Red Carpet Redemption Page 5

  Iris suspected he was probably bored with the women in his circle and wanted to branch out. As a single mother, Iris knew she couldn’t go too far down this rabbit hole with Dane, but it was sure nice to feel wanted.

  Eventually, Jayden went to bed, but only after Dane agreed to read him a bedtime story. Iris tried to talk him out of it, but Dane insisted he was fine. And so, Iris had watched from the doorway as Dane sat by Jayden’s bedside in his Spider-Man–inspired room and read him a bedtime story about a prince with fire-breathing dragons until eventually Jayden’s eyes closed. Dane softly crept out of the room, meeting her in the corridor.

  She glanced up at him. “Dane, you really didn’t have to—”

  Iris didn’t get another word out. His arms came around her and her chest collided with his. And any past doubts she may have had about herself ebbed away when he pressed against her. He was hot and hard, and deliciously male. He wanted her. That much was obvious. She glanced straight up into those dark brown eyes of his and lost the battle.

  Everything exploded at the first touch of his mouth on hers. Dane took control of the kiss and one of his hands wrapped itself in her hair, so he could angle her head for a better fit. And then he simply...took. He kissed her deeply and Iris loved every minute of it. She shivered against him uncontrollably as a rich, heady desire stole through her body.

  The passion between them was so strong, it obliterated everything else, making Iris forget they were in the hall outside her son’s bedroom. So when Dane shifted to haul her against the wall, Iris didn’t care; the only thing she could do was kiss him back like she was a starving woman and he was her only sustenance.

  Nothing existed but the two of them in this moment as their lips and tongues tangoed in a sensual rhythm as old as time. She circled her arms around his wide, powerful shoulders, curved with muscles honed by what she was sure were many hours in the gym. When he leaned in harder, pressing his hips against hers, it forced her small breasts into closer contact with the hard wall of his chest, and Iris moaned. Heat gathered low in her belly, making her feel hot, hungry and ready—

  Jesus, she was losing her mind. She hadn’t behaved this way in a long time, since...since the accident. Thinking about that and what might come next was like having a bucket of cold water poured over her and Iris slowly stopped engaging in the moment.

  Sensing the change, Dane pulled back. His breathing was ragged and heavy. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”

  Iris lowered her eyes and shook her head. “It’s not you. It’s me.”

  Dane snorted. “If ever there was a line from a movie...”

  Glancing up, Iris offered a small smile. “I don’t know what came over me.” She moved away from him and started toward the living room.

  “Would it help if I said I didn’t expect it either?” Dane said. “I didn’t come over to seduce you, Iris. I genuinely care about you and Jayden.”

  “I can see that.”

  His brows furrowed. “Can you?”

  “The way you were with him tonight was amazing,” Iris said, turning around to face him. “Makes me realize he’s missing not having a father in his life.”

  * * *

  Here was his opportunity to come clean. To tell Iris he could be Jayden’s father. By some stroke of fate, life had led them to this moment where he would be able to save his son’s life, the son he never knew he had.

  But Iris was still speaking and he didn’t want to interrupt her. He followed her to the sofa where she’d made herself comfortable and sat down beside her. He was going to try to keep his hands to himself, but after that explosive kiss in the hall, it was going to be difficult.

  “I’ve tried to be both mother and father to Jayden,” Iris said, “but it’s hard sometimes, ya know? Was tonight his way of telling me he needs more male companionship in his life? As his grandpa, my dad does his best to pitch in, but I wonder if I made a mistake.”

  “A mistake?”

  “I don’t know who Jayden’s father is because I had Jayden through artificial insemination.” When Dane remained quiet at her revelation, Iris asked, “You don’t want to know why?”

  “Only if you want to share.” He had wondered. Iris was a beautiful woman. What would make her decide to take such a drastic action? But he couldn’t ask that. He had no right to judge her, considering he’d been a sperm donor himself.

  Iris shrugged. “I... I wanted to be a mother,” she admitted. “And I wasn’t sure it was going to happen for me. My family was dead set against it. They tried to talk me out of it, but I was determined. And wouldn’t you know, I got pregnant on the first try! What are the odds? Anyway, that’s the long and short of it. I thought I understood how hard it was going to be, being a single mother.” She glanced down the hall. “But I guess I was wrong.”

  He had to say something. This was the perfect opportunity. He wasn’t going to get another one, but where did he start? “Iris, I—”

  “Mommy, I’m thirsty.” Jayden appeared in the living room in his Spider-Man pajamas, looking sleepy eyed.

  Iris was immediately on her feet. “I’ll be there in a minute, honey. Go on back to bed.”

  Rubbing his eyes, Jayden didn’t argue and went to his room.

  “It’s going to take me a minute to put him back to bed.” Iris glanced down at Dane. “I should walk you out.”

  No. This couldn’t be happening. She was asking him to leave now, when he was on the cusp of telling her he was Jayden’s father? “Iris, we should really talk,” he began.

  She nodded. “I know, but it’s late and I should get Jayden back to bed. Can I take a rain check?”

  Dane couldn’t push his luck. The conversation they needed to have was too important to be rushed. “Of course.” He grabbed his leather jacket off the sofa arm and followed her toward the door. “Thank you for having me over tonight. I can’t remember when I’ve had such a great time.”

  Iris laughed aloud, and the sound was melodious. “No need to lay the charm on so thick, Dane. I highly doubt baked pasta with a single mom and her six-year-old is a barrel of fun. Not with the movie premieres, travel and stars you get to meet.”

  “You’d be surprised, Iris Turner. You’d be surprised.” The glow of being a movie star had worn off a long time ago. Luckily, he still enjoyed the craft of acting.

  Iris walked him to the door and when he got to the threshold, Dane leaned in and brushed his lips tenderly across hers. “Don’t sell yourself short, Iris. Tonight was amazing.” Then he was running down the stairs toward his motorcycle. He turned and caught Iris in the door watching him. He could feel her blush all the way from where he stood and she immediately closed the door. Dane remained outside for several moments, staring at the house. Inside was his son and the mother of his child, a woman who was quickly becoming so much more.

  Five

  Dane wished time would slow down for once and allow him to catch his breath. Since his dinner with Iris a week ago, he felt as if someone had pressed the gas pedal to the floor. Dr. Lee had rushed the results as anticipated. Now Dane knew with 100 percent certainty that Jayden was his. He was both excited and overwhelmed. Rather than tell his family and friends, Dane was taking time to digest the news.

  One thing was taking longer than he’d expected, though. He’d thought that the procedure for Jayden would be in a few weeks, but once he went to the information session about acute lymphocytic leukemia, he’d quickly realized his error. It would be at least a month before Jayden was ready to accept his bone marrow. Dr. Lee explained Jayden would have to have daily chemo treatments before his immune system was wiped out. Only then would he be able to receive Dane’s healthy stem cells.

  Meanwhile his team ran full steam ahead with his normal slew of activities. When he wasn’t promoting his new film, he was reading scripts for his next project and working through callbacks for his next lead
ing lady. He wasn’t excited about another big blockbuster, but the only way Jason had gotten the film studio to agree to his passion project was if he agreed to do a sequel to a megahit he’d done two years earlier.

  Competition was stiff for his new leading lady but so far the readings were ho-hum in his opinion. Dane supposed that was why his mind was always drifting to Iris and that one incredible evening they’d shared.

  Iris haunted him.

  Her taste. The sounds she’d made when she’d moaned out her enjoyment during the heated kiss in the hall. The sweet scent of her fragrant perfume. He found it impossible to concentrate on running through the scene with the myriad women the casting director brought in. Instead, Dane went through the motions. Apparently it hadn’t gone unnoticed because one day Jason pulled him outside the warehouse during a break.

  “Are you all right?” Jason inquired. “You’re a little distracted.”

  “I have a lot on my mind.”

  “Well, snap out of it. The studio head is here and he might forget you’re the star if you don’t show them who’s boss.” He stared at Dane for several moments and then asked, “Is this about Iris Turner?”

  Dane grabbed Jason’s arm and pulled him farther away from the warehouse entrance. “Keep your voice down.”

  “Are you still hung up on this kid thing?” Jason asked. “You know, you don’t have to do anything. You can donate your bone marrow and she can continue raising him without you ever telling a soul he’s yours.”

  Dane stared back at him incredulously. “Do you honestly think I can go my entire life knowing I have a kid,” he whispered, “and do nothing? Is that really the sort of man you think I am?”

  “I’m giving you an out, Dane. In case you were looking for one. I’ve known you a long time and I’d hate for this situation to derail your hard work.”

  “And your cash cow?” Dane replied. He was Jason’s biggest client and that was fine, so long as they were honest about his intentions.

  “This is not about the money, Dane, and I resent you saying so,” Jason responded. “I care about you. You’re like my kid brother. I’m looking out for you and maybe telling you something you’re afraid to think, much less say out loud. But if you need me to be the fall guy, then fine, so be it.”

  Dane sucked in a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Jason. This whole situation has me on edge. I should have told Iris when we had dinner.”

  “When did you have dinner? Did you sleep with her?”

  “No!”

  “But you came close,” Jason surmised.

  “We kissed after she’d invited me to share a meal with her and Jayden. Can you blame me for wanting to get to know my son?” His voice was low, nearly a growl. He didn’t want anyone hearing their conversation.

  “Of course not, but you have to be careful, Dane. You’re not an average guy who can have dinner with a woman you’re interested in. You’re Dane Stewart.”

  Dane nodded. “I realize that. But she still has to know.”

  “Ultimately it’s your decision, but in the meantime, I need you to get your head into this reading.”

  Dane followed him inside, but Iris and Jayden were not far from his mind. He had to figure out a way to ease into releasing the bombshell and pray Iris didn’t explode when she found out.

  * * *

  Iris wanted to cry. Over the last couple of months she’d watched Jayden go through physical exams, blood tests and a monthly bone marrow test. But today was the worst, when the nurses put a PICC—a peripherally inserted central catheter—in his arm. It was a thin, soft tube inserted into a peripheral vein in his upper arm. It would facilitate the pretreatment for the transplant and allow prolonged and safer access to Jayden’s veins to draw blood and administer chemo.

  The line would stay in his arm the entire treatment. It was hard to hide and needed to stay bandaged to prevent infection, but the team at Cedars-Sinai was so great. They were making it fun for Jayden. They’d given him a Spider-Man sleeve cover to put over the bandage. Most kids would probably screech at the top of their lungs at seeing a needle, but Jayden had taken this and the battery of tests he’d been subjected to the last several months like a pro.

  After the procedure was complete and they’d just gotten to the car, Iris had a suggestion. “How about some Moose Tracks ice cream?”

  “I can have some before dinner?” Jayden asked.

  “You absolutely can!” Iris said with a smile.

  She’d buckled Jayden into his seat and closed the rear door when she felt a presence behind her. She spun around and found Dane there. “Dane! You nearly scared me to death.” She swatted him with her purse.

  Dane held up his hands in defense. “I’m sorry. Guess my lame attempt at surprising you wasn’t the right move.”

  Iris placed her hand over her racing heart. “I appreciate you coming, but you could have warned me. What are you doing here?”

  “Well, I was bombing at a reading for my next movie and I hadn’t seen you in a couple of weeks so I figured I’d see how you both were doing. I remembered you mentioned Jayden’s visit, so I took an Uber over.” He glanced in the back seat and waved at Jayden, who responded with an enthusiastic flap of the hand.

  “We just finished getting his PICC line in. Jayden was a real trooper.”

  “But it was hard seeing it.” Dane said what she couldn’t.

  Tears welled in her eyes and she nodded.

  “Come here.” Dane pulled her toward him and wrapped her in his arms. Iris allowed herself to accept his embrace. There was something about the comfort she received from Dane that was unlike anyone else’s. He made her feel special. So special it scared her and made her worry this thing between them couldn’t possibly be real. For God’s sake, he was a superstar.

  Was she imagining he cared for her because she wanted it to be true? She breathed deeply, inhaling his heady masculine scent. Eventually, she tried to push him away, but he held on tightly.

  “Don’t treat me like a stranger, Iris,” he murmured. His eyes were blazing with some emotion she couldn’t read. When he cupped her face and kissed her, she wound her arms around his neck and his lips crushed her mouth. He invaded her senses, tasting her and teasing her with his tongue. Iris was so deep in the kiss she barely registered a knocking on the window. It was Jayden and he was staring right at them.

  Iris blushed, stepping away from Dane. “I have to go. I mean, we’re going for ice cream.”

  “Can I join you?”

  One of Iris’s brows rose. “Do you want to? I mean, you could be recognized and there would be a mob.”

  “It’s why I brought this.” Dane produced a baseball cap from his back pocket. “No one expects me to walk into Baskin-Robbins. I can hide in plain sight.”

  “All right, if you’re game, then so am I.”

  “Good, because I wasn’t taking no for an answer anyway.” Without waiting for an invitation from her, Dane hopped in her Camry and they were soon taking off down the road.

  * * *

  On the way to the ice cream shop, Dane realized he was in way over his head. The more time he spent with Iris, the more he couldn’t keep his hands off her.

  Since their dinner, they’d talked on the phone a few times. Sometimes the conversations were long, sometimes short, because Iris would be exhausted from working all day and taking care of Jayden. And every time they spoke, Dane told himself he would tell Iris the truth about Jayden, but he pulled back. If he didn’t tell her soon, it would be too late. She would be so upset by his deception she might not ever forgive him or allow him to see Jayden. And she had every right as his sole guardian.

  Last week after Dr. Lee called him with the blood test results, he’d gone to see a custody attorney, who made it quite clear he didn’t have any rights as a sperm donor. But given Dane’s name and stature, the attorney thought it might be int
eresting if Dane did take her to court because it would set a precedent. Dane didn’t want that. Iris was a great mother, yet he wanted a place, a small one, in Jayden’s life. And he was certain with his help, Iris and Jayden could have a better life.

  “We’re here,” Iris announced, pulling into a space across the street from the ice cream shop.

  Dane immediately put on his baseball cap and turned around to Jayden. “You ready for some ice cream?”

  “Yes,” Jayden said.

  Dane came around to the rear door and helped Jayden out of the booster seat. He saw Iris glance over at him, surprised by his behavior, but he’d done what a parent was supposed to do. And when Jayden grabbed both his and Iris’s hands to walk across the street, Dane beamed with pleasure.

  Despite the mild evening, there weren’t many people inside. Jayden rushed toward the displays.

  “Thank you for coming,” Iris said.

  “Who doesn’t love Rocky Road?” Dane said with a smile.

  When the cashier came over, they placed their orders: Moose Tracks for Jayden followed by a Jamoca Almond Fudge for Iris and a four-scoop banana split for Dane. While the cashier took care of their order, they found a booth. Iris and Jayden sat on one side and Dane on the other. His trainer would kill him for cheating on his strict high-protein diet. It was worth it, however, when Jayden’s eyes lit up at his banana split.

  “Want some?” Dane inquired. “Dig in.”

  Jayden sank his spoon into the gooey chocolate mixture and let out a sigh of pleasure. “It tastes better than my Moose Tracks.”

  “Have some more,” Dane encouraged.

  “Dane, he has his own ice cream,” Iris admonished.

  “I know, but there’s plenty for everyone. Why don’t you dig in too?” Dane said with a smirk. He doubted Iris could resist the sinfulness of the banana split.

  And she didn’t. Minutes later, she was plunging her spoon in and licking it off. Dane’s libido stirred to life watching her tongue lick and flick the spoon. He wondered what it would be like if she used it on him in places aching for her mouth.