This Is True Love (Exclusive! #1) Read Free Page A

“You’re a control freak. Someone who likes to work alone.”
    “Exactly.” He saw no reason to deny it. As far as he was concerned, it wasn’t a drawback. But that wasn’t the only reason he didn’t want Fliss as a co-owner. How were they supposed to work together after…?
    “Let’s be real, Alex.”
    He refocused on the woman standing in front of him, a mutinous expression on her beautiful face. “Yes, let’s.”
    “You’re a little gruff, a little stuffy. That hurts you sometimes when it comes to business.”
    “Are you trying to convince me with insults? Interesting strategy,” he said dryly. “Crescendo is doing fine. I’m doing fine.”
    “Yes, but imagine the possibilities if we joined forces,” she said, patting his chest. It felt like he’d been branded, he felt the touch so keenly, even through his T-shirt. His heartbeat pounded in his ears. Why her? Why now when they’d never gotten along? Except for that one night he couldn’t stop obsessing over.
    “I don’t want to join forces,” he said. “I’ll buy your shares from you. Problem solved.”
    “I bring a different energy, a different perspective,” she added like he hadn’t spoken. She continued to pat his chest. “I have connections of my own that we can leverage to make Crescendo even more successful than it already is. Together, we’d be unstoppable.”
    Alex caught her hand in mid-pat and ensnared her gaze. “Not going to happen,” he said flatly.
    Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER TWO
     
    Not what Fliss wanted to hear, but not all that shocking, either. Stubbornness virtually oozed from his pores. “Well, I’m not going to sell, so it looks like we’re at a stalemate. Oh, and now that I own fifty percent of Crescendo, you can’t do whatever you want, whenever you want without my input.”
    “Why are you doing this?” he asked, releasing her hand.
    Determined to ignore how her hand still tingled from his touch, Fliss curled it at her side. “Well—”
    “Is it because of what happened that night?” he continued, cutting her off.
    She recoiled, horror sweeping through her. “You think I did this in some clumsy attempt to seduce you?”
    His gaze never wavered. “The thought crossed my mind.”
    Ooh, he was so arrogant. Did he think he was God’s gift to women? More like the devil’s curse. She poked him in the chest. “Well, tell the thought to cross back. That’s not why I did this. That’s not why I showed up at the gala.”
    “It’s not?” Lord of the Manor had returned. He was messing with her. She knew it and still didn’t care.
    She poked him again. “No, and you know it. I wanted to be there. I deserved to be there.”
    Six weeks ago, Crescendo had been honored at the Hollywood Gives Back Gala for its philanthropic efforts in sponsoring college scholarships for aspiring filmmakers. She’d been so proud of the honor. It had been her idea to expand the scholarship program as Crescendo became more successful. She’d gone, knowing she’d have to endure whispers and stares and maybe even the occasional rude comment to her face. She’d been so determined to prove to everyone, to herself that she was fine. That Keith hadn’t bested her. She’d been doing fine until he walked in with his latest whatever , Rebecca Peterson.
    And that was enough thinking about that. The man in front of her was her concern, not her ex. She froze, her eyes narrowing. “Wait. You’re not interested in me, are you?”
    “Of course not,” Alex scoffed.
    Something pinched near her heart. Something she dared not call hurt. He didn’t have the power to hurt her. She wouldn’t give him that power. Not when she’d been hurt by others, who meant more to her than he ever would, and still managed to survive. She lifted her chin. “Good. Glad that’s settled.”
    Fliss shifted to walk away, but his hand on her arm halted her progress. And sent another damn tingle down her limb. She pulled