Ben Lawson is making a comeback...
After a few tabloid headlines, they think they know me. They don't know a damn thing. As CEO of a movie production company, I'll show them who I really am when we hit it big at the box office. My ex thought her smear tactics would ruin me, but I'm unbreakable. Rising from the debris, I swore I'd never let a woman distract me like that again. But then, my leading actress walked on the set and changed everything.
Seductive, sexy, and unapologetic, Aria Rose could break me. I wanted to help her, protect her...love her. Instead, I destroyed her.
Aria Rose is baring it all....
I knew better. I knew not to trust another Hollywood heartthrob with a reputation like his. He was my boss and became my ruin. I should have stayed far away from him. Ben Lawson promised me the world. He even promised me his heart.
But he destroyed everything--my heart, my career, us.
Traduzione
Ben
Lawson sta tornando ...
Dopo
alcuni titoli sui tabloid, pensano di conoscermi. Non sanno niente. Come
amministratore delegato di una società di produzione cinematografica, mostrerò
loro chi sono veramente quando sfonderemo al box office. La mia ex pensava che
le sue calunnie mi avrebbero rovinato, ma sono infrangibile. Rialzatomi dalle
macerie, giurai che non avrei mai lasciato che una donna mi distraesse di
nuovo. Ma poi, la mia attrice protagonista ha calpestato il set e ha cambiato
tutto.
Seducente,
sexy, e impenitente, Aria Rose poteva rovinarmi. Io volevo aiutarla,
proteggerla… amarla. Invece, l’ho distrutta.
Aria
Rose sta barando su tutto…
Lo
sapevo bene. Sapevo che non mi sarei dovuta fidarmi di un altro rubacuori di
Holliwood con una reputazione come la sua. Era il mio capoe divenne la mia
rovuna. Avrei dovuto stargli alla larga. Ben Lawson mi aveva promesso il mondo.
Mi aveva promesso persino il suo cuore.
Ma
ha distrutto tutto – il mio cuore, la mia carriera, noi.
Aria
Rose finalmente ha finito di girare l’ultima scena del film come protagonista e, se tutto andrà
bene, potrà fare il tanto agognato salto di qualità. Le premesse ci sono tutte: il
talento, la bellezza, un coprotagonista preparato e una storia convincente. Ora
manca quel tocco di fortuna che convinca i critici della validità del progetto.
Ben
Lawson è il talismano, l’uomo giusto, il nuovo amministratore delegato della
casa di produzione. Ha il piglio vincente e tante qualità; le sue idee innovative
sono quello che ci vuole per dare la giusta scossa all’ambiente. È sicuro di sé,
sa come muoversi ed è convinto di trasformare il film in un grande successo. L’importante
per lui sarà non ripetere gli stessi errori.
Never fallen in love with an actress. The one rule his
father had told him before he died that Ben had ignored. Lesson learned.
Il suo sbaglio è stato
quello di sposarne una, e ancora oggi ne paga le conseguenze. Troppe
complicazioni e molti soldi spesi. Dopo il divorzio, quindi, Ben decide di ricominciare,
stavolta, pensando solo al lavoro.
«… Making love work is a choise. And yet… if it’s not
with the writh person, then it’s the wrong choise.»
«Soul mates.»
Aria raised ane brow. «You believe in that?»
Ben stared ta her for a moment… a long moment. The
kind of moment that made her shift her weight from one leg to the other, her
skin heating under his gaze. «Yes. I believe in soul mates.»
Di
fronte alla bellezza disarmante di Aria e alla sua bravura, però i buoni
propositi di Ben vacillano. Lo spirito è forte ma la carne è debole, potremmo
dire, il bel produttore deve fare molta attenzione
e non dare retta all’istinto. Ora che ha gettato il passato alle spalle ed è
pronto e deciso a ricominciare, non può caderci di nuovo.
Aria,
d’altro canto, non desidera certo che il suo talento venga sminuito, conosce
perfettamente l’ambiente di Hollywood, sa che basterebbe un sospetto a rendere
vani tanti anni di studio e di duro lavoro. Lei non fa parte del mucchio di attricette
senza scrupoli, pronte a sottostare alle peggiori umiliazioni pur di sfondare. È
brava e non ha bisogno di favoritismi né di riempire con qualche scandalo le
pagine di gossip. Ha faticato tanto a tenere nascosto l’unico errore commesso e
ora non vuole certo che venga rivelato. Ben è un bell’uomo, è vero ma la
carriera è più importante.
The moment she touched him, she pulled back,
immediately embarrassed.
He. Is. My.
Boss. Get it together, Aria.
Come
si può vedere i buoni propositi ci sono da ambo le parti tuttavia, l’attrazione
tra loro è troppo forte per non prenderla in considerazione. E allora che si
fa? Magari si può aggirare l’ostacolo e accettare un compromesso: Ben e Aria
hanno a disposizione un week end, per spassarsela insieme, quello prima dell’inizio
dei lavori e della definizione ufficiale dei ruoli.
«Aside from some promotionaal rhoto shoots, yesterday
was my last day here. And you…» Aria pointed squarely at him, the corners of
her lips twitching. «You don’t officially work here until Monday.»
«We’re free
agents.»
Da
soli, lontano da tutti, che succederà mai?
Signori
miei, a Hollywood può accadere di tutto, nell’ambiente patinato e scintillante
in cui l’unica morale conosciuta è il “guarda come ti scopro lo scandalo”, è
indubbio che prenda forma l’irreparabile. La luce potente dei riflettori,
infatti, non si limita soltanto a illuminare gli attori sulla scena, li rende
trasparenti. E allora non c’è più niente da nascondere.
Devo
dire che NUDES mi ha colpito, è un romanzo fresco e ben scritto, si lascia
leggere e si gusta fino in fondo come un bel flûte di champagne. La Robinson ci
presenta uno spaccato di vita glamour, complesso e affascinante qual è quello
del cinema, racconta ciò che accade dietro le quinte e lo fa usando uno stile
elegante e pulito. I protagonisti sono disegnati alla perfezione, Ben e Aria
sono positivi, determinati e tanto, tanto belli. Entrambi reduci da delusioni,
vogliono riscattarsi. Hanno i mezzi per provarci e sono più che mai convinti a
non fallire. Nonostante i buoni propositi, però, restare lontani si rivela più
difficile del previsto. Ben non ha mai conosciuto una donna come Aria, la sua
personalità spiccata lo cattura fin dal primo momento e il desiderio di
restarle accanto è più forte del timore di rimanere deluso per la seconda
volta. Aria però non è opportunista come la sua ex, non vuole favoritismi ma
solo essere giudicata per quel che vale.
La sua dolcezza gli ispira protezione,
sotto la sua ala, nulla può andare storto. Aria si fida, vuole farlo, tuttavia
non è ancora pronta a svelarsi completamente. Gli altri personaggi si muovono intelligentemente
intorno a loro, ognuno dei quali avrà una connotazione ben precisa ai fini
della storia. Non mancheranno i colpi di scena, come è giusto che sia, né la
passionalità, troveremo avidità, gelosia, vanità ma anche lealtà, dolcezza e
buoni propositi.
La sua dolcezza gli ispira protezione,
sotto la sua ala, nulla può andare storto. Aria si fida, vuole farlo, tuttavia
non è ancora pronta a svelarsi completamente. Gli altri personaggi si muovono intelligentemente
intorno a loro, ognuno dei quali avrà una connotazione ben precisa ai fini
della storia. Non mancheranno i colpi di scena, come è giusto che sia, né la
passionalità, troveremo avidità, gelosia, vanità ma anche lealtà, dolcezza e
buoni propositi.
Che
dire di più? È un romanzo che consiglio volentieri.
She turned to see Ben approaching her, the shadows from the upper deck of the yacht moving across his face as he came closer. "Oh. Hi, Mr. Lawson."
"Please, like I said, call me Ben," he reiterated, leaning against the railing next to her.
"Right. Ben. Sorry, the last exec wasn't quite so..."
His lips curved into a smile. "So, what?"
She wasn't sure what to say, because her honest answer was sexy. That didn't seem like the best thing to a man who now funded and controlled her film. "Approachable?"
Ben laughed—a deep chuckle that she felt vibrate through her bones. "I hope that's a good thing."
"It definitely is," she assured him, placing a hand on his arm. The moment she touched him, she pulled back, immediately embarrassed.
He. Is. My. Boss. Get it together, Aria.
He didn't chide her, or look uncomfortable, which she took as a good sign.
Aria returned to her original position beside him, and they stared out at the darkened water lapping the sides of all the boats docked around.
"Want to hear something funny?" Aria finally broke the silence, but kept her voice low. So low, he had to lean in to hear her.
"Tell me."
"My parents met in this very marina. She was a caterer and he was a deckhand—still teenagers. Barely old enough to know who they were, let alone what they wanted out of life. Still, they knew what love was when they stumbled upon it, and they knew enough to never let go." Aria's heart beat a little faster, warming at the memories.
"Wow. Are they still together?"
Aria nodded. "Barely spent a day apart since. My mother is actually my manager, and she works insanely hard for me, but my father always comes first. He's the love of her life."
"Love like that is special. Rare."
"Is it?" Aria tilted her head to the side. "I'm not sure it's as rare as it is a choice, a commitment, and the strength to follow through each and every day. There were times they could have given up—maybe lived an easier life with someone else—but they made a decision that this was the love they wanted, this was the life they wanted, and in that choice comes a confidence, a happiness, that most people deny themselves."
Ben was quiet for a minute. Finally, he inhaled loudly, then blew it out in one long breath. "That's really beautiful, Aria. Hits a bit close to home, I have to admit."
"I'm sorry." Aria frowned, turning to face him and just leaving one elbow on the railing. "I didn't mean—"
He shook his head. "No, it's fine. I just finished going through a divorce about six months ago, though we'd separated the year before that. I think you're right—love is a choice. Making love work is a choice. And yet...if it's not with the right person, then it's the wrong choice."
"Soul mates." Aria raised one brow. "You believe in that?"
Ben stared at her for a moment...a long moment. The kind of moment that made her shift her weight from one leg to the other, her skin heating under his gaze. "Yes. I believe in soul mates."
She tilted her chin up ever so slightly, going for lightheartedness. "Well, we all have our flaws. You couldn't be entirely perfect."
Ben laughed again. "Believing in soul mates is a flaw?"
"Buying what you're selling is definitely a flaw. You're a movie producer, so you sell fantasy to the world."
"I think we can have the fantasy." His eyes danced, but his smile was gone. "Don't you want the fantasy?"
Aria turned back to the ocean, looking out at the waves. This was too much, too real, too soon with a man she barely knew. A man who was pretty much her boss. "Who wouldn't want the fantasy?" she said dismissively. "Some would say I'm already living it."
"That's certainly true. Everyone on this yacht, everyone in this city...Hollywood. It's all a fantasy of some sort." Something in his tone sounded so...sad? A small ache pulled at her heart, and she felt like they'd opened the door to something different. Something different than studio exec and actress. Something more than strangers who just met today.
Her humanity connected to his, and they were just two people standing on a boat wishing it could float them away from their picture-perfect lives.
"Do you know why I love Scarlet's Letters?" she said softly, her voice barely above the whistle of the wind around them.
He stepped closer, his elbow pressed against hers on the railing now. "Why?"
"It's something I can be proud of. A story I'm proud to tell. The strength of a woman in wartime, a French woman saving innocent people during the Holocaust...a woman picking her truth over a man, over love. Have you read the script?"
Ben nodded. "I have. Two years ago, when it was making the rounds. It's powerful, and from what I've seen, you do an amazing job in it."
"Thank you. When I first saw this script—or rather, read the book it's based on—I knew I had to play this part. No matter what I had to give up. This was mine."
She'd never connected to anything more than she had this script. It was empowering, and taught courage in the toughest of circumstances. It was a tiny snapshot of a much larger scale event, showing the decisions and atrocities suffered at such a human, personal level. It was a woman denying her own privilege and luxury to help fellow humans who didn't have that reach.
"The way you talk about it...I'm jealous," Ben admitted.
That got Aria's attention, and she turned to face him. "Jealous? Of what?"
He pushed off the railing, looking up at the stars before settling on her gaze. "Passion. Excitement. Purpose. You know what you want. You know who you are and what your goals are."
"And you don't?" He had to be nearly thirty, if not over. Striking and fresh faced, but his features still said experience. Aria was only in her twenties, but at times she felt decades older.
Ben shook his head. "I thought I did. I built a life. Got married. Worked my way up in Maguire Industries. Everything was mapped out. Everything was...easy."
The ache from earlier was back, the sadness in his voice. Aria placed her hand on his forearm, a comforting gesture. Partly for him, but mostly for her. She needed a physical connection when they were connecting on so much more.
"What happened?" she pried, squeezing his arm ever so slightly.
Ben looked down at her hand, his eyes lingering. He didn't move or pull away, and when he lifted his head to face her again, there was a need in his eyes that made her insides heat. "The woman I trusted with all my secrets? She sold them to the highest bidder the moment I wasn't able to be a stepping stone for her career."
Aria didn't reply, sensing there was more.
"She used every connection she had to get me blacklisted. Took everything. Now Maguire Industries acquired Shepherd Films, expecting me to fail. Pushing me out."
"Not many would call being the CEO of a film studio a demotion," Aria pointed out.
"When you're used to being the landscaper, it's hard to become the rose."
Aria laughed, letting go of his arm. "First, soul mates. Now, roses. You're a poetic man, Ben Lawson. A true romantic."
Suddenly, his fingers intertwined with hers, pulling her to him. Pressing her body to his, chest to chest, heartbeat to heartbeat. His eyes never left hers, and she watched him wrestle with something...doubt, uncertainty. As if he didn't know why he'd just hugged her to him, but then need. Pure need darkened his eyes as something deeper pushed the rest away.
Her breath was lost as she concentrated on standing, her knees already threatening to buckle. She'd taken every second of the journey with him, and now she wanted more. Something about the way he smelled ignited every nerve ending in her body. The way he held her, one arm wrapped around her back, was so secure, so comfortable, so protective, so intimately. No one had ever held her like that in her entire life.
She didn't want him to let go.
He was fire. She wanted to leap into his flames.
"And what are you, Aria Rose?" Ben's fingers tipped her chin upward, her eyes finding his. "Who are you?"
The words rumbled in his chest, vibrating against him as he spoke. There was a genuineness to it that terrified her, unnerved her, and completely overwhelmed her. Their souls were laid bare and he was asking for more.
A perfect stranger. A moment of truth. An absolute mistake.
She couldn't do it. Her walls shot up and she let go of him, fear coursing through her. "I'm an actress, Mr. Lawson. Just an actress."
And just so much more.
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Sarah Robinson is a native of the Washington, DC area and has both her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in clinical and forensic psychology. She is married to a wonderful man who is just as much of an animal rescue enthusiast as she is. Together, they own a zoo of rescues, as well as volunteering and fostering for multiple animal shelters.
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