Thrill! (21 page)

And when that happened - Bye bye, Mother. You can whine yourself to death all by yourself,

"cause your little Alison has moved on to bigger and better things.

"Here comes the Hun,"

she heard one of the other photographers say as she elbowed her way to the front.

"Must be our lucky night."

"Fuck your mother in the butt,"

she muttered, shouldering her way to a good position, right behind the rope that separated the photographers from the stars.

"Something stinks around here,"

one of the guys said, directing his rude comment at her.

"Yeah, your breath when you talk,"

she snapped back.

Personal hygiene had never been a big priority with Alison. She took a bath every couple of weeks when the smell got so bad even she couldn't stand it.

"Lara! Lara! Lara!"

The cry of the crowds swelled like a mantra of adulation. Alison stood to attention as Lara swept into view wearing a green strapless dress that matched her startling eyes.

As soon as she saw what she was wearing, Alison scowled. The dress was too low cut for her liking. Lara wasn't some raunchy starlet desperate to show off the goods to get attention. She was Lara Ivory, the queen of Hollywood.

Somebody wasn't advising her right, and this made Alison mad.

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"Take a look at the tits on Lara tonight,"

one of the photographers remarked.

"Wouldn't mind suckin"

on those juicy little cuties."

Alison turned on him.

"Shut your filthy mouth,"

she hissed.

"Get lost, freako,"

he muttered.

Her temper flared and she kicked him in the calf.

"Crazy cunt!"

he yelled, hopping on one leg.

"I'll fuckin"

sue your fat ass."

Lara glanced over, her attention attracted by the commotion.

She wants me to be with her, Alison thought. Not trapped back here with these uncouth pigs.

Without really thinking about it, she lunged forward, ducked under the rope, raced over to Lara and embraced her.

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion after that. Lara's publicist leaped forward, trying to shove Alison away. But she was too quick for him, she swung her right arm, hitting him hard across the face.

A woman moved in, attempting to pull her off Lara. Alison whacked her too.

Lara was completely stunned.

"I've come to save you,"

Alison reassured her.

"I'm the only one who cares. I am your saviour."

Before she could say or do anything else, two burly security guards descended on her, grabbing her under the arms, hauling her away from Lara. A cop rushed over, and she managed to kick him in the groin - even though the security guards had a firm grip on her.

Then she was struggling with all three of them, until she was hurled into the back of a police van, but not before she'd managed to kick and scratch and attack as many people as she could.

Alison Sewell was a very angry woman indeed.

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~^^^Jfl THE FISH restaurant by the beach was candlelit ^^j^PIBL^ and romantic. Lara couldn't remember when she'd had such a good time just talking - casual stuff, gossip about people on the set and their idiosyncrasies, more serious talk about acting. Since she and Joey were not involved in a relationship there was none of that intense -where are we going? stuff. Instead they discussed movies, books, TV shows - it was delightfully relaxing, and yet while she was busy speaking, her inner voice was sending out all kinds of messages.

He's gorgeous. You like him. He's funny. He's sexy. Even better he's nice. What are you planning to do about it?

Nothing, she told herself sternly. Because most of all, he's taken.

"Kyle's threatening to sue me,"

Joey said, not sounding too upset.

"I told him to contact my lawyer -1 could use the publicity."

They both laughed. She sipped her wine and wondered when he was going to make a move. If he did, she'd have to say no much as she didn't want to.

The waiter brought over the dessert menu.

"Not for me,"

she said, shaking her head regretfully.

"Can't do it."

"Tonight you're indulging yourself,"

he said, taking charge.

"I am?"

she said wryly.

"You am."

At his insistence she ordered chocolate cake while he went for pecan pie. They shared each other's desserts, savouring every decadent bite.

144

Tm outta here tomorrow,"

Joey said, gulping down a cappuccino.

"There's nothin"

else for me to do."

She pushed a piece of chocolate cake around her plate with a fork.

"Where are you going?"

she asked.

"Back to New York."

She knew it wasn't her business, but she couldn't help herself.

"Do you and Phillipa share an apartment?"

"Right now we do,"

he lied.

"That's good,"

she said, nodding.

"It's always best to get to know someone before you marry them."

"You an"

Richard live together before you made it legal?"

"No. We should have."

She paused for a moment before continuing.

"Richard turned out to be a very complex and needy man. Now that he's married to my friend, Nikki - you met her at the party the other night - he's calmed down a lot."

"Let me see ... needy . . . needy . . . What exactly did he need? Other women?"

"You're very perceptive,"

she said, her beautiful face serious.

"I caught him several times before it finally occurred to me that he had no intention of stopping."

"Jesus! It's tough to believe any guy would screw around on you."

She smiled wanly.

"I'm not that special, Joey."

He stared at her, his dark eyes burning into hers.

"Don't ever let me hear you say that."

She looked away, confused, and then began speaking again, much too fast.

"I'd like to meet Phillipa sometime. Maybe if the two of you come to LA you'll visit me. I have a small ranch off Old Oak Road. That's where I keep my horses and dogs."

"An animal lover, huh?"

"I've always found animals more reliable than people."

"Sometimes I think about gettin"

a dog. Then I realize there's no way I can keep one locked up in an apartment all day."

"No,"

she said softly.

"That would be cruel."

"Phillipa doesn't like animals anyway."

"She doesn't?"

"Naw - she's a city girl."

145 "You should try and convert her. Buy her a small dog."

"And have her leave it alone all day? I don't think so."

"Send it to me for vacations,"

Lara joked. Til take care of it."

"Hey,"

he said, looking at his watch,

"I promised I wouldn't keep you out late. You're working tomorrow."

"That's OK,"

she said quickly, not wanting the evening to end.

"No,"

he said.

"I refuse to be responsible for bags under those beautiful eyes."

Was it possible he wasn't going to make a move? This was a first. She was more than intrigued.

He snapped his fingers for the check, paid the bill in cash and helped her up.

Outside the restaurant they walked for a few minutes before Joey hailed a cab and gave the driver her address. She'd offered to bring her car and driver, but Joey had said it wasn't a good idea too much gossiping would take place. And she'd agreed.

"Would you like to come in for coffee?"

she asked tentatively, when the cab pulled up outside her house.

Before he could answer, her guard appeared.

"Evening, Miss Ivory."

Was there no privacy?

Joey shook his head.

"You gotta get your beauty sleep."

"You are coming by the set tomorrow to say goodbye to everyone, aren't you?"

she asked, thinking she sounded a touch needy.

"Not a good idea,"

he said, dutifully escorting her to the front door.

"You wouldn't want me and Kyle gettin"

into it again."

Her guard was hovering behind them.

"Thank you, Max,"

she said crisply. He got the message and promptly retreated.

"Sorry about that,"

she said, hoping he was at least going to kiss her good night.

"Don't worry about it. I like the fact you got people watchin"

out for you. Wouldn't want to think of you bein"

alone."

"Are you sure about the coffee?"

God! How much more open could she be?

"Quite sure,"

he said.

"Oh, an"

by the way - if you ever get to New York, me and Philly would love to take you out."

146

"She won't mind us having dinner tonight?"

"She knows she can trust me,"

he said, leaning forward and kissing her chastely on the cheek.

"Thanks, Lara - for everythin'."

Then he turned around and strolled back to the cab.

Lara was shocked. Was this it? Was he simply going to walk out of her life and she'd never see him again?

Yes, Lara, this is it.

She hurried into the house, hands trembling. She'd wanted him to come in so much, and yet, he obyiously had principles - a quality she was forced to admire.

Why couldn't she meet a man like Joey Lorenzo? Handsome, charming, and most of all incorruptible.

She got undressed, slid between the sheets, closed her eyes and attempted to sleep.

After a few minutes the phone rang. She grabbed it, foolishly hoping it was Joey.

"Hi,"

she murmured, husky-voiced.

"Well, hi to you, too,"

Nikki said.

"Hope I'm not waking you."

"No, no, I ... I only just got in."

"Hmm . . . out on a hot date, I hope."

"Actually, I was having dinner with Joey Lorenzo."

"You're kidding

"Don't start getting the wrong idea, Nik, it's purely a friendship thing."

"Oh, a guy who looks like that, and it's purely a friendship thing. Yeah, yeah, I believe you."

"How many times do I have to tell you he's engaged?"

Lara said, exasperated.

"In fact, if you want the truth, I asked him in for coffee and he turned me down."

"You are joking?"

"No, I am not. He's nice and I like him, but he's definitely not available."

"Wow! That's really something."

"Yes, isn't it?"

"Anyway, I called to fill you in on Mick Stefan. I met with him today."

"How did it go?"

"He's kind of over the top - quirky - with a touch of the

147 Quentin Tarantinos. I'm crazy about his work, and I'm sure he'll do an amazing job."

"That's good news, isn't it?"

"Look, before I hire him, I need to get your take on something."

"Yes?"

"He started asking how you felt about the rape scene. I told him you always use a body double, but he feels the scene is pivotal to the movie, and that you have to be completely into it."

Lara considered her reply.

"If Mick does the movie, and he's as good as you say, then I guess I'm in his hands."

"That's all I needed to hear,"

Nikki said, sighing with relief.

Lara put the phone down. She couldn't sleep, and much to her annoyance she couldn't stop thinking about Joey.

Reaching for the TV remote, she tuned into a Sylvester Stallone, Sharon Stone movie, and tried to concentrate on the two actors as they writhed on the screen in a heated love scene, their perfect bodies naked and glistening with sweat.

Just what she needed. A steamy sex scene. She clicked the TV off. Try as she might, she couldn't get Joey out of her head.

One thing she knew for sure. Phillipa was a very lucky girl.

<&

Joey made it back to the hotel. He was revved, Lara had given him an opening and he hadn't taken it. The only sure way to score with a woman who could have any guy she wanted was to play hard to get. Right now she was sitting at home thinking that she couldn't have him, and that's exactly how he wanted her to feel.

A bunch of people from the movie were hanging out in the bar as he passed - Roxy, Yoko, and several members of the crew. Roxy waved, beckoning him to join them.

"I'm out of it,"

he said, making a quick excuse.

"Gotta get some sleep."

"We wanna buy you a drink,"

said Freddie, the ginger-haired focus puller who'd danced with Lara at her party.

"You're our hero, man. Punching out Kyle Carson. That's good stuff."

Everybody cheered.

14.R

"Yeah, well, I was only doing a public service,"

he said modestly.

"C'mon,"