Stormy Vows - Iris Johansen [11]
“I want you for the role of Mary Durney,” Donovan said quietly. “Charles said you were a quick study.”
Brenna nodded dazedly, looking down at the script.
“You'll have to be,” Donovan said grimly. “I want you ready for filming in three days.”
She looked at him. “I don't understand,” she said in confusion. “The trade papers said production started on Forgotten Moment two months ago. Mary Durney was being played by some Broadway actress.”
“She's not working out. I'm replacing her,” Donovan said.
Brenna shivered at the ruthlessness in his voice. “Just like that?” she asked faintly.
“Just like that,” he said implacably. He went on, “Mary Durney is a supporting role, but I think you'll find her worthwhile. Played right, she could steal the film.”
“Why me?” Brenna asked bluntly.
“Because you're right for her,” Donovan said simply. “When Charles asked me to audition you for Angie, he said you had a quality that grabbed a person by the throat and didn't let go.”
“You make me sound like a boa constrictor,” Brenna said wryly.
“I have a hunch you can be just as lethal to a man,” he said lightly, before his tone became coolly businesslike again. “He was right: You have a quality I want. But not for Angie. For Mary Durney.”
“For such a devoted mother, you're being shockingly neglectful, Brenna,” Blake Conroy said nastily. She had been so involved with Michael Donovan's astounding proposal that she hadn't noticed Conroy's approach. Conroy sauntered over to her, holding a tousled and drowsy Randy, who looked as if he had been snatched up from a deep sleep. He probably had, Brenna thought furiously. She brought Randy to almost all the rehearsals. He played or slept in his playpen in the wings. The cast had adopted him; Conroy was the one person who never had time for Randy. He was obviously hoping to use the baby now in some ploy to get back at her for her rejection this evening. She snatched Randy from him, cuddling the warm, sturdy body protectively.
Conroy surveyed her with sly satisfaction before turning to Donovan, who had gone strangely still. “Touching isn't it?” he drawled caustically. “I thought you'd better realize what you're letting yourself in for before committing yourself. It's a package deal with Brenna, you know. She's quite boringly obsessed with that kid of hers.” With a mocking salute, he strolled away, eminently well satisfied with himself.
Michael Donovan's face was expressionless as he asked slowly. “The child is yours?”
“My name's on his birth certificate,” Brenna said flippantly. She felt strangely vulnerable before those penetrating eyes. She hugged Randy closer, until he gave a sleepy little grunt.
“And who else's name is on that birth certificate, Brenna?” Donovan asked softly, his blue eyes gleaming fiercely. “Who is the father?”
She could see that, for some reason, he was in a white hot rage. She wondered briefly if he objected to his actresses having family commitments.
“There's no other name on Randy's birth certificate,” she said coolly. “It's not required when the child's parents aren't married.”
“How old is he?” Donovan asked hoarsely.
“Two,” Brenna answered.
“My God, you started young, didn't you?” he asked bitterly. “You must have been barely eighteen when you gave birth to him.”
Brenna lifted her head defiantly. “Perhaps you should have given me the role of Angie after all,” she said sweetly. “You can see we have a lot in common.”
“Yes, I can see that,” Donovan said tightly, the flame in the electric blue eyes scorching her.
“Perhaps you would like to retract your offer,” Brenna said scornfully. “It might not be very good publicity to have an unwed mother in your precious picture.”
“To hell with the publicity,” Donovan said roughly. “No one tells me who to cast in my pictures. You're going to be Mary Durney, Brenna.”
His arrogant declaration only aggravated the antagonism that his very presence generated in her.
“If I choose to be,” she said firmly.
His mocking glance ran over