Free Never Say Never (The Price of Fame Series) by Aimée Duffy Page A

wouldn’t have given me the time of day. I don’t know how I can ever repay you.”
    His thumb grazed her chin. “Just don’t back out on me, and we’ll call it even.”
    She grinned, knowing she’d never back out. What he’d done for her—and not just getting her the interview, but hiring Freda—meant she’d go as a way to make it up to him. But she didn’t want to argue. He was actually taking her to The Ivy , and she had her dream job. Everything inside her froze. What was she going to wear?
    Sander must have read the panic in her eyes, because he led her over to a table and pulled out a chair. She slid into it in one stiff movement.
    “Chloe, what’s wrong?”
    But she couldn’t tell him, he’d done enough. She knew the press stalked The Ivy and there was no way she could wear the same dress as the night before. It was payday, but bills came first so buying a dress fit for the restaurant wasn’t an option. She could kick herself for not bringing the dresses back from LA. All but one. Her chest tightened, but she ignored it. It had been a reminder never to be so stupid again. To remind her to hang onto her heart. And now she didn’t have another option. She’d have to wear Dane’s dress.
    Forcing a polite smile, she said, “It’s nothing.”
    Sander’s penetrating gaze made her wonder if he could see right through her skull. She froze her features into her best stoic expression and hoped he wouldn’t push.
    “Bullshit.”
    She’d forgotten who she was talking too. Of course he’d push.
    “If this is because you have nothing to wear—”
    Mortification cracked through her facade. “Sander, I have something to wear.”
    Anger leaked into her tone, but anger was good. Anger kept the shame at bay. His eyes set with determination again and she had to stand up to him. He’d given her enough.
    “Don’t worry. I have something fit for a catwalk.” She rose from the chair, towered over him. “Do you want me to meet you at the restaurant?”
    He rose to tower above her, but not to intimidate. His baffled expression made her want to laugh. “I’ll pick you up at six-thirty.”
    Chloe nodded. “I need to start work.” Thank God Richard hadn’t made an appearance, or she really would get sacked.
    Leaning down, he brushed his lips against hers. She stepped closer, but the contact was brief and he straightened just as she would have pounced. Taking a huge step back, she wished again her body didn’t ache with need every time he touched her.
    “Any chance of a quick espresso?” he asked.
    Chloe smiled and nodded. She stared at him for a minute before turning back to the counter. Every customer and Rachel stared at her with curiosity evident in their expressions. With hot cheeks, she ignored everyone and pulled out a cup for Sander. She had enough to worry about, like figuring out how she was going to get herself into a dress she could barely stomach to look at.
    * * * *
    Sander sipped at the hot, bitter liquid and watched Chloe work. He really should get to Radio Buzz, but the temptation to spend more time in her company kept him there. Plus, she’d been so embarrassed about the picture in the newspaper and he’d almost fucked the whole thing up by teasing her. Making sure she was okay was more important than preparing for a show he could improvise his way through. Besides, if he ran out of things to say all he had to do was play a few extra songs.
    A woman entered the shop carrying a baby bundled in pink on her hip. Chloe’s friend was running up a customer’s bill, so Chloe grabbed a pad and made her way over. She took the woman’s order, but the baby squirmed in her mother’s arms and burst into pained cries that echoed through the shop.
    Instead of walking away to get the order like he would have, Chloe crouched down so she was eye level with the little girl with a warm smile and goo-goo eyes. His heart lodged in his throat.
    He heard her say, “What’s all the noise about, little