All For Love Read Free

small enough that locals likely knew where everybody lived. Christian had only just become used to people recognizing him all the time. Had the Walkers had that experience all their lives?
    Deciding to head out on foot rather than drive, Christian was soon standing in front of a big, well-tended old house. It wasn’t nearly as huge as some of the Hollywood mansions he’d been in, but it looked perfect for raising a large family.
    He was just about to knock on the front door when his phone went off. He smiled at the sight of his mother’s name on the call display. “Hi, Mom.”
    “Christian, I was just calling to make sure that you got to the island okay.”
    “Thanks for checking on me,” he said, still smiling. He’d accepted a long time ago that no matter how many birthdays he’d had, his mother would always worry about him. His father had left when Christian was a young boy, and she’d been the best single mother in the world. “Sorry, I meant to phone earlier, but I got caught up on a business call.”
    “I know you need to prepare for your big new movie role, honey, but I sure am going to miss you this Christmas.”
    He was going to miss spending Christmas with her, too. It was why he had made sure that his mother would be surrounded by her siblings and their families over the holidays during his absence. Family, he knew, was very important.
    “I’m going to miss you, too,” he said. “In fact, if dance practice goes well, maybe I could squeeze in—”
    His mother cut him off. “If you’re going to be the next Fred Astaire, you’re going to need every second of those classes you’re taking on the island.” Her voice softened. “And I just know you’re going to do a fabulous job, honey.”
    “Thanks again for calling, Mom.” He thought he heard footsteps coming from inside the house. “I’m about to meet Morgan Walker and her family for dinner, though, so I’ve got to go.”
    “You’re at Morgan Walker’s home?” his mom asked.
    “Actually, I’m at the house she grew up in, but I believe her whole family will be there.”
    “Christian, you know that I am just about her biggest fan ever!” For a moment, she sounded like an awed schoolgirl. One who never missed an episode of Morgan’s show. “How could you not tell me this?”
    Right then, the front door swung open to reveal Paige standing in the foyer. Wearing dark jeans and a pretty light blue sweater, she looked simply stunning.
    She smiled at Christian...at least until she saw the cell phone pressed to his ear. Her smile faded as she gestured that he should come in when he was ready, then she turned and walked away.
    “You have to get me Morgan’s autograph, Christian,” his mom said, now in high gear. “Or, better yet, let me talk to her. You know how much I love her show.” When he didn’t answer right away, his mother continued with, “I’m sure she won’t mind. She seems so nice on TV, and if her family is anything like her, they’ll all be just as nice, won’t they?”
    Christian couldn’t help but think about Paige. Of how fresh and pretty she’d looked back at the theater. And the smile she’d given him just now before it had faded. “Yes,” he agreed. “Yes, they are very nice.”
    Morgan walked into the foyer a few moments later, smiling in greeting. “Hold on a second, Mom.” Covering the phone with one hand, he said, “Morgan, I’m sorry to do this in the middle of a family occasion, but would you mind speaking to my mother for a few moments? She’s a big fan.”
    Morgan laughed at that. “Your mother’s a big fan of mine?”
    “Huge.”
    But Morgan had already reached for the phone and was saying, “Hello, Ms. Greer. Angie, of course…no, it’s no problem. It’s absolutely lovely to get to speak to you.”
    Christian listened as Morgan laughed at something his mother said. Probably some story about him as a kid. Like all mothers, she tended to come out with those at exactly the moments when