If I Loved You (Hollywood Hearts 1) (3 page)

The waiter asked for their drink order and Megan politely declined.
Business and alcohol don’t mix. Besides, I can’t drink around him…who knows what stupid thing I’ll say or do?

“Are you sure? Not even a glass of wine? I have to run my lines tonight, but I’m going to have one
eentsy weentsy
glass.” Chaz held up his thumb and forefinger an inch apart.

She shook her head. His thigh, almost pressing against hers, gave off heat, enticing her to move closer. She resisted.
Keep your distance. Don’t be star-struck. This is business. No more celebrities in your life…remember?

“I hate to drink alone.” The pleading look in his eyes melted her resolve.

“You twisted my arm, one glass of Cabernet. That’s all.”

“Make it two glasses, Jean Pierre.
Merci
.” With a slight nod and a smile, the waiter hurried off.

Speaks French, too. Show-off. A gorgeous show-off, but a show-off.
“I have everything we discussed.” Megan reached down for her briefcase.

“Good. Take me through it.” Chaz sat back against the cushioned bench and gazed at her.

“I figure you have something in common with Mark…” She pulled out two thin, dark green binders.

“Besides affection for his beautiful sister?” A mischievous grin parted his lips.

“This is going to take all night if you keep interrupting…” Her brows knitted.

Focus. Stop drooling. Remember, he puts his pants on one leg at a time just like everyone else. Stop thinking about his pants!
“All night? Is that part of the service Dillon and Weed provides?” He cocked an eyebrow while attempting, unsuccessfully, to stifle a smile.

Megan couldn’t suppress a laugh as the heat crept from her neck to her cheeks.

“I love making you blush…so pretty.” He tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

Her blush deepened. “Can I continue…please?”
Focus, Meg!
Oh, touch me again…shut up, Meg!

Chaz waved her on with his hand.

“Okay. Mark’s career could be over with one injury, and I figured yours could too. I mean, with one injury or a couple of bad movies…”

“Bite your tongue.” He widened his eyes in mock horror.

“A scandal or two…”

“Perish the thought.” He cocked an eyebrow to go with the smirk on his face.

“I know...a scary thought. One minute you have all this money coming in and the next minute you don’t. I don’t wish it on you, but it could happen. I figured if I can create a safe investment plan for you to keep you from losing your money while making it grow…maybe a little more slowly than a riskier investment, then if something bad should happen you’ll still have everything you’ve earned…plus you’ll have some income from it, too.”

“You can do that?” His eyes widened.

Megan beamed.
Finally, I have some respect.
“I can’t guarantee you won’t lose some money with changes in economic conditions…the market and all. But I can diversify your holdings to minimize loss, plus recoup any losses in one area with gains in another.”

“How do you do that?” His expression became serious.

“Study, thinking, research, and a touch of dumb luck.” Meg counted off on the fingers of one hand.

He raised his eyebrows.

“I’ll teach you. I encourage my clients to learn about investing. Mark refuses to bother. Says as long as he has me, he doesn’t need to know.”

The waiter brought two glasses of wine.

“He has a point.” Chaz took a sip.

“But I’m not
your
sister…”

“Thank God.” His gaze dropped to the neckline of her top then returned to her face.

“I’ve put together three prop…” Megan paused for a second to switch words before continuing, “plans at three different risk levels.” She handed him one of the green binders, ignoring the sweat gathering in her palm.

“Can I take you through them, briefly, then you can take it home to think about what you’d like to do?” She picked up her wine and took a healthy sip, surreptitiously wiping her shaking hand on her napkin.

Take a deep breath.

“How about if you take me through the one you’d most like to do? You do have one…uh…plan you think makes the most sense, right?”

“It depends on your goals…” she hedged.

“There you go with the goals stuff again. Look…you compared me to Mark. Very astute. I’m in much the same situation. So, you must have a plan here similar to what you’re doing for him that’s working.”

She nodded. “Plan B.”

“Okay. Let’s go over that one…the idiot’s version, okay?”

She nodded and opened the binder.
Damn. He’s quick.

The waiter arrived. “Do you like duck?” Chaz turned to face Meg.

She nodded.

“They have a fabulous roast duck breast.” He paused and gave her an amused glance. “Can I say that word when I’m referring to a duck?”

Meg chuckled.

“Okay then.
Pierre, deux Canard Roti aux fruites de saison, s’il vous plait
.”

“
Merci, Monsieur
.” The waiter bowed and left.

Megan began to explain to Chaz her investment strategy: the risks, the potential income, the growth possibilities, and the tax liabilities.

“One scheme I set up for Mark. He owns the apartment where I live. I pay him rent. Obviously I’m paying below market rent for the place, still its income that helps offset the cost. He and his wife, Penny, stay there when they come to New York. Saves a big hotel bill. The apartment is comfortable with three bedrooms, including a nice big kitchen. When they have a baby I’m going to put the rent money in a tax-free college fund for their child.”

“Killing a whole bunch of birds with one apartment…to mix my metaphors.”

“That’s the idea. The value on the apartment will increase over time, too.”

“That’s a brilliant plan…but only if you get along with your brother and Penny. You all stay there together?” Chaz sipped his wine.

“We’re twins, remember? We’ve always gotten along. I’m lucky to have Penny. She’s the sister I never had. It works. I love it when they’re here. Do you have any siblings?” She took a sip of wine.

He shook his head. “An only child.”

The food arrived, arranged artistically on the plate. The duck on one side with wild rice on the other,
Haricot verts
rounded out the plate. Tiny, perfect slices of orange hugged the side of the duck, adding color and a gentle citrus scent. Hunger gnawed at Megan’s stomach. When she took the first forkful, the duck practically melted in her mouth. “It’s wonderful!” Megan gushed.

“Knew you’d like it.” He smiled warmly at her.

While they were eating, Chaz pelted her with questions. She had her small notebook open and wrote down the ones she didn’t have immediate answers to. “I’ll get these answers for you right away. When do you want me to get back to you?”

“No rush.” Chaz sat back against the booth.

“When are you going to make a decision?” She took another forkful of the delectable duck.

“I’ve already made my decision.”

“You have?” Her eyes opened wide.

He nodded. She waited for him to say something. Her gaze searched his face for a clue.

“And it is…do we need a drum roll here?” She ventured a small smile.

“It’s Dillon and Weed…isn’t that obvious?”

“You’re hiring us?” Meg’s eyebrows shot up.

“I am.” Chaz’s perfect lips came together to form a soft line.

“Why, may I ask?” Her heart beat faster.

“You mean, did I choose you because of your brains or your…other assets? Brains. I like your other assets. I find them also…impressive. But when it comes to money management, I have to go with the best brains, who will work the hardest. You, hands down.”

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”

He gave her a brief nod. Megan threw her arms around his neck and planted a quick kiss on his cheek, then shrank back in horror at her action. “Oh my God! I’m so sorry. I apologize…I shouldn’t have done that…it’s…this means so much to me, to the firm, to my career…” She reached up with her napkin to wipe the small lipstick smear off his cheek, but he grabbed her wrist.

“Let’s do it right,” he whispered as he drew her into his arms. He lowered his lips, moving them over hers slowly while she melted. He coaxed her mouth open to receive his tongue. Wooed by his charm, her resistance vanished. When he drew back, she was breathless.

“That seals the deal. You know, ‘sealed with a kiss’?” His dark eyes danced. Megan raised her finger to her lower lip. Her pulse raced. “Do you kiss like that in front of the camera?”

“Would you like a screen kiss?” His eyes met hers.

“What’s the difference?”

“I’ll show you.” Chaz lifted both hands to cup her face and moved in for the kiss. Afterward, he pulled back.

“That was hardly the same…hardly a kiss at all, while the first one was…uh…”

“Was?” He prompted, sliding closer to her on the bench.

“Breathtaking,” she mumbled, moving her fork around her empty plate.

Pierre appeared without a sound, as if someone had waved a magic wand.

“Dessert,
Monsieur
?
Mademoiselle
?” Meg looked up, startled.

The waiter thrust a small dessert menu in front of them before Chaz could slide any closer. “Give us a minute, please, Jean Pierre.”

The waiter left as soundlessly as he entered. Chaz turned to Megan. “Something sweet?”

“Already had something sweet,” she said, running her tongue over her lower lip.

He cupped her cheek then dropped his hand.

Chapter Two

“What do I have to do now, to seal the deal and have you take over my money, and keep it safe, and make it grow…all the things you promised?”

“You have to sign a bunch of forms. When can you come in?”
Is that it? Have I won the business? I can’t believe it was that simple. Sealed with a kiss.

He pulled out his phone to check his calendar. “Hmm. Wednesday at six works. Can I take you out for a celebratory dinner after?”

“I’m pretty sure I’m free on Wednesday night.”

“No Wednesday night tryst, eh?” He slipped his phone into his back pocket.

“Didn’t say that. Said I was free for dinner.”
Don’t look pathetic, always available. Be mysterious. Always too honest, Meg.
She squared her shoulders and faced him.

He burst out laughing and hugged her to him. “You’re refreshing.” He kissed her hair.

“Some might say rude.” She raised her chin to him.

“Maybe. Not me.” The waiter arrived and Chaz moved back.

“Only tea for me, please.” Megan combed her fingers through her hair.

“I’ll have espresso.” After the waiter disappeared, Chaz rested his chin in his palm with his elbow on the table, his eyes peering intently at her. “Now, tell me about you.”

“Not much to tell.” She shrugged.

“Engaged? Married? No ring, so I assumed…” His gaze traveled over her slowly.

“Assumed I wasn’t. Correct.” She grinned, feeling the effects of the wine.
Or was it winning his account? Or the kisses? I’m high on…on him.

“Boyfriend?” He raised an eyebrow.

She shook her head.

“Clear field…I like that.” He sat back.

“And you? Big movie stars always have hordes of women after them.” Her gaze searched his face.

“And I avoid them like the plague.”

“Makes things easy for you, doesn’t it, having a woman whenever you want one?” She raised an eyebrow at him.

“That’s insulting. You think I sleep with anything? Anyone?”

“Men aren’t as choosy…”

“I am. It can be career suicide to sleep with the wrong woman.”

“How?” She cocked an eyebrow at him.

“Can’t you see the headlines now? ‘Chaz Duncan, the thirty-second wonder’ according to Jane Smith, who slept with him last night.” He looked up in the air.

“Are you a thirty-second wonder?” She shot him a flirty smile.
What are you doing? Stop flirting!

He laughed.  “Not exactly.”

“Then why worry?”

“Women lie. Correction
—people lie. When it comes to celebrities, people lie. Sometimes, people lie because they want to be associated with you…with your persona…bask in the reflection of your fame. They never give a thought to what they are doing to you, only to how the newspaper spells their name.”

Megan put her hand on his forearm. He placed his hand over hers.
He’s lonely, very lonely. Can’t trust anyone.
“So you don’t sleep with the women who are waiting for you outside the theater or hunt you down?”