Off the Record (5 page)

‘Er, yes. Yes, I’m sure he will be.’ She had no doubt he would be ecstatic about the prospect. ‘But why? You’ve guarded your privacy for so long, why now?’

‘Because this is my last tour,’ he said quietly. ‘Although I’d appreciate it if you didn’t report that just yet.’ She took a moment to let Johnson Brand’s bombshell sink in.

‘I don’t understand why you trust me with this information. I could run to my editor and it could be tomorrow’s headlines. Why take the risk?’

‘Because I want you to trust me.’

‘Why?’

‘I said earlier I have two things to ask of you. The first is that you report on my final tour because I like your style and originality.’

‘But you’ve only seen one article,’ Kate couldn’t stop herself from pointing that out.

‘Actually, I’ve seen more than that. I got my people to find some of your other stuff. We all agree you’re a good reporter. You’re fair and you respect your subjects. Having you on the tour as our writer-in-residence makes good business sense to me. The second is personal. I’m trusting you with privileged information in the hope that you’ll …’

‘That I’ll what?’ she asked, her mind whirling. Kate felt the heavy weight of dread settle in her stomach.
Oh no!
Was he going to proposition her too?
This was the man she’d grown up knowing of as her mother’s childhood sweetheart.
What the heck will I tell her?
She closed her eyes, her grip on the phone tightening as she willed him not to be like all the other men she’d met in the last week.
If he dares, I’ll have his news on the front page, alongside that snake Stephen’s chat up lines by tomorrow morning! Why the heck can’t anyone take me seriously?

‘That you’ll trust me enough to give me your mom’s address. Maybe even a phone number,’ he replied.

Kate blinked, feeling heat rise up her neck into her cheeks. She was thankful that the office was deserted by now so that no one could see her embarrassment. She vowed never to assume anything again. Of course Johnson Brand wouldn’t fancy her. He was old enough to be her father!

‘Kate? You still there?’

‘I’m still here,’ she answered slowly. ‘To be honest I’m a little stunned. I mean, you say that one thing doesn’t depend on the other, but I have to ask. Are you offering me the job because of who my mother is?’

‘Not really. Oh heck! That sounds bad. What I mean is, whether you feel able to tell me where your mom is doesn’t affect my respect for you as a writer. I’d still want you to join the tour.’

‘OK,’ she conceded. ‘So you’re offering me an assignment and it doesn’t depend upon me giving you mum’s address.’ She paused, trying to put her thoughts in order. ‘But Johnson, she’s in the phone book. You could have had someone look up her number without asking me. Why didn’t you?’

‘Because you’ve been straight with me Kate. You could have earned a fortune writing about me and your mom, but you haven’t said a word. I know Paul raised Cain about editorial approval and all that, but you could have sold that story to a whole number of papers and magazines and you didn’t. I appreciate that, and I respect you enough to want your approval.

‘Since I met you I’ve thought a lot about your mom, and I decided I would like to go see her. Y’know, catch up, see how she’s doin’. Would that be OK with you, Kate?’

‘I suppose so. I think she’d like to see you too. But …’

‘But?’

‘Well, she’s … it’s been a long time since you’ve seen each other. Are you sure it’s a good idea?’

‘Maybe not,’ he said. ‘But I’ve thought about it a lot the past few days, and I reckon I sure would regret it if I didn’t.’

Chapter Five

Kate was deep in thought as she finally left the office. So much that she failed to notice the tall man in jeans and a leather jacket as he peeled away from the wall he’d been leaning against and headed towards her. As he drew level with her he reached out and touched her arm.

Kate let out a shriek which brought fellow pedestrians to a halt.

‘It’s OK, babe, cool it,’ he moved closer, keeping his back to onlookers and attempting to shield her from their curious gazes. His hair was obscured by a black baseball cap and it took her a few seconds to put together the smoky voice and vivid blue eyes and recognise Paul Brand.

She closed her eyes in relief that she wasn’t being attacked by a stranger, only to open them again in outrage as he moved closer still. Kate put out a hand to stop him. Paul didn’t back off, which left Kate with the choice of stepping back or standing there with her hand against his warm torso. She stood her ground. ‘I am not your babe, and you startled me,’ she accused.

‘You’re very cute when you’re startled, Ms Armstrong. Very babe-like.’

Kate rolled her eyes. ‘Babe-like? Surely you could come up with something better than that,’ she mocked.

‘I could. But I’d rather do it somewhere a little less public.’

Kate’s heart raced at his playful tone. The thought of being somewhere private with this man was too wicked to contemplate! ‘Actually, I have a bus to catch, Mr Brand, so please just tell me why you’re lurking outside my office and pouncing on unsuspecting women, then I can be on my way. Did Pookie’s owner press charges after all?’

‘No, I got away with it. But thanks for your concern. I was kinda hoping that you’d missed me, Kate.’

‘Sorry, too busy,’ she smiled, determined not to fall for his lines.

‘You’re a hard woman, Ms Armstrong. Didn’t you think of me just a little?’

She studied him, her head to one side.
Lord, he’s a handsome devil! A devil who didn’t phone, and who really isn’t my type. Honestly! I will not let that sexy grin change my mind. Does he think I’m a complete idiot?
But the urge to ask if he’d missed her had to be quickly suppressed. She didn’t – shouldn’t – want to know.

‘Well, of course. I had to think about you when I wrote my article,’ she said with a cool smile. ‘And I did wonder whether I’d need to make a court appearance in your defence. But I’m a busy woman, Mr Brand, so unless you’re offering me an exclusive, I’d like you to back off.’

He didn’t of course. Kate fumed as he remained standing toe to toe with her, his gaze intent on her mouth. She felt the heat spread up her neck and into her cheeks. She knew she should move, but she felt powerless to do so.

‘Does this mean you’re going to let me interview you?’ She asked, trying to sound business-like but her voice came out shrill and reedy.

‘Maybe later. Right now I have something very exclusive in mind,’ he said, bending his head towards her.

She had a brief glimpse of perfect blue eyes before her senses were overwhelmed by his kiss. Kate gasped. He took this as his cue to deepen the kiss, sliding his tongue along her bottom lip and into her mouth. Her eyes widened, then closed in surrender as she melted into his arms. She was vaguely aware of laughter and a wolf-whistle, but couldn’t bring herself to care as she gave herself up to the best kiss she’d ever had.

She didn’t know how long they stood there on the pavement, kissing while the rest of humanity swirled around them. Buses and taxis growled past on the road, belching exhaust fumes, but Kate didn’t notice any of them. All she was aware of was the heat of his lips, his hands sliding up into her hair.

It took a particularly brutal shove from a hard briefcase to the back of her knee to bring her to her senses. Her leg buckled and she instinctively brought her teeth together in a pain-filled hiss. In doing so she managed to bite his lip.

‘Ow! Man! Save the rough stuff for later, will ya?’ he said, touching his swollen mouth.

Embarrassment ignited her temper, and Kate backed away, trying to disengage herself from him. They seemed to be a mess of tangled arms and hair. She tried to twist away, only to lose her balance. Her sharp heel came down on Paul’s trainer-clad foot and he yelped, letting go of her. While he hopped on his good foot cursing, Kate stalked off towards the bus-stop, her head held high.
Damn the man! What on earth was I thinking? I wasn’t thinking. I’m an idiot!

‘Hey! Wait up!’

‘Go to hell!’

‘What have you got to be mad about? I’m the one who got beat up.’

‘No more than you deserve. Now leave me alone.’ She kept on walking.

Paul fell into step beside her. ‘But I’m hungry.’

‘Buy a sandwich. I’m not on the menu.’

‘I know that,’ he responded patiently. ‘But I hate to eat alone, and I was kinda hoping you’d join me for dinner.’

‘Grab some other floozy off the street. I’m sure they’ll appreciate your cave-man tactics far more than I do.’

‘But no one else brings out my caveman instincts like you do.’

‘I’ll bet you say that to all the girls,’ she mocked.
Don’t soften now
,
my girl. He’s playing you for a fool.
‘Go away.’ She reached her usual bus-stop, but carried on walking, unwilling to provide a floor show for the people standing in the queue. They might be strangers, but she still had to face them every day and had no desire to draw attention to herself by arguing in the street.

‘Kate, sweetheart. Have pity, will you? I’ve got maybe a couple of hours before I have to head out of town. I’d really like to spend some time with you.’

Yeah, right. So why hasn’t he called me? And why should I care?
‘I am not your sweetheart, or your honey, or your baby.’ She switched her heavy shoulder bag to her other arm, nearly winging him with it in the process. He jumped out of the way just in time, and almost collided with another pedestrian.

‘Can we take this conversation somewhere less dangerous?’ he asked, halting her with a hand on her arm.

She turned to face him, her face set. ‘Is there any point?’ she challenged him. ‘I won’t sleep with you.’
What on earth made me say that? I’m starting to sound like a Victorian melodrama!

‘Did I ask you to?’ he responded, eyebrows raised.

‘“Save the rough stuff for later”?’ she quoted.

He angled his head and grinned down at her in a way that she was sure had persuaded countless other women to fall at his feet.

‘Forget the cutesy act, because it won’t work!’ she snapped, pulling away and resuming her determined march down the street. People coming towards her moved out of the way. For a moment she thought he’d given up, but then he jogged after her.

‘OK. I’m sorry. I guess I’m handling this all wrong. I have this annoying habit of clowning around. It drives everyone nuts. Will you forgive me?’

She slowed to a halt and looked at him, wary. He put his hands on her shoulders, looking deep into her eyes. ‘Can we start over? Please? I just wanted to have dinner, maybe get to know you better. Does that sound so bad?’

She shrugged, but said nothing.

He persisted. ‘C’mon, Kate. Take a chance.’

She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. All week she’d been swinging between fantasizing about this man and dismissing him as a shallow egotist. His kisses had been even better than she had imagined, but his behaviour had seemed to confirm him as a lightweight idiot. Now he was confusing her again. Why couldn’t he have carried on annoying her? If she could stay mad it would be easier to keep him at a distance.

‘I still won’t sleep with you,’ she pouted, feeling herself slide towards surrender. She tried to look away. His clear blue gaze was hypnotic. Her lips closed tightly as she resisted the urge to reach up and kiss him.

He nodded, his expression solemn, though his amusement shone out of his eyes. ‘I’ll wait till you ask. I promise.’ Before she could argue that it would never happen, he raised his head and put thumb and forefinger to his lips and let out a shrill whistle. A limousine pulled into the curb beside them. ‘Now let’s go eat.’

‘How did you do that?’ she asked, bemused.

‘It’s a gift,’ he grinned.

Chapter Six

An hour later, Kate sat back and pushed her plate away.

‘Enough. It’s fantastic, but I’ve got to stop.’

Paul leaned over an inspected the remains of her pasta dish. ‘You sure you don’t want that? It looks good.’

‘It is. But I can’t manage another bite.’

He rubbed gently on his bottom lip, now almost recovered from her nip. ‘I’m glad to hear it,’ he said.

Kate shook her head. ‘It wasn’t deliberate, you know. Someone knocked into me.’

He reached over with his fork and speared a piece of ravioli from her plate and popped it into his mouth. He closed his eyes and groaned with delight as the rich Italian flavours exploded on his tongue. Kate blinked, suddenly focussed on his mouth, remembering how he had groaned with sensual delight when he had tasted her lips. The room suddenly seemed too hot.

‘Oh man! That is beautiful.’ He opened his eyes and Kate found herself once again held by his warm regard. For a moment they stared, both lost in each other’s gaze. She saw his look turn smoky with desire, and she knew that it merely mirrored her own. In a panic she cast about in her mind for something to say to break the spell.

‘I … I really didn’t mean it,’ she whispered.

He looked confused. ‘So you’re still hungry?’

Oh yes. She was ravenous, but not for the food. But she wasn’t about to tell him that!

She lifted her napkin to her lips, grateful for the opportunity to hide behind it. She was in deep trouble. Paul Brand was turning out to be far too compelling for her peace of mind. She wondered whether it had been like this for her mother when she met his father.

Her train of thought brought her round to Johnson Brand and his offer. For the sake of her heart, could she really afford to spend three months in the company of his son? For the sake of her career, could she really afford to refuse the chance she’d been offered?

‘Kate?’

She shook her head, forcing her mind back to the man in front of her. ‘Sorry, I was miles away.’

He sat back, his expression rueful. ‘You sure know how to put a guy in his place.’

‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to … it’s just … well I’ve got a lot on my mind.’

‘Anything I can help with?’

She leaned her elbows on the table and cupped her face in her hands. She looked down at the pristine white tablecloth and the remains of their meal.

‘Have I lost you again?’ he teased. ‘Contrary to first impressions, I’m a pretty good listener.’

Kate looked up. ‘Your father called me this afternoon.’

‘Is that good or bad?’

‘I’m not sure really. He wants to see my mother.’

‘And you don’t know if that’s good or bad?’

‘Mmm. It’s a bit weird. I’ve known all my life that they went out together as teenagers, but … well … it’s like a legend. A story you know but don’t quite believe because it’s so fantastic. My mother and a rock star.’

‘He wasn’t a rock star then.’

‘He was to my mum. She talks about how she’d sit and watch him practice his guitar. He wrote songs for her. She’d sit in the wings while he performed at school dances and at talent contests.’

‘She broke his heart.’

‘That’s not how I’ve heard it.’

‘Tell me how you heard it. Dad keeps pretty close-mouthed about it.’

‘Well, all you have to do is listen to
Dream Woman
for his side of the story.’

‘You have no proof that album is about your mom.’

Kate raised her eyebrows. ‘Don’t give me that. You know as well as I do that it is.’

‘So, you want the story to make your name, is that it?’

‘Now you’re being insulting. Of course not. This is my mother we’re talking about. This is one story I will never write. It’s between my family and yours as far as I’m concerned.’

Paul looked thoughtful. Kate wondered if he ever trusted anyone.

‘OK,’ he said eventually. ‘Off the record …?’

‘Absolutely. Off the record,’ Kate confirmed, leaning closer.

‘Assuming it is about their romance, I guess he wrote it to get it out of his system. He hasn’t answered any questions about it since then, and he won’t start now. But I guess seeing you … you really look like your mom did back then, don’t you?’

She frowned. ‘How do you know what she looked like?’

‘I’ve seen photos, a long time ago. Have you seen their high school yearbook? There are quite a few pictures of them together. They were voted the cutest couple.’

Kate nodded. ‘Yes. I’ve seen it.’

‘That’s how I recognised you.’

‘You didn’t see me. You saw my mother.’

‘And at the hotel last week, you didn’t see me, you saw my father,’ he countered. ‘We’re both cursed by being perfect little chips off the old blocks.’

Kate wondered at the slightly bitter edge to his voice. ‘Touché.’

‘So tell me how your mom’s side of the story ends.’

‘Tragically, I’m afraid. Towards the end of her year in the States, her grandfather, who’d brought her up, died suddenly.’

‘That must have been tough. What happened then?’

‘She went home to look after her grandmother.’

‘And broke my Dad’s heart.’

‘And went back to England with her own heart broken,’ she countered.

Paul refreshed their wine glasses and took a drink. ‘Interesting.’

‘In what way?’ she asked.

He shrugged. ‘I don’t know. I guess I hadn’t thought about the other side to the story. I thought of your mom as the heartless woman who walked away from my dad. I even blamed her for my folks’ break-up.’

‘How on earth did you come to that conclusion?’

‘Come on, Kate, you’ve listened to
Dream Woman.
Dad met my mom within a year of arriving in LA. They got married because she was pregnant. I figure she offered him physical comfort and he accepted on the rebound from your mom’s rejection. When he knocked her up, he did the decent thing. She lost that baby, but Dad stayed with her because he felt it was the right thing to do. The trouble is, Mom knew he wasn’t in love with her, so within a couple of years she started cheating on him. Looking for love, I guess. It’s lucky I’m so much like Dad, otherwise there might have been a question mark over my paternity. Maybe I was a last-ditch attempt at saving their marriage. They divorced when I was two.’

‘That’s so sad. I don’t think you can blame my mother, though. We all have to take responsibility for our own choices.’

‘I guess so. But kids aren’t always logical, y’know?’

‘Well I hope you don’t blame her now. And I hope I’ve done the right thing letting your dad have her address,’ Kate frowned.

‘If she’s anything like her daughter, my guess is she’ll handle him OK.’

Kate gave him a startled glance. ‘I’m not sure I like the idea of my mother
handling
anyone, let alone a megastar like Johnson Brand.’

‘Hey, that megastar is just a man. He sweats and bleeds and …’

‘I’m sure he does,’ she interrupted, unwilling to hear what other unpleasant functions he might perform. ‘But Mum’s been very vulnerable since Daddy died, and it’s not as though your father will be paying more than a passing visit, is it? Their lives are so different now. What if …’

‘Kate, stop it,’ he smiled, reaching out to take her hand. His warm grip soothed for a moment, before her pulse began racing out of control. Kate took a deep breath, willing her senses to calm down. After all, Paul Brand was just a man too. He sweated, he bled, he … The memory of his soul-scorching kiss sent her heart rate into the stratosphere. Kate pulled her hand away and stood up. Paul looked up at her, his blue gaze questioning.

‘I … er … I need to … I’ll be back in a minute,’ she muttered, heading for the ladies.

In the sanctuary of the restroom, she ran cold water over her wrists and tried to make sense of her racing thoughts. What was freaking her the most – the thought of her mother with Johnson Brand, or her own reaction to his son? She’d never been affected by a man like this before. She’d had plenty of boyfriends, and enjoyed kissing and flirting like any girl. But Paul Brand was nothing like the boys she’d been involved with, and she doubted he’d be content with a few kisses. What worried her was that she doubted she would either.

With a strangled cry, she brought cold hands up to her burning cheeks. What was she thinking? No way would she sleep with him! It would go against every principle she’d ever had. She’d made that mistake once, with a boy she’d met at university, and been left heart-broken and humiliated. She hadn’t realised that what she thought was mutual love was no more than a fleeting lust on his part. The next time she slept with a man it would be the man she would marry. Paul Brand was definitely not marriage material. Half the time she didn’t even think she saw the real man, he seemed to have a knack of playing a part, putting up a smokescreen to obscure the man behind it. He’d enjoy a brief affair with her, and then swan off back to the States as soon as the tour was over.

The thought of the tour brought her up sharp. The tour! Paul’s father wanted her to report on it, to spend the next three months with the band. How on earth could she do that if she couldn’t control her reaction to his son?

The door opened and a couple of women came in. Kate reached for a paper towel and wiped her face. Her sanctuary had been breached. It was time to go back. As she turned to the door, she heard them.

‘Oh wow, I can’t believe we’re in the same restaurant as Paul Brand! Isn’t he the sexiest man you’ve ever seen? I thought his dad was gorgeous, but the son … well, I certainly wouldn’t kick him out of bed!’

‘Too right,’ her friend agreed. ‘The woman who’s with him is such a lucky cow. Imagine taking him home with you? I wouldn’t sleep for a week! I hear he’s a real stud.’

Kate closed her eyes and pushed her way out. Great! By just being with him, people assumed she was sleeping with him. Her rebellious heart asked whether it would really be so bad if she did, while her sensible mind insisted that she wouldn’t be one of the crowd. And she would be one of many. Just as she had unwittingly been before.

Those women hadn’t even realised that she was the same woman who’d been sitting with the object of their lust. They hadn’t bothered to look at her. She was simply the ‘lucky cow’. As she sat down, she found herself staring at him.

‘What?’ he asked. ‘Do I have spinach in my teeth?’

She shook her head. ‘You’ve been recognised. Two women were talking about you in the ladies.’

He sighed. ‘Did they bother you?’

‘Not exactly. They didn’t even notice me. They were too busy discussing your legendary sexual prowess.’

‘How flattering. But you shouldn’t believe everything you hear in the ladies’ room, Kate, any more than we can rely upon the press to report the facts without making two plus two become five, six, or seven.’

‘I’m not like that. I write the truth. I’m a journalist, not a fiction writer.’

‘I hope so. Although in my experience, honest journos don’t last long. You’ll either become like all the rest or they’ll eat you alive. As for those women, they know nothing about me. If I had as many conquests as they believe, I’d have no time for anything else. The truth is much less exciting – I work; I spend my free time alone or with family and friends; end of story.’

‘So all those pictures of you with actresses and models at showbiz parties are all fake?’

‘There are a lot less of them than you might imagine. Most of the women I’m seen with are old friends who grew up like I did – kids of actors and musicians. We’re a kind of mutual support group. Others are artists that I’m working with. If we need to attend an award ceremony or a premiere, we buddy up. It saves a lot of hassle, and keeps the press happy creating wild stories about us.’

‘Don’t you get sick of it?’

‘Sure, but what can I do?’

‘I don’t know, but …’

‘Look, my friends know the truth. The rest of them can go hang. I don’t owe them anything.’

‘“The rest of them” buy the records,’ she reminded him.

‘That gives them the right to listen to my songs. It doesn’t mean they’re entitled to know every little thing about how I live my life, any more than someone reading your paper has the right to know about your private life.’

‘OK. I can see what you mean. Has it been a big problem for you? I mean, you grew up famous because of who your dad is, didn’t you?’

He shrugged. ‘Sure, but others have had it worse. My parents were pretty protective. Now, do you want some dessert?’

Kate had a feeling he was making light of it. Despite his dismissal of the subject, she saw the shadows in his eyes. She shook her head. ‘Just coffee for me, thanks.’

‘You’re sure? I have a fancy for something sweet and sinful,’ he grinned.

Before she could answer, she spotted the women from the restroom making their way towards them. ‘Er, don’t look now, but I think you’re about to be offered just that.’

‘Say what?’ He looked up and saw them. ‘Damn! … Hi, ladies. I hope you enjoyed your meal?’

‘Oh we could hardly eat a bite once we realised who you were,’ one of them laughed. ‘We just had to come over and say hello.’

‘Well, that’s mighty kind of you.’

‘We’re on our way to a party, and wondered if you’d like to join us? It’s not far from here, and our friends would love to meet you. We all love your music.’

‘Sorry, ladies. My friend and I have other plans.’

‘Are you sure? You can bring your … er, friend if you like.’

Paul seemed to consider, raising an eyebrow at Kate in question.

‘Don’t mind me,’ she said, raising her hands in surrender. She doubted if any of them would want her along, and it was the last thing she wanted, but it occurred to her that she’d get a heck of a story if she did join Paul Brand at a party with these women. But she didn’t have the stomach for it.

‘Maybe another time?’ Paul looked regretful as he refused. The bolder of the two women took that at face value and insisted on giving him her number.

‘Call any time,’ she said, pressing her card into his hand. ‘We can have a party whenever you like.’

They finally left Kate and Paul alone, waving and blowing kisses at him as they exited the restaurant. Paul dropped the card on the table.