Hollywood Divorces / Hollywood Wives: The New Generation (31 page)

‘Yes,’ Montana said. ‘But have you asked Larry?’

‘It’s not
his
decision, it’s
yours,
’ Taylor said. ‘And, anyway, there’s no animosity between the two of you, is there?’

‘I’ve got a suspicion I always made Larry a little nervous.’

‘Why would you think that?’

‘I’m sure I don’t have to explain to you, Taylor. You’re
married
to him.’

‘If you’ve never seen Lissa’s show, it’s a must,’ Taylor said enthusiastically. ‘She’s sensational on stage.’

‘She’s sensational in the flesh, too,’ Montana said, with a smile.

Taylor shook her head. ‘Uh-huh–Lissa doesn’t swing both ways.’

‘Do
you
?’ Montana asked, looking at her boldly.

‘Uh…I…no,’ Taylor replied, quite taken aback, although she had experimented way back in college.

‘Just f–ing with you,’ Montana said, laughing at Taylor’s discomfort. ‘You do know it’s very fashionable today.’

‘And you
do
know that I’m married to Larry Singer.’

‘All the more reason.’

‘Think about coming,’ Taylor said. ‘We could go gambling, shopping, have a sauna and a facial–it would be a really relaxing weekend for you.’

‘I’ll think about it,’ Montana promised. ‘When are you off?’

‘Tomorrow,’ Taylor said. ‘And we’re flying back Sunday morning, so it’ll be twenty-four hours of pure relaxation. What more could you ask for?’

Montana smiled. ‘I can think of a few things.’

Evan and Brian ran into each other at the entrance of the small hotel where the crew and cast were staying in Utah. Brian had a bag slung over his shoulder.

‘Where are you going?’ Evan asked.

‘Huh?’ Brian said.

‘It looks like you’re going somewhere,’ Evan said.

‘Back to L.A.,’ Brian said. ‘You can handle everything here.’

‘We didn’t discuss this,’ Evan said.

‘Got some scenes I need to work on,’ Brian said. ‘Can’t concentrate here–too much going on.’

‘You’re going back to L.A. so you can party,’ Evan said accusingly.

‘Speaking of partying,’ Brian said, putting his bag down, ‘I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.’

‘What?’

‘Remember when you warned me to stay away from Abbey?’

‘Yes.’

‘So now I get it. You didn’t want me anywhere near her ’cause
you
had plans.’

‘What’re you talking about?’ Evan said, stony-faced.

‘Hey, bro, it’s one thing when
I
fuck around, ’cause
I
’m not planning on gettin’ married.’

‘You’re full of it,’ Evan said. ‘You always have been, and you always will be.’

‘You should’ve seen Abbey’s face yesterday when I told her you were engaged. Man, she didn’t like it at all. You gotta learn to be more up front.’

‘You know what you are? You’re a fucking asshole!’ Evan yelled.

And before anyone could stop them, right there in front of the small hotel, they were at each other’s throats.

Late afternoon, Michael and Chuck took a security meeting with the guards from the hotel and went over everything.

‘Lissa Roman received a death-threat letter shortly before leaving L.A.,’ Michael informed them. ‘We don’t
think it’s anything serious, but we can’t take any chances.’

The head of security at the hotel was an ex-FBI agent. He assured Michael that everything was under control. ‘When she’s on stage, there will not be a second when someone’s eyes aren’t on her,’ the man said.

‘That’ll be me,’ Michael said. ‘And I’m glad to hear that everyone else will be watching too.’

He went back to rehearsal to see if Lissa was finished for the day.

She was sitting in a chair, clad in a towelling robe, drinking Evian from the bottle.

‘Tired?’ he said.

‘Delightfully exhausted,’ she replied.

‘We should get you back to your suite so you can have a good night’s sleep before tomorrow.’

‘I’ll see,’ she murmured.

‘You’ll see what?’

‘I’ll see what I want to do later.’

Fabio and a couple of the dancers accompanied them back to the suite.

‘You can go,’ Lissa said to Michael. ‘I’m in good hands.’

‘I’ll be next door. Buzz if you need me.’

‘I will.’

‘You’re in for the night then, huh?’

‘I think so. And if I’m not, you’ll be the last to know.’

‘That’s not funny, Lissa,’ he said sternly. ‘Don’t forget about the letter.’

‘Oh, please,’ she said dismissively. ‘Do you know how many of those I’ve had? Hundreds in my time.’

‘Hundreds, huh? And you’re still here. Amazing what they
can’t
do to you.’

‘I’m indestructible,’ she joked. ‘Didn’t you know?’

He was seeing a whole new side of her. She obviously loved performing–it definitely made her more relaxed and easy-going.

He went to his room, which, although smaller than hers, was certainly luxurious. It featured a king-size bed, a panoramic view, a marble bathroom, and a mini bar stocked with everything imaginable.

Great. He had temptation staring him in the face. The good thing was he hadn’t been tempted in ten years, and he wasn’t about to start now.

He noticed the red light blinking on his phone. He picked it up and listened to his messages. One from Quincy, hoping that everything was progressing smoothly. Then a sexy female voice–‘Hi, Mr Scorsinni–Michael. This is Cindy. You might remember me from the plane. I was wondering if you’d like to see Las Vegas. I could show you the sights. So…I’ll call you later.’

He remembered the blonde–tall and sexy. Perhaps she was exactly what he needed.

Back in L.A. Taylor simulated the sounds of love-making. Only she wasn’t making love to a man, she was naked under a thin sheet and Sonja Lucerne’s hands were all over her. Watching was a full crew.

Taylor was totally turned on. Montana had assured her that when the scene was cut together, you wouldn’t see anything she might regret later. ‘You’ve got to let yourself go,’ Montana assured her. ‘I can promise you won’t be sorry.’

Sonja obviously trusted Montana implicitly, so Taylor decided she would too.

Sonja’s hands were gentle and insistent at the same time. The way they caressed Taylor’s breasts was like nothing she’d ever experienced before. Feather touches, but oh, so effective. The scene required her to have an orgasm. As far as she was concerned, there was no acting involved.

Montana and the crew were suitably appreciative, rewarding them with a round of applause as soon as Montana called, ‘Cut.’

Taylor sat up, her cheeks glowing, her skin tingling with pleasure. It was then that she noticed Larry standing near Montana, an angry look on his face. Oh God, why hadn’t he told her he was coming today? She would have put him off, told him to visit on another day. This was ridiculous–knowing Larry, he’d be absolutely furious. Why the hell hadn’t anyone warned her he was present?

The wardrobe woman came towards her with a robe. She slid into it and belted it tightly.

‘That’s a wrap for today, everyone,’ Montana called. ‘Thanks again.’

Taylor attempted to compose herself. She knew she must look flushed, and she also knew that Larry would probably recognize the signs of sexual excitement written all over her face. ‘Honey,’ she said, rushing over to him, ‘you should’ve told me you were coming.’

‘I thought I’d surprise you,’ he said with a grim expression.

‘You certainly did that,’ she said, grabbing his arm. ‘Come on, let’s go to my trailer.’

His expression was getting more uptight by the second. And why not? He’d just seen her making love to a woman, and seemingly enjoying it a lot.

He followed her into her trailer. Once they were inside and the door was closed, he said, ‘Taylor, do you understand what that looked like out there?’

‘I know exactly what it looked like, darling,’ she said, attempting to placate him. ‘However, Montana has assured me that she edits in such a way that you don’t really see anything. It’s all subliminal.’

‘Are you
crazy
?’ he said, his voice rising. ‘Do you have any idea what they can do with that footage if it gets out? And how about the out-takes and the footage she
doesn’t
use? You’re screwed, Taylor. You should never have allowed yourself to be put in that position.’

‘Too late now,’ she said. ‘I’ve already done it. That was the final love scene.’

‘You
bet
it was the final love scene,’ he said angrily. ‘How stupid can you get?’

‘You seem to forget that I was performing an acting role, Larry, a perfectly legitimate
acting
role.’

‘Your naïveté amazes me,’ he said. ‘You’ve been in this business long enough to know better.’

‘Why are you so upset?’ she asked, finally losing it. ‘Does seeing two women in bed together make you feel threatened?’

He stared at her as if she’d hit him. Then he turned and marched out of the trailer.

Larry had
never
walked out on her before.

Oh, God, maybe she’d gone too far. She dressed quickly, ran to her car and instructed her driver to get her home as fast as possible.

‘I can’t figure anything out,’ Gregg said.

‘What is there to figure out?’ Belinda asked.

‘Lissa’s old diaries, they’re all about movies, boys and food.’

‘Sounds typical,’ Belinda said.

‘Yeah, but there’re also these red exclamation points all over the place. I know it means something.’

‘She’s probably marking the dates of her period,’ Belinda said. ‘Girls do that.’

‘Thirty or more times a year?’

‘Maybe she was getting laid,’ Belinda said, chuckling. ‘I used to have secret signals like that. Every time I sucked a boy’s dick I’d put a star in my diary. Something my mom wouldn’t understand if she ever read it.’

‘She didn’t like sex that much when we were married, why would she do it all the time when she was a teenager?’

‘Girls will be girls.’ Belinda sighed. ‘You want
me
to read the diaries?’

‘Yeah. Patrick says I gotta come up with something juicy if I wanna score the big bucks.’

‘I’ll take a look. In the meantime, when are you picking out your birthday present?’

‘Tomorrow. Where did you find that woman?’

‘Barneys always give me a personal shopper and Deidra’s new. I like dealing with new people, they’re easier to work with.’

Belinda lined up three of Lissa’s old diaries and began checking them out. ‘What’s all this “I hate her” crap?’ she asked.

Gregg shrugged. ‘That’s what I don’t know. They match the red exclamation points.’

‘You’re right,’ Belinda said. ‘It is some kind of code. Hmm…did you go through the rest of the stuff?’

‘Naw, it’s all junk.’

‘Maybe not.’

‘You do it. I’m bored.’

‘Oh, so now I’m working for you-is that it?’ she said tartly.

‘You do it,’ he said, ‘an’ I’ll tongue your pussy till you scream for me to stop.’

She gave a dirty laugh. ‘Dream
on
! I’ll
never
ask you to stop.’

Gregg went back into the bedroom, lay down on the bed, switched on the TV and found a ball game. He enjoyed watching sports, it was pure, mindless entertainment–the best kind. He also enjoyed making a bet or two, but he didn’t have the money.

‘Hey, Belinda,’ he called out, ‘you got a bookie?’

‘No,’ she answered. ‘Why?’

‘I wanna place a bet.’

‘Don’t
you
have one?’

‘I owe him.’

‘Can’t help you, honey.’

Screw her! The sooner he got out of this house, the better. He was beginning to feel stifled. It was so fucking boring and she was way too old for him. Everything belonged to her, nothing was his. He couldn’t even make a fucking bet.

He wished he had some coke. Teddy had given him some primo coke at the studio. He’d snorted a few lines and it had made his voice sound amazing. Belinda didn’t do drugs of any kind. How boring could one person get?

An hour later, Belinda walked into the bedroom. ‘Guess what?’ she said, looking very pleased with herself.

‘What?’

‘You’re about to become a very rich man.’

M
ichael ordered a bacon sandwich and a Caesar salad. Then he lay down on the bed, switched on the TV and channel-surfed, waiting for the fight to start on cable. He thought about Carol and the baby. And then about Lissa, and how much he was attracted to her. He must’ve dozed off, because a loud knocking at the door woke him up.

‘Who’s there?’ he called out.

‘Room service.’

He got off the bed, opened the door, and standing outside was Cindy, holding aloft a bottle of champagne and a tray of hors d’oeuvres. In civilian clothes she was even prettier than she’d appeared on the plane.

‘Hey,’ he said, surprised but not displeased.

‘I’m room service,’ she said, sauntering into his room and putting down the tray and the bottle. Then, catching him off-guard, she turned around and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him full on the lips.

This was too fast for Michael. He immediately removed her arms and backed away. ‘What’s going on?’ he asked suspiciously.

‘I’m a present from the hotel,’ she said blithely. ‘They’re very concerned about keeping their guests happy.’

‘Are you
serious
?’ he said, thinking that Vegas was definitely a crazy place.

‘No,’ she said, with a slight smile. ‘It’s just that you’re a
very
sexy man. And I figured if you’re in Vegas with nothing to do tonight, why shouldn’t we do nothing together?’

Something didn’t ring true. He was used to women throwing themselves at him, but not this rapidly.

‘Shall I open the champagne?’ she offered. ‘It’s Cristal.’

‘I don’t drink,’ he said, rubbing his chin.

‘Oh, so you’re being a
good
little boy?’ she teased, shooting him a provocative look. ‘I prefer naughty ones myself. Should Mommy spank you?’

‘I’m not into that either.’

‘Hmm…’ Cindy said. ‘You wouldn’t be involved with the star, would you?’

‘What’s the deal here, Cindy?’ he asked, deciding he’d had enough. ‘You a hooker?’

‘That’s nice, isn’t it?’ she said indignantly. ‘A girl always
loves
that question. No, I am
not
a hooker. I’m simply out for a good time, and you look like a good time.’ Then she was all over him again, throwing her arms around his neck and nuzzling his ear.

It occurred to him that she was indeed supplied by the hotel. This seemed like a set-up.

‘You know what?’ he said, pushing her away again.

‘What?’

‘I’m not in the mood.’

‘You’re not?’ she said, giving him a long, smouldering stare. ‘Is there anything I can do to
make
you in the mood?’

‘Yeah.’

‘And that would be?’

‘Go home.’

‘God, you’re boring!’ she exclaimed, not used to rejection.

‘Listen,’ he said, ‘you are a very attractive girl, and I’m sure you’re well paid, only this is too strange for me.’

She shrugged. ‘I’ll probably get fired because of you.’

‘How’s that?’ he asked, trying to figure out if Walter Burns had sent her–or maybe she was a gift from Rick Maneloni.

‘I’m supposed to keep the hotel guests satisfied at all times. Our motto is “From the plane to the tables and back to L.A.–satisfaction all the way.”’

‘I’m not a gambler, Cindy.’

‘No, you’re a babe,’ she said, licking her lips. ‘Most of the guys I get to entice are usually fat and old or Japanese.’ She gave him another sexy look. ‘C’mon, Michael,’ she coaxed, ‘you wouldn’t want to get a girl fired, would you?’

For a split second he was tempted. Jesus Christ, he was a man, after all. Then again, did he really want to hate himself in the morning?

He picked up the bottle of champagne and handed it to her. ‘I’ll keep the snacks,’ he said. ‘How’s that?’

She shook her head in amazement. ‘You don’t know
what
you’re missing.’

He opened the door and steered her outside towards the elevator. As he did so, Lissa emerged from her suite, catching the action immediately. A girl leaving his room clutching a bottle of champagne, it didn’t look good.

‘I was paging you,’ she said coolly.

‘Didn’t hear the buzz.’

‘There must be something wrong with your pager.’

‘I’ll be right there,’ he said, embarrassed at having been caught.

Caught doing what? Exactly nothing.

He pushed Cindy into the elevator, went back into his room, grabbed his jacket, and made his way to Lissa’s suite.

She was pacing around the living room. ‘Is it too much to ask for your full attention while we’re here,’ she said, ‘or do you have to get laid immediately?’

‘It’s not what it looks like,’ he replied, realizing how lame that sounded.

‘Do you
know
how many times I’ve heard those words?’ she said. ‘From
all
my husbands.’

‘What was I
supposed
to do? Cindy turned up at my door, compliments of the hotel.’

‘Cindy turned up at your door, did she? How convenient. Did
you
buy her the champagne, or perhaps she brought it with her?’

‘Brought it with her, and I’m telling you, she was paid for by the hotel. Got a hunch they like making their guests happy.’

‘Hmm…you get a real live hooker, and
I
get a dozen pairs of hooker shoes,’ she said, almost smiling as she indicated a row of brightly coloured, outrageous new shoes lined up against the wall. There were at least twenty pairs.

‘Jeez!’ he said.

‘Yep,’ Lissa joked. ‘Evelyn came through.’

‘She sure did.’

‘Y’know, Michael,’ Lissa said restlessly, ‘I’m beginning to feel like I’m cooped up in an ivory tower–Vegas style. I was hoping that we could sneak out somewhere, just you and me.’

‘Where did you have in mind?’ he asked, thinking she was hardly a movie and a hamburger type of woman.

‘How about one of those funky downtown casinos where I can play the slot machines without getting stared at?’ she suggested, eyes gleaming. ‘Do you gamble?’

‘Gave it up when I ditched drinking. Addictive habits are not for me.’

‘I understand. So you can watch.’

‘Thanks.’

‘C’mon, Michael,’ she said persuasively. ‘Let’s do it.’

‘If that’s what you want.’

‘Well…I’m sure you wouldn’t appreciate me going out by myself, would you?’

‘I get it, Lissa. I’ll organize a car.’

‘No! The whole point is to
sneak
out of here, take cabs, act like a couple of tourists. I’m so
tired
of being treated like a star.’

‘I’d better tell Chuck.’

‘Why? Can’t you handle me?’ she asked, her blue eyes challenging him. ‘You think you’ll get in trouble if it’s only the two of us?’

‘Sure, Lissa,’ he said sarcastically. ‘I can see you’re big trouble.’

‘Then let’s go, Michael. It’ll take me two minutes to put on my disguise.’

‘You have a disguise?’

‘It’s a killer,’ she said, with a wicked grin. ‘Just you wait!’

How could he say no to her? The problem was that she’d managed to get under his skin with a vengeance and he
wanted
to make her happy.

He hurried to his room, picked up some money and then his gun, just in case. Five minutes later he returned to her suite.

She was standing there in a short dark wig, tinted granny glasses, jeans, a denim shirt and sneakers. ‘Do I look like a small-town hick?’ she asked, twirling around in a circle.

‘You sure as hell don’t look like Lissa Roman,’ he said, thinking she looked like a little kid about to play truant.

‘That’s good, isn’t it?’ she asked anxiously. ‘It means no one will recognize me.’

‘Okay, here’s the plan,’ he said, getting into it. ‘We’ll take the service elevator down, walk through the casino and out the front entrance. All you gotta do is hold my hand, keep your glasses on, and pretend you’re my wife.’

‘Your wife, huh?’

‘Hey, if we’re going on an adventure, we gotta play the parts.’

She dazzled him with her smile. ‘I like it, Michael.’ This, he decided, was much more interesting than being with the tall, sexy blonde.

‘So, the wicked witch has cast her bad, bad spell on you, huh?’ Brian said.

They were sitting in a small restaurant on the beach, drinking frozen Margaritas, sharing a giant lobster and a large dish of french fries.

‘I’m sorry to say this about your mom, Brian,’ Nicci said earnestly, ‘but she’s a walking, talking monster. How did
you
manage to turn out so normal?’

‘Oh, so now
I
’m the normal one,’ he said, laughing. ‘I thought you said I was a total fuck-up.’

‘You’re normal, apart from the fact that if it walks and breathes and looks vaguely human, you fuck it.’

‘Who told you that?’ he said, chewing on a succulent piece of lobster. ‘My brother?’

‘Every time I see you you’re with a different girl.’

‘Don’t you get it?’ Brian said sarcastically. ‘That’s ’cause none of them are as good as Mommy.’

She started to laugh. ‘You are so totally full of it.’

‘Yeah, well, it’s gotten me through life,’ he said, downing his second Margarita. ‘Y’know, while Evan’s busy making all the business deals and bringing the moguls to their knees,
I
’m the one who’s writing the scripts and getting them on the screen.’

‘I thought Evan helped with ideas,’ she said, reaching for a french fry.

‘Is that what he told you?’

‘Kind of.’

‘We do make for a good partnership,’ Brian said thoughtfully. ‘I’m creative, he’s the business brain. Unfortunately, the rest of his growth was stunted by Mom.’

‘You know, I got your mom to tell me about Julia.’

‘You did, huh?’

‘She said Julia was common.’

‘Common! Jeez! That woman lives in a different era.’

‘Tell me about it.
I
’m the one she’s currently living with.’

‘You gotta get Evan out from under her influence, Nic,’ he said, his face serious. ‘Otherwise, you’re gonna end up in
deep
shit.’

‘Uh-huh,’ she said, leaning her elbows on the table. ‘Y’see, Brian, here’s the thing…I’m, uh…beginning to have some doubts.’

‘Then don’t do it,’ he said casually. ‘Don’t marry him.’

‘How can I not?’ she exclaimed. ‘Everyone’s
expecting
me to. My dad’s even flown in from Spain.’

‘It’s your grave you’re headin’ for, babe.’

‘That’s a nice, cheerful remark.’

‘I tell it like it is.’

‘At least Evan’s a good guy,’ she said, trying to convince herself. ‘I mean, he doesn’t screw around on me, he’s—’

‘Yeah?
What
?’ Brian said tersely.

‘Well, he’s–he’s always there.’

‘That sounds like a lot of fun ten years down the line. Even five. And how d’you
know
he doesn’t screw around?’

‘Can you imagine
Evan
doing that? He won’t even do drugs, there’s
no way
he’d screw around, I know it.’

‘You do, huh?’

‘Yes, I do,’ she said stubbornly, quite unnerved by Brian’s cavalier attitude.

He summoned the waiter and ordered another drink. ‘Wanna go to a rave?’ he asked casually.

‘No, thank you.’

‘You’re sure?’

‘Positive.’

He grinned. ‘One of these days you’ll be
beggin
’ me t’ get you outta the house.’

‘No, I won’t.’

But even though she said it with conviction, she wasn’t at all sure.

Lissa and Michael covered Vegas from one end to the other. She held onto his hand and allowed herself to act like a non-famous person. It was exhilarating.

‘I cannot remember having such a good time in years,’ she said, bright-eyed, as they headed into yet another downtown casino. ‘These places are so grungy. I’m finally seeing America.’

‘I wouldn’t say this is typical America,’ Michael said, amused.

‘I guess not. Hmm…’ she said, observing the action. ‘There sure are a lot of fat people in Hawaiian shorts and “I love Mom” T-shirts.’

‘You only
think
they’re fat ’cause everyone in L.A. is thin.’

‘Ah, yes, L.A.,’ she said, grinning, ‘capital of the body beautiful. To some people working out is a religion.’

‘I bet
you
look good naturally.’

‘Not true,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘I spend plenty of time at the gym doing all the things that keep me looking good. I practise yoga and Pilates, and sometimes I starve myself to squeeze into something stunning.’

‘That’s ’cause you’re a movie star. You have to.’

‘How about you, Michael?’ she said. ‘You look as if you work out.’

‘Gotta be fit in my job.’

‘Can we go play another slot machine?’

‘Lissa,’ he said sternly, ‘you’ve lost two hundred dollars on the slots.’

‘Do you
know
what they’re paying me tomorrow for one show?’

‘I’ve heard a rumour.’

‘So I can lose two hundred dollars, can’t I?’

‘I should be getting you back to the hotel.’

‘Why?’ she said, taking off her glasses and staring at him.

‘You’ve got a heavy day tomorrow,’ he said. ‘And put those glasses on, someone will recognize you.’

‘I promise I’ll leave soon, but first,’ she said, putting her glasses back on, ‘do
you
see what
I
see?’

‘What?’ he said, hoping it wasn’t another cash machine.

‘An all-you-can-eat-for-ten-bucks buffet,’ she said triumphantly.

He shook his head. ‘You’re a nut.’

‘Takes one to know one,’ she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards it.

‘I give up.’

‘Excellent,’ she said, smiling broadly. ‘Let’s go eat.’

‘So anyway,’ Nicci said, thinking that she might be talking too much, but unable to stop, ‘my dad married this much older woman, and he seems pretty happy. She’s mega-loaded, y’know, Big Buck City.’

‘Hey,
I
could go for big bucks,’ Brian said.

‘You’ve got your
own
big bucks,’ Nicci said.

‘How d’
you
know?’

She grinned. ‘I saw them when you got out of bed that fateful morning.’