Playing His Game Part 1

PLAYING HIS GAME.

KIT TUNSTALL.

Prologue.

Bobby's Big Break.

"Whoo, baby, I got it!" Bobby swept Mya into a hug, then circled her around the room.

Her hazel eyes shone with excitement when he finally set her down in the middle of their tiny apartment.

"Really?"

Bobby's long, flaxen locks waved about his face when he nodded. "You're looking at the co-star. No

more two-bit s.h.i.+t for me." He puffed out his chest, which was admirably displayed by the almost

completely unb.u.t.toned silk s.h.i.+rt.

Bobby still held her in a loose embrace and Mya pressed herself closer. She put her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. "This is it. Your big shot." She started to kiss him, but he moved away.

He nodded. "I'm going all the way. This movie is s.h.i.+t, but some day there will be an Oscar waiting for

me." Bobby's dreamy blue eyes went slightly out of focus. He stared into the cracked mirror in the hall.

Mya rolled her eyes because she knew he was either lost in his own reflection or in his dreams of the glory days that awaited him. She cast an eye around the hovel they had shared for eighteen months since their arrival in Los Angeles. Now they could finally afford something better-and more than that. "We can get married."

He blinked and turned his deeply tanned face back in her direction. "Yeah. Soon."

She threw herself against him and hugged him again. "I can't believe it's finally happening." It had seemed like forever while they waited for his big break. He worked in whatever bit parts he could find, and she

had worked fast food, childcare, and retail. Of the jobs she'd had, Mya preferred her current one as a salesgirl at Macy's makeup counter. "We're going to be rich."

He frowned down at her. "This isn't about being rich, Mya."

Her eyes widened. "But you always say..."

A grin teased his lips. "This is about being f.u.c.king rich-and more famous than G.o.d."

She laughed along with him.

His expression turned serious. "I'm going to make it. I swear to you now. I'll do whatever it takes."

Mya framed his flawless face in her cupped hands. "We'll do whatever it takes, baby."

Chapter One.

Introductions.

"Please?" Mya stuck out her bottom lip. "You promised to let me come."

Bobby's mouth curled. "It's going to be a heavy shooting day..."

"I won't get in the way." She batted her reddish eyelashes at him as she worked her fingers up the b.u.t.tons

of his s.h.i.+rt. "It's my day off, and I don't have anything to do."

He waved a hand around their new, larger apartment. "You could finish unpacking."

"Oh, Bobby! I'm sick of being stuck in this apartment."

"We've only been here a week, Mya."

She heaved a deep sigh. "I never get to go anywhere. You're always working or meeting with people."

She clasped her hands together and rested them against her chest. "Please? Let me watch your brilliant

performance again?" Mya batted her eyes at Bobby rapidly. She hoped to persuade him.

He still looked pained, but his blue eyes gleamed. "I know you like watching me, but you didn't have any fun the last two times you came with me."

"I'm sure they were off days," she said quickly.

Bobby shook his head. "You told me you wouldn't want to go back after the last shoot you attended.Have you forgotten?"She remembered having said that and squirmed-mostly because she remembered why she hadn't enjoyed herself. When Bobby himself called cut, in the middle of a scene, to announce he looked awful in yellow, she had been embarra.s.sed. When he tossed his bagel at an a.s.sistant during a break because it had onion cream cheese instead of plain, she had vowed never to return to the set.

That was before the unrelieved boredom of every day began to wear on her. The first time she was on set, he had been just fine. Surely last time had been an aberration? "Oh, please, Bobby? I can't stand to stay here another day." She trailed her fingers up his chest. "It's so boring when you're gone. I miss you so much."

He rolled his eyes. "Fine, but you'll have to stay out of the way." She nodded eagerly. "I will. I promise."

To Mya's relief, Bobby's only colorful display had been minor. Earlier in the morning, he had flubbed a line and yelled at the script lady when she corrected him. Later-after prompting from Mya-he apologized to the woman. Since that incident, Bobby had been focused strictly on his work.

Mya's attention was drawn from Bobby's scene by the approach of a man with ma.s.sive shoulders and the physique of a world champion bodybuilder. He wore a black s.h.i.+rt stretched across his bulging muscles. It said Security in gold letters.

"Ma'am?"

"Yes?"

"Mr. Thomas has asked to see you."

She frowned. "Who?"

"The owner of the studio."

Mya lifted the security pa.s.s on a string around her neck. "I checked in. "

"You aren't in trouble."

"Then why...?"

He shrugged, which sent the tops of his shoulders up to his ears. "I didn't ask."

She turned away from the scene to follow the security guy through the sound stage and carefully dodged

equipment and people as they made their way to a set of split-level metal stairs that led to the top three

floors of the studio.

Mya struggled to keep up as the man's long legs took the stairs at a brisk jog. She was a little breathless when they stopped on the second level before a black door with a gold nameplate that read Roarke Thomas.

"Go on in, ma'am." He knocked for her, then stepped aside.

"Come in." The voice was distinctly masculine, with a hint of velvet.

Mya s.h.i.+vered as she opened the door and stepped into the office. Her eyes widened as she scanned the

recesses. Black carpet blended seamlessly into the silvery-white walls. Silver filing cabinets lined half of one wall, and the only other furniture was the ma.s.sive gla.s.s-topped desk, a smaller leather seat across from it, and a presidential style leather chair. The chair was occupied, and she tried to discreetly study the man who had summoned her as she waited for him to speak.

His hair was wavy and brushed straight back. The rich sable shade gleamed in the sunlight that spilled through the gla.s.s wall opposite the one that looked down into the studio. A neatly trimmed mustache and goatee accented his rugged features. He wore a dark suit jacket and white turtleneck that hid most of his body from view, but she could see definition when he moved his arms. A blush swept across her face when she realized he studied her just as intently with rich brown eyes framed by thick, dark lashes.

"You're here with Waller?"

She stood awkwardly before him as she nodded. Mya clasped her hands together. "You are...?"

"Roarke Thomas." He waved to the only chair in front of his desk. "Have a seat, please."

Mya struggled to hide her anxiety as she dropped into the chair with what she hoped was grace. "Have I

done something wrong?"

He shook his head and leaned forward to prop his arms on the desk. "I'm not concerned with what you've done, but what you will do."

"Huh?"

"What's your name?"

"Mya Langelles. I'm with Bobby..." She lifted the security pa.s.s.

"Are you his sister?"

She unconsciously twisted the modest diamond on her finger. "Fiancee." Mya s.h.i.+fted uncomfortably.

"Are you sure I'm not in trouble?"

"Of course not."

"Why did you send for me, Mr. Thomas?"

Roarke leaned back in his chair. There was a strange expression on his face. "Does Bobby want to be more than a one-hit wonder?"