Dreaming of Mr. Darcy by Victoria Connelly Read Free Book Online Page A

Sophie said. ‘Will I be sharing it?’
    â€˜Depends how many of you there are,’ Kay said.
    â€˜Hasn’t Teresa told you?’
    Kay shook her head.
    â€˜I think there’s only Gemma and Oli, and I’d better not be sharing with Oli—no matter how divine he is.’ She flopped back onto the bed and sighed. ‘I wouldn’t want to make Beth jealous. She’s such a diva. All the attention’s got to be on her twenty-four seven. I wouldn’t mind, but she’s not even the lead.’
    â€˜No?’
    Sophie sat back up. ‘Gemma’s the lead, and you wouldn’t find a sweeter actress anywhere, but she’s as jumpy as anything. The complete antithesis of diva-face next door. God! I can’t believe I’m working with her again. She haunts me!’
    Kay grinned. ‘What have you been in together?’
    â€˜There was that dreadful TV thriller last year, and before that, we were in that boarding-school drama that seemed to go on for decades without any of us growing any older.’
    â€˜Oh, yes!’ Kay said. ‘I remember that. Gosh, you’ve both been acting for years, then.’
    Sophie grinned. ‘You make me sound like an ancient dame.’
    â€˜Oh, no! I mean, you’ve got so much experience. You make me feel so ordinary.’
    Sophie looked at Kay. ‘But you’ve got this place. It’s pretty amazing.’
    â€˜Thanks. I just bought it. I was left some money,’ she said, thinking how easy it was to talk to the woman. ‘I’ve always wanted to live by the sea.’
    â€˜I live near Waterloo Station in London. It’s horrible. I’ve got a flat that’s not too bad, I suppose, but it’s so ugly there. I try and work as much as possible so I don’t have to stay there.’
    â€˜But isn’t it odd living in hotels all the time?’ Kay asked.
    â€˜You get used to it. I don’t mind living out of a suitcase, and I love acting. I love becoming someone else.’
    â€˜It must be a strange life,’ Kay said. ‘I can’t quite imagine it.’
    â€˜Some are better suited to it than others,’ Sophie said. ‘Diva-face next door makes life miserable for everyone whose path she crosses. You won’t have to let her get to you, but Oli, now he’s brilliant.’
    â€˜Who’s Oli?’ Kay asked.
    â€˜ Hello? ’ a male voice yelled from downstairs. ‘Anyone here?’
    Sophie smoothed down her hair with her hands. ‘I think you’re about to find out.’
    Suddenly everyone was out on the landing.
    â€˜We’re up here, Oli,’ Teresa shouted.
    â€˜I hope you’ve got my bags,’ Beth said, walking out from her bedroom, her lips now painted a fierce scarlet.
    â€˜There’s a double left for you, Oliver,’ Teresa said, and that’s when Kay saw him for the first time. He was walking up the stairs, and at first, all she could see was a shock of butter-blond hair. He lifted his head, a pair of blue eyes met her own, and a huge smile broke across his face.
    â€˜Hello,’ he said.
    Kay’s mouth dropped open. It was the actor, Oli Wade Owen, and he was the most handsome man she’d ever laid eyes on.

Chapter 8
    If she could have taken her eyes away from him for a second, Kay would surely have done a prize-winning double take. To have a director in her house had been excitement enough; to have two famous actresses had almost caused Kay to combust with delight; but to have one of Britain’s most handsome actors—the man who’d played a thousand heroes, the man who’d adorned every cover of every magazine and newspaper—was almost too much to bear. And he was walking straight towards her.
    â€˜You must be the good lady of the house,’ Oli said, extending a hand towards her. Kay held hers out, and he took it in his and shook it. It was a warm, melting sort of a moment, and Kay