Star of His Heart Read Free Page B

mind.
    â€œSo tell me, Rachel, what’s your dream?”
    She smiled. “What makes you think I have one?”
    â€œAll women do.”
    She chuckled. “Sounds like you think you know us pretty well.”
    â€œI wouldn’t say that, but I would think everyone has at least one dream they would love to see come true.”
    â€œI agree, and this is mine—being a makeup artist and wardrobe designer.”
    â€œYou’re good at it. Very professional.”
    He opened his eyes to meet hers and she was aroused in a way that just wasn’t acceptable, especially for a woman who made it her motto never to mix business with pleasure.
    â€œThanks,” she said, taking a step back and reaching over to grab a hand mirror to give to him. “You didn’t need much. I don’t believe in being heavy-handed with makeup.”
    â€œI can appreciate that.”
    She had made up enough men in her day to know if they had a choice they would gladly skip this part in preparing for their scene. “Now for that tattoo. I have just the thing to blend in with your skin tone that won’t rub off. And later you can wash it off.”
    â€œOkay.”
    He held out his arm and she began applying the cream. Against her fingertips, his skin felt warm, slowly sending her body into meltdown. She could feel his eyes on her but refused to glance up and look at him for fear that he would know what touching him was doing to her. Instead she tried concentrating on what she was doing. This time, though, she was too distracted by other things, such as the feel of his strong veins beneathher fingers and the rapid beat of his pulse. Her body responded with a raging flood of desire that seeped into her bones.
    Not being able to resist temptation any longer, she looked over at him. For a long, achingly seductive moment, they stared at each other. She wanted to look away but it was as if he controlled the movement of her neck and it refused to budge. She swallowed the panic she felt lodged in her throat as she slowly released his hand. So much for being a firm believer in the separation of business and pleasure. For a moment, no matter how brief, thoughts had filled her mind about how it would be to take her hand and rub it down his chest and then move her hand even lower to—
    There was a quick knock at the door before it opened and Paige walked in. And for the first time ever, Rachel was glad to see the woman.

Chapter 3
    â€œI f he’s as hot as you say he is, then maybe you should let him know you might be interested, Rachel.”
    Rachel wiped paint from her hands as she glared at the phone. If her best friend since elementary school wasn’t there in person to see her frown, transmitting it through the speakerphone was the next best thing. “I’m not interested.”
    And because she knew Charlene would belabor the point, she went on the defensive and said, “Look, Cha, I thought you of all people would understand. You know I don’t like mixing business with pleasure. Besides, I have plenty of work to do.”
    Charlene laughed. “You always have plenty of work to do. If becoming involved with a man is a way to slowyou down, then I’m all for it. It’s time you started having fun.”
    Rachel rolled her eyes. “I could say the same for you.”
    â€œFace it. Men aren’t drawn to me like they are to you.”
    Rachel pulled in a deep breath knowing there was no use telling Charlene just how wrong she was. Her words would go in one ear and out the other. For once she wished Charlene would be the one to face it and see that she was beautiful and sexy.
    Charlene had to be the kindest and sweetest person Rachel knew, but she always slid to the background when it came to dating and romance. Rachel blamed Charlene’s parents, since they always thought their older daughter, Candis, was the “pretty one” and had always put her in the limelight. As