Taming Her Hollywood Playboy

by Emily Forbes

  ‘How can you be sure? You can’t know her well.’

  ‘You were obviously surprised to hear she’d been engaged before.’

  ‘How do you expect to pull this off if you know nothing about her? How do you expect to convince everyone you’re madly in love?’

  ‘What’s her favourite food? Her middle name? Her dream job?’

  He was surprised to find he knew the answers. He had talked to Kat more than he’d ever talked to anyone. They’d shared plane journeys, car rides and dinners. They’d had hours alone together. She might have kept some secrets but he was convinced he knew the essence of her.

  ‘Her favourite food is roast lamb but she will eat seafood any chance she gets, especially prawns. Her middle name is Maria, after her grandmother, and she always wanted to join the flying doctors but now, ultimately, she’d like to work with the air ambulance. Her favourite colour is red, her favourite movies are romantic comedies and her ex-fiancé’s name is Adam.’ They didn’t need to know that he’d just learnt that but he’d give them what they want to hear even if it wasn’t what they expected. ‘She is kind and generous, warm-hearted, loving.’

  Kat was all the things he’d never really experienced in one person before. The people he was normally surrounded by all had an agenda. Even if they were pleasant and honest they all needed something from him—a job, a favour, a photograph. He enjoyed Kat’s company all the more because she seemed to enjoy his. She didn’t expect things of him and she seemed to like him, the real him, not the movie star.

  ‘I was raised to be hard-working and respectful. I like Kat and I respect her.’ He avoided mentioning that he had nothing to do with his father and very little to do with his mother—he suspected that wouldn’t win him any fans. In his opinion his family dynamics were irrelevant; he’d worked hard to become the man he was today, to have confidence in his abilities.

  ‘I am a good person.’ He wanted to be even better. He wanted to be someone she would be proud of. He wanted to be someone who deserved someone like Kat in his life.

  It was obvious Kat’s family didn’t think he was that person. They didn’t think he was good enough and that bothered him. He would have to prove himself. To them and to Kat.

  He wished Kat hadn’t told her father the engagement was fake—maybe he’d be less hostile if he thought Oliver’s intentions were honourable, but then again, maybe not. Either way, he doubted that Tony would be going to give a glowing recommendation of his new son-in-law-to-be if asked either.

  ‘Family is the most important thing in her life,’ Oliver said. ‘She told me you and her mother were married for thirty-two years, and she wants that too.’

  ‘And what if your little stunt stops her from getting that?’

  ‘It won’t. I promise this won’t harm her reputation. I’ll make sure that she is the one who calls off the engagement, that she comes out of this with her reputation intact.’

  ‘How can you be sure?’ Tony demanded. ‘You’re playing with her feelings. Her life. You should think carefully about what you are asking of her. Think about what she needs.’

  He knew Tony was right. He needed to consider Kat’s needs before his own but he didn’t think that the fake engagement and Kat’s needs were incompatible. They were both getting something out of the arrangement and he was positive they could do this without any repercussions.

  * * *

  Dinner was far from the relaxed Sunday night meal Kat was used to. The atmosphere was tense, everyone was on edge, and she wondered if she’d made a mistake agreeing to Oliver’s request.

  It was important to her that her family liked Oliver. It shouldn’t matter—they weren’t going to have a future together—but still, she hadn’t expected this level of disapproval.

  She, Saskia and Maya tried hard to keep the conversation flowing but it was difficult and there were plenty of uncomfortable silences. When Roger’s phone rang in the middle of dinner, Kat jumped, startled by the shrill sound.

  Roger got up to take the call but everyone could hear his half of the conversation and the tension increased as they waited to hear what had happened. It was clear there was an emergency of some sort. Dean was out of his seat before Roger disconnected the call.

  ‘That was Emilia,’ Roger said. ‘Jimmy was due home an hour ago and Emilia hasn’t been able to get him on his cell phone.’

  ‘What’s going on?’ Oliver asked Kat.

  ‘Emilia’s husband is a miner. Being late home and not answering his phone isn’t unusual—phone reception can be dodgy out here—but he could have had an accident and she can’t go and check on him because she doesn’t know where he was working. That’ll be why she called Roger. He knows where Jimmy’s been working. He and Dean will go and take a look. Either Jimmy’s phone has gone flat, is out of range, he’s found opal or there’s been a slide. An accident.’

  ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’

  ‘Not this time. The boys will raise the alarm if necessary. If there has been an accident the mine rescue team will be called in to help, and I need to be available. I’m going to have to take you back to the hotel, just in case.’

  ‘Will you need your car?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Why don’t I borrow it? You don’t need to drive me around. I can get myself home and that frees you up now. I will come back in the morning and pick you up—you’re working on set tomorrow, right?’

  Kat nodded. ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Positive.’

  ‘All right, I’ll grab my keys.’

  Kat waited while Oliver thanked Saskia and said goodbye to Rosa, Maya and her father. Her father was cool but at least he was acknowledging Oliver, although she was ashamed of the behaviour of the men in her family.

  ‘I’m sorry about Papa—I didn’t expect him to be quite so hostile,’ she said as she and Oliver left the house.

  ‘Don’t worry about it. It doesn’t matter if they don’t like me as long as they don’t make things difficult for you. Will you be OK?’

  She nodded and stood outside the house and watched him drive away, wondering again if this would work out according to the plan.

  She went inside to give Saskia and Maya a hand cleaning up.

  ‘That went badly,’ she said as she picked up a tea towel and started to dry the glasses.

  ‘What did you expect?’ Saskia asked.

  ‘Why exactly did you agree to this?’ asked Maya.

  ‘He asked for my help.’

  ‘And you couldn’t refuse.’

  ‘No, I couldn’t. I owed him a favour. He got me back to Port Augusta after Papa’s heart attack. He was amazing. So calm and in control. He did that for me and now I can do this for him.’

  ‘What was so bad that he needed to create a good fake news story to deflect the bad news?’

  Kat explained about the lawsuit. ‘That’s why I agreed to help him.’

  ‘Your father will go ballistic if he hears about that.’

  ‘That’s why I’m not saying anything to Papa and the boys. Oliver is certain the lawsuit will be dropped and I believe him. They already don’t trust him and I don’t want to make things any worse.’

  ‘You don’t think they’ll find out?’

  ‘How? They never look at any entertainment news. They’re only interested in three things—finding opal, the price of opal and the football.’

  ‘And family,’ Maya added as her phone beeped with a message. ‘It’s Roger,’ she said. ‘Jimmy’s OK. He found a seam of opal and lost track of time.’

  ‘Are you sure you’re OK with this whole fake engagement?’ Saskia asked; it was obvious she wasn’t going to let this go. ‘I know you like him. You don’t feel like he’s taking advantage of your generosity? Your feelings?’

  ‘It’s a business deal. It’s not hurting anyone. I’m helping him. Just like he
helped me and like he’ll be helping the community with his donation to the drive-in and to the flying doctor.’

  ‘It’s one thing for him to help with a search or to donate money; it’s another thing completely for him to get you involved in this publicity stunt. And what about going forwards? What’s the plan then?’

  ‘He’ll win the lawsuit and then we’ll call it off.’

  ‘When will that be?’

  ‘I’m not sure exactly.’

  ‘And you’re OK with that?’

  Yes.’ She’d have to be. It was the deal she’d made.

  * * *

  Kat scarcely had time to worry about her family’s opinion of Oliver over the next week. Philippa had done her job and the video footage of Oliver’s proposal had gone viral. The media had turned up in full force, clamouring for a story, and Kat’s life had become a whirlwind of interviews and photo shoots interspersed between her work on and off set. It left barely any time for the two of them to be alone together and even less time for her to dwell on all the reasons her family disapproved of the ‘engagement’.

  She had explained Oliver’s involvement in getting her to Port Augusta from Adelaide to see her father, and she thought that maybe her Papa was softening a little, but it didn’t really matter. It wasn’t a real relationship. Her family didn’t have to like him. It wouldn’t bother Oliver, he didn’t do family, and she wouldn’t let it bother her.

  They had done a couple of interviews early in the week, all arranged by Philippa, for the Australian media. Kat had been super-nervous but the journalists had been gentle and Oliver had been beside her all the time. He was very relaxed in front of the camera and his experience and calmness helped to settle Kat. Those interviews would be syndicated around the world but today they were faced with several interviews on a much larger scale. These would be the last of their joint interviews and first up was a panel of print journalists from the States followed by an interview that would go to air on American television.

  Philippa had organised hair and make-up for Kat and she’d flown in a selection of outfits for Kat to choose from. Kat had insisted on Australian designers but she’d never heard of half of the ones Philippa had chosen. To give her credit, all the outfits were gorgeous but that made it impossible to choose just one. In the end Kat had asked Oliver’s advice and he’d chosen a sleeveless cobalt-blue trouser suit with a halter neckline. The colour of the outfit reminded her of Oliver’s eyes.

  She felt overdressed, and over-made-up, for the middle of the morning but Oliver had reminded her that the television interview would be screened in the evening and she would look perfect.

  He had held her hand and led her to the couch for the interview. He’d insisted that they be seated on a couch, not two separate chairs, and Kat had been grateful for that; she’d needed him close.

  The interview began with all the questions Kat had become used to. How they had met. What Kat did for a job. How she had found growing up in Coober Pedy.

  Oliver was very attentive: he was constantly touching her, his hand on her thigh, around her shoulders or holding her hand. He made her feel beautiful and she almost believed his answers when he talked about how they’d met, what he had thought when he first saw her and how they’d fallen in love. He almost had her convinced that he had real feelings for her but then she remembered that he did this all the time—put on a show for the media. He would give them what they wanted to keep himself in the headlines. It was all just an act. Even when he held her hand, a move that appeared so relaxed and natural, she noticed that he made sure her engagement ring was on show.

  She forced herself to concentrate. This was their last interview and she had a part to play.

  ‘Have you set a date for your wedding?’

  ‘Not yet.’ Oliver fielded most of the questions but he looked at her before answering, giving the impression that they were a team.

  ‘Where will you get married?’

  ‘We haven’t decided.’ He squeezed her hand and smiled at her and Kat knew the audience would think they had decided but were keeping that information to themselves.

  ‘Will it be a big celebrity wedding or something private?’

  ‘I’d like a big wedding. I want to show Kat off to everyone but she hasn’t met my friends yet. It might be a small wedding if she doesn’t like them.’ His blue eyes sparkled as he laughed.

  ‘Will they like her?’

  ‘They will love her.’ He looked at Kat, holding her gaze, his expression now earnest.

  ‘Have you met her family?’

  ‘I have.’

  ‘And what did they think of Oliver, Kat?’

  ‘They found him charming.’ That was true of Maya and Saskia at least. Kat didn’t feel she needed to be any more specific—in fact, Oliver had coached her in what to say.

  ‘What about this lawsuit? You’re standing by your man while he fights these charges, Kat?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Any comment, Oliver?’

  ‘No comment. I have every faith in our justice system. I am extremely sorry for the Hanson family’s loss but we are focusing on our own future.’

  ‘And what does that future look like, Kat? Will you be starting a family?’ The journalist moved quickly along. Kat knew from previous interviews that they had to ask the question but, as it was all based on supposition, they couldn’t really continue with that line. ‘Do you want children?’

  ‘Of course,’ she replied, keeping her gaze directed at the journalist. ‘Very much.’ She couldn’t look at Oliver; she was afraid he’d see the truth in her eyes.

  ‘Oliver?’

  ‘Definitely.’

  He was looking at her and Kat’s heart flipped in her chest. He looked as if he meant every word.

  ‘The movie is about to wrap on location and filming will move back to the States. Are you going to be moving too, Kat?’

  ‘Kat will join me later. It won’t be much fun for her in the States, away from her friends and family, while I’m working.’

  Oliver was giving answers they hadn’t discussed but Kat knew it didn’t matter. None of this was real and by the time ‘later’ came around the lawsuit would be over and Oliver wouldn’t need her any more. The idea was upsetting but there was nothing she could do.

  * * *

  Kat’s heart sat like lead in her chest. It was supposed to be a party—it was a party—but she was miserable. The movie had wrapped on location and Oliver was leaving tomorrow. Filming would finish in the studio in the States. She knew she would miss him, she knew her life would never be the same without him. But she would cope, she’d have to.

  She was talking to Julia when she saw him crossing the room towards them. It was getting late and she knew, at best, they only had a few hours left. She pasted a smile on her face, although her heart was breaking.

  ‘Kat, could I borrow you for a second?’

  He could have her for a lifetime if he wanted.

  She nodded.

  ‘I have something I want to give you,’ he said as he took her arm and led her to a quiet corner. He sat her down and handed her a pile of beautifully wrapped gifts. A stack of box-shaped presents, but none small enough to be jewellery. They looked like books.

  Kat swallowed her disappointment and opened the first one.

  It was a photograph. He’d made copies of some of the publicity photos they had taken together. He’d framed them for her and included her favourite one. It captured her sitting on his lap. She was smiling and he was laughing. His head was thrown back, and they weren’t looking at each other—she was leaning forwards away from him—but his arms were wrapped tightly around her waist, as if he was afraid to let her go. She wished that were the case.

  Even though it was all an act she couldn’t deny the photos were gorgeous. She looked happy; she glowed. She looked like a woman in love.r />
  She hoped he didn’t notice.

  ‘These are gorgeous. Thank you.’

  She knew she would treasure the pictures. One day. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to display them just yet. She might need some time before she was ready to see his face every day, before she was ready to see the reflection of her unrequited love.

  She hadn’t meant to fall in love with him. She’d thought she’d be able to come out of this with her heart intact but it seemed fate had other ideas in store for her. It was time to bring this all to an end before she crumbled completely.

  ‘Oliver?’ she said as she wrapped the frames up again. She would look at them later. Alone. ‘There’s something I wanted to speak to you about. You’re leaving tomorrow and I’m not sure what you and Philippa want me to do or say about our “engagement” once you’re gone.’

  ‘I thought maybe I’d say you’re coming to visit me in a few weeks. What do you think?’

  She didn’t want to visit. She wasn’t interested in a holiday. This was her chance to find out if he had genuine feelings for her at all. She wanted him to offer her a future. A life together. She wanted him to propose to her for real. But it seemed a few more days was all she could have. It wasn’t enough, not nearly, and she wouldn’t settle for that. ‘Is that necessary? Don’t you think the lawsuit might be resolved by then?’

  ‘That wouldn’t matter. You could still visit me.’

  She shook her head. She’d hoped she wouldn’t be faced with this scenario, the one where Oliver didn’t profess his undying love, but she’d thought this through, just in case. ‘We have to call the engagement off eventually. It will make our break-up more authentic if we don’t see each other again after you leave. I thought we could go with the story that I am staying here while my dad recovers. When the lawsuit is over your life will go back to normal. You won’t need me any more. You’ll forget all about me.’