Hollywood Divorces / Hollywood Wives: The New Generation (33 page)

‘I hope so,’ she said, her clear blue eyes staring into his.

‘C’mon,’ he said. ‘Time to get up.’

‘I’d better call Fabio and have him fix my hair,’ she said, suddenly remembering Max sitting in a room with eight camera crews waiting to interview her. ‘Poor Max, I think if I don’t move fast, he’ll have a major breakdown!’

To Nicci’s amazement, Brian behaved like a perfect gentleman. After their lobster dinner at the beach, he’d driven her back to the house, dropped her off, and hadn’t even tried to kiss her good night.

She was deeply disappointed. She’d wanted to ask him in, but didn’t, because she knew it wasn’t the right thing to
do. ‘So, I’ll see you,’ she’d said, a touch forlornly.

‘Yeah, you will,’ he’d said.

‘Probably before the wedding, I hope.’

Damn! She’d had her opportunity with Brian and blown it.

What kind of opportunity was it anyway? He wasn’t interested in her, he was treating her like she was his kid sister.

In the morning she called Evan. ‘I’m planning on coming to the airport to meet you,’ she said.

‘Not necessary,’ he replied. ‘I’m flying in with two of the actors. The studio’s sending a car.’

‘Don’t you
want
me to meet you?’

‘It’s better that I see you at the house.’

‘Your
mother
will be at the house.’

‘So?’

‘We need to talk, Evan,’ she said, determined to clear some things up. ‘Over the last few days stuff has been getting kind of out of whack between us.’

‘That’s because you’re nervous about the wedding.’

‘I am so
not.
’

‘Yes, you are. My mother said she thinks you’re overexcited.’

‘I don’t give a shit
what
she says,’ Nicci said, furious that Lynda was talking about her with him.

‘Don’t speak about my mother like that.’

‘Your
mother
is who we have to talk about. It seems you’re more interested in what
she
says and does than me.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous.’

‘I’m not,’ she said stubbornly.

‘All right, we’ll discuss it when I get back tomorrow,’ Evan said, cutting her off. ‘I’ve got to go now.’

Something about him sounded different, and she couldn’t pinpoint what it was.

She had a strong urge to phone Brian. And why not?
She had the whole day with nothing to do except get ready for her bachelorette night, so she picked up the phone and called him.

‘Am I catching you in bed with a blonde?’ she asked, only half joking.

‘Hey, yesterday was a redhead, today you’ve got me with a blonde. The miserable truth is I’m by myself. Ain’t that the pits?’

‘Why are you by yourself?’

‘“Why?” she asks,’ he said ruefully. ‘’Cause I was with
you
last night. Remember?’

‘Oh, yeah.’

‘No time for a date.’

‘Sorry.’

‘Bet you’re not.’

‘Uh…Brian?’ she said impulsively. ‘Wanna go for breakfast?’

‘Don’t you do
anything
but eat?’

‘C’mon,’ she said persuasively. ‘I’ve only got a couple of weeks left as a free person. May as well make the most of it.’

‘How did we suddenly become friends?’ he asked, sounding puzzled.

‘Dunno,’ she confessed. ‘It must’ve happened the night we were naked in bed. I think we’d better discuss how we’re
never
telling Evan about that night.’

‘By the way,’ he said, ‘I’ve been meaning to tell you.’

‘What?’

‘You have a sensational body.’

‘Oh
pu-lease
!’ she said, almost blushing.

‘And I’m an expert.’

‘Expert.
Sure.
Save those corny lines for your parade of girlfriends.’

‘Where d’you wanna go for breakfast?’ he asked.

‘I was thinking pancakes.’

‘You really
are
my kinda girl.’

‘I am?’

‘If only you were blonde and stacked.’

‘Screw you!’

‘I’ll pick you up in ten minutes.’

‘Is he out of the house?’ Patrick asked.

‘Yes,’ Belinda replied, cradling the phone. ‘I sent him to Barneys to pick out a birthday present.’

‘Generous of you.’

‘I can afford to be, can’t I?’

‘If this deal flies, you sure can. I got the magazine up to a hundred an’ fifty grand from a hundred, which, as you know, was their original offer. Since your boyfriend wants a hundred, you and I get to split the other fifty. The magazine’ll pay me, an’ I’ll cut him a cheque. Sound like a go?’

‘Oh, yes,’ Belinda said. She failed to see why she shouldn’t score off this. Gregg was not paying rent, and the two times they’d gone out to dinner he’d said he was short of cash and she’d picked up the check. This way she could recoup her expenses and more besides.

‘We’ll let him sweat a bit,’ Patrick said. ‘Then I’ll get back to him around six, an’ tell him I made the deal.’

‘And
I
’ll persuade him to accept it.’

‘Anything for an old flame, right, Belinda?’

‘Not so much with the old.’

‘How old
are
you?’

‘That’s for God to know, and everyone else to speculate.’

Saturday morning Eric Vernon left his apartment, took a trip out to LAX, hired a storage locker, and placed his one suitcase in it. Then he drove back to town, stopping at Denny’s to devour a hearty breakfast. Eggs over easy, bacon and toast, two cups of coffee and a glass of orange juice. He needed his strength.

Next he went to the building to meet Arliss, where he checked everything over one final time. He’d already driven by Nicci’s boyfriend’s house a couple of times. Yesterday the woman who’d been staying there had taken a cab to the airport. This was good news: Eric had been worried about someone else being in the house. Now he had a clear shot. Or, rather, Big Mark and Little Joe did because he was sending
them
in to snatch her. He’d wait in the car. It was safer that way. And Eric did not plan on taking any chances.

Arliss was nervous. His face kept on twitching, and his bony hands were shaking uncontrollably.

‘You’d better keep it together,’ Eric warned him. ‘This’ll all go down smooth if you handle yourself right. What are you getting in a panic for?’

Arliss chewed on a strand of greasy hair and wiped his nose with the back of his hand. ‘Dunno,’ he muttered.

Eric was totally at ease. As far as he was concerned, everything was right on track.

T
he Desert Millennium Princess had arranged suites for all of Lissa’s guests.

‘This place is over the top,’ Larry said snappishly, exploring their lavish suite. ‘It’s too extravagant for its own good.’

‘Each hotel they build has to be more outrageous than the next,’ Taylor replied. ‘Otherwise people wouldn’t come here.’

‘They come to Vegas to lose their hard-earned money, not to sit in a hotel room,’ Larry said. ‘The poor schmucks.’

‘Those poor schmucks are the same people who go see your movies, Larry. This is their other form of entertainment, their fantasy land.’

‘The place is a monument to vulgarity,’ he said contemptuously.

‘I’m sorry about yesterday,’ Taylor said, thinking it was time she dealt with her husband’s bad mood. ‘I was acting and I have to admit that I enjoyed it. Only now that you’re helping me with my film, I’ll be in control of what I do.’

‘You looked like a lesbian in that scene, Taylor,’ he said accusingly.

‘I was
playing
a lesbian, Larry,’ she pointed out, wondering how someone so smart could sometimes sound so prejudiced. ‘And can we please
drop
the subject?’

‘Let me ask you something,’ he said.

‘Yes?’

‘Are you pleased I’ve hired Oliver Rock to work on your script?’

‘I’m pleased you’ve hired
someone
,’ she said, wondering what he was getting at now. ‘If
you
think he’s good, I’m sure it’ll work out.’

‘Did you ever meet him before?’

‘What?’ she said, startled.

‘Did you
know
Oliver before I brought him to the house?’ Larry repeated.

She was silent for a moment, trying to decide what to say. Had Oliver mentioned that they knew each other before? Could he be
that
stupid?

‘Why would you think I might’ve met Oliver before?’ she asked, deciding to bluff it out.

‘No reason. I’m simply asking.’

‘It seems rather a strange question, Larry.’

‘I suppose it does,’ he said. ‘Think about it. Maybe you ran into him somewhere and don’t remember.’

‘I’m sure I didn’t,’ she said vaguely, thinking that she’d better call Oliver pronto and find out if he’d said anything. ‘Claude wants us all to get together for lunch at Spago in Caesar’s,’ she added, briskly changing the subject. ‘He’s sending a car at one o’clock. Lissa is meeting us there.’

‘And what are we supposed to do for the rest of the afternoon?’

‘I thought I might visit the hotel spa. Why don’t you come with me?’ she suggested. ‘You’ll love all that pampering.’

‘I’ll pass,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘I have work to do. I’ll stay in the suite.’

‘No gambling? We could play roulette, blackjack, craps.’

‘No, thank you, Taylor,’ he said stiffly. ‘I prefer to stay here. Gambling is for idiots.’

Lissa sailed through her TV interviews with a serene smile on her face. Max had already instructed the journalists that they could not mention Gregg Lynch. All but one of them obeyed the rule. Lissa didn’t mind. ‘I don’t wish to discuss my personal life,’ she’d said politely, ‘so, if you’ll excuse me…’ And she’d stood up and left the journalist sitting there.

‘You handled that very well,’ Max informed her.

‘I’m glad you’re pleased.’

‘I’m always pleased with you, Lissa,’ he said fondly. ‘You’re my favourite client. Oh, yes–and here’s a copy of the
L.A. Times
,’ he said, handing her the newspaper. ‘Your interview came out well.’

She took the paper, then glanced around for Michael. He was standing close by looking incredibly handsome. She wanted to blow him a kiss–anything to let him know she was thinking of him. But she controlled herself because she knew he was right: it was best not to let people know about them. Not yet anyway.

Once she was finished with the interviews, Michael escorted her to the hotel’s impressive large theatre where she was due to do a final sound check.

‘I thought about you all morning,’ she whispered on their way over.

‘You too.’

‘I can’t wait for later, Michael.’

‘No more slots?’

‘No more anything except us together.’

‘That suits me.’

Danny was waiting at the theatre. ‘I won last night!’ he announced proudly. ‘Can you imagine?’

‘That’s great, Danny,’ Lissa said. ‘How
much
did you win?’

‘Five hundred dollars,’ he said excitedly, then remembering his place, he switched into assistant mode. ‘Everyone’s here. They all arrived safely and are settled in their respective
suites. Mr Fallow said they are expecting you for lunch at Spago. I told him you wouldn’t have much time to spend with them.’

‘Thanks, Danny,’ she said. ‘Tell James I’ll get there around one fifteen. And please double-check on everyone’s seats for tonight. Oh, yes, and add the name of Nicci’s future mother-in-law, Mrs Richter, and Mr and Mrs Antonio Stone to the party guest list.’

‘Yes, Miz Roman,’ he said, wondering how soon he could get back to the casino.

She couldn’t decide what to do about Michael and lunch. If she introduced him to the group they’d all know–especially James. It was best if he didn’t sit with them.

‘Michael,’ she said, ‘do you mind being at another table with Chuck during lunch?’

‘Why would I mind?’

She shrugged. ‘I’m following
your
rules. You said we shouldn’t tell people about us, and if my friends see us together, believe me, they’ll know.’

‘Don’t worry about it,’ he said. ‘I’m happy to stay in the background. As long as you’re safe, that’s all that matters to me.’

‘Later,’ she promised. ‘After the show and the party, we’ll be together.’

‘I’m not sure I can wait that long.’

‘Try,’ she said, squeezing his hand.

‘Watch it,’ he warned. ‘Someone might see.’

‘What does it matter?’

‘It matters, Lissa. You gotta remember your public image. Your husband is busy mouthing off about you everywhere he goes. You don’t want people thinking you’ve jumped into bed with the first man who comes your way.’

‘Oh–are you the first man who came my way?’ she said teasingly. ‘I might inform you that every bachelor in Hollywood has been calling me for weeks.’

‘Now they can lose your number, right?’

She smiled. ‘Oh, yes, Michael. Definitely.’

Gregg gave his car to valet parking and strolled into Barneys, where he requested Deidra.

It didn’t take long for her to appear.

‘So,’ he said, checking her out, ‘you’re a personal shopper now. Is that an upgrade?’

‘Yes, it is,’ she said crisply. ‘And I see
you
’ve upgraded to Belinda Barrow. Or should I say downgraded?’

‘Now, now, don’t be bitchy.’

‘I’m not being bitchy, merely truthful,’ she said, hating the sight of him. ‘It beats me how you can go from superstar to a hack television reporter who’s been around a hundred years.’

‘Belinda’s a nice lady.’

‘I hardly think the word
lady
applies. She acts like a stuck-up bitch when she comes in here.’

He hadn’t come to Barneys to listen to Deidra complain about his current girlfriend.

‘What am I buying today?’ he asked.

‘How much does
she
want to spend?’ Deidra retorted, her lip curling.

‘I was thinking an Armani suit, a couple of silk ties, and maybe two or three Brioni shirts,’ he said. It was about time Belinda spent some real money on him.

‘Let’s go upstairs,’ Deidra said, ‘and I’ll get you set up.’

She soon had him settled in a fitting room, while a sales assistant brought him several suits to try on.

Once the suits were hanging in the room, Deidra dismissed the assistant. ‘I’ll call if I need you, Jeff,’ she said, pulling the curtain closed.

‘I was thinking about you the other day,’ Gregg remarked, taking off his pants.

‘What were you thinking?’ she asked, removing the Armani suit pants from their hanger.

‘I was thinking about those nipples of yours, and how much I miss them.’

‘I see.’

‘I see,’ he mimicked. ‘Gonna play it cool with me, Deidra? Is that it?’

‘You played it pretty
cold
with me when you walked out that night,’ she said accusingly.

‘I was drunk and upset. Didn’t realize what I was doing. Sorry.’

‘
Are
you?’ she said.

‘Come over here,’ he said, ‘and I’ll
show
you how sorry I am.’

‘How’ll you do that?’

‘Get down on your knees, put my dick between your tits, an’ I’ll give you my best apology.’

The moment Lissa arrived at lunch, she sensed an atmosphere. ‘Hi, everybody,’ she said, sitting down. ‘I’m so pleased you all made it.’

‘Wouldn’t miss it,’ James said, very uptight.

‘Only for you would I come to this place,’ Larry said, also uptight.

‘Stella’s not here yet, she’s giving birth,’ Taylor announced. ‘She’s flying in later.’

‘Is it twins?’

‘Yes.’

‘You mean she’s leaving her babies to come here?’

‘Stella is not exactly Earth-mother two thousand and one,’ James sniffed.

‘I can’t imagine Stella playing mommy,’ Taylor said. ‘I’m sure she’ll hire a house full of nannies.’

‘How are rehearsals going?’ Claude asked.

‘Terrific,’ Lissa said warmly. ‘It’ll be different from my
last show. I’ve added a couple of numbers I think you’ll like.’ She sipped a glass of apple juice. ‘What do you think of the hotel, Claude?’

‘Quite impressive,’ he replied.

‘Vulgar,’ James said, shooting Claude a spiteful glare.

‘I’ll have to introduce you to the owner,’ Lissa said. ‘He’s throwing the party after the show. His wife is quite a character. She had on these hooker shoes the other night, and when I admired them, she sent me twenty pairs!’

‘Does she wear lots of jewels?’ Kyndra drawled.

‘Loaded with them.’

‘Do you think if I admire them, she’ll hand me a necklace or two?’

Everyone laughed, breaking the tension.

‘You look particularly glowing,’ James said, moving close to Lissa and talking quietly. ‘Is that dancer still in your troupe? The good-looking Italian?’

‘You mean Sergio? Yes, he’s still there. Why?’

‘Straight or gay?’

‘What is this? A game?’

‘I’m simply asking.’

‘Sergio is straight.’

‘I see. Hmm…’

‘What does
that
mean?’

‘It means you’re looking very sort of I’ve-just-had-great-sex-ish.’

‘Y’know, James,’ she said, laughing. ‘You really do have the wildest imagination.’

‘Do I now?’

She glanced over at the nearby table where Michael was sitting with Chuck. Their eyes met for an instant. She smiled. He smiled back. God, if she didn’t have her show tonight, she’d blow off everything and spend the day with him.

‘Stop calling me,’ Saffron said warningly.

‘Why?’ Nicci said.

‘’Cause you’re only trying to pump me about tonight. Wear something sexy and shut up.’

‘What are
you
wearing?’

‘It doesn’t matter what
I
’m wearing.’

‘Then tell me what time kick-off is?’

‘It’s a surprise. Now, will you
stop
calling? I’m not talkin’ to you today.’

The moment Brian swung by to take her to breakfast, she felt better.

‘Hi,’ she said, running out of the house to meet him. He looked hot in jeans, a denim shirt and a baseball cap.

‘Is this Miss Appetite of the Year?’ he asked, grinning.

‘Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,’ she informed him.

‘Sure. And, according to you, so is lunch, tea
and
dinner.’

‘I spoke to Evan,’ she said, jumping into his Porsche.

‘What did he have to say?’

‘He sounds weird. Not like his usual self.’

‘Yeah?’

‘I offered to go to the airport and meet him tomorrow. He told me not to bother, he’s flying in with a couple of the actors.’

‘Which ones?’

‘He didn’t say, but apparently the studio’s sending a car and I guess he wants to ride with them. I told him we had to talk about his mom.’

‘How’d he take that?’

‘He didn’t sound pleased.’

‘He’s not gonna like it, Nic.’

‘I don’t care if he does or not,’ she said defiantly. ‘This is something we have to discuss, otherwise–what was it you said? Oh, yeah, I’ll be like
digging
my own grave.’

‘Y’know,’ Brian remarked as they headed down the hill, ‘you’re ruining my sex life.’

‘What’re you
talking
about?’

‘I’m spending more time with you than I am chasing pussy.’

‘Nicely put. Anyway, I’m certainly not like
forcing
you to spend time with me.’

‘Yes, you are.’

‘How’s that?’

‘Cause–I gotta be truthful–I
like
spending time with you. You’re different.’

‘Different how? I got horns?’

‘No, you’re easy to get along with. Y’know, some of the girls I take out have no conversation. It’s like when their tits get inflated, their brains get smaller.’

‘You’re obviously dating the wrong kind of girl.’

‘Maybe you can find me someone like you.’

‘Like me, huh?’ she said, pleased.

‘Yeah, you.’

‘I’m an original.’

‘That’s what I thought.’

‘Where are we going for breakfast?’ she asked, as he raced his Porsche along Sunset.

‘The beach,’ he said. ‘I know a great little place for waffles.’

‘I can’t stay out long,’ she warned. ‘I’ve gotta get back and prepare myself for my big evening.’

‘No problem,’ he said, failing to tell her that the beach he was taking her to was in Santa Barbara.

Deidra’s nipples were as chewable as ever, Gregg had missed them. Being with her in the fitting room at Barneys was quite an erotic experience. The first thing he did was unbutton her blouse, unclip her bra, and bury himself in Nipple City. He had a genuine hard-on, not the halfhearted sort he managed with Belinda.

Deidra was into it, he could tell. Oh, yeah, he certainly had a magic touch with women. After the way he’d spoken to her, he’d thought she’d never have anything to do with him again. But no, here she was, begging for more. Women! He’d never met one he couldn’t nail if he put a little effort into it.