Love in the Afternoon

by Alison Packard

  Love in the Afternoon

  By Alison Packard

  Kayla Maxwell is eager to shed her slasher-flick bimbo image—and she plans to do just that in her new role on daytime’s most popular soap. With a chance to showcase her dramatic range, Kayla will be able to wash away the lingering betrayal and public humiliation left by her controlling, philandering ex-boyfriend.

  Sean Barrett, the son of an influential, award-winning actor, is the hottest soap star in the country. Paired on-screen with the talented and beautiful Kayla Maxwell, Sean is determined to keep her at arm’s length, burned before by fame-seeking actresses who had no qualms about using him to get to his famous father.

  But when Kayla receives threatening letters, her past as a scream queen seems to be coming back to haunt her. Succumbing to an attraction neither one of them can deny, Sean and Kayla must face down her stalker and their own personal demons before trusting what they both feel—a love that lasts long after the cameras stop rolling.

  94,000 words

  Dear Reader,

  I love the month of December when it comes to releases at Carina Press. This is our third year of publishing our special holiday collections, and I’m fortunate to be the one to edit the collections. It’s become our tradition to do three separate anthologies and this year we chose to do contemporary romance, science-fiction romance and erotic contemporary romance collections.

  Each of these three collections is amazing in its own right (not that I’m biased or anything), showcasing the talent of the contributing authors. In our contemporary romance collection, Romancing the Holiday, Jaci Burton wraps up her Kent Brothers trilogy with the story fans have been waiting for: it’s finally time to see Brody and Tori’s combustible attraction on page and cheer them to their happily-ever-after in The Best Thing. We’ll Be Home for Christmas by HelenKay Dimon returns readers to Holloway, West Virginia, as she gives us Spence’s story. Lila is more than a match for the delicious Spence and sparks fly when they go toe-to-toe. Last, but certainly not least, is newcomer to the collection, Christi Barth, with her delightful friends-to-lovers novella Ask Her at Christmas. And if you haven’t already checked out Christi’s full-length novel, Planning for Love, now’s a great time to treat yourself to this funny, emotional, captivating book.

  Heating up the pages, and I do mean heating up, are the three novellas in Red Hot Holiday, the erotic contemporary romance collection. If you’re looking for stories that are going to make what goes on under the mistletoe even more interesting, you’ll want to read this collection. I Need You for Christmas by Leah Braemel features a strong-willed, career-driven Mountie—and the sculptor who molds her to his will in the bedroom. In Wish List by K.A. Mitchell, Jonah discovers his lover, Evan, may be the one who can deliver the BDSM wishes on Jonah’s naughty list. And Anne Calhoun brings to the collection a stunningly powerful erotic romance that’s both deeply erotic and deeply emotional, with Breath on Embers.

  A Galactic Holiday is the third of our holiday collections, showcasing three science-fiction romance novellas with incredible world building and incredible characters. In How the Glitch Saved Christmas, author Stacy Gail takes us to our future, with bod-mods, enhancements, tech, artificial intelligence…and a growing love between two rival detectives investigating the case of the...appearing gifts. Traveling off world, Anna Hackett’s Winter Fusion delivers a story that’s also of two rivals. Rival negotiators Brinn and Savan must come to an agreement on behalf of their respective planets during the cold of Yule, and amidst the danger of a force that wants to stop their negotiations. Galileo’s Holiday by Sasha Summers takes us into deep space. Riley’s tugger has just been destroyed, but will she still have reason to be thankful as her relationship with Leo gives her a future to look forward to?

  In addition to these nine incredible holiday novellas, four fantastic novels release in December, each one the first book in a new seriesfrom the respective authors. For fans of Regency romance, Wendy Soliman kicks off her Forster series with Compromising the Marquess, in which the enterprising heroine supports her family by writing for a scandal sheet, placing her on a collision course with a marquess. In her steampunk romance The League of Illusion: Legacy, Vivi Anna begins a dangerous journey for three brothers. Each will find love while two brothers battle deception, jealousy and ruthless rivals to find and rescue the third.

  Fan favorite Dana Marie Bell’s new series, The Nephilim, begins with All for You. He’s not just the guy next door, he’s the angel next door. And it’s just become his job to protect her—while trying not to fall in love, or into bed.

  And this month we’re thrilled to introduce debut author Alison Packard with her debut contemporary romance title, Love in the Afternoon. When I grabbed Alison’s book from the slush pile to put on my eReader for the weekend, I had no idea I was in for such an amazing story. Though I’m not one to watch soap operas, Alison sucked me into the world of soaps and made me fall in love with Kayla and Sean. Soap opera stars, maybe, but characters you root for, relate to and want to turn the pages faster for so you can see them fall in love, definitely. If you’re a fan of Shannon Stacey, Victoria Dahl and Jill Shalvis, be sure to give this new author a try.

  I hope you find time to pamper yourself during the crazy holiday season. And if that pampering takes the form of a great Carina Press December release, even better!

  We love to hear from readers, and you can email us your thoughts, comments and questions to generalinquiries@carinapress.com. You can also interact with Carina Press staff and authors on our blog, Twitter stream and Facebook fan page.

  Happy reading!

  ~Angela James

  Executive Editor, Carina Press

  www.carinapress.com

  www.twitter.com/carinapress

  www.facebook.com/carinapress

  Dedication

  This book would not have been possible without the support, encouragement and suggestions I received from Chrissie Humphrey, Jennifer Vincent and Christie Auschwitz. Thank you, ladies, for believing I could do this.

  Hugs and thanks to everyone at Trusted Hearts, where it all began.

  I can’t leave out the following individuals: Elizabeth “Bess” Shelton, Laura Kelly, Jodi Henley and Keena Tomko. They all had a hand in this book, and I appreciate their help and guidance more than I can say.

  And last, but not least, a big thank you to Angela James, executive editor at Carina Press, who uttered the words every author longs to hear: “We’d like to publish this.”

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  About the Author

  Copyright

  Chapter One

  Shay: You can tell me anything, Stefan.

  Stefan: I’m sorry, Shay. But I’m going back to my wife.

  “You slut!”

  Since Kayla Maxwell was the only other person in the produce section, there was no doubt the scathing insult was meant for her. Or to be more precise, her alter ego Shay McKade.

  Turning from the refrigerated vegetable display, she p
asted on a fake smile and found herself looking into the eyes of one very pissed off woman who, sadly, was dressed in a garish hot pink jogging outfit that looked like someone had attacked it repeatedly with a Bedazzler gun.

  “Excuse me?” She tossed a bag of baby carrots into her cart. “Did you just call me a—”

  “How could you?” the woman interrupted, her close-set eyes blazing with contempt. “You…you tramp.”

  “Actually, I’m not really a tramp. I just play one on TV.” She flashed another smile. Maybe a little actress humor would appease the woman. This wasn’t the first time she’d been accosted by an overzealous soap opera fan that had it in for her character.

  “You slept with a married man.” Her face mottled with anger, the woman pointed at her with a pudgy finger. “I’ve waited years for Stefan and Cassie to get together and then, when they finally do, you slither into town and lure him into your bed.”

  “Slither?”

  The woman’s beady eyes narrowed. “Like the snake you are.”

  “Snake?” Kayla’s voice rose. “Now, wait just a minute—”

  “No! You wait.” The woman moved closer. Kayla could smell the cloying scent of old lady perfume. It permeated the air, just like the woman’s outrage. “Stay away from him, or else.”

  “Or else what?”

  “Or you’ll be sorry.” The woman’s nostrils flared before she gave Kayla a final glare and then turned and pushed her cart toward the deli counter.

  “Believe me,” she muttered at the woman’s retreating back. “I’d love to stay away from him.”

  Kayla’s cell phone rang as she pushed her cart toward the tomato display. Pulling it from her purse, she saw her publicist’s name on the caller ID.

  “Hi, Lisa. What’s up?” Lisa had not only been her publicist for the past seven years, but was also a good friend.

  “Great news. You’re going to be on the cover of Soap Opera Journal in three weeks. I just got a call about the photo shoot.”

  “The cover? Is something going on I don’t know about?”

  “You tell me.”

  “There’s nothing to tell.” Kayla stopped her cart in front of the vine-ripened tomatoes. “But I have a few scripts at home I haven’t read yet. Maybe something big is going to happen between Shay and Stefan.” She paused. “Oh, hell no. You’re going to ruin this by telling me I have to do the shoot with Marcus, aren’t you?”

  “Unfortunately, yes.” Lisa’s voice was sympathetic. “Although I’m not sure there’s a lens wide enough to capture both him and his over-inflated ego.”

  “Tell me about it. Oh, and get this, we had a love scene last week. It was all I could do to get through it without puking.”

  “Did he try to shove his tongue down your throat again?”

  “He did. But I took care of it,” Kayla said with a grin. “Thanks for the tip.”

  “Anytime. By the way, Sean will be there too.”

  Kayla’s jaw dropped. “Sean Barrett?”

  “Yep. Maybe his character is going to be involved in the story with Stefan and Shay. Look, I’ve got to go. I need to call Sean and give him the news. I’ll call you later with more info. And let’s try to meet for lunch this week.”

  “I’m off on Thursday,” Kayla said. “We can meet at…” She stopped. Lisa had hung up. She smiled at the phone. “And…I guess we’ll talk later.” Shoving her phone back into her purse, she tore off a plastic bag from the roll next to the tomatoes.

  The cover of Soap Opera Journal. How cool was that? Pretty freaking cool except for the part about Marcus. But Sean would be there too. Why? She picked up a tomato and tested its firmness with her fingers.

  Sean and his character, Jared Madison, were even more popular than Stefan Cabot, although Marcus would never admit it. Jared was a detective and a recent widower—soon he would need a love interest. It couldn’t be Shay though. Could it? They’d never even been onscreen together, except for the time the big tornado hit town, and, of course, the funeral for Jared’s wife.

  The crackle of the intercom jolted her from her thoughts as the store clerk announced the daily special. She picked a few more tomatoes, and after putting the bag into her cart, she turned to find a smiling teenage girl standing next to her.

  “Excuse me?” the girl said with a high squeaky tone of excitement. “You play Shay McKade on A New Dawn, don’t you?” The girl’s smile widened, revealing braces.

  Kayla nodded. “Yes,” she said, relieved the girl was friendlier than the crazy woman who’d just confronted her.

  “I told my mom it was you but she didn’t believe me.” She giggled. “Can I have your autograph?” The teenager held out a scrap of paper and a pen.

  “You sure can.” Kayla smiled, and while signing her name answered a few questions the teen had about the show, and about acting in general. Now these were the kind of fans she liked. The ones who could separate her from the character she played on television.

  Kayla knew Shay wasn’t going to be a permanent fixture in Stefan’s life. Stefan and his estranged wife Cassie were way too popular to be apart for long. Perhaps the writers were gearing up for a storyline between Shay and Jared. If that was the case then she would be working with the most talented actor on the show. Her stomach churned at the thought. She’d come to terms with being a second tier character on A New Dawn. Being paired with Sean Barrett would change all that. Could she hold her own with him? Or would she prove herself to be a rank amateur? A few years ago, she wouldn’t have doubted her acting abilities, but she’d been in Hollywood for seven years now, and other than a couple of horror movies, she didn’t have much to show for it.

  After she’d finished her shopping and stood waiting in the checkout line, she noticed the latest issue of Soap Opera Journal on the rack. On the cover was a picture of Sean and Nikki Andrews, the actress who had played his wife, Rebecca. The banner above their picture said it all:

  A New Dawn actress axed! What’s next for Jared as he mourns his soul mate?

  * * *

  Sean Barrett knew he should be memorizing his lines for the next day’s taping, but the lure of his favorite team playing their arch rivals was far more interesting than whatever Jared Madison, his character on A New Dawn, would be saying and doing. The script would have to wait. The Dodgers on his big screen and an ice cold beer in his hand were taking precedence over work. Just as it should be on a Sunday afternoon.

  “Come on, Scanlon,” Sean muttered as Matt Scanlon, his best friend, strode from the on-deck circle to the batter’s box. “You’re due,” he said as if Matt could hear him. Lifting the icy bottle to his lips, Sean watched as Matt gave the pitcher his patented stink eye and then stepped up to the plate. “Don’t swing at the first pitch,” he said, lowering his beer and then groaning when Matt did just that. “That’s why you’re leading the league in strike outs.” Sean shook his head in disgust.

  Just as Matt hit a foul ball into the stands at Dodger Stadium, Sean’s cell phone rang. Leaning forward, he picked it up from the coffee table, checked the screen and saw it was his new publicist, Lisa Harrison.

  “I’ve got good news,” she said, not bothering with the customary pleasantries after he’d greeted her. “You’re going to be on the cover of Soap Opera Journal.”

  “You call that good news?”

  “It’s publicity, Sean,” she said with a hint of testiness. “And in your profession getting a cover is a good thing.”

  “If you say so.” He watched Matt hit a ground ball straight to the shortstop who fielded it easily. “Damn it to hell.”

  “Excuse me?” Sean could almost see Lisa’s arched brow and steely blue eyes.

  “Sorry. The Dodgers are losing.” Sean set his half empty bottle on the table and hit the mute button on the remote. “Look, I’ve been on the show for almost ten years. My face has been on the cover of Soap Opera Journal so many times I’ve lost count. It’s not that big of a deal to me.”

  At Lisa’s heavy sigh, Sean
realized she was only doing her job. A job she got paid very well to do, and one she took seriously, which was why he’d hired her to replace the asshole who’d planted false stories about him in the media.

  “When’s the photo shoot?” he asked. Why would he be on the cover now? His last storyline arc had just wrapped up, and since the producers had fired Nikki Andrews, his onscreen wife, he expected his character to be on the back burner for a while mourning her untimely death from a tragic car accident.

  “Are you available Thursday? I just talked to Kayla and she’s got the day off.”

  “Kayla Maxwell?” Sean asked with surprise. “But her character’s banging Stefan right now.”

  After a slight pause Lisa said dryly, “Well, that’s one way to put it. In any event, all three of you are going to be on the cover.”

  “That’s weird. Kayla and I haven’t had any major scenes together since she joined the show.”

  “Maybe the executive producer has plans for the two of you. I got the call from the network’s publicity department. They know I represent both you and Kayla. And from what I understand Marcus is available any day this week.”

  Sean almost snorted. “I’m sure he is. The guy never met a camera he didn’t like.”

  “True, that,” Lisa said with amusement. “So, are you available on Thursday? I’d really like to get this squared away tonight.”

  “Yeah. I’m available.” Sean stared at the television and bit back another curse when the catcher for San Francisco hit a ball deep into left field. The Dodgers’ left fielder sprinted, but before he could get to the warning track, the ball went over the wall. Sean watched as the young catcher pumped his fist in the air and loped around the bases. After passing Matt at home plate, he raised his arm and pointed to the sky as if thanking God for his fortuitous swing of the bat.

  “Great. I’ll get back to you tomorrow with the time and location of the shoot,” Lisa said. “And don’t be late.”

  “I’m never late,” he said before he realized Lisa had hung up. Annoyed, he tossed the phone on the sofa and grabbed the scripts from the coffee table.