All For Love Read Free Page B

who can’t stand to look at blood, or anything even the slightest bit gross. Of course, by that point Jimmy had spent the week training himself to get over it.”
    Paige nibbled at her food, barely tasting it, though she’d been starved by the time she’d left the dance studio. She was surprised to note just how effortlessly charming and gracious Christian was as he made her father laugh with the insider information about the TV show before turning to speak to her grandmother.
    “I’m sure I’ve seen you somewhere before, Ava.”
    “I bet you say that to all the girls, dear,” her grandmother replied with a twinkle in her eyes.
    Christian laughed, before saying, “I’ve just remembered, there was a documentary about the island, wasn’t there? I caught it at Sundance.”
    “The documentary was mostly about Hanna and Joel,” Grams insisted. “Although I do seem to be getting quite a bit of fan mail. What do you do with your fan mail, Christian?”
    “It’s hard to stay on top of it,” Christian admitted, “but I figure that if they can take the time to write to me, I can take the time to reply. And it helps that a lot of people are getting in touch through social media these days. It means I can keep the conversation going.”
    Yet again, Paige was surprised by his response. She’d expected him to say that he had people to take care of his pesky fans. After all, he was a really famous TV star. Surely he had assistants for that and for everything else, too.
    Then again, when she’d seen him standing on the front step, hadn’t she been wrong to assume he was talking to his agent about some new big-money role? Who would have guessed that he would be talking to his mother? And that she would be putting him on the grill about getting Morgan’s autograph. He’d sounded like anyone who was trying to please their mother.
    It had been kind of cute, actually.
    “I’ve noticed that same thing ever since Michael got me online. It’s amazing the way we all end up having a big group conversation,” Grams said. “I’m also amazed that people from the strangest places seem to want to ask me about my dancing back when I was young.”
    “So, dancing runs in the family?”
    Paige noted that he seemed genuinely content to listen as Grams explained how she had worked as a dancer in Seattle and how their grandfather had been so supportive when she’d wanted to start the dance school here on the island.
    “If Paige has any trouble with you, perhaps you’ll find me taking over your dance instruction,” Grams joked.
    Christian looked over at Paige then, and her breath caught in her throat when she realized how deep and intense his gaze was. He hadn’t looked at anyone else that way tonight, she realized.
    Only her.
    “I don’t plan on giving Paige any problems beyond my two left feet. Hopefully, I’ll end up being the best dance student she’s ever had.”
    Paige had heard a few horror stories from Morgan about actors who wouldn’t follow direction or who didn’t seem to understand that they had to make some kind of effort beyond looking pretty. But she knew she needed to at least try to give Christian the benefit of the doubt despite the fact that, on the surface with his standard red carpet shots and paparazzi snaps, everything about him said typical A-list type.
    “I’m glad to hear you’re excited about getting started with our lessons,” she said softly. When he smiled at her, the heat in his gaze had her nearly stuttering on her next far-too-true words. “I am, too.”
    A short while later, as the plates were being cleared away to make room for dessert, Christian asked, “Would you excuse me for a moment? I need to make one quick phone call.”
    “Your mother again?” Morgan joked.
    “Actually, it’s my nephew’s birthday tomorrow, and since I know he’ll be busy with his friends all day, I figure tonight is my best chance to get him to pick up the phone so that I can wish him a happy