Free Illusions of Love by Michelle Betham Page A

Around eight-thirty?’
    He gave her one last smile.   ‘I’ll look forward to it.’  
    India watched him walk away before sitting back down.  
    ‘I’ll bet he is,’ Bobby snorted again.
    India looked at him.   ‘What is the matter with you?   I thought you’d do anything to get close to him?   Only the other morning you were fawning over his photograph like some lovesick teenager.’
    ‘Yes, well, there’s no denying he’s still one handsome son-of-a-bitch.   But the way he was looking at you, Princess… Have you not heard about that man’s reputation?’
    ‘Yeah, and it’s just that, isn’t it?   A reputation.   Doesn’t mean to say he’s really like that.’
    ‘ India , India , India .   How many years have you been in this industry now?   And still my little naïve English angel.   That man goes through leading ladies quicker than you go through husbands, it’s what he does.   Do you really want to be next on his hit list?’
    ‘I’m going for a harmless drink with him later, Bobby, that’s all.   Where’s the problem in that…?   Oh, my God, you’re jealous!’ she laughed.
    ‘As if!’ Bobby sniffed, turning his attention back to his magazine.   ‘Anyway, it’s not as though you’re gonna be sleeping together before the champagne’s finished, is it?’
    ‘And what if we were?’
    Bobby looked at her, narrowing his eyes.   ‘Are you just a teensy bit attracted to our handsome movie star, Princess?’
    India shrugged, looking over at Dominic who was deep in conversation with one of the wardrobe assistants – a young and pretty dark-haired girl who was quite obviously flirting with him.   It didn’t look too much like he was reciprocating but it didn’t stop a flicker of something – was that jealousy? – taking her over for a brief second.   And when he suddenly turned, caught her eye and smiled at her she felt her stomach turn a tiny somersault.   Followed by a warning shot from the sensible part of her brain.   ‘No, Bobby.   I’m not in the least bit attracted to Dominic MacDonald.   Okay?’
    ‘Whatever you say, Angel.   Whatever you say.’
     
    ***
     
    Michael had seen Dominic make his move, walk over to India and take her hand, kissing her on the cheek.   Just a bit too over-friendly for a first introduction as far as he was concerned.   That level of familiarity needed to be kept under control.
    ‘Everything alright?’ Reece asked, watching Michael closely as he observed India talking to Dominic MacDonald.
    ‘Everything’s fine,’ Michael replied, looking down at his pile of notes.   The distraction of India and Dominic had caused him to momentarily lose track of exactly what he was doing.
    ‘I’m glad to hear it,’ Reece continued, still watching his ex-son-in-law very closely, not missing his slightly flustered demeanour, and Michael was never usually one to get flustered.   Reece had worked with him many a time before and he knew that this was unusual for a man like Michael.   Unless India was around.
    Michael quickly pulled himself together and looked at Reece.   ‘Nothing’s going on, Reece.   Between me and India .   I promise you that.’
    ‘I don’t care what you promise me, Michael.   I only care about what you do to my daughter.   Something went on in the past that I still have no idea about…’   Reece noticed a tiny but all-too-evident flinch from Michael when he’d said that,   ‘… and I’m concerned about history repeating itself.   You can understand that, can’t you?’
    Michael nodded, briefly looking over towards India and Dominic again, her smile as she talked to the handsome younger actor lighting up her whole face and he felt his stomach twist itself in knots as that painful obsession once more took its grip on him.
    ‘ India told me you made a move, the other night.’
    ‘And she knocked me back.’   Michael looked at Reece, knowing those were words he’d waited so long to hear – that