Chloe’s answered,Me too.
“Daschle?” Jesse said. “Any relationship to Raymond?” He shook her hand.
“Only if being my father counts. Please don’t tell me you’re an actor.”
“Guilty as charged. Though recently I’ve gone to the dark side of screenwriting. In fact, one of my scripts has been—”
“Bound by Love?” she said. “Don’t tell me you’rethatJesse Gates?”
“I am.” He made a quizzical face. “Y-you’ve read my script?”
“I-I loved it. So much I drove over to Jeremiah’s house to audition for Esther.”
“Really?” Shock. Surprise. Disgust? “Didn’t they cast Sabrina Fox in the role?”
“Turned her down. Too gorgeous.”
He seemed disappointed. Of course. Sabrina was every man’s dream—poised, talented, with the name and looks any new screenwriter would kill to headline his movie. “Jeremiah offered the part to me.”
“Then welcome to the cast.” He was good, real good, acting past his disappointment, almost sounding pleased.
“What’s this? Chloe, you’re in a new role?” Stella draped her arm around Jesse, looking up at him, batting her eyes. “Ted said you were an actor but... a screenwriter too? What a talent. And so gorgeously good-looking.”
“Stell, you’re drooling on his jacket.” Chloe gently shoved her friend aside. “I told you aboutBound by Love. Jeremiah’s new film. Jesse wrote the screenplay.”
“Please, Jesse... ,” Stella crooned. “Tell me the heroine lives.Varietylabeled poor Chloe here the queen of the death scene.”
“Yes, she lives.” He glanced between Chloe and Stella. “That’s kind of the point. It’s a love story.”
“No, my friend, it’s a miracle.” Stella looped her arm through Jesse’s, pressing her breasts against him. “Chloe finally lands a leading,livingrole.” She glanced about. “Hey, everyone, Chloe Daschle got a movie where the heroine—”
“Will you be quiet?” Chloe yanked on her arm, drawing her away from Jesse. “It’s not public yet. Besides, you’re making a scene. What’s wrong with you?”
“I’m merely celebrating this monumental event.” Stella angled toward Jesse. “Hello—gorgeous here may have just changed your life.”
She was beyond the pale. Bold and brazen—all without liquor.
Ted whispered something in Jesse’s ear, and they scooted away.
“Off to decorate the car,” Stella said, waving to Ted, blowing a kiss. Then to Chloe, “Look at you, Miss Daschle, with a new movie and a hunky new man.”
“He isnotmy man.” Chloe turned back to the bridal party table where her drink warmed by the minute. She’d not yet slaked her bridesmaiding thirst. “Besides, he’s an actor. I don’t date actors.”
“Since when?”
“Since you-know-when. Jesse’s too good-looking, and I can tell he’s the type that loves to talk about himself endlessly. You know, the kind that can drive his date to stab herself with a fork just to get him to shut up.”
“Miss Cynical Goes to Hollywood. Come on, Chloe, it’s been three years since Haden.”
“Yeah, well, it’s only been one since that stupid video resurfaced.” With the Internet, nothing ever died. Except maybe the truth.
“I’m no therapist, Chloe, but one of these days you have to forgive yourself. What happened to your churchy-faithy thing—whatever you were into?” Stella wiggled her fingers and scrunched up her nose. “Wasn’t that supposed to make you new?”
“New, yes, not perfect. And I can do without your sarcasm.”
“Sarcasm? I’m just having fun, darling.” She kept her eyes fixed in the direction Ted had gone with Jesse.
“Have it at someone else’s expense.”
