Come a Little Bit Closer: The Sullivans by Bella Andre Read Free Book Online Page B

fame that came with his life, she’d foolishly fall head over heels for him...mere moments before he moved on to the next movie, the next set, the next woman who presented a challenge.
    All of which was why she made sure her answer was as direct as his question had been. “No.”
    Any other man would have taken her refusal for what it was: a negative response that she had no intention of altering. Ever.
    Smith, of course, wasn’t like any other man she’d ever met. So instead of giving her a hurt look and walking out of her trailer with his tail between his legs, he moved closer yet again, all but pinning her against the window.
    “From the first moment you and I met, there’s been something between us.”
    She wasn’t foolish enough to argue with him. Not when his statement was almost stupidly on point...a s stupid as acting on those obvious sparks and letting them turn into flames that would burn her heart to ashes.
    “You’re a very attractive man,” she admitted, “but since ten million other women are also attracted to you, I figure there’s no point in making a big deal out of it.”
    “Only ten million?” he teased her.
    Valentina honestly didn’t know whether to laugh or slap the arrogance out of him. Nor would she take the third—and most obvious—option of melting at his feet like pretty much any woman alive would be doing right now.
    Why couldn’t he just get mad like a normal guy would when his attentions were being denied? All his teasing did was make her want to tease back. “Okay, probably more like a hundred million. But the end result is the same.” She paused to make sure he understood her very clearly this time. “I’m still not interested in going out on a date with you.”
    “Why not?”
    “I don’t date actors.”
    He nodded as if it was a very wise decision. “Me either.”
    She did a terrible job of hiding her surprise from him. More like shock, actually, given what was printed about him on a regular basis in the entertainment magazines.
    Then again, hadn’t she been in the business long enough to know what a crock most of what the entertainment press dished out to the public really was?
    “How about this?” he said in a voice that was far too reasonable for her comfort. “When I’m with you, I’ll be a director. Or a producer. Even a lowly screenwriter, if it makes you happy.”
    She shouldn’t have laughed at the laundry list of titles, but how could she not? And it was true, Smith Sullivan was much more than just an actor.
    Still, that didn’t change anything.
    “How about I clarify my position?” She mirrored his reasonable tone perfectly. “I don’t date anyone in the business.”
    There , that should do it. How could he possibly argue with that?
    But when he didn’t look the least bit daunted, her stomach clenched. She told herself it wasn’t due to need, or desire, or the sparks that kept leaping and growing between them.
    “I’m also a brother.” He moved closer. “A son.” Closer still, so close that she could almost feel his breath on her upturned face. “A friend.” She was mesmerized by the color of his eyes, so dark now that the blue was almost black. “And I hope to be a father one day, too.”
    She couldn’t keep the breath from whooshing out of her lungs as he hit her right in the center of her softest spot. She could have defended herself against cocky or sexy or confident.
    But how could she protect herself against family?
    “Why me?” She wasn’t asking to fish for compliments. She truly was confused. “You could have any woman on set. Any woman on the street. Any woman anywhere.”
    “You’re smart. Beautiful. Great at your job. Devoted to your sister. You have a knack for solving puzzles and I like you, Valentina.” He paused before adding, “I want you, too. Very, very much.”
    His honesty floored her. But so did the knowledge that at least a dozen actors had likely said similar things to her mother in the years since her