“I’ve already tried to dissuade her.” Sean flopped back in his seat. “She’s determined to torture herself.”
Mom studied Chloe for a long moment. “Then we’ll support her. I’ll go get your dad.”
Chloe clasped her hands to hide their trembling. She had no idea what was about to happen, but she could no sooner not watch than she could stop breathing. Would he talk about the scandal? The journalist would ask and she didn’t see how he could avoid answering.
Oh, why were these commercials taking so long?
Meghan grabbed her hand. “It’ll be okay. We’ve got you.”
“I know you do.” But they couldn’t protect her heart. No one could—not even her.
Mom and Dad joined them and the program finally returned.
Meghan grabbed the remote and turned it up as the intro music swelled and the camera zoomed in on the host, Carmen Rodriguez. “Welcome to the weekend edition ofCelebrity Today. We’ve got an exclusive interview with Liam Hamilton coming up. But first, let’s go to Hollywood where Mina White is covering a new star on the block.”
Chloe groaned. “They’re gonna drag this out.”
“It’s bound to be their top story,” Mom said. “But at least it’s only a half-hour program.”
Chloe stifled another groan. Thirty minutes seemed like an eternity. She had so much nervous energy, she couldn’t sit still for the duration.
“Liam’s up next,” Dad called from the living room.
Finally.Chloe stopped pacing and joined the others. A commercialwas on and there were only five minutes left in the program. Sure enough, they’d saved Liam’s story for last.
The show returned and the camera zoomed in on Carmen and Liam in the small studio. Chloe drank in the sight of him. Those familiar broad shoulders. Those eyes that melted her into a puddle. Under the studio lights they appeared gray, but she’d been privy to the way the sunlight made them dance with specks of blue and silver. He was so handsome in his jeans and black button-down. He was trying for a smile but it traveled no farther than his lips.
Chloe was suddenly worried for him.
“He seems nervous,” Sean said.
“Shh!” they all said as Carmen spoke. “Liam Hamilton joins us today in our LA studio. In the past he’s been referred to as a ‘cheater’ and a ‘player,’ never having the same woman on his arm twice, and his reputation has suffered under such claims. This summer, though, a steady relationship with author Chloe Anderson made him one of Hollywood’s most adored leading men.
“But recently there have been allegations that his very public relationship with Chloe was simply a ruse in a scandal known now as ‘fake-dategate.’ And his fans have questions. Both parties have been conspicuously silent on the subject since the story broke a week ago—until now. Welcome to the show, Liam.”
He shifted. “Thank you for having me.”
“Liam, can you tell us how you came to know Chloe Anderson?”
The camera zoomed in on his face. “Of course. The book she wrote,Beneath the Summer Skies, was being adapted into a movie, and when I read the script I fell in love with the story, the characters. I first spoke with her a few months before the movie began filming on a call with the movie’s executive producer.”
“What was your first impression of Chloe?”
“She was”—his lips twitched—“not what I expected.”
“How so?”
“She didn’t realize I was on the phone and she... expressed some concerns about my playing the lead in the movie.”
Carmen’s eyebrows rose. “Most authors would be thrilled to have an A-lister taking a role in their movie.”
“The hero inSummer Skiesis somewhat larger than life. And unlike any character I’ve played before. I understood her concerns.” The corner of his mouth ticked up. “But I was also determined to prove her wrong.”
“When did you first meet Chloe in person?”
“I arrived in North Carolina, the set location, a week early to get a feel for the area and ran into her while I was out and about.”
“And how did that go?”
