Read If I Loved You (Hollywood Hearts 1) for Free Online Page A

feel that way about me.” Emotion gathered in her throat, making speech impossible.
    “It’s not you, it’s…everybody.” Chaz placed his hand on hers, but Megan moved away.
    They drank in silence for a while. Meg frantically searched her brain for a secret to share.
    “How about I reveal a deep, dark secret about me?”
    “It’s not the same. Don’t take offense, but you’re not a celebrity.”
    “Maybe you can’t use it, but it takes a level of trust to tell you something I’ve never told anyone before.” He snapped to attention, his eyes focused on her face.
    The wall of ice between them melted a bit. Megan noticed his expression soften. “You don’t have to do this.”
    “I want to. It’s time I told someone the truth, anyway.” Emotion welled in her chest.
    “It won’t change how I feel about my past.” He raised his palm to her.
    “If you don’t want me to tell you…” She took a sip of her water to moisten her suddenly dry mouth.
    “Please…please...I’d like to hear.” This time his fingers wrapped around hers before she could pull her hand away. Chaz summoned the waiter and ordered another round.
    Megan took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Rapid blinking kept her tears at bay.  She gathered her thoughts and closed her small fingers around his thumb. “My father disappeared.”
    “What?”
    “My dad disappeared.” She let out a breath slowly.
    Her statement captured his full attention. His mask dissolved.
    “My dad loved to climb mountains…hike. He was an outdoors type of guy. Mom was, still is, a homebody. He’d go hiking three times a year with a club, a group of friends…” Her chest tightened as the memory became crystal clear. “On the day he left for his last hiking trip, he and my mom had a terrible fight. They never got along too well to begin with but this one was rip-roaring. He stalked off…we never heard from him again.”
    “Did you contact his hiking buddies?”
    She nodded, her hand gripping her drink. “We did. We called the police. We checked everywhere. Seems after their trip, his buddies went one way, he went another. My mother thought he deserted us.”
    There was silence as Chaz captured her hand in both of his. “My dad and I got along really well. We kind of understood each other. My mother always preferred Mark. I’ve never accepted he left us…deserted us.”
    “How old were you when this happened?”
    “Fifteen and I still miss him.”
    “Not a word from him since?”
    Emotion choked Megan. A lump formed in her throat, cutting off words. She shook her head. Tears —previously held at bay—spilled over, running down her cheeks. Chaz folded her in his arms and held her tight. She closed her eyes, letting the heat from his body and the strength of his arms soothe her.
    “I’m honored you chose to tell me,” he whispered as his hand stroked her hair.
    Megan regained her composure and leaned back away from him.
    “What about your mother…and Mark? What did they think?”
    “Mark blamed my mother and my dad. He’s never forgiven either of them. My mother divorced my father…abandonment. But she’s never forgiven him either.
    “And you? Do you forgive him?”
    “When he didn’t show for graduation or get in touch with us…I assumed he died somehow. With Mark’s triumphs…Dad would never…never…” her voice cracked, “have deserted us. Mark’s ashamed…he doesn’t want anyone to know. He hasn’t told a soul. None of his teammates…no one.” She fumbled in her purse, looking for a hanky, avoiding Chaz’s sympathetic stare. He traced a tear then wiped it off her face with his thumb.
    Mark! Shit! Mark! Meg’s hands went cold, the color drained from her face, and a shiver ran up her spine. If Chaz tells anyone... “I never should have told you…he’ll kill me if this comes out. Oh God, if this hits the papers…please…please.” Her eyes got wide. Her hands twisted the hanky while she chewed her lip. What am I