An Unlikely Match (The Match Series - Book #1) by Barbara Dunlop

of her slick, slender fingers against his skin.
    “ You bet I am.”
    His gaze lock ed on to hers. “What if I say no?”
    She gave him a confident, dazzling smile. “You’re not going to say no to me.”
    He understo od the reasons for her confidence. He didn’t imagine any man with a pulse had ever said no to her.

Chapter Five
     
    An hour later, Amelia was curled up in a cushioned chair on Morgan’s deck, a light, pale yellow cover-up thrown over her bikini. The air was still sultry warm, not a hint of a breeze, the stars brilliant beyond the dim pot lights set around the garden.
    “You seem to keep feeding me,” she couldn’t help noting as she bit into a chicken sausage from the grill. It was wrapped in a toasted bun and slathered with spicy sauce. The taste was heavenly.
    “That’s because I can afford more food.” Morgan settled into the opposite chair, their wineglasses and a fresh bottle on the small, round table between them.
    “ I really can’t argue with that.” Her tips continued to be good, but her hourly wage was abysmal.
    “How are the auditions coming?” he asked between bites.
    She swallowed, considering how to answer. “Not bad.”
    “Getting any parts?”
    “Not so much.”
    “Getting any encouragement?”
    “Not so much,” she admitted.
    It was tougher out there than she’d expected. The crowds were bigger, the casting directors less receptive. She’d decided there were few things in life more demoralizing than a cattle call.
    He fixed his attention on her expression. “So, what exactly does ‘not bad’ mean?”
    “It means I haven’t slit my wrists, and I’m soldiering on.”
    He seemed to consider that for a moment. “Good for you.”
    It didn’t look like he was being sarcastic. In fact, he looked quite sincere. For some reason, that made her feel slightly better.
    “Anything coming up?” he asked, going back to eating.
    “A few bit parts in commercials. And I’ve signed up to be an extra at a couple of the studios. Something might come of that. There is one thing...” She hesitated. She wasn’t exactly superstitious, but it was a role she’d truly die to get.
    “What is it?”
    “I heard about it through a friend from college. Apparently, they’re having a hard time casting for the little sister of Detective Drake Banner in Cavalier Cop .”
    “I’ve seen that show,” said Morgan, topping off their wineglasses as he spoke.
    “They need a girl next door who can also play an evil siren.”
    His face curved into a smile. “You think that’s you?”
    “Hey, I can do girl next door.”
    “I’m more worried about your ability to do evil siren.”
    “Hah. That’s no problem.” She popped the last bit of the sausage into her mouth.
    He sat back. “Let’s see.”
    “See what?”
    “Let’s see you do one of the parts.”
    “Right now?” She wasn’t sure how she felt about that.
    He motioned to an open spot on the deck. “ You’re a professional. Bring it on.”
    “Okay.” She swallowed her nerves as she stood. But she was a professional. “Girl next door first. Give me a minute to think.”
    She finger-combed her hair and refastened her ponytail. Blinking her eyes wide and letting her jaw go loose, she tugged the cover-up a little farther down her thighs.
    “You’re the captain, my brother’s boss, and you strongly suspect I stole a valuable painting from the master bedroom of an industrialist’s mansion during a party.”
    Morgan came to his feet. “Should I say something?”
    “Ask me what I did with the painting.”
    He took a step forward, squaring his shoulders, looking tall and stern. “What did you do with the painting?”
    She let her voice go soft and low, folding her hands in front of her. “I never even saw the painting.”
    “You were at the party.”
    “I was,” she said with a slow nod. “But I was outside. I never even went upstairs.”
    “ How did you know the painting was upstairs?” he challenged, obviously