Chad Morgan leaned against the wall near the French doors leading to the garden of the ball room. The scent of June roses drifted on the breeze. A distant hum of traffic rumbled beneath the pop songs played by the band. Dark clouds played tag across the moon carrying the promise of a coming storm. His thoughts approached another kind of storm, one burning in his gut.
Tonight was his to savor but the taste was sour. The celebration of his latest flick bored him. His body ached from the day’s six hour workout to keep his body fit for another action adventure as the unbeatable Storm. The fourth of the franchise his agent and the studio hoped would never end had been released today.
Music blared the latest tunes along with the series’ theme
song. Couples gyrated to the pounding beat. Women wearing glittering gowns and
men in dark tuxes turned like fragments of glass in a kaleidoscope. He released
a breath. Just another
In a silent salute,
He watched a curvaceous blonde weave her way among the dancers headed in his direction. She paused to lift a glass of champagne from a strolling waiter. Her top shimmered beneath the lights. The low swoop of the neckline barely covered her nipples.
“Hiding in plain sight?” Her husky whisper left him cold.
“Observing,” he said.
His laughter raised a groan. “What do you see?”
He could answer with the truth but he wouldn’t. Truth wasn’t needed tonight. What he saw was false laughter, pretense and boring people. He looked past her. “The same thing I see at similar affairs. What’s your pleasure?” He had an idea but he wanted to hear her ploy.
Her smile held a promise he didn’t want. She ran her hand along his arm. “I’m tired of secondary roles.” She sucked in a deep breath and nearly exposed her nipples. “I hear there’s another Storm movie being cast.” Her fingers reached his shoulder. “You could let people see the chemistry between us. That’s how your last leading lady did.” She touched his lips. “I’m available.”
“Did Cindy really do that? I never guessed.” He fought the urge to laugh. Cindy’s agent and his had orchestrated the romance that had only been in the papers not in life.
He spotted the man he’s avoided all evening. Though he didn’t want to speak to Gregson, the man’s presence would chase this opportunistic female away. He stepped away. “Speak to your agent. Perhaps he can arrange a reading. Mine is on the way. He wants to talk.”
She pulled a card from her cleavage. “Give me a call. I promise you won’t be sorry.”
Gregson arched an eyebrow. “A new conquest? Time for some promo ops and rumors.”
His slender, blond agent smiled. “Shame. You tempted?”
“Not interested. What’s on your mind?”
“You need to sign the contracts for Storm five and six. They want to start filming in September.”
Gregson scowled. “Goes with the territory. Think photo op.”
“Not the kind of life I want anymore.”
“What you want and what the studio demands shows you’re not reading the right script. Do number five and six and they might give you a chance to do something else. It’s the money, my friend. You opened in the top spot world wide this weekend. You need to keep doing what you do best.”
Anger bubbled closer to the surface.
Gregson’s hand landed on
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