Starstruck Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Such a rough life,” she teased. But privately she was beginning to think it wasn’t such a bed of roses after all. He was every bit as handsome as his pictures, but there was a weariness about the man that she wouldn’t have predicted. And he was obviously as hungry as he said he was. As soon as they sat down, he piled his plate with casserole, lettuce, and a large helping of her Jell- O salad, shoveling it in without a word, while the children chattered on around him.
    “About the interview,” Liv said to him when the chatter abated momentarily.
    “What interview?” he asked through a mouthful of Jell-O.
    “The one you’re here for,” she reminded him archly. “You’re not getting out of it that easily.”
    He grinned, unabashed. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
    “I can if my job depends on it,” she said, feeling annoyed. The grin was provoking all sorts of flutters and unbusinesslike feelings in the pit of her stomach. “And for heaven’s sake, take some peas,” she snapped at him. “How can I get Theo to eat them if you don’t?”
    “I hate peas,” Joe confessed, looking sheepish. Four pairs of eyes looked up with interest.
    Liv glared.
    Joe groaned “Pass the peas,” he said to Theo, who grinned and handed him the bowl. He took three quick bites from the helping he put on his plate, made an agonized face, and swallowed. “There,” he said to Liv, as if he had just thwarted the vilest villain.
    “Hooray! Cake time!” Jennifer cheered.
    “Whose birthday?” Joe asked when Ben produced a cake, rather lopsided but definitely made with love, and began poking five candles into it. “Jennifer’s?”
    “Nope,” Noel said as he carried the lighted cake to the table and set it in front of Liv. “The three is in the tens column.”
    Joe looked baffled for a moment.
    “C’mon,” Liv said, laughing. “That’s not even new math!”
    “It’s Mommy’s,” Jennifer announced, “and she gets thirty-two spanks, because on my birthday I got five.”
    “No.” Liv shook her head quickly. “Kisses. Mothers get kisses.”
    “Thirty-two is an awful lot of kisses,” Ben said with distaste.
    “You do one each,” Joe said quickly. “I’ll take care of the rest.”
    “What?” Liv felt herself go crimson.
    “Come on,” Joe said to the kids. “Line up.” They got up, giggling, and marched around her chair, each administering a self-conscious peck, except of course Jennifer who literally threw herself into it, bestowing a wet, smacking kiss on Liv’s red cheek. She ducked her head, unable to take her eyes off her hands in her lap.
    “My turn,’ ’ Joe said softly. He got up and walked down the length of the table so that he stood perilously close, almost touching her. “Happy birthday,” he murmured, and with an entranced audience of young Jameses looking on, he bent down and captured Liv’s chin in his hand, lifting her face so that he could brush his lips very lightly across hers. Almost unconsciously Liv leaned into the feather-light caress, and his lips returned, firmer, lingering, tantalizing. Then almost reluctantly he lifted his head, and she saw a smile on his face that sent shivers clear to her toes.
    “Whoooo-eeee!” Noel yelled. “How about that?”
    “Wait till I tell ’em at school!” Theo chimed in, his eyes like saucers.
    “But even if you save one for Stephen to give her,” Ben, the ever-practical, said to Joe, “You’ve still got to give her twenty-six more.”
    “Don’t worry,” Joe said, laugh lines appearing at the co rn ers of his eyes. “I can manage it.”
    My goodness, Liv thought, no wonder legions of women fall at his feet. He can charm the socks off anyone without even trying! Twenty-six kisses, indeed!
    “Blow out the candles!” Jennifer urged.
    “Make a wish!” Ben’s eyes were alive with excitement.
    Liv looked across the candles, down the table at Joe. His gaze was unfathomable, and for the first time she wondered what the real Joe