Hollywood Husbands (51 page)

And then she wondered if it was true – the rumours about short men being over-compensated in other areas…

‘What are you grinning about?’ he demanded. ‘I’m pouring my guts out to you here, and you think it’s
funny?
’

‘Sorry! I just remembered something Antonio did in the studio yesterday. He’s
such
a character!’

‘Yeah, right. So let me get back to what I was telling you…’

She tuned out. Sometimes he was suffocatingly boring. Attractive, but boring. Attractive, but short…

Jack Python entered the restaurant.

Jack Python with Kellie Sidney.

She sat up straight and watched him as he paused at the reservation desk to jest with the girl there, and was then led immediately to his window table. A table that put him directly across from her.

He didn’t see her at first as he leaned over and said something intimate to Kellie, who laughed. And then, just as he was about to order drinks, he noticed her and did one of those classic double-takes.

‘Hey—’ He smiled and waved.

She smiled back. ‘Hello.’

Both Kellie and Shane turned around to see who their respective dinner dates were waving to. As it happened they knew each other, and exchanged greetings of their own. And then Kellie effected introductions. ‘Shane Dickson, Jack Python.’

And Jack said, ‘Kellie Sidney, Jade Johnson.’

And everyone came out with banal compliments before turning back to their own conversations.

‘I always wanted to meet him,’ Shane said. ‘Interesting guy. Where do you know him from?’

‘I met him with Antonio,’ she replied vaguely.

Kellie said, ‘She’s stunning. Where did you meet her?’

‘Las Vegas, I think. One of Carlos Brent’s parties. Who’s the guy?’

‘Shane’s a director from New York.’

‘Movies?’

‘Commercials. Although I hear he’s getting offers. He directs the Cloud commercials. They’re wonderful – very original, have you seen them?’

‘No,’ he lied.

‘The camera work is superb. I wouldn’t mind looking like she does in my next movie.’

I bet
, he thought.
Only pretty as you are, my sweet – no chance
.

Dinner was interesting. Shane and Kellie, back to back, had no idea of the electricity sparking between the tables. Jade tried to concentrate on her date – an impossible task with Jack Python so close. While Jack tried to give Kellie his undivided attention, as surreptitously he watched Ms. Johnson’s every move.

She couldn’t eat.

‘You said you were starving,’ Shane remarked.

She gulped more champagne – to hell with the hangover, it was needed. ‘Just thirsty, I guess,’ she said lamely.

Jack ordered smoked salmon pizza, and was relieved to see Kellie finish every piece. She was telling studio stories. Horror tales of male executives’ attitudes to female movie stars who took control of their own destinies.

‘I wish you’d mentioned this on the show,’ he said. She had been his guest three weeks before.

‘I’ll come back again,’ she said sweetly. ‘When I have another movie to plug.’

He glanced up and met Jade’s gaze head-on. They had been conscientiously trying not to stare at each other all night. This time neither of them looked away.

She felt the burn right down to the soles of her feet, and knew that Shane Dickson had just lucked out.

Chapter Seventy-One

The frigging asshole bought a mansion and moved himself out to Beverly Hills. Howard Soloman nearly had a heart attack. It was bad enough having Zachary K. Klinger driving him loco from New York – but right on his own frigging doorstep? Jesus H. Christ. Somebody up there was not looking out for him.

‘It’s not so terrible,’ Poppy tried to console him.

‘How would
you
like it?’ he demanded. ‘I’m supposed to be running a studio, not waitin’ to wipe Zachary’s ass every time he goes to the john.’

‘Does he really interfere that much?’ she asked.

‘Yes,’ he replied sourly. Actually, it wasn’t that bad. Zachary’s main concerns were the two movies he considered to be his.
Romance
and
The Murder
. The rest of the product he left alone – allowing Howard more or less
carte blanche
.

Howard had gone development crazy. Out of pique, he was spending the studio’s money at an alarming rate. Buying properties, commissioning screenplays, purchasing best-selling novels, and giving the green light to a slew of producers, writers and directors with passable ideas.

Fuck it. He didn’t give a damn. There were other studios to run. Orpheus was not the be-all and end-all.

Howard Soloman had a yen to move on.

* * *

And on the set of
Romance
, the two stars had fallen out, causing a certain frostiness all round.

Silver Anderson said it was Carlos Brent’s fault.

Carlos Brent said it was Silver Anderson’s.

‘The man is an egomaniac,’ Silver said.

‘The old broad is a pain in the tonsils,’ Carlos said.

‘His voice is gone,’ from Silver.

‘She can’t sing anymore,’ from Carlos.

‘Box office arsenic,’ announced Silver.

‘They’ll only watch her on television,’ announced Carlos.

Orville Gooseberger tried to patch things up. They both told him to go play with himself.

Zachary arrived on the set most days to observe the filming.

Silver complained to Orville, ‘He makes me uncomfortable.’

Orville shrugged. This one he could do nothing about. The man owned the studio.

Silver said she had a sore throat and claimed she couldn’t work.

Each week the film crept more and more over budget.

Meanwhile, on location in Arizona, where
The Murder
was shooting, a new romance was blossoming. It startled everybody, including Whitney Valentine, who like everyone else stood on the sidelines and watched.

Mannon Cable and Clarissa Browning came together as if they had been waiting for this moment all their lives.

One love scene in front of the camera, and they disappeared for an entire weekend.

Whitney was shocked. For some time now she had sensed Mannon was getting ready to ask her back into his life, and in spite of his pregnant wife and her own involvement with Chuck, she had considered the possibility of saying yes. She had even gone as far as discussing it with Norman Gooseberger. He not only handled her publicity, but had become a friend, whose advice she listened to.

‘Take him back if he asks you,’ Norman had urged. ‘Chuck’s a destructive influence. He’s no good, and he drags you down with him.’

Agreeing, she waited for Mannon to make his move.

He didn’t. He started his ridiculous affair with Clarissa Browning, and everyone wondered what she had that was so special.

First Jack Python.

Now Mannon Cable.

Two of the best-looking men in Hollywood.

And while Clarissa was undoubtedly a magnificent talent, she would certainly never win any prizes in the beauty stakes. Plus her charm was non-existent. Most of her co-workers couldn’t stand her. She was critical, demanding and tight with every cent, never so much as buying the crew a drink if she happened to be in the hotel bar when they were all present.

On screen she was magic. It was as simple as that. Her acting was flawless, and because of her, Mannon accomplished a lot more than his usual macho strut and self-deprecating sly glances to the camera. He was giving a very fine performance.

Whitney felt betrayed. Not only had Clarissa Browning taken her role, she had taken her man too.

The bitch would pay. Whitney knew how to make people pay…

Chapter Seventy-Two

It was Jack’s idea they all join up for coffee and dessert, and Kellie was amenable. ‘Ask your friend,’ he suggested.

She turned around and nudged Shane, who was surprised and pleased. ‘Is it okay with you?’ he checked with Jade.

‘Sure,’ she replied, trying to keep her tone casual.

They got up and moved to Jack’s table, where Kellie immediately patted the empty chair beside her. ‘Sit here,’ she said to Shane enthusiastically, ‘and tell me
all
about the camera operator you used on the Cloud commercials. I
love
his work.’

‘
He
is a
she
,’ he replied. ‘A very talented lady.’

‘
Really?
I’m wild about working with women. My goodness – if females can’t support each other I just don’t know who will. Do you?’

As Kellie chattered away, Jack turned to Jade and said very quietly, ‘Hello.’

‘Hello,’ she replied, immediately getting lost in his green eyes.

There was no need to say anything more, for they both knew where they were heading.

Under the table she felt the pressure of his thigh against hers.

‘Have you thought about whether you’ll do the show or not?’ he asked.

Laughing softly she said, ‘Give me a break, I’ve got other things on my mind.’

Kellie leaned forward and peered across the table at her. ‘You must tell me, who does your makeup?’ she asked eagerly.

‘I usually do it myself.’

‘How
clever
of you. I’m hopeless with shading. Fortunately, I have this wonderful Algerian boy who always takes care of me for photo sessions – and then…’

Jade did not hear a word the blonde actress was saying. All she knew was that she was in the throes of a wild sexual heat, and she did not care
how
many women Jack Python was photographed with. She only knew she wanted him. And she wanted him now.

Abruptly she rose from the table. ‘Excuse me,’ she murmured. ‘Just going to the ladies’ room.’

Her legs were weak, her throat dry.

Get a hold of yourself, Johnson
, she cautioned.
He’s only another guy.

Both restrooms were occupied, so she leaned against the wall by the pay phone and attempted to pull herself together. It had been a long time since she’d felt this way.

‘Hello.’ He was beside her.

Weakly, she managed, ‘We’ve got to stop meeting like this.’

He thought she was heartbreakingly beautiful, and he had an insane desire to touch her face and body; bury himself in her hair; kiss her eyes and her mouth and her breasts and everything else she possessed. She had him under a spell, and he couldn’t remember when he’d felt like this before.

‘What’s going on with you and the guy?’ he asked urgently.

Shaking her head, she murmured, ‘Nothing.’ And after a slight pause, ‘How about you and Kellie?’

‘She means nothing to me,’ he replied truthfully.

Suddenly he couldn’t hold back any longer. Pinning her against the wall with his hands each side of her shoulders he kissed her long and hard. A forceful, penetrating kiss, which she didn’t try to block, but responded to, just as he knew she would.

After a few moments he pulled back and said, ‘We’re getting out of here.’

‘We can’t do that.’

‘We can do whatever we want to.’

Ida White emerged from one of the restrooms and smiled glassily. ‘Good evening, Jack, dear.’ She was stoned as usual. Oblivious to everything.

He waited until she had wandered off before whispering to Jade, ‘Come with me. Don’t say a word.’ Taking her hand, he led her through the crowded restaurant to the back entrance.

‘We can’t just leave them sitting there, waiting for us,’ she protested weakly.

‘It’s not our problem. I’ve picked up both checks, and left a message with the waiter that you got sick and I had to escort you home.’

‘They’ll never believe it.’

‘Who cares?’

His Ferrari was waiting, engine running, an attentive valet ready to usher them into the car.

She got in and leaned back against the plush leather. ‘This is crazy behaviour,’ she said, tingling with anticipation.

‘Crazy,’ he agreed.

‘And exciting.’

‘You got it.’

The car surged forward, scattering photographers and fans. He drove down the short hill, waited impatiently at a red light, and took off like a rocket all the way to his hotel.

‘Why here?’ she asked, as he helped her from the car.

‘Because it’s where I live.’

‘Good evening, Mr Python,’ said the doorman.

‘No apartment? No house?’ she persisted.

‘This is home.’

‘Good evening, Mr Python,’ said the desk clerk as they walked past.

‘No family? No roots?’

‘Has anyone ever told you that you ask too many questions?’

‘Frequently.’

‘Good evening, Mr Python,’ said the elevator operator.

They rushed into his suite like impatient lovers – which any minute they were to become. And as soon as the door closed they fell on each other with indecent haste – removing clothes with a no-nonsense speed bordering on the obsessive.

‘Christ! You’re beautiful!’ he breathed.

She trailed her fingers down his chest. ‘And you’re just as beautiful.’

There was no conversation after that as he took her with a powerful urgency. It was something he had to do before he could even begin to think straight.

And it was like that for her too. They were both holding back, and their mutual release was fast and sweet – earth-shattering and very, very necessary.

Now they could relax and enjoy the sinful pleasures of discovering each other’s body. Which is exactly what they did, slowly and luxuriously.

Leading her into the bedroom he laid her on the bed, and began – with exquisite restraint – to carefully explore every inch of her smooth, taut body.

She responded by touching his skin with the tips of her fingers, tactilely feather-stroking his chest, until his further pleasure became only too obvious.

‘I’m glad to see you’re a man of action,’ she murmured happily.

‘For you – anything!’

‘Just because you want me on your show…’

Tantalizingly he started to kiss her neck, moving down at a leisurely pace, relishing the piquant taste of everything about her.

She enclosed his hardness with her hands and teased his unquenchable desire, until the slow, erotic pace of things turned once again into fervent, reckless lovemaking.