Free Red Carpet Romance by Jean C. Joachim Page A

me.”
    “If I find out differently, you’re
dead meat.” She shot him a warning look.
    He chuckled. “That I believe.”
    Susanna cleaned up Junior and put
him in the stroller. “Maybe we’d better go out for a walk without you. You
never know who’s going to pull up with a camera.”
    “You’re right. Sorry.” He washed out
Junior’s bowl before returning to the living room.
    “All part of the job, isn’t it?”
    “Yep, unfortunately.” He plopped
down on the sofa and turned on the forty-eight inch, flat screen television.
“Don’t get into any trouble.”
    “What trouble could we get into?”
She shrugged.
    Quinn turned to face her. “A woman
who looks like you, with a mouth like yours…you could get into lots of
trouble.” A lopsided grin claimed his lips.
    She made a noise and a dismissive
motion, before opening the front door. The air was comfortably cool as she
walked along. Junior cast his gaze across the wide sky and then at Susanna. She
chatted with him, and he gurgled back at her. After an hour, the baby was fast
asleep, so she headed back to Quinn’s place. Heading home. Home? No. It’s Quinn’s place.
    The beautiful apartment was spacious
and welcoming. She liked the sea air and cool, ceramic tile floors. Everything
about the apartment pleased her. Of course adding the tall, handsome, sexy man
in with the fine furnishings didn’t hurt one bit. And what would I do if he were single…unattached. What do I do then?
What if he wanted me, and Junior too? What would the baby’s mother say?
    But she had no answers to her own
questions. The thought of a battle with the infant’s mother sent a shiver of fear
up her spine. He’s trouble. Stay away
from him. Yeah, right, while living in the same house.

 
    * * * *

 
    Susanna decided to get dressed
before the babysitter arrived. She took a long bath while Junior finished his
nap. Quinn was in his room. She had laid out everything, from the silvery
sandals to the small diamond choker on loan from Castle and Cohen jewelers.
    Sitting naked on the bed, she
refreshed her nail polish on fingers and toes, humming to herself. It wasn’t
too long before Junior awoke. Blowing on her nails to dry them, she slipped on
her flimsy robe and visited the baby, babbling at him.
    He grinned at her. Her nose told her
he needed changing. When that was done, she brought him out to the living room
and put him face down on the big blanket on the floor. Susanna poured juice in
a sippy cup and sat on her knees next to Junior. A click signaled the back
bedroom door had opened.
    She looked up and gasped. The man
who looked sexy in jeans and a T-shirt was devastating in a tuxedo. The top two
buttons on his bright, white shirt were unbuttoned, and his black, silk tie
hung loose.
    “Can you tie this thing?”
    She nodded. “I did dad’s tie for
every awards dinner.”
    “Right before we leave, okay? Less
time spent fastened into this monkey suit…”
    “Can you watch him while I get
dressed?” She pushed to her feet.
    “He’s not gonna spit up on me, is
he?”
    She shrugged. “No idea. Stay back a
little and watch him like a hawk.” Susanna returned to her room and dressed
quickly. Don’t leave him alone with
Junior for long. Baby could spit up on him. What a disaster. Slipping her
feet into the sandals was easy, but tugging the long zipper up was not. She put
on the earrings that matched the choker and walked to the living room. “Quinn,
can you do up the zip for me?”
    He looked up, and his eyes nearly
popped out of his head. “Wow! Are you going like that? Holding your dress up?”
He rose up out of his chair quickly.
    “Don’t be silly! I can’t zip it all
the way. I need your help.” She turned her back to him.

 
    * * * *

 
    Quinn inhaled her gentle lilac scent
as his fingers found the zipper. One hand held the bottom in place while the
other grabbed the pull. By simply twisting a little, he rested his palm on her
rump. The temptation to run