Memo: The Billionaire's Proposal. Melissa Mcclone
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there with her.”
Drake fought the urge to roll his eyes. And laugh.
This part of show business was something he would never understand. Still, doing the show was good publicity and PR for the channel and his company. He trusted his gut, and his instinct said do what Milt wanted. That was what Drake had done for the past two seasons and saw no need to change now. “You’re in charge, but let’s hope Guin’s covered herself with a blanket. Castles can be drafty this time of year.”
The crew laughed. Even Milt cracked a smile.
Liz came after Drake with the eyelash curler. “I forgot something.”
“Is that really necessary again?” he asked.
She winked. “Absolutely, Sir Lashalot.”
Drake grimaced, allowed the deed to be done and readied himself for the scene.
Holding a gold goblet precariously with his gauntlet-covered hand, he stood in front of an elaborately carved fireplace complete with an ornate coat of arms being held by two lion-faced cherubim.
“Ready, Sir Lancelot?” Milt asked.
Drake nodded once.
Milt looked at Tony, one of the two cameramen on the crew. “Let me know when you have speed.”
“Are the mikes working?” Tony asked the audio person, who gave him the thumbs-up. “Speed.”
A few seconds later, Drake saw his cue.
Show time.
Once he nailed this line, he’d be free to do whatever he wanted. And he knew what—make that who—he wanted.
Forget Guinevere.
The adulterous queen had nothing on his new associate producer. An image of Chaney wearing her sexy, smart-girl glasses flashed in his mind.
He raised the goblet and smiled at the camera. “And that’s why Abbotsford Castle is one of this billionaire’s favorite playgrounds.”
Luxurious and romantic, this castle would be the perfect place to play with Chaney. Five years hadn’t changed the smart, pretty American’s appeal.
Drake still wanted to taste those full, pink lips of hers that had tempted him during her internship. He wanted to see if the adorable dimple on her left cheek went as deep as it looked. He wanted to lend a hand as she wiggled out of those well-fitted jeans, cupping her bottom like a glove, so he could see if she wore a thong, boy short or other type of panty underneath.
Most of all, he hadn’t forgotten the way she’d turned him down.
Sorry Mr. Llewelyn. You’re targeting the wrong girl.
He’d been sorry all right especially since he’d stopped dating a woman, a supermodel if he remembered correctly, to pursue Chaney. But she hadn’t wanted him.
Drake had thought about that, about her, over the years. Now that he’d seen her again, and found out she wasn’t married as he’d believed, he wanted another chance.
Before the weekend was over, Drake wanted to hear the word “yes” fall from Chaney’s lips. A “please take me now” wouldn’t be so bad, either. He wanted to prove to himself and her that he hadn’t targeted the wrong girl. Far from it. Given the antics and partying that accompanied the production crew during their two and a half months on the road, he had high hopes.
His smile widened.
Milt counted down with his fingers. Five-four-three-two-one.
“Cut! That’s a wrap people.” Milt adjusted his LA Dodgers baseball cap. “Perfect, Drake. Keep smiling like that, and you’ll be a lock making this year’s Sexiest Man Alive list.”
Drake handed the goblet to Jesse, an intern working on the show, and took a bottle of water from her. “Thanks, but I’d rather top the Richest Man Alive list.”
As he downed the water, the crew, including a few locals hired to help due to the size of the castle and amount of work involved in this particular episode, moved gear in preparation for tomorrow’s shoot. The show had exclusive use of the castle for the next two days so they didn’t have to worry about anyone getting in the way. The castle staff had experience with film crews so would be no trouble.
He handed his empty bottle to Jesse, who scurried away to who knew where. Funny, but Drake couldn’t remember the last time he’d had to find a garbage can himself. Years ago, he’d dug through trash cans out of necessity for him and his dad. How times had changed.
As he made his way past the lights and cameras, he searched for Chaney. He found her standing in the doorway with her clipboard in hand and talking to the production coordinator. As he crossed the drawing room in her direction, desire rocketed through him.
He’d appreciated Chaney’s athletic all-American girl figure before, but now her clothes accentuated fuller curves. Her long hair worn in braids or a ponytail had always looked charming on the college co-ed, but the new sophisticated shoulder-length cut suited her face better. The biggest and most intriguing change, though, was to her eyes. Not the glasses, but the maturity he saw in the hazel-green depths.
Chaney Sullivan was no longer a girl. She’d become a woman. A woman who was hardworking, confident and, most important, smart. Her intelligence had always been the draw for him, Drake realized, even if he liked the package it came in, too.
He slowed his approach until the production coordinator walked away. By then most of the crew had left. “Hello, there.”
“Hi.” Chaney held her clipboard in front of her like a barrier between them. A barrier he had every intention of breaking down. “Great job tonight.”
“Thank you.”
She stifled a yawn.
Chaney should be in bed. His bed, if Drake had his choice. “Join me for a drink?”
“I thought you didn’t date employees.”
“I don’t.”
“Uh-huh.”
She was considered an independent contractor, and her paycheck would be coming from the cable channel as Gemma’s did, not the corporate office. So Chaney was, in effect, fair game. “You don’t work for me.”
“Not officially, but I’m—”
“Tired?”
“Exhausted.”
“I’ll have to let you go, then. But could you do a little something for me first, please?”
She readied her pen over her clipboard. “Sure, what do you need?”
Staring into her eyes, he smiled. “I need your help getting out of this costume.”
CHAPTER TWO
UNDRESS him? Chaney’s heart pounded in her ears. Surely she had misunderstood. “You want me to…”
“Help me out of this armor,” Drake finished for her. “I don’t know where Russell ran off to, and you’re the only one left.”
She glanced around the drawing room, now deserted. Where had everyone gone? The room had been bustling with activity a few minutes ago.
He stared at her, an expectant look in his brown eyes.
Face it, Gemma wouldn’t think twice about helping him. Neither should Chaney. He’d made a reasonable request, and she was acting as if he’d asked her to his room for a night of hot sex. Sure, the man oozed sensuality, but just because he’d wanted her once didn’t mean he wanted her now.
Time to stop overreacting and do her job.
Chaney straightened. “What do you want me to do first?”
“Come with me.”