Goddess of Vengeance - Jackie Collins [144]
‘Pretty girls should never drink alone,’ he said, settling himself on the stool next to her.
After giving him a cursory glance, she went back to her scribbling.
‘Writing a book?’ he joked.
‘Working,’ she snapped, not in a friendly fashion.
Kev did what he did best, he played his trump card. ‘Me too,’ he said. ‘Just left my boss, Billy Melina. What a guy! What a slave-driver! Can you believe it’s past midnight an’ I’m only now off the clock. Movie stars! They dance to their own tune.’
Oh yes, surprise, surprise, he had her interest now. Billy’s name scored points every time.
‘Billy Melina is here?’ she said, tapping her pen on the bar. ‘In Vegas?’
Kev nodded. ‘S’right,’ he said. ‘In all his movie-star bullshit.’
She gave him an intent look. ‘How do I know you’re not making this up?’
‘Why’d I do that?’
‘’Cause.’
‘’Cause here’s the proof,’ he said, pulling out his phone and clicking on a few choice photos of him and Billy at play. ‘Take a look at me an’ my master.’
Ellie scrolled through the photos, then she slapped her notebook shut. ‘How’d you like to make a couple of thousand bucks?’ she said.
‘Doing what?’ Kev asked, his curiosity aroused.
‘Nothing illegal.’
‘Then what?’
‘Come with me, and I’ll tell you what.’
* * *
‘It’s not that I want to go, but I guess I have to,’ Max said reluctantly, her head cradled on Billy’s bronzed chest.
‘How’s that?’ Billy said, gently brushing a lock of hair off her face. ‘There’s nobody waiting up for you – right?’
WRONG! Ace will definitely be waiting up for me, and what am I supposed to say to him?
‘Uh . . . no,’ she lied. ‘Only I shouldn’t think my mom would be thrilled if she heard about me staying out all night.’
‘You’re eighteen now,’ he pointed out. ‘She’s got no say any more, you can do anything you want.’
‘Yeah,’ Max said unsurely. ‘But uh . . . being with you is definitely going to create waves . . .’
‘More like a tsunami,’ Billy said, laughing.
‘It’s no joke,’ she admonished, sitting up. ‘You were married to my mom’s best friend.’
‘Shit!’ he quipped. ‘How did that happen?’
‘It’s not funny,’ Max said. ‘Actually, it’s kind of creepy.’
‘Are you callin’ me creepy?’ Billy said, mock serious.
‘Not you,’ she said quickly. ‘The situation. I mean I can’t tell them we’re seeing each other – you’re not even divorced yet.’
‘Almost.’
‘Doesn’t cut it.’
‘You’re a tough little piece of work.’
‘I’m a piece of work?’ she said indignantly. ‘You’re the movie star.’
‘How does that make me a piece of work?’
‘’Cause that’s how movie stars roll. They’re catered to by everyone, and it stops them from acting like a normal person. Believe me, I saw it all when my mom owned Panther Studios.’
‘So now you’re tellin’ me I’m not normal?’ he said, amused.
‘You’re Billy Melina. How could you be?’
He laughed again and grabbed her leg. ‘You’re not normal,’ he said. ‘You’re too freakin’ pretty an’ sexy an’ hot to even think about bein’ normal.’
‘You calling me sexy?’ she asked, secretly thrilled.
‘Yeah, Green Eyes, I’m callin’ you sexy. So forget about runnin’ out on me, an’ let’s see what tricks I can teach you next.’
‘Don’t bother, I got tricks of my own that’ll blow you away,’ she said confidently. ‘You might’ve taken my virginity, but I’m not exactly Miss Innocent, so there, Mister Movie Star.’
‘Feisty. I like it.’
‘Do you?’ she sighed, wondering if this was what falling in love felt like.
‘You bet your ass, little Miss Green Eyes,’ Billy replied enthusiastically. ‘I like you a whole damn lot. So we’re gonna have to figure out a plan, ’cause I’m not givin’ up on you. Okay?’
‘Okay,’ she said. And her heart skipped a beat, because maybe, just maybe, this could be the real deal.
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Loud music was emanating from the villa at The Cavendish. Too loud for comfort.
‘Sounds like a party,’ Randy