Entangled Hearts (17 page)

With one of Noah's arms wrapped around her waist, they eventually left the dance floor. Chynna was eager for some time alone with Noah.
Perhaps in his room again.
But they were interrupted by a matronly woman and her husband. The clear look of disdain on the woman's face was evident, and Chynna tried not to recoil.

“Noah,” the woman said.

Noah stiffened beside her, but finally spoke. “Mrs. Jackson.” He removed his hand from around her waist. He nodded his head to the man at her side. “Mr. Jackson.”

Who is this woman and why is Noah pulling away from me?
Chynna could feel the moment between them slipping away.
Why does this have to happen now?

There was an awkward silence between all parties before Noah realized his social faux pas and said, “Allow me to introduce Kenya James.”

Chynna offered her hand to the woman, but it was ignored, so she quickly snatched it back. Chynna tried to stay calm, but it was hard given the woman's obvious hostility toward her.

“H-How are you?” Noah attempted conversation.

“We're still grieving,” the older man beside her answered as his wife shot Chynna poisonous looks.

“But clearly you've moved on,” Mrs. Jackson spat.

“Hannah!” Chynna heard the warning in the man's voice beside her and that's when it hit her. These were Maya's parents, and Noah was making out with her in the middle of the dance floor where everyone could see.

“I'm sorry if it upsets you. Truly I am, but I won't apologize for moving on with my life,” Noah responded softly.

Chynna was happy to hear Noah defending their growing relationship. He wasn't ashamed of being with her.

“H-How could you?” Tears began to form in the older woman's eyes, and she blotted at them with a handkerchief she'd put in her purse. “It hasn't been that long.”

“It's been over two years.”

“Seems like it was just yesterday,” Mr. Jackson said.

“I understand,” Noah said. “But it's time. If you'll excuse us.” He returned his hand to the small of Chynna's back and led her away from the still-grieving couple.

Once they'd gone a safe distance, Noah pulled her away from the crowd. “I'm sorry about that,” he said. “Those were my in-laws—Maya's parents.

“I figured as much.”

“Mrs. Jackson had no right to treat you that way. It was incredibly rude.”

“She's still grieving.”

“That's no excuse. But I appreciate your understanding.” Noah stroked her cheek. “You're really a special person, Kenya.”

“And you're an amazing man.” Chynna reached out and touched the strong line of his jaw.

“What do you say to some time alone?” Noah asked.

“I'd like that,” Chynna said through mascara-coated eyelashes.

Noah grasped her by the hand and led her toward the main house.

Chapter 12

“I
need more heat!” the director
of Chynna's newest video yelled at Kenya as she tried to act sexy in front of the camera in what wasn't more than a halter bikini top with some bootylicious shorts. Kenya was so embarrassed at the obvious sexploitation that she was having a hard time pulling off the video. She'd been unsuccessful in convincing Eli to change the vision.

She'd tried to contact Lucas, but he'd been out of the office. Now here she was in the middle of the night, filming this video. She was supposed to dance in the streets with her backup dancers and then frolic around in the pool with some model she'd met for all of five seconds. She was an actor and could do it; she just hated the image it presented of her sister.

“Cut!” the director said. “We'll take a break, and in that time, let's hope that our star here gets some chemistry with her leading man.”

Eli, who'd been sitting in the background, stood back watching her while Deacon came forward.

“A word,” Deacon said, grasping Kenya by the arm.

“What?” Kenya said, pulling away. She didn't need a pep talk from Deacon right now. More than anything, she had to act like Chynna and blow him off. “I'm doing as he asked. What's his problem, anyway? He's not out there wearing next to nothing.” She didn't wait for Deacon's response and instead stomped back toward her trailer.

Deacon was hot on her heels and rushed inside behind her. “What's your problem lately, Chynna? You've never been embarrassed before. You have a great body and truth be told, it's what everyone has come to expect from you.”

“And does that make it right?”

Deacon stepped back and stared at Kenya. He seemed to be warring with himself for a quick comeback, and when he couldn't figure it out, he said, “Listen, let's just get through this video, and we'll talk to Eli about changing the concepts for the future videos.”

Kenya was surprised that he'd conceded the point, but she was sure it was just in the name of getting the video shot. “Fine.”

“Let's go.”

“I'll be out in a minute,” she said. She needed time to collect herself. She was going to have to use every ounce of the acting techniques she'd learned to get through this night; otherwise, Chynna's entire team would figure out that she wasn't the real deal if they hadn't already begun to suspect that.

 

“So you know what you need to do?” Eli asked Lamar Hobbs, Chynna's lover and former backup singer turned R&B bad-boy, from his limo sitting outside the mansion where they were taping.

As soon as Chynna had begun mouthing off on set, Eli had known he had to get her back on track. She was becoming much too mouthy and opinionated for his taste lately. Bringing back Lamar, the former love of her life, was sure to sex her up and have her off-kilter for a long time to come.

“Yeah,” Lamar replied. “I got this.” He knew exactly how to get through to Chynna. She'd always been putty in his hands. He knew how to hit all her buttons that would trigger the sexy Chynna James Eli needed.

Kenya sat in her trailer in her robe, waiting for the call back to the set. She was eating a plate of grilled chicken breast and veggies that Fiona had brought, thanks to Deacon's close eye of watching her diet, when the trailer door swung open.

A fair-skinned man with Rico Suave hair and wearing jeans and a Rocawear T-shirt came bursting in.

“Hey, baby,” he said with a wry smirk.

Kenya racked her brain for some memory of who this man could be. He seemed familiar, and he clearly knew her because he rushed over to sweep her in his arms and planted his hands on her behind.

His tongue plowed into her mouth as he kissed her with the finesse of a fourteen-year-old boy. Then his hands were everywhere. He pulled the robe down her shoulders as his mouth left her lips and he started nuzzling her neck. She didn't appreciate being manhandled, especially by someone with absolutely no skills, and she pushed at his chiseled chest. When he felt her resistance, he pulled away and looked at her strangely. His brow furrowed, and he frowned at her.

That's when it hit Kenya. He was Lamar Hobbs. The only man her sister had ever loved, but who'd also broken her heart by cheating on her and using her to further his own career. She'd made a tactical error by not at least faking the kiss and at least acting like she'd enjoyed it. She was going to have to seriously play this off. Otherwise, her and Chynna's entire plan was about to go up in smoke.

“Listen, Lamar,” Kenya said. “You can't just come in here, kissing on me like the last three years didn't happen.”

Lamar's mouth softened and he gave a half-smile. “I'm sorry, baby, but you know how it is in this business. I saw an opportunity and I took it.”

“At my expense,” Kenya replied huffily and turned away. She rolled her eyes upward and prayed for strength. She had to make this believable.
When she finally turned around on cue, she'd found a way to wrestle up some fake tears and allow them to trickle down her cheeks. “What do you want, Lamar?”

“To make amends.”

Lamar came toward her again, but Kenya had her arms folded squarely across her chest to prevent another attack of those wily hands.

“That's not possible.”

“Oh c'mon, baby,” Lamar responded in the sexy voice he used on the love ballads when he was crooning to a woman to take him back after he'd done wrong. “You and I were so good together, and we could be again.”

When he reached for her this time, Kenya tried her best not to recoil from his touch. She tried to summon Lucas's face in her imagination, but she was having a hard time. “I don't think so,” she said with a fake pout.

Lamar pulled her in his arms and stroked her cheek. “Think about how good we could be the second time around.”

He leaned down to kiss her again, when a masculine voice said, “There won't be a next time.” Lucas stood directly behind Lamar.

Stunned by the intrusion, but with his arm still circling Kenya's waist, Lamar turned around to face the intruder. “Well, if it isn't the great Lucas Kingston.”

“Get your hands off her,” Lucas said as he climbed the last step of the trailer.

Lamar must have heard the command in Lucas's tone, because he instantly released Kenya. He held up his hands in defense. “Sorry, man, I didn't realize you two,” he said, pointing to Kenya, “Were the real deal. Thought it was all for the press.”

“Well, it's real,” Lucas stated. “So I would appreciate it if you didn't put your hands on my lady again. Capish?”

Lamar nodded. “It's cool, my man. I only showed up because Eli asked me to help loosen her up.”

Kenya was floored by his comment. She couldn't believe that slimy weasel Eli had set her up. Lucas, on the other hand, was angered. He grabbed Lamar by his T-shirt. “What did you say?”

“Eli called me and asked me if I couldn't get your girl in check.” He motioned to Kenya. “Said she's been a real pain to deal with these days.”

“Don't you worry about Eli. I'll handle him.” Lucas pointed his finger at Lamar. “You, on the other hand, should leave.”

Lamar held up his hands in defense again. “Fine with me. Chynna and I had our moment, and it's been over for a minute.”

“But you were willing to fake it?” Kenya finally found her voice. She was galled by his actions.
Is this really the kind of man Chynna had fallen for?
No wonder she needed to get away from her life for a while.

Lamar shrugged then turned on his heel and descended the trailer steps.

Kenya stared after him as if he were a unicorn that had suddenly materialized out of the blue. “I can't believe any of this.” She shook her head in disbelief. “Eli sent Lamar here?”

“I'm sorry, Chynna. Eli was completely out of line, and I'm going to have a talk with him right now.”

“What does he think?” Kenya's voice began to rise and her shoulders began to visibly shake. “That he can just pimp me out to the highest bidder?” Her mouth turned into an angry frown. “You can tell Eli I'm not for sale. Not now. Not ever.”

“I'm truly sorry, and I promise I'll get him straightened out, but before I go, are you okay?” Lucas lifted her chin and forced to meet his gaze.

Usually with Lucas around, she was a ball of nerves, but right now all she could see was red. “I'm fine. I'd just like to be alone.”

“Sure thing. Keep your head up. I know you'll finish strong.”

Lucas was right about one thing: Kenya knocked her performance out of the ballpark. She wouldn't give Eli the satisfaction of seeing her fail, so she'd walked into the next scene in the video full of fire and passion, so much so that she'd shocked the director.

“Cut!” he yelled.

They'd finally gone through each scene in one take without Kenya stopping and complaining. She just wanted the damn video to be over so she could go back to doing what she loved—and that was singing and most of all, acting. The best time of her experience playing Chynna was getting to act in her first motion picture—even if she was playing her sister.

Deacon quickly walked over with a robe to cover Kenya up. “Thanks.” She gave him a half-hearted smile.

“You were full of fire before, so I don't know what happened during break,” Deacon said, “but as always, you pulled through, perhaps because a certain mogul arrived?”

Deacon glanced in Lucas's direction, but he appeared to be having a heated discussion with his partner.

Kenya didn't answer. Instead, she stalked back to her trailer, desperate to remove the getup she'd been forced to wear. She had her twin to thank for this particular humiliation. Though deep down, Kenya wondered how Chynna would have truly behaved if Lamar had shown up out of the blue.
What would Chynna have done? Would she really have taken him back without a second glance?
Eli certainly seemed to think so, which showed Kenya just how little he respected her sister. Kenya had her work cut out for her making Chynna's record label and entourage see her as anything other than a sexy pop star.

“You had no right to bring Lamar here.” Lucas was still arguing the point with Eli.

“Well, something had to be done. Chynna wasn't acting herself. You've seen it too. She's been different since she got back. The video was bombing because she was as stiff as ice, so I took action.”

“The wrong action,” Lucas replied. “You were wrong to bring that man here to play with her emotions.”

“Maybe, but it worked, didn't it?” Eli pointed to the scene the crew was taking apart. “She changed her tune real quick.”

“Not because of Lamar.
I
kicked him out.”

Eli turned around to face him and looked him up and down. “So that was you, playa?” He gave a chuckle. “What exactly did you have to do to warm her up?”

Lucas was disgusted by Eli's connotation. “Chill with the innuendo. Nothing happened between me and Chynna.”