Double Her Fantasy by Randi Alexander Page A

he kissed her cheek. “You’re welcome in our suite any time, day or night.”
    “Or nooner?” She tucked it into her purse. “Thank you. I wish it never had to end…” She shook her head. “I’m feeling a little wobbly after that fake proposal. Can we sit down?”
    “Yep, but not here.” He tucked her under his arm. “Let’s get something to eat. I’m starved.”
    When they exited the building, a group of paparazzi cornered them.
    “How’s filming?”
    “Who’s your date?”
    “What’s your name, lady?”
    She kept her head averted and Garret smiled and waved as he protected her and crawled into the limo after her.
    They found a fancy restaurant that catered to late nighters. He had a steak, she went with a shrimp salad, and they split a turtle cheesecake. He slid his jacket over her shoulders and they strolled along the lake, talking about her creative process. When her feet had had enough, he called the limo and asked him to drive slowly through the downtown streets.
    Garret opened the sunroof. They lay back on the plush seat gazing at the towering buildings of Chicago.
    “Wow.” She yawned. “You just don’t get this in Canada.”
    “Don’t get this on the ranch, either.”
    “Do you miss it? The ranch?”
    “I do. After we finish retakes next week, I’m heading to the ranch for a few months.”
    “Then?”
    “I have a contract waiting for me to sign at my agent’s office. Another movie, same shoot-em-up plot, same dangerous stunts.”
    She turned toward him. “You don’t sound enthused.”
    The multi-million dollar paycheck was enticing, but with his half of the ranch plus the money he’d made from acting during the last six years, did he need it? Did he even want it?
    “Trey’s been pushing me to slow down, spend more time at home.”
    “Home.”
    Her one word captured his entire conflict. “It’s so peaceful there. The stars at night.”
    “Are big and bright?”
    He laughed at her reference to the Texas theme song. “They sure are, ma’am. The coyotes howl, the cattle low, the birds sing. Neighbors stop by and treat me like a friend instead of a star.”
    “Yes, I love that about my little town, too.”
    “Tell me about your family.” He knew she was an only child.
    “We don’t see much of each other anymore. They’re missionaries and live in depressed areas of the U.S.”
    That surprised him. He’d imagined her parents were a big part of her life, a stable and loving home. “What do you mean, ‘anymore’?”
    “I spent my whole life moving from state to state. Drawing was all I had that was a constant in my life.”
    “How did you end up in Canada?”
    She laughed softly. “My parents were working in a dark, frozen town in Alaska, and I’d had enough. I finished high school early and took off. I made it to the U.S. border and realized I didn’t have my passport. So I got a job, became a dual U.S. and Canadian citizen, and worked my way through college.”
    He sat back and looked at her. “You’re joking.”
    She made a silly face. “Nope. Crazy, isn’t it?”
    “It’s amazing. Inspiring.” He had a whole new image of her.
    She turned her head and gazed at him. “Because of the stalker thing, I changed my name, my hair, and my major from interior design to graphic arts. After college, I moved to a very small town and bought some wooded land. Built a house right in the middle of it.” She looked up through the sunroof. “After a few days in a big city, my little plot is like an oasis.”
    “You’d love the ranch.” He blinked. Yep, he’d said it. He’d like her there. Safe, protected, and long-term. Scary how fast things were moving in his mind.
    Her breathing stilled for a moment. “Tell me all about it.”
    ****
    The next day, Megan slept until noon. She rose and stretched, a decadent and self-pampering feeling stealing through her. After ordering breakfast, which had to be from the lunch menu, she called the hotel spa and scheduled herself for