Red Carpet Romance

by Jean C. Joachim

  “My dad.” She stroked Junior’s head. The baby gurgled.

  “He must have been a good coach.”

  “He was. Coach Joe. Ever heard of him?”

  “The winningest coach in college basketball for five years running?”

  “That’s him.” She tossed the empty water bottle in a nearby trashcan.

  “Wow! I’m impressed. He must be very proud of you.”

  “He was…I guess.”

  “Was?” He rested his arm on the back of the bench.

  “He died a few months ago.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” he said, placing his hand on her forearm. She covered his with hers, pasting a feeble smile on her lips. “How old are you?” He deftly changed the subject.

  “Twenty-eight. Be twenty-nine soon.”

  “Maybe now you can help me. I need some advice.” He folded his newspaper and put it down.

  “From me?”

  “It’s about my son. He’s around your age. Help me to understand. Tell me what to do.”

  “What’s the problem?”

  “I want him to be responsible, get a job. Be an adult…”

  “And?”

  “And he just wants to fuck around, do school forever, and become…uh…Peter Pan and never grow up. Four years of college and now art school? Give me a fuckin’ break! How’s an artist going to make a living?” He blushed. “Sorry about the language.”

  * * * *

  When Quinn returned from the gym, the first thing he noticed was the stroller and basketball were missing. Guess she’s not pissed at me anymore, or the basketball would still be here. Women never accept a gift when they’re still mad, except gold diggers. He headed for the shower.

  When he finished, he wrapped a towel around his waist and went out on the terrace. Drying his thick, silky hair with another towel, he stood and looked at the view. A few bars of “Summer Rain” drew his attention to his cell phone. It was Chaz Duncan, star of the West of the Sun Sci-Fi series and Quinn’s best friend.

  “We got your message, but I wasn’t sure what you meant. Annemarie left her baby with you?”

  “Yeah.” Quinn sat down on a chair.

  “You’re taking care of a kid?”

  “I got a nanny.”

  “So you’re a father now? Should I congratulate you?”

  “It’s complicated.” He combed his fingers through his damp hair.

  “Stop messing around. Is this your kid or not?”

  “Can’t say.”

  “I always thought you and Annemarie had a secret thing going.” Chaz chuckled.

  “Shut up, Chaz.”

  “You have a nanny there? Living in your apartment?”

  “Yeah.” He propped one foot up on the seat of another chair.

  “Is she an old witch or Mary Poppins?”

  “She’s hot. Very hot.”

  “Are you doing her?” Quinn chuckled, sure he heard Chaz raise his eyebrows right over the phone. “Are you keeping your hands off her, or are you not?”

  “Have not laid a finger on her. You’d be proud.”

  “Yeah, right,” snickered his friend.

  “Seriously. Gotta have someone take care of the kid. Maggie came for the first couple of days, but she can’t come back. So if Susanna takes a hike, I’m cooked.”

  “What happens when the kid goes home?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “With you and this hot chick?”

  “I’m taking the kid and her to Malibu with me,” Quinn said, changing the subject.

  “Hmm, out in public? You, hot chick, and baby? I can read the press now.”

  “What can I do? Can’t leave her here.” Quinn sat up straight, both feet on the floor.

  “Why not?”

  “What if something happens? I’m responsible for Junior. I’ve got to keep them with me.”

  “I get it now. Yup. Okay, Quinn, take them wherever. I know you don’t want to be separated from this chick. When can we meet her?”

  “It’s not like that.” Quinn paced.

  “It’s me…Dunc. No need to pretend. When?”

  “Maybe I’d like to go out with her…”

  “Or stay in with her, eh?” Chaz chuckled.

  “When are you coming back?”

  “Meg and I are having a little private time, for a change. Most of the press left.”

  “Call me when you do.”

  “Stay cool. Don’t do anything stupid, Quinn.”

  He smiled. “I’ll try not to.”

  He put down his phone and wandered into the living room. House seems empty without Susanna and the baby. Her breasts were… He was lost in thought and didn’t hear the door close quietly.

  * * * *

  Junior was asleep in the stroller. Susanna crept up behind Quinn, who jumped when she spoke. “Got an aversion to clothes?” She blurted out.

  He leapt into the air, grabbing the towel at his waist. “Whoa! What are you doing here?”

  “Shhhh. I live here now, remember?” She whispered, gesturing toward the sleeping baby.

  A devilish gleam shone from his eyes as he approached her. Susanna backed away slowly, but Quinn kept coming.

  “Now that you mention it…” He advanced until she was backed against the wall. “We are living together, aren’t we?”

  “I wouldn’t put it that way…”

  “But we are.” As his wide shoulders moved closer, Susanna’s temperature rose. He’s so sexy. I’m the nanny, remember? Her eyes widened as he approached, and sweat broke out on her forehead. “Not really. Roommates…employer and employee?”

  “How about man and woman…very beautiful woman?” A sexy smile raised his lips.

  “Very ordinary woman…nothing special woman…” she babbled, shaking her head. Discourage him.

  “Woman with the most beautiful breasts in the world,” he whispered, stopping just short of touching her.

  Instinctively she raised her hands to prevent him coming up against her, but they simply rested against his chest. She pushed her fingertips into his muscles a little as her hands slid up through the light matting of his chest hair. The moment she touched him, a zing of desire shot through her arms and down to her core. She arched her back slightly, bringing her chest up to meet his.

  Raising her chin to make eye contact put her mouth in his path. His lips touched hers lightly, waiting. Frozen by her unsuccessful attempt to deny her desire, she couldn’t move away. He took her lack of resistance as a green light and bent down to press his lips to hers with more feeling. Then he pulled back, his eyes laughing, but hers remained closed for a few seconds.

  “Man and woman. Chemistry. As old as time.” The smile faded as his gaze swept her face, lingering on her mouth.

  Her chest stopped heaving as her breathing returned to normal. “Is that a line from one of your movies? Joe Martin, trying to get the heroine into bed?” She asked, breaking the mood.

  He laughed. “Not exactly. It’s from a great book I read in lit class. Don’t remember the title, just the line.” Quinn snaked his arm around her waist, pulling her closer as he kissed her again, harder. This time she came to her senses sooner and pushed him away. As soon as he sensed her resistance, he moved back.

  “You shouldn’t do that. It’s hard enough to…do…this, you know? Both live here and stay away, keep our distance.” Susanna wheeled the stroller into the hallway.

  “We’ve been living together, sort of. Why do we have to keep our distance?”

  “Because…because…” she fumbled for words. Why do we?

  “You have no reason. How can you expect me to go on living in this apartment with a beautiful woman like you and stay away…don’t touch. When you’re so…so…touchable.”

  “Am I?” Her gaze searched his.

  He chuckled. “Fishing for a compliment?”

  “I’m not.” Don’t want to feel like a family only to have it all disappear in a few weeks.

  “Don’t you know how att
ractive, how sexy you are?”

  She shook her head. “Always been a bit of a jock.” She turned away from him to face the window.

  “Oh, baby. You’re the hottest chick I’ve seen in…forever.” He said, walking up behind her.

  “Really? Hot? What makes me so hot?”

  He moved closer, putting his hands on her arms, then buried his face in her neck and whispered, “The way you look, your sense of humor, cooking, way you take care of Junior…you’re the total package.”

  She relaxed in his grip, taut muscles easing. He’s a dad who doesn’t want his kid. She tensed. “Is sleeping with you part of the job description?”

  Quinn withdrew as if he had been stung. His hands dropped to his sides. “Of course not. I’d never do that. You’re more than free to refuse me.”

  “Good,” she said, turning to face him. “I don’t care for men who reject their children. I know it’s none of my business, but I can’t help it.”

  “What?” His brows knitted.

  “You don’t want anything to do with Junior. Yet you call him Junior and seem willing to support him financially. But you never pick him up, kiss him, touch him in any way.”

  “He’s…” Quinn hesitated.

  “Can’t say, right?”

  He nodded.

  “Trusting my eyes here, and I don’t see any connection between you and your son. As attractive as you are…that’s a big turn-off for me.” Susanna scooped Junior up, careful not to wake him, and ferried him to his crib, leaving Quinn standing, open-mouthed in the living room.

  * * * *

  Susanna found herself meeting Max every day in Riverside Park. Max would watch the baby while she played basketball. Then she listened to him pour out his troubles about his son.

  “He needs direction.” Max opened a brown paper bag.

  “He’s an artist, Max.”

  “Artist, schmartist. What good is that? He needs to make a living. He’s twenty-eight years old. It’s about time.” Max handed her a paper cup of coffee.

  “He was working. Now he wants to go to art school.” Putting down the coffee, she poured some juice in a bottle and held it to Junior’s lips.

  “So he can do what? Paint? Better he should learn to paint walls and make a living that way.” Max took a bite out of a bagel smeared with cream cheese.

  “Does he agree with you?”

  “He’s not speaking to me.” Max looked down at his hands.

  “I rest my case, Max. Either accept his choice or lose him.”

  “I can’t lose Mike. He’s my only boy.” His voice trembled for a moment.

  “If you love him, you’ll have to find a way to accept him.” She wiped juice from the baby’s chin.

  “Easy for you to say.”

  “What does Nancy say?”

  “My wife? She’s staying out of it. But I know secretly she agrees with him.” Max waved a finger at Susanna.

  “Then join her. Talk to her.”

  “I can’t talk to her. We always end up fighting about Mike.”

  “Max! You’re impossible!” She shrugged her shoulders. “You only hear what you want to hear. I give up.”

  He reached for her arm. “Don’t give up on me. Everyone else has. Please.”

  “You need a crack in the head with a baseball bat! Stop being so stubborn. Ask Mike what his plan is and then listen...really listen.”

  Max nodded slowly. “I know what you’re saying is right.”

  “So try.”

  “Okay, okay. I’ll try.” He nodded.

  “I expect a report, too.” She shot him a stern look.

  Max held up his hands. “Okay, okay.”

  “No lies, either. No…embellishing. I want the straight story.” She finished her coffee.

  “You’re a tough broad, know that?” He grinned, wiping his hands on a napkin.

  “Damn right!” Tough as a marshmallow. She feigned her sternest look, but all it did was make Max chuckle.

  “Go play ball already.” Max took the stroller and moved the baby closer to him. Susanna picked up the ball and headed for the court.

  After her workout, she returned to the apartment, put the sleeping child in the crib, and took a shower. A loud crash coming from the living room grabbed her attention. Throwing on a tank top and shorts, she went to investigate. She found Quinn sweeping up pieces of broken glass. He looked sheepish. She retrieved a couple of wet paper towels from the kitchen.

  “What happened?” She asked, bending down to help him clean up.

  “Nothing, nothing…don’t need ashtrays anymore anyway.” He didn’t meet her gaze.

  “Oh? Looks like something to me.” She stared at him.

  “I lost it. That’s all.”

  “Lost what?” She asked, feigning ignorance.

  He stopped to glare at her. “My temper. What else?”

  “I see.” She whispered, nodding her head. “Wanna tell me why?”

  “No!” He continued to sweep as she lined up the dustpan.

  “Come on. You know you want to,” she urged.

  “Every producer or director I talk to loves the story of Jaden’s book, but none of them think I can play the part. I’ve talk to three studios and been shot down every time. One actually tried to get the name of the author and book from me. Hey, I’m not stupid. I’m not giving this away.”

  “Why can’t you play the part?” She carried the dustpan into the kitchen.

  “I can. It’s not an action role but a romantic lead.” He followed her.

  “You can play that part just fine. I’ll vouch for you,” she snickered.

  He returned to the living room and bent down to examine the floor in silence, turning a cold shoulder to her.

  “What? What did I say?” She shrugged.

  “This is serious.”

  “Is it? Don’t you have a great life playing your action hero and raking in a ton of money?”

  “You don’t get it. Never will,” he sniffed.

  His attitude got to her. “What do you mean?” Anger flushed her face.

  He threw the few large shards of glass he found under a chair in the trash and returned. “I love Joe Martin. It’s a great role, but I’m more than that. I’ve got maybe two more pictures with Joe Martin, and that’s it. I want to branch out. Now I’m typecast and will never get to play something more challenging.”

  “But you are Joe Martin.”

  “I’m really a carpenter. That’s what I started out as.”

  “How did you get to here from there?” She sank down onto the sofa.

  “I was an apprentice to Gavin, a high school friend. A quick job building sets opened up at the Pine Grove Playhouse, and he recommended me.”

  “You built sets?”

  “Yeah. Loved being in the theater…around theater people.”

  “So? What happened?” She sat back and crossed her legs.

  “A bit player got sick…the director liked the way I looked. Said I was right for the part. I was recruited. And it was love. I got lucky playing a few good roles there when I was discovered by a Hollywood producer. Rest is history.”

  “And now?”

  “I love acting, even more than carpentry. I want to do it forever. But I can’t as Joe Martin. I need to grow.”

  He turned and sauntered over to the terrace door. Susanna pushed to her feet to follow him, then put her hand on his arm. “If we go out there, I can’t hear Junior when he wakes up.”

  “What does it matter? You don’t understand. Nobody does. Correction—Chaz gets it.” He grabbed the knob.

  She closed her fingers around his biceps and tugged him backward. “Try me.”

  He turned to look at her before heading for the sofa. Susanna followed, tucking one leg underneath her as she plopped down next to him.

  “Working with Gavin in the off season and acting all summer was great. Chaz and I met at that summer playhouse.”

  “Sounds like a nice life.”

  “It was…
until I got dumped into my first Joe Martin flick. My whole life changed.”

  “That was good, right?” She noticed the small lines at his eyes and his knitted brow.

  “No complaints. But my career will end with Joe Martin if I don’t branch out. I could do Joe in my sleep. The challenge is gone.”

  “So you want something to stretch you.”

  “I want to see if I can really act,” he said in a quiet voice. “No one will give me the chance. They say audiences won’t believe me as a blind, romantic lead. They only want to see me as Joe Martin, action hero.”

  Susanna put her hand on his shoulder. “I think you can act. I know you can act.”

  He tossed her a rueful grin. “Thanks. Now I just have to convince myself, then a producer.”

  “So this is all about you proving something to yourself?” She cocked her head.

  “And surviving in this cut-throat business. You’re only as good as your last performance.” He looked down at his hands.

  “I believe in you. I love the Joe Martin movies.” She touched his cheek.

  He leaned over and planted a sweet kiss on her lips. “Not making a pass, honest.” He held up his hands. She laughed. “Thanks for the vote of confidence. Now if I could get a studio to agree with you…”

  “Life would be perfect…except for deserting your son.” Don’t forget who he is.

  “I’m not like that.” He raised his gaze to meet her stare.

  “And you don’t want to get me into bed?” She cocked an eyebrow at him.

  “I didn’t say that. I’m human…and you’re…”

  “Yeah, yeah, I know. Irresistible. So you said, sort of. Maybe nearby, easy prey?”

  “Forget it,” he said, pushing to his feet. “You’ve made up your mind about me. There’s nothing I can do. I have some calls to make.” Quinn strode into his room and slammed the door.

  Nice way to make him feel better. Jerk! Before a plan to cheer up Quinn hatched in her head, Junior began to wail. She glanced at her watch. Just time enough for an afternoon walk and workout. Susanna changed the baby, gave him a bottle, and packed him into the stroller.

  Quinn was still in his bedroom when she approached the door. She could hear his voice get louder as he yelled at someone on the phone. Glad it’s not me. As she headed out the door, his dilemma preyed on her mind. She couldn’t let it go. It’s not fair he doesn’t get a chance at a different role. Even if he is a lousy father.