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So there was no way he could talk to Olivia about this role for Callie. He was actually using the modeling as a way to keep her from slipping into a darker world that Callie had no clue about. If he could keep her satisfied with the money, the attention from modeling, perhaps she’d reach those stars in her eyes. Maybe she’d let go of this movie-star fetish.
He had to intervene and do something. And no, he didn’t care that he was being devious. He couldn’t stand by and watch another innocent woman fall victim to the ugly side of the industry.
Because he already had a nugget of worry where his beautiful, naive receptionist was concerned. He knew what he paid her, but he also knew she was always scraping by. Those few commercials she’d done surely hadn’t sucked her into the dark world he wanted to keep her from…had they?
Cynicism had never been part of his life until he’d lived with an addict, and he hated that negative vibe that always seemed to spread through him.
The back door to the office opened and shut. He heard heels click down the tiled hallway, then slow at his office. Noah smiled at the vision that stopped just outside his door.
“Everything okay?” Callie asked, clutching her purse to her shoulder and her lunch bag with the other hand.
“Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?”
She gave him a sideways look and a half grin. “Because you’re never in the office before me.”
That vibrant blue dress hugged her body in a professional yet sexy way, and Noah had to force himself to keep on track and not think about what it would be like to peel that garment down her body…or to think of how she managed to fit anything beneath it. She either had on a thong or nothing. If she was going commando…God, he couldn’t go there.
“I had some things to do before my first client showed,” he told her, trying to stay professional. “There’s a little boy who was recently scarred due to a house fire and might be referred to me. I actually just hung up with a colleague about some options for this boy.”
“I remember that referral.” Callie smiled wider. “That’s what makes you an awesome doctor. I was so excited when you agreed to take on his case.”
Noah didn’t want her to look at him like some type of savior. And he sure as hell didn’t want to get emotionally involved with a child. Children were vulnerable creatures by nature and he worried that his heart simply couldn’t take that level of commitment again.
“The boy’s aunt is a good client and she asked if I’d look at him. That doesn’t mean I can make him perfect. I just have to wait a few weeks because his wounds are still fairly fresh.”
“You’re at least giving him a chance and hope,” Callie told him, still smiling and still looking at him as if he was more than just a doctor. “That in itself is so much, Noah. Don’t downplay your talents.”
“I’m not, but I’m going into this realistically. There may be nothing I can do, but I’ll do everything in my power to help.”
Most doctors had a God complex; Noah liked to think he was not one of them. He knew his abilities, his limitations. But he never backed away from a challenge, and he certainly wasn’t about to turn away a ten-year-old boy, no matter if the aunt was a client or not. Noah would try to help a burned child regardless of who called.
“You’re quiet,” he told her. “That means you’re thinking. Should I be nervous?”
A wide, vibrant smile spread across her face. “Well, I have news since we talked the other day about the audition.”
Oh, no. That smile could only mean one thing… .
“I got a call!” she shouted. She stepped farther into his office and dumped her items in the chair across from his desk. “Isn’t that awesome? My agent called me when I was on my way home yesterday and said she was able to get me an audition for this Monday.”
A dreaded sense of déjà vu spread through him.
“I’m happy for you,” he lied. “Make sure you call Marie to see if she can fill in for you.”
“I will.” She smiled, then looked down, brought her hands up to her face…and burst into tears.
What the hell?
“Callie?”
He moved around his desk to get closer to her. What had just happened? One second she was beaming with joy and the next she was sobbing into her hands.
“Callie?” he repeated softly. “You okay?”
She swiped her damp cheeks and shook her head. “I’m so sorry, Noah. It’s just…”
Those moist eyes turned to him, and even with the smudge of mascara, she was still amazingly stunning.
“You wouldn’t understand,” she told him.
Wouldn’t understand? Understand what?
“I’ve wanted a break and this is it,” she told him through a hiccup. “Once I called Olivia—”
“Wait.” He held up a hand. “You called Olivia?”
Callie sniffed and nodded. “Yesterday morning. I was calling to remind her of her Botox appointment next week. I just had to take a chance and ask her about an audition. The worst she could’ve said was no.”
Un-freakin’-believable. This was not happening.
“She was impressed with my initiative and said she’d see what she could do.” Callie smiled through the tear tracks. “And my agent called last night, so it’s a done deal.”
He truly didn’t think she knew what she was asking for. In Callie’s starstruck mind, she probably had this image of Hollywood as all about red carpets and cocktail parties.
But right now she looked so happy how could he not act supportive? She had no family nearby and she’d only talked about her neighbor a handful of times, so he didn’t even think she had too many friends. He’d be a total jerk if he didn’t at least show some support. Damn the gentleman-like qualities his mother instilled in him.
“I can’t believe you used a patient contact,” he said. “Don’t you think that was overstepping a bit?”
Callie shrugged, but her smile remained. “No. I’ve become friendly with Ms. Dane. I don’t think I abused my power, and I can honestly say I’d do it again, Noah.”
He studied her and knew she was fighting for a dream she believed she deserved. He could forgive her anything when she smiled at him that way.
“That’s great, Callie.” He even gave her his own smile to show her he was happy, then pointed toward her face. “You may want to touch up your makeup before the patients arrive.”
Callie gasped, reaching up to pat beneath her eyes. “Oh, no,” she cried when she glanced at her black fingertips. “I’m sure I look like a mess.”
“There’s nothing you could do that could diminish your beauty.”
Without thinking, he reached out to wipe away the tear tracks on her porcelain cheek. As the pad of his thumb slid across her skin, her breath hitched, her eyes held his. How had they gotten this close? Had he stepped toward her or had she come to him?
Her damp eyes dipped down to his lips, then back up.
What he wouldn’t give to pull her against him and taste those full lips. Just once. Would that hurt anything?
Oh, yeah. Their working relationship.
“I better go clean up,” she told him, backing away and gathering her things from the armchair beside him. As she turned to walk away, she glanced back over her shoulder. “Thank you, Noah. It means a lot to have someone cheering me on.”
And now he was a damn hypocrite. But what should he have done when she’d been all teary and smiling? Shot down her dreams right in her face? Showing support and being supportive were two different things…weren’t they?
And what the hell had he been thinking? Touching her, complimenting her and getting into her personal space so that he could see the dark green rim around her irises and become spellbound by her fresh, floral scent that always seemed to hover around the office.
She’d already been looking at him as if he was some saint. He didn’t want that. He wanted Callie, but not on a deeper level than the physical. Anything else would be insane. But his hormones weren’t getting that message.
Damn it, he had to gain some control. Beautiful women were his bread and butter, but there was something so innocent, so vibrant about Callie that he found intriguing. She wasn’t jaded or bitter like most women he knew. And perhaps that was why he found her so fascinating and why he wanted to keep her that way.
Now, if he could just remember that professional relationship they had, maybe he could stop imagining her naked and wrapped around him.
He couldn’t get too close to Callie. He’d sworn to never get involved with anyone again. Besides, she worked for him. Wasn’t that reason enough to keep his distance?
Damn if he didn’t want to seduce her. He’d never experienced such a strong sexual pull with a woman. And all the signs were there that she was just as attracted.
But he had to keep his distance. There were too many similarities between Malinda and Callie. The stubbornness, the stars in their eyes, the naive way they went after their goals. Not to mention that fiery-red hair and that porcelain skin. Noah couldn’t let his heart get mixed up or broken again. But he also couldn’t stand by and watch Callie ruin her life.
He’d stick close to her to make sure she didn’t make any life-altering decisions that could destroy her.
God help him for the torture he was about to endure by making Callie Matthews his top priority.
Two
Callie’s hands were literally shaking. Was this really happening? Was the door of opportunity finally opening for her? Granted she’d been in L.A. a little less than a year and most people took much longer, if ever, to get the audition that would launch their careers.
But Callie had not only gotten the audition nearly two weeks ago, she’d completely nailed it. And her agent had just called to inform her she’d landed the part. It wasn’t huge, but she had lines and three scenes with the lead actors. Now she just had to prove herself, make that role shine and wait for other opportunities to come her way.
She squeezed her steering wheel and let out a squeal as she drove toward Noah’s office. She couldn’t get there fast enough to tell him the good news. Today was her half day to work, so Marie would be there, too, to share in her good news.
This was it. She was finally going to put the old Callie to rest and have everything she’d ever wanted. She’d landed the part; next she would pose for some pictures for Noah and get the money to help her parents in a major way. God, they’d be so happy for a little more security in their lives, and she couldn’t wait to be the one to give it to them.
Her whole life she’d been overshadowed by her siblings—her übersmart brother, who was about to graduate college after attending on a full academic scholarship, and her homecoming-queen sister. Callie had been the average middle child. Because she hadn’t excelled at sports, academics or popularity, she was most often forgotten. Well, no more being overlooked…by anybody.
Callie knew she looked like a complete moron driving down the road with a wide grin on her face, but she didn’t care. For an overweight girl who’d come out of Kansas with big dreams, she’d finally gotten the break of a lifetime.
All her college years of hard work, dieting and exercising before coming to L.A. had paid off. Her goal of becoming an actress was within her reach. That chubby teen in her mind could just shut up because that naive girl with low self-esteem didn’t exist anymore.
Callie shoved aside the humiliating years of her past and focused on the happiness she felt now. No way would she let those old insecurities and her school days of being bullied and made fun of come into play. This was her moment to remember, her moment to shine in the glorious fact that she was going to be in the next Anthony Price movie.
Callie pulled up close to the office and barely got her old Honda in park before she was out and racing across the parking lot. Thankfully it was almost lunchtime and the last of the clients should be finishing up before the office was closed for an hour break.
When she entered the cool, air-conditioned building, Marie, the fill-in receptionist, greeted her.
“Hey, Callie,” the elderly woman greeted, a smile beaming across her surgically smooth face. “Someone looks very happy today.”
Callie couldn’t hide her excitement. “I got the part,” she all but yelled. “I can’t believe it. I got it.”
Marie jumped up from her chair, came around the desk and threw her arms around Callie.
“I’m so excited for you,” Marie said as she squeezed her.
“You may not be excited when I have to quit once filming starts.” Callie eased back. “You’ll be swamped with extra hours.”
Marie laughed. “I’ll make sure he hires someone else, though no one could replace you.”
The compliment warmed Callie. “Is Noah wrapping up back there?”
Marie nodded. “Mrs. McDowell is getting her stitches out and then he’ll be all done. Go on back to his office, and I’ll make sure he knows you’re here.”
“Don’t tell him the news.” Callie shifted her bag higher on her shoulder. “I want it to be a surprise. Actually, don’t even tell him I’m here. You can just let him know someone is in his office.”
Marie giggled. “I like how you think. I’ll make sure he goes straight there.”
Callie turned to the right, toward Noah’s office and away from the patient rooms. She couldn’t wait to tell him, to share her excitement and accomplishment.
She went in and took a seat behind his desk in the big, oversize leather chair. Maybe it was not professional to get cozy at his desk, but she honestly didn’t think he’d mind. Easing her bag to the floor beside her, she crossed her legs and waited.
She’d tried to call her parents on her way here, but the phone had been disconnected…again. She couldn’t get that fifty thousand fast enough. She’d buy the new roof, a reliable new car and prepay some of their utilities for a few months.
With her father still laid off from the chemical plant and his unemployment long since run out, Callie’s mother was pulling double shifts at the local grocery store to make ends meet…and they weren’t meeting very well.
Guilt ate at Callie. How could she spend all the money she made on herself when her parents were facing such desperate times? She knew families all across the country were struggling, but it was hard to see the ones she loved fall on hard times.
Besides, she’d do something for herself with the money she made from the movie. God knew she could use a new car, as well. Her poor Honda needed to be laid to rest years ago. She couldn’t wait to go car shopping. To find something that really said I’ve arrived.
Before her thoughts turned too shallow and she could imagine the color of the car she’d look best in, Noah stood in his doorway. She didn’t give him an opportunity to speak before she jumped from the chair and screamed, “I got the part!”
Noah froze for a moment as if to process her words, then he crossed the room and she suddenly found herself coming out from behind the desk, meeting him halfway and being enveloped in a strong, masculine hold.
Oh. My. God.
Had she known he felt this good, this…hard all over, she would’ve insisted on good-morning hugs every day he came into the office—a much better pick-me-up than coffee. When you could feel a man’s rippled muscles beneath his clothing, you knew there was some mighty fine workmanship beneath that cotton.
Noah eased back, keeping a firm grip on her bare biceps. “You seem really happy.”
“I’ve never been happier,” she told him, the thrill of her phone call still running through her.
“Then I’m excited for you,” he said, letting his hands fall away.
“I feel like celebrating.”
He laughed. “Don’t celebrate too much and forget the photo shoot in the morning.”
Callie smiled. “I know when it is. I’ll be there.”
Noah studied her face, and Callie refused to look away. When a man like Noah Foster held your gaze, you didn’t want to focus your attention on anything else.
“What do you say to dinner to celebrate?” he asked suddenly.
“Dinner?”
Noah’s rich laughter washed over her…and she was still tingling from his touch. “Callie, I understand what it’s like not to have your family here. Someone needs to share this time with you.”
