Goddess of Vengeance - Jackie Collins [75]
But no – she’d so fallen for his nice guy shtick. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!
Ace, where are you when I need you?
* * *
Ace was actually behind the wheel of his truck heading full speed toward Vegas. He was feeling pretty upbeat about surprising Max on her birthday. There was no way she’d expect him to leave the construction job he was working on in Big Bear, so it would be a real shocker, especially as she was always urging him to loosen up and be more spontaneous.
The two of them had a long-distance relationship which seemed to work, although one day he hoped to save enough money so that he could make the move to L.A., then they could see how things panned out when they were both living in the same city.
Max was his addiction. One moment she was the vulnerable, thoughtful girl he’d first met. The next, she was some kind of tough party animal who liked spending all her time dancing on tables in L.A. clubs with her somewhat sketchy group of friends. Harry was a weirdo with his dyed black hair and white face, and Ace especially couldn’t stand Cookie; she was definitely a negative influence with her flashy lifestyle and obvious coke habit.
The problem with Max was that she hadn’t figured out what she wanted her life to be. But at least she didn’t sleep around like Cookie; she had that under control.
As far as sex was concerned he’d never pushed her to go further than she felt she was comfortable with, although now that she was about to turn eighteen . . .
Ace was almost twenty-one, and he wasn’t about to wait forever for them to take it to the next level. He had his needs, and if Max didn’t meet them, then maybe it was time to re-think their situation.
* * *
Striding through the airport, Billy attracted major attention. Paparazzi dogged his every step, girls excitedly texted about spotting him, airport personnel treated him like royalty, ushering him and Kev to the front of every line. Of course Kev loved it, why wouldn’t he?
‘We should do something together,’ Kev suggested, fully basking in the attention.
‘Like what?’ Billy said, signing autographs for three overweight security women who’d all abandoned their posts and were gazing at him adoringly.
‘I dunno,’ Kev answered vaguely. ‘Maybe I could produce your next movie. Like I’m a real winner at dealing with actors ’n’ shit. I could totally nail it.’
Billy knew full well that Kev’s social skills were nonexistent, but Kev was a loyal friend, who unfortunately couldn’t seem to keep a job, even though he’d tried and failed countless times.
‘Producing’s not for you, Kev,’ Billy said, as he was hustled through a private security door with an officious airport escort.
‘Then how about I write a script?’ Kev said, trailing behind them. ‘Like y’know, kinda a buddy-style comedy. Somethin’ like The Hangover. An’ here’s the kicker – you can star in it.’
‘Hate to break it to you,’ Billy said briskly, ‘but I’m booked solid for the next five years.’
Kev’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Holy Jeez! Are you shittin’ me?’
‘’Fraid not. Signed, sealed, an’ delivered.’
‘I could be your manager then,’ Kev ventured, not prepared to give up. ‘That’d work. I’d be a kick-ass manager.’
‘Got one of those,’ Billy said, wondering where this was going.
‘I need a job, Billy,’ Kev said, suddenly becoming quite serious. ‘Gotta pay alimony to that cooze I was married to for five minutes. An’ I got debts up the kazoo in New York. I figured if I came back to L.A. you’d be able to hook me up . . .’
‘No worries,’ Billy said, remembering the days he’d slept on Kev’s floor when he was stone cold broke with no future prospects. ‘I’ll come up with something.’
‘You will?’ Kev said, his face brightening.
‘Leave it t’me,’ Billy assured him. ‘There’s no way I’d ever leave you hangin’.’
And with that they entered the VIP lounge, where Billy was besieged by even more autograph requests and adoring females.
* * *
And while Billy was catching a plane, Venus was catching up with her Brazilian stud from her photo shoot. His name was Jorge, and he was quite a