Free Star Attraction by Sorcha MacMurrough Page A

 
    Then she surveyed herself in the
full length mirror, and laughed delightedly.   She certainly looked the part of Zoe Dominick, successful author,
actress, and director.    The   cummerbund cinched in
her billowy blouse to emphasize her slender waist and full bosom, and her legs
looked long and elegant.   The black
and white outfit made Zaira wonder if she should keep her hair dark
permanently, she thought it was so striking.  
    As an after thought, she found an
old pair of antique pearl earrings, the only jewellery Zaira had kept when she
had been forced to sell all her things.   She knew they were reasonably valuable, but it was the sentiment attached
to them which had made her keep them.    Her mother had given them to her, and knew they had
belonged to her great-grandmother.   The Victorian gold filigree setting was a bit old fashioned, but Zaira
didn’t care.   They suited the
outfit perfectly, and she looked like a wild gypsy.   She put on her only pair of high heeled black shoes, and
raced out the door to the theatre.  
    When she arrived, Brad was already
waiting outside for her, and by the look in his eyes, she knew he was drawn to
her.
    “What’s wrong?   Has my make-up smudged or something,”
she said, putting her hand up to her face.  
    “Not at all, it’s just your
hair.   It’s so wavy, and layered,
not like you’ve worn it the other days.”
    “I had a bit of a trim, and it
depends on how I dry it,” Zaira lied smoothly.   “But of course, you can tell me whatever way you’d like
it.   After all, you’re the
boss.   Unless you’ve decided that
I’m not suitable as the Dark Lady.   I mean, you might have some other woman in mind,” she said, as she
unlocked the door and they stepped into the darkness.
    “No one else will do for the
part,” Brad said gruffly.
    Before Zaira could switch on the
lights, she felt herself being pulled into his strong embrace.   Brad’s mouth swooped down to cover
hers, and her senses reeled at the shock of it all.   She had dressed to entice him, she knew, but that he could
be so forceful both delighted and frightened her.  
    She surprised herself by starting
to kiss him back.   Zaira was just
about to put her arms around his body for support when suddenly he pulled away.
    Brad swore under his breath, and
took several steps away from her.   She turned on the lights, and saw him standing with his shoulders
hunched and his arms crossed against his broad chest.   He cleared his throat a few times, and Zaira waited
patiently to see what she had done to offend him.
    “I’m sorry, Zoe, I don’t know that
came over me.   I didn’t mean to do
that, it just happened.”
    “I see.   Sorry to have disappointed you then,” Zaira said waspishly,
and began to storm down the aisle towards the stage.
    Brad took two long strides and
pulled her round to face him. She could feel his warm breath on her cheeks, he
was so close.   She looked up into
his eyes, hoping he would kiss her again.   He did, but this time it was gentle, exploring, searching with his
tongue, and he nuzzled her cheek with his before stepping away.
    “God, you're so tempting, so
fiery, I just couldn’t help myself.   But I have to.   Don’t you
see?   We have been thrown together
by business, by this play, but you’re a glamorous novelist, and you must have
dozens of men lining up for you.”
    Zaira felt like laughing at his
feeling he couldn't compete for her attentions, but she could see he was
completely serious.
    “Look, I'm not the kind of man who
has flings, whatever they say about me in the press. So while I'm really
attracted to you, that’s all it would have to be. I think, well, I'm pretty
sure I'm in love with someone else. I wouldn’t want to see you hurt for
anything in the world.   You deserve
better than that,” Brad said with a sigh.
    Zaira felt as though she had been
punched in the stomach.   All this
time he had spent with her, and now she had