A Seductive Melody (The Kelly Brothers Book 5) Read Online Free PDF

“So what happened to you?”
    She flipped her hair over her shoulder, her spine stiffening. “Excuse me?”
    “I mean, I couldn’t open up a gossip rag without reading something about you, and then— bam! —you disappeared. What happened to the army of paparazzi that used to follow you around and catch you with your underwear missing?”
    “After I OD’d, I purposely made sure I disappeared for a while so I could get my shit together. I checked into a treatment center. By the time I left there, I started caring less about what others thought of me and more about what I thought of myself. I changed my appearance, finished school, got a job, all while flying under the radar.” She shrugged. “It’s kind of nice to be normal for a change.”
    “But you’re still a Shore.”
    “Yeah, but I’m so boring now, the press leaves me alone. Besides, I don’t think they’d recognize me. You didn’t.”
    But did she recognize him? He searched for any sign of recognition, but saw nothing. Either she was completely clueless or completely unfazed by his celebrity status. It didn’t matter, judging by the way his shoulders unknotted after learning who she was. Even if she did know, he doubted she’d go blabbing to the press about him.
    “So does that help you any?” she asked.
    “Loads.”
    “Then I’ll see you next week?”
    “Maybe.” Time to leave before she started prying into his personal life again.
    She caught his arm and stopped him. “Please.”
    Such a simple word, and yet it was strange to witness a wealthy heiress say it. “Why?”
    “Because I want to help you any way I can. But I can’t unless you let me. Even if the meetings aren’t your thing, I’m still here if you need someone to talk to.” She released his arm and took a step back toward the café. “I’d better go retrieve that slice of Sacher-torte before someone else does.”
    Part of him longed to follow her back into the café and spill his guts to her over another slice of cake, but both fear and pride held him back. He wasn’t ready to trust her.
    Not yet.
    But he would be willing to consider taking her out for coffee again next week, if only to hear more about how she managed to dodge the press all these years and move on with her life.

Chapter Three
     
    Becca drummed her pen on her thigh as she stood against the wall in the conference room. It was Monday, the day when the editor-in-chief of Moderne magazine, Elaine Halpern, listened to story ideas from her staff and either approved them or shot them down. As an assistant, Becca was required to take notes and research the articles for the staff writers. She wasn’t allowed to pitch story ideas.
    But that didn’t stop her.
    “How about a story on how the VA is falling short on women’s health issues?” she asked.
    Elaine shook her head. “Too serious for our readers. Next.”
    Becca gritted her teeth and zoned out. Everything she suggested was “too dark” or “too serious” for their readers. What kind of demographics were they catering to, anyway? Based on the insipid material she was asked to research each week, she wondered if their readers cared about anything other than fashion and sex.
    “That sounds like a great idea, Hilde. Rebecca can look up some info for you.”
    Her attention snapped back to the meeting the second she heard Elaine say her name. Too bad she missed what she was supposed to research. She tried to stay focused as the writers tossed out a few more ideas before the meeting ended, her mind growing more numb with each one that was approved. Why couldn’t I have gotten a job with Time or Newsweek ? Why Moderne ?
    Because it was the only place that offered me a job.
    Everyone else still saw her as Becca Shore, the strung-out party girl. Just another obstacle to overcome on the way to becoming a respected journalist.
    Her morning latte mingled with her bitterness to form an acid that gnawed at the inside of her stomach. She closed her eyes and