Hollywood Husbands (42 page)

It wasn’t stealing from Orpheus. It was creative operating – Hollywood style.

Chapter Fifty-Nine

The moment Jack left the beach house, Heaven sprang into action. She had already invited Eddie, who was on his way. It seemed the perfect time to call the guy from Silver’s party, the one with all the contacts in the record business. She had tried him several times before with no luck. He had a stupid answering machine with some dumb voice on it. She refused to talk to answering machines.

‘Yeah?’

At last! He actually picked up the phone himself.

‘Rocky?’ she asked tentatively.

‘Who wants him?’

‘Uh… is he there?’

‘Do you have a name?’

‘Heaven. But… uh… he probably won’t remember my name. Tell him we met at Silver Anderson’s party a few months ago. He asked me to call him. It’s… uh… it’s like business.’

A long pause. Then, ‘Hey,
I
remember you. The baby fox in the long coat. Y’wanna be a singer. Right, chicken?’

‘Am I speaking to Rocky?’

‘The one an’ only.’

‘Why didn’t you say so?’

‘Back off, baby. I don’ havta say nothin’ to no one. What’s the deal?’

‘You told me you had connections,’ she said stiffly.

‘Are y’on a buyin’ spree?’

‘You said,’ she repeated slowly, ‘that you might be able to help me with my career. You know, your friend in the record business… you wanted him to hear my tapes.’

The dime slid into the slot. Rocky remembered. She was a pretty one. And young – just the way he liked ’em.

‘How come it took ya so long t’call me?’ he asked.

‘I’ve been busy. School… y’know.’

‘Yeah. I get the action.’

A silence.

‘Can you help?’ she asked impatiently. ‘I’ve got my tapes, and Antonio has taken some brilliant pictures of me. You said you’re the kind of guy can make things happen. Can you, or not?’

‘Don’ challenge the great Rocky, baby fox. He can do anythin’.’

‘Then let’s get going. I’m ready.’

* * *

‘Mr Python. How nice to see you again.’

Jack checked out the stewardess. Nice legs. Nice ass. Nice smile. He was feeling uncomfortably horny. Clarissa had been away too long, and apart from the night he nearly connected with Jade Johnson in Las Vegas, there had been no one. Jack Python had been boringly faithful. Talk about changing one’s way of life!

He felt good about the fact that he
could
do it. It certainly proved he had willpower.

‘Can I get you anything?’ asked the stewardess.

He remembered flying with her several months before. She had inviting eyes.

‘I’d like a Jack Daniels.’

She smiled. ‘I’d like a Jack Python.’

‘Huh?’

‘Just joking, Mr Python.’

But she wasn’t, and they both knew it.

There was a rainstorm pummelling New York when they landed. A representative from the travel agency met him at the airport, spiriting him to a black limousine waiting curbside.

He had not told Clarissa he was coming. All his life the element of surprise had worked in his favour. He wanted her unprepared reaction to his sudden visit.

* * *

Eddie was fully impressed. He tried not to look it, but he was. And how!

Heaven couldn’t help grinning to herself. Let him eat his heart out. Eddie was no longer number one on her hit parade.

He did look good though, with his black leather jacket, tight jeans and slicked-back hair. Real fifties. He carried an overnight bag and his guitar. ‘I hadda leave your number with my mom,’ he announced reluctantly. ‘I told her there’s a whole group of us stayin’ over. She’d freak out if she thought it was just you an’ me. Y’know what moms are like.’

‘As a matter of fact, I don’t,’ Heaven said pointedly. ‘And aren’t you a little
old
for your mom to be keeping such a close watch on you?’

‘I guess I gotta put up with it until college,’ he complained.

All her friends took it for granted they were going to college. She had no intention of doing so. Why waste another three years of her life being ordered around by dumb teachers?

She was thrilled she’d finally made contact with Rocky. At least it was a start. He might be all talk, and then again he really
might
have connections in the record industry. It was worth a shot.

She had asked him over. He’d said he would try and make it. She couldn’t wait!

Eddie stripped down to shorts and a tank top. He was tall and lanky, with an athlete’s body. Most of the girls at school thought he was the babe of all time. Heaven couldn’t care less.

They sat out on the circular deck with a portable tape machine and a couple of beers. Eddie nursed his precious guitar, and Heaven held a sheaf of papers to her bare stomach. She wore a bikini and a Bruce Springsteen bandanna. The papers were scribbled all over with the lyrics of her latest songs.

Eddie strummed a few chords, and she began to hum.

‘Uh… I’ve got a couple of slow songs I wanna try,’ she said, after a few moments.

He groaned. Eddie only liked rock and roll. He didn’t understand anything else.

‘Just ease me along with a little background,’ she pleaded. ‘And then I’ve got some other stuff you’ll love.’

She started to sing, a low sound at first, as she wasn’t used to hearing herself without a rip-roaring background, and it seemed strange.

Baby—

I never told you how I felt before—

Because…

Baby—

You always make me wait for you—

Because…

Baby—

Don’t you know I love you

Don’t you know I want you

Don’t you know I need you

Because…

Baby—

Her voice strengthened and began to soar. She sounded like a cross between Carly Simon and a less sophisticated Annie Lennox from the Eurythmics. She combined innocence and knowingness, and her voice had a wonderful husky quality.

She did not sound anything at all like Silver Anderson, although it was obvious she had inherited her mother’s talent.

Even Eddie was forced to admit reluctantly that she was good. ‘I hate the song, but you’re singin’ fine,’ he said, bursting into a lively rendition of ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ on his guitar.

She didn’t mind that Eddie couldn’t appreciate her slow songs.
She
knew they were right.

‘One more time,’ she said forcefully. ‘I want to tape it, and I want it to be perfect.’

* * *

There was a young actor in the off-Broadway production Clarissa was appearing in who played her lover. Naturally, she had felt an immediate urge to put him at his ease – even though he was living with one of her best friends. ‘What Carole doesn’t know, will not hurt her. And we need this closeness for our performances,’ Clarissa explained logically.

He struggled weakly, gave in, and found it was so good for his performance that doing it every night seemed only fair to the audience. Clarissa agreed.

When Jack arrived at the theatre he was informed that Ms. Browning could not be disturbed before the show. It was a strict rule.

‘I think I’m an exception,’ he said confidently.

When he entered her small dressing room with a pass key and the script of
The Murder
, he found Clarissa bent double over her dressing table, and a skinny bare-assed actor servicing her doggy-style.

His eyes met hers in the dressing table mirror. Her deeply intense gaze was completely devoid of any emotion.

Without a word he threw down the script and left.

Chapter Sixty

‘Quinne’s dropping by.’ Silver stretched and smiled as she lay out by the pool. ‘He says he has something important to tell me.’

‘Quinne’s your—’

‘Agent.’ She finished the sentence for him.

‘Is he good?’ Wes asked, reaching for an open can of Coca-Cola.

‘I wouldn’t be with him if he wasn’t, would I?’

Shrugging easily he replied, ‘I know fuck-all about the film business, but isn’t Zeppo White supposed to be the best agent around?’

‘Ah… Zeppo.’ Silver popped a white grape in her mouth and savoured the taste. ‘When I was planning my comeback in America, Zeppo White would not even answer my phone calls.’

‘I bet he’s sorry now.’

‘
Naturellement
. All the big agents are sorry. Quinne was there for me and I’ll never forget it. He was the only one who knew I could do it.’

‘Does he renegotiate your contract every season?’

Giving him a penetrating look, she plucked another grape from the glass dish. ‘For someone who knows nothing about the biz, you’ve certainly picked up a phrase or two…’

‘I was talking to Chuck Nielson. He was thinking of signing with Quinne.’

‘And did he?’

Wes shook his head. ‘He said going with Quinne Lattimore is like admitting defeat.’

‘Hmmm… for someone like Chuck it probably is. Once you fall from Sadie La Salle’s favour…’

‘Who’s she?’

‘The hottest
female
agent in town. I was with her once, long ago and far away. And before you ask, she
also
didn’t answer my calls when I was desperate.’

‘Desperation breeds contempt.’

‘You’re telling me!
I
lived through it.’ She sat up and reached for a huge straw hat. Her eyes were already covered by black wraparound sunglasses. She did not believe in allowing too much sun to reach her face. It dried the skin, causing premature lines and wrinkles.

Her body, in a strapless pink swimsuit, cut high on the thighs, was beginning to tan nicely.

‘A weekend in the Springs might be nice,’ she murmured. ‘Now that I’m a free woman we must take advantage of it. Once I go back to work, the schedule is pure murder.’

‘You work very hard, then.’

‘Like a dog!’ she exclaimed, obviously loving every minute of the pressure.

‘Why?’

She stretched a smooth leg out in front of her. ‘To make the bucks, darling. To keep us in the style you are soon going to become
very, very
accustomed to.’

Laughing, he caught hold of her slim ankle. ‘I’m used to it already.’

She twisted towards him. ‘I know. Luxury
is
irresistible, isn’t it?’

He allowed his fingers to tip-toe up her leg, pausing on her inner thigh, where he began slow stroking.

‘I like it,’ she said, her voice husky.

His fingers crept between the flesh of her leg and the elastic of her swimsuit.

She sighed with pleasure.

Just as he was about to go for the gold, Vladimir appeared.

Vladimir had developed a habit of ignoring him whenever possible. The Russian houseman had decided he knew exactly who Wes Money was. A con man, a hustler, and a paid stud – in that order.

‘The phone, madame,’ Vladimir said, handing her the instrument. ‘It’s Miss Carvell.’

She reached for the receiver. ‘Nora. What are you up to?’

‘Fending off investigative reporters,’ Nora replied grumpily. ‘Everyone wants to know more about Wes. If we don’t give ’em something, they’ll
really
start digging.’

‘Let them,’ Silver said defiantly. She turned to Wes. ‘Do you have anything horrible to hide, darling?’

He indicated the telling bulge in his brief swimsuit. ‘Only this.’

She laughed delicately.

Vladimir, standing in the background, glared.

Wes gave him a look. ‘We don’t need anything,’ he said. ‘You can go.’

‘I’m vaiting for the telephone,’ Vladimir replied stiffly. ‘I only bother Madame with calls she wishes to receive.’

Wes glanced at Silver, who was busy chatting to Nora. ‘Piss off, Vlad,’ he said in a low voice. ‘When we want you I’ll give you a shout. Until you hear me calling – stay in the kitchen, or wherever you hang out, and don’t bother us. Have you got that?’

Vladimir blushed a deep scarlet. ‘I obey Madame’s wishes—’ he began.

‘You obey
mine
, or you’re out on your ass,’ Wes interrupted sharply.

Vladimir backed off, vanishing into the house without another word.

Wes concentrated on Silver. ‘Hang up,’ he said.

‘I’m speaking to Nora—’

He started to stroke her thigh again. ‘I
said
hang up.’

She giggled girlishly. ‘Nora, I have to go now, a minor emergency. I’ll call you back.’

His fingers began serious exploratory work.

She lay back in the hot sunlight and spread her legs, murmuring, ‘Easy access.’

‘C’mon.’ He pulled her to her feet. ‘Show me how to switch the jacuzzi on.’

‘I don’t want to get my hair wet,’ she objected.

‘I don’t think I care.’

‘Wes! You’re incorrigible!’

Is that what they call it?
he thought with a grin.

She threw two levers, and the jacuzzi bubbled to life.

He took her by the hand and led her down the steps into the steaming water. She still had on her hat and sunglasses, but he didn’t care. He was suddenly as randy as a dog after a bitch in heat. Making it in a jacuzzi was a fantasy he had not yet realized.

She sat on the marble seat and began to complain. ‘This is
not
a good idea. My hair… my skin… this water is too harsh… I…’

He silenced her with a kiss, and at the same time he took off her hat and threw it away, while his other hand pulled the top of her swimsuit down and played with a nipple.

She stopped objecting and leaned back.

With both hands he peeled her swimsuit all the way down and off, crushed her breasts together, and tongued both nipples lightly.

‘Mmm…’ she sighed.

Slipping out of his shorts, he manoeuvred her legs until they were wrapped firmly around his waist. And then, without hesitation, he plunged straight in, fighting the water every inch of the way.

‘I love it,’ she gasped. ‘More, more, give me more!’

The strong jets of water were everywhere. Very slowly he withdrew, and holding her legs apart he positioned her in front of one of the jets.