Chasing Stars Read Online Free Page A

do. I’ll stretch when you’re done,” I say.
    “You not tired from sleeping in this position?” He gathers a small brush and his fingers are fast at work again. He seems relaxed and, for a moment, I want to keep it that way.
    “You are kidding me?” I laugh a little. “I haven’t slept this well in a decade.”
    “Are you hungry, thirsty?”
    “A little of both,” I smile. He is trying to make small talk. Damn. Something changed when I was sleeping. “The jogging must have made me hungry; I’m not much of a breakfast person.” I watch him closely.
    The fast strums of a guitar and the beat of drums blare from the speakers, and I feel the room vibrating.
    “Your cue to stay awake,” I say and, without my full permission, my flirting tone is back.
    He looks down at me and our eyes lock. There is a connection there. I can feel it. He wrenches his eyes away, breaking the intensity of the contact. Oh, he doesn’t like when I flirt. His thumb nervously spins the silver band on his finger. A pang of sadness strikes me. He is the faithful type. His wife holds something rare in her hands.
    “The back and the sides are done,” he announces.
    I sit. The blanket slides off my ass. Ignoring the horrendous gown that looks like a hospital gown, I stand up and stretch my stiff muscles.
    I gather the gown, “I am going to use your bathroom. I will be right back.” I glance over my shoulder, and yes, his eyes are on my ass. Whether he likes or not, he is not as immune to me as he might want.
     
     

     
    I am lost in the sway of her hips. I swear I cannot take one more minute of this ordeal. I have to change gears.
    I tread across the street to pick up the breakfast I ordered from a deli. I need to rid my mind of her.
    I hope she is OK with the food. Her father is a multimillionaire and her mother is a famous actress. Breakfast from your friendly local deli probably is not her usual menu.
    According to tabloids, she is a snob, narcissistic, and self-centered. Nevertheless, she has earned a name for herself as one of the most acclaimed actress of this generation.
    “Hey, Bert! Got my order?”
    “What’s up, Will? Order for two, huh?” He smirks and hands me a brown bag and a tray with two coffees.
    “Early client man, that’s all.” I hand him a twenty.
    “This early, male or female?” He hands me the change. I glare at him.
    “Just asking.” He smirks again.
    If he only knew who has been lying naked on my table, his raging hormones would catapult to an unhealthy level. Bert is a nice guy, but he’s always thinking about sex. He will screw anything labeled female.
    “Thanks, man.” I wave good-bye.
    I stroll back to the shop, lock the door behind me, and keep the closed sign up.
    Heading straight to my loft, I spot Portia standing by one of my paintings. It is a portrait of Mel.
    I put the food and my cell on the table. She joins me, and I hand her a coffee. “I hope bacon, egg and cheese is OK.” I get the sandwiches out of the bag, and hand her one.
    “Oh, it’s fine. Thank you.” She sits across from me.
    We eat in silence for a moment. She nibbles at the sandwich, chewing slowly. Damn. She is sexy, even when she is eating.
    “Mmm, this is delicious. I guess I was hungrier than I thought,” she says between bites.
    “Good.” I try focusing on eating my own food, but she is so damn distracting.
    The silent buzz of my cell grabs our attention. We both glance at the lightened screen.
    “Excuse me.” I stand up, relieved for a reason to leave the room. Her heady presence is a potent aphrodisiac and I feel completed aroused.
     
     

     
    “Hey, gorgeous.”
    I overhear him as he strides into the shop for privacy. The door remains open so I can hear the conversation he is having with his wife. Before he answered the cell, I saw a photograph of them on their wedding day, flashing on the screen. He is taunting in a black tuxedo, and she is beyond beautiful in her white gown. She rests her head on his