His Larkville Cinderella

He glanced up at the deck. Chas, who was producing Adam’s new film, stood next to Eva Redding, the costume designer. Adam hadn’t known which of the three costume people Megan would be working for, but she didn’t seem the type to get along with Eva. Not that many people got along with her. “You’re interning with Firebreather?”

Megan nodded.

Damn. Adam should have made the connection before. He still wasn’t sure why he’d been included in today’s costume meeting, but at least they’d told him to go surfing while they waited for the designs to arrive. He probably shouldn’t have surfed for so long. He wanted to give his input and make this film the best it could be. Maybe then he’d get the recognition he wanted for his acting. “I’m sorry.”

And he was. Not only for having Megan carry his board. Someone who wore her heart on her sleeve would never stand a chance with Firebreather. Eva Redding wowed people with her talent, but also intimidated them with her take-no-prisoners personality. She went through interns like bubble gum. Rumor had it the last one, a young woman he’d met during a costume fitting, was let go on her fourth day.

“When did your internship start?” he asked.

“Monday.”

Three days ago. The clock was winding down for poor Megan.

Adam felt like a jerk for treating her the way he had. She must be under a lot of pressure. He hadn’t made a great impression, either. Having Eva see him holding Megan could make things worse for the intern.

He knew what it was like to work your way up from the bottom. It would be hard enough to succeed with Eva Redding as a boss. He didn’t want to do anything to screw up Megan’s internship. Best to back off so she didn’t get in trouble.

As Adam rinsed off in the villa’s outdoor shower, Megan stood by the stairs with his surfboard, something he apparently called the Fish. She hadn’t been sure what to do when they arrived at the house. She decided to wait for Adam, figuring it might be considered bad form to go up to the deck without him given he was “the star.”

The guy had some nerve.

She was surprised he hadn’t wanted her to walk four feet behind him, as if he were royalty. But Adam Noble was no Prince Charming. Not like Rob, who would never allow her to carry a shopping bag, let alone a surfboard. Well, if he surfed. Rob didn’t like the water. He was into mental challenges, not physical ones.

Still she couldn’t deny Adam’s attractiveness. His eyes shone brightly and he could carry a conversation, suggesting he wasn’t as stupid as she initially thought. But it was weird that a movie star of his caliber had bothered talking to her at all.

If you’re ever lonely and want me to show you around town …

Yeah, right. The man had gorgeous half-naked women throwing themselves at him. No way would he want to spend time with someone like her.

Insecure girl desperately seeking a boyfriend.

Surprisingly he’d gotten it half right.

She might be insecure. Who wouldn’t be in a brand-new place doing a brand-new job and after a lifetime of being told she didn’t fit in? But she wasn’t looking for a boyfriend. Far from it.

She knew the man she wanted. All she needed was for her best friend to come to his senses and realize friendship was the perfect foundation for a serious, committed relationship. Marriage would follow. Then a dog, cat and kids. A happily ever after, the kind she’d grown up watching in the movies and dreamed about for years.

The shower stopped.

Adam’s wet suit hung over the swinging door. Megan saw his bare feet underneath. He stepped into a pair of blue-and-white board shorts.

A lump formed in her throat. Had he not been wearing anything underneath the wet suit? Not that it mattered one way or the other.

The shower door swung open. Adam stepped out.

Her breath caught in her throat.

He wore board shorts. No shirt. His hair was wet—so was the rest of him.

She swallowed.

Water rolled off his wide shoulders, down his muscular arms and chest, past his six-pack abs to his narrow hips….

What in the world was she doing?

Heat flooded Megan’s cheeks. She forced her gaze up to the patio. Eva no longer stood there. Thank goodness. Megan didn’t want her boss to think she was ogling the film’s star.

Yes, Adam Noble was handsome and had a killer body if you liked that all-American athletic look. But she would never be interested in him.

Adam sauntered over, his wet hair pushed back off his face. Water dripped from the ends.

Her pulse kicked up a notch. Maybe two. She understood why he’d been named one of the Fifty Most Beautiful People.

“Thanks.” He took the surfboard from her. “After you.”

She motioned him ahead of her. “They’re not waiting for me.”

Adam opened his mouth as if to speak, but didn’t. He climbed the stairs. She followed.

On the patio, the others sat around the table. People greeted Adam. He gave each person his full attention, focusing his gaze on them, the way he’d done with her on the beach.

Her father had been called “larger than life.” Adam Noble was like that, too. His charisma captivated people. Herself included.

Adam joined the five people at the table.

“Hey, you,” Chas said to Megan. He motioned to the bar where a stainless-steel coffee carafe and several glass pitchers containing various colored beverages sat. “Refill everyone’s drinks, Texas.”

Megan cringed at the nickname. She wanted to forget where she was from. But Chas was the producer so she assumed that meant he could call her what he wanted. Given the choice, she preferred “hey, you” to “Texas.”

She headed to the bar, resigning herself to the fact her internship wouldn’t give her much costume design experience, but she’d end up with great waitress and driving skills. She picked up the requisite pitchers and refilled the glasses on the table.

“We are on schedule.” Eva had the costume sketches displayed. She must have started the meeting without Adam. “Based on our last meeting, Damon, I made the alterations to Calliope’s costumes. I’ll need Krystal and Adam for a final fitting, then we’ll be ready to shoot.”

Megan had loved Krystal Kohl’s most recent movie. The tall, willowy and gorgeous actress was so talented. Though Krystal had a reputation for being difficult on the set and everywhere else.

Adam held one of the sketches. “This is the new gown for the dinner scene.”

Eva nodded. “Krystal will look divine next to you in the Dior tuxedo.”

He nodded. “Excellent work.”

Eva’s sincere smile made her look nice. Maybe there was more to the designer than her bright red lipstick and severe personality. “Thank you, Adam.”

Chas removed his sunglasses. “Great work, Eva. As usual.”

Damon nodded. “That’s exactly the look I was going for. And I appreciate the effort you put into the new designs, but there’s been a slight change. That’s why we’ve asked all of you here today.”

Eva’s gaze bounced between the producer and director like a Ping-Pong ball during a championship match. “Define slight change.”