Dangerous Kiss (37 page)

'Well, I mean, take that friend of yours, Jerry whatever his name is, the one from New York. Every time I speak to him the guy is leering all over me like I'm naked or something. But you, you're just a regular guy. And you could be a prick, 'cause you're major good-looking.'

'Don't say that,' he mumbled, embarrassed. 'I'm not an actor. No need to build my ego.'

'You're better-looking than any actor I've ever seen,' she said, meaning it. 'You've got that Denzel Washington charisma thing going.'

He roared with laughter.

'An' you got great teeth,' she added with a cheeky grin.

'Y' know,' he said thoughtfully, 'this is the first time I've laughed since Mary Lou died.'

'I told you when I met you before 'ow sorry I was to 'ear about your wife,' Lina said. 'It must've been tough for you.'

'It's beyond tough, it's impossible. Nobody realizes what it's like unless they've lost somebody close to them,' he said gravely. 'There are mornings you barely make it out of bed. All you want to do is pull the covers over your head and stay there for ever. It's the nightmare that never goes away.'

'I can imagine,' she murmured sympathetically.

'Sometimes, when I walk into my house, I almost expect to find her waiting for me.'

'I'm sorry, Steven. What else can I say?'

'Thank you, Lina. I hope you never have to go through it.'

'We're leaving,' Alex told Lucky shortly after dinner was finished.

'Why so early?' she asked, disappointed.

'You know parties aren't my favourite thing,' he said. 'Let's meet tomorrow and talk about the script.'

She hesitated a moment. 'Uh… I'm having a slight problem with Lennie.'

'What problem?' Alex said, giving her a penetrating look.

'He doesn't want me to do it.'

'That's crazy!'

'I know. And I'll work it out. But in the meantime, don't call me, I'll call you.'

'What does that mean?'

'It means I'm playing good little wife.'

'Bullshit!'

'I promise I'll get back to you in the next couple of days.'

'Are you saying we might not work together?'

'Of course we will. I simply have to handle it my way.'

'You know, Lucky,' he said, staring at her intently, 'I'm only going to tell you once—'

'Oh,' she said, challenging him with her eyes. 'What are you going to tell me, Alex?'

'Sure you love Lennie, and he's a great guy. But he's too moody for you. You need somebody more in sync with your lifestyle.'

'Somebody like you, I suppose.'

'You could do worse.'

'Only one problem.'

'And what would that be?'

'I'm a nice Italian American girl - well, actually, leave off the nice. But here's the thing. It's a well-known fact that you only go for Asians.'

'You kill me, Lucky. Call me when you've sorted things out with your husband.'

'Bet on it.'

'So tell me, Princess, am I getting the royal English dump?' Charlie enquired, not sounding too disappointed because he already had his eye on a replacement - a scrubbed-faced TV star with big boobs and trouble in her eyes.

'What?' Lina said, all girlish innocence.

'You've been talking to that lawyer dude all night. The old fart movie star is beginning to feel like a spare prick at a wedding.'

'Oh, Charlie,' she giggled, leaning back in her chair, 'can I help it if I'm in lust?'

'So I am getting the good old English dump?' he said triumphantly.

'No,' Lina insisted. 'Me and 'im were just 'aving a very interesting conversation about the environment, that's all.'

'Like, you know about the environment.' Charlie snorted.

'I do,' she said indignantly. 'I used to walk in the park in London when I was a kid.

I love trees and stuff like that.'

Charlie squinted at her. 'I'm not used to getting the old heave-ho, doll.'

'You've got a girlfriend, Charlie,' she pointed out. 'You're hardly marriage material.'

'Is that what you're looking for? To get hitched 'cause Brigette did the dastardly deed?'

'Not at all,' she said, glancing across the table at Steven, who was now conferring with his friend from New York. 'You've got to admit, 'e is cute. And -

'ere's the biggie - 'e's my bleedin' colour. We match.'

Charlie jumped on that one. 'Ha!' he said. 'Are you tellin' me I'm too white for you? Is that your current complaint?'

'You're scary white, Charlie. Don't you ever go in the sun?'

'Sunbathing's for movie stars who've got nothing else to do.'

Lina clinked her wine-glass with his. 'Anyway, it's not like 'e's asked me out or anything.'

'Oh,' Charlie said. 'And if he did? What would that make me? Second choice?'

She giggled again. 'Better than not being in the running at all, huh?'

Pia was waiting for Alex by the door. 'Sorry, honey,' he said. 'Had to take care of business.'

'You like Lucky Santangelo, don't you?' she said, as they walked out to the parking area.

'She happens to be my best friend,' he replied, handing his ticket to the valet.

'No,' Pia said softly. 'I mean you like her as a man likes a woman.'

'Where do you come up with this crap?' he said, irritated that she knew so much.

'A woman's intuition.'

'I'm with you, aren't I?' he said, thinking of what he would do to her later in bed.

'If you had a choice, Alex…' she murmured.

'You're full of shit.'

'Am I?' she said. Then, because she was smart, she briskly changed the subject.

'See those two people across the street? They were here when we arrived. They look like gypsies. A child shouldn't be out this late at night.'

'Maybe they're lost,' Alex said, hardly glancing over.

'Do people get lost on the Pacific Coast Highway, and wander down to the Malibu Colony?'

'If you're so concerned, go ask them.'

'I think I will,' she said, crossing the narrow road. The woman stood up from the kerb as Pia approached. 'Excuse me,' Pia said. 'I couldn't help being concerned, seeing you out here all night with your child. Are you all right?'

The woman nodded, clutching her thin sweater across her dress. 'I -I wait to see Mr Golden,' she said tentatively. 'Is he in house?'

'Yes,' Pia said. 'Would you like me to ask someone to fetch him?'

'Please,' the woman said, shivering.

Pia returned to Alex. 'She's apparently waiting to see Lennie Golden.'

'Is she a fan?'

'I hardly think so. She's quite beautiful, and speaks English with an Italian accent.'

'Maybe I should talk to her,' he said, 'see what she wants.'

'Go ahead.'

He walked across the road.

The woman stared at him as he approached. He took a good look back and was quite startled by her smouldering beauty. She reminded him of a young Sophia Loren in the movie Two Women. Full breasts, long legs, ample hips and a swirl of long, wavy chestnut hair. He wondered if she was an actress - she was certainly lovely enough in a very raw, womanly way.

'You're waiting to see Lennie Golden, right?'

'That is right,' she said, her lilting accented voice barely more than a whisper. 'If I can see him, it would be good.'

'Do you know Mr Golden?'

'Five years ago… we knew each other in Sicily.'

'You did, huh?'

She nodded.

'What's your name?'

'Claudia. I think he remember me.'

'Oh, yes, Claudia,' Alex said, as it all came together. 'I've got a feeling he'll remember you very well indeed.'

Chapter Sixty-one

'I wish to leave,' Carlo said imperiously. 'I wish to leave soon.'

'We can't,' Brigette answered. 'The party's for me, and I'm having a nice time.'

'If I say I want to go,' Carlo snapped, 'then we will leave. That Lucky Santangelo woman is a bitch. Make the most of her tonight, Brigette, for I will not allow you to see her again.'

'Don't tell me that, Carlo,' Brigette said, starting to get distressed. 'I love Lucky. I'll see her whenever I want.'

'If we were at the hotel now,' he said ominously, 'you would not dare talk to me like that.'

It was at that exact moment that she realized how desperately she needed help, and right now she was in the only place she was likely to get it.

Perhaps Carlo realized it too, for he was certainly anxious to get her out of there.

Her mind was running in different directions. She had to tell someone what was going on. Maybe Lina. Yes, that was it - tell Lina, who'd alert Lucky, who would come once more to her rescue.

But how could she ask Lucky for help again? She was supposed to be all grown-up. She had a career, a baby growing inside her, and a husband.

No, she couldn't humiliate herself again.

And yet… she knew she had to escape, or was she doomed to be under Carlo's evil spell for ever?

'I have to go to the bathroom,' she said.

'Do so,' he said. 'Then we must leave. You will tell them you are not feeling well.'

Her blue eyes searched the party for Lina.

Gotta tell her, gotta, tell her, gotta tell her, she thought.

But Lina was nowhere to be seen. Damn!

Outside the bathroom, she ran into Lennie.

'How's my favourite ex-stepdaughter?' he asked.

'I'm great, Lennie,' she said, still looking around for Lina.

'Enjoying the party?'

'It's great.'

'So…'he said. 'little Brigette is having a baby.'

'I certainly am.'

'I was thinking how sad it is that Olympia isn't here to see it - she would have been very proud of you.'

'She would?' Brigette said, reacting immediately. 'My mother never noticed anything I did. I was simply there, Lennie. I was a child accessory.'

'That's where you're wrong, sweetheart,' he said, watching her closely. 'Olympia was always talking about you.'

'How could she?' Brigette said. 'She never even knew me.'

'You know, Brig, in her own way, she loved you very much. I know,' he added. 'I was married to her.'

'Well… I suppose she might have been excited about the baby,' Brigette admitted. 'Although she would've hated being called Grandma, right?'

'Oh, yeah,' he said. 'She would've hated that.' They both laughed at the thought.

'So, tell me,' he continued. 'How is married life?'

'Wonderful,' Brigette said, falsely cheerful.

'You like it, huh?'

'Of course I do. Carlo's very…' She searched for the right word. 'Uh… special.'

'Wanna snort some coke?'

'Excuse me?' she said, startled, her eyes widening.

'Y' know,' he said casually. 'You an' me - do a little of the white stuff?'

Now she was really disturbed. 'Lennie, what are you talking about?' she asked agitatedly.

'I know it's what you like to do, Brig,' he said gently. 'I can see it in your eyes.'

'You're wrong,' she said, flushing a dull red. 'Why would you even think that?'

' 'Cause I used to be into that whole scene.'

'I resent you assuming such a thing.'

'Take a look in the mirror, sweetheart. It's written all over your face.'

'How can you say that?' she mumbled, close to tears.

'Because I'm right. And, since you're pregnant, I was figuring you might need some help.' He took a long beat. 'Is Carlo involved?'

She shook her head. 'Carlo doesn't do drugs.'

'Then why do you?'

Her eyes filled with tears. She wanted to tell him everything, but Lennie wasn't Lucky, he would not be able to save her. 'I don't understand why you're saying such things to me,' she cried, pushing past him into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

She stood in front of the marble sink staring hopelessly into the mirror. Blonde Brigette with the huge blue eyes and pathetic little face.

Brigette Stanislopoulos - heiress.

Brigette - supermodel.

Lennie was right: all anyone had to do was look at her and they could see she was nothing but a drug addict.

She was disgusted with herself. Why was she doing drugs?

Because Carlo had hooked her up. Gotten her addicted so that she couldn't stop.

Then she'd embarked on a relationship with him - which, if she was truthful with herself, was totally sick.

Sometimes he loved her.

Sometimes he treated her as if he hated her.

Mostly he controlled her.

How had she ever gotten into such a mess? This made all the other dramas in her life pale in comparison.

'Lucky, Lucky, please save me,' she murmured.

No, a voice answered in her head. You cannot run to Lucky every time. No! This time you must do it by yourself.

She splashed water on her face and touched up her makeup. Then she stood up very straight.

I can handle it, she told herself. I can handle anything.

'Steven, can I spend the night with you?' Lina murmured provocatively.

'What?' he said, not sure he'd heard correctly.

'It's not that I'm forward or anything,' she said, in a low husky voice, 'it's just that I really want to be with you.'

He took a long, steady beat. 'I thought you came with Charlie Dollar?' he said at last.

'I did. But I'd sooner be with you.'

He was silent. He hadn't felt like this in a long time. The excitement of something new. That pounding-heart thing. Sweaty palms. A feeling of recklessness.

And yet it was ridiculous. He wasn't a young stud looking to get laid. He was a fifty-something widower with a pain in his soul that was too deep ever to go away.

And then there was Lina… so indescribably lovely. Skin with a dark satin sheen, long luscious black hair, a mouth to die for…

Who could blame him if he fell?

'Well, can I?' she asked insistently.

'I… uh… don't know.' Yeah, right. Sound like the biggest fool in the world.

'What don't you know?' she asked, leaning into him. And there came that smell again. Warm, exotic, intoxicating.

'I don't know if it's the right thing to do.'

'There is no right thing, Steven. We're here, Mary Lou's gone. She wouldn't want you turnin' into a monk or anything.'

No. Mary Lou wouldn't want that. She'd expect him to start living again as soon as possible. And why not? He was so goddamn lonely he could die.