The Wedding Audition Read Online Free PDF Page A

Annamae liked what she saw in the shadowy interior. Somebody had done a nice job of converting the space, paying careful attention to maintaining the character of the exterior stone walls while still creating a functional living area. A lot better than anything else this town had to offer. Beulah wasn’t much of a condo town and she was still working off cash for now so buying a place was out of the question.
    Renting for a month or two until interest in her too public breakup died down meant she’d either be sharing a moth-eaten old home with a nosy widow or convincing Heath Lambert to let her stay here. Amid all this remote privacy. With his security system to ensure no one found her.
    It was meant to be.
    She followed her silent host through the rooms in the dark, her eyes adjusting to the low light filtering in through closed blinds and shutters the longer they remained indoors. When they returned to the living area, she couldn’t stand the quiet any longer.
    “I don’t know why you wouldn’t want to rent it. I wouldn’t ask you to make any changes to the property.” Annamae figured money would smooth the way, especially since the whole place looked like it hadn’t seen an influx of funds in a long time. “I can pay cash for the first month, last month and security.”
    No easy feat considering she’d just left her job as a reality show actress and applying for a new job would reveal her identity to the locals and defeat the whole purpose of hiding out. She waited for the surly owner to answer her, but he only stared back at her, scowling.
    “Mr. Lambert? How much?”
    “I haven’t decided what to charge.” He picked up a corner of one of the dusty furniture coverings and peered underneath it as if he had no idea what he’d find.
    “Whatever number you’re thinking of, add two or three hundred more.” She waved her pink leather wallet ever so slightly for emphasis. “I’m not opposed to paying extra security if it will make your decision easier.”
    And faster. Memories of Lysol and a vibrating bed ensured she’d pay this man whatever her wallet contained. She could already see herself at home here, opening the blinds and napping in the sunshine in a way that she never could at home. Open blinds only invited long-range zoom lenses.
    His dark eyes lingered on her in the shadowy room, making her wonder if she should have found a real estate agent to escort her around town for safety purposes more than anything. She wasn’t as vulnerable as she looked since she traveled with a few specially made safety devices given to her by one of the show’s security guards, but those gizmos would only help so much against a man of Heath’s size. In a remote area far from town.
    She didn’t think Bagel would be much help if he’d been cowed by a tiger-striped cat missing part of his ear.
    Just when she was about to dig in her purse for her can of mace, Heath’s intense scrutiny of her person ended and he reached for the door.
    “I’d have to do a background check on you if you’re serious about moving in.” He held the door for her as she walked past him into the bright sunlight of midafternoon. “Would that present a problem?”
    She nearly tripped over her own feet, before walking again, her feet clicking along pecans littering the walkway.
    “Background check? Uhm, I have a vaccination record for my dog. Straight from the E-z Mobile Vet Clinic right outside of Walgreens. Good people get their pets vaccinated.” She cast a sideways glance hoping to distract him since he was clearly a fan of animals. “Your cats are vaccinated. Right?”
    Who knew what he’d find out about Anna Smith, a name that might be shared by hundreds? She couldn’t give him her real name. Then all of Beulah would know about the embarrassing, heartless way she’d dumped Atlanta’s most beloved player.
    “Yes, my cats are vaccinated, spayed and neutered – unlike your dog, by the way.” He pointed out as Bagel lifted a leg