Free Crash and Burn by Michelle Libby Page A

he hissed. “Or we won’t be able to do this.”
    Grace gave a satisfied smile. After a few more frames, she decided she liked posing. It was surprisingly easy to get into the role of her sister, who loved the spotlight. Grace shook herself. No more shrinking violet. It was time to let the Divina inside come out and play. She raised her arms over her head and extended. Then she brought them back to tangle in Stone’s hair. He’d already messed it up, so it didn’t matter if she added to the chaos.
    “What are you doing?” he whispered in her ear.
    “I’m letting loose.” She laughed at the use of the word he’d used in the car. He wanted a fun marriage? She was game. “Come on, Mr. Adams,” she said, pulling him by his tie to the rear of the car. She heard the click of the camera each time the photographer took a photo. She motioned with the hand that wasn’t pulling him. “Get over here, big boy.”
    She raised his arm and pulled on it, trying to get him to make a muscle. She was surprised at his defined, large bicep, not that she minded. With another smile to the camera, she trailed hand across his shirt and under the suit jacket.
    “You’re playing a dangerous game,” he hissed.
    “I like a little danger,” Grace answered exactly like Divina. She rose up on her toes to blow in his ear.
    Click.
    She pulled on his jacket tugging it off over his shoulders. “No one wants to see Mr. Adams dressed up in a monkey suit. They want to see these bulging muscles.”
    Mr. Halkins cleared his throat. “Wholesome and family-oriented, Divina,” he reminded.
    “Yes, sir. I was thinking about those poor housewives sitting at home with their babies, using your products. They need to see something that reminds them there’s more out there than dirty diapers and dishes.”
    Mr. Halkins paused for a minute. “You could be right. We’ll take a few of those kinds of pictures too. We’ll run it by our test group. When you two have a baby, then we’ll be able to show off our team family,” he said with a huge grin.
    It was like throwing ice water on her prom dress. She stilled. Babies? She shook her head. Stone had said nothing about children. That was definitely not in the bargain. Not in a million years, or for a million dollars.
    “Are you okay, Divina dear?” Mr. Halkins asked.
    “I’m fine. I think I need a minute, please.”
    They agreed it was time to take a break. Mr. Halkins and the photographer scurried to a computer set up by one wall while Grace looked for a way out. She bolted for the door, ready to throw up.
    “Gra–Divina,” Stone called after her. “You okay?”
    She shook her head. She found a tree in the yard and collapsed on the green grass carpet. “I can’t do this. I can’t let everyone think I’m your wife, or that we’re going to have babies.”
    Stone sat next to her and put his hand on her thigh. “He sells baby products. Babies are always on his mind. He’d make me race with a baby in the passenger seat if he could get the race officials to agree to it.”
    Grace chuckled. She hauled in a deep breath.
    “What happened back there?” he asked. “I thought you were going to rip my clothes off and dance on my naked body.”
    “I was trying to get into my Divina character. She’s a great dancer.”
    “Yeah, maybe, but Divina didn’t read me the riot act about no PDA.”
    “It wasn’t affection I was showing. I was giving the readers what I thought they wanted.”
    He pulled her toward him. “I can’t thank you enough for doing this.” He kissed her hair.
    She felt cherished and safe at once. She had to stop seeing him in a good light or before long she would be attached to him, heart and soul. Her crush would become a full-blown obsession leading to heartbreak city.
    The whirl of the camera battery alerted them that they were no longer alone. Grace groaned inwardly.
    “That’s a wrap. We got what we needed,” Mr. Halkins said, exiting the building behind the