to start talking at once, asking for autographs and photographs and wanting to discuss every detail of the current season of Seattle General Medical . In a matter of seconds, a cluster of women in their teens and early twenties literally surrounded Christian, all looking for attention from their favorite star.
They all got it, too. Every one of them. Christian stood at the center of the group, every inch the gracious star. Paige had thought her sister Morgan had star quality, but Christian’s was at a whole other level, and as effortless as if he’d been born with it.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying the show, Julia,” he said, having apparently learned the names of everyone in the group in a matter of seconds. He spoke to one woman after another, and she could see that he made each feel as if she was the center of his world.
Paige remembered the way he’d been with her family when he arrived for dinner. He’d spoken to each member, making them feel as if he truly was interested in them and their stories. In a matter of minutes, he’d become a part of all their lives, making them feel like close friends.
Exactly like he did with me.
Just minutes ago, she’d been feeling so special, as if she and Christian understood one another perfectly—the Astaire to her Rogers. Just the two of them in their own little world, as if they’d meant something to each other.
Yet, here he was tonight outside the skating rink, doing what movie stars were meant to do by freely giving his time and attention to his loyal fans. And Paige knew that each of them probably felt as if she was the only woman in the world who mattered to him. As if there was some kind of special connection between them, and that if only they could have a little more time together, it might blossom into something special.
Paige’s ex had a knack for making everyone around him feel special, too. At least when he wanted to. When Patrice was with someone he wanted to impress, or with a beautiful woman, he always managed to make them feel as if they were the most important thing in his life. He’d certainly made Paige feel that way.
But the truth was that Patrice was the most important thing in Patrice’s life. The rest of the world had been nothing more than a cast of extras caught up in the grand story of his life, with Paige meaning little more to him than a walk-on part. A minor love interest to be enjoyed and discarded with no more thought than you’d give a side character in a ballet once the performance was over. She had only momentarily been the center of his world until he had the choreography he wanted, and then she hadn’t been of any importance to him at all.
Of course, Paige knew Christian wasn’t just using her to get what he wanted the way Patrice had—she had willingly agreed to be his dance instructor. And Christian also didn’t have an ounce of disdain for his fans. He was giving his all to them because he was a wonderful, generous man.
At the same time, if she was really honest with herself, she should have known better than to read too much into his kiss at the end of their one perfect dance. It wasn’t Christian’s fault that she had. It was her fault for thinking that one kiss—even one amazing kiss—would mean more than it really had. He was here to learn how to dance for a movie, and after the week was over, he would be gone. But she would still be here, nursing yet another broken heart, unless she was a whole lot more careful to guard it around him than she’d been so far.
As Christian’s fans asked him to pose for more pictures and sign more autographs, Paige slipped quietly away from the crowd.
CHAPTER TEN
Even as the fans had clamored for Christian’s attention, he’d been aware of Paige the whole time and saw her begin to slip away. He was about to call out her name to ask her to wait a couple more minutes, when one of the young women in the crowd put a hand on his arm.
“Christian, it would make my entire
They all got it, too. Every one of them. Christian stood at the center of the group, every inch the gracious star. Paige had thought her sister Morgan had star quality, but Christian’s was at a whole other level, and as effortless as if he’d been born with it.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying the show, Julia,” he said, having apparently learned the names of everyone in the group in a matter of seconds. He spoke to one woman after another, and she could see that he made each feel as if she was the center of his world.
Paige remembered the way he’d been with her family when he arrived for dinner. He’d spoken to each member, making them feel as if he truly was interested in them and their stories. In a matter of minutes, he’d become a part of all their lives, making them feel like close friends.
Exactly like he did with me.
Just minutes ago, she’d been feeling so special, as if she and Christian understood one another perfectly—the Astaire to her Rogers. Just the two of them in their own little world, as if they’d meant something to each other.
Yet, here he was tonight outside the skating rink, doing what movie stars were meant to do by freely giving his time and attention to his loyal fans. And Paige knew that each of them probably felt as if she was the only woman in the world who mattered to him. As if there was some kind of special connection between them, and that if only they could have a little more time together, it might blossom into something special.
Paige’s ex had a knack for making everyone around him feel special, too. At least when he wanted to. When Patrice was with someone he wanted to impress, or with a beautiful woman, he always managed to make them feel as if they were the most important thing in his life. He’d certainly made Paige feel that way.
But the truth was that Patrice was the most important thing in Patrice’s life. The rest of the world had been nothing more than a cast of extras caught up in the grand story of his life, with Paige meaning little more to him than a walk-on part. A minor love interest to be enjoyed and discarded with no more thought than you’d give a side character in a ballet once the performance was over. She had only momentarily been the center of his world until he had the choreography he wanted, and then she hadn’t been of any importance to him at all.
Of course, Paige knew Christian wasn’t just using her to get what he wanted the way Patrice had—she had willingly agreed to be his dance instructor. And Christian also didn’t have an ounce of disdain for his fans. He was giving his all to them because he was a wonderful, generous man.
At the same time, if she was really honest with herself, she should have known better than to read too much into his kiss at the end of their one perfect dance. It wasn’t Christian’s fault that she had. It was her fault for thinking that one kiss—even one amazing kiss—would mean more than it really had. He was here to learn how to dance for a movie, and after the week was over, he would be gone. But she would still be here, nursing yet another broken heart, unless she was a whole lot more careful to guard it around him than she’d been so far.
As Christian’s fans asked him to pose for more pictures and sign more autographs, Paige slipped quietly away from the crowd.
CHAPTER TEN
Even as the fans had clamored for Christian’s attention, he’d been aware of Paige the whole time and saw her begin to slip away. He was about to call out her name to ask her to wait a couple more minutes, when one of the young women in the crowd put a hand on his arm.
“Christian, it would make my entire
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