Hollywood Divorces / Hollywood Wives: The New Generation (13 page)

Nicci and Brian exchanged another look. ‘Who
is
this moron?’ he mouthed incredulously.

She shook her head, desperately trying to control a sudden fit of the giggles.

‘Glad you like them,’ Lissa responded politely.

‘The one with the crucifix, the black dude an’ the three white chicks,’ Ramone continued, eyes on fire, ‘that, if I may say so, is one steamin’ video.’

‘And
you
are?’

‘Ramone Lopez,’ he announced, flaring his nostrils. ‘I should
be
in one of your videos.’

‘I’m glad you’re so sure,’ Lissa murmured.

‘Course I’m sure,’ Ramone said confidently. ‘I’m an actor, an’ I dance too. Maybe you saw me on
Law and Order
? I played Rezio–the king-pin drug dealer. Man, I was kickin’ it big-time.’

‘Missed that, I’m afraid.’

‘I can do anythin’,’ Ramone boasted, shooting her a meaningful look. ‘An’ I do mean
anythin
’.’

‘This is
not
a freakin’ audition,’ a furious Saffron hissed in his ear. ‘For God’s sake, cool it.’

He ignored her. Ramone Lopez–no relation to the exquisite Jennifer–was sitting in a room with Lissa Roman, and he was seizing the opportunity.

‘So, whaddaya think, Lissa?’ he said, preening. ‘I gotta give you my number, yes?’

‘Well…’ Lissa said vaguely, then turning to Nicci, she swiftly changed the subject. ‘
Pizza
? What kind of chef did you hire?’

‘Don’t ask,’ Nicci said, grimacing.

‘The chef was a mistake,’ Evan said.

‘Some
big
mistake,’ Brian agreed.

‘Have you met Brian, Evan’s brother?’ Nicci said. ‘He’s the polite one with the great attitude.’

‘Hi, Brian,’ Lissa said. She could smell the pot wafting off him. She turned to Saffron. ‘Your mom’s locked in the recording studio. Even
I
can’t get through.’

‘What does
your
mom do?’ Ramone asked Saffron, quick to sniff out another likely opportunity.

‘She’s a cleaner,’ Saffron snapped, glaring at him.

‘Then what’s she doin’ in a studio?’

How dumb could one guy get? ‘Cleaning, of course,’ Saffron said, giving him an if-looks-could-kill glare.

‘Oh,’ Ramone said, focusing back on Lissa. ‘I sing, too,’ he said, leering in what he considered a sexy fashion. ‘An’ play the saxophone.’ A long, meaningful pause. ‘I use my mouth.’ He gazed into her eyes. ‘A man needs plenty control to play such a…sensual instrument. Y’know what I’m sayin’?’

‘Christ!’ Saffron exclaimed in disgust, jumping up from the table.

Nicci excused herself and followed Saffron out to the patio. ‘Sorry,’ she said frantically. ‘You’re like
so
right. I admit–it doesn’t work.’

‘Can you
believe
that loser?’ Saffron said, eyes flashing. ‘He’s freakin’
auditioning.
On
my
time.’

‘Look, it’s not Lissa’s fault,’ Nicci pointed out. ‘Ramone’s all over
her.
’

‘It’s not
my
mom’s fault either when every guy I ever brought home kissed her ass and ignored me.’

‘Some night!’ Nicci said, wrinkling her nose.

‘Yeah,’ Saffron agreed, and then she started to giggle. ‘Why am I getting mad anyway? The dude’s not worth it. He’s just another stud with a big dick and no brains.’

‘Dime a dozen,’ Nicci said, suddenly giggling too.

‘You got it, girl,’ Saffron agreed.

And then they both broke up laughing.

Carol was learning new tricks. Either that or she’d decided that hooking Michael sexually was the way to go.

‘Oh, my
God
, I’m
so
wet,’ she moaned, as they made love balanced on the edge of the bed. ‘You make me so very hot, Mikey. I
love
the way you fuck me.’

He did not appreciate her sudden vocal abilities. Nor her calling him Mikey, an abbreviation of his name he’d never liked. Sex to Michael was not a lot of explicit talk, it was more touching and feeling and being together as one. Carol’s dialogue reminded him of his ex-wife, and that wasn’t a good thing.

‘
Please
–I want you to put your cock in my mouth,’ Carol crooned. ‘I want you to come all over my—’

‘Be quiet,’ he said abruptly, interrupting her.

‘What?’ she said, startled.

‘Don’t speak like that.’

‘But I thought—’

‘It’s not for me, Carol,’ he said. What he
really
wanted
to say was ‘It makes you sound like a cheap hooker–exactly the way my wife turned out to be.’

Carol was crushed and humiliated. Amber had assured her that after cooking, the second best way to a man’s heart was a little sexy talk in bed. ‘Low down an’ dirty does it every time,’ Amber had confided, with a wicked chuckle. And Carol had listened.

‘Sorry,’ she muttered, highly embarrassed.

But it was too late, he’d already withdrawn.

A
fter half an hour of being hit on by Saffron’s boyfriend, tempered by a few surly remarks from Evan’s stoned brother, Lissa realized she had made a big mistake. Excusing herself, she hurried into the bedroom and called Michael from her cellphone. ‘Sorry about this,’ she whispered. ‘I know I’m probably interrupting you in the middle of dinner or something.’

‘It’s ten o’clock,’ he said, keeping an eye on Carol as she scurried into the bathroom, obviously upset. ‘I’m not in the middle of anything. Why are you whispering?’

‘I did something stupid.’

‘You didn’t go home I hope.’

‘No, I, uh…took a cab up to my daughter’s fiancé’s house for dinner.
Not
a good idea. I am now trapped.’

‘In other words,’ he said, ridiculously pleased to hear from her, ‘you need rescuing?’

‘I hope you’re in the rescuing business.’

‘Give me the address,’ he said, reaching for a pad and pencil. ‘Rescuing is my specialty.’

‘Please get here fast, Michael. I’ll wait outside.’

‘You’re
that
desperate?’

‘Believe me.’

She gave him the address, clicked off her cellphone and returned to the living room.

‘You’re not leaving?’ Nicci said, coming in from the patio.

‘Fraid so.’

‘Everything all right?’ Evan asked.

‘Uh…yes. It’s just that I have an early rehearsal for my Vegas show, so I should get going. My back-up dancers are all twelve,’ she joked. ‘Gotta keep up.’

‘I’ll walk you to the door,’ he offered.

‘No need,’ she said quickly. ‘My driver’s right outside.’

Ramone was on his feet in a second. ‘Better give you my number,’ he said, frantically groping in the pocket of his tight pants for a piece of paper.

‘Give it to Nicci,’ Lissa said. ‘I’ll be sure to pass it onto my agent.’

‘I’m makin’ you a promise,’ he said, honouring her with another long, smouldering stare. ‘I
am
the man for your next video.’

‘I’ll keep that in mind, Ramone.’

‘See you at the wedding, Mother-in-law,’ Brian said, with a lazy grin.

Little stoned shit
, she thought.
He knows I don’t like the title. Thank God Nicci chose the other brother.

Once outside she took a long, deep breath.
What a bad move that was
, she thought.
Nicci and her friends–no thank you.

‘I gotta go out,’ Michael said, as Carol emerged from the bathroom.

She knew immediately it was because of what she’d said, the dirty words which were so foreign to her. She was mad at herself. Why the heck had she listened to Amber? ‘Michael,’ she said, wrapped in his white toweling robe. ‘I have to explain. You see, it—’

‘No need to explain anything,’ he said, anxious to get going. ‘I really
do
have to go out.’

‘Oh,’ she said, deflated.

‘There’s a client who’s in trouble,’ he explained, trying to let her down easily because she looked so crestfallen. ‘An important client.’

‘Can I help?’ she asked hopefully.

‘No.’

‘Then I’ll wait up for you,’ she said, clutching his robe tightly across her body.

‘Uh…Carol, I think it’s better if you go home tonight,’ he said, pulling on his pants.

‘Why?’

‘’Cause I’ll probably get back late,’ he said, reaching for his favourite sweatshirt. ‘And I wouldn’t want to wake you. It’ll suit me better if you go home.’

‘It’ll suit
you
better,’ she repeated, a touch tight-lipped.

He could smell a fight a mile away, and now was definitely not showdown time. ‘For me, honey,’ he said, giving her a quick kiss to soften the blow. ‘Sometimes I need to be alone. You can understand that, can’t you?’

She nodded miserably. He wasn’t giving her much choice.

Michael arrived in record time. Lissa hurriedly climbed into his jeep before he had a chance to get out. ‘Thanks for coming,’ she said breathlessly.

‘No problem,’ he said, shooting her a quick look.

‘The hotel was closing in on me,’ she explained, noting how good he looked in Levi’s and an old sweatshirt. ‘I had to get out.’

‘No explanations,’ he said, starting to drive.

‘I wish I could go to my own home now,’ she said wistfully, as they headed down the hill.

‘And what’ll you do if Gregg turns up at four in the morning ready for a fight?’

‘You think he might?’

‘Pissed-off husbands are capable of anything,’ he said, shooting her another quick look. ‘You’re not gonna like me asking this–but does he have a gun?’

‘Aren’t you being overly dramatic?’ she replied, drumming her fingers on the dashboard.

‘Does he?’ Michael persisted.

‘Not that I’m aware of.’

‘Maybe he keeps one on him.’

‘Now you’re making me nervous.’

‘Didn’t mean to do that.’

‘Are you suggesting that if he
did
have a gun he might use it?’

‘You never know with people,’ Michael said, his handsome face serious. ‘I’ve seen things you wouldn’t believe.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes, really, Lissa.’

She was silent for a moment. Why had she phoned Michael to come and get her? She could’ve called for a cab, summoned Chuck, contacted Danny.

But no, she’d called Michael Scorsinni. Why?

Because you like him.

No. I don’t. Well, yes, maybe I do, but not in a romantic way.

Sure.

‘I hope I didn’t drag you out of bed with your girlfriend,’ she said, fishing for information.

‘
What
girlfriend?’ he responded with a half-smile.

‘There must be
someone
special.’

A beat while he didn’t answer. Then–‘Do you fancy stopping for ice cream?’

‘Ice cream?’ she said, laughing softly. ‘What are we–back in high school?’

‘I’m having a sugar-attack,’ he explained, which was a lie: he simply wanted to spend more time with her.

‘Ice cream–no,’ she said slowly. ‘But I wouldn’t mind a drink.’

‘I don’t drink,’ he said, staring straight ahead.

‘How come?’ she asked, studying his almost perfect profile.

He took a long slow beat. ‘Lissa, I’m a recovering alcoholic,’ he said at last, wondering why the hell he was revealing such a personal piece of information to a woman he barely knew.

‘Oh,’ she said, suddenly uncomfortable. ‘Sorry.’

‘Hey,’ he said easily, ‘there’s nothing to be sorry about. I’ve been sober ten years, it’s no big deal.’

‘Then why do you call yourself an alcoholic?’ she asked curiously.

‘Because that’s what I am,’ he stated flatly, ‘and that’s what I’ll always be.’

There, he’d told her. He usually waited a while before telling people. But he kind of liked the idea of being totally up-front with this woman. Not that they were headed towards anything other than a business relationship.

‘Do you go to AA?’ she inquired.

‘I try to make it to a weekly meeting.’

‘Even though you don’t drink any more?’

‘It keeps me sane.’

‘Well, then,’ she said lightly, ‘I wouldn’t want to tempt you by luring you into a bar.’

‘Nothing tempts me, Lissa,’ he said, rubbing his chin with his index finger. ‘I got will-power of steel.’

‘Lucky you,’ she murmured. ‘I wish I did.’

‘So,’ he said, ‘we’d better come up with a place where you won’t be recognized.’

‘How about my hotel room?’ she suggested, realizing that it probably wasn’t appropriate, but it was the only private place she could think of.

‘No,’ he said, shaking his head.

‘I promise I won’t jump you,’ she responded, amused.

He ignored her stab at humour. ‘It’s not a clever idea for me to be seen going into your room,’ he said. ‘If Gregg got to hear about it…’

‘I’ll give you the key,’ she said, strangely reluctant to say good night. ‘Wait five minutes,
then
come up.’

He glanced across at her. ‘You’re serious?’

‘Why do I have to explain myself?’ she said, a tad irritated. ‘I’m not tired and I feel like talking. Is that okay with you?’

‘
You
’re the client, Lissa,’ he said evenly. And then he smiled. ‘Although you gotta realize I’ll have to charge you overtime.’

‘You drive a hard bargain, Mr Scorsinni,’ she said, smiling also.

‘Yeah.’ Another long beat. ‘I know.’

‘You’re very quiet,’ Larry said, on the drive home. ‘I had a good time. How about you?’

Taylor adjusted her seat-belt. She didn’t know
what
to think. She’d just spent an evening with Oliver Rock’s parents, his proud
parents
, for crissakes, and Larry wanted to know if she’d had a good time.

‘It was enjoyable,’ she managed.

‘Yes,’ Larry said firmly. ‘It was. I’d like to see more of Isaac and Jenny.’

‘We will,’ she murmured.

‘
You
’re our social director,’ Larry said. ‘Make it happen.’

Was he giving her an order? She wasn’t one of his minions he could boss around.

Maybe she should give him a blow job just to prove who the
real
boss was. Then again, maybe not. She was tired and hardly in a terrific mood.

‘The Rocks were nice, too,’ Larry said. ‘We should invite them over with Isaac and Jenny. Make a date for next week. Okay?’

‘No, it’s not okay,’ she wanted to say. ‘They’re my lover’s parents, for God’s sake. It’s not okay at all.’

But, of course, Larry didn’t know that. And she had no intention of him ever finding out.

‘Thank
God
Lissa’s gone!’ Saffron exclaimed, jumping up and cornering Nicci. ‘I’m dumping Ramone big-time,’ she confided. ‘Have you ever
seen
such a suck-up loser?’

Nicci wasn’t listening, she had one eye on Brian, who was also on his feet.

‘Thanks for dinner, Nic,’ he said, heading for the door. ‘Now I gotta split.’

‘It was horrible, wasn’t it?’ she responded, half hoping he’d disagree.

‘Pretty bad,’ he said, with a jaunty wink.

‘We can always do it again,’ she said, observing that Miss Russia was already standing by the door–no doubt anxious to get him to herself so she could ravish his sexy body.

‘Gonna pass on that.’

‘Maybe at
your
house next time?’ she suggested, imagining him and the Russian indulging in wild sex.

‘Don’t have a house. Got an apartment, an’ it’s a pit.’

‘Why am I
so
not surprised?’

He gave her a long, stoned look. ‘Don’t ever use that chef again.’

She stared right back at him. ‘Don’t ever bring Miss Russia here again.’

A slight grin. ‘Oh, so now you’re a girlfriend critic?’

She moved a little closer to him. ‘Can I ask you something, Brian?’

‘Ask away.’

‘How come you’re with someone who doesn’t even speak English?’

‘Who needs conversation?’

‘Is sex the only thing on your mind?’

‘You’ve been spending too much time with my brother, Nic. Better get yourself a life.’

And so the evening ended. Nicci was crushed. It had not turned out exactly as expected.

‘That was a shitty night,’ Evan grumbled, after everyone had finally left.

He was right, it couldn’t have been any worse.

‘
Now
can you turn that crap music off?’ he said, busily emptying ashtrays. ‘It’s giving me a headache.’

She did as he asked and waited for him to say something nice. He didn’t.

For once they went to bed without making love.

Their first dinner party.

Their first fight.

If this is what marriage to Evan was going to be like, then maybe she was about to make the biggest mistake of her life.

Lissa called room service, ordered a selection of ice creams with hot chocolate sauce, and instructed the operator to have the waiter leave the cart outside the door. Then she raided the mini bar and poured herself a brandy.

As soon as room service delivered, Michael stepped outside and brought the cart in.

‘This is crazy.’ Lissa sighed, settling on the couch and kicking off her shoes.

‘Crazy how?’ Michael replied.

‘Me, in a hotel room,’ she said restlessly. ‘Do you realize how much
work
I’ve got coming up? There’s my Vegas show, a book I’m supposed to be collaborating on, a new CD to plan. I don’t have time to sit around in a hotel doing nothing.’

‘Hey, listen,’ he said, trying not to stare, because in spite of the black eye well-disguised with makeup, she truly was
the
most breathtaking woman he’d ever seen. ‘You wanted your husband out, right?’

‘Yes.’

‘Then that’s what you got.’

‘Fine, but please can I go home in the morning?’

‘You can,’ he said, dipping into the ice cream. ‘And if it’s okay with you, I’d like to put on extra security for a week or two.’

‘You don’t think he’ll do anything crazy, do you?’ she asked anxiously.

‘He’ll probably use the media to get to you. He can hide behind ’em.’

‘You don’t even know Gregg, yet you imagine the worst of him.’

‘I’ve dealt with this kind of case before–you’re not my first famous client.’

‘I’m not, huh?’ she said, mildly flirting because she couldn’t help herself. ‘And I was under the impression I was special.’

‘You
are
special.’ A long beat. ‘All of our clients are special.’

She did not appreciate being lumped together with the entire roster of Robbins-Scorsinni’s clients. ‘How’s the ice cream?’ she asked, finishing her brandy.

‘Pretty damn good.’

She got up and helped herself to another small bottle of brandy from the mini bar. ‘I used to make ice cream from scratch when I was a kid,’ she said, remembering one of her few happy childhood memories.

‘Hidden talents, huh?’

‘You could say that,’ she replied, settling back on the couch.

He felt tense and yet comfortable in her presence. There was something about her that kept drawing him closer.

‘Tell me about your ex-wife,’ she said, slowly sipping her brandy.