Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 104820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Tessa blinked. She never spoke about her family or childhood with clients. It was a wall she’d firmly put up when she started working as a caregiver, and she’d never once allowed it to come down. Not even with Margaret, who’d felt like a kindly aunt.
“I’m self-taught,” she replied, hoping he didn’t realize she hadn’t exactly answered his question. “Once I started learning how healing the right foods could be, I really got into it.”
Arch nodded. “Makes sense. I already feel better after eating a few meals you’ve made.” Arch managed to turn everything he said into a compliment. It was disarming.
For some reason, Lewis’s voice slid into her mind again, criticizing her food. His dinners had no flavor, he’d always complained. Of course, by then he was on so many meds it could have been true, but those last few months had been incredibly difficult as he’d turned his anger about his illness against her.
“So, tell me more about you, Tessa,” Arch said. “You’ve met my entire family. Is yours as big? Or are you an only child?” He put down his fork and trained those sparkling eyes on hers.
She looked away, because holding his gaze—especially when he asked such personal questions—made her stomach flip.
Strangely, it felt like they were on a date. A very intimate first date. Her gaze darted around the room, from the view of the sunset to the gorgeous art, before landing on the enormous TV. She finally remembered he was about to show up on the TV screen.
Thankfully, it was the perfect way to avoid his personal questions. “Your interview will be on in just a moment.” She reached for the remote and hit the On button.
As the screen flickered to life, Arch’s face appeared, smiling and looking relaxed in the very same lounger he was sitting in right now.
“Oh man,” he groaned. “I hate watching myself on TV.” She was surprised, but found it endearing that while millions of people paid to see Archer Davenport on-screen, he clearly didn’t share their pleasure.
It was surreal to be sitting next to the man on the TV. He seemed so much larger than life up there on the screen, all tanned skin and white teeth. He was laughing now, the sound booming from the surround speakers rigged in every corner of the room.
“We really don’t have to watch this,” he said. “In fact, we don’t have to watch anything. I’d much rather get to know you better. We’ll be roomies for the next couple of months after all.”
But Tessa wasn’t about to start talking about herself. “If it’s okay with you, I’d like to see how the interview turned out. I could only hear snippets from the kitchen.” She shot him a quick smile and then turned back to the TV.
Roxy’s voice rang out as she asked him about his injury, touching his arm in concern. Tessa felt her own skin prickle. The chemistry between them on the screen was just as palpable as it had seemed to her in real life.
“It was my choice to do the stunt,” TV Arch was saying. “I’ve always enjoyed doing my own stunts, so I’ve had a lot of practice.”
Roxy nodded. “Like in Way Back in the Wilderness.”
Tessa recognized the name of the film that had shot Arch to stardom.
On-screen, Arch nodded back. “Exactly. I’ve had a lot of training, so I’m pretty confident with all kinds of stunts.”
Even though she’d heard quite a lot of the interview, it was interesting to see how they’d edited it down. They’d kept in the part about him being happy working with Smith Sullivan, and there was a clip showing the two of them in cowboy garb, obviously taken on the set of the film before Arch’s accident.
Then the camera was back on Arch and Roxy, who said, “And a little gossipy birdie told me that you’re all set to be the new star of Shock Tactics.”
Tessa shot a look at the real Arch beside her. That was the script he’d been reading? Shock Tactics was the next huge futuristic action-hero movie—the latest in a blockbuster series. She’d read about it online.
Arch was already famous, but this kind of role would propel him to the next level.
On the TV, Arch raised a teasing eyebrow. “It seems like you know more than I do about casting in Hollywood. I don’t believe any announcements have been made.”
Roxy let out her girlish laugh. “One thing I know for sure is that your star is continually on the rise, my friend. Why don’t we take a look at your journey so far?”
The interview cut to a montage of Arch’s career. Tessa recognized footage from his best-known roles as they flashed across the screen, as well as a few smaller movies he’d made. Of course, she had seen every single one.