Star of His Heart by Brenda Jackson Read Free Book Online

he was sharing this information about his family with anyone, especially to a woman he’d only met yesterday. But there was something about Rachel that was different from most women he’d met. For one, she wasn’t trying to come on to him or jump his bones. It was as if she saw him as a person and not some sex symbol, and he appreciated that.
    â€œShe talks now, but not as much as she should for a child her age,” he responded. “And she talks more with some people than with others. I happen to be one of those she will talk to most of the time. But it took me a while to gain that much ground again after theaccident.” He recalled the time he had come home from France to give his brother and niece his support. “But a part of Kendra is still withdrawn and so far no one has been able to fully bring her back. She’s been seen by the best psychologists money can hire. They practically all said the same thing. Kendra suffered a traumatic loss, and until she’s convinced in her mind that she can love someone again, become attached to that person without losing them all over again, she will continue to withdraw into her own little world.”
    He checked his watch and figured they needed to head on back. Prior to stopping at the store, they had stopped by an art supply place and picked up some new brushes. She’d told him that she liked dabbling with paints on canvas every once in a while and had promised to show him some of her work one day.
    As they began retracing their steps back toward the studio lot, he had to admit he had enjoyed his time with her and knew that he was going to enjoy having her as a friend. An odd thought suddenly burned in his brain. What if they became more than just friends? He quickly forced the notion out of his head. The fact of the matter was they were just friends, or at least they were trying to be.
    He glanced at her and saw her scan the surrounding area. He could tell she was nervous about the possibility of being seen by the paparazzi. So was he, but only because it bothered her. Despite the fact that only minutes ago he’d vowed not to pry, he couldn’t stop the question now.
    â€œWhy do you avoid the spotlight, Rachel?” He could tell his question surprised her and suspected her reasons were deep-seated.
    â€œI just do,” she said.
    She tried to act calm, like his question wasn’t a big deal, but he sensed that it was. “Why?”
    She frowned up at him, and the first thing he thought was that he’d made her mad. He hadn’t meant to, but a part of him wanted to push her for an answer.
    â€œWell?” he asked.
    She didn’t say anything as they kept walking. She had stopped glaring at him and was staring straight ahead. He’d almost given up hope for a reply when she began speaking. “I told you my parents were killed before my second birthday. Since my uncle and aunt who adopted us couldn’t have any kids of their own, my sister and I became known as the Limelight heirs. For some reason we made news, and the paparazzi followed us practically everywhere we went—school, church, grocery stores…you name it, they were there. I couldn’t tell you how many times when I was a little girl that I got a mike shoved in my face or my braid pulled by a reporter to get my attention. It was…scary.
    â€œThings only got better when I went away to college. By the time I returned, the media interest was on someone else, thank goodness. But every once in a while someone tries to connect the dots to see what Sofia and I are up to. She doesn’t mind being in the spotlight and uses it to her advantage.”
    Ethan took in what she said. The thought of someoneharassing a child to get a story angered him, and knowing the child had been Rachel angered him even more. It was interesting that he felt such protective instincts for her.
    A flicker of some sort of alarm flashed through his brain but he