Read Online Plain Return (The Plain Fame Series Book 4) by Sarah Price - Free Book Online Page A

phone, checking the time. “Media.” That one word needed no further explanation. In fact, Amanda had been pleased that no one had discovered where she was during the previous week. The respite from the fans and paparazzi had been refreshing. Apparently, that was over. “Just keep moving, smile, and keep your eyes on my back. Chin up. You photograph better that way.”
    Without another word, Dali pushed through the first set of doors, pausing just long enough for a stunned Amanda to catch up with her. As Dali plowed through the second set of doors, a bright light blinded Amanda for a second, and she struggled to slide on the sunglasses. When she realized that it wasn’t sunlight but the bright lights of reporters’ camera flashes, their brilliance reflected off the white umbrellas stationed outside, Amanda forgot Dali’s advice and stopped walking.
    “Amanda! Amanda!”
    Voices called to her from both sides. Amanda looked to her right and saw a tall young man with red curly hair and freckles on his nose, waving his arms in her direction.
    “One photo. Please!” he begged, standing on the balls of his feet and shifting his weight eagerly from one to the other as he tried to capture her attention.
    The look of desperation on his face, the longing for just one photo with her, tore at her heart. She had seen that look before in the eyes of the women at the Meet and Greets before Alejandro’s concerts. It was the same look worn by the even younger women who lined up outside of buildings and hotels, hoping that, just maybe, they could catch a glimpse of Viper as he walked from the car to the entrance.
    Amanda glanced toward the car where Dali stood with her lips pressed tight together, visibly irritated that she had not listened to her. For a moment, Amanda hesitated. But then, as if she’d heard Alejandro’s voice inside her head, Amanda knew what to do. She smiled and walked over to the lanky boy who didn’t look to be much older than she was. She let him hug her, his lean body pressed against hers. When she pulled back, she was surprised to see that he was weeping.
    He gave a nervous laugh, wiping at his eyes with the back of his hand. Words seemed to escape him.
    To save him from further embarrassment, she smiled. “You wanted a photo, ja ?”
    “Oh yes!” He turned around, positioning himself so that he could take a photo of her standing beside him. With his cell phone held up in the air, he took the selfie, a big grin on his face. “I can’t thank you enough,” he gushed. “You just made my life.”
    She would have found the statement unusual, but she had heard it so many times at Alejandro’s events that the words did not surprise her. However, she couldn’t believe that he was saying such a thing to her . Before she could reply, several other people pushed their way through and began to take photos of her, two of the women crying and hugging her before taking a picture with her. Slowly, Amanda made her way through the crowd, pausing to meet with fans and smiling for the professional photographers.
    “What was that , Amanda?” Dali snapped when Amanda finally made her way into the car. “I was most specific in my instructions to you!”
    Dali’s voice had an edge to it that startled Amanda. No one had ever spoken so sharply to her. “I . . . I’m sorry.”
    “You should be! What on earth were you thinking?”
    Amanda didn’t respond right away. She sank down in the seat of the car, wishing that it could just swallow her up so that she could disappear. What had she been thinking? The crowd had surprised her. All week she had been at the dance studio and no one had made a fuss over her. Usually, the fans waited for Alejandro . . . their Viper. Amanda was just his wife, and as far as she knew, they wanted photos with her only because she was in a relationship with him.
    “It’s what Alejandro would have done.”
    “I suppose I don’t have to point out that you’re not Alejandro!” Dali