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Never Say Never by Aimee Duffy
Book 2 in The Price of Fame Series
When pretend turns to desire, heartbreak is
unavoidable.
Sander
Chase needs a date for his ex-fiancée's engagement party, but he doesn't have
time for a woman in his life. Between working on the TV show Do You Have What
It Takes? and his band reforming, he's too busy for a relationship. What he
needs is a pretend girlfriend. He thinks he may have found the perfect woman
for the job, and the bribe he offers means she's sure to accept.
After
losing her job in the film industry, breaking up with her movie star boyfriend,
and finding out her mum has dementia, Chloe Butler returned to the UK
determined to put her life back together. The last thing she needs is to parade
around London on the arm of a celebrity, and after the heartbreak caused by her
ex, she swore she'd never again date a star. But when Sander offers her a
chance at her dream job, it's not something she can turn down.
As Chloe
gets to know Sander she learns he's nothing like her scumbag ex. But she
struggles to fight her attraction to him, knowing their relationship is only
for show and their separation date is closing in fast.
Ignoring
the insane chemistry between them should be easy for Sander, especially since
he carries a secret that means there can be no future for them, but the more
time he spends with Chloe, the harder it is to keep his hands to himself.
Content
Warning: contains more denial than you'll find in a courtroom, more sexual
tension than most people could handle, and explosive sex that some readers may
find long overdue.
Excerpt:
"Hey,"
Sander greeted her. His blue eyes were set with determination.
Chloe
swallowed. "Hi, what can I get you?"
A smile
crept across his face and highlighted a dimple in his right cheek. He was
pretty for a man. Even considering all the mouth-watering muscles.
"Are
you seeing anyone?"
Chloe
blinked. "No…" she started but immediately regretted it.
If he was
going to ask her out on a 'pretend date' again, telling him she was spoken for
would be a better way to nip it in the bud. Not to mention she still couldn't
understand why he wanted her. Surely he could find someone who didn't come with
the commitments she had.
"Then
I have a proposition for you."
A
proposition? Was he serious? She opened her mouth to object, but he cut her
off.
"Hear
me out," he insisted. The set of his mouth told her there was no room for
arguing. Definitely pushy. "I've been talking to my friend at Studio Four.
He's looking to hire a makeup artist."
Chloe's
heart rate kicked up a notch and excitement zipped through her. Was he saying
what she thought he was saying? Then realization dawned. "You got me a job
so I'd go out with you?"
Pushy,
crazy, high-handed. The list of faults the male Adonis had was growing.
"No.
I got you an interview this Friday in exchange for your company next week.
You'll have to prove you can do the job to get it."
Something
inside her relaxed. He wasn't handing the job to her on a plate, just giving
her a foot in the door. But when she'd sent her CV to the studio a few months
back, they'd said they didn't have an opening.
"Did
you pull strings to get me the interview?"
His
dimples flashed. "Does it matter?"
Couldn't
he answer a straight question? "It matters to me."
After a
sigh, he said, "Yeah, I pulled some strings and asked them to consider you
for the job."
"But
there weren't any positions available." Or had they just told her that
because they didn't think she'd fit?
"New
shows will start in the next few months and one of the makeup artists is about
to go on maternity leave. Dave, the owner of Studio Four, said he was going to
advertise for the positions next week."
"Oh."
She couldn't give up the coffee shop for maternity cover, could she?
As if
reading her mind, or the disappointment on her face, he added, "I told
them you'd be applying for one of the permanent posts."
Could he
read her mind, or was she really that transparent? She wiped all emotion from
her face—a skill she'd learned in LA—and offered him a polite smile.
He leaned
forward and placed his palms on the granite counter. Chloe's eyes widened when
she took in the size of them. The man was huge. Warmth trickled through her
veins and she quickly pushed the thought away. It did no good to wonder whether
he was in proportion all over. She met his gaze with her chin held high.
"And
if I get the job, how do you know I won't back out?"
Sander's
lips curved in a way that should be illegal. A tingle skittered down her spine
and licked hotter in her belly.
"A
favor for a favor? You don't seem like the kind of girl who'd back out of a
deal."
No, she
wasn't, she was loyal to the point of stupidity. Even to those who didn't
deserve it…like Dane.
"No,
I'm not." Chloe took a deep breath. "Why me, Sander?" She didn't
think sir, or Mr. Chase, would be appropriate considering he'd asked her out
twice now.
His smile
brightened and her heart stuttered. "I don't have time to date. Work is
crazy and I'll be back on the show in a few months. I'll probably be on tour
with the band late into the year. You don't want more than I'm offering, so
you're perfect for this."
Sander
shrugged, as if that explained everything. Chloe supposed it did. He really
didn't want anything more than a woman on his arm for show.
Buy Links: Amazon Barnes
& Noble Beachwalk Press
About
the Author:
For as
long as I can remember, I've had a good book in my hands. In primary school I
loved Roald Dahl. In high school my English teacher introduced me to Charles
Dickens, Stephen King, Jane Austin, Emily Bronte, and Shakespeare. It was then
that I discovered my love for romance and I've wanted to pen my own imaginary
heroes and heroines for others to enjoy ever since. Only in the last few years
was I lucky enough to meet some fabulous and encouraging people to help me gain
the skills to make that dream possible.
I live in sunny Scotland in a small town near
the Ochils and work nine to five in a solicitors office. In my free time,
you'll find me on Facebook, stalking *cough* following friends on Twitter, and
may even catch me shoe shopping.
Author Links: Site Facebook Twitter
Giveaway:
Aimee is giving away a free digital copy
of Never Say Never.
To enter for a chance to win fill out the
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