He found Susanna curled up on the sofa reading. Breakfast dishes had been cleaned up. Quinn’s gaze moved slowly over her curves, bringing a smile to his lips. Love coming home to her.
“How was it?”
“Fine.” He unstrapped the baby and put him on the blanket on the floor before placing a soft toy in his little fist.
“Good.”
“You weren’t worried, were you?” He ducked into the kitchen and emerged with a bottle of water.
“Not…much.”
“You were? Why?”
“You’re inexperienced.”
“What experience is necessary? Just don’t go too fast and dump the kid over. He’s a good listener.” He took a long draught then headed back to his room. Under a hot shower, he plotted his strategy. Dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, Quinn ran his fingers through his wet hair as he pulled his phone out of his back pocket. Susanna was on the terrace, reading.
“Where’s the little slugger?”
“You knocked him out. He’s sleeping.”
“Oh. That’s good, right? Look, I’m going to be tied up today. I’ve got today and tomorrow morning to try and get something going before we leave for New York. Can you handle things without me?”
“I have been, haven’t I?” She stood up and put her hand on her hip.
“’Spose,” he chuckled. “Wish me luck.”
She stepped over to him and planted a kiss on his cheek. “I do.”
He pressed a button and paced as the phone dialed. “Jaden? Quinn. Yeah. You’re home? I’m still in LA.”
“Of course. My hometown. Thought we could redo what I missed in LA. Take me?”
“The premiere…oh, you mean the one in New York? I’m sorry, but I’ve already made plans to go with someone.”
“A date?” He could hear the edge in her voice.
“Sort of.” Uneasiness crept up his spine. Susanna is more than a date. Can’t tell Jaden. “Sorry. I didn’t know you’d want to go.”
“Of course I’d want to go.”
“Next time. Hey, I was thinking...fifty grand isn’t too much for a great book like yours. Fifty for five years. Deal?”
“Oh? Changed your mind?”
“You convinced me.”
“Love the book that much, eh?”
“You know I do.” Love the book but not you.
“Let me sleep on it.” The timber of her voice dropped to a deep, sexy level, and Quinn cringed.
“Just promise you won’t sell to someone else.”
“No promises, hon. I like to keep my men guessing,” she chuckled.
I’m not your man. Anger gathered in his chest. He hated to be manipulated. His fist tightened, and he stood still. “I’m counting on you.”
“Like I was counting on you to take me to the premiere?”
Silence. Quinn took a deep breath, his mind racing for a good zinger. I’m not dumping Susanna.
“I can do a lot for your book.” He tried changing the subject.
“I can do a lot for your sex drive.” Again her breathy voice teased.
He shuddered, no verbal comeback in sight. His gaze scanned the room, desperately looking for something to say. Susanna looked up from her book and connected with him. She smiled warmly. She made a motion to indicate eating and raised her shoulders in question.
“Wow, Jaden…oh my God, it’s one already, and I’m late for a lunch date with a producer,” he lied.
“A producer?” Her lazy tone became razor sharp again.
“That’s right. We could be talking about your book.”
More silence. Quinn grinned at Susanna. Gotcha now, Jaden.
“Go ahead. If he’s interested, then maybe I’ll sell you the rights for fifty. Of course if he’s interested,” her harsh tone melted into a purr, “then the price will have to go up.”
“Gotta go, Jaden. Talk to you later.” He hung up the phone, picked up a throw pillow from the floor, and fired it at the wall. His hands fisted, and he stomped out to the terrace.
Susanna rose from her seat. “Didn’t know you were that hungry. I’ll get lunch going right away.”
Quinn grabbed her arm. “It’s okay. It’s not that.”
She tilted her head and stared at him.
“It’s Jaden Benedict. She’s such a bitch, holding me up for more money. Wants to sleep with me…” He ran his hand through his hair.
She took his arm and dragged him inside. “Come on. Let’s eat. You can tell me all about it.”
“Nothing to tell. She won’t make a deal.”
“Are you going to sleep with her?” Susanna moved toward the kitchen with Quinn following along.
“Hell no!”
“Good. Thought I might have to smack you.” She shot him a mischievous grin.
He ruffled her hair. “I’m starved. What’s for lunch?”
“Since I’ve been promoted to producer, maybe you should make lunch?”
“You heard?” He raised his eyebrows.
“Kinda hard not to.” She opened the refrigerator door. “How about egg salad?”
“Works for me.” He sat down at the table.
She handed him a loaf of bread. “Here, you can make the toast.” The muffled sound of a baby crying caught their attention. “Looks like Junior’s going to join us for lunch. I’ll be right back.”
Quinn took out four pieces of bread then brought down two jars of baby food and the box of baby cereal. Never made egg salad before. How hard can it be?
* * * *
When Susanna returned with a freshly changed, smiling baby, she couldn’t believe her eyes. Junior’s cereal was made and a jar of strained apricots was sitting open. A bowl filled with crudely chopped eggs mixed with mayonnaise sat on the counter while Quinn spooned big portions out onto two slices of toast.
“You did all this yourself?”
“It took a while to find the hard boiled eggs. I cracked one that wasn’t. Made a mess.”
“And you cleaned up…I’m impressed. You can make lunch for me anytime.” She eased the baby into his highchair.
“Guess when my run with Joe Martin is over, I can become a short order cook.”
She snapped her head around to stare at Quinn as he cut the sandwiches. “Are you worried…about your career?”
“Not really. Frustrated that I can’t get anyone to make this movie. But I have several appointments this afternoon and even one for breakfast tomorrow before we leave.” He handed her a plate. “By the way, I hope you don’t mind, but I have a dinner meeting with a producer tonight.”
“No problem. Junior will keep me company.”
When he had changed and was ready to leave the apartment, he stopped to kiss her goodbye. “Wish me luck.”
“I do,” she said, resting her hand on his cheek.
The afternoon was a quiet one, she played with Junior, took him for a walk, and then read. The baby was asleep by seven. She watched television before climbing into bed around ten.
Junior awoke at two o’clock, crying. Susanna sat up, but the door opened before she could move.
“Stay. I’ll get him,” Quinn motioned with his hand from the door. He was wearing his terry bathrobe, so he had arrived home some time earlier, she surmised. He padded over to the crib and picked up the baby. He spoke softly to the little slugger, patting his back. Junior rested his head on Quinn’s shoulder as they slowly made their way out of the room.
Susanna slipped back into bed. She tossed and turned for a half an hour, expecting to hear a baby’s wail or the click of the door opening, but there was only silence. Unable to stand not knowing, she slipped a big T-shirt over her head and crept silently out of her room.
Tiptoeing to the living room, she heard the soft murmur of BABY BELUGA. Quinn was in the rocking chair with Junior cradled in his shoulder, holding him securely with his large hands. The chair moved slowly back and forth. The baby’s eyes were shut, and Quinn’s were closing. She crept up quietly and stopped to gaze at him for a
moment.
Her heart lurched to see the tiny infant snuggled against the large man. So cute! As his empty arm dropped, she lunged forward to snatch the sleeping child from Quinn’s lap before he fell. Quinn started, his eyes popping open, his hands searching for the infant.
“Wha? Where?” He rubbed his eyes.
“Shhh. It’s okay. I’ve got him.” She rested her hand on his shoulder for a moment.
Quinn looked over and smiled when he saw Junior safely tucked into Susanna’s arms. “You got ’im?”
“Yup. Relax.”
He stood up, yawned and blinked.
“How did it go,” she whispered as they headed down the hall.
He shook his head. “No deal.”
“I’m so sorry,” she murmured quickly before slipping into her room.
“Good night,” he whispered.
“’Night.”
* * * *
The next morning was chaotic. Junior was fussy after waking up in the middle of the night. Quinn was frazzled as he had overslept, barely leaving in time for his breakfast appointment. With everyone growly, Susanna’s good humor went south. Junior cried or whimpered as she raced around the apartment, packing up his clothes, hers, and Quinn’s things as well.
When he returned half an hour before the car to the airport, she breathed a sigh of relief. “I didn’t know if you were going to make it.”
“Sorry to be so late. Everything is lousy this morning.” He frowned.
“Another turn-down?”
He nodded, grabbing his bag and setting it by the living room door before he retrieved hers and Junior’s. Traveling with the infant involved too many suitcases, too many items to be remembered. They ran from the vehicle to the house twice before hitting the road.
Even being in first class didn’t calm Junior down. The plane ride was tense with both the baby and Quinn in bad moods. Susanna tried to cheer them up, to no avail. Within three hours, her good mood had turned sour as well. The flight was long and tedious.
When they arrived in New York, they were glad to see Bobby, who was there to pick them up. He was chatty but quickly doused his good humor when they only replied with “yes” or “no.” Junior fell asleep in the car on the way back to Manhattan. “Why couldn’t he do that on the plane,” mumbled Susanna crossly.
Stokes helped with the bags. Once in the apartment, she managed to get the baby into the crib without him waking up completely. Susanna then shut her door while Quinn disappeared into his room.
She toed off her shoes and washed her face. There were two boxes on her bed, one huge and the other small. She opened the smaller one first and smiled as she pulled out a female version of Quinn’s blue terry robe in pink. Then she opened the huge box as quietly as she could. Turquoise taffeta rustled slightly as she pulled down the tissue paper. This was the dress Annie bought for her to wear to the premiere. It was strapless and form fitting, with a discreet ruffle down the side and across the bottom.
She held it up to herself and peeked in the full-length mirror. “It’s beautiful,” she mumbled, then checked Junior to make sure she hadn’t woken him up. He stretched a bit in his sleep but then settled down.
She hung the gown in the closet and almost fell over a shoebox that had fallen on the floor. Inside was a pair of silver sandals with three-inch heels. She slipped them on. They were a perfect fit. Bless you, Annie!
After putting away the shoes, she lay back on the bed. The New York Premiere Another walk down the red carpet on Quinn’s arm. And the party afterward would be amazing.
She closed her eyes and allowed herself to dream for a few moments. Life had been hard for the past few months, since the accident, but now everything seemed on track. She was floating, happy. Enjoy it. When Junior’s mom comes back, this will be over for you. Happy thoughts crowded out the doubts and anxieties about what was to come. Princess for a day. Cinderella. Enjoy it before the clock strikes midnight.
She drifted off to a calm rest until Junior awoke and she was back to work.
Chapter Eight
The night of the premiere, Annie Asher rode up in the elevator to Quinn Roberts’ apartment. Though she was older, Annie was shorter than Susanna at about five foot four. She had curly, sandy hair to her shoulders and freckles. She wore a summer shift, flat sandals, and big hoop earrings. With three children, she hardly had time to worry about fashions or her attire. Her figure was similar to Susanna’s, with attractive curves and slim legs.
Annie schlepped a large makeup case. Fancy building, ordinary elevator. Susanna had asked her sister to help her with her hair and babysit for Junior. Jonathan, Annie’s husband, had consented to take care of their kids so Annie could help out.
Greeting her at the door, Susanna chattered away a mile a minute. Annie finally put up her hand. “Halt! Susie. Let me look around. You may live here, but this is my first time.” They slowed their pace. Annie’s gaze moved from fabulous, huge oil painting to fabulous, huge oil painting gracing the walls of the long hallway. She gasped when she entered the living room, with its masculine leather and clean white, black, and brown colors and designs.
Quinn sauntered up to her. “You must be Annie,” he said, offering his hand.
She nodded. “I am. Mr. Roberts, so nice to meet you. I love your movies,” she gushed.
“Quinn, please. Thank you. And thank you so much for taking care of Junior.” He shot her his sexiest grin, and she almost swooned.
“Okay, you two. Enough. Come, Annie, Junior’s in the bedroom.” Susanna took her sister’s arm and dragged her away from Quinn.
“This is Junior.” She picked him up and held him where he could look Annie over. The cautious look on his face troubled her. “I hope he takes to you.”
“Kids love me. I’m a mom, remember,” Annie said, smiling at the baby.
Susanna moved to hand him over, but Annie stopped her. “Wait. Give him a chance to get used to seeing me. Besides, we have a few minutes before I have to do your hair.”
Annie chatted with Junior, who simply stared at her as she talked. She made lots of hand gestures and finally picked up a toy. Junior reached for it immediately, and when she handed it over, she touched his face gently. He smiled at her.
“Let me change and feed him a snack while you shower, sis.” Susanna handed him to Annie slowly, but the baby took to her right away. Susanna let out a sigh and headed for the bathroom while Junior and Annie, his new best friend, went to the kitchen. Annie busied herself gathering fruit, Cheerios, and a bottle of juice for the little slugger.
She sat down in front of the infant and listened to his babbling while she supplied him with food. Quinn strolled in while they were there.
“So you’re Susanna’s big sister?” He leaned against the archway.
“Yep. Susie’s keeper.” She laid out some Cheerios on the highchair tray.
“Susie?” He lifted his eyebrows.
“That’s what I’ve always called her.” Heat colored Annie’s cheeks while she watched Junior pick up each piece of cereal, one at a time.
“Think she’d mind if I called her that?” He pulled up a chair.
“Don’t know. Depends on how…uh…close you are.” She offered the baby the bottle of juice.
“We’re not that close…yet.”
“But you plan to be?” Annie turned to face him squarely as she asked the question. Her unvarnished stare made him blush.
“I wouldn’t say that.”
“What would you say, Quinn? This is my sister, my vulnerable sister, we’re talking about.” She kept her gaze trained on his face, watching his confusion. He seemed to be struggling for words.
“Susanna is…a…remarkable woman.”
“Damn straight.” Junior whimpered, drawing Annie’s eye.
“Beautiful, too.” He fidgeted in his seat.
“Got that right.” Annie spooned some applesauce in the infant’s mouth before turning to Quinn again with a direct question. “Are you playing with her hea
rt? Are you planning to seduce and dump her? Because if you are, you’ll have to answer to me. Our daddy’s gone now. Protecting her is up to me.” Anger bubbled up in her chest, and try as hard as she could, she couldn’t keep the edge out of her voice.
“Susanna’s a grown woman. She doesn’t need your protection.”
“Oh? Are you planning to break her heart?”
“Never. I’d never do that to her.”
“Can I trust you…famous movie star, heartbreaker?”
“How am I a heartbreaker?”
“I’m not ignorant, I read the tabloids.”
He laughed. “Then you are ignorant. I’m not a heartbreaker, no matter what those rags say. I’m not a serial dater. My last relationship lasted over two years, and that was over a year ago. I care for Susanna…Geez, I can’t believe I’m telling you this!” He raked through his hair.
“Why?”
“Because I haven’t even told her this.” He pushed to his feet.
“Oops!” Annie chuckled, turning her attention back to Junior.
“Does she ever talk about me?” He paced.
“I plead the fifth.” Annie raised her right hand.
“Come on, Annie. Does she like me? What does she say about me?”
“You’re wasting your time. I’d never breach her confidence.” Annie turned her attention back to the baby.
Quinn sighed deeply and sank down into his chair. “It’s not easy, you know.”
“You’re joking, right?” Junior babbled and slapped his hand down on the tray, asking for more Cheerios. Annie reached in the box and pulled out a handful. She scattered a few for him.
“Dead serious.”
“A gorgeous movie star? You can have any babe you want.” She turned to look him right in the eye.
“But I don’t want any babe. I want a woman who can see past this movie star crap.”
“Good luck with that,” she sniffed.
“Right, Annie! Now you’ve got it.”
Red Carpet Romance Page 10
