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

everything to flounce about London on your arm. I have to work, and…have other things which take up my time.” She glared at him, unflinching and had to fight a smile as his grin faded.
    He ran a hand through his wavy hair. “That’s what I’m saying. If you tell me what the other things are, I might be able to help.”
    No way would she ask for help with her mum. And what could Sander do anyway? She doubted he’d invite Joyce out with them. No, there wasn’t anything he could help with on that score. Chloe sighed.
    “I’ll see what arrangements I can make.” After all, it would benefit her to do this for him if she managed to get the job.
    Thinking about asking Mrs. Young snapped her attention to her phone. She pulled it out of her pocket. Ice trickled through her veins when she realized she’d forgotten to turn it back on. With fumbling fingers, she managed to power it up. As soon as the voicemail symbol flashed at the top of the screen, panic tightened her throat. Ignoring Sander’s searching gaze, she retrieved the messages and put the phone to her ear.
    With a sinking heart, she listened to the digital voice announce she had six new messages. Please let everything be all right. But it wasn’t.
     

Chapter 3
     
    Sander watched the blood drain from Chloe’s face and fear widen her eyes. She still held the phone pressed to her ear and her free hand shook on the table. He reckoned it had been almost a minute since her last breath.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “I have to go,” she whispered.
    Tears welled in her eyes and he silently cursed. What the hell was he supposed to do? Sure, he’d seen women cry. There’d been tears every week on Do You Have What It Takes? , but there were always people there to deal with it. His heart pounded against his ribs.
    “Come on.” Sander rose, pulled out his wallet, and threw a few bills on the table.
    Chloe didn’t move so he took her by the arm and urged her from the seat. Please, don’t cry.
    “Chloe, listen.”
    She looked up at him, those big, golden eyes shining with moisture.
    “What happened? Talk to me.” He wanted to shake her so she’d respond. Maybe even get her angry. Anything was better than tears.
    “I have to go. My mum…” Her voice trailed off on a sob and his heart crashed to his stomach. Damn. What the hell he was he supposed to do with that?
    He put an arm around her waist, nodded an apology to the waiter, then strode toward the front door, pulling Chloe along with him. The valet assured Sander his car was on its way. When they reached the curb, he didn’t release her. He chanced a look down at her face. No tears yet, but they didn’t look far away.
    “Chloe, what happened to your mother?”
    She stared down at her phone, her fingers white at the knuckles where she gripped it.
    “Mrs. Young, my neighbor, left a message. My mum has dementia. Sometimes she forgets her life now and thinks she’s in the past. Mrs. Young stays with her while I’m at work. But she left the house for a minute, and my mum went out. She’s missing, Sander, and I don’t know how to find her.”
    Her hands trembled. He felt like someone had sucker punched him in the gut. Commitments. Yeah, she had plenty of those, and there he was demanding more of her time. Time she really didn’t have.
    He released her and paced across the pavement. “Where do you think she might be?”
    She didn’t answer, so he stopped in front of her. Chloe’s head bent down to her phone. Shoulders slumped, she looked defeated. Sander reached out and placed his hands on her upper arms.
    “Chloe.”
    Her head jerked up. Eyes still shiny, she let out a soft, ragged breath, like she’d lost before she’d even began trying. To hell with that.
    “Call Mrs. Young back. Find out what happened. She might be home already.”
    Something sparked in her eyes. Hope maybe? “You’re right.” She pressed a few buttons on her phone then held it up to her ear.
    “What happened, Mrs. Young?” she