Read Stand-In Star for Free Online

the water, he contemplated this strange turn of events. Holly had read his expression and staccato sentences as annoyance and, in a way, she was right. He was annoyed. Annoyed she’d taken for granted that because he’d offered her a room, she also had free rein of the rest of his facilities. But he was far more annoyed with himself. Annoyed that from the moment he’d laid eyes on her, something had shifted inside him and he’d been grappling with the dislike he was supposed to feel. Annoyed that his first thought when stumbling upon her in his pool was not that she shouldn’t be there, but rather that he wanted to be there beside her. Doing things he’d only normally contemplate doing with women he respected and liked.
    After swimming, he showered in the changing rooms by the pool and changed into sweats. He trekked into the kitchen, still indecisive about whether or not to make Holly dinner. Whether or not to go upstairs and invite her down to have it out. Not that he planned on putting it that way.
    Despite what she probably believed, he did have some tact.
    But as well as a note from Ruby telling him dinner was in the microwave, he found a tray of clean silverware and dishes and realized his housekeeper had already fed his guest. The ball of tension in his chest tightened. Part of him wanted to wind back the clock and change history so he’d never gone to the airport at all. Another part willed him to go to her now and ask her exactly what her intentions were in coming, exactly what she wanted to achieve from suddenly acting all sister-like. Too late.
    Another part…
    His gaze shot to the intercom on the kitchen wall, which buzzed loudly indicating someone was at the entrance gate. He pushed down on the answer button. “Yes?”
    “Cab for Ms. McCartney.”
    Nate blinked. Where the hell did she think she was going at this time of the evening? He didn’t want to be involved but to some extent he already was, so if she wanted to go out, he’d damn well be the one to take her. No way was he having another life on his conscience.
    “There’s been some mistake,” he said into the intercom. “No cab needed here.”
    The driver swore and mumbled something about rich jerks but Nate lifted his finger off the button and didn’t hear the end of it. He was already on his way to the stairs.
    In the entrance hall, he halted. There, lugging her suitcase down the final couple of steps, was Holly. Her laptop bag slung over one shoulder and a handbag on the other. Red glowed at her cheeks but he couldn’t tell if she’d been crying or was about to burst with rage. Her hair was still wet but she’d changed into jeans and now wore a light pink cardigan over the top of a fitted T-shirt.
    Ignoring the jolt of lust that slammed into him at the sight of her, he blocked the stairs and folded his arms across his chest. “Where do you think you’re going?”
    She spoke in a level tone, firm, polite but cold. “Please step out of my way. There’s a taxi waiting for me.”
    “Not anymore.”
    Her eyes widened. “What do you mean?”
    He shrugged. “The cab came. I told the driver we didn’t need it. He went away.”
    “ We didn’t need it?” She shoved the suitcase down, narrowly missing his toes and not showing any indication of remorse. Her hands snapped to her hips as he instinctively jumped back. “There is no we, Nate. Last time I checked I was a free agent. I stupidly accepted your offer of a room of my own free will and now I’m changing my mind. Of my own free will.”
    “And where do you plan on going?”
    “As amusing as you may find it,” she snapped, “I’ve called the hostel and am heading back there. Not that it’s any of your business but I’d rather be rooming with ten jovial backpackers than tip-toeing around in paradise with a two-faced traitor.”
    “Whoa.” Holding up his hands, he stepped back at her harsh words. “If this is about the pool incident, I apologized.”
    “Hah,” she