Free A Beautiful Star (Beautiful Series, Book 5) by Lilliana Anderson Page B

too much, and I really don’t want my parents worrying about me when I’m just working through how I feel about Jonathan Masters’s presence in my life. If it wasn’t for his attentions, I’d probably be feeling quite happy seeing Brad on occasion while still living my own life and having plenty of time to work on my career without feeling bad about fitting in a relationship. Brad and his lifestyle, works for me and my lifestyle.
    But then there’s Jonathan, and to be honest, I don’t like the way he makes me feel. When I’m around him, I feel like running and staying at the same time. It’s as if his body has a pull on mine and it frightens the hell out of me because logically, I know that if I give into that, then I’m going to get my heart broken, and I’m going be that girl, who is sitting there, crying over a movie star, just like I did over Marcus Bailey, and I can’t be that person again. I can’t be the girl who hopes that she’s that one special person who captures a playboy’s heart. That’s the stuff of books and movies. It isn’t real life, and I need to protect myself from such ridiculous ideas–they’ll only end up breaking my heart.
    I move over to my parents and kiss them both on the head. “Nothing is going on, I’m just tired. It’s been a really long day. Goodnight, you two. I’ll get my stuff after work tomorrow then head back to my place if that’s ok.”
    And they nod, looking a little disappointed in my lack of whimsy as I head to my room, laying in bed, wide awake, and thinking about two different men and their pros and cons. And the more I think about it, the more one far outweighs the other…
    ***
    “You are not going on that roof!” my mother yells the next morning; it’s her voice that wakes me before my alarm, and I head into the kitchen to see what the fuss is about.
    “I’ll do what I bloody well like,” my dad counters, placing his hands on his hips as he argues with her.
    Seeing me, my mother tries to rally my support. “Sandra, tell your father he can’t climb up on the roof to fix the leak in the laundry. Tell him we’ll hire a roofer.”
    “Is there such a thing as a roofer?” I ask.
    “Of course there is. They’re the men whose job it is to climb on roofs and not fall through,” she insists.
    “Yeah, and they’ll charge us a thousand bucks just to fix a cracked tile that I can easily glue myself,” dad argues.
    “Tony Haegan! I don’t want you up there. I’m putting my foot down.”
    Dad laughs and kisses her on the cheek. “You worry too much, Mad Maddie. I’ll see you when I get home from work,” he says, giving me a wink and walking out the door, effectively ending the argument but leaving mum fuming like he always does. And I wonder if they’ve ever had an actual fight because I’ve never really seen my dad angry. It’s like he finds everything my mother does adorable–even her temper.
    “Can you please talk him out it?” she asks me when he’s gone. “He might actually listen to you.”
    “I’ll do what I can, mum. I’ll make a few calls and find out how much this roofer guy will be, and then I’ll have something to convince him with. I doubt it will cost a grand.”
    “He’s such a tight arse with home repairs. Thinks he can do it all himself. Well, I’ve got a pile of bricks out there that is supposed to be a barbeque. He’s as bad as bloody Homer Simpson.”
    “OK, mum, don’t get your knickers in a twist. I’ll sort him out.”
    She thanks me then I make my way to the shower to get myself dressed and ready for work.  And when I get there, I find yet another gift waiting for me on my desk. It’s a small white box with a blue ribbon tied around it, and the sight of it makes me stop in my doorway and immediately pull out my phone.
    “This needs to stop, ” I mumble to myself with an annoyed shake of my head as I pull up Jonathan’s number and dial. He picks up within two rings.
    “Good morning, Red,” he