Red Carpet Romance (7 page)

“I’ve never traveled on a plane with
a baby before,” Susanna confided to Quinn.

“Really? That’s not good.” He
frowned and rang for the stewardess. When she responded, he explained this was
their first time traveling in the air with an infant.

She explained what to expect and how
she could help. Then she cooed. “And I didn’t even know you were married, Mr.
Roberts,” she said with a smile as she returned to the cabin.

“Hunky dory. She thinks we’re
married,” Susanna piped up.

“Cool it. It doesn’t matter what she
thinks. I’ll tell you when you need to worry.” He patted her hand, then
Junior’s head, as the baby nestled against Susanna’s chest.
Finally.

“Okay, hubby-dear.” She cooed,
eyeing him with mischief in her eyes.

His eyebrows shot up, but then a
sexy look crossed his face. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Baby is
fine, why don’t Mommy and Daddy become members of the Mile High Club?” Susanna
burst out laughing, disturbing Junior, who had been dozing.

The plane closed up and taxied into
position for take-off. Junior cried and whimpered, which Susanna attributed to
the cabin pressure change. She provided a few of his favorite toys to suck on
and that soothed him, apparently relieving the pain in his ears. He slept
through most of the smooth ride, waking to be fed and gurgling at the
stewardesses. “Kid’s got a good eye for a pretty woman already,” Quinn said,
smiling.

Susanna smacked him lightly on the
shoulder. They were served filet mignon and champagne. “Let’s drink to success
for your new movie,” she said. They toasted.

“How about a toast to Mom letting
Dad get a little closer to her,” Quinn snickered.

“If you were any closer,
Dad,
you’d be sitting in my lap.”

“Shall we try that?”

She chuckled. “Don’t think so.
Besides, that’s the baby’s spot.”

“Shucks. Junior wants a brother or
sister, and how’s he gonna get one if Mom won’t let Dad get near her?”

“Adoption?” She smirked, causing
Quinn to burst into laughter, making Junior fuss.

The stewardesses began to give
Susanna dirty looks. Quinn whispered in her ear, “They think I’m serious. They
think you won’t sleep with me. Let’s show ‘em, okay? Play along.”

She nodded, unaware of what his plan
was. Quinn leaned over and placed his lips on hers, then deepened the kiss.
Trapped by her willingness to go along, she sat back and let him proceed. It
wasn’t long before warmth traveled through her chest, her breathing became
erratic, and her nipples tightened. She rested her palm on his neck.

Crap!
He’s turning me on.
All negative thoughts flew out of her head, allowing
her to enjoy the taste of him, the feel of his tongue caressing hers, the
slight scrape of his chin against hers, and his warm breath on her cheek. His
hand cupped her face, his thumb drawing a line down her cheek. Everywhere he
touched her, she tingled. Her body responded to his. Their tongues danced, and
she moved her hand down to rest against his chest. She wanted more.

Finally, he sat back, turning his
head to look into her eyes. She gasped for breath, returning his stare.

“Wow! Who says you can’t play a love
scene,” she whispered.

“Who says I was acting?” He
countered, his eyes glistening with desire.

Junior gurgled in his sleep,
cracking them up. Susanna reached up to touch Quinn’s scruffy face tenderly. He
captured her hand and kissed her palm. After another glass of champagne, they
both fell asleep, heads resting against each other, hands touching until the
captain woke them up, informing everyone they’d be landing soon.

As the cabin pressure changed again,
Junior began to cry. Quinn took turns with Susanna trying to soothe him. They
moved the infant from her lap to his and back again, but the baby wouldn’t be
consoled.

Once on the ground, the couple was
anxious to make their escape and avoid the annoyed glares of other passengers
whose trip had been disrupted by Junior’s crying. They were met at the baggage
claim by a chauffeur. “Mr. Roberts?”

Quinn nodded. Susanna joined him,
toting Junior. “Here, take them first. I’ll get the luggage.”

The driver raised his eyebrows. “I
don’t have a baby seat, sir.”

Exasperated beyond his endurance by
this revelation, he snapped, “Then get someone out here who does!”

Life was a three-ring circus for
Quinn and Susanna as they attempted to entertain Junior, then feed him and
change him, while keeping an eye on the luggage. They tried not to fight with
each other but both grew snippy waiting for another limousine.

Quinn called his producer. “Josh,
this is unacceptable! Never mind. Just get a car out here right now! Junior is
having a meltdown. We need to get him home,” he practically screamed into the
phone.

Finding it impossible to hide, Quinn
spent the next hour signing autographs and making idle chitchat with people he
didn’t know. Susanna saw him grinding his teeth but smiling the whole time. She
surmised how hard that must have been for such a private person as he,
especially when his temper was frayed. When fans approached him, Susanna stood
apart so people wouldn’t know they were together.

Finally, a limousine with a baby
seat pulled up. The driver and Quinn loaded everything in the vehicle. Susanna
slipped the baby into the car seat and jumped in next to him quickly so people
wouldn’t notice. Junior, exhausted from all his whining and crying, fell asleep
instantly. Quinn poured drinks from the bar in the back. They lay back against
the seat, crunched together since the baby seat took up so much space.

“I’ve never been to Los Angeles
before,” she said, taking a big gulp from her vodka and tonic.

“Doubt we’ll have time for a
sight-seeing trip this time. But we’ll be back, and maybe next time we can go
for a drive.”

Susanna rolled down the window and
was surprised to feel how pleasant the air was. “I expected hot and humid air
in early June, but it’s beautiful out.”

“Wait till we get to the beach.” He
sat back and sipped his vodka and tonic.

“The beach?”

“We can walk from the condo. It’s a
little bit of a hike but a pleasant one. You can smell the salt air from the
terrace.”

“Would you have a place without a
terrace?” She teased.

“Not if I could help it. I’m an
outdoor kinda guy,” he grinned at her, closing his long fingers over her hers.

They rode the whole way sitting
close, holding hands. A sense of calm washed over her as she relaxed against
him.
It’s almost like we’re married, with
a child.
Once they arrived, the men unloaded the suitcases while Susanna
carried Junior up the stairs. Quinn opened the door. Right inside were a folded
up, portable crib, a highchair, a stroller, and a bentwood rocker. Susanna
turned a questioning look toward him as a big smile broke out on her face.

“You said you needed a rocker.”

“I do. This is great!” Quinn carted
the crib and rocker up the stairs into the spare room while she unpacked
Junior’s food and fed him some cereal and fruit.

The condo had a beautiful Italian
beige and light orange, ceramic tile floor in the living room, dining area, and
kitchen. The walls were beige in the living room. Aqua canvas covered a
sectional sofa and two chairs. Beige and white throw pillows softened the lines
of the couch. Original oil paintings on the wall were of beach scenes and
ships.

The kitchen had beige and black
flecked granite countertops, and the same beige wall color as the living room,
but the cabinets and appliances were black. The terrace spanned the length of
the living room and kitchen combined. Floor to ceiling windows in the living
room and dining area were made private by gauzy off-white curtains. Lamps were
chrome and a large, rectangular, chrome and glass coffee table sat in front of
the sectional.

“This place is beautiful. Did you
decorate it?”

“Nope. Maggie did.”

“She’s got a great sense of color.”

He nodded before toting their
luggage up the short flight of stairs to the bedrooms. The baby was frisky,
waving his arms and legs, so Susanna put him in the new stroller.

“Take us on a tour,” she said,
extending her hand to Quinn as he came down. He carried the buggy with Junior
fastened safely inside down the three steps to ground level, then led them
toward the Pacific Coast Highway. “There’s a crossover down this way.”

She moved up next to him and reached
for his hand.

“Not in public,” he whispered.

Though his voice was low, his words
hit her like a slap in the face.
Right.
Don’t want anyone to think we’re a couple, or this is our child. Nope. No
siree. I’m the hired help, that’s all.
Stung by his words, she looked away
from him while she blinked back tears.

“Next time we come, let’s take a
picnic to the beach with Junior. Bet he’ll love the sand.”

She nodded, emotion choking her.
Stupid fool. Did you think he wanted you?
You’re a diversion, a convenient plaything. Remember who he is. He can have any
woman he wants.

He didn’t notice her coolness at
first. She stood away from him as they walked along, facing the ocean. As they
waited for the light to change, he commented, “Too tired to talk?” She
shrugged. They walked on for a while. His stare heated her skin, but she
steadfastly refused to look at him. Finally, he reached over and nabbed her
arm, whipping her around to face him. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” she lied.

“I’m not stupid. I’ve known enough
women to know when a woman is giving me the cold shoulder.”

“Not in public,” she said, stiffly.

“Oh.” he nodded. “I see.” She raised
her eyes to his. “You’re upset because I don’t want to be seen by photographers
holding hands with you. I don’t want to drag you into some illegitimate baby
scandal.”

“Sure, sure.”

“One glimpse of me holding hands
with you, pushing Junior, and the media will pounce, portraying you as my
knocked up mistress. Or they’ll have you as my s
ecret bride
or any of a dozen other scenarios, none flattering.
Especially to you.”

She turned back toward the sea.

“You don’t believe me? I can’t let
it happen just to convince you. Trust me. It’s not about how much I want to
hold your hand or kiss you. I’d love to. But I’m not just any guy. Kissing me
is news. I don’t want you to get hurt. You’re the daughter of a celebrity. I
thought you’d get it. ”

She listened, trying to keep an open
mind, but it was difficult. His words made sense on one level, but he had
rejected her.
Yes, he’s famous, and if I
stand too close I’ll face scrutiny, too. Is that so bad? I’m not doing anything
wrong. Celebrity with dad wasn’t a death sentence. But then there was never a
sex scandal there, either.

Before she could answer, a car
pulled up across the street and stopped.

“Look! Quinn Roberts! Hi, Quinn!”
The man behind the wheel waved as someone in the backseat rolled down the
window and began snapping pictures. “Is that your kid?”

Before Quinn could holler out an
answer, the woman in the car behind leaned on her horn. The other driver rolled
up his window and drove away.

Quinn turned the stroller around.
“Let’s go back.”

“I see what you mean.” Susanna
stopped.

“Not because of that jackass. Just a
stupid tourist. Because I want to kiss you, and I can’t do it here.”

“What if I don’t want to kiss you?”

“Oh? And on the plane? A kiss
doesn’t lie.” He cocked an eyebrow at her.

“You’ve got some nerve. Assuming
because you’re, you’re famous…”

“It has nothing to do with that. You
like me. The real me.”

“Yeah?”

He stopped pushing the stroller.
“Yeah. And I like you, too.”

“Arrogant. Over confident. Full of
yourself. In love with yourself,” she muttered under her breath.

“What?” he asked.

“Nothing.” She kept walking,
training her eyes straight ahead. When they reached the condo, Junior was
napping. Susanna tried to change him and put him to bed without waking him. He
did open his eyes once or twice but fell right back to sleep. She tiptoed down
the stairs to the first floor and joined Quinn in the living room.

“I hope you like Mexican food,” he
said, putting down his phone.

“Why?”

“I ordered some enchiladas and tacos
from Casa Mexico. They have great food.”

“I love Mexican food.” She placed
her hand on her stomach, which rumbled at the thought.

“Good. We’re very gastronomically
compatible. Now come here.” He motioned to her.

She shook her head.

“I said come here.” His mock look of
anger, along with a smirk, made her giddy. She shook her head again, but a
smile played at her lips.

“You’re going to make me come over
there, aren’t you? Playing hard to get?” He began to advance. She backed up,
bumping into the back of the sofa. Quinn gracefully leapt over the couch,
cutting off her escape.

“What do you want?” She stuck out
her chin, trembling in anticipation.

“You,” he said, folding her into his
arms and placing his lips over hers.

He took his time, exploring and
tasting her. Like bands of steel, his arms tightened around her, pinning her
against him. Her fingers curled over his muscular shoulders, thrilling to the
feel of him. Her breasts crushed against his hard chest as he deepened the
kiss. She breathed in his alluring, masculine scent mixed with a hint of
aftershave. Her bosom rose and fell rapidly as desire flickered inside her.
More
.

He lowered his hands, sliding them
down her back, down, down below her hips. He pulled her closer until she could
feel him growing harder. Her body softened, molding to his, while a small moan
escaped her throat. He moved his mouth to her neck. Listening to his ragged
breathing while his lips tantalized her ignited budding desire into white-hot
flames.
Touch me, take me. Right here.
Right now.
The voice in her head screamed for him until it was interrupted
by the buzzer.