Drop Dead Beautiful (30 page)

Of course she’d seen
Seduction
—her mom had produced the movie. She remembered visiting the set when she was just a little kid. She sure as hell didn’t remember him.

“Were you in it?” she asked.

“I should’ve been,” he said, his tone suddenly changing, becoming sharp and angry.

“Then why weren’t you?” she asked, putting down her soup spoon.

“Because of—” He stopped abruptly.

Now that they were getting along so nicely, he didn’t care to bring up her bitch mother.

Later, when they were really close, he’d tell her the real story.

Later, when he’d convinced her they should stay together forever.

Chapter 46

Sunday night Anthony decided to throw another party. Even though it was a last-minute decision, he expected it to happen in spite of the fact that Rosa and Manuel had worked their asses off getting the roasted-pig lunch together at such short notice.

“My little Carolina’s gonna be fourteen in two weeks’ time, so tonight we celebrate,” Anthony informed his guests. “Right, Fanta? Right, Innes?” The two women nodded enthusiastically. “C’mere, Rosa,” he bellowed, summoning his cook.

Rosa appeared, wiping her hands on her apron. She was exhausted, and it showed on her heavily lined face.

“Rosa!” Anthony exclaimed, grabbing her in an overpowering bear hug. “You go make two of those chocolate cakes I like, an’ a lemon birthday cake for Carolina. An’ I think we have lamb tonight, an’ chicken, an’ those potatoes you cook so well. We have another feast,” he crowed, pinching her cheek with his thumb and forefinger. “You see this woman?” he boasted to his cronies. “She would do anything for me. Anything! Correct, Rosa?”

“
Sí, señor
,” Rosa muttered, enduring the humiliation of a pinched cheek.

“An’ if she doesn’t—I fire her ass.
Sí
, Rosa?” he said, roaring with laughter. “What you waitin’ for, woman?” he added, smacking her on the ass. “Go make the cakes, oh yeah, an’ some of those almond cookies you’re famous for.
Move it!” he added, giving her one final whack on her ass before sending her on her way.

“
Sí, señor
,” Rosa said, wondering how he expected her to have time to organize a dinner party
and
bake. The man was loco, but she and Manuel needed their jobs, and when Anthony wasn’t in residence things were quite peaceful.

“She loves me,” she heard him braying to his lunch guests. “I’m tellin’ you, she loves me to death!”

Irma sat quietly watching Anthony strut and show off, plotting and planning her imminent escape. She knew that her husband kept cash in all his main homes, and taking some of his stash would hardly be considered stealing. After all, she was his wife, and if they lived in America half of everything he had would be legally hers.

She knew the combination of the bedroom safe in their house in Mexico City. Several months ago they’d arrived home from a big black-tie event late at night. Anthony was drunk—he’d flung his emerald cuff links and hundred-thousand-dollar diamond-encrusted watch at her and told her to put them in his safe. She’d asked him for the combination, and in his drunken state he’d given it to her.

She’d opened his safe, and was shocked to see bundles of cash piled high. After putting his watch and cuff links away, she’d written down the safe’s combination and hidden it.

Yes, she was more than entitled to anything she cared to take.

Much to Luis’s fury, Cesar decided to take Lucia up on her invitation to dinner. He arrived unexpectedly late Sunday afternoon, carrying a wilted bunch of flowers and a bottle of cheap sangria.

Lucia greeted him as if she was receiving a visit from the king of Spain. Lucia was desperate to get married and as far away as possible from the overcrowded family situation. She’d dated Cesar on and off for a year, and even though she’d given him what she considered memorable sex, he was
not close to making any kind of permanent commitment. Cesar appearing at their house was an encouraging sign.

“Look who’s here,” she bragged to her two sisters and wheelchair-bound mother. “Doesn’t Cesar look handsome?”

Luis was dismayed to see him. He was not sure what Cesar knew about him and Señora Bonar—if anything. But it still made him uncomfortable that Cesar was in his house, making himself at home.

Ana Cristina, Luis’s seven-months-pregnant wife, followed her sister-in-law’s lead and greeted Cesar as if he were royalty. Everyone was impressed with his job. “Security guard” had a special ring to it. They all hoped he’d marry Lucia or at least take her off to live with him. Their tiny house was so full, and with Ana Cristina and Luis’s baby due soon, Lucia’s absence would be a godsend.

Luis, the only man in the house with four women, reluctantly offered Cesar a bottle of beer.

Cesar patted Ana Cristina’s swollen belly. “Do we know what we’re having?” he asked, his hand lingering a little too long on his wife’s stomach for Luis’s liking.

“A boy,” Ana Cristina replied, shyly lowering her eyes.

“A boy! Congratulations!” Cesar exclaimed.

“It’s a blessing,” Ana Cristina murmured.

“Indeed it is,” Lucia said, hanging on to Cesar’s arm while fluttering her overmascaraed eyelashes. “Babies are always such a blessing, aren’t they, Cesar?”

Cesar didn’t reply. “Let’s sit outside,” he said to Luis. “Enjoy our beers, watch the world pass by.”

There was nothing Luis would like less.

“Sure, Cesar,” he said.

The two men stepped outside onto the patch of sparse sun-dried grass and sat down on two mismatched plastic lawn chairs.

After a few moments of silence Cesar leaned over to Luis and muttered, “I want in.”

“Excuse me?” Luis said.

“I want in,” Cesar repeated.

“In what?” Luis said, twisting his beer bottle.

“Do not act as if you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

“I don’t,” Luis replied.

“You idiot!” Cesar said, becoming agitated. “I want in with the American woman. I want to sample some of that juicy American pussy you’ve been dipping into. And if you don’t arrange it, Luis, not only do I tell your fat wife, but I tell Señor Bonar too. Do we understand each other,
amigo?
”

Chapter 47

Eventually the party moved outside to the tent where dinner was to be served. An eight-piece Cuban band played on a platform next to a circular dance floor, while a voluptuous Latina woman seductively crooned “Bésame Mucho.”

Lucky was trying her best to enjoy herself, but she still couldn’t get over her anger at Max for not arriving home in time for the party, especially since she’d emphasized how important it was to her.

“You gotta calm down, sweetheart,” Lennie said, attempting to soothe her bad mood. “You can’t walk around with a pissed-off expression. This is Gino’s big night—don’t let Max ruin it for you.”

“Nobody knows better than me what a special night this is,” Lucky said, steaming. “But Lennie, I’m
so
mad at her. How could she do this to us? We have no clue where she is, or even
who
she’s with. It’s crazy.”

“I know,” he agreed.

“Trust me,” Lucky said, her black eyes flashing major danger signals, “when that child gets back she is
so
grounded. I’m not allowing her out of the house. She can say good-bye to her phone
and
her car.”

“We’ll get into it when she comes home.”

“Yes we will,” Lucky said fiercely. “And you’ll get into it with me, ’cause you’re not playing good cop while I’m the bad one. This is something we’re handling together. Her behavior is freakin’ beyond.”

“You got it, Lucky,” he said, still trying to calm her. “Now, let’s try to relax and show Gino a good time.”

“
What
is going on with you?” Venus asked Billy, cornering him on the way to their table. “First I see you talking to one of the waitresses, and the next thing I know, you’re all over Cooper’s girlfriend like you’re long-lost buddies.”

“Mandy was in one of my movies,” he explained. “She’s a sweet kid.”

“Really?” Venus said archly. “What did she play, the child?”

“She’s nineteen, babe,” he said, his mind still on his unfortunate encounter with Miss Broken Taillight.

“Oh wow, nineteen,” Venus said sarcastically. “Just about young enough for Cooper.”

“Bitchy! Bitchy!” Billy said, baiting her.

“Doesn’t she get that she’s fucking her
grandfather?”
Venus snapped.

“You wouldn’t be jealous, would you?” Billy said, grinning.

“Me? Of course not, but a little more attention in my direction might be nice.”

“You can’t always be the center of attention,” Billy teased. “Is Miz Superstar feeling neglected?”

“
Excuse
me?”

“You heard.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“You’re the one who’s carrying on about nothing.”

“Stop chasing after my ex-husband’s underage girlfriend and
I’ll
stop carrying on.”

“Who’s chasing? I’m being polite.”

“Your idea of being polite and mine obviously differ,” she said, hating herself for sounding like a jealous shrew.

“C’mon, babe,” he said, turning on the Billy Melina charm, “lighten up.”

“Don’t tell
me
to lighten up when you’re the one doing all the chasing.”

“Do you seriously think I’d do that?”

“You’re sure talking to her a lot.”
Oh God, Venus, stop it already!

“Mandy doesn’t know anyone here.”

“And since when did that become
your
problem?”

“We’d better go sit down,” he said, leading her to the table next to Gino and Lucky’s.

Venus took a quick peek at the place cards. Billy was seated next to her, and on her other side was Alex. Charlie Dollar was already sitting across from them with
his
date, another juvenile delinquent.

What was it with these fifty- and sixty-something men who thought that the only date worth having was a twenty-something Twinkie? They probably imagined it made them look like a big sexy stud, when all it actually did was make them look older and kind of pathetic. Without Viagra they’d all be singing the blues.

“Hi, Charlie,” Venus said, waving at her old friend.

“There’s my Venus,” Charlie drawled with a jaunty wink. “Queen of the tasty treats.”

Charlie Dollar was a huge movie star, a stoned icon for his generation. A superlative actor and quite a man about town; whatever he did, it always involved a little bit of magic. Even at sixty-something he still managed to snag any girl who took his fancy. Slightly balding with a paunch and a maniacal grin, Charlie was up there with Nicholson and Pacino as one of the all-time movie greats.

“Say hello to Bubbles,” Charlie said. “She’s my latest project.”

“Hi, Bubbles,” Venus said, waving at his very young date, wondering if she was a stripper. Who else would walk around with a name like Bubbles? Oh yes, Michael Jackson’s monkey.

“Ohmi
god!
” Bubbles trilled in total awe, flapping her hands. “I’m so thrilled and honored to meet you. I grew up watching you on TV and listening to your music. My daddy is your biggest fan!”

Christ!
What
was
this? Make-Venus-feel-old night?

“Thanks, dear,” Venus said, about to sit down. Before she could do so, strong arms grabbed her from behind. “Good evening, gorgeous. I’ll be watching everything you put in your mouth tonight, an’ that
includes
food.”

“Who
is
this?” she asked, struggling to turn around.

“Your main man.”

She spun around and there was Cole, her trainer. He was with Rich Morrison, a fifty-something billionaire English rock star, who favored white suits and an abundance of expensive jewelry. Rich was considered an icon, having been in the business for twenty-five years, and having scored numerous awards and more gold records than Elton John.

Cole, a black beauty, and Rich, all in white, made quite a couple.

So this is the giver of Cole’s new Jag
, Venus thought. She was delighted to see her old friend Rich. She’d had no idea he was Cole’s latest admirer, but it made perfect sense because Cole was a black Adonis
and
smart—and those were the two qualities Rich coveted above all else.

At the next table Lucky was trying to get her people seated. Gino was at the head of the table with Paige on one side and Steven’s wife, Lina, on the other.

Lina, a beautiful black supermodel, was full of personality—she lit up any room. Next to her sat her daughter, Carioca, then Gino Junior, with Lennie next to him. Lucky had Bobby on her right, then Brigette and Steven. It was the family table; the only person missing was Max.

At least Gino seems to be enjoying himself, Lucky thought. Ninety-five years old and forever a party animal
.

She wondered how he really felt. Pretty old, no doubt, but still holding up.

Glancing over at the table next to her, she observed Venus and Billy indulging in some kind of verbal battle, while Alex was nursing a half-full glass of Scotch, and Ling didn’t appear to be too happy. It was definitely time for Alex to settle down with the right girl and take himself off the market.

Was Ling the right girl? Probably not.

Lucky knew that Alex still harbored a big crush on her. She’d thought that by this time it would’ve faded—but no, Alex was forever hopeful.

At the last moment the party planner had switched tables, and somehow or other Cooper and his girlfriend had ended up at Venus’s table, which had not been Lucky’s intention. She hoped Venus wasn’t too mad.

“Lucky,” Steven said. “This is a wonderful evening.”

“Thanks, Steven,” she said. “I wanted it to be special for Gino. I mean, how often is he going to be ninety-five?”

“Take a look at him,” Steven said, beaming. “The old man is in his element.”

“I know.” Lucky nodded. “Surrounded by beautiful women and feeling no pain. The story of his life.”

“Where’s Max?”

“Oh, you know Max,” Lucky said vaguely. “She’s off running around with her friends. Teenage girls, what can I tell you? Hopefully she’ll make it later.”