Chapter Three

By the time Maya and Bobby returned to their new apartment, she knew she couldn’t go through with the bargain she had made with Roarke Thomas. They would find some way to repay the money. Maybe even enlist the help of an attorney. She wished she carried a recorder with her everywhere so she would have proof of his coercion. Too bad she wasn’t the star of a movie or the heroine of a book. She might have been prepared for the bizarre situation had she been.

“Whadya think?” Bobby asked as he tossed the keys on the hall table before he unbuttoned his shirt.

“Didn’t I just blow your mind?”

Maya nodded, unable to summon a smile. She tried to recapture her previous enjoyment of Bobby’s performance, but she was too preoccupied. How would she tell him? He would be so distraught.

His lower lip sank into a downward curve. “I can tell you loved it.” He tossed the expensive red silk shirt onto the thick gray-green carpeting.

She noticed his sarcasm and forced a smile when she touched his bare arm. “You were wonderful, as always.”

“Why didn’t you say so before I had to ask you?”

“I’ve been thinking about something.”

His eyes widened. “What could be more important than me?”

“Mr. Thomas called me into his office.” She twisted a long strand of hair around her finger nervously. “He wanted…” She broke off as she searched for the right words. “Well, he started out by talking about you.”

Bobby gripped her upper arms. “Really? What did he say? Did he love me?”

“He said he could make sure you have a long career.” Maya didn’t have a chance to add more.

“Yeah. He loves me.”

“But, Bobby…”

“What?”

Maya bit her lip before continuing. “He wants something in return.”

“I’ll do anything.”

“He wants me,” she burst out.

Bobby blinked. “What?”

“He wants me to sleep with him to further your career.” Maya’s eyes widened when Bobby laughed. “What’s so damn funny?”

“Seriously, what did he want?”

She glared at him. “He wants me to become his virtual sex slave for the remainder of shoot time.”

He finally seemed to realize it wasn’t a joke. “But that doesn’t make any sense.”

She frowned at him with confusion. “Huh?”

“He’s surrounded by beautiful women all day. Why would he pick you?”

Tears flooded Maya’s eyes.

He awkwardly patted her shoulder. “I didn’t mean it that way, babe. It’s just he could have his pick of any starlet. I don’t understand why he wants my fiancé.”

She sniffled, trying to fight back the tears. Of course, he hadn’t meant to hurt her feelings. And he had a point. Why plain old Maya when he could have any woman? “I don’t know.”

“What did you tell him?”

Instead of answering, Maya said, “He threatened to fire you and demand your advance back. He said you’d never work again if I said no.”

“My god, he can’t do that.”

She nodded. “I thought maybe a lawyer—”

Bobby waved his hand. “Too much of a hassle, and we have no proof.” His blue eyes darkened. “I want you to know that I’m not happy about this, but I won’t hold it against you.”

Maya stared up at him with a frown. “Are you saying you think I should…?” She shook her head, certain she had misunderstood. “You really want me to do this?”

With a solemn expression, Bobby pulled her against him. “I don’t think we have a choice.”

“We can fight this,” she said against his bare chest.

“Maya, we don’t have the money for all that. If he fires me and I have to repay the advance, how will we manage? Especially if he ruins my career. I’ll have to go back to Serpent Springs with my tail between my legs.” He patted her back. “I don’t want to share you at all, and definitely not with that perv, but we’re both making sacrifices.”

She lifted her head and didn’t fight the tears. “Not this, please. I’ll work two jobs until we have enough to repay him. I’ll even borrow money from my folks.” The prospect filled her with revulsion, but she would do anything to avoid Thomas’s bargain.

His fingers were tender as he touched her face. “I hate this as much as you do.”

Her lips trembled as she recognized the acceptance in his eyes. “I can’t do it, Bobby. I’ve never been with anyone else.”

“We both promised to do whatever it took to help my career.”

She closed her eyes and recoiled from his reminder, but was unable to deny she had made the vow. She was defeated when she dropped her head against his chest again and sobbed.

“It won’t be so bad.” Bobby’s tone was soothing. “Once it’s over, we’ll pretend it never happened. It won’t change things for us.”

How could it not? The words were on the tip of her tongue, but Maya knew it was pointless to utter them. Bobby saw the long-term benefits of a short-term sacrifice. He was right—she knew that. Every fiber of her being protested it was wrong, but she knew it was the only option. She would grit her teeth, endure whatever that Thomas guy had in mind, and think of Bobby every step of the way.