Snowbound Heart by Jennifer Blake

and also in supporting other actors.”
    She gave him a wan smile. “I am not an actress.”
    “I think you underestimate yourself, if this evening is any example. Everything considered, it was good of you to come to my aid and defense. I might even go so far as to say it was inspired.”
    “You make it sound so calculated. It wasn’t like that at all.”
    “Wasn’t it? Whatever the reasons, I am grateful.”
    “That may be, but it is no reason to jeopardize this deal with Marvin Hobbs,” she said earnestly.
    “If I didn’t believe going on with this farce of an engagement was the best way to bring this deal off, I wouldn’t suggest it. I wish Hobbs could judge my script for what it is, without personalities entering into it. That’s impossible now; Janine has seen to that. As long as I thought she was sincere in what she was doing, I was willing to overlook it, even to forget the whole thing and find another producer, to keep from coming between her and Marvin. As it is, I have an uncomfortable feeling that it was her vanity and nothing more that was hurt when I refused to play along, and it is spite now that has made her so determined to sabotage the project. Well, I happen to think too much of what I am doing to let her get away with it. I will do whatever is necessary to fight her. Marvin Hobbs likes you. If keeping you with me as my fiancee will encourage him to decide in my favor, then I will do it, if I possibly can.”
    “Hasn’t it occurred to you that I may find it impossible to resist making use of what happens?”
    His eyes narrowed. “I will have to trust you, won’t I? Maybe it would make you happier if I told you that if you will do as I ask, when this is over I will give you any kind of interview you please.”
    Clare tilted her head. “Is that a bribe?” she inquired, her tone cool despite the flush across her cheekbones.
    “You could call it that.”
    His offer could be considered in two ways: as a gauge of how much he wanted to see his work produced by Hobbs, and also as a change in his attitude toward both Clare and her writing.
    “I’m not certain the damage hasn’t already been done. Janine did a pretty thorough job of discrediting the idea this evening.”
    “You repaired much of the impression she made. I think it’s worth a try. I owe the project that much.”
    Clare nodded and looked away from him. “If I do decide to do it, several things must be understood. Number one, that I have to spend some time with Beverly and her husband. Otherwise, I can make no promises.”
    “There should be no difficulty about that.”
    “The second thing is that I will be able to stop at any time it becomes too much for me.”
    “Agreed.”
    “And finally, I would like to have an end to sarcastic remarks and accusations. No matter what you may think, I came into this accidentally. Whether I accept your offer of an interview or not, I want it accepted, at least verbally, that I never sought one. If I do as you ask, and if later I write an article, it will be because in both cases I feel that the results will be forth the effort.”
    He stared at her, an appraising look in his intent blue eyes, as though he were weighing her, coming to some internal conclusion. A current of magnetism seemed to emanate from him, a positive force that made her sit completely still, unable to move, until he released her with an abrupt nod.
    Rising with a lithe movement, he held out his hand. “That’s fair enough,” he said. “It’s settled, then. I’ll tell Marvin in the morning, and I’ll let you know what the plans are after I’ve talked to him.”
    “All right,” Clare said, her voice husky in her throat.
    “It may help you to look on this as a job. Since I asked you to hire on, I’ll take care of the expenses.”
    “That isn’t necessary,” Clare said firmly. “I prefer to pay my own way. About this hotel room, I want you to have it changed into my name.”
    “Would you have stayed here, in a