Straight to the Heart Read online

  “There’s nothing to think about. We need to beat the timing of his press conference and kill his thunder,” Stacy prompted.

  “Stacy, give me an hour. I’m not comfortable with that approach,” Marty said. “I’ll call you back.” The call ended.

  “We never lied about your background,” Brenda reminded her.

  “It’s more than that. Some details we didn’t share. The court of public opinion could cast me aside, and then I’d be a liability. Will I get offers from studios? Will I become the spokeswoman for certain products?” Stacy didn’t like feeling defensive or sounding paranoid.

  Fred snapped his fingers. “What if we matched her up?”

  Her manager leaned forward, her eyes gleaming.

  “Match me up with whom?” Stacy couldn’t believe that this was the solution.

  “Look, celebs are always linked to the latest star and it’s not always coincidence. Remember that faded movie star and the young gangster rapper? Gives the perception that you’re in the in crowd and gets the younger fans on your side. They have the economic weight to make it happen.”

  “Yeah, but that relationship ended ugly in the media. And frankly, I’m not tying myself to any man who wears a grill on his teeth and a do-rag on his head. Certain things should stay on stage and not become a part of the daily wear.”

  Stacy eyed Brenda as she headed toward the window. She had not voiced an opinion. Even Fred waited for Brenda’s response.

  “This is a classy city.” Brenda pointed toward the partially obstructed view of the city. “Tourists can admire the impressive architecture that created this city around the four nations that called it home.”

  Stacy nodded, thinking that this wasn’t the time for a pro-Montreal moment.

  Stacy got up and walked over to stand beside Brenda. They watched the people bustle to and fro. She saw the diversity, a melting pot of original colonists, consisting of the Irish, English, French and Scots with millions of newer arrivals from Africa, the West Indies, Italy and even America.

  “Montreal is a piece of Europe on this side of the continent. Don’t you agree?” Brenda asked with an appreciative smile. “When we began our partnership, we had goals to reach the top. But you’ve got to admit, kiddo, that standing in Montreal on a film set two and half years later beats our timeline.” Brenda took a deep breath and turned to face her.

  And then Stacy understood Brenda’s point.

  If she didn’t play her next move correctly, all of this could be plucked out of her grasp. The movie producers were bound to fire her for the negative publicity. After all, she wasn’t the star of the movie, and Brenda had done fast talking and called in a few favors to get a hip-hop personality on the roster. Maybe Fred wasn’t so far off the mark.

  “I’m liking what I’m hearing from you, Fred. Let me make a few calls.” Brenda snapped up her cell phone earpiece and set her date planner on the table in front of her.

  “I’ll be right back.” Stacy would rather not hear Brenda begging on her behalf. She exited the room. Where was a chapel when you needed one? Maybe a good, fortifying prayer could counteract Antonio’s dirty fight ahead. Suddenly she remembered that she’d asked Omar to stick around. How was she going to face him? He’d know something was wrong. She tried to get herself together before entering the RV. Her mood lightened when she saw Omar still sipping coffee, writing on a notepad. The scene soothed her a bit. She softly closed the door, respecting that he was at work. He looked up and offered a welcoming smile. He instantly made her feel safe. Plus he was certainly a treat to the eyes. Tall, slim, GQ model features, with a sexy, confident smile that reduced her to a babbling mess.

  Fred’s suggestion again intruded. Maybe he had something. Stacy took a deep breath. A smidgen of excitement simmered. There really was no time to debate the pros and cons.

  “I need to talk to you and my management team. Got a couple more minutes to spare?”

  “Uh-oh, doesn’t sound good. Could I get a hint?” Omar shut his writing pad and sat back.

  “I’m mulling around a couple of career ideas.” Stacy tried to keep her tone even to ease the tension that immediately dictated Omar’s body language.

  “And you need to discuss this with me?”

  “And my management team,” Stacy elaborated.

  Omar frowned. “Do they know that you’re bringing me into your discussion?”

  “Hey, it’s not a big deal. I just want to throw out an idea that I think you might be interested in. You can say no, okay?” Stacy laughed, hoping that Omar would relax. If he was this nervous, there was no way that he would consider her strange plan. She fought the urge to sink on the couch, grab a fat chocolate bar and eat her way through the remainder of the afternoon.

  “You look like you lost your best friend.” Omar approached her. “Don’t mean to sound difficult. I’ve been through so many discussions with the production team, and then your management team, that I don’t know whether I’m coming or going.” He rubbed his forehead, emitting an apologetic chuckle. “After you.” He motioned toward the door.

  Stacy led the way back to the conference room. Omar didn’t deserve to be dragged into her mess. This only proved to her how empty her life was that she could consider an outrageous solution with someone who was practically a stranger.

  Brenda, Fred and Josh hadn’t moved out of their huddle, although additional empty water bottles littered the conference table.

  Brenda looked up at their entrance. “No luck so far, kiddo. But I’m not done.”

  “No luck with what?” Stacy shrugged, not wanting to deal with any other ideas before she had a chance to talk.

  “Why is he here?” Brenda looked at Omar with a disagreeable frown.

  “I asked him to join us.” Stacy looked at Brenda, wondering why her disapproval came so quickly at the sight of Omar. “Is that a problem?” She noted that Omar matched Brenda’s reaction with an equal look of distaste.

  “I don’t think it is appropriate to bring in outsiders.”

  Stacy flinched at the cold dismissal. The last thing she needed was for Omar to walk away from this obvious disrespect. Right now, she needed something from him. This wasn’t going to be an easy sell to either party. She took a seat at the head of the table and poured herself a glass of water, hoping that no one saw her hand shake.

  “Omar, please have a seat. Brenda, Fred and Josh, I’ll need you to take a back seat and let me do the driving.” Stacy decided to treat this meeting like one of her singing performances, where she had to add a dose of street flavor to her lyrics to get across her message.

  Silence dropped like a heavy boulder on the room. Everyone froze. Now that she had their attention, Stacy rose to take center stage. Her sense of ownership, leadership and survival kicked in. She had to get everyone united around her proposal.

  Her watch showed that fifteen minutes remained before Marty called. A solution had to be in place. She looked at Omar, hoping that he wouldn’t think too badly of her. Under different circumstances, she would have liked to explore a friendship, or even something more, with him. But after her bold request, there would be no guarantee.

  “Omar, I’m being blackmailed by a former boyfriend and manager. In a matter of hours, he plans to open the doors to my life. It’s a history that doesn’t play well in the media. Without enough time to come up with a perfect solution, I must ask you for a very big favor.”

  “Yes?” Omar prodded. His curious gaze fastened on her face.

  “No!” Brenda exploded.

  “Would you be my boyfriend?”

  Stacy now understood what “crackling tension in the air” meant.

  “How is that helping the situation?” Brenda looked at Stacy as if she had grown an extra head.

  Stacy didn’t want to respond. “Omar?” she prodded with more than a little bit of pleading in her tone.

  “You can’t seriously consider this man,” Brenda continued. “You know nothing about him. You need someone with pr
oven credentials, with a healthy reputation. For heaven’s sake, you need someone with class or you’ll be making another mistake with another man.”

  Brenda’s disgust grated on Stacy’s nerve. Not only had she insulted Omar, but her manager also slammed her. Omar didn’t look at her, as she tried to offer a silent apology. Instead, he focused on the table with his hands steepled against his chest.

  He finally responded, each word stated with deliberation. “Not that I agree with your management team’s overzealous nature to see only the worst in a young brother, but I’m wondering if you’re not acting out of impulse or desperation. Believe me, I understand having to feel that way, which can cause you to leap into a more difficult position.”

  Why was everyone treating her as if she were a child? Not too long ago, Brenda had been on the phone trying to find a boyfriend for hire. When she’d met Omar back in Atlanta a year ago, she’d sensed that they were mutually attracted. Then she’d thought that she was being foolish and it was only her imagination. Besides, she had just started in her career and put any ideas of a relationship with anyone at the bottom of her priorities.

  “Do you mind telling me what your reservations are, Omar?” she asked before taking a seemingly leisurely sip of water.

  He gestured to no one in particular around the room. “Your reasoning seems a little cold. Like I’m for hire. How long is this to last? Why do I need to be your boyfriend? Will you also publicly dump me when you’re done? I do have my pride, you know.”

  Brenda snorted. “Let me be the sole voice of common sense.”

  Stacy nodded, although she really didn’t want to hear what Brenda had to say. Her own conscience roared its disapproval with disgusting logic.

  “Homeboy over here is still a newbie in his TV-host spot. I’m not sure he understands what it would mean to be the temporary boyfriend of a rising star. I only have to look in his eyes and see that he’s a restless soul with no solid foundation—a process that comes with maturity. At my age and in this business, I’ve seen a lot. Personally I don’t think he’s good enough to be connected with your image. No offense. We worked too hard to take unnecessary risks. Stacy, give me the remainder of the day and I’ll get someone for you. Someone who knows the rules of the entertainment game. No one that we would have to watch over to make sure he doesn’t take advantage of you or your money.”

  Stacy cringed at each statement. Coming from the street, she’d suffered similar narrow-minded thinking and actual insults. She understood how words could be used like weapons to cut and slash away at a fragile ego. Granted, nothing about Omar could be mistaken as fragile, but he didn’t deserve this.

  Omar let Stacy play peacemaker. Her actions gave him time to ratchet down his anger. Why did this woman hate him? As much as he flicked off her comments, some of her words hit their mark. He’d shifted jobs and residences in a short period of time, constantly seeking, reevaluating, discovering. But the one thing that she indicted him for with no evidence was being a cheat. That accusation burned him. This woman in her fashion-designer finery, show-business crassness and distrusting nature dared to call him a leech.

  “Omar has been nothing but honorable,” Stacy continued, still defending him.

  He’d admit that he had thought about Stacy long before he came on this assignment. From the first day he’d met her, he’d recognized a spirit surrounding her that drew him in. Her public persona did impress him, but he didn’t perceive that as being superficial. He understood that she had to commit to hard work and discipline to land on the path of success. How many times had his big brother, Pierce, said those very words to him?

  “Omar? Is this right? Are you honorable? From where I sit, I’d suspect that you’re a chisel-faced heartbreaker. Guys your age are nothing but stone-cold players. My job is to protect Stacy from the likes of you. Unlike her, I’m immune to your charm.”

  Omar acknowledged a suspicious glint in Brenda’s eyes with a curt nod. She wasn’t the only one who could read someone. Here was a woman who spoke not only from a business sense, but from personal misfortune. If he stayed his ground, he could call her out on the latter and make an enemy for life. Or he could be strategic in a way that might not elicit her support, but still earn a grudging acceptance for his part in this crazy scenario.

  Omar finally looked at Stacy, who nervously worked her hands. “Stacy, I’d have preferred that you ask me privately to consider this.”

  “Honestly, I didn’t think that there would be this much discussion. I’d only need you to help me out for a short bit.”

  “I’ll help under one condition.”

  “See, I rest my case.” Brenda slammed down her fist.

  Omar ignored the manager. Her outrage motivated him to make his next move.

  “I want to talk to you alone.” Deliberately he raised his eyes from Stacy’s gaze to meet Brenda’s glare.

  “Brenda, guys, excuse us,” Stacy prompted.

  Brenda didn’t move. But neither did Omar. Maybe he was flexing his muscle. But Brenda had brought the fight squarely to his feet.

  “If you’re going to stay in the room, then I’ll go find an empty room.” Stacy led the way to the door.

  “Fine. We’ll leave.” Brenda threw up her hands. “Do me a favor? Don’t agree to anything he says without discussing it with me.”

  Stacy didn’t answer, her attention focused on Omar. He waited until the others exited the room. He still didn’t know exactly what he wanted.

  “I will help you in any way that I can,” Omar began.

  “Great. I know you’re worried about being paid. That’s not a problem,” Stacy rushed.

  “I don’t want money,” Omar replied, hurt that she had automatically assumed that he was focused on money. “I want to do this because I genuinely like you.”

  “I like you, too, Omar. It’s one of the reasons that I’m comfortable approaching you with this plan. And I really won’t need you for a long time. You’re here for a week, right?”

  “Four days, but I could probably stretch it. But I’m game to give this a whirl as long as we last. And I’m hoping that’s for a long time.”

  “Oh, but it won’t be for long,” Stacy replied.

  “Ouch.” Maybe he was losing his touch. He didn’t know what more he had to say to let her know of his interest.

  “What did I say?” Stacy’s smile drooped.

  “Why should we only make this a temporary thing? I’m interested in you, getting to know you. Why don’t we make good use of the time and situation?”

  “Omar, I can’t possibly think of a relationship, especially when I have an ex-boyfriend ready to wreak havoc with my life.”

  “Will I have to accompany you to public events?”

  Stacy nodded.

  “Will you be acknowledging me in interviews?”

  “Yep.”

  “Then what’s wrong with us sharing a drink in the evenings, enjoying a chat on the phone? I’m not taking your money because this means more to me than a business transaction.” He sighed. “I guess in normal circumstances within your circle, I wouldn’t be your top pick.”

  Stacy shook her head, not looking at him. He desperately wanted to read her eyes, but she focused on the top button of his polo shirt.

  “Is it because of what Brenda said?” He stepped forward, closing the distance between them. He raised her chin with a crook of his finger. Stubbornly she kept her eyes lowered. “Look at me, Stacy.” Her eyes locked with his. He leaned forward slightly, afraid that she’d withdraw in alarm. Her only reaction was to open her eyes wider. He stepped into her personal space, so close that he felt the warmth of her breath against his lips. “I’m not touting an image,” he said softly.

  “No. But I think that you have a touch of the bad boy in you.”

  “Does that hurt my chances?” He touched her cheek and lowered his face, keeping his lips a mere breath away from hers. Her nostrils flared, her eyes closed and a sweet, cinnamon-scented sigh escaped in a w
hispery puff of air. He kissed her in a tight embrace. Acting on impulse did bring out his best work. His passion matched hers in a heated response of lips meeting, tongues intertwined, arms locked.

  There was no turning back. He’d fallen hard from a dizzying height, free-falling with utter satisfaction, making him not want to land on firm ground.

  “Stacy, do you need me in here?”

  Brenda’s ill-timed interruption ruptured the seal of their kiss and tight embrace, snapping them apart like a taut rubber band.

  Chapter 2

  “I do not believe what I’m seeing.” Brenda stormed into the room.

  Stacy froze. Her mind shouted the appropriate expletive. Being caught by Brenda matched the trauma of her many trips to the principal’s office. This devilish man had kissed her, sending her mind into a spin. And not a soft peck, but a kiss that electrified her entire body like a race car shooting around a track in a blaze of combustible heat.

  Omar took a step forward, blocking Stacy from Brenda’s wrath. She admired his actions. From the erect position of his shoulders, she suspected that, unlike her, he held no regrets. Great for him that he could remain calm. Her pulse hadn’t returned to normal. In an effort to stem Brenda’s tirade, which was certain to come and to last for a lengthy duration, Stacy took a deep breath and stepped out to stand at his side.

  “Stacy, since this man can’t open his mouth to provide a satisfactory explanation, then maybe you can tell me what is going on in here. Gosh, I could choke you.”

  “Brenda, calm down. This isn’t Omar’s fault. I’m an adult, although you still like to talk to me as if I’m a young child.” Stacy’s cheeks grew steadily hotter.

  “I couldn’t help myself,” Omar offered with a shrug. “She’s beautiful. I think that spontaneous kissing will make our relationship look more genuine to the public, at least from my point of view.” Omar added the last part with a huge grin.

  The phone rang. Stacy breathed easier, happy for the reprieve. Her mouth still tingled from the sensual memory. No doubt that chemistry existed between Omar and her. The one thing she knew for sure was that running her fingers along Omar’s neck with her body pressed against the entire length of his stirred a longing in her. Electrical pulses ignited a sensual awakening.