Daniel glanced at Sebastian. “You’re older than us.”
“I think we should let Matteus tell her. He’s the oldest and he has a gun,” Sebastian said.
“Mom must know. She has a passport. So she would have needed to provide her birth certificate to get it, which would have included her biological father’s name.” Nick frowned.
“You can change a birth certificate,” Daniel said.
“You would need a court order to change the name of a biological parent and that would be difficult to obtain,” Sebastian replied. At one time he’d thought about being a lawyer, but card tricks won out.
“She’s never said anything.” Nick wondered if there was more than just a secret at stake.
“What do you want to do?” Daniel asked.
Nick almost wished he’d never started the process, but that wasn’t fair to his mother or Roxanne. “The problem is that Lionel is still alive and he lives in Pasadena and I think he wants a relationship with us.”
That shocked his brothers. Daniel stared at Nick and Sebastian frowned.
“I wasn’t expecting that,” Daniel said. “You’ve met him?”
“I wanted to check him out first.”
Again his brothers looked at him in surprise.
“I wasn’t expecting that, either,” Daniel added.
Nick fell silent. The waitress brought spinach salads and placed the plates in front of them.
“Why?” Sebastian stared hard at Nick.
Nick didn’t know why. He’d thought it was a good idea at the time. “I wanted to check him out. I thought Roxanne had made a mistake, but...” His voice trailed off.
Sebastian said, “Maybe Mom didn’t say anything because she didn’t know he was still alive.”
Nick didn’t have an answer. Their mother was so open about everything, why hadn’t she ever said anything about this, unless she considered the information to be unimportant.
“Maybe we could all go meet with him,” Nick said.
“Do you think we should gang up on the poor old man?” Daniel asked.
“I don’t know what to think, but this is bigger than just me. Mom is going to be affected, too.”
“I wonder if Dad knows?” Sebastian mused.
“I want to meet this man.” Daniel glanced back and forth between Nick and Sebastian. “But before we do, we need to talk to Matteus, Nina and Lola. They should be part of this process.”
“I want to get a feel for him before we break this to Mom,” Daniel said.
“Mom is no wilting lily,” Sebastian said. “I just don’t think she knows the truth.”
“Let’s find out the truth and then we can talk to her,” Nick replied.
* * *
“Where are we going?” Roxanne asked.
The rehearsal had been a good one and Nick seemed buoyant about something. “I have all this excess energy today.”
“I can think of a thing or two to burn it off,” she said with a coy sideways glance at him.
He grinned. “I have something else in mind.”
“Am I going to like it?”
“Yes,” he said. “Of course you are.”
She settled back against the leather car seat and watched the scenery flash by. He turned down a side street and into a large parking lot mostly empty of cars.
The banner Studio City Roller Rink hung over a double door entrance.
“You’re kidding,” she said with a wide grin. She hadn’t been roller-skating since when, high school, maybe?
“I never kid about roller-skating.”
“Do you even know if I know how to roller-skate?”
He grinned. “I talked to Portia. She said you did as a kid.” He parked the car, slid out and opened her car door with a flourish.
Afternoon heat flooded the car. Then he opened the rear passenger door and grabbed a large black metal box from the backseat.
She remembered roller-skating around the studio when she wasn’t on the set. She’d had fun. But she hadn’t been on skates in years. “Is it even open? There’s hardly any cars in the lot.”
“I rented it for the afternoon. I know how you big stars hate having the public see you fall on your tush.”
She laughed. “I rolled down a muddy hill and played dead. The public has already seen me at my worst.”
He tugged her out of the SUV. “Come on. You’ll have fun.”
“I don’t know if I remember how.”
“It’s like riding a bike. You never forget.” He pulled her toward the doors.
“You’re planning a dance with me and you on roller skates, aren’t you?”
“I’ll make that decision after I see you skate.”
The interior was cool. A blast of air-conditioning lifted her hair. Muted music filled the large oval rink. An attendant on skates circled the rink in step with the music. A second attendant asked her shoe size and handed her a pair of brown skates.
Nick led her to a bench and opened his case to show gleaming black leather skates. He pulled a roll of socks out of a pocket and handed them to Roxanne. “Put these on.” He opened another case and added a helmet and knee and elbow pads to her pile.
“Do I get a pillow for my tush?” she asked as she took off her shoes and rolled the socks on and then Nick knelt down in front of her and laced her into her skates, then helped her with the pads.
“Why?” she asked as he fussed with her skates.
“Balance, stability and coordination,” Nick said. He sat next to her and stripped off his shoes. He slid his feet into his skates and laced them up. “All those elements are a bit out of your comfort zone.”
“That’s an understatement.”
“This is going to make dancing seem much easier.” He stood and grinned at her. He held out his hand. “Come on.”
Standing wasn’t as easy as she remembered. The wheels were loose and slick on the tile floor. She slipped and slid her way to the rink, afraid to pick her feet up.
The attendant waited for them at the entry to the resin floor that comprised the main rink. He held out a hand to Roxanne. “Haven’t done much skating lately, have you?”
“My feet seem to remember, but my knees don’t,” Roxanne admitted, trying not to wobble.
“Keep your feet together,” the attendant said. The name Wes was embroidered on his shirt. He gently pulled her out onto the floor. “I’m going to help, and I won’t let you fall. A few tips to keep in mind...” He rattled off instructions while Nick took a turn around the floor looking like skating was so completely natural to him, Roxanne felt a spurt of envy.
After ten minutes of patient coaching, and picking her up after a couple falls, the attendant turned her back to Nick who took her hand. The music played more loudly.
“What dances can you do on skates?” she asked after her first circuit around the rink without falling.
“Fox-trot, waltz, polka and a pretty good tango.” He wrapped one arm around her waist and took the other hand and held it out. “You’ll be a master in no time.”
She found herself sliding in time to the music with Nick’s hand clasped tightly around her waist.
“Stop thinking about your feet,” he ordered. “Go with the flow.”
Going with the flow became her mantra as she worked to enjoy herself. Lulled by the music and the rhythm, she leaned into him. She’d forgotten how much she loved skating. After a few turns around the rink, she found herself relaxing and laughing, melting into his arms with a sensuality that left her almost breathless.
“I feel like my feet are still skating,” Roxanne said as he opened the car door. “Are you still thinking about a dance routine on skates?”
“I changed my mind,” he said as he started the car.
Twilight cast a yellow glow on the landscape. The air was thick with summer heat. “I think you’re going to need to feed me.”
“I can manage food. How about take-out from Mario’s and then...” he hesitated on the next words “...come home with me,” Nick whispered into her ear. He leaned into her, his hands moving around her waist. His need for her flamed and he kissed deeply until she groaned.
She pushed away to study him. For a long moment, she said nothing and then finally nodded.
Nick lived in a condominium just off Wilshire Boulevard. He pulled up to heavy wrought iron gates, inserted his key card and slowly, the gates opened. Roxanne looked nervous.
He liked his condo. He’d kept the decorating to a minimum—bare wood floors, brown leather furniture and white walls with a few art pieces he liked.
Roxanne looked around curiously while he opened the wine fridge behind the bar and pulled out a bottle of white wine. He popped the cork, poured two glasses and opened the brown paper bag from Mario’s, which they’d stopped at on the drive over. The scent of tacos, enchiladas and spicy guacamole and corn chips filled the room. He handed her a paper plate and Roxanne grabbed a taco.
“I didn’t realize I was so hungry,” she said between bites.
“Roller-skating can do that to you.” She sat at the bar with him, eating her food and sipping the wine. All the while he was conscious of her heat, the scent of her floral perfume and the way her eyes keep glancing at him almost shyly.
“This is good,” she said as she finished an enchilada.
“Not bad.”
He cleaned up when they’d finished and joined her on the sofa. He pulled her into his arms and again heat flared through him.
Nick’s words caressed her. “I want you.” He reached out and pulled her into his embrace. He kissed her, moving his mouth over hers, and Roxanne wrapped her arms around him. Every part of her body was ablaze. Her eyes closed and she let the passion take over. It was so wonderful being out of control. She clung to him like a desperate woman. She could feel herself growing even wetter.
Nick pulled away from her and she missed his heat the instant it was gone. “Tell me you want me to.”
“More than anything.” Did he have any idea how sexy he looked as he shook out his hair? Her throat went dry and she couldn’t take her eyes off him. He pulled off his shirt and tossed it on the floor before striking a pose. He was stripping for her. How exciting! She found herself smiling like a lovestruck fool.
“Do you like?” Nick unbuttoned his jeans and folded one side back slightly.
She stared into his chocolate eyes. “Were you in any doubt?”
He chuckled. “Good.”
She felt his laugh all the way down to her toes. “Do you want me to get undressed now?”
“Slowly.”
“If that’s what you want.”
“It is.”
Roxanne unbuttoned her shirt, slid it off and then pushed her jeans down. She slipped off her underwear and stood, her panties dangling from her fingers.
Nick snatched her panties out of her hand and tossed them on the floor. “They look good on the floor.” He pointed at her. “Next.”
She unhooked her bra, pulled it off and let it slide through her fingers.
He grabbed her wrist and brought her hand to his very hard penis. “This is how bad I want you.”
He felt so strong, so powerful. Her heart started racing. Heat gushed between her legs.
“This is why I can’t wait.”
Her eyes slanted over the condom packets lying on the bed. She turned her gaze back to Nick. She let her eyes roam his beautiful sculpted chest, admiring his muscles, his skin, his everything. She watched him take off his shoes and socks, and then put the condom on. Then he grabbed her around the waist and lifted her up. “Wrap your legs around me.”
Roxanne did as she was commanded and he walked them to his bed. He put his knees on the mattress and lowered her body until she was lying on her back. Without giving her any time to think, he spread her legs.
“You are so pretty down here.”
She had a moment of self-consciousness and wanted to close her legs, but then he slid two thick fingers inside her. Her back arched as she accepted him inside her. Pleasure knifed through her and her toes curled. Wetness coursed through her. She was ready to explode. Then he began to massage her clitoris. The calloused pad of his thumb moved achingly slowly over her hard bud. Roxanne couldn’t catch her breath.
He moved faster, harder, driving her to the point of orgasm.
“Inside me. Please.”
He smiled. “Yes.”
Roxanne sighed as he removed his fingers and quickly inserted the head of his penis inside her. She looked up at Nick and his face was tight with tension. He had squeezed his eyes shut and his chest was rising and falling.
“You feel so good.”
Roxanne raised herself on her arms and wriggled her hips trying to get him farther inside her.
He opened his eyes. “Do you want all of me?”
She nodded her head.
He slid his arms around her waist and lifted her up until she touched his chest. The motion forced her body to impale itself on him.
A shuddering breath escaped her mouth. She felt so full. He throbbed inside her and there was a moment where she just felt so complete. She was hanging on the edge.
He smiled against her mouth. “Hang on to me. I have you.”
Roxanne put her arms around his neck. She could feel him pulsing inside her. She was ready to orgasm now.
He put his hand on her butt, cupping her cheeks, and slowly he began to move her hips up and down. He filled her so completely, Roxanne was dizzy with pleasure. Her head fell back and she just let instinct take over. She clenched her muscles around him.
His fingers pressed into her skin and his lips roamed her neck and breasts. She could feel the beginnings of stubble on his chin. He whispered against her skin, but she couldn’t exactly make out his words. He suddenly sucked her nipple into his mouth and she felt herself come. “Nick.”
He laughed and pushed her down hard on his penis.
She spiraled out of control, and increased her tempo, wanting him to orgasm with her. He pushed up into her and she thrust down on him.
Together they found their perfect tempo and time seemed to stop. Her pleasure escalated and their mouths collided, their tongues dancing. Their bodies strained together until Roxanne came again, Nick following her seconds later.
Chapter 10
Roxanne was almost giddy with excitement. “We weren’t eliminated tonight.”
“I told you roller-skating would help with your balance.” Nick grinned at her as they pushed through the doors to the parking lot. “You wowed the audience tonight.”
She did. Roxanne almost skipped to Nick’s car. Despite her earlier misgivings the results had turned out better than she expected. “I think we make a good team.”
“In more ways than one,” Nick said and kissed the tip of her nose.
“What is our routine for next week?” She slid into the passenger seat.
“The rumba,” Nick said as he started the car and backed out of the parking space.
“That seems complicated.” At least he’d decided against a dance routine on roller skates.
“No more complicated than any other dance.”
She grinned as he drove up the entry ramp to the freeway. Even at night, Los Angeles was alive with movement. Cars streamed along at top speed. Lights blazed overhead. The Pacific Ocean in the distance seemed like a black hole in the darkness.
Nick turned onto her street. Roxanne frowned at her house. Lights showed in almost every window. Usually by this time at night, her grandmother was in bed and only the porch light would be on
.
Portia’s car was parked in front of the house. Roxanne felt a shiver of trepidation slide down her spine. Something was wrong.
Roxanne ran into the house, Nick at her heels.
Portia sat in the family room, a glass of wine in one hand. Roxanne was surprised to find Tristan present, as well. He paced back and forth in front of the fireplace. Roxanne’s grandmother sat at the kitchen table with her laptop open, frowning at the screen.
“What’s going on?” Roxanne asked.
Portia jumped to her feet. “Thank goodness you’re here.”
Tristan’s gaze flickered between Nick and Roxanne.
Donna closed her laptop and swung around to face the room.
“They’re going to sue you,” Portia said.
“What?” Roxanne asked.
“Mom and Dad are going to sue you,” Tristan said. He flopped into a chair and stared at Roxanne.
Roxanne frowned. “Why?”
Portia said. “A couple of their clients spoke with your agent.”
“And what does that have to do with me?” Roxanne asked.
“Mom and Dad decided you’re behind this mass defection,” Tristan said.
Perplexed, she could only stare at her sister. “I haven’t done anything. I can’t control what their clients do.”
“Don’t you know you’re the great and powerful Roxanne,” Portia said. “According to Mom you have magical powers.” Portia drained her glass and poured another one.
“Right,” Roxanne said. “I’m hungry, Nick. Do you want a sandwich?”
He nodded and she went into the kitchen and pulled lunch meats and mayo out of the refrigerator. She handed him a bottle of water.
“Roxanne, you have to take this seriously,” Portia cried.
“No, I don’t. They’re just rattling their chains. If push comes to shove, I’m the one with the money and I can keep them in court for years. If they think I’m going to wilt over the word lawsuit, they need to rethink their strategy.” She glanced at her brother. “Why are you here?”
“Because,” Tristan said, looking ashamed, “I’m the one who started Mom and Dad thinking about lawsuits when I decided I’m not renewing my contract with them, either.”
Love Tango Page 14
