His eyes lit with mischief. “There were a lot of sparks.”
Carmen raised an eyebrow. “The good kind?”
He chuckled, glanced down, adorably sheepish. “All the kinds.”
“What happened from there?”
Liam drew a breath, his expression sobering. “As I said, she was concerned about the role of Ledger—due in large part to my reputation, which I’d been increasingly concerned about also. Just before the filming of the movie began, I offered Chloe a proposal. I’d take her direction on the role if she’d pretend to be my steady girlfriend.”
“It wasyouridea.”
“It was 100percent my idea. In fact, she was reluctant. I had to convince her to go along with the idea.”
Carmen tilted her head. “Forgive me if I sound skeptical, but it’s hard to believe any single woman would turn down the opportunity to be Liam Hamilton’s summer girlfriend, fake or otherwise.”
His eyes took on a wistful look. “You’d have to know Chloe. She’s different, special. She didn’t like the idea of subterfuge. She doesn’t care for the spotlight or the attention. She wasn’t too impressed withmeeither.” He chuckled. Lifted a shoulder. “I kinda dug that about her.”
“The rumor mill has been pretty hard on Chloe this week. She’s been called an opportunist, a gold digger, a parasite, and worse.”
“That’s why I’m here tonight. I want to be very clear. This wasn’t Chloe’s fault; it was mine. My idea, my fault. I offered her a deal that I hoped would salvage my reputation, and she took me up on it—only because the integrity of her story was so important to her.”
“So all those swoonworthy pictures you posted on social media, all those articles about the blossoming relationship... it was all fake news?”
“It was...” He shifted in his seat. “Until it wasn’t. Chloe and I spent a lot of time together this summer, running lines for the movie. We got to know each other, became good friends. I enjoyed her company and found myself seeking her out even when we weren’t working.” He flashed a shy grin. “And then there were those sparks.”
“So you’re saying the relationship shifted into something real?”
The camera zoomed in. Liam’s eyes softened. “It became very real. More real than any relationship I’ve ever had.”
“And now?”
He wet his lips. “Unfortunately, we’re not together anymore. Something I’m not ready to talk about yet. But Chloe is a good person. She’s one of a kind. And she doesn’t deserve to be ridiculed because of her association with me.”
“Sounds as if you’re throwing yourself on the sword.”
“Just setting the record straight.” He stared into the camera. “I set out to deceive my fans and I’m truly sorry for that. It was wrong. I owe my supporters more than that. But Chloe was just a pawn in my game. So please, I’d be grateful if you’d show her a little mercy and let her have her privacy.”
The camera zoomed in on Carmen, smiling widely. “And there you have it, folks. The answers to Hollywood’s latest scandal, right here onCelebrity Today. Join us tomorrow as we talk to Katelyn Bauer in her first appearance since she dissolved her facial fillers.”
Meghan turned off the TV.
Chloe’s mind was spinning with everything Liam had said.
“He took all the blame,” Meghan said.
“His career...” It was all Chloe could think of. “This won’t be good for his career. If he’d just let this play out awhile longer, he probably would’ve been fine. Why did he do this?”
Mom gave a secret little smile. “I can think of only one reason.”
Could it be true? He’d been unbelievably kind to her, especially after the way she’d treated him. Did he love her like she loved him? But why had his response to her text seemed so... distant?
Chloe’s gaze swung to Sean, seeking answers from the one person in the room who wouldn’t hold back.
He gave a wry grin. “Don’t look at me. Even I can admit when I’m wrong.”
And there she had it. Liam had won over the most jaded person she knew. Her heart felt as if it might pound right out of her chest. She had to talk to him. Not on the phone but face-to-face.
Meghan nudged her with an elbow. “Come on, girl. If you don’t go after him, I will.”
