheaters.”
“Hollywood,” Riley murmured. “They do seem to have a reputation.”
Do you cheat? Don’t go there, Riley. Don’t even think about it.
“But it always bites them in the ass,” Sam replied. “And it will with Chad and Monica. Jesus, even their names sound pretentious and snotty. It sounds like they deserve each other.”
“I don’t want him back and I wasn’t in love with him,” she declared. She didn’t want him to think she was still in love with her ex. She wasn’t. “I was actually thinking about ending things when it all happened. It’s just that it was so public. Monica is a teacher here at the school. That’s how we met and became friends.”
They’d been best friends. Monica the beautiful one that always had men buzzing around her and Riley the quiet one that always volunteered to be the designated driver. That was her role in life. The responsible one. No wonder Chad had jumped ship the minute he laid eyes on Monica.
“It’s their shame, not yours.” He spun the globe next to her desk. “Mom says they invited you to their engagement party. To make you feel even crappier, I assume.”
They’d succeeded, too. Just when she’d thought she was moving on they’d sucked her back in.
“Yes,” she sighed. “And if I don’t go then I’ll look like the petty one that can’t move past all of this. But if I go, I’ll look pathetic. I can’t win.”
“I don’t think anyone would blame you for not going, but you’re right when you say that they might try and spin it that you’re still bitter and hurt. If you go they can’t say that, but you can’t stop people from comparing the happy couple to you.”
Sam seemed to have a firm grasp on her predicament but that still didn’t explain why he cared.
“Can I ask you a question? Why would you agree to help me? You don’t know me at all. The entire time I’ve lived in this town and been friends with your mother we’ve never had an occasion to meet, so that would probably continue to be the case except for this. You don’t have any skin in this game. I just don’t get it.”
“Because I’m a movie star?”
The way he said the last two words, with such amusement, made her smile.
“Well…yeah. Shouldn’t you be off on a yacht partying with Bono or something?”
“Bono doesn’t own a yacht. He sold it a few years ago.” Sam came back and sat down. “As for why I’m doing it? My mother asked, and you may not know this, but I’m a sucker for anything she wants. I don’t remember the last time I said no to her. She sacrificed when she was bringing me up and now I can’t help but spoil her.”
Paula had one good son. She must be a hell of a mom to inspire such devotion in a child. Riley should be so lucky someday.
“But this isn’t about her. This is about me.”
For the first time, Sam smiled. Really smiled, and it was breathtaking. No wonder he’d been slapped on hundreds of magazine covers. He was one gorgeous man. It was a good thing she was sitting down because her knees would have given out.
“She’s pissed off at Chad and Monica, and wants you to have one good week that will get them off of your back.” He shrugged as if the whole thing was no big deal. “She thinks seeing me with you will do that.”
It might just do that, but still…it was far too much to ask of another human being.
“I would imagine spending time with some girl you’re not interested in would be a terrible way to spend your vacation.”
He never would have asked her out of his own volition.
“It’s not the first time.” He leaned forward as if to whisper to her. “Don’t tell anyone because it’s a not very well-kept secret in Hollywood, but not every relationship you see in the magazines is real. Sometimes it’s simply business. That’s what this would be, Riley. A business arrangement between two people.”
Business? Just business. An interesting concept. But…
“Make believe?”
“That’s it exactly. A little smoke and mirrors. And this part is really important because I don’t want there to be any confusion. We’ll pretend to be romantic for the good people of New Hope Beach, but behind the scenes we’re just friends. I don’t want to lead you into thinking that there’s more here.”
Message received and noted. He wasn’t interested. At all.
She’d never thought he would be but it kind of stung when he said it out loud.
“Got it,” she replied, a trifle annoyed that he felt the need to voice his disinterest. She wouldn’t have assumed anything different. “Just business and only friends. No romance, no sex. That’s fine and all but I just don’t think I should do this. Who would believe it, anyway? No one is going to buy you dating a regular-looking kindergarten teacher.”
She didn’t buy the gossip magazines or follow the blogs but even she couldn’t avoid seeing photos of him with a beautiful woman on his arm. They were all glamorous, sexy, and much skinnier than she could ever hope to be even if she starved herself for weeks on end. An image of herself standing next to Sam made her inwardly cringe. He was out of her league.
“I think you’re underestimating my acting ability.”
“I think you’re overestimating mine,” she replied back quickly. “I’m a terrible liar. I just suck at it. I couldn’t pull this off and then we’d both be mortified. Really, I’m doing you a favor here. Thank you…but no. The offer was sweet but I’m going to have to pass on it.”
Sam looked like he was going to argue with her but then he simply nodded and stood, shoving his hands in the pockets of his cargo shorts.
“I appreciate your candor. Please know that if you change your mind I’ll be staying with my mom for the week. Just give her a call.”
“Thank you again,” Riley also stood as he turned and walked toward the door. “And thank Paula for me. It really was a
lovely gesture.”
She could breathe much easier when Sam left the room. His mere presence, so large and masculine, in this room set up for tiny humans had made it feel far too small for both of them.
She’d made the right decision. The calm, rational, practical decision that made sense.
As enticing as it had been to say yes and show up with Sam on her arm at the engagement party, it wasn’t really real. She wouldn’t be able to play off like he was her boyfriend and no one would believe that he was interested in her romantically.
The entire idea was ridiculous. But oh so tempting.
CHAPTER FOUR
Sam wasn’t a man that was surprised often. Jaded from his years in Hollywood, he’d seen all kinds of people from saints to sinners, so he’d ceased long ago to be shocked or horrified when someone thought only of themselves, caring little for the well-being of others. Greed and self-interest were part and parcel of the movie business and he’d learned quickly that he had to be just as ruthless. Even more, sometimes.
With that, he was still a little surprised that Riley Bridges had turned down their offer to help her out. From where he was standing, he could only see an upside for her. She’d get a moment to rub her ex’s face in it, plus a one-up on her former best friend. But she’d said no, that she’d deal with it herself.
Which he was actually kind of sad about because the more he’d talked to her the more he’d liked her. She seemed to be just as his mother had described – a genuinely nice person who had been royally screwed by two not so nice people. He’d wanted to help her and had even found himself sort of looking forward to it. Playing this part would have been a pleasure. He already didn’t like Chad and Monica and he hadn’t even met the couple. But he knew dozens of people just like them.
It wouldn’t have been any hardship to squire Riley around for a few days. If Paula liked her that meant that she was pleasant to be around. She had to be smart as well because his mother didn’t suffer fools gladly.
Love in the Spotlight Page 2
