Hollywood Divorces • Hollywood Wives: The New Generation

  ‘One more bossy order from that skinny bitch with the diamond rock an’ I’m pissin’ in her drink.’

  ‘How about the ass on Lola Sanchez? I’d like to move in an’ stay a week!’

  Matt blended in. They’d forgotten he was there as he sat in front of the TV tossing peanuts into his mouth. He took the comment about his wife as a compliment. She did have a gorgeous ass, nothing insulting about that.

  Now that they were back together he had to work on making sure that she didn’t throw him out again. To be safe, he’d consulted a lawyer and made sure that next time it would not be so easy for her to dump him.

  One of the waiters came running into the kitchen and slammed his tray on the counter. ‘Nobody’s gonna believe this one,’ he announced. ‘Tony Alvarez locks himself in the master bedroom with that hot Lola Sanchez piece, then Security figures out somebody’s in there so they tell Jorge. He gets pissed, an’ sends Security to throw them out. Well, Security starts hammering on the door, and two minutes later out comes Tony Alvarez and no Lola. So, I’m keeping an eye on the situation, and suddenly I notice Raja Mestres go in there with Tony Alvarez’s girlfriend. Now the three of them are in there together. Then Lola Sanchez waltzes out looking mighty pleased with herself. Guess she had a good thing going with the two women.’

  ‘What’re you gettin’ at?’ one of the other waiters asked.

  ‘What do you think I’m gettin’ at?’ the first waiter said triumphantly. ‘They’re a bunch of lesbos.’

  ‘Isn’t Lola Sanchez married?’

  ‘Yeah. Poor guy. She’s cut his balls off an’ she’s wearing them as earrings.’

  All the waiters roared with laughter.

  Matt wanted the floor to open up so that he could sink into it and vanish from sight. The only good thing was that nobody had a clue who he was. He blended in, just another basketball fanatic who couldn’t miss a game.

  Jesus! he thought. I married the biggest bitch of all time.

  Nick caught up with Cat, grabbed her, and they collapsed on the damp sand, laughing hysterically. Pinning her hands behind her head, he kissed her, his tongue exploring her mouth.

  ‘Isn’t this more exciting than that movie set you wanted us to do it in?’ she gasped, escaping from his insistent lips. ‘We never made it to the bedroom, but I bet there were satin sheets on the bed. How cliché is that?’

  ‘I’m freezing my ass off, can’t see a fuckin’ thing, and I left my smokes in the car,’ Nick complained. ‘Apart from that, this is great!’

  ‘Glad you’re enjoying it.’

  ‘What if the tide comes in an’ we’re trapped? You thought of that?’

  ‘You’re such a downer.’

  ‘And you’re such a wild one.’

  ‘Should be. I wrote the movie.’

  ‘Oh yeah, so you did.’

  ‘Hey’ I’ve been on best behaviour the last couple of months. I’ve directed a big-time movie, played grown-up, been totally responsible. I’m only nineteen, y’know. I can have some fun, can’t I?’

  ‘We’ll have fun, all right,’ he said, rolling on top of her and kissing her again.

  It suddenly occurred to her that Nick Logan was a sensational kisser. There was a technique to really good kissing, and Nick had it down. Of course, she was no slouch herself. Jump had never mastered the art of a great kiss.

  The wind was whipping up, they were getting sprayed by the surf, and Cat knew she was ruining her outfit, but she didn’t care.

  Nick’s hands began exploring. She retaliated, unzipping his pants and investigating the possibilities. ‘No underwear?’ she questioned.

  ‘Never had any use for it.’

  ‘Bingo.’ She laughed. ‘Me too!’

  Now he was kissing her in earnest, his talented tongue stirring her juices. The sand was everywhere, but neither of them cared as they hastily divested themselves of their clothes.

  It was as good as they had both expected it to be. Better, in fact. Sexy and hot and exciting–with the added element of a dangerous location, the surf pounding right next to their bodies, and the darkness enveloping them.

  When they were finished, they couldn’t find their clothes.

  ‘Oh…my…God. We’ll have to drive home totally nude,’ Cat joked. ‘How’s that for an excellent story on ET?’

  ‘Got an idea,’ Nick said, scrambling for his pants.

  ‘What? Wrap seaweed around your dick and play merman?’

  ‘I want you around my dick,’ he said playfully. ‘I want you around it all the time.’

  ‘Hmm…sounds good to me.’

  Giggling, they crawled around the gritty sand, searching for their clothes.

  Cat retrieved her skirt and top just as a huge wave came in, drenching them both.

  ‘We’d better get outta here,’ Nick said, taking her hand and pulling her up. By this time the surf was lapping around their ankles.

  ‘If we don’t drown first,’ Cat yelled. Spotting her sandals she snatched them up. Then they began the precarious climb back up the rocks.

  ‘I can see the headline now.’ Cat laughed. ‘“Girl director and boy star washed out to sea.”’

  ‘How come you get top billing?’

  ‘Typical actor! Let’s negotiate.’

  ‘Move it, smartass,’ he said, pushing her from behind.

  ‘Yes, sir!’

  Still laughing, they finally made it to the top of the rocks.

  ‘That was insane!’ Cat exclaimed, attempting to struggle into her wet clothes.

  ‘You’re insane.’

  ‘So you keep on telling me.’

  ‘I always dreamed of meeting a girl like you,’ he said, pulling on his trousers.

  ‘You did?’

  ‘Or maybe it was a nightmare.’

  ‘Screw you.’

  ‘Anytime, ma’am, anytime at all.’

  ‘Are you awake?’

  Shelby cradled the phone. ‘Yes, I’m awake.’

  ‘This is Pete.’

  ‘I know,’ she said, decidedly pleased to hear from him.

  ‘I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed tonight. I hope you did too.’

  ‘Yes…I did.’

  ‘And, Shelby—’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Whatever happens, I’m always here for you.’

  ‘I think I’m beginning to understand that, Pete.’

  ‘I wish you’d come back to my house.’

  ‘I’m English,’ she said, letting him down gently. ‘I prefer to wait until I’m divorced.’

  There. She’d said the word aloud. Divorce. I am going to divorce Linc.

  Oh, God! How can I when I still love him?

  Because I have to.

  ‘I get it,’ Pete said. ‘I’m very—’

  ‘Patient,’ she said, finishing the sentence for him.

  He laughed.

  ‘Good night, Pete,’ she said.

  ‘Talk to you tomorrow,’ he said.

  After putting down the phone, she lay awake for a long time, thinking about what the future held.

  No more procrastinating. Her baby needed a father, a man she could depend on. And, much as she still loved him, Linc was sadly not that man.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  ‘I have a newsflash for you,’ Lola said, sidling up to Tony, who was standing next to Jorge.

  Tony turned to look at her as if they were merely vague acquaintances, not passionate lovers.

  ‘Hi, Lola,’ he said. ‘Did you meet Jorge?’

  ‘Miz Sanchez is the most beautiful woman here,’ Jorge said, taking her hand in his, bringing it to his lips and kissing it in a courtly fashion. ‘Voluptuous. I love voluptuous women.’

  ‘Me too,’ Tony agreed.

  Then what are you doing with that nothing little girl? Lola thought. ‘How’s everything, Tony?’ she said, playing the game. ‘I don’t think I’ve seen you since New York.’

  ‘Everything’s tight, Lola,’ he replied. ‘I signed the deal for my
new movie yesterday.’

  ‘Yes,’ Jorge joined in. ‘And Tony also recently announced his engagement to a delightful young lady, quite delightful.’

  Somehow or other Lola kept the smile on her face. Jorge must be an idiot: didn’t he know that she and Tony were once engaged?

  ‘Thanks, Jorge,’ Tony joked. ‘If Maria was a boy she’d be exactly your type.’

  Jorge frowned. He did not appreciate his sexual predilections being advertised to the world.

  ‘Where’s your wife?’ Lola asked, plucking a glass of wine from the tray of a passing waiter.

  ‘Unfortunately she could not come on this trip,’ Jorge replied. ‘She is at our house in Buenos Aires. Her father is a most important politician.’

  ‘She doesn’t mind you coming here alone?’

  ‘Why would she mind?’ Jorge said, his eyes lingering on Lola’s cleavage.

  ‘L.A. is known as the city of temptations,’ Lola said, shooting a sideways glance at Tony.

  ‘Ah, but my wife is a very understanding woman, and I am a very understanding man. It is only in unsophisticated societies that people get upset when extra-curricular activities take place.’

  ‘Yeah, women can get very uptight in America,’ Tony agreed.

  More guests were arriving. Jorge politely excused himself and drifted off.

  ‘So,’ Tony said, his eyes inviting her to stay, ‘you wanna tell me your newsflash?’

  ‘Since you don’t seem bothered by extra-curricular activities,’ she said, savouring the moment, ‘it’s about your girlfriend.’

  ‘You got somethin’ to say about Maria?’

  ‘Only if you want to know.’ A long beat. ‘Do you, Tony?’

  ‘Depends.’

  ‘Where is she?’ Lola asked, taking a sip of wine.

  ‘Around somewhere,’ Tony said irritably. ‘When I’m ready to leave, I’ll snap my fingers and she’ll be there.’

  ‘Ah…men.’ Lola sighed. ‘Their egos are so big, just like your beautiful—’

  ‘You tellin’ me or not?’ he interrupted.

  ‘I thought you weren’t sure if you wanted to know.’

  ‘Stop jackin’ me, Lola. Spill.’

  ‘When you left me in the bathroom without coming back to rescue me—’

  ‘You coulda come out whenever you wanted.’

  ‘As you can see, I did. However, I waited a few minutes first.’

  ‘Uh-huh?’

  ‘And…it seems someone else had the same idea as us.’

  ‘You mean somebody else was makin’ out in there?’

  ‘Yes, and one of those two people was your dear fiancée.’

  His face hardened. ‘You’re shittin’ me?’

  ‘No, Tony. I’m telling you the way it is. You think Maria is so sweet and innocent, when obviously you’re totally wrong.’

  ‘Who was the guy?’ he said harshly.

  ‘Ah…that’s what makes this such an interesting story.’

  ‘Stop fuckin’ with me, Lola. I don’t like it.’

  ‘It wasn’t a man,’ she said, sipping her wine. ‘It was our esteemed guest of honour.’

  ‘Raja?’

  ‘Yes, Raja. The great artist was busily going down on your fiancée like there was no tomorrow.’

  Unexpectedly Tony burst out laughing. ‘Jesus holy Christ!’ he said. ‘And I thought Maria was so demure.’

  Lola was shocked by his reaction. She’d wanted him to call the girl every name he could think of. Instead he was laughing as if it didn’t matter. ‘You mean you’re not upset?’ she said.

  ‘No way. She’s got the guest of honour’s tongue up her crack, hey, maybe I can get a discount on a painting.’

  Lola scowled. Her news had not had the effect she’d hoped for. ‘You’re a pervert,’ she said.

  ‘No, babe,’ he said, still laughing. ‘I’m a man.’

  ‘You know what?’ Nick said.

  ‘What?’ Cat replied.

  ‘My turn to do something wild now.’

  ‘Thought we just did.’

  ‘Yeah, we did, and I’m wet and freezing my balls off. How about you?’

  ‘Look at me,’ she said, shivering. ‘I’m like something left outside in the rain all night.’

  ‘You’re still a beauty.’

  ‘Ooh, compliments,’ she said, grinning. ‘I like it.’

  ‘Here’s what we’re gonna do,’ he said, executing a U-turn and heading back along the Pacific Coast Highway. ‘We’re drivin’ to Vegas and playin’ blackjack. My game of choice.’

  ‘Oh, in our wet clothes, with you driving seven hundred miles an hour, we’re off to Vegas, so you can play a dumb card game?’

  ‘C’mon,’ he encouraged her. ‘You’re an adventurous soul. You gotta like gambling.’

  ‘Can’t say I’ve ever done it.’

  ‘I’ll teach you. I’m a degenerate gambler.’

  ‘That sounds bad.’

  ‘I always win.’

  ‘Why Vegas?’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘I can think of a hundred reasons.’

  ‘Go ahead,’ he said, driving fast.

  ‘Okay. My movie wrapped, I’m beat, and come Monday I’m locked in the editing room. I think I need to go home.’

  ‘That’s not a hundred reasons,’ he argued. ‘Besides, it’s Friday, we’ve got the whole freakin’ weekend. I’ll have you back Sunday night.’

  ‘I can’t walk into the editing room a total wreck.’

  ‘I did your adventure, climbed down a freakin’ cliff to make out with you, and nearly got swept away. Now it’s your turn to do something for me. Here,’ he added, tossing her his cellphone, ‘call Amy. Tell her and Jonas to come join us at the Hard Rock.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘My dime. We’ll make it a weekend.’

  ‘You are crazy.’

  ‘Have you noticed that if I’m not telling you that you’re crazy you’re telling me?’ he said, looking more dishevelled than ever. ‘Are we a fuckin’ match made in heaven or what?’

  ‘Actually, yes,’ she admitted, thinking how right he was.

  ‘Go ahead,’ he said, shooting her a grin. ‘Call my sister.’

  ‘What’s her number?’

  ‘Speed dial number one.’

  Amy answered immediately. ‘What happened to you two?’ she yelled, music blaring away in the background. ‘Jonas and me are still at the party. It’s a blast.’

  ‘We took off on a side trip,’ Cat explained.

  ‘Hmm…I see.’

  ‘Anyway, your insane brother has requested that you and Jonas join us in Vegas.’

  ‘Why?’ Amy said, completely unfazed. ‘Are you two getting married?’

  ‘No,’ Cat answered, choking with laughter at the thought. ‘I’m not even divorced, and somehow I don’t get the vibe that your brother is the marrying kind.’

  ‘Stop speaking for me,’ Nick interrupted. ‘You never know, I might marry you. Stranger things have happened.’

  ‘Ooh, I’m so excited,’ Cat drawled sarcastically. ‘Try not to forget that I’m still married.’

  ‘Shut up.’

  ‘Anyway,’ she added, talking into the phone. ‘Hop on a plane and meet us at the Hard Rock. We’re driving.’

  ‘You’re actually risking your life in a car with my brother?’ Amy questioned. ‘He’s a lunatic driver.’

  ‘We’ve risked more than that tonight.’

  ‘I’ll run it by Jonas, but you do know that he’s not a spur-of-the-moment kind of guy.’

  ‘Tell him that we’re celebrating the end of our movie,’ Cat said, ‘and that I’m begging him to come. That should do it. Wait a sec–talk to your brother,’ she added, passing the phone to Nick.

  ‘Hey, little sis,’ he said, one hand off the steering-wheel as they zoomed down the highway. ‘You gonna make it?’

  ‘If you say so, big bro.’

  ‘I say so.’

  ‘Having fun, are you?’


  ‘Oh, yeah.’

  ‘Told you she was a keeper.’

  ‘Right as usual,’ he said, clicking off the phone.

  ‘Can we stop by my apartment?’ Cat pleaded. ‘I need to grab some clothes. Look at me. I vaguely resemble a drowned rat.’

  ‘I’m looking at you,’ he said sincerely. ‘It’s a beautiful sight.’

  Matt emerged from the kitchen. The party was in full swing, crowded with guests laughing, talking and clinking glasses. A classical guitarist played inspirational music, only Matt was not in an inspirational mood. He was severely pissed as he began searching for his wife, his lovely, gorgeous, famous wife–his delectable, unfaithful bitch of a wife.

  Finally he spotted her, talking to Tony Alvarez. He walked over purposefully, his bland face grim. ‘We’re going,’ he said, roughly taking her arm.

  ‘Excuse me?’ she said, shaking free.

  ‘We’re leaving,’ he repeated.

  ‘I didn’t say I was ready to leave.’

  ‘I want to go now.’

  ‘I don’t think so, Matt,’ Lola said, her brown eyes flashing. ‘Go back and watch your precious ball game. I’ll let you know when I’m ready.’

  ‘Don’t talk to me like that,’ he said angrily. ‘I’m your husband. Your legal husband.’

  She could see he was angry. Taking him back had been a major mistake. Now she’d have to get rid of him all over again, and she was sure her lawyer would not do it for her a second time.

  Tony was watching both of them, his dark eyes cool and appraising.

  She wondered if he’d dispose of Matt if she asked him to. Tony was a dangerous man–he’d probably do it. Not that she’d ever consider asking him. The only way she’d get Matt out of her house was to promise him another settlement, exactly like she’d had Otto arrange the first time. ‘Go home if you must,’ she said. ‘Send the car back for me.’

  ‘You’d like that, wouldn’t you?’ Matt said, glaring at Tony. ‘You’d like to stay here with your boyfriend.’

  ‘What did you say?’ Lola demanded.

  ‘Everyone at this party knows the deal. You were caught in the bedroom with him earlier.’

  ‘Hey, man,’ Tony said, ‘this is not a conversation to have in public–cool it. People are starin’.’

  ‘Like you give a shit,’ Matt said belligerently.