Free Masquerade by Janette Rallison Page A

people’s lives.
    Natalie reached over and placed a hand on Slade’s arm. “So are you brave enough to hang out with us, or should I leave you off the guest list?”
    For a moment Slade considered refusing the invitation—because of Natalie, not Sylvia.
    But that was stupid. Having dinner with AJ was exactly the type of opportunity he needed. And Natalie wasn’t going to try anything with AJ sitting right next to her. He was her boyfriend. Chances were she was madly in love with him, and this stuff now was just flirting for old time’s sake.
    “Dinner sounds great,” Slade said . And then to be on the safe side, he added, “I’ll bring my secretary along. She, uh, loves mingling with celebrities.”
    “The woman who used to bring Bella to the set?”
    “Yeah, Meredith. That’s the one.”
    One of Natalie’s perfectly-shaped eyebrows arched up. “She’s still with you, even after the tropical fish fiasco?”
    Slade shifted his weight uncomfortably and turned away from the police hat box. “It wasn’t Meredith’s fault that Bella shattered the aquarium. Bella is just accident prone.” He let out a slow breath. “It was my fault, really. I should have known better than to let her within throwing distance of it.”
    Natalie smiled in a reminiscing sort of way. “I’ll never forget the way the water flooded over the studio floor—how the fish flopped around on the ground while we raced around trying to save them . . .”
    “The lighting guys and I tried to save them,” Slade said. “You sat there in your fins laughing at us.”
    “And you threw some of them into the water cooler. That might actually have worked if they had been fresh-water fish.”
    Slade shook his head ruefully. “You wouldn’t think dying fish would be so picky.”
    “So you stood over the cooler with a salt shaker trying to save them. It was very noble.”
    “Yes, I’m sure that’s what you thought while you were doubled up laughing.”
    She grinned at him, but it wasn’t the grin he noticed. It was the way her gaze locked onto him. “I’ve always thought you were very noble.” She leaned closer to him again. “You’ll save me a dance tonight, won’t you?”
    “Sure. We’ll request the theme song to Mermaid Island ."
    “Good.” The grin melted from her face, but the gaze was still going full blast. “I guess I ought to get back to my room. I have tons of unpacking to do.” She took a few steps toward the door, then turned back to face him. “Oh, and Slade, since we’re in Hawaii, who knows—maybe I’ll be able to find some seashells you like.”
    Natalie finished her exit out the door. Slade stood in the room for several moments longer. He rubbed one hand over his brow and stared at the door. He hadn’t planned on walking any tightropes but suddenly found himself teetering on one. If he offended Natalie, she would destroy his chance with AJ. If he didn’t offend Natalie—well, there was no way around offending her if she planned to resurrect her seashell wardrobe. He’d have to do his best to avoid her until he’d worked things out with AJ.
    Of all people, he had to run into Natalie here. Slade shook his head again and resolved never to become a gambler, because nobody, he was sure, had worse luck.

Chapter 10
     
    After Clarissa shut the door behind Slade, she smiled at Bella in the most confident manner she could muster. Clarissa had spent half of last night mentally reviewing every childrearing technique she’d ever learned about—coming up with contingencies for every possible Bella situation, until she felt she was ready for anything.
    After all, Clarissa was a trained professional. During her family science classes she’d studied Piaget, Brazelton, Skinner, Freud, and James Jones. She knew about developmental needs, motivation, consequences, the subconscious, boundaries, and a myriad of complexes. She had years of experience in child care and the experts on her side.
    Now she bent down until she