Thrill! (26 page)

She eased out of her seat and hurried to the ladies"

room, hoping Kyle wouldn't spot her.

Safely inside, she leaned against the mirrored vanity unit studying her reflection. Joey had said it first:

"Something's happening here, I'm not sure what."

Then she'd given him her flip reply, Nikki would be proud of her - she was coming up with lines!

Once again, her heart was racing. This was definitely the start of something, it was only a matter of time. Reaching in her purse, she removed her compact and began to powder her nose.

"Lara!"

Wilson's reflection appeared in the mirror behind her.

"What are you doing here?"

"Oh, hi,"

she said, furious at getting caught.

"Gotta say the scene went great,"

Wilson boasted, tugging at her short dress.

"Boy! He's some sexy guy."

"Who?"

Lara asked quickly, hoping she wasn't referring to Joey.

"Kyle, of course,"

Wilson said, fishing in her purse for a pot of jammy red lip gloss and a thick brush. She moved up beside Lara in the mirror and began applying the goo to her overly full lips.

"Do you happen to know what his situation is now? Somebody told me he's getting back with his wife, /don't think so. Let me tell you

- he's hot to macarena - an"

honey, I'm into dancin'!"

Tm sure,"

Lara murmured.

"Who're you with?"

Wilson asked, dabbing on too much gloss.

"Friends,"

Lara replied vaguely.

"We're on our way out."

"Shame,"

Wilson said.

"We could've all joined up."

"Wouldn't that cramp your hot to macarena action?"

Wilson laughed.

"Right!"

Lara began edging toward the exit.

"See ya,"

Wilson called out, heading into one of the stalls.

"Uh . . . thanks for doing a good job,"

Lara said.

p

THRILL!

"Honey,"

Wilson joked,

"your nipples never looked so good!"

Lara hurried outside to where Joey was waiting.

"I got cornered in the ladies"

room,"

she said.

"What're you worried about?"

"I don't want the whole set talking about us. Everyone knows you're engaged, I'd be perceived as some kind of... you know . . . fiance stealer."

"Fiance stealer?"

he said, laughing at her.

She couldn't help joining in.

"C'mon,"

he said,

"I'm taking the fiance stealer home."

"I have a better idea,"

she said impulsively.

"Let's go for a walk along the beach. It's something I've been dying to do."

"So how come you haven't done it?"

She laughed self-consciously.

"I'm scared."

He regarded her quizzically.

"What of?"

She shrugged.

"I don't know, the dark, the unknown . . . There are times I don't feel. . . safe."

"Lara,"

he said, his handsome face serious,

"when I'm around, you need never be scared."

She nodded, not sure how to respond.

"Anyhow,"

he said,

"tonight I'm takin"

you straight home. You've got an early call tomorrow."

"What about our walk?"

she asked, disappointed.

"Another time."

"Promise?"

"We'll see."

ft ft ft

"I got to fuck you last night,"

Kyle said in a low-down dirty voice. It was early in the morning and he'd sidled up behind Lara's chair, taking her by surprise.

"Excuse me?"

she said, not quite sure she'd heard correctly.

"And it was goood,'"

he said, making a smacking noise with his lips.

"Finger-lickin'^oooa?!"

She gave him a cold look.

"Are you losing it, Kyle?"

179 "If you can't get the real thing, go for the substitute,"

he said, laughing rudely.

"I put my hand over Wilson's face, and what with the wig and the body, I could've sworn I was fucking you."

"You're disgusting,"

she said contemptuously.

"No,"

he replied, not at all put out.

"I'm honest."

A short pause.

"By the way, I hear we were at the same restaurant last night. Who was your hot date?"

"I have to work with you, Kyle,"

she said icily.

"I sure as hell don't have to talk to you."

Roxy walked over.

"What's up?"

she asked, noticing Lara was upset.

Kyle slouched away and began talking to Miles.

"The man's a pig,"

Lara said vehemently.

"They all are,"

Roxy sighed, like it was no big surprise.

"Kyle's the worst."

"What'd he do now?"

"Believe me,"

Lara said, shaking her head,

"you don't want to know."

"Oh, yes I do!"

Roxy replied, always up for juicy gossip.

"How come Wilson got to leave the set last night with the wig?"

Lara asked.

"That bitch!"

Roxy said, narrowing her eyes.

"I told her to come straight to the hair trailer with it, and she never showed up. This morning I found it stuffed in a bag outside my hotel room - and a fine mess it's in, too. God knows what she did with it!"

"Forget God, try Kyle,"

Lara murmured.

"Oh, really^ Roxy said.

"And why should I be surprised, he's dicked everything else that has a pulse!"

Miles came over.

"Ready, my sweet?"

"Yes, Miles."

And she thought Only three more days and I never have to see Kyle Carson again.

Forgetting about her personal feelings, she threw herself into the first scene of the day, hoping to get by with as few takes as possible.

Of course, Kyle blew it as usual, fluffing his lines and worrying about his hair.

At the lunch break she had one of the drivers take her to her

180

house. Cassie was on the phone in the living room, surrounded by boxes, organizing everything for their imminent departure.

"What are you doing here?"

Cassie asked, putting the phone on hold.

"Had to take a break, too much testosterone flying around the set,"

Lara said, adding a casual

"Uh . . . where's Joey?"

"Out,"

Cassie said.

"Did he say where he was going?"

"Nope."

Lara went into her bedroom, wondering why she felt so disappointed. She'd run home like a schoolgirl with a crush, and now he wasn't even here. Hmm . . . Never expect anything in life and you'll never get disappointed.

A few minutes later Cassie knocked on her bedroom door.

"Lara,"

she said, hovering in the doorway,

"is it OK if I say something out of line?"

"N000,"

Lara replied, smiling faintly because she knew Cassie would say it anyway.

"This Joey guy"

Cassie said, a frown creasing her brow.

"What do you know about him?"

"As much as I need to."

"Granted he's great-looking,"

Cassie continued.

"But so are a lot of other guys."

"Your point?"

"Are you sure it's wise letting him stay here?"

"It's only for a couple of days,"

Lara said defensively.

"He's hardly an axe murderer. Don't worry, Cass, I know what I'm doing."

"If you say so,"

Cassie said, nodding unsurely. If she had her way Lara would get back together with Richard.

"I'd better return to the set,"

Lara said.

"When Joey returns, tell him I'll be home later. Oh, and have the cook fix pasta tonight, we'll be eating outside."

"It's done,"

Cassie said.

fr & ft

181 Shortly after Lara left for the studio, Joey had gotten in his rented car and taken a ride. He had to get out of the house, Cassie had her eye on him, and he was aware he hadn't won her over. She was suspicious, couldn't quite figure him out. Staying around was dangerous.

He drove aimlessly, stopping at the drug store to pick up a pack of cigarettes.

Madelaine had not been pleased when he'd announced he was moving on.

"Why are you leaving this time?"

she'd demanded.

"I got you a job, gave you a place to live, what more do you want?"

"I can't make you happy, Maddy,"

he'd said - the oldest line in the world, but it worked every time because there was no answer.

"You can try,"

Madelaine had said, near tears of frustration.

"No,"

he'd replied. Til only make you miserable, and that's not good for either of us. I'm flyin"

to LA-takin"

a shot."

"What about my money?"

she'd asked, forgetting her tears for a moment.

Til pay it back."

"When?"

"Keep my cheque for the movie when it comes in."

"Don't imagine you can get around me again, Joey,"

she'd warned.

"If you go this time - that's it."

Yeah. Sure. I can walk into your life any time I want and you'll always take me back.

"I understand,"

he'd said.

And so it was over and he'd hired a car, and driven out to see Lara.

He wasn't surprised that she'd asked him to stay. Some things were meant to be.

182

0^^^J l EARLY EVERY morning Nikki left the Malibu ^^^P^Pk^ house and drove to the Revenge production offices in the Valley. She had her own private office next to Mick's. He'd surrounded himself with a team of alarmingly young production people, while she'd brought in several thirtysomethings who knew what they were doing, and a very capable line producer. Hopefully, together, they'd make a cohesive group.

Everything was a go situation. The advantage of having Lara in the lead role was that they didn't require any other star names. Apart from Aiden Sean, the movie was cast with a group of talented unknowns; the financing was in place, and principal photography began in two weeks. Being a producer was very different from merely designing the clothes. Now she was in a boss situation, and it felt good when everyone came to her for answers.

Only another two days and Lara would arrive from New York, then she could meet with Mick. Oh, God! Nikki thought. They're either going to hate each other or it will be a love fest. She prayed it was the latter.

If only Richard would lighten up. She'd expected him to be proud of her for what she was doing, instead he did nothing but put her down.

So far she hadn't met Aiden Sean, although Mick kept insisting the three of them should get together, so today they were having lunch.

"I'm depending on you to keep him in line,"

she reminded Mick

183 sternly.

"Aiden's your responsibility. If he screws up, it's all your fault."

"I got it, I got it,"

Mick said, snapping his fingers in the air.

"Any trouble at all and he's out. I hope you've told him that."

"Don't havta tell him. He knows."

When Aiden turned up an hour late, Nikki was shocked at how pale and gaunt he was. White, almost translucent skin stretched across the fine bones of his haunted face, bleak ice-grey eyes, dusty brown hair pulled back in a scruffy ponytail, and a painfully skinny body decorated with various tattoos. In spite of being a scary presence, he was still attractive in an offbeat, drugged-out way. Like a world-weary rock star - he had the look.

He shook Nikki's hand, burnt out eyes staring right through her. She noticed that his nicotine-stained fingers trembled when he went to light a cigarette immediately after their introduction.

Mick had assured her that Aiden was straight now - in all kinds of programmes - a guaranteed reformed addict.

No true drug addict is ever reformed, she thought - they're merely taking a-long pause before their next fix.

If Aiden had not been an out-and-out junkie for so many years, he could have had a big career. As it was, he'd only managed to survive in the business because he was fiercely talented and always gave an amazing performance - in spite of being half crazy on drugs most of the time. Directors liked to employ him because he always delivered. Producers didn't because he was a major risk.

The three of them went to an Italian restaurant on Ventura. Aiden slid into the padded leather booth, immediately ordering a double Jack Daniel's on the rocks. Nikki observed that he smoked three cigarettes before the salad, even though the waitress - a pretty girl who was a fan - kept informing him there was no smoking in the restaurant.

"Fuck it,"

Aiden said, his voice like cracked tar over gravel.

"A guy's gotta have some outlet."

Ice-grey eyes carefully checked her out.

"I gave it all up, Nikki,"