Public Secrets Part 159

Europe filming."

"Mmmm." She considered the idea a moment, then smiled. It made it all

the more interesting somehow. Here she was on the verge of seducing one

of little Emma McAvoy's friends-and playing Emma's

mama in what was sure to be the hottest movie of the year. And it would

be all the more interesting to think of herself as Jane while they made

love. "Small world." She set her gla.s.s aside to lean forward and toy

with the b.u.t.tons of his s.h.i.+rt. "Do you see much of Emma?"

"No. Well, actually I saw her last month when she was in town."

"Isn't that sweet." The first b.u.t.ton popped open. "Are you two ...

involved?"

"No. That is ... No. Miss Parks."

"Angie." She blew a light stream of smoke in his face, then crushed out

her cigarette. "And what is your name, darling?"

"Michael. Michael Kesselring. I don't-"

Her movements stopped. "Kessetring? Any relation to the investigating

officer on the McAvoy murder?"

"He's my father. Miss-"

She laughed then, long and loud and delighted. "Better and better.

Let's call it fate, Michael." Her hand slid up his thigh. "Relax."

He wasn't stupid. And he wasn't dead. When she closed her hands over

him, the pleasure speared through him like a heated blade. And so did

the guilt. It was ridiculous, he told himself. She was gorgeous,

dangerous-every man's darkest fantasy. He'd had his share of women,

starting with Caroline Fitzgerald on the night before his seventeenth

birthday. They'd lost their virginity together, sweatily and clumsily.

He'd learned a lot since good old Caroline.

Angie slipped the cigarette from his fingers, leaving it to smolder in

the ashtray as he hardened against her palm. He was going to be sweet,

she thought. So very sweet. And the irony-the irony was beautiful.

"I've never had a cop," she murmured as she nipped at his lip. "You'll

be the first."

He felt the breath back up in his lungs, thick and hot. He shook his

head to clear it. He had one flash, achingly lucid, of sitting with

Emma on the winter beach. Then Angie stood up. With a flick of her

hands, she unsnapped her belt. She had only to shrug her shoulders to

have the red silk slithering to the floor. Beneath it her body was

white and lush and naked. She ran her hands over it, lingering,

caressing as adoringly as a lover. Before he could find the strength to

stand, she was straddling him. On a groan of pleasure, she pressed his

mouth against one perfect, polished breast.

"Do things to me," she murmured. "Do anything you like."

THE SUPERMARKET TABLOIDS had a field day.

ANGIE PARKS'S ROOKIE LOVER

The Inside Story

TRuNGLE OF Pa.s.sION AND MURI)ER IN HOLLYWOOD

They leaped on the connection with the McAvoys and played it like a

bra.s.s band. In New York, Emma tried to ignore the gossip and prayed it

wasn't based in fact.

It was none of her business, she rea.s.sured herself as she spent hours in