Hollywood Husband, Contract Wife

Beverly Hills, CaliforniaFive weeks earlier... ALEXANDRA SHANAHAN had thought being invited to lunch with Hollywood's most powerful actor was too good to be true. She was right. "You want me towhat?" Alexandra Shanahan asked incredulously, staring at Wolf Kerrick as though he'd lost his mind. "Play my new love interest," he repeated, his deep voice nearly flat. Wolf Kerrick's love interest. How ludicrous. Beyond ludicrous. Wolf Kerrick...and her? Alexandra would have laughed if her stomach wasn't doing wild cartwheels. Everything, she thought woozily, about the lunch was wrong. The impossible-to-secure reservations at the famous Beverly Hills Hotel's terrace restaurant. The bright blue sky overhead. The dizzying fragrance of the terrace garden's roses and gardenias. When she'd first sat down at the table, she'd introduced herself--silly, but since they'd never officially met, it'd seemed like the right thing to do. Wolf had repeated her name thoughtfully. "Shanahan. Sounds familiar." "There's a famous football coach by the same name," she'd answered nervously, trying to ignore the excited whispers of the other restaurant patrons. Everyone had been watching them. Or at least watching Wolf. But then, he was a megastar and sinfully good-looking, so she couldn't really blame them. "Maybe that's it," he'd answered, leaning back in his chair. "Or maybe it's familiar because it's Irish." She'd managed a tight smile before dropping her gaze, already overwhelmed by his formidable size and presence. Wolf Kerrick was bigger, broader, stronger, more male than nearly any other actor in the business. There was no mistaking him for any other actor, either, not with his Spanish-Irish black hair, dark eyes and sinful, sensual mouth. "Daniel said you had a job offer for me," she'd said nervously, jumping straight to the point. There was no reason to stall. She'd never be able to eat in his company, so ordering lunch was out of the question. Best just get the whole interview over and done with. "I do." She'd nodded to fill the silence. She'd hoped he'd maybe elaborate, but he hadn't. Her cheeks had scalded. Her face had felt so hot even her ears had burned. "Daniel said he thought I'd be perfect for the job." Wolf's dark head had tipped, his black lashes dropping as he'd considered her. After an endless silence he'd nodded once. "You are." She wasn't sure if she should be flattered or terrified. He seemed so much friendlier on the big screen, more approachable in film than he was here in flesh. Right now he was anything but mortal, human. Instead he was like a dark warrior, an avenger with a secret--and dangerous--agenda. "I'm looking to fill a position," he said flatly. "Yes," she echoed, hands knotting together in her lap. "The role of my new love interest." She nearly tumbled from her chair."What?" She stared at him so hard his face blurred. "It's a publicity stunt," Wolf said in the same flat, almost bored tone. "The position would last approximately four to six weeks. Of course, you'd be well compensated." Shocked, mortified, Alexandra felt as though she'd burst into flames any moment. "But I--I...couldn't," she sputtered, reaching for her water glass even as a rivulet of perspiration slid down inside her gray linen jacket. She was broiling here on the terrace. She'd dressed far too warmly for lunch outside, and with the bright California sun beating down on her head she thought she'd melt any moment. "I don't date--" she broke off, swallowed convulsively "--actors." Wolf's jaw shifted. A trace of amusement touched his features. "You don't have to.You just have to pretend to date me." Him.Wolf Kerrick. International film star. Spanish-Irish heartthrob. Alexandra gulped more water. She was so hot she could barely think clearly. If only she'd dressed more appropriately. If only sPorter, Jane is the author of 'Hollywood Husband, Contract Wife ', published 2006 under ISBN 9780373125746 and ISBN 0373125747.