If You Want Me by Kayla Perrin

From the Publisher

Alice Watson's no longer the shy, overweight girl everyone dissed back in high school — everyone, that is, except Marcus Quinn, her one-time best friend who ended up trampling all over her heart. Now, thirteen years later, Alice is tall, stunning, sensational...and a genuine movie star who goes by the name of Desirée LaCroix. And passion's flame starts smoking again when she sees that handsome Marcus still has it going on. But is it Alice or her famous Hollywood persona who's got his beautiful brown eyes wide open?

Marcus's own heart has gone through major achin' since back in the day. And the reappearance of Alice/Desirée seems to spell bigtime trouble. Still, this proud, sexy sista could make Marcus forget the pain and his promise not to let a fine face and figure turn his head ever again. And even though the lady's got drama — and there's serious danger doggin' her trail — this could be the time for cautious Marcus to commit to a perfect love that he once let get too far away.

Eric Jerome Dickey

A. . .writer that everyone should read. She combines mystery and romance with ease.

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Chapter One

Thirteen years later...

"Hey, isn't that ...

"Oh, my God. Is that Desirée LaCroix?"

Alice heard the hushed whispers and buzz around her as she walked purposefully through the corridor. She saw the curious stares. Even with dark sunglasses on and her hair pulled back in a ponytail, people often recognized her in public.

Today, that public place was a crowded Chicago hospital.

Her brisk pace made it clear that she wasn't here to sign T-shirts or notepads or anything else. Who in a hospital was? Like everyone else in these packed corridors, she was here to visit a patient.

Not just any patient. Her mother.

Alice's pace faltered for a brief moment as the realization of the situation dawned on her again. She could hardly believe she was truly here, that her mother had actually had a heart attack. The last time she'd talked to her mother, she'd told Alice never to come back to Chicago, and Alice had heeded her command. Until now. Now, the hard, cold woman Alice had considered indestructible could actually die. When her sister, Marie, had called to tell her the news, Alice had felt something she hadn't felt in years — remorse and regret, and the overwhelming feeling that she needed to see her mother before it was too late.

If for no other reason than to finally look her in the eye and ask her why she didn't love her.

"Psst. Look."

Alice didn't break her stride as she rounded the comer and headed for the elevators. Mane had told her the room number and wing where her mother was in Cook County Hospital. The woman at the information desk had pointed herin the right direction.

Her anxiety built as she rode up in the elevator, watching the numbers illuminate to indicate which floor they were on.

When the elevator doors finally parted, Alice was filled with a sudden sense of dread. What if her mother didn't want to see her? What if she'd come all this way for nothing?

She turned right, glanced at the first few doors, saw the numbers were going up, not down, then pivoted on her heel and headed in the other direction. As she reached room 612, she slowed and inhaled a shaky breath, praying she could compose herself. Even after all this time and how far she'd come in her life, Alice was actually afraid to walk into the room and see her mother.

She opened the door and stepped inside.

Alice wasn't prepared for the emotions that overwhelmed her as she looked inside the room and saw an empty bed. Not yet, she thought. Oh, God, not yet.

She stepped further into the room, her head now aching from the urge to cry, but the tears wouldn't come. There was a vase of yellow carnations on one side of the bed and two cards on the other. Lifting a card, she saw it was from her niece, Mia, to her mother. Yes, this was her mother's room.

But her mother wasn't here.

Oh, God. Was she too late?

At the sound of someone entering the room, Alice whirled around. Marie stood in the doorway, a Styrofoam cup in her hand, and a startled expression on her face.

"Marie." Alice could hardly breathe. "Where's Mom?"

"In surgery. You didn't think —"

"I didn't know what to think. Oh, Marie." Alice practically flew toward her and wrapped her in an embrace. It was an instinctive move, but awkward nonetheless. She and Marie weren't exactly close.

" Alice."

Alice pulled back and looked at her sister for the first time in years. Her hair was drastically shorter than it had been the last time Alice had seen her, slicked back off her face and held in place with gel. It was no longer black but auburn. It suited her oval-shaped face. Marie had put on weight over the years, but it had all gone to her hips and waist, not her face.

One side of Marie's lips lifted in a half smile but her expression was wary. There were dark circles under her eyes, proof that she'd spent a sleepless night.

"Last night you told me that she didn't want the surgery."

"The doctors were finally able to talk some sense into her. I called you a couple hours ago to tell you she'd changed her mind, but you'd already left."

"Triple bypass?" Alice asked.

"Yeah." Marie's voice was faint.

"So this is serious."

"Pretty much so. There's extensive blockage in her heart. Thank God Mia was with her at the time. If we'd all gone to bed..." Her voice trailed off and ended with a sniffle.

"Was she conscious before she went to surgery?" Alice asked.

"Yeah."

"Did she ask for me?"

Marie shook her head.

Alice turned then and walked to the window She stared outside but barely registered anything other than the bright sky. What had she expected? That her mother would have clutched Mane's hand before surgery and begged her to call her? Scenes like that only played out in Hollywood movies, not real life.

Alice faced her sister. "Where's Mia?"

"In school. I didn't want her to miss the day."

Silence fell over them, heavy and oppressive. There were so many things Alice wanted to say, so many things she was afraid to say The truth was, her sister was a virtual stranger She knew she'd married her high school sweetheart, Chad Greenley, had one child, then divorced three years later. That was about it.

"I can't believe how good you look," Marie finally said, a hint of wonder in her voice. "I guess the cameras don't he."

"Thanks," Alice told her, a feeling of disappointment tickling her nape. But she should have known Marie would make some comment about her weight, even though she'd been slim and trim for over ten years now...