Star of His Heart (5 page)

As much for herself as for him, she said, “We're talking about your disguise, Ethan.”

“Oh.” He glanced down at the items he held in his hand. “There's nothing wrong with my disguise. It served its purpose.”

With a suddenly sweaty palm, she pushed her hair behind her ear and met his gaze. “We can only hope.”

Then he flashed that devilish grin that she'd tried so hard to avoid. And something slammed into her. Awareness. Attraction.

Uh-oh,
said the one remaining rational part of her brain.
You've made a big mistake.

She had to agree. Letting Ethan stay overnight just might be the biggest mistake she'd ever made.

E
than gave Rachel a hot look because there wasn't any other type of look he could give her. He was totally taken with seeing her again. Had it been just yesterday when they'd last seen each other? Just yesterday when he had been alone with her in her trailer, reclining in the chair while she applied his makeup?

She had leaned over him and her scent had almost driven him crazy. They had agreed to be just friends, and God knows he'd tried keeping his desires under control with her on the set. But at night, alone in his bed, his dreams had been another matter. She was his friend by day and his dream lover at night. And the things that went on inside those dreams were enough to make a man stiff just thinking about them.

No woman had ever dominated his thoughts like she had.

As he'd told her, he had driven around a couple of hours before finally deciding to call her. There were a number of women he could have called, but she was the one he knew he could contact and not worry about anything getting leaked to the tabloids. But now he had to be honest with himself and admit the real reason he had sought her out. He had wanted to see her.

He pulled in a deep breath, and instead of standing there staring at her like she was a nice juicy steak he couldn't wait to eat, he glanced around, needing a distraction as much as he needed a cold beer. He saw several boxes and then recalled her saying she'd only been living in this place a few months. Obviously she hadn't finished unpacking yet. But it was a nice place, large and spacious and her choice of furnishings hit the mark. “Your place is tight, Rachel.”

“Thanks. You want to see the bedroom?”

At his raised brow, she said, “I mean the one you'll use tonight. The guestroom.”

He'd known what she meant but thought she looked cute when she blushed. He liked seeing her get all flustered. “Sure. But you didn't ask if I wanted something to drink, and I'm thirsty.”

She rolled her eyes. “Are you going to be a pesky houseguest?”

“I'll try hard not to be but I do have another confession to make. I'm hungry, too.”

Rachel shook her head, chuckling. “Then you're at
the wrong place. I can give you something to drink, but for a meal you're out of luck.”

“Why is that?”

“I can't cook, and before you ask, my aunt and uncle always had live-in cooks and I never had a desire to learn.”

He chuckled. “No problem. I know my way around a kitchen.”

She laughed. “That's all nice but there's still a problem.”

“What?” he asked.

“I don't have any groceries.”

He lifted a brow. “Nothing?”

“Well, my best friend did feel sorry for my refrigerator and went to the store last week and picked up a few items like eggs, butter and bread. The basics.”

A smile touched his lips. “That's all I need. Just lead me to your kitchen.”

 

“That was simply amazing,” Rachel said, leaning back in her chair. “If I hadn't seen it, I would not have believed it.”

Ethan leaned back in his chair as well and laughed. “It was just an egg sandwich on toast, Rachel. No big deal.”

“Hey, I beg to differ. I never got the hang of cooking an egg. Or anything else for that matter.”

“Why would your friend buy eggs if you can't cook them?” he asked, taking a swig of his beer. He'd found
several bottles behind all the art supplies she kept in her refrigerator.

“They can be boiled, you know,” she said, taking a sip of her own beer, right from the bottle. “And I know it was just a sandwich but it was still good. I hadn't realized I'd gotten hungry.”

“Hadn't you eaten dinner?” he asked, getting up and grabbing their plates off the table. They had used paper plates and plastic utensils so all they had to do was trash them. No dishes to wash. How convenient. That had been a good idea on her part.

“I had lunch with my aunt and uncle earlier in the day and when I got home, I started painting and lost track of the time.” She got up from the table as well. “If you hadn't called, I probably would have ordered out for a pizza or something eventually.”

He watched her stride across the floor to the sink to rinse out her beer bottle before tossing it into a recycle bin. She was wearing a pair of shorts and a top and looked pretty in them. He glanced down and thought she even had cute bare feet with polished toes.

“My uncle knows you or at least he's heard of you,” she said, causing him to shift his gaze to her face. “He was very complimentary.”

“Was he?”

“Yes. He believes you're a person who's going places.”

A broad smile touched his lips. “That means a lot coming from the likes of Jacob Wellesley,” he said before finishing off his beer.

He joined her at the sink and she slid over to give him room when he proceeded to rinse out his own beer bottle. She smelled good, he thought, pulling in a whiff of her scent through his nostrils. She smelled better than good. She smelled like a woman he wanted.

He smiled over at her and she glared at him. “What's wrong?” he asked, moving to place the beer bottle in the recycle bin. “I assured you that no one followed me over here.”

“That's not what's bothering me, Ethan.”

He leaned back against the sink. “Then what is bothering you, Rachel?” He had an idea but wanted her to tell him.

She had moved back to the table and stood with her arms crossed over her chest. “I think we need to reiterate a few things, like the fact that two weeks ago we decided to be friends and nothing more.”

“I thought we were.”

“I thought so, too,” she replied. “But…”

He lifted a brow and tried looking baffled. “But what?”

“I'm getting these vibes.”

“Really? What kind of vibes?”

When she didn't say anything, he crossed the room to her. “Rachel, just what kind of vibes are you getting?”

 

He was staring at her and those gorgeous eyes of his were probably seeing a lot more than she wanted them to. A lot more than she needed them to see. And that put her on the defensive.

“None. Forget I said that,” she said.

“Not sure I can do that now,” he said, eyeing her up and down the way he'd done the first day they'd met. Before they'd decided all they wanted between them was friendship. Her mind scrambled as she tried to recall that day. It had been his second day on the set. Had it really been two weeks ago already? They had walked to the Disney Store and Art World. He had purchased a Princess Tiana doll for his niece, and she had picked up some art supplies.

They'd both agreed they were not involved in serious relationships and wanted to keep things that way. Besides, she had painstakingly explained to him that she didn't mix business with pleasure. He had understood and said the same rule applied to him. That should have settled things…so why didn't it?

Why was he looking at her now in a way that made her so aware of her sensuality while at the same time reminded her that it had been a long time since she'd been with a man? Nearly two years, to be exact, and even then it hadn't been anything to brag about.

“You have no choice, Ethan,” she heard herself say.

“I don't?”

At the shake of her head, he said, “And what if I told you I'm getting those same vibes, and that if we don't at least share a kiss, there will always be curiosity between us?”

Heat circled around in her stomach at his admission and his suggestion. “Maybe for you, but not for me,” she said, lifting her chin.

He took a step closer. “And you want me to believe that you aren't curious?”

Of course she was curious. What woman wouldn't be when there were lips that looked like his? “No, not in the least,” she lied while looking him straight in the eye.

Unfortunately, those eyes were staring right back at her, as if seeing straight into her. Heat crawled all over her skin and her heart thumped faster. And when the corners of his mouth eased into a sexy smile, she inhaled sharply.

She broke eye contact with him, not liking the look on his face. It was taunting her and tempting her, all at the same time. She nervously licked her tongue across her top lip as a sudden case of panic gripped her.

 

God, how he'd love to try out that tongue.

Thrumming heat raced through his gut. Funny the difference a couple of weeks could make. His first days on the set, he was ready to push everything aside to focus on his role on
Paging the Doctor
. But now that he felt comfortable playing Dr. Tyrell Perry, he no longer went to bed with his lines infused into his brain. Instead something else—or should he say someone else—occupied his thoughts. And that person was standing right in front of him.

“You know what I think, Ethan?” she asked, interrupting his thoughts.

“No, what do you think?”

“You being here, claiming you needed a place to crash
for the night, is part of some manipulating scheme.” He could hear the sharpness in her tone and could see the fire in her eyes.

“Not true. I called you for the reason I told you. I didn't have anyone else to call.”

“C'mon, Ethan. Do you honestly expect me to believe that? Of all the women you've been linked to, do you really assume I'm that gullible enough to think none of them would have let you stay overnight at their place?”

“I imagine one of them would.” He paused a moment and then said, “Let me rephrase what I said earlier. There are others I
could
have called but you are the only one I
wanted
to call.” Boy, if only she knew how true that was.

She got silent and he knew she was thinking, trying to make heads or tails of what he'd said. Then she simply asked, “Why, Ethan? Why was I the only one you wanted to call?”

He saw the frustrated expression on her face. But it was what he saw in her eyes that captivated him. Desire. Although she might wish it wasn't there, it was and it was just as deep as what he was feeling.

But Rachel was a logical person who would not accept anything less than a logical and straightforward answer, so he said, “Because you are the only one I want.”

S
peechless, Rachel could only stare at him while all the sexual desires she'd had for him since day one came tumbling back. Why was he trying to make things so difficult? Why was he forcing her to admit the one thing she had tried to deny? She was attracted to him something awful.

It would be so easy to let her guard down and walk across the room, wrap her arms around his neck and give in to temptation and indulge in a heated kiss. A kiss that would probably curl her toes and then some.

But she had to think logically. He threatened something she couldn't risk losing—her privacy. Any woman he was involved with would become just as much news as he was. The paparazzi would make sure of that.
He was a man who spent his life, both personal and otherwise, in front of the camera, a place she tried to avoid.

She shook her head. Things were going all wrong. They had decided they wouldn't go down this road, so why were they? They were friends and that's all they would ever be. He knew it and she knew it, as well. If he refused to do what was best, then she would.

Rachel backed up and nervously tugged at the hem of her T-shirt. “C'mon, let me show you where you'll sleep tonight. I think you'll like this room since it has its own private bath.”

He held her gaze and, for a moment, she felt a weakening she didn't want to feel. Those eyes were the reason and she understood what was happening. Ethan had invaded her space, both mentally and creatively. And she couldn't deal with it.

Instead of saying anything else, she walked off and drew in a deep breath when she heard him falling in step behind her.

 

Walking behind her had its advantages, Ethan thought, watching the sway of Rachel's curvy hips and the lushness of her backside in her shorts. She probably hadn't figured out yet that he was enjoying the back view, and it was just as well since he definitely needed to think.

Contrary to what she thought, when he had shown up tonight it hadn't been with the intent of jumping
her bones, although he found such a possibility a very enticing prospect.

He followed her up the stairs and once they reached the landing, he glanced around. The second floor was just as large and spacious as the first. There were a number of hung paintings and he couldn't help but admire them.

“Are these your creations?” he asked when she turned around after noticing he had slowed down.

She followed his gaze from wall to wall and smiled. “Some of them.” She pointed out those that were. “The others are my mother's. She was a successful painter. A few of her pieces are on display at the L.A. Museum and various others.”

“They're all beautiful. You inherited her gift and it shows in your work.”

“Thanks.”

They began walking again and as before, he followed. When she paused by a door he moved ahead and glanced inside. It was a huge room with a small bed. But it was a bed and tonight he wasn't picky, although he would much prefer hers.

“This is it,” she said, entering the room. “The bath is to your left and there are plenty of towels and washcloths. Everything you need for your overnight stay.”

He didn't miss her emphasis on “overnight.” She intended for him to be gone in the morning. “Thanks, I appreciate it, and no matter what you think, Rachel, I didn't have an ulterior motive for coming here tonight.”

Instead of saying she believed him like he'd hoped, she merely nodded, turned and walked away. Instinctively, his gaze went to her backside, and a sizzling heat began building inside of him. Hell, he was a man and tonight he was reminded of just how horny he was.

 

A few hours later, Rachel curled up in her favorite spot in her king-size bed. Ethan had been in her home only a few hours and already her house smelled of man. And as much as she hated admitting it, she liked the scent.

She couldn't help but notice it after rechecking the doors for the night and walking up the stairs to get ready for bed. She had heard the sound of the shower and the fragrance of his aftershave had floated through the air. Immediately, tremors of desire had rippled through her, and upon reaching the landing she had quickly hurried to her room and closed the door.

While getting dressed for bed, she had heard him moving around. The sound of someone else in her house felt strange because other than Charlene or Sofia, she rarely had houseguests.

All was quiet, so she could only assume Ethan had settled in for the night. That was just great. He was probably sleeping like a baby, and here she was, wide awake and thinking about him and the fact that he'd wanted to kiss her. She could now admit to herself—although she would never admit such a thing
to him—that she had wanted to kiss him as well and that she
was
curious. However, being curious wouldn't benefit either one of them. It would serve no purpose.

Yes, it would…if it didn't lead anywhere.

Rachel rolled her eyes.
Not lead anywhere? Yeah, right.
There was no doubt in her mind that kissing Ethan would probably lead right here to her bedroom. And they had agreed to be nothing more than friends, she reminded herself.

But since he seemed quick to break the rules, why couldn't she break a few of her own? As long as the kiss and anything that followed after the kiss was all there could ever be and they knew where they stood with each other, would it really hurt for them to indulge in something that her body was telling her she both needed and wanted?

Her ears perked up when she heard the sound of Ethan moving around. A smile touched her lips. It was two in the morning and she felt grateful he couldn't sleep any more than she could.

She sat up in bed when she heard his bedroom door opening and then picked up the sound of him going downstairs. Being hungry at this hour would serve him no purpose since she didn't have any food in the house, unless he was planning to make another egg sandwich.

Before she could get cold feet, she eased out of bed, deciding if a kiss was what he wanted, then a kiss was what he was going to get.

 

With a deep sigh, Ethan closed the refrigerator door after pulling out a bottle of beer. He was hot and needed to cool off. He'd tried to get some sleep only to be awakened with dreams of him and Rachel together in some of the most explicit sexual positions possible. If those dreams kept coming, they could possibly ruin him for future relationships—at least until he discovered how close his dreams were to the real thing.

After screwing off the beer bottle top, he took a huge swig, appreciating how the cold liquid flowed down his throat and hoping some would keep moving straight to his groin.

“I see you couldn't sleep either.”

Ethan spun around. Rachel was the last person he expected to see. After showing him the guest room, she had made herself scarce, basically hiding out in her bedroom.

She crossed the room toward the coffeepot, and he wished he could ignore the tantalizing view of her bare legs and curvy backside in a pajama set that consisted of clingy shorts and a spaghetti strap tank top.

“No, I couldn't sleep,” he answered, before taking a final swig of beer while wishing it had been something stronger.

“Why?”

He looked over at her after placing his empty beer bottle on the counter. “Why what?”

“Why couldn't you sleep?” Her expression grew
troubled, showed her concern. “Isn't the bed comfortable enough?”

For a moment he thought about telling her the real deal, then decided she probably couldn't handle it if he did. “The bed is fine.”

“Then what's your problem?”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “What's yours?”

Ethan hadn't meant for his tone to sound so gruff. Nor had he meant for his eyes to shift from her face to slide down to her thighs. But they did. Heat settled in his gut before he returned his gaze to her face. Just in time to see the corners of her lips lift in a wry smile. “Something amusing, Rachel?”

“You tell me.” She began walking toward him and her scent—lush, exotic, jasmine and womanly—preceded her. He watched her as a sharp, tingling hunger swept through his groin, and suddenly, memories of the dream that had awakened him had his skin feeling like it was being licked with tongues of fire.

He never took her for a tease and hoped that wasn't her intent because he was not in a teasing mood. It wouldn't take much to push him over the edge right now. When she came to a stop directly in front of him, he inhaled and filled his lungs with her scent. And his testosterone level shot sky-high.

“Remember earlier when you asked me about those vibes, Ethan?” she asked.

“I remember,” he said while thinking her mouth was almost too luscious for any woman's face.

“Well…”

He refused to let her get all nervous on him now. “Well what, Rachel?”

Ethan watched her take a long, slow breath. “You were right about that curiosity thing.”

He didn't intend to make it easy for her. “What curiosity thing is that?”

She cleared her throat. “That curiosity thing about kissing.”

He nodded slowly. “So are you admitting to being curious?”

“Umm, just a little,” she said.

He went silent, deciding to let her think about what she'd said and, more importantly, what she planned to do about it.

 

Standing there facing Ethan, not all in his face but probably less than two feet away, Rachel concluded she had never felt anything close to the stomach-churning heat that had taken over the lower part of her body. It didn't help matters that he was shirtless with his jeans riding low on his hips. His muscular physique dominated her kitchen and reminded her that she was very much alone with a very sexy man.

And apparently he was a man who didn't forget anything, especially her evasiveness from earlier when she'd refused to elaborate on these vibes she was sensing. She was smart enough to know Ethan had no intention of letting her off the hook and was making her work for anything she got. That was fine with her, since she'd always considered herself a working girl.

He was a man who knew women. So he had to know she wanted him to kiss her. She hadn't been ready earlier tonight and hadn't been accepting. Now she was both ready and accepting. Nothing would change between them with one kiss. She was convinced of that now. Why would it? She wasn't his type and he definitely wasn't hers. Sharing a kiss wouldn't produce a marriage license or any document that said they would have to take things further than that. Monday, on the set, they would go back to being just friends. Nothing more. Nothing less.

“You think too damn hard.”

She blinked upon hearing Ethan's blunt words and had to agree that she did think too hard. But then she'd always been the type of person to weigh the pros and cons before she acted. This was one of those times she had to really consider whether the pros outweighed the cons.

She quickly concluded that they did.

A smile touched her mouth when she took a couple steps closer to him, fascinated by the blue-gray eyes watching her. Now she
was
all in his face and decided it was time to do something about it. Granted, she wasn't the typical kind of woman he became involved with; however, she intended to show him that good things could come in small packages. With a pounding heart, she stood on tiptoe, reached out and placed her arms around his neck.

“Now, are we in accord?” Ethan asked, placing his hands at her waist, drawing her closer and lowering
his mouth toward hers, hovering mere inches from her lips.

She drew in a deep, unsteady breath, barely able to contain the heated passion taking over her body, filling her with all kinds of sensations. She had never responded to a man this way. Had never been this affected and bold. “Yes, we're in accord.”

Fueled by a degree of desire she'd never felt before, she leaned farther up on tiptoes and whispered against his lips, “So, let's go for broke.”