The Stand-In Read Online Free PDF

pages sizzle again. He’d give the Player readers a fascinating story, the likes of which they’d never seen. He’d sell more than a few magazines with this one.
    Winn Busby might be a good liar, a good actress, but he’d outed superior liars in his time. His nose might as well have been made to sniff them out. After all, he’d lived with the best of them for years. After watching his father in action, and seeing how his mother simply accepted his behavior, nothing made him sicker. Frankly, he was never happier than when exposing them. And after his emasculating experience with Gloria Dietrich, he was definitely in the mood to shine the light of truth.
    * * * *
    Winn sucked in a breath and twirled for Patrick. She’d never tried on a gown in front of a man, and certainly never a man like this. Shithead Mike might be handsome, but Patrick took that word to a whole new level. He winded her every time she so much as looked under her lashes at him. Tall, with the lean musculature of a professional basketball player, he possessed the sort of stature that made a woman forget her good sense. His tousled brown hair and melted chocolate eyes just added to the lady-killer vibe. To say nothing of his roguish smile. She’d always been a sucker for a man with a devastating grin. The sort of smile that hinted at past misadventures and the willingness to partake in more.
    And now, by some sick twist of fate, she had to model her fluffy dress for him. “What do you think?”
    He angled his head and bit his bottom lip, taking her in from top to toe. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but that’s a horrible dress on you.”
    As Winn made a face, her seamstress Carmela rose up off her knees in a flurry of tape measures and flying pins. She proceeded to manhandle Winn’s body, twisting and plumping it.
    “No, no, signore,” Carmela corrected. She ran behind Winn and yanked at the coral sash around her waist until she couldn’t breathe. “We make the waist more piccolo.” She fluffed the coral organza skirt, the one that looked like a toilet paper cozy. “We fix the length.” She attacked Winn’s cleavage, hoisting her breasts together and upward. “We tighten here. We give her more boobies. She will be beautiful.” The woman ended with a flourish, kissing her fingers in dramatic fashion.
    Patrick blinked a few times. “Don’t get me wrong, Carmela. Ms. Busby is very attractive. The dress just sucks.” He turned to her. “You seriously have to wear it?”
    She forced a smile. “I’m paid to wear it and love it. As far as my bride is concerned, I think it’s the most beautiful gown in the world.”
    “And you get to keep it?”
    “Yup.”
    “Lucky you.” The arch to his brow indicated he doubted the value of the perks of her job. He walked over to one of the racks, rummaged through a few dresses, and pulled out a black Vera Wang strapless number. He brought it over and thrust it at her. “Now this would look nice on you. Something to show off your hips…and your boobies.”
    She met his teasing gaze and heat exploded all over her face. “Put that back. It costs more than my car.”
    He feigned shock and pretended to drop it. When Carmela frowned, he hung it back on the rack, a smile on his mug.
    Shoot. She’d have to talk to Margie about this guy. He wasn’t taking this very seriously. Maybe a different reporter was available? Or a different stand-in?
    In the few months Winn had worked for Margie, she’d become one of her top girls. Each month saw increased bookings. She’d finally been able to pay off her car loan and was hoping to upgrade to a better vehicle soon. Hell, she’d even begun to make plans with Enid to take a much-needed vacation in a spot littered with palm trees and flavored with rum. She liked the stability, loved the money, and she didn’t want anyone screwing up her bookings.
    All she needed was Patrick Lincoln to show up at the next wedding, making a fool of her. She wouldn’t allow it