His Dream Role by Shannyn Schroeder Page A

judgment.”
    Sam pushed away from the table. “I do not show poor judgment. I’m sorry you still don’t approve of who I date.”
    She carried her empty plate to the kitchen. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected from her dad. In a way, she’d done this to herself by dating every guy she could who would make him crazy. After drinking a glass of water, she decided that she’d have to make her dad see that Free was different.
    She returned to her seat in the dining room. “I’m sorry for walking out.” She rubbed her hands down her smooth skirt. “I realize that I’ve dated quite a few men that you didn’t approve of.”
    â€œWith good reason.”
    Sam smiled. “Probably. But Free is different. He’s sweet and kind.”
    â€œBut he’s an actor. How is he going to support himself?”
    The question sank into Sam. Her dad was afraid Free was another guy who wanted to use her for her money. “The same way the rest of us do.”
    Her dad continued to look at her as if waiting for further explanation.
    â€œBefore you ask, he hasn’t ever asked me for a dime. He’s paid when we go out, so that’s already an improvement over like seventy-five percent of my past boyfriends.” She laughed and felt a bit relieved when her dad cracked a smile.
    Vanessa stood. “I think it’s time for presents.” She rushed out of the room toward the living room and the Christmas tree.
    Sam stood. “Are we okay?”
    Michael put his arm around her shoulder. “I’d like you to attend a holiday party with me for business.”
    Sam groaned. She’d gone to a few business parties with her dad over the years and they all had one thing in common: They were boring.
    â€œI want you to meet a different class of men.”
    â€œI just told you that I’m in a serious relationship.”
    â€œThat’s only a month old.”
    â€œYou should still respect it.” Sam sat on the couch as her dad took his favorite armchair. It had been in that chair that he’d read The Little Engine That Could to her when she was a child.
    â€œI have a hard time respecting a man who won’t be able to support his family, one who doesn’t have a real job.”
    Sam leaned forward and accepted the gift her mom handed her. “Just because he doesn’t work from nine to five doesn’t mean it’s not a real job. And he doesn’t have a family to support.”
    â€œBut if it’s as serious as you’d have me believe, he would be thinking in those terms.” He pointed to the present in her lap, urging her to open it.
    As she peeled the paper away from the box, her dad continued, “I’m not asking you to break up with him. I’ve learned my lesson with that. I’m only asking you to attend a party with me and keep an open mind.”
    With paper tossed to the side, Sam held the box on her lap. “If I go to this party and no one piques my interest, you’ll leave me alone and be nice to Free when you meet him?”
    â€œI can try if you can.”
    Sam slid a finger along the edge of the box to break the tape she knew her mother would have placed there. “Deal.” She had no worries. Sam couldn’t imagine any guy at her dad’s business gathering would draw her eye. Even if they were good-looking, they always ended up sounding too much like her dad, where money was the be-all and end-all to life.
    She wanted more.

    It had been days since Free had seen Sam. He’d wanted to invite her to his dad’s company party, but she’d already said that she was busy with her parents that night. By the time the party rolled around, Free had managed to work himself into a frenzy of freakishness. He sat on his bed staring into his closet of costumes. He knew he couldn’t don one tonight, but he needed the inspiration to get through the evening.
    He glanced at the