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“Damn it, I knew her manager was cunning.”
“It takes one to know one, Odele.”
“Okay, all right,” her manager responded grumpily. “Now that I’ve got the details, I’ll put the word out about Isabel and file away the information for any future events that I book you for.”
“You’re a doll, Odele.”
“Oh, stop,” her manager rasped. “I’m a barracuda in a town infested with sharks.”
When she ended the call with Odele, Chiara sighed. The conversation had let sanity back in. She couldn’t get involved with Rick. Sweet heaven, she didn’t even like him. She couldn’t like him.
Too bad she was having an increasingly hard time remembering why.
Seven
Welsdale was a quaint New England town with brick buildings dotting the main streets and colorful homes lining the back roads.
Chiara could hardly believe she was here except that Odele had, of course, loved Rick’s idea for an appearance on his mother’s cooking show. Before Chiara had caught her breath, she and Rick had been on an early flight from Los Angeles to Boston.
She supposed it was just as well. Ever since the Ring of Hope Gala last weekend, she’d done her best to keep Rick at arm’s length. Only a long couple of days on set had saved her. She’d collapsed into bed, exhausted, late at night.
From the airport, where Rick had a car in long-term parking, they drove to Welsdale and then, after no more than twenty minutes on oak-lined roads, to a stunning home on the outskirts of town. Rick had mentioned that his parents were hosting a small party at their house.
The elder Serenghettis lived in a Mediterranean-style mansion with a red-tile roof and white walls. Set amidst beautiful landscaping, the house greeted visitors with a stone fountain at the center of a circular drive.
Chiara didn’t know what she had expected, except perhaps a humbler abode. Clearly she’d been wrong in her assumptions. Rick came from an established family and a comfortable background, unlike her.
When they stepped inside, Rick stretched out his arms and joked, “Welcome to the Serenghetti family reunion.”
Chiara blinked. “They’re all here?”
“We like to support Mom.”
Oh, sweet heaven. She wasn’t prepared for this. The gathering was larger than she’d expected, and it seemed that assorted Serenghettis were sprinkled among the crowd.
There’d be no Feran family reunion, of course. Or if there were, it would be at a Las Vegas gaming table, where she’d be settling her father’s debts.
People were standing around chatting in the family room and adjacent living room, and she noticed in particular how two of the men were as attractive as Rick. It appeared the Serenghetti men came in one variety only: drop-dead gorgeous.
“Come on,” Rick said, cupping her elbow. “I’ll introduce you.”
As they approached, one of the two men glanced at them and then came forward. “Ah, the prodigal son returning to the fold...”
“Stuff it, Jordan.” Rick’s tone was good-natured—as if he was used to being ribbed.
Jordan appeared unabashed and gave Chiara an openly curious look. “Well, this time you’ve outdone yourself. Mom will be pleased. But how you managed to convince a beautiful actress that you’ve got the goods, I’ll never know.” He held out his hand. “Hi, I’m Jordan Serenghetti, Rick’s better-looking brother.”
“Which one of us was a body double for People’s Sexiest Man Alive?” Rick retorted mildly.
“Which one is featured in an underwear ad on a billboard in Times Square?” Jordan returned.
“Nice to meet you,” Chiara jumped in with a light laugh. “I’ve been putting up with his humor—” she indicated Rick “—for days. Now I see it’s a family trait.”
“Yes, but I’m younger than Rick and our older brother, Cole, so I like to say our parents achieved perfection only the third time around.”
When Rick raised his eyebrows, Chiara laughed again. It was good to see Rick getting back some of his own.
Rick’s gaze went to the arched entrance to the family room, and Chiara spotted an attractive woman with honey-blond hair caught in a ponytail, a nice figure showcased in tights and a short-sleeved athletic shirt. Unlike many women in Hollywood, she seemed unaware of her beauty, sporting a fresh-faced natural look with little makeup.
