Red Carpet Romance (16 page)

“So he is.”

“No!”

“Aha! Then whose is he? Are you and
the little guy living with Quinn Roberts?”

Susanna pushed past him and wheeled
the stroller faster than before. She saw Max about two hundred feet away and
waved to him. Before continuing, she confronted the reporter. “This is it. As
far as you’re allowed.”

“This is a park. I’m free to be—”

“If you don’t leave, I’ll call the
police. I’ll tell them you are molesting me, harassing me, and you’ll be
arrested. I’m joining my friend. Piss off.”

“Do you know—?”

“Get lost. I mean it. I’ll start
screaming in five seconds.”

“But that’s—”

“Five…four…three…two…”

The reporter put up his palms and backed
away. She resumed her path to meet Max.

“Who the hell was that? Not Quinn?”

“A reporter. I went to two premieres
with Quinn, and now they think we’re a couple, living together. And they think
Junior is our baby!” She burst out laughing.

“Aren’t you lovers? If not
physically, at least emotionally?” Max pulled out a bagel, unwrapped it, and
offered it to Susanna.

Putting her palm on her cheek, she
felt the heat of her blush. “Max!”

“We’re not children, Susanna.” He
sipped his coffee.

“I know. Still. That’s kinda
personal.” She took a bite out of the bagel.

“I hear the way you talk about him.
I’m no kid. I know a woman in love when I see one,” he chuckled.

“Thanks for the bagel.”

“Don’t change the subject.”

“Whether or not I’m in love with
Quinn…doesn’t give the media the right to pry and print all about us.”

“Get used to it. If you’re going to
be in love with a movie star, you’re going to be news…at least for a while. Of
course, if you two get married, then you’ll stop being news until you have a
baby or get a divorce.”

She laughed. “How do you know so
much about fame, Max?”

“I read the papers,” Max licked a
bit of cream cheese from his lip. “Is he worth it?”

Susanna handed Junior a new toy and
took a sip of her coffee, obviously avoiding his question.

“I guess you have to answer that one
to yourself, not me.”

She gazed at the empty basketball
court. “I don’t know, Max. I think he’s worth it, but I’m new at this love
thing. Fame isn’t new to me. I know how difficult it can make life.”

“Oh? Should I know who Susanna
Barnes is?” He raised his eyebrows then took a bite of his bagel.

“My dad, remember?”

“How did that affect you?” He sipped
his coffee.

“The press was always watching.”
Susanna chewed some bagel.

“Made it hard to grow up?”

“Little bit. Having dad gone so much
was harder.” She moved her gaze to the left.

“In my case, I think my son would
welcome my being home less, a lot less!” He smiled.

“You’re too much, Max,” she laughed.

“So…are you going to tell me what’s
going on with you and Quinn?”

“I wish I knew.” She rested her
bagel on the paper on the bench.

“It’s love?”

“I guess.” She fidgeted with a
gadget on Junior’s stroller then retrieved a bottle of juice from the basket on
the back.

“How did you like LA?” He changed
the subject.

“We stayed at his place in Malibu.
It’s gorgeous. I love the sea air.”

“Did you have much time together or
was he running around all over the place?”

“Running around. An actor’s life, no
peace, just like my dad. You’re asking a lot of questions today.” She shot him
a suspicious look.

“I’m just an old guy getting a
thrill out of being with a beautiful young woman.” He shrugged.

“Nothing happened.”

“Between the two of you?” He took
the last bite of his bagel.

“That’s a pretty personal
question…no, with finding a producer.”

“He’s still looking for a producer
for that book…what’s the name?”

“
BLIND
LOVE
. Yeah. He’s still looking and got turned down all over town. I felt
bad for him.”

“That’s a shame. Such a fine actor,
too.”

“I know! He is, right?” She turned
to face him. Max put his hand on her shoulder.

“Buck up. Something’s bound to come
through soon.”

“Thanks Max. I hope so.” She licked
cream cheese off her thumb.

“So are you ready to go out there,
Kareem?” Still chewing, she nodded. “Can I give the slugger this bottle or has
he had enough?”

“He’ll push it away when he’s had
enough,” she said after her last swallow. Susanna got up, grabbed the
basketball, and dribbled her way to the court. Every day she got stronger,
surer. Her shots improved. Today she planned to work on her three-point shot,
but first, the warm-up. Happiness shot through her body. Exercise after making
love was the best. Her body performed better, more coordinated, and she sensed
each muscle as it worked.

At ten o’clock, she bid Max
farewell. Junior could hardly hold up his eyelids as the steady rhythm of the
vehicle rocked him to sleep. On the way home, Susanna sang softly to herself.
Junior slept in the stroller, so she took her time, looking around, taking a
deep breath of fresh morning air.

Sunshine warmed her back as she
walked along Seventy-Fourth Street back to the apartment. When she turned the
corner onto Central Park West, the sound of cameras clicking was unmistakable.
This time there were four reporters there, lying in wait. They sprang at her,
pelting her with questions, shoving mics in her face.

“How long have you been Quinn
Roberts’ mistress?”

“Is that his baby? Are you married?”

“Is the baby your love child?”

“Are you living with Roberts?”

Susanna tried to push her way
through the nosy journalists, but they blocked the entire sidewalk. Junior woke
up and began to wail. Still the men prevented her escape. She did the only
thing she could think of… “Crash! Help!”

It wasn’t long before Crash came
running down the street. She waved at him, and he busted through the line of
reporters, shoving them out of his way, pushing two to the ground.

“Watch who you’re shoving, buddy,”
one bellowed

“I’m gonna sue,” another one
threatened from his position lying flat on the sidewalk.

“Let the lady through!” Crash growled.

“Lady? That’s a good one,” another
reporter replied. Crash turned and waved his big fist in the man’s face.

“Get outta the way, asshole,” the
doorman snarled as he ran interference with Susanna following behind, pushing
the stroller toward the front door. He continued to keep her escape path open
while their cameras snapped more pictures and they threw more questions at her.

“Are you in love with Quinn, or did
you just have his baby?”

“Are you gonna soak him for child
support?”

“Are you Joe Barnes daughter?”

“What would your dad say about you
having Quinn’s baby out of wedlock?”

The last question stung her to the
core. “Keep my father out of this. He’s dead. Let him rest.”

“So you think he wouldn’t approve?”
The question came from Richard of
Celebs
R Us.

Tears stung the backs of her eyes,
but she continued moving forward behind Crash, her lips set in a firm line. He
opened the door and blocked the way for reporters while Susanna made her
getaway. Her self-control gave way in the elevator. Junior, whose cry had been
reduced to a whimper, looked up at her while she sobbed. When she opened the
door to the apartment and uttered Quinn’s name between cries, he came running.

“What happened?” He grabbed her
upper arms.

“Reporters…humiliating questions…I’m
just the nanny,” she mumbled as a shudder skittered through her body.

He folded her into his embrace and
held her tight.

“And so it begins.” He reached into
his pocket and retrieved a handkerchief. Susanna buried her face in the white
cloth, wiping her eyes and nose.

Quinn looked down.

“Junior, why didn’t you do
something? You could have spit up on someone. Whatever happened to projectile
vomiting?” His comment made her laugh. The baby gurgled, grinned, and drooled.
“Right, slugger. Drooling would have worked, too.” Quinn palmed her cheek and
kissed her. “Feel better?”

She nodded.

“They’re vermin, but they won’t hurt
you physically. Did you answer their questions?”

“Nope. Wait. Once. I asked them to
leave my dad out of this.”

“Your dad? What’s he got to do with
us?”

“Not a damn thing. He’s gone, can’t
they leave him alone?”

“I’m sorry, honey. The price you pay
to be with me.” He stroked her back.

“I’m not chased away so easily.” Her
mouth formed a grim line.

“I hope not.” He drew her closer for
another kiss. Junior started to wail again. “He’s jealous!” Quinn quipped.

“Or hungry.” Susanna pulled herself
from his embrace and wheeled Junior into the kitchen. She made lunch for him,
Quinn, and herself. Afterward, she laid Junior down on the blanket in the
living room with some of his favorite toys while she sat cross-legged next to
him.

“Would you mind cueing me?”

“What?”

“Reading the line just before mine
so I can practice coming in on time.”

“Like with jump rope when I was a
kid. Coming in on time. Sure. Sounds like fun.”

Quinn handed her the script and
joined her on the floor. They read lines until Junior fell asleep. While the
baby slept, Susanna worked with Quinn, reading parts of other characters, cuing
him, and listening. They sat on the terrace enjoying some privacy and cooler
air.

She pictured him in full costume on
the set. Then she pictured him shirtless, then naked, all the images melded in
her mind to remind her how incredibly sexy he was, without his even knowing. A
small chink of light peeked through the skyscrapers, landing on his hair. A
glimmer of a red highlight caught her eye. The intense blue of his eyes
captured her gaze and held her attention. He was magnetic, meant to be an
actor. No doubt about it.

They passed the day quietly,
remaining in the apartment, working on Quinn’s script, playing with Junior, and
making dinner. Susanna made her father’s favorite lasagna recipe.

“Enough salad, Quinn. You need some
real food.” She served a healthy portion to him.

“Don’t have to twist my arm. This
looks delicious. I’ve been smelling this all day, hoping you weren’t throwing a
salad together for me.” He lowered his face close to his plate.

Junior started to kick and shriek.
“Even the baby wants some. When can he get people food?”

“He gets Cheerios.”

“Real people food.”

“He could probably have some now.
Tomorrow morning I’ll make eggs for us, and he can have some too. Scrambled
eggs. Perfect.”

Quinn leaned down to the baby. “Hear
that, Slugger? Tomorrow you move up to eat with us.” The baby gurgled, staring
up at him, smiling.

By seven o’clock, Junior was tucked
snugly in bed. The air in the living room hung heavy with promise and
hesitation. “Wanna watch a movie?” Quinn offered. “I’ll make the popcorn.”

“Popcorn after lasagna? Nooo. What
have you got?”

He opened up a cabinet to display an
impressive movie collection. “Tax deductible. All for my work.”

“Oh?” She cocked an eyebrow at him.
“
Cowgirls Gone Wild
is for research?”

He blushed. “What? Where?”

“You’re planning to branch out into
porn?” She tried to hide a smile but couldn’t.

Quinn scanned the titles but
couldn’t find it. “No, I’m not. Where do you see that? Where?”

“It isn’t there. I made it up. But
you sure jumped, didn’t you? Sure had you going,” she laughed, poking her
finger in his ribs.

“Trying to embarrass me, huh?” He
grabbed her by the arms, then blew a raspberry in her neck. She squealed and
giggled at the same time. Susanna struggled to get free, but he wrestled her
onto the sofa underneath him and blew on her neck again. She arched her back,
pressing against him and laughing until she couldn’t breathe. His hands
released her arms. He cupped her face and kissed her. The kiss was soft and
sweet.

Susanna stroked his hair then wound
her arms around his neck, pulling his lips down to hers again. She opened, inviting
him in. Quinn trapped her legs between his when his mouth descended on hers. He
grasped her biceps as he deepened the kiss, causing her to soften beneath him.
She detected his growing arousal, and her pulse kicked up.

He had stopped being Quinn Roberts,
the movie star, to her. Now he was Quinn Roberts, her excellent lover,
protector, confidante, and friend. Love mixed with lust in her veins. Her loins
burned for him, her nipples ached for his touch. He easily slipped his fingers
off her arm and cupped a breast in one swift motion. A sigh escaped her throat
at his touch.

Her hard peak attracted his hands
quickly. As he played with her, heat in her body increased. She squirmed under
him. He ripped the strap of her tank top down and released her mouth. His lips
dove onto her soft mound where he feasted hungrily. “I want you, Susie,” he
uttered in a hoarse whisper.

She slid her hands down his arms,
then his sides, to rest on his waist. Her fingers pulled up his T-shirt and
made contact with his skin. He groaned as her hands glided around his waist to
his belt buckle.

Quinn pushed up on his hands, then
to his feet. He ripped his T-shirt off then struggled with his belt. Susanna
pulled her top off and slid her shorts down to her ankles. Before she could remove
her underwear, he was standing in front of her stark naked. “Allow me.”

He hooked his thumbs into her
panties and pulled them down and off completely. Susanna barely noticed because
her gaze was glued to his amazing chest. She raised her hand to run her fingers
through his chest hair while she planted a kiss on the base of his throat. He
froze, closing his eyes, obviously enjoying her touch.