He took another look at Allegra, although the thought of a threesome with Freddy was pretty gruesome. Then he downed a couple of straight Scotches and suggested they visit a strip club.
‘Yes!’ Freddy said.
‘I have been known to get it on with girls,’ Allegra promised, sloe-eyes gleaming. ‘Does that send shivers up and down your spine, boys?’
In bed with Matt, Lola felt comfortable and safe. He was not exciting, but at least he didn’t go around beating people up and getting her sister shot in return.
‘I missed you so much,’ Matt said, his hands all over her. ‘I was shattered when your lawyer told me I had to leave the house. You broke my heart, Lola. But we’re here together now, so I won’t dwell on it.’
They’d recently finished making love. Apart from the size of his dick, Lola considered Matt incredibly dull in bed. He got on, pumped away and got off–in more ways than one. He wasn’t even capable of giving good head.
She didn’t care. If this was her punishment, so be it. Her only concern was for her sister’s recovery.
‘Can I come to the set tomorrow?’ Matt asked. ‘You might need my moral support, it being your first day back since the shooting.’
‘You can come everywhere with me,’ she said, resigned to her new situation. ‘I feel safe with you around.’
‘That’s the way it should be.’ A long pause. ‘I have to ask you something.’
‘What?’
‘Was anything going on between you and Tony Alvarez?’
‘Nothing,’ she answered, without blinking. Damn! Now she’d lied. She had to stop lying. ‘Actually, that’s not true,’ she said, hastily correcting herself. ‘Tony and I did get together a couple of times, only I soon realized it wasn’t the same as being with you.’
There, she’d corrected that lie. Sorry, God. I’ll try to do better. But, believe me, it’s not easy.
Pete’s dogs raced out to greet Shelby. There were three of them–a golden retriever, a black Labrador and a police dog incongruously named Pudding.
She bent down to fuss them. They licked her face, barked and jumped up at her.
‘The guys remember you,’ Pete said, emerging from the house wearing jeans and a workshirt with rolled-up sleeves. ‘I made it here ten minutes before you, just in time to make you a glass of your favourite Sangria and get the barbecue fired up.’
‘The dogs seem to be in great shape,’ she said, straightening up.
‘Looks like they missed you. Remember when we used to take them to the dog park?’
‘Oh, yes. I loved going there,’ she said enthusiastically.
‘How come you don’t have dogs?’
‘Linc’s allergic.’
‘That’s a new one.’
‘He is.’
‘Come inside. I’ve got something to show you.’
She followed him through the cluttered house into the warm and cosy kitchen. He took her hand and led her over to a basket containing a tiny golden puppy. The other three dogs trotted eagerly behind them.
‘Oh, my!’ she exclaimed. ‘This is the sweetest little thing I’ve ever seen.’
‘Found it wandering around the canyon. I brought it in before it got eaten by coyotes.’
‘What’s its name?’
‘Haven’t named it yet. Thought you could do the honours.’
Gently she picked up the golden ball of fluff. ‘Hi, little guy,’ she said, scratching it under the chin. The puppy gazed up at her. ‘I think I’m in love!’ she exclaimed. ‘She’s so adorable!’
‘It’s a he,’ Pete said, handing her a glass of Sangria. ‘There’s supposed to be a beautiful sunset,’ he added. ‘Let’s go see if we can catch it.’
They went out to the backyard. There was no swimming-pool, just an old hammock and a jumble of wild rosebushes. It was so unlike all the polished Beverly Hills and Bel Air mansions she’d got used to.
‘I love this house,’ she said warmly. ‘I especially love the view of the city at night.’
‘Yeah, there’s something magical about it. It gets me every time,’ he said, going over to the barbecue. ‘I hope you’re still a meat eater.’
‘I’m English, I eat meat.’
‘That’s good, ’cause I’m making Omaha steaks, baked potatoes and hot dogs.’
‘Sounds like a man-sized meal.’
‘You got it,’ he said, smiling. ‘And to go with everything,’ he added, activating an outdoor speaker, ‘your favourite James Taylor song.’
‘You remember everything,’ she said, smiling as ‘You’ve Got A Friend’ filled the night air.
‘Yes, Shelby,’ he said, looking into her eyes. ‘I remember absolutely everything.’
The onslaught of flashbulbs was startling. Cat was not used to this kind of relentless attention.
Nick flung his arm round her shoulders in an all-encompassing way so that she couldn’t escape.
Fans were lined up on each side of Grauman’s Chinese Theater, screaming his name. The TV cameras were stationed in a long line down one side of the red carpet, the photographers along the other.
A harassed publicity woman approached them. ‘Mr Logan, this way.’
‘You’re coming with me,’ he whispered to Cat.
‘I’m not,’ she protested. ‘I’ll wait inside.’
‘I said you’re coming with me,’ he hissed, not loosening his grip.
So much for anonymity, she thought, as he dragged her down the press line, chatting amiably to all the TV crews, introducing her to every one of them.
‘I wish you hadn’t done that,’ she said, when they finally made it inside the theatre.
‘You could’ve run,’ he said, groping in his pocket for a chewed toothpick.
‘How could I run with your hand on the scruff of my neck?’
‘You’re gonna get plenty of attention anyway,’ he said. ‘Don’t think you can avoid it.’
He was repeating what Shelby had said. Was celebrity inevitable simply because she was young and not bad-looking?
In the lobby he introduced her to a few of the cast members from his movie and the director.
She felt humiliated because she was sure they were all looking at her as if she was another one of his conquests. I must have been crazy to come to this, she thought. Stark raving crazy.
After the movie–a salute to violence–there was a big party.
Nick said, ‘We only have to stay five minutes, then we can leave.’
‘But I’m hungry,’ she protested.
‘We’ll join the gang at Ago.’
Not only had she been exposed to the world as another of Nick Logan’s girlfriends, now he wanted to show his friends that she’d gone out with him.
‘You know what?’ she said. ‘I’d sooner go someplace else–maybe Chow’s.’
‘Why?’ he said. ‘Everyone’s at Ago.’
‘How come they didn’t turn up to your première?’
‘You think they’d come to a shitty movie like that?’ he said, abandoning his toothpick and reaching for a cigarette.
Oh, great! She’d had to endure his movie, and they didn’t have to.
‘Anyway,’ he added, lighting up, ‘we’ll toss a coin.’
He tossed. She lost. She was sure that he cheated.
By the time they arrived at Ago, his table was packed.
‘Do you really pick up the check for all these people every night?’ she whispered.
‘I can afford it.’
‘It must be costing you a fortune.’
‘It’s them or the taxman. I’m a generous soul.’
‘So I’ve noticed.’
Amy, the pretty stand-up comedian with the oversized glasses, was there. Nick greeted her with a great show of affection.
She must be an old girlfriend, Cat thought.
‘Didja meet Amy?’ Nick asked.
‘Yes,’ Cat replied. ‘I was planning on catching your act at the Improv, right?’
‘She remembers,’ Am
y said. ‘This one’s a keeper.’
Nick gave Amy another kiss and a hug. Cat frowned. What did he think? That they were going to get involved in some kind of bizarre threesome?
‘I think I’ll take off,’ she said. ‘I’ve got to be up early, and it’s getting late.’
‘No,’ Nick urged. ‘You’re staying to eat. She’s staying, Amy–right?’
‘Whatever you say, brother dear.’
Brother dear? Was that a term of affection, or was she actually his sister?
‘Are you brother and sister?’ Cat asked.
‘Yup,’ Amy said, grinning. ‘’Fraid so.’
‘Oh,’ Cat said, and immediately thought that Amy would be the perfect girl for Jonas.
‘My steak was delicious,’ Shelby said, pushing away her plate. She was sitting comfortably on an outdoor chair in the backyard of Pete’s house, nursing a second glass of Sangria.
‘You haven’t finished.’
‘I can’t. This steak was big enough for a three-hundred-pound truck driver.’
‘I’ll give the rest to the dogs,’ Pete said, picking up the plates.
‘Expensive dogs,’ Shelby remarked, as the dogs came bounding over.
‘I believe in looking after my animals.’
‘I can see that.’
‘Unconditional love,’ Pete said, patting the black Labrador. ‘That’s what I get from these guys.’
‘You were telling me about your love-life earlier,’ Shelby said. ‘Can I hear more?’
‘Why?’ he said. ‘It’s boring.’
‘No. I’m fascinated.’
‘Sadist!’
‘Come on, Pete.’
‘Okay,’ he said, matter-of-factly. ‘After Liz the actress, there was Janet.’
‘And what was wrong with Janet?’ Shelby asked good-naturedly.
‘Janet was okay, except she was desperate to get married.’
‘And you didn’t want to?’
‘After I get to know someone, maybe. Janet wanted to get married after we’d only been together three weeks.’
‘So Janet had to go?’
‘Right. Then after Janet there was Clarissa, the hairdresser.’
‘And her problem was?’
‘Sex maniac. She wanted it three times a night.’ He gave a self-deprecating grin. ‘Now, I like sex as much as the next man, but three times a night, forget it.’
Shelby smiled. ‘It certainly seems you’ve been busy since we broke up.’
‘We never broke up, Shelby,’ he said, correcting her gently. ‘You ran off and married one of my best friends.’
‘I wish you wouldn’t keep reminding me.’
‘I wish you’d face up to the fact that Linc is not making you happy.’
She flushed. ‘How can you say something like that?’
‘It’s obvious, Shelby. I see the tabloids. Linc’s a player, he always has been. He likes booze, women and—’ He stopped abruptly.
‘Booze, women and what?’ she challenged.
‘I’m sure he’s not into it any more.’
‘Into what, Pete?’
‘He was, uh, always kind of a cocaine freak.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ she said scornfully. ‘If I’d ever suspected that Linc took drugs, it would’ve been the end of us.’
‘He probably stopped when he met you,’ Pete said, wishing he hadn’t mentioned it.
‘It’s time to go,’ she said, standing up. ‘This was nice. You’ll make some lucky girl a wonderful cook.’
‘I have other talents, too.’
‘I’m sure you do,’ she said, petting the puppy.
‘I’ll walk you to your car.’
They went through the house out to the front.
‘There’s something I think you should know before you go,’ Pete said, standing by her car.
‘Yes, Pete. What?’ she said, finding her keys.
‘It’ll sound corny, but there’s no other way to say it.’
‘Go ahead.’
‘I love you, Shelby,’ he said quietly. ‘I always have and I always will. And you know what? I’m sorry, but there’s absolutely nothing I can do about it.’
Chapter Thirty-Five
Linc had never been to a strip club with a woman before, and Allegra was into it. The moment the girls began strutting their stuff, Allegra jumped up–all six feet of her–whistling as if she was a randy guy out on the town looking to get laid. ‘Gimme money,’ she kept on demanding of Freddy.
He obliged, bringing out his considerable bank roll.
She snatched a handful of cash and immediately began sticking twenty-dollar bills into the girls’ G-strings. ‘Let’s get us a private room,’ she shrieked. ‘I’ll pick out three girls, one for each of us.’
‘Oh, Jesus,’ Linc groaned. He wasn’t thinking straight: the booze was clouding his brain. ‘I dunno if I wanna do this.’
‘For Crissakes,’ Freddy complained. ‘You’re turnin’ into an old fart.’
‘I got a reputation to protect.’
‘What friggin’ reputation?’ Freddy exploded. ‘You’re all over the goddamn papers with the Latina sex bomb and Shelby’s dumped you, so relax, have yourself a ball.’
Yeah, that’s what he should do–have himself a ball. Although Shelby hadn’t dumped him. He’d told her to fuck off.
What a mistake.
No. It wasn’t a mistake. He was free now. He could do whatever he felt like without having to listen to her sanctimonious nagging.
Allegra spent fifteen minutes picking out girls to accompany them to the private room. She selected three different types: a sinuous black girl, a southern redhead with huge knockers, and a petite Asian.
On their way to the private room, Allegra was whooping and hollering, causing other patrons to stare and recognize Linc–which pissed him off.
‘This is fuckin’ ace!’ she yelled, in her loud Australian accent. ‘You guys are fan-fuckin’tastic!’
Finally they settled into a private room.
One of the strippers had a key, and Allegra ordered her to lock the door. ‘I’ve been here before,’ Allegra offered, winking jauntily at the guys. ‘We gotta have our privacy.’
Linc sat back, ready to enjoy his first lap dance in a while.
‘I’ll take the one with the big tits,’ Freddy roared.
‘Fake,’ Allegra pointed out, in a bitchy tone.
‘You think I give a fast crap?’ Freddy chortled, waving a wad of bills at the redhead.
The black girl was all over Linc, humping and grinding while brushing her pointed breasts against his mouth as she straddled him.
Half-way through her routine she did something that turned him off, so he shoved her away and clicked his fingers for the delicate Asian with her china-doll features.
‘Looks like I’m stuck with you,’ Allegra said, attempting to kiss the black girl on the mouth.
Soon everyone was going at it. Dry-humping, heaving and groaning.
Before long, Linc found himself getting a blow-job, although it was strictly against the club’s rules. Any kind of fucking or sucking was against the club’s rules. But who gave a shit?
The Asian girl was into it–a regular little suction pump.
Linc leaned back like a king, allowing her to service him. Hookers and strippers were the best. A man didn’t have to buy them presents or take them out to dinner. No foreplay. No declarations of love. And no recriminations in the morning. Merely a businesslike exchange of cold hard cash. It suited him fine.
By the time they left the club he was completely wasted. Allegra was all over him, while Freddy had paired up with all three strippers.
‘Everyone back to my place,’ Freddy announced.
‘I’m on!’ Allegra said, before whispering in Linc’s ear, ‘Or we could dump him and have our own party at your hotel. I can do things you’ve only ever dreamed about!’
God! He was so fucked up. Drink, drugs, women–he was back to his old ways big-time. br />
What was so bad about that? At least he didn’t have Shelby watching him like the town detective.
Outside the club, two paparazzi came darting out of nowhere. Flash! Flash! Flash!
For a brief moment Linc was blinded. Then he lashed out, grabbing one of the photographers, wresting his camera away from him and smashing it to the ground. The photographer was livid: he lunged at Linc, who managed to kick him in the groin. Within moments they were fully involved, while the second photographer snapped away.
The club bouncer emerged from inside and separated them.
‘You’ll be sorry for this,’ the photographer yelled, picking up his broken camera. ‘My friend got it all, buddy. You fuckhead movie stars think you can get away with anything. Forget it, cocksucker.’ Then the two photographers ran off down the street.
‘Shit!’ Freddy mumbled, attempting to bundle the three strippers into his limo. ‘What didja havta do that for?’
‘He deserved it,’ Linc answered, rubbing his jaw where he’d received a glancing blow.
‘Come on, mate,’ Allegra said, pulling him by the sleeve of his jacket. ‘Let’s go get it on.’
Why not? Why the hell not?
Only a few hours later, Linc sat in the makeup trailer, scowling and hung-over.
‘What am I supposed to do with you today?’ the makeup girl bitched. ‘Your skin’s like sandpaper, your eyes are super bloodshot. Lean back, Linc, I’ll try putting Visine in them.’
‘Leave my eyes alone,’ he muttered. ‘I feel like crap as it is.’
‘You look like crap,’ the makeup girl scolded. ‘Relax, while I do my best to make you look human.’
Lola entered the makeup trailer with Matt right behind her. ‘Well,’ she said, flopping into one of the makeup chairs. ‘I see you’ve taken over the front-page spot.’
He’d already viewed the damage. The Daily News carried a photo of him with Allegra, whereas the Post had a picture of him kicking a photographer.
‘Jesus, Lola.’ He groaned, then he spotted Matt. ‘Hey,’ he muttered.
‘Hey,’ Matt responded.
There was an uneasy silence.
‘Matt and I are back together,’ Lola said, breaking the silence.