Never Say Never (The Price of Fame Series) Read Online Free Page A

huge gulp this time. He smiled his laid-back, sexy smile. Chloe’s shoulders sagged as relief crept through her. She had him back.
    “Thirty-two, work as a DJ for Studio Four’s digital radio station and I’m a judge on Do You Have What It Takes? for a few months out of the year. If we pull this off, I’ll be back in the band and probably on tour in January.”
    His jaw tightened and his eyes blazed with anger when he mentioned the band, and Chloe couldn’t blame him. She wouldn’t be able to work with the woman she’d caught Dane in bed with and he wasn’t her fiancé at the time. From what she understood, Sander had planned to spend the rest of his life with this woman and she’d run off with his friend.
    Anger burned hot through her veins—something she hadn’t felt for so long. Sander really was bringing her back to life.
    “Sounds like you have a full plate,” she muttered, more disappointed by the realization than she let show.
    Not that she should be disappointed. Sander wasn’t looking to date her for real, so why the hurt when she found out there was no time in his schedule for a woman? Chloe shook off the discomfort.
    “I do. And reforming the band is a headache I don’t need.”
    Chloe’s hands twitched to reach for him, to offer him comfort like he’d done with her earlier, but she pulled them under the table. She doubted he wanted her sympathy. In fact, he looked annoyed, rather than hurt. Annoyed he was being forced back into the company of two people who had betrayed him.
    Maybe he really didn’t care. She looked down at her glass. No. Nobody could be as unaffected as he pretended to be. Not when a loved one betrayed him.
    “One date won’t convince people.” His not-to-be-argued-with tone brought her attention back to his face. His eyes were flinty blue. She frowned. “We’ll need to be seen together more than this one time, especially since there’s a surprising lack of paparazzi today.”
    Deep down, she knew this was coming. But time was something she didn’t have much of either. Her mum couldn’t be left alone for long and Mrs. Young had her own life and troubles. If something happened and she wasn’t there, Chloe would never forgive herself. There had already been an incident when her mum had left the fryer on and forgotten about it. There had only been a small fire, but it could have been much, much worse. Her throat tightened with remembered panic.
    “Chloe?” Worry creased faint lines in Sander’s forehead.
    She pulled herself back to the present. “I don’t have any free time, Sander. You should find someone else to be your date. I don’t…I can’t…”
    The waiter arrived with their lunch and gave her an opportunity to regroup. The chance of a job at Studio Four had long-term benefits, but how was she going to manage short-term? Maybe if she explained to Mrs. Young that she would need more help just now until she was able to pay for a part-time caretaker they’d find a way to manage.
    The waiter bowed and left them to their meal. The steak smelled heavenly and distracted her for a second.
    “Why not, Chloe?” Sander was giving her his no-nonsense look again. On anyone else, it would have been intimidating and annoying. On him it was kind of sexy. “What other commitments do you have? Tell me and I might be able to help. After all, you’re the one doing me a favor. Do you have a child?”
    Chloe’s mouth dropped open again. Was there any subject he wouldn’t broach? She could add rude to the list. “No! I don’t have a child.”
    Sander relaxed, and he grinned. “Then unless you lied yesterday and do have a husband or boyfriend, I don’t see why you can’t spare a few hours a day with me.”
    His grin turned cocky and his expectant look riled her agitation. Clearly he thought she’d bend to his will. She was probably the first woman who had turned him down.
    “Given your schedule, I’m sure you understand people have commitments. I can’t drop