Twisted Arrangement 2 Read Online Free
Author: Mora Early
he turned back, he saw color glowing in her wan cheeks again. He quirked a brow.
“It’s fine. You know.” She wriggled the fingers of one hand in the air. “What you said. And I’m sure you didn’t drive anyone away.”
If only that were true. But there was that devil’s voice inside him saying that if he’d made as much of an impression on Madame Butterfly as she had on him, he wouldn’t have come back to an empty room. “Thanks, Emma. I appreciate that.”
“And good luck with your important meeting.”
His jaw clenched just thinking of wily William Ransler. “I’ll need it.” His tone was dryer than the Sahara. He waved the sheaf of papers in farewell and strode out to once again try and pin down the most elusive star in Hollywood.
Chapter 3 ~ The Engagement Announcement
Twenty years ago, William Ransler shot to stardom playing the high school bookie Joel Badgley in the coming-of-age comedy The Spread , owing mostly to a scene in which he’d played golf in his boxer shorts and his great on-screen chemistry with older leading lady Diane Keaton. His clean-cut good looks and dimpled smile had instantly made him American’s Heartthrob.
Even now, cruising toward 50, the handsome star remained everyone’s favorite leading man. He commanded a salary in the tens of millions and his face had graced more newspapers and magazines than Princess Kate. He was beloved, both for his body of work and his down-to-earth everyman personality in interviews. Not to mention he’d been married to the same woman for the last 17 years too, which was something of a miracle in Hollywood.
And yet, Josh found the mega-star strolling around a farmer’s market in Big Bear in a pair of worn jeans and a plain cotton t-shirt with nary an assistant or bodyguard in sight. The market was teaming with people, including kids who ran and shrieked around Josh as he tried to catch up with Ransler. Ransler stopped to talk with one of the vendors who was selling strawberry jam. While the Hollywood A-lister looked completely at home beside the wizened old woman in worn overalls, Josh stuck out in this casual crowd in his Hugo Boss suit, even though he’d left the jacket in the car.
“Ransler.”
The man turned around, smile in place. It faded a bit as he caught sight of Josh. “Mr. Owens.” He inclined his head. Josh stuck out his hand. Ransler shook it brusquely. Josh decided to take that as a good sign. The man hadn’t refused to shake, after all.
“You’re a hard man to get hold of, Mr. Ransler.”
The lips that had launched thousands of women’s daydreams flattened into a thin line. “Yes. I value my privacy.” The rebuke in his tone was clear. Josh didn’t care if Ransler wanted to chastise him, so long as he gave him a chance to talk afterward.
“I’d say I’m sorry to bother you, but I’ve been trying to reach you through conventional means for over a week now. As you can tell, this project is important to me. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to see that it gets made. And I’m here, in person, to give you any other assurances beyond that that you might require.”
Ransler’s broad shoulders slumped a bit. He motioned for Josh to follow him with an open palm. “Let’s talk, Mr. Owens.”
Josh strode beside him in silence. He marveled at how the other man interacted with the public as if he wasn’t a mega-millionaire and a giant movie star. And these people didn’t treat him like one. They were friendly, but not fawning. Several people came up to talk to William about his wife’s recipe for pepper relish or the likelihood of the local high school baseball team going to state.
He knew for a fact that William Ransler’s ranch on Big Bear Lake cost well over six million dollars. Yet Ransler’s jeans were Lee and his shirt was Fruit of the Loom. Of course, Josh had seen the pictures of the movie star in a five thousand dollar tux at
“It’s fine. You know.” She wriggled the fingers of one hand in the air. “What you said. And I’m sure you didn’t drive anyone away.”
If only that were true. But there was that devil’s voice inside him saying that if he’d made as much of an impression on Madame Butterfly as she had on him, he wouldn’t have come back to an empty room. “Thanks, Emma. I appreciate that.”
“And good luck with your important meeting.”
His jaw clenched just thinking of wily William Ransler. “I’ll need it.” His tone was dryer than the Sahara. He waved the sheaf of papers in farewell and strode out to once again try and pin down the most elusive star in Hollywood.
Chapter 3 ~ The Engagement Announcement
Twenty years ago, William Ransler shot to stardom playing the high school bookie Joel Badgley in the coming-of-age comedy The Spread , owing mostly to a scene in which he’d played golf in his boxer shorts and his great on-screen chemistry with older leading lady Diane Keaton. His clean-cut good looks and dimpled smile had instantly made him American’s Heartthrob.
Even now, cruising toward 50, the handsome star remained everyone’s favorite leading man. He commanded a salary in the tens of millions and his face had graced more newspapers and magazines than Princess Kate. He was beloved, both for his body of work and his down-to-earth everyman personality in interviews. Not to mention he’d been married to the same woman for the last 17 years too, which was something of a miracle in Hollywood.
And yet, Josh found the mega-star strolling around a farmer’s market in Big Bear in a pair of worn jeans and a plain cotton t-shirt with nary an assistant or bodyguard in sight. The market was teaming with people, including kids who ran and shrieked around Josh as he tried to catch up with Ransler. Ransler stopped to talk with one of the vendors who was selling strawberry jam. While the Hollywood A-lister looked completely at home beside the wizened old woman in worn overalls, Josh stuck out in this casual crowd in his Hugo Boss suit, even though he’d left the jacket in the car.
“Ransler.”
The man turned around, smile in place. It faded a bit as he caught sight of Josh. “Mr. Owens.” He inclined his head. Josh stuck out his hand. Ransler shook it brusquely. Josh decided to take that as a good sign. The man hadn’t refused to shake, after all.
“You’re a hard man to get hold of, Mr. Ransler.”
The lips that had launched thousands of women’s daydreams flattened into a thin line. “Yes. I value my privacy.” The rebuke in his tone was clear. Josh didn’t care if Ransler wanted to chastise him, so long as he gave him a chance to talk afterward.
“I’d say I’m sorry to bother you, but I’ve been trying to reach you through conventional means for over a week now. As you can tell, this project is important to me. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to see that it gets made. And I’m here, in person, to give you any other assurances beyond that that you might require.”
Ransler’s broad shoulders slumped a bit. He motioned for Josh to follow him with an open palm. “Let’s talk, Mr. Owens.”
Josh strode beside him in silence. He marveled at how the other man interacted with the public as if he wasn’t a mega-millionaire and a giant movie star. And these people didn’t treat him like one. They were friendly, but not fawning. Several people came up to talk to William about his wife’s recipe for pepper relish or the likelihood of the local high school baseball team going to state.
He knew for a fact that William Ransler’s ranch on Big Bear Lake cost well over six million dollars. Yet Ransler’s jeans were Lee and his shirt was Fruit of the Loom. Of course, Josh had seen the pictures of the movie star in a five thousand dollar tux at
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