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She’d been kissed many times—on-screen and off—but she found herself tumbling into this one with shocking speed. The kiss was smooth, leisurely...masterful but understated. Rick could double for any A-list actor in a love scene. He touched his tongue to hers, and the shock and unexpectedness of it had her opening to him. As an unwritten rule, actors on-screen did not French kiss, so she was already in uncharted territory. The hard plane of his chest brushed against her, and her nipples tightened.
Think, Chiara. Remember why you don’t like him.
She allowed herself one more second, and then she tore her mouth away and stepped back. For a fleeting moment she felt a puff of steam over his audacity. “All right, the screen test is over.”
Rick curved his lips. “How did I do?”
“I don’t even know your last name,” she responded, sidestepping the question.
“I’ll answer to anything. ‘Honey,’ ‘baby,’ ‘sugar.’” He shrugged. “I’m easy.”
“Clearly.” This guy could charm his way into any woman’s bed. “Still, I’d prefer your real one for when the police ask me to describe the suspect.”
He grinned. “It’s Rick Serenghetti. But ‘darling’ would add the appropriate air of mystery for the paparazzi.”
Serenghetti. She knew an Italian surname when she heard one. “My last name was originally Ferano. You know, Italian.”
His smile widened. “I’d never have guessed, Snow White.”
“They used to call me Snow White, but I drifted,” she quipped. “Not suitable for the role.”
“No problem. I’m not Prince Charming. I’m just his body double.”
She wanted to scream. “This is never going to work.”
“That’s why you’re an actress.” He looked curious. “And, Odele mentioned, a beauty contestant. Win any titles?”
She made a sour face. “Yes. Miss Congeniality.”
He burst out laughing. “I won’t ask what your talent was.”
“Ventriloquism. I made my dummy sing.”
“‘Some Day My Prince Will Come’?”
“Nothing from Snow White! I was also Miss Rhode Island, but obviously that was on the state level.” She’d gone on to be a finalist in Miss America, which was where she’d earned her title of Miss Congeniality.
“Rhode Island is the smallest state. Still, the competition must have been fierce.”
“Are you mocking me?” She searched his face, but he looked solemn.
“Who, me? I never mock women I’m trying to score with.”
“Wow, you’re direct. You don’t even like me.”
“What’s like got to do with it?”
“You have no shame.” When it came to sex, she was used to men wanting to bed anyone in sight. This was Hollywood, after all.
“Is it working?”
“Nothing will work, except Odele convincing me this is a good idea.”
Rick frowned. “You mean she hasn’t already?”
It took Chiara a moment to realize he wasn’t joking. “Please. She may have persuaded you to go along with her crazy scheme, but not me.”
“I only went along with it because I thought you’d said yes.”
