Quentin Tarantino, the maverick director of such acclaimed hits as "Pulp Fiction", is reportedly romancing Shar Jackson, the former lover of Britney Spears' husband Kevin Federline.

This unlikely pair has been seen in Las Vegas where they raised eyebrows by acting like a couple. Witnesses told the US Weekly that "they held hands like a couple" and were "very touchy".

But a spokesperson for Jackson says the two are just friends and were celebrating her mother's birthday.

Dancer Federline abandoned Jackson when he began dating Britney in April 2004. Britney is now expecting her first child with Federline.