Goddess of Vengeance - Jackie Collins [60]
‘What did your PR say? She must’ve been pissed.’
‘Who gives a shit,’ he said, moving to the open-plan kitchen. ‘Want somethin’ to drink?’
‘Yes please,’ she said, testing him. ‘I’ll have a double vodka on the rocks with a twist.’
‘Very funny.’
‘You asked.’
‘A Coke? 7UP? Sprite?’
‘What makes you think I don’t drink?’
‘Do you?’
‘Not much.’
He gave her a quizzical look. ‘So what’s it like being Lucky’s kid?’
‘Don’t call me that.’
‘You get along, don’t you?’
‘I take after my brother, Bobby,’ she explained. ‘Of course I love Lucky, and my dad. But I gotta forge my own identity, that’s why I’m moving to New York.’ She hesitated for a second, then added, ‘Uh, maybe.’ Because now that she’d met Billy she wasn’t so sure that she still wanted to make the move east.
‘I get it,’ Billy said, nodding. ‘That’s exactly how I felt being married to Venus. It was a total downer, I was never my own person. However famous I got, she was always more famous. It’s a drag tryin’ to live up to somebody else’s success.’
‘Don’t I know it.’
‘Uh-huh, I guess you do. You got it comin’ at you from both sides. Your mom, an’ then Lennie.’
‘That is so true,’ Max agreed, thrilled that he seemed to understand. ‘Being the daughter of two famous parents is no joke.’
Billy opened the fridge, took out a can of 7UP and handed it to her. ‘I’m guessing,’ he said.
‘Good guess,’ she answered, opening it and gulping down a few blasts.
Billy decided that now was the time to tell her that he had something else to do, but somehow he wasn’t feeling it. He liked having her in his house. He liked spending time with her.
‘So . . . are we going out or what?’ she asked, immediately regretting her words because God forbid she came across as pushy.
‘It’s kinda not a cool idea,’ he replied. ‘Y’know, what with the paparazzi an’ all. They’re doggin’ my every move ’cause of the divorce.’
‘Oh yes,’ she said quickly. ‘I totally get it.’
‘But,’ he added, noting her disappointment, ‘doesn’t mean we can’t send out for food. What d’you feel like?’
I feel like you kissing me, and telling me that last night meant something to you. That I’m not just another notch on your movie-star belt. That you want to see more of me. Much, much more.
‘Uh, pizza,’ she said.
Billy grinned. She noted that he had amazing dimples and extremely white teeth. ‘Cheap date,’ he remarked. ‘Thought you were gonna ask for caviar.’
‘Caviar’s not for me,’ she said, wrinkling her nose. ‘It’s gross and tastes all fishy.’
‘Right on!’ Billy said, heartily agreeing. ‘Venus was always trying to get me to like it. “Caviar’s an acquired taste,” she would say. Too bad for her I never acquired it.’
Max giggled, wished that she hadn’t, wished that he wouldn’t keep mentioning Venus, wondered if they were going to do it again, and hoped that he would make a move.
He didn’t. He picked up the phone and ordered two large Margarita pizzas from Mulberry Street.
‘Uh . . . how was driving the Ferrari?’ she ventured.
‘Some freakin’ car!’ he enthused, thinking it was best not to mention that he’d gotten pulled over on San Vicente, and that a dozen paparazzi had materialized from nowhere, capturing the whole thing with a thousand intrusive flashes. ‘Nearly got me a speeding ticket, but the cop recognized me, an’ he let me take off.’
Max was relieved that he hadn’t gotten a ticket, which would have automatically been sent to the owner of the car. Or maybe not. Was a speeding ticket the same deal as a parking ticket? She didn’t know and she didn’t care. As long as Lucky’s Ferrari was in one piece, that was all that mattered.
‘Must be a kick getting recognized,’ she said, wondering if she’d ever be famous. Not that she wanted to be. Her plan was to succeed in business just like Bobby. Although what business that would be she hadn’t quite figured out.
‘At first, yeah,’ Billy said, with a casual yawn. ‘Then it gets old, real old. Fame comes with plenty of downside.’
‘And plenty