Never Say Never (The Price of Fame Series) Read online

  Instead of walking away to get the order like he would have, Chloe crouched down so she was eye level with the little girl with a warm smile and goo-goo eyes. His heart lodged in his throat.

  He heard her say, “What’s all the noise about, little one?”

  The baby turned to her and mumbled something incoherent while the mother threw Chloe a grateful glance for halting the screaming match. Sander’s chest became rigid, and it got harder to breathe, like a truck going full speed had slammed straight into him.

  “May I?” Chloe asked, holding her arms out.

  The mother passed the baby to Chloe who swayed her from side to side. The baby giggled and patted a chubby hand against Chloe’s cheek. She nuzzled the baby’s hand with her nose.

  Emotion roared through him, but a black despair so strong, so overpowering quashed it. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to rid himself of the sight of Chloe with the baby, so natural and happy. Loving even.

  What the fuck did it matter? In a week he’d never see her again. Taking a burning gulp to finish his espresso, he rose and headed for the door, unable to meet her gaze if he wanted to. Resolved, he decided to bury the memory in the dark recesses of his mind with all the rest of the shit he didn’t want to think about.

  * * * *

  Every muscle in her back tensed under his palm as he escorted her into the restaurant. Sander gave his name to the host who then showed them to their table. From the second he’d picked her up and saw her in the red dress which, he acknowledged, was more than fit for any catwalk, his libido had went from non-existent to uncomfortably high. But he wasn’t the only one uncomfortable.

  When he’d complimented her appearance, she’d swiftly changed the subject and led him to his car. Wondering whether something had happened to her mother, he’d fielded her with questions on the way but she had assured him everything was fine.

  But it wasn’t.

  The way she self-consciously moved through the restaurant, avoiding the other customer’s appreciative glances made him wonder if it was her beauty making her uncomfortable. Still, she’d been just as beautiful in the blue dress and didn’t seem to mind then.

  Once they’d settled into their seats and the man handed them menus, he glanced over to her. Chloe’s face was pearlier than usual and her eyes looked haunted.

  “Are you sure everything’s okay?”

  She looked at him then with a smile that he didn’t buy for a second. “Everything’s fine. It’s really beautiful in here.” She slid a finger along the white silk table cover, her gaze dropping from his.

  Sander sighed. “I’m not buying it. Something’s bothering you and you’re doing a piss poor job of hiding it.”

  “Sander.” Another nervous glance around the room. “You can’t speak like that here.”

  “Stop bullshitting me and I won’t need to.”

  Her glare made him relax a little. Her eyes morphed to amber liquid and showed no signs of discomfort.

  “I…I don’t like wearing this dress.”

  He frowned. “Why? You’re absolutely stunning in it.”

  Chloe’s gaze dropped to the table, and she played with one of the three forks at the side of her empty plate. “An ex bought it for me.”

  Sander appraised the dress again, guessing this ex of hers not only had wealth, but he was the reason for her return to London. That made everything click into place. Her nonchalance about his car, her mother’s warning, and the designer gown she wore.

  “When you lived in LA?” he asked. She nodded, but didn’t meet his gaze. “Who is he?” Sander figured he had to be somebody to afford that dress, unless he’d maxed out a few credit cards.

  She scowled at him. “Forget about him. I have.”

  He cocked a brow. “Sure you have.”

  “Need to know only, remember?”

  He huffed out a laugh. Chloe’s shoulders sagged and her eyes shone with the pain she’d no doubt suffered. He would have pushed, but he didn’t want to be the one to hurt her by making her remember.

  “Hey, c’mon. Let’s order the most expensive dish on the menu and top it off with chocolate cake. You’re celebrating, remember?”

  A ghost of a smile curved her lips. “I can’t—”

  “On me. Chloe, I asked you out.”

  She squirmed in her chair and nodded. He made sure to order the most expensive bottle of champagne on the menu, and when her eyes popped open he wondered again why some things about this lifestyle surprised her, and not others. He bit his tongue though, remembering the hurt that shone from her eyes earlier, and steered the conversation toward a safer topic.

  “Did they call you today?” he asked, meaning Studio Four.

  Her grin confirmed it before she answered. “They want me to start in two weeks, in time for a new show they’re airing.”

  He sipped at the champagne in the glass. Heat spread through his chest at the look on her face. She was happy, and he’d helped make her that way. Sander knew then he didn’t want to think about what would happen after he left for the Do You Have What It Takes? tour. Didn’t want to think about anything but being with Chloe, real or not.

  His heart dipped and he sighed as he realized he’d have to be practical. He was leaving, and he had to remember that. For the first time in his life, he didn’t want the responsibility of everything he’d taken on. Maybe it wasn’t Chloe, maybe it was the band re-forming. Whatever it was, he wasn’t feeling the old drive and ambition which had kept him going since he hit puberty and decided there was no way in hell he’d end up like either of his parents.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  He looked up to see her eyes clouded with worry. The tie around his neck felt too tight and he loosened it, his gaze falling to the table.

  “Yeah. It’s hot in here.” The explanation was lame, but hell if he knew what was up. Not that he’d share with Chloe.

  “Sander…”

  “Tell me about your time in LA.”

  His shirt collar felt like it was choking him, so he unbuttoned it, wondering what the hell he was getting so uptight about. Was it her? When she didn’t answer, he met her weary gaze.

  “I don’t mean with the ex. Did you have friends? What movies did you work on?” Silence buffers, anything to take the discomfort away. Distraction.

  Her whole face lit up. “A few that didn’t quite make it as blockbusters, but then I started working on Crime Busters and met Rachel, the girl who works with me in the coffee shop. She was a regular extra on the show. We went to all the parties together. At one we bumped into an actor who got me a job on Flaming Thrones.”

  She pressed her lips together and Sander put two and two together. “The ex was in the movie?” At her nod, his mind whirred.

  Chloe sipped at her champagne. Curiosity burned through him, but he kept his mouth shut. If an actor from Flaming Thrones had dated her, there was no way the world wouldn’t have known about it. But he didn’t think she was lying. Her gaze fell to the folded hands in her lap. And Sander realized he’d been a fucking idiot. How did he miss it before?

  “He wanted to keep you a secret.”

  Why else would she have the pretty dress, but when he took her to places like this acted like she’d never seen this world before? Then the shock in her eyes when he told her he wanted to be pictured with her on his arm, the panic at the club when the photographer had snapped a picture of them kissing.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  His whole body heated with rage, and his hands clenched beneath the table. He wished the bastard was there in front of him so he could deck him. Chloe was beautiful, caring, and loyal. He was proud to have her on his arm, even if it was just for a short time.

  “Who was it, Chloe?”

  Her gaze snapped back to his. “It doesn’t matter. Need to know—”

  “Fuck need to know. Who was it?”

  Her eyes widened, and her mouth popped open.

  He tried to control the rage burning through his body, tried to see through the screen of red mist tinting his vision, but it was hard. He inhaled and closed his eyes, the shock in her face working quicker to dissolve his anger than his feeble attempts.

  “I’m sorry. Thinking someone treated you like his dirty secret pisses me off.” He met her gaze.

  Emotion’s burned from her melting amber eyes and she swallowed. “He’s not important. Thank you for caring enough to be mad.”

  Blood drained from his face and left the skin numb. Did he care about Chloe? Had it gone beyond pretend? Sure, there was attraction, but feelings? Shit, he didn’t know how to feel those things, and he figured feeling anything when he was leaving soon wouldn’t be fair to her. Wouldn’t be fair to either of them. An image of her this morning at the coffee shop came back and he saw her again with the baby girl and his heart plummeted to his feet.

  “Chloe, this is—”

  “Aren’t you going to greet your mother, Sander?”

  Ice laced through him at the vaguely familiar voice. He turned to the side to see his mother walking directly toward them. It had been five years since he’d last seen her, and he guessed a few surgeries, since she didn’t look a day over thirty-five. Her black bodycon was no doubt a ruse to show the world that even though she had a son, she hadn’t lost her precious figure. Bile twisted his stomach as he looked up into eyes filled with barely concealed hatred.

  “Aren’t you going to introduce us?” She looked at Chloe, one skeptical brow raised.

  He turned to Chloe who had retreated behind her calm, polite expression. “Chloe, this is my mother, Cassidy Chase.”

  Chloe extended her hand, but Cassidy only stared, her mouth twisting with distaste. His blood boiled. She’d been there all of two seconds and managed to put Chloe down without saying a word. Sander rose to his feet so he was towering above his mother. The way she held herself made her appear the domineering one. No wonder she had his father so whipped.

  Still conscious of the crowd around them, he tried his best to keep his anger to himself. “Our meal will be here shortly, so if you don’t mind…” you can fuck off.

  Cassidy eyed Chloe again, then snapped her thousand dollar manicured fingers in the air. A waiter appeared immediately. Cassidy never even met the man’s eyes as she barked, “Two more chairs here. My husband and I will be dining with my son.”

  He saw Chloe’s jaw clench from the corner of his eye. “Mother, we’re on a date. We’d appreciate some privacy.”

  “Nonsense, Sander. Your father and I haven’t seen you in years. Besides, we’re looking forward to getting to know your…” She flicked her gaze to Chloe. “Date.”

  Chloe didn’t squirm under Cassidy’s cold stare, only smiled politely. He wanted to get her out of there before his parents’ poison hurt her, but he knew his mother wouldn’t let them walk out without causing a scene. She’d already drawn the attention of every person in the restaurant. Plus, Sander didn’t believe in coincidences. Not where his parents were concerned. Cassidy wouldn’t let him leave until she’d said what she came there to say.

  With a sigh, he slid back into his chair and threw Chloe an apologetic glance. She nodded and smiled wider to reassure him, and hell, there was that damn heart squeeze again.

  The waiter returned with two chairs and Cassidy slid in to Sander’s left. She turned to the waiter. “Hold their meal until we are ready to order, and bring another bottle of champagne.” She lifted the bottle he’d bought from the ice bucket and wrinkled her nose. “Please tell me this isn’t all you have.”

  “No, Mrs. Chase.” The man’s face glistened with sweat, the only indication of how much Cassidy unnerved him. “We have something for special guests.” He bowed and left.

  “Your father is in the kitchen making sure the chef tonight knows what he’s doing.”

  Sander wanted to groan. If he’d known his parents were in the UK, he’d have taken Chloe somewhere else. Somewhere like the Views Studio where he knew Cassidy wouldn’t enter if someone paid her—even if she had an ulterior motive. From what little he remembered of his mother, she always wanted the best and made sure Royce, his father, gave it to her.

  Cassidy turned back to Chloe. “What do you do for a living?”

  Chloe’s gaze met his for support. He answered his mother. “Chloe works in a coffee shop at the moment, but she starts a new job at the studio in a few weeks.”

  “Oh?” Cassidy’s question was laced with sarcasm. His skin prickled. “Doing what?”

  “I’m a makeup artist,” Chloe answered, drawing his mother’s gaze. “I moved back to London from LA when I found out my mother was ill. Before that I worked full time on Crime Busters.”

  Cassidy’s brows rose. It was clear she hadn’t expected that, and Sander couldn’t hold back a smile.

  “It’s nice to see some children care about their parents’ well-being,” Cassidy remarked, and Sander gritted his teeth.

  He could see Chloe’s jaw clench, and her eyes burned amber, but she kept the polite smile in place. Remembering her disbelief and irritation when he’d told her about his parents never being around, his chest warmed.

  “There’s your father.” Cassidy held up a hand and waved with as much authority as a queen.

  He turned to see Royce stalking toward them, his face impassive, but the hard lines of his body radiated disproval even from across the room. The restaurant was littered with white covered tables which his father wove around easily. Stained glass windows gave the place an old twist on a modern theme. Chic wooden floors, modern art, and a truckload of celebrities all made up the most sought after place to dine in London among the rich and famous, though at that moment Sander would rather be eating fish and chips on a park bench than have Chloe here with his parents.

  He rose to greet his father, and Royce looked him over. Seemingly satisfied Sander’s suit was expensive enough, he nodded and slid into a chair across from his mother. Sander returned to his own chair.

  “Father, this is Chloe Butler. Chloe, Royce Chase.”

  “Please to meet you, Mr. Chase,” she said, but didn’t offer her hand this time.

  Completely ignoring either of them, Royce spoke to Cassidy. “The chef you like is in the kitchen tonight. I insisted he serve your favorite, although they ran out of the shellfish.”

  Sander fumed as Cassidy nodded. His father was like a puppy, getting anything his mother wanted for her. And in doing so, had ignored Chloe’s attempt to be polite.

  His mother must have noticed Sander’s rising irritation. “This is the girl Sander is dating now.” The way Cassidy over exaggerated a sweep of her hand in Chloe’s direction made him grind his teeth again. “She’s a makeup artist.”

  Royce laughed, not bothering to even give Chloe a courtesy glance. Sander clenched his fists on the table. “Well, darling, what did you expect from a man who joined a pop group?”

  Cassidy chuckled.

  Sander picked up the glass in front of him and downed the champagne. Chloe’s gaze caught his and he saw a dash of pain for him crack through her irritation. He smiled in an attempt to reassure her. He was used to his parents, but he didn’t give a shit as long as the worst of their poison dripped on him and left her the hell alone.

  He had no idea what else the asshole who bought her the dress had subjected her to, but keeping her hidden—like a dirty secret—that alone would have grated enough on her self-esteem. She didn’t need cutting comments from Cassidy and Royce to rub more salt in the wound.

  A waiter arrived again with a vintage bottle kept for special guests and poured a small amount in a clean glass. Handing it to Cassidy for her approval, he waited with sweat beading along his hairline.

  After taking a sip, she swallowed, then pouted. “If it’s the best you have…”

  “I’m afraid it is, Mrs. Chase.” Sander saw the man’s hands shake slightly.

  Cassidy sighed. “It’s no Dom Pérignon, but I suppose it will have to do.”

  The waiter shifted the ice bucket with the champagne he’d bought closer to Chloe to make room for the new one, and she eyed the bottle next to her longingly. Her glass was empty, so Sander reached across the table. Royce watched him curiously as he poured her a glass from the old bottle and refilled his own glass.

  “I don’t suppose a makeup artist would know the difference between vintage and cheap,” Royce said to no one in particular.

  Chloe winced, and Sander almost growled.

  “Enough,” he said to his father, who glared at him.

  “You are such a disappointment. With a face like yours you could have graced the silver screen like your mother.”

  Cassidy chimed in. “You could have been an A-lister if you had gone to the acting lessons we paid for. Maybe then you wouldn’t have lost the best thing that ever happened to you, to an Englishman no less.”

  Sander shut his eyes and counted to ten, but before he even got there, Chloe spoke.

  “She wasn’t good enough for him. After all he did for Sienna, she threw it back in his face.”

  His eyes opened wide. Chloe’s jaw strained with the effort to keep her voice conversational, quiet. Even though her gaze shot daggers at his mother. He realized then that she held back, probably so she didn’t embarrass him, regardless of how much she clearly didn’t want to be there.

  No one had ever put him first, and the emotion that rocked through him would have put him on his ass if he hadn’t been sitting down.

  Cassidy’s blue eyes glinted with ice. “Perhaps. But neither is a nobody makeup artist wearing a dress four seasons out of date. Did you pick it up from eBay, or did Sander realize you weren’t worth more than a secondhand gown?”

  The blood drained from Chloe’s face, and all the new emotions coursing through him swelled, shifted, burned, until his vision tinted red. At that moment he didn’t give a fuck about causing a scene, why Cassidy was there, or what papers they ended up in tomorrow. He could take their poison, but he wasn’t about to let them hurt Chloe. She’d been treated shitty enough from hot shot movie stars who thought they were better than everyone else.