who was walking the runway tomorrow for Candice’s closing show, so she didn’t want to leave anything to chance. She was shattered, and all she could really think about was that hot bath and a glass of wine followed by bed and a good night’s sleep so, letting herself into the now empty salon, she threw her bag on the floor and headed straight over to her work station, gathering together everything she needed, singing quietly to herself as she thought about Vince and that much-needed break awaiting her in Vegas. She couldn’t think of a time when she’d been happier, a time when she’d felt more settled, more in control of everything, and her smile grew even wider as she picked up the picture of Lily she kept on her work station.
‘Pretty girl, your daughter.’
The voice came out of nowhere, and Charley felt her blood run cold as that all-too-familiar drawl echoed round the empty salon. A voice she’d never wanted to hear again, but a voice she could never forget. Was she dreaming? Had she suddenly fallen asleep and this was some nightmare she’d been thrown into because, if it was, then she wanted to wake up and never go back into that world. She’d left it behind without a backward glance and that’s the way she’d wanted it to stay.
‘Leaving doors open, Charley – very careless. If you don’t want unwelcome intruders.’
She turned around slowly, not really wanting to see who was behind her because she already knew; that voice was unmistakeable. And, as her eyes met his, a black Stetson casting a shadow over his expressionless face, she felt her whole safe and secure world come crashing down around her.
‘But then, I’m no intruder, am I, Charley? I’m an old… friend.’
‘Get out of my salon,’ Charley whispered, because that was about as loud as her voice would go.
He just laughed, a small but heavily loaded laugh, his eyes refusing to leave hers until he finally turned to leave, walking slowly towards the open salon doors, turning round and fixing her with that steely glare one more time. ‘It’s good to be back, Charley. Because that’s what I am, darlin’. I’m back, and we got a whole lotta reacquaintin’ to do. A whole lot, sweetheart.’
And, with an ice-cold smile that froze her heart, he walked out of the door, and back into Charley’s life. Her worst nightmare. Her past. Jimmy Cash.
CHAPTER 10
Dominic couldn’t help noticing how quiet India was on set that afternoon. Whenever she wasn’t needed she’d sit on her own, away from everybody else, watching the goings-on from a distance, but he could tell she wasn’t really concentrating.
‘Everything okay?’ he asked, sitting down beside her, taking his chance to make that all-important in-road. Now was the time, and it seemed the perfect opportunity to start playing the game properly. No more waiting, no more hanging about.
She looked up at him, taking a few seconds to register his presence but when she did, she smiled a small smile and he was surprised to find his heart skipping a little beat. It wasn’t a sensation he was overly familiar with and it knocked him sideways for a few seconds, which didn’t escape India’s notice.
‘Maybe it should be me asking you that. You alright?’
He breathed out, smiling that killer smile and she couldn’t help laughing. ‘You have so got this movie star thing down pat, haven’t you?’
The killer smile showed no signs of disappearing. ‘Haven’t you? I mean, you’ve been doing it for twenty years now.’
‘Another twenty years and I still wouldn’t be as confident as you.’
‘At least you didn’t call me arrogant.’
‘Is that something you get called a lot?’
‘By some, yeah.’
She looked over towards the set, briefly making eye contact with Michael before turning her attention back to Dominic.
‘So,’ he continued, sensing her mood had changed the second she’d looked at her ex-husband, and he needed to get her back. ‘Is everything okay?’
She sat back in her chair and threw her head back for a second, closing her eyes as she pushed her hands through her long blond hair. She had the most incredible neck, Dominic couldn’t help noticing. Sexy, long and smooth. The kind of neck he just wanted to reach out and touch.
She sat up straight and sighed, fixing Dominic with a look that caused his heart to skip that little beat again. ‘You’re not needed here for a while, are you?’
He shook his head and she stood up, still looking at him.