L.A. Cinderella (15 page)

“Why bother? You have Chase—isn’t that what every woman wants?” The woman’s eyes shot daggers through Natalie before she pivoted gracefully and strutted away.

Natalie stared after her for a few moments before she stood stiffly and walked down to the bathroom. Is that what everyone thought of her? That she was just trying to get ahead by going to the boss’s bed?

She shut herself in the stall and tried to calm her rushing nerves. At least here she was out of sight of all those people. She suddenly felt like the outsider again. A frumpy, short woman among the jungle of beautiful people. Before she’d been beneath their notice, but now she was with Chase. She hadn’t considered the reactions from her coworkers when she’d driven to Chase’s house. How was she going to cope with this?

The bathroom door opened, and women’s voices wafted through the opening. She quickly stood on the toilet without really thinking about it.
What am I doing?

Just as she was about to step down, the door clicked closed, and the voices became distinct.

“Can you believe the nerve of her?” the woman who’d stopped at her desk said. “I mean, to strut in here with Chase Booker on her heels like some sort of lapdog.”

“I know, right?”

Natalie didn’t recognize the second woman’s voice.

“I heard he’s using her to get back at Alexis Brandt for breaking up with him.” The first woman’s voice got close to the stall door and stopped.

Natalie held her breath and kept completely still. Her gaze was riveted to the doorknob. She’d locked it, but would it hold?

She heard the rustle of fabric, and the woman’s heels clicked back toward the sink.

“I think he’s doing it as a publicity stunt. Something to slap Hollywood in the face.”

Was that all she was to Chase? He loved her. But had it all been make-believe?

“Totally. He can use her, and Hollywood will keep trying to figure out why. That’s probably the real reason. Besides she’ll sink back into oblivion when he’s done with her.”

Natalie’s heartbeat echoed so loud she wondered why the women didn’t hear it.

Her heart tightened painfully as the door closed behind them. Was he trying to prove something to someone by toting her around everywhere? By dressing her up and taking her to the Oscars? Was that some kind of slap in the face of the Hollywood engine?

She stepped down off the toilet. She had to get out of here. She needed to go home. She needed to get away from these people. She waited another few minutes in the bathroom before venturing out into the hallway.

Rushing to her desk, she grabbed her purse and switched off the computer screen. Hoping to avoid the women from the bathroom and everyone else who obviously thought she wasn’t worthy of Chase’s attentions, she hurried out the front door without meeting anyone’s eyes.

Once in the safety of her car, she glanced around. Her eyes stopped on the men with their cameras. How did actors do it? How could they prevent the cameras from catching them when their hearts were on their sleeves and tears were in their eyes?

T
he luncheon took up more time than Chase remembered. Between the photos and everyone stopping to ask about his latest project or film and, in turn, telling him about their latest project or film, Chase couldn’t wait to be near Natalie and not have to worry about the rest of the world.

After saying good-bye to Robert, he dialed Natalie’s cell phone on his way to his car, but the call went to voice mail. He called her office number but got voice mail there, too. Tipping the valet, he slipped into his car before dialing the office.

“Pandora Productions,” the receptionist said.

“This is Chase. Is Natalie still there?”

“Um, no.” There was hesitation in the woman’s voice. “She left a few minutes ago.”

At the slightly guilty tone of the receptionist, Chase’s heart dropped. What had happened while he was gone? Natalie
never left work early unless someone told her to. Had he pushed too hard? Was she going to leave him like Becca did?

He hung up the phone without saying another word. He’d have to wait until he saw her to make any conclusions. She seemed so sure that she was ready to be a part of his public life, but he couldn’t help wondering when it would become too much. When would she leave him again? He wasn’t ready to let her walk out of his life, but what choice would he have?

Maybe this was a mistake. He never should have started something with someone who wasn’t part of the industry. It seemed only a matter of time before Natalie left him for good. He couldn’t offer her the life she wanted. Quiet. Unassuming. But he also couldn’t stand the thought of losing her again.

Would she go to his place or would she go to her apartment?

He decided to head back to his place. He’d asked her to meet him after work and, if she still wanted him, she would be there. If she wasn’t there, he’d have to deal with that when it happened.

He’d given her the gate code as well as an extra garage-door opener. All he could do was hope that she had used them.

Remote controls were evil. Chase had sworn to her that the remote he had for his media center was user-friendly. Apparently not if that user was Natalie. She’d found the DVD for
If Only
and, after another fifteen minutes, figured out where to put it in.

She had the remote in her lap and stared at the blank touch screen. It was one of those high-end ones that controlled everything from lighting levels to the popcorn machine.

Well, probably not the popcorn machine. She’d just be
happy if she could figure out how to turn on the damn remote. She’d tried touching the screen, and nothing had happened. She’d turned it over and all around to see if there was a switch somewhere. She found a few places to plug in cords.

She sighed. All she wanted to do was lose herself in her movie and be here when Chase came home. In his house, she was surrounded by a wall that kept out the outside world. She could pretend that this calm space in his life was all there was. That the cameras, catty women and unwanted attention didn’t exist in this house.

Her emotions were completely wrung out, and the damn frustrating remote wasn’t helping to hold back the tears burning behind her eyes.

Whatever the reason Chase wanted her didn’t matter. It didn’t matter that those women thought she didn’t deserve him. He wanted her. He’d made it clear so many times that she was the one he wanted. He’d proved it to her with his words, with his lips, with his hands…. She shook off the desire that spread from the center of her at her unruly thoughts.

Remote. Chase had shown it to her. He’d picked it up and pointed it at the TV, and it had worked. For him. But for her, it obviously wanted a blood sacrifice or something.

She set it down on the chair next to her. There had to be a way to make it all work without the remote. The large screen stared back at her, but no buttons were in sight. The shelves of black boxes with a dozen lights and buttons looked like something from a sci-fi movie. Overall it was intimidating.

“Evil remote.” She glared down at it.

“I don’t find it at all evil.”

She swiveled around to meet Chase’s smiling eyes. Her
heart filled, her pulse kicked up a notch and the worries from the day seemed to fall away in his eyes.

“In fact I find it a lot easier than dealing with the twelve that came with the components.”

“It probably is, once it’s turned on.”

Chase sat down next to her and leaned across her to grab the remote. His cologne touched her nose. His arm brushed against her breasts, and a shimmer of awareness rushed through her.

“Now, let’s see here.” He glanced up at her and then down at the remote. Taking his thumb, he placed it in the center of the screen. The main menu came up instantly.

“But I did that.” She reached out, and he handed it to her. She squinted down at the menu and touched Play DVD. Glancing up at the TV, she saw nothing happen.

“Here,” Chase said and held out his hand. She held out the remote but he grabbed her hand instead. “Your fingers are probably too cold.”

He brought her fingers in front of her mouth and blew hot air across them. “We just need to warm them up.” With both of his hands, he massaged her hand.

Her ability to breathe was lost as he made slow circles on her palm with his thumbs. His gaze remained on her hand as he brought each fingertip to his lips and kissed the pad. He cupped her hand and blew against it.

“Now try it.” He lifted his gaze to hers.

Her brain had ceased to function, except to send shivers of desire throughout her body. Gently he took her finger and pressed it against Play DVD. The screen came to life.

“There. See, all better.” He drew her back against his side and set the remote down. His arms gathered her close, and she relaxed into him. Whatever his reasons for wanting her here, she was here in his arms. He said to trust him,
and she did. And even if he was faking it, he was a very convincing actor, because she truly felt loved and cherished and desired.

She settled into him and rested her head against his chest. The steady, rhythmic rise and fall of his chest, and the movie lulled her. His fingers skittered up and down her bare arm.

With the familiar movie in the background, Natalie relaxed. This is what she wanted. Just him and her. No outside world trying to get in.

“Why did you leave work early?”

“It wasn’t that early.”

He shifted beside her until he tipped her face up to meet his gaze. “You don’t normally leave early.”

“I…” What could she say to Chase?
I was confused, frightened? I don’t know if I can be your girlfriend.

“You can talk to me.” Chase drew his thumb across her lips.

“It was just something someone said.” She dropped her gaze to his chin.

“Do I need to fire someone?”

She jerked her gaze up to his at the seriousness of his voice. “No. No one needs to be fired. They just…I just…I don’t understand.”

“What don’t you understand?” He gently brushed her hair behind her ear.

Her heart hammered against her chest and her lungs squeezed. “Why me? Out of everyone, everywhere. Why me?”

His gaze softened, and his hands cupped her cheeks. “Why not you, Natalie?”

She closed her eyes. “Because I’m nothing fantastic. I’m not fabulous. I’m just convenient.”

His lips brushed gently against hers, and he drew her
into his arms. Her head rested against his beating heart. “You’re right. There are hundreds of women out there that want me. Who wouldn’t think a thing about dating a man with a hundred cameras in their face on a daily basis.

“Women who wouldn’t mind me being out of the country for weeks at a time and spending my time with beautiful women.”

“This isn’t making me feel better,” Natalie mumbled next to his chest. His hand stroked up and down her back while his spicy scent filled her nose.

“I’ve never met someone who makes me feel the way you do. You’re beautiful and kind. You make me feel like I could walk on water for you if you wanted me to.” He set her back from him and tipped her chin up with his finger.

She couldn’t help the tears that swam in front of her vision, making him hard to see. She’d never thought she’d be able to find anyone like Chase, and his words were overwhelming.

“I love it when you smile at me. When you blush because of something I said. When you lean over your desk, poring over numbers as if nothing else exists in the universe. When I wake up and your face is the first thing I see.”

His thumb brushed over the tear that spilled down her cheek. “No one has ever made me feel the way I feel for you. I love you, Natalie.”

The music from the forgotten movie crescendoed in the background as his lips met hers. Her heart filled her chest and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Maybe fairy tales did come true.

Rachel arrived home in time to accompany Natalie to Charity Christian’s studio to try on Oscar dresses. Chase had offered to go with her, but she wanted him to be surprised. And she wasn’t ready to face Charity by herself.

“Do you think she’ll have anything in my size?” Rachel said wistfully as she picked up a pair of gorgeous sandals encrusted with sparkling gems.

“Those are worth ten thousand dollars a shoe,” Charity’s disapproving voice preceded her through the door. Her smoke cloud followed in her wake.

Rachel made an
oh
face and set them carefully back down with covetous eyes.

“Now, I was able to get a few designers to send some things on such late notice.” Every word out of Charity’s mouth always made Natalie feel like a naughty little girl.

A small woman pushed in a rack of dresses before shuffling back out. Natalie wished she could get away from Charity as well, but the urge to see the dresses was greater than her fear. She stood and wandered over to the dresses.

Rachel stood beside her and thumbed through the materials. The colors were all fantastic, light creams, blacks, rich shades of gold and brown, deep blues and dark green. Natalie ran her hands over the silk of the dark green gown. Any woman would look stunning in these gowns.

She hadn’t dressed up for Chase before. Her heart swelled thinking of him. There had been no prom for her. No best friend going shopping to find the perfect dress. No tux and limo. Now she’d be able to dress in designer gowns and ridiculously expensive shoes and jewelry. And be beautiful, if only for Chase.

“Get undressed, so we can start before I need another cigarette.” Charity’s voice penetrated the daydream Natalie had been having about Chase in a tux spinning her in circles around a dance floor.

“Right. Where’s the changing room?” Natalie looked around but there wasn’t a curtain in the room.

“You’re in it. Now let’s get on with it. You don’t have
anything either of us hasn’t seen before.” Charity puckered her lips and gave Natalie a once-over before turning to the rack. “We’ll start with this one.”

“I think she should try the Oscar de la Renta,” Rachel offered. They bantered back and forth while Natalie tried to tone down the blood flowing through her ears. She was barely comfortable being naked in front of Chase, but she wasn’t certain she could stand in a room in only her bra and underwear in front of Rachel and the dragon lady.

He may love her flaws, but she didn’t need to see the looks from Rachel and Charity. Those looks that questioned why Chase had picked her over any number of women.

For Chase. That’s why she was doing all this, for Chase. He was worth every minute of torture because he always matched those minutes with hours of passion that far outweighed the torture. That, and she’d get to wear a gorgeous dress and maybe for once feel like she belonged on the arm of the Sexiest Man Alive.

While the women were distracted with the dresses, she quietly disrobed down to her plain cotton underwear and bra. She’d made sure to wear undergarments that wouldn’t leave a line, but she wasn’t about to take Rachel’s suggestion to go with a thong.

Charity turned and what might have been a smile crossed her lips. “I swear, those clothes should be burned. They do nothing for your figure.”

Natalie’s face burned. She guessed that was the best compliment she’d ever get from Charity.

“Lift up your arms.”

Natalie unwrapped her arms from her waist and held them up while Rachel and Charity lowered a cream dress over her head. The fabric slid against her flesh like a second skin. It was absolutely stunning, but the back dipped down
so low, she couldn’t help imagining walking down the red carpet with plumber crack.

“This isn’t it.” Charity stood back with a critical eye.

“Definitely not.” Rachel moved to Natalie’s side and helped tug the dress off.

They went through the dresses one by one. There were problems with each one. Natalie wasn’t comfortable with the cut of some. Rachel wouldn’t let her wear anything with a big bow or flower. She swore it was a huge risk. The fashion police loved it or hated it. Charity just wasn’t happy, but Natalie wasn’t sure the woman was ever happy.

As they worked their way through the rack, Natalie became less aware of the fact that she was standing half-naked most of the time. Even the dresses that didn’t work made her feel beautiful, special.

The green silk dress flowed over her head and settled softly on her shoulders. Thin straps held up the empire waist gown. An intricate lace-and-diamond ribbon wrapped around below her breasts. The layered skirt draped from the ribbon and fell softly to the ground. A fairy princess never looked this good.

Rachel stood behind her looking into the mirror. “Vera Wang certainly knows how to drape a woman.”

“It definitely has potential.” Charity’s critical eye followed the lines of the dress and pinched a few places. “With the right hair and makeup, this could work. I’ll pin for the adjustments, and then you’ll come back next week to make sure everything fits. We’ll also have the hairstylist here so we can try out everything before the big day.”

Rachel smiled a big grin at Natalie in the mirror. “It looks like Cinderella gets to go to the ball.”