Page 6 of Charmed by You

“And as for the con, there will be metal detectors at thedoor and a full team of undercover and uniformed security. I checked.”

“Really?” Despite myself, I’m impressed. I didn’t realize heknew about the con, much less that he’d researched it.

“So I guess the question is for you,” Simon says. “Are youwilling to bet your life on my judgment?”

I draw in a breath, letting his words roll over me. I couldissue an apology. I could disappoint all those fans. But the thing is, I thinkthis Simon must be right. No one’s going to come after me this soon. Because Ireally don’t know what the threat refers to. You tell, or you die.But tell what? And who’s going to do the killing?

I only hope I can figure that out soon enough.

“Well?” Aaron says, his voice like a gunshot in the silentroom.

“Yeah,” I say, looking only at Simon, and hoping like hellhe can really help me. “Yeah, I’ll take that bet.”

Chapter Two

He didn’t want to like her.

He really, really, really didn’t want to like her.

She was a self-involved, conceited, money-hungry star wholived in a fantasy world and didn’t know a damn thing about real people or realproblems. Just like every other actor in this fucked-up town.

He knew it. Was certain of it. He was familiar with thetype, after all. Hadn’t they destroyed his childhood? Ripped away his fiancée?

Oh, yeah. He knew better than to like or trust this breed,and Francesca Muratti was no exception. She was just one more spoiled actresswho’d caught the eye of a nut job with a grudge against spoiled actresses.

And yet…

He bit back a grimace, hating that he had to acknowledge thosetwo little words. And yet…

And yet this spoiled, insufferable star was willing to puther life on the line to keep her fans happy.

This self-involved woman who made a living play-actingactually understood that the only reason she could enjoy the privilege of thelife she had built was because she’d been lifted onto her pedestal by thosefans. More than that, she not only understood it, but she was willing to riskliterally everything to offer her thanks to those fans the only way she knewhow—by being there for them.

He didn’t have to like her. Hell, he didn’t likeher.

But he damn well respected her.

“All right,” he said, hopping down from the buffet andmoving to stand opposite her across the table. “We’ve settled that you’re goingto the con.” He glanced around the room, making sure no one intended to keep upthe argument. When all remained silent, he nodded. “Good. That means we’re tothe final point on today’s agenda.” He met Francesca’s eyes. “Who sent thenote? And what does he want you to reveal?”

He kept his attention locked on her, so there was no missingeither the way her eyes widened just a hair or the slash of fury that cutacross her undeniably beautiful face.

“Do I need to write you a song?” she snapped. “Do a tapdance? Or maybe you want me to tattoo the answer on my forehead. Some asshatwants me to say some magic words or else he’s going to kill me, and I. Do. Not.Know. What. They. Are.”

A tear snaked down her cheek, and she swiped it away, thegesture both angry and impatient.

“I can’t tell what I don’t know.” She spoke directly to him,and he took the challenge, moving closer until he was breathing her air andcould smell the lilac in her perfume.

“That’s kind of my point, sweetheart,” he said, studying herexpression. Every tiny tick, every movement of her eyes. “I think you do.”

“Excuse me?” She glared at him. The kind of look designed tomelt a lesser man.

Too bad for her, he wasn’t a lesser man. “You heard me,” herepeated.

Sparks flew from her eyes. Not literally, but he could damnsure imagine them. He said nothing. Just looked back at her mildly, keeping hisown temper in check. He was an expert at not showing his feelings, and that wasa skill that would come in handy with Francesca Muratti. Probably more than hisdead-on aim with a pistol.

With a huff, she turned to face Ryan, then Damien. “Assignanother agent, or I’m firing the lot of you.”

“And here I thought you liked me. What with convincing themto let you go to the con.”