Hollywood Princess (32 page)
Read Hollywood Princess Online
Authors: Dana Aynn Levin
“Hello,” I mumbled in a sleepy stupor.
“Sorry I woke you, baby,” came the beautiful voice that always put a smile on my face.
“Danny? What time is it?” I mumbled again.
“A little past six-thirty for you.”
“Six-thirty!” I moaned. “I didn’t get to bed ‘til one.”
“I really am sorry. The guys are getting an early start, and I wanted to Skype.”
Danny’s words made me feel his love. It was the perfect antidote to the memories of Dean and his abhorrent behavior.
“I look awful. The phone won’t do?”
“Get to your laptop, Eli. Now,” he ordered, but in a voice filled with longing.
Bleary-eyed, I obeyed, dragging myself to my desk and logging on.
Danny was on the screen. He must have just taken a shower. Danny was bare-chested, his hair was wet, and he was wearing his eyeglasses. I felt very unattractive wearing Danny’s oxford shirt with my hair not even brushed. I hoped the mascara I had been too tired to remove last night hadn’t smeared all over my face.
I smiled my approval at his bare-chested visage.
“Aren’t you wearing anything?” I gasped in delight.
“I have a towel on,” Danny laughed. “I just came from the shower, darlin’”
“My hair isn’t even brushed.”
“Elizabeth, you’re as beautiful as you are every morning.”
I blushed. “I am?”
“Eli, your hair is never brushed when you wake up. It’s always a sexy mess.”
I was drowsy, and I yawned. Danny laughed. “I’m sorry, hon.” I shrugged. “Hey, are you wearing my shirt?” I could hear and see his pleasure.
“I wear it every night when you’re not with me. It feels like you’re here.”
“I wish I had a piece of you with me.” Danny said sadly though he smiled. “How about opening a couple more buttons.”
“Daniel!” I exclaimed while obediently following his suggestion. The shirt was now open to my waist and falling off my narrow shoulders. I was completely exposed.
“That’s better,” Danny said, and I turned bright red. “I love when you blush, Eli.”
“Daniel!” I protested.
“Now this is the girl I wake up to every morning.”
“If your roommates walk in, I’m going to kill you.”
Danny laughed. “Don’t sweat it. Shane and Cam know I’m on with you.”
“What are you doing today that you’re up so early?”
“The clouds are moving in so we’re going shopping. I have a hot babe to spoil.”
“Me?” I squealed. That was just like Danny to buy me a gift.
Danny chuckled. “Hey, how was Zac’s party?”
I recounted the evening, including my encounter with Dean. That last part left me shaking. I dabbed my moist eyes with a tissue from the nearby box.
Danny knitted his brows, seething with anger.
“Honey, if Dean ever touches you again, he will regret it. Nobody touches my lady. Except for me, of course.”
“I wish you had been with me.”
“This never would have happened. At least he didn’t ruin your entire evening.”
“Yeah. It was still a fun party. And I had the best car.”
“I’ll bet you did.” Danny grinned. “I wish I could reach through cyberspace and touch you. I want so badly to take your hand.”
I nodded in agreement. Smiling, I pulled my shirt back over my shoulders and reached my hand toward the monitor. Danny did the same. It appeared our hands were touching.
“Dean doesn’t know what it means to be in love.”
“No, he doesn’t,” I agreed.
“Honey, I’m glad I put your smile back on, but I have to go now. I want you to crawl into bed for at least two more hours.”
“Can I call you later?”
“You can call me whenever you want. Bed, Eli,” Danny ordered.
“I’m going.” I threw a flirty kiss to the screen. “I love you, Danny.”
“I love you too, baby.”
I crawled back into bed, pulling the comforter over my shoulders, up to my chin. With a smile on my lips and warmth in my heart, I fell soundly back to sleep.
Had I been nuts when I booked this flight? It had been an incredibly tiresome day when I came home. Now I was doing it in reverse. An insane desire to prove my maturity by living with my decisions drove me.
This morning I was paying the price. What an idiot. As late as yesterday, I could have changed to a less grueling non-stop to Kennedy. Or I could have flown the Gulfstream. That’s what Danny would have done.
I crept down the stairs and out the door to the car waiting to deliver me to LAX.
Arriving in Albany, I was exhausted. I had not slept on either flight. If my reflection in the restroom mirror was accurate, I looked like hell. At least journey was nearly over.
Apparently I fell asleep because it had turned dark by the time the Town Car from the airport approached the Donnelly gate. I called Danny to let him know I was almost home. I promised to call from my room and Skype. I couldn’t wait for Sunday’s reunion. I would look and feel good again by then.
A
Town Car pulled into the lot. She was here!
Eli
zabeth stepped out of the car. In the dim lighting, I couldn’t make out the details of her face, but her body slouched, exhausted as she had described.
The driver removed her suitcases, three in all, from the trunk, and proceeded toward the door, Eli leading the way.
When she reached the top step, I opened the door and walked out.
“Danny?”
she gasped. Elizabeth’s eyes opened wide in complete surprise. A smile washed over her tired face as she realized it really was me.
“It’s me,” I answered, the
biggest grin crossing my face. “May I help with your luggage ma’am?” I asked.
“I hope so,” she replied breathlessly and launched herself at me.
My arms wrapped tightly around Eli’s slender frame while her hands reached around my neck. My lips hungrily devoured hers.
“I thought you wouldn’t be back until Sunday,” she whispered.
“I couldn’t let you sleep alone in an empty building. You might be frightened.”
“I would be. I was dreading it,” she answered
, and we kissed again.
Elizabeth opened the door
, and I carried her luggage across the threshold. Once in the elevator, as the doors closed behind us, I pressed Elizabeth against the wall and started kissing her all over again. Elizabeth giggled, delighted, as I kissed her lips, her face, and her neck. Her gentle hands held my face as her lips hungrily met mine.
Elizabeth unlocked the doo
r to her suite. The empty suite was eerily silent and dark before she switched on the overhead light. I was glad neither of us would sleep alone tonight.
Releasing t
he heavy luggage was a relief. How much stuff had she brought? Before I asked, Eli jumped into my arms, wrapping her legs around my hips. Her warm hands brought my face to hers for our lips to meet. Pure sweetness. Total bliss
“I missed you so much,” I murmured.
“I know,” she smiled. “I missed you so much too.”
As I held her face to mine,
she deftly unbuttoned my shirt. I thought she would be too tired. I pushed her sweatshirt off her shoulders letting it drop to the ground. With Eli’s help, my shirt fell to the floor. She ran her delicate fingers over my chest and held me close. My heart thumped loudly.
Then I pulled her tee over her head, unhooked her lacy bra, and let it fall to the g
round. The feel of her bare chest against mine was overwhelming. Our lips locked, our bodies pressed together, we were on fire.
“Take me to bed
,” Eli whispered breathlessly. Her eyes filled with lust.
I
effortlessly carried Elizabeth to the bed where we made love with the pent-up passions of two completely in love people who had endured a lengthy separation. God, she was amazing!
As Eli lay in my arms, the picture of perfect contentment, we exchanged gentle caresses and equally gentle kisses. I loved nibbling on her lips, her neck, and her soft, smooth shoulder. I knew this was what I wanted. Eli. Always.
I propped myself up
on my elbow and smiled at her. Then I smoothed unruly auburn locks off her face and kissed her again. Eli rewarded me with the brightest smile as my fingers traced her luscious curves. Under my touch, Elizabeth squirmed in innocent delight.
Miami seemed a lifetime ago. I was lucky to have friends like Shane and Cam who cared enough to smack some sense into me. Eli would never know about Reggie.
Why had I risked jeopardizing everything I had with Elizabeth? She was perfect and perfect for me in every way. Elizabeth was the right combination of beauty, intelligence and sexiness. She was my best friend. I loved her more than anything. I vowed to never do anything to hurt or disappoint her.
“When do I see your dress?” Danny asked.
He had arrived at my room in time to see me pushing the air out of a Neiman Marcus garment bag as I zippered it.
“Tomorrow. When it’s on,” I answered and gave a flirty smile.
Then I turned to finish packing. I decided to add a pashmina. The theatre might be cool and the second week of April was early for strapless in New York City.
“There. I’m done,” I announced as I zippered my case closed.
Danny folded the case in half and clasped it closed. He had already loaded his luggage, and a backpack filled with books into his car.
It felt odd to first be driving to New York City on a Sunday, but tomorrow was the East Coast premiere of Steve’s latest film. Danny had worked on this film last year.
Steve was landing at Teterboro Airport later this afternoon. Ellen had a head cold and had stayed at home. When we’d spoken yesterday, she appointed me Steve’s escort. I would be pulling double-duty at the premiere. Now I was even more pleased that Mom’s stylist, Romey, had sent me a dress.
Earlier in the week, as I returned with Chloe to Berkeley Hall after lunch, two sizeable boxes were waiting for me at the reception desk.
“What are those?” Chloe had asked.
“The big one’s from my stylist. I don’t know about the other.”
“You have a stylist?”
“Romey works for Mom, but for special occasion she shops for me too.”
I flushed. Average Donnelly students did not have stylists.
I was expecting the box from Romey containing my dress and accessories for the premiere. The other box was a complete mystery. I had no idea what was in it, but Chloe instantly recognized the logo on the shipping label.
“Nola Lee!“ she gasped. I shrugged.
Nola Lee was one of my favorite designers. Chloe’s too. Her eclectic designs made of fabrics you loved to touch, were beloved by fashionable young women everywhere. Like me, Chloe bought several pieces each season.
I tore into the box. On top of the soft pink tissue paper was an envelope with my name hand-written on the front. The accompanying note was on Nola Lee’s personal stationary and I read it aloud.
“’Elizabeth, Romey tells me you’re a fan. Next time you’re in New York, please stop by the showroom. Meanwhile, enjoy the pieces I’ve selected for you. Best of luck with your studies.’ And it’s signed, “Nola.”
I smiled and put the card down.
“I can’t believe designers send you clothes,” said Chloe.
“It’s good for her business. Now Nola is hoping ‘Miranda Jordan’s daughter’ will be photographed wearing her clothes and her sales will increase.”
To hold up my end of the implied bargain, I was wearing one of the Nola Lee outfits. Not only was comfortable for the three-hour car ride, I knew as soon as we met up with Steve, cameras would go off.
After checking in to The Regency Hotel, Danny and I unpacked and tried studying. Rather Danny tried studying. I had no interest, so I cuddled up beside Danny on the bed.
Danny’s long legs stretched out, and he sat with his Economics text in his lap. I reached for his face and kissed him.
“E, c’mon.” Danny sighed. “I’m studying and you should be too.” It was like Vermont all over again.
I was in love with the coolest geek in the world! So I compromised. I let Danny study while I remained cuddled against him, enjoying the feel of his body against mine. And if he changed his mind… He didn’t.
Monday was an exciting day, but first I was a good girl. After breakfast, I joined Danny at a quiet corner table in “The Library”. Between meals, the bar was virtually empty, making it the ideal place to study.
At four o’clock, before the crowd filtered in, we returned to our room. Once I dropped off my books, I collected my Swarovski crystal encrusted hair clips. Then off I went to a nearby salon to have my hair styled. Tonight I wanted my auburn waves to tumble over my shoulders with the clips keeping them off my face. The stylist would ensure that my hair was soft and silky, not frizzy.
Back at The Regency, I found Danny showered and shaved. We had an hour until the limo would take us to the Ziegfeld Theater, more than enough time to primp.
“Perfection takes time,” I teased Danny.
I gathered my lace-trimmed thigh-highs, shoes, pashmina and garment bag. Then I kissed Danny on the cheek and disappeared into the bathroom. He could get dressed in the main room.
Forty minutes later, satisfied with my appearance, I emerged from the bathroom.
“E!” Danny exclaimed as his eyes, wide as saucers, examined me from head to toe. His face lit up. His eyes twinkled like blue diamonds. A smile stretched from ear-to-ear. I did a full pirouette. Danny more than liked what he saw.
“Eli, you’re gorgeous,” he said breathlessly. I giggled and smiled shyly.
My form-fitting dress was elegant cream-colored silk shantung covered with scattered small magenta and light pink rose buds. Above the knee, but not mini in length, it featured a strapless sweetheart-style neckline. Not too revealing, the waist-nipping bodice only hinted at what lay beneath the fabric.
The back was cut only as low as where my bra strap normally crossed and my hair covered most of my bare skin. I wore high open-toed magenta Jimmy Choo pumps and carried a small Judith Lieber clutch. For the moment, my pashmina of lighter pink cashmere was sat low, nearly at my waist.
In my ears I wore medium-length gold hoops of carved roses. Around my neck of course, lay my gold heart. On my wrist was the gift Danny had brought me from Miami. The gold charm bracelet had only two charms, an Assistant Director’s clapper, and a banana.
I had laughed when Danny gave it to me. Then he reminded me that I had told him to bring me back a plantain. A small, gold banana charm was his idea of a plantain.
Tonight was the evening I’d waited all my life for! I was the girlfriend of Steven Newman’s son, and I was substituting for Ellen. Eyes would be on me as I entered on the arm of the most important man of the evening and his very impressive son.
Danny’s appearance took my breath away. My heart did flip-flops. Seeing Danny every day, I almost forgot how handsome he was. With broad shoulders and slender hips emphasized by the well-cut suit, his hair brushed perfectly into place but still tousled, Danny could have been mistaken for a model.
I felt shy, as though it were a first date. I even blushed as Danny smiled and took my hand. His looks were intimidating.
Danny was dressed equally well in a blue-grey suit from Gucci. He wore a darker blue-grey shirt and a midnight blue silk tie. The blue-grey hues highlighted his sapphire eyes. Danny wore gold cufflinks, engraved with his initials “DMN” in italics. At his waist was a narrow black leather belt and Danny’s shoes were black leather ankle boots. Both were Gucci.
The suit, his massive smile, and the killer twinkling eyes combined to thoroughly captivate me. I was speechless. It confirmed why I had fallen in love with this man so many years ago.
I plucked a microscopic piece of lint off his shoulder. I was beaming with pride that I was the girl accompanying Danny tonight.
Finally I recovered my ability to speak. “You’re perfect, Daniel. Steve will be very proud, as am I.”
The drive to the Ziegfeld Theater was short, but the inside of our limo was filled with nervous energy. Already the film was generating strong positive buzz from early reviews. Last week’s Los Angeles premiere had been an unqualified success.
“What if I trip?” I fretted in anticipation of our red-carpet arrival. I did have a recent history of clumsiness.
“Don’t worry. I’ll catch you.” Danny tried to reassure me but I could see he was trying not to laugh. Then he returned to his conversation with Steve and I sat clutching Danny’s hand, only half-listening to them.
As the limo approached the theater, I was like a debutante making her entrée into society. Only instead of entering a ballroom dressed in a long white gown, I was entering a theater in a short cocktail dress. Which group would be more forgiving if I messed up?
Tonight I would be recognized as an adult. Hollywood would see that Miranda and Michael’s daughter was no longer a kid. My reward for a good performance; inclusion on the A-list under my own name. Did I want that? Who wouldn’t!
In front of the Ziegfeld was a swarm of activity. Uniformed police were controlling crowds and traffic. Muscular security personnel in business suits and wearing Secret-Service style earpieces were controlling the human traffic on the sidewalk.
Additional security contained crowds armed with cameras, paper and pens behind a low gate. Personnel allowed ticket holders to pass to the entrance via a narrow ribbon of sidewalk. A red carpet led from the theater halfway down to the corner. Protected from public view by tall panels, television crews and credentialed photo-journalists lined the carpet’s perimeter where the celebrities would pass.
Complete sensory overload greeted us when our limo pulled up to the curb. Both Steve and Danny could sense my trepidation. Steve leaned across and kissed my cheek.
“You’ll be fine, Elizabeth. Enjoy it.”
“Remember, you’re with us,” Danny added.
He meant to be reassuring. Usually a reminder that I was under the protection of not one, but two Newmans, would be comforting. Not tonight. Being with the Newmans was what had me at the eye of the storm.
Showtime!
The driver opened the passenger door of the limousine. A beefy security man stood to the side of the door to keep away any unauthorized person who tried to approach. I heard the cacophonous fans and felt the stares directed our way as nobody could as yet identify that this was Steven Newman’s car.
Danny kissed my hand, releasing my fingers. Steve confidently exited. At forty-five, Steven Newman cut an impressive figure in an impeccably tailored charcoal grey suit. Steve was as tall as his son, but not as slender, though he didn’t have an ounce of fat. Steve had spent years working out with a trainer. With dark, straight hair mostly still on his head, he didn’t look like Danny, but he did have those mesmerizing blue eyes.
Experienced from being at the top for nearly two decades, Steve was as relaxed as ever. Tonight was his night, but he’d been through this many times before.
Steve turned back toward the car and reached for my hand. I inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. As I rose, Danny patted my rear. As he knew I would, I couldn’t help but turn and smile. In return, Danny smiled and flashed me thumbs-up. I knew everything would be all right.
With Steve guiding me, I exited the limo. The warmth of his fingers, so similar to his son’s, put me at ease. My confidence returned as I acknowledged that this was my night too, the first of many.
A television reporter pounced on us. I recognized her as a pariah from the gossipy cable program that always sought out the bad side of the industry and capitalized on scandal.
She starred wide-eyed, not recognizing me. Instinctively, Steve protectively cupped my shoulder. The reporter stopped short, blocking us in a well-practiced move. We had no choice but to stop.
“Steven, does Ellen know about your date?”
Her rudeness struck me as so absurd that I found myself giggling. Steve squeezed my shoulder and smiled at my immaturity, but hell, I am only eighteen.
Biting my lower lip kept me from dissolving into full-fledged laughter.
“You think it’s funny being with a married man?”
She shoved her mic in front of me. Steve removed his hand from my shoulder and grabbed it. My eyes searched for Danny. Thankfully he was just steps away.
“This is Elizabeth Jordan-Jacobs,” Steve said with authority.
He merged my middle name with my last and created a very impressive hyphenate. The woman examined my face. Finally, recognition.
“Miranda Jordan’s daughter?” she asked cautiously, in case I wasn’t. She couldn’t risk being incorrect on camera.
Danny was now at my side and I moved a step closer to him to take his hand.
Steve nodded. “And my son Daniel’s girlfriend. Ellen is home with the flu. I’m flying solo. Sorry to deny you a scoop.”
Steve led us past the dumbfounded woman to the sheltered red carpet as photographers stopped to our take pictures. For a father, Steven Newman was hot! It wasn’t surprising that the reporter could mistake me for being his date. Steve was incredibly attractive and women often showered him with attention. Many starlets would die for the chance despite his marital status.
In front of a lit screen emblazoned with the film’s logo, and those of the evening’s corporate sponsors, Steve posed alone and then with Danny and me. We stood beside him as he answered reporters’ questions about the film and then he introduced us.
The reporters were pleased to snap photos and capture us on video. The flurry with which they posed us barely contained their excitement over Miss Jordan-Jacobs being coupled with young Mr. Newman.
After the formal poses were completed, and we had walked a few steps away, Danny placed his hands on my shoulders and faced me.
“You were great, Eli,” he whispered, and he gently moved his hand to cradle my face. I no longer felt insecure. “I love you, babe,” and Danny leaned in to kiss me. Several cameras captured the candid of the night.