Read Online Hollywood Nights by Sara Celi - Free Book Online
Authors: Sara Celi
Tags: Hollywood Nights
Ads: Link
what?”
I sucked in a deep breath. He wore a pair of low-slung tan sweatpants and a vintage LA Lakers T-shirt that hugged the contours of his chest. After a small nod in my direction, he walked over to Martha and kissed her on the cheek, then thanked her for the smoothie. This guy had sexy on lockdown. Search for the word man in the dictionary, and you’d find a photo of him.
“I see you two have met,” Tanner said to me.
“I am enjoying one of her smoothies.”
Tanner picked up his own large glass from the marble counter. “She’s famous for these.”
Martha demurred, clearly flattered by him, and said the eggs would be ready soon. Tanner then asked me to follow him into the living room so we could talk while the food finished cooking.
“About last night—”
“You don’t need to explain,” I said.
“No, I do. First, Heather isn’t here anymore, if you were wondering,” Tanner said. “She left early this morning.”
“A shame. And we were getting to know each other.” I raised my eyebrow. “I hope you two had fun.” I was needling him. We both knew it. He deserved it.
“Second, I didn’t think you’d actually take me up on this offer,” he said in a low voice after a quick glance in the direction of the kitchen. “I hope you understand. A man like me—I have… needs.”
I scoffed. “One way of putting it.”
He raised a hand as if he couldn’t think of any other way to say it.
“I understand perfectly,” I said, keeping my lips tight as I reminded myself yet again that Tanner wanted only a business transaction from me. “And I thought we could try this for a bit—see how it goes—and then decide if we want to move forward.”
Tanner rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m open to that.”
“Good.” I nodded at the kitchen. “Shall we start with breakfast?”
“Yes. And then, tonight, would you like to go with me to dinner at Katsuna?”
I drew in a sharp breath. “Just the two of us?”
“No. They’re having an exclusive opening party. An industry thing. Would be nice to have someone with me.” Tanner looked me up and down. “Do you have anything to wear?”
“I guess the job starts now,” I said.
He smiled. “Maybe we’ll call this a probationary period. We’ll decide on Monday how we feel.”
“T hat will be $1,456.83,” Janet, a raven-haired, pin-thin personal shopper at Barneys New York in Beverly Hills, said. I handed her Tanner’s black AmEx and she swiped it through the register. “Would you like the receipt with you, or in the bag?”
“With me.” I took the card back from her and marveled at it for a moment. I’d heard of these cards before, but never seen one up close. That afternoon, Tanner had casually handed it to me with instructions to get whatever I needed in order to be ready for that night. In a haze, I found myself at Barneys with Janet, who offered me any outfit in the store in order to “keep Mr. Vance happy.” She showed me at least five dresses that each cost more than I made in three months. I had decided I wouldn’t spend more than $1,500.
“Thank you,” I said.
I took the garment bag Janet handed me, along with two other larger ones, and found my way to the parking lot. With one swipe, I’d spent more than a week’s salary on a black dress with silver weaving, a pair of strappy black Louboutins, a bespoke purse designed by Chloe, and a necklace to match it all. Once I placed it all in the trunk of the Corolla, I drove to Giovanni Salon and Day Spa on Santa Monica for a blowout, eyebrow wax, a facial, and makeup application.
I hadn’t ever been this pushed, prodded, and picked. Actually, it felt good, and I had to hold myself in check as I wound the car back through the Hollywood Hills. Just because I could get used to this didn’t mean I should.
“Did you find something?” Tanner asked when I arrived back at his house. He sat one of the large recliners rimming his pool deck; he peeled off his aviator
I sucked in a deep breath. He wore a pair of low-slung tan sweatpants and a vintage LA Lakers T-shirt that hugged the contours of his chest. After a small nod in my direction, he walked over to Martha and kissed her on the cheek, then thanked her for the smoothie. This guy had sexy on lockdown. Search for the word man in the dictionary, and you’d find a photo of him.
“I see you two have met,” Tanner said to me.
“I am enjoying one of her smoothies.”
Tanner picked up his own large glass from the marble counter. “She’s famous for these.”
Martha demurred, clearly flattered by him, and said the eggs would be ready soon. Tanner then asked me to follow him into the living room so we could talk while the food finished cooking.
“About last night—”
“You don’t need to explain,” I said.
“No, I do. First, Heather isn’t here anymore, if you were wondering,” Tanner said. “She left early this morning.”
“A shame. And we were getting to know each other.” I raised my eyebrow. “I hope you two had fun.” I was needling him. We both knew it. He deserved it.
“Second, I didn’t think you’d actually take me up on this offer,” he said in a low voice after a quick glance in the direction of the kitchen. “I hope you understand. A man like me—I have… needs.”
I scoffed. “One way of putting it.”
He raised a hand as if he couldn’t think of any other way to say it.
“I understand perfectly,” I said, keeping my lips tight as I reminded myself yet again that Tanner wanted only a business transaction from me. “And I thought we could try this for a bit—see how it goes—and then decide if we want to move forward.”
Tanner rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m open to that.”
“Good.” I nodded at the kitchen. “Shall we start with breakfast?”
“Yes. And then, tonight, would you like to go with me to dinner at Katsuna?”
I drew in a sharp breath. “Just the two of us?”
“No. They’re having an exclusive opening party. An industry thing. Would be nice to have someone with me.” Tanner looked me up and down. “Do you have anything to wear?”
“I guess the job starts now,” I said.
He smiled. “Maybe we’ll call this a probationary period. We’ll decide on Monday how we feel.”
“T hat will be $1,456.83,” Janet, a raven-haired, pin-thin personal shopper at Barneys New York in Beverly Hills, said. I handed her Tanner’s black AmEx and she swiped it through the register. “Would you like the receipt with you, or in the bag?”
“With me.” I took the card back from her and marveled at it for a moment. I’d heard of these cards before, but never seen one up close. That afternoon, Tanner had casually handed it to me with instructions to get whatever I needed in order to be ready for that night. In a haze, I found myself at Barneys with Janet, who offered me any outfit in the store in order to “keep Mr. Vance happy.” She showed me at least five dresses that each cost more than I made in three months. I had decided I wouldn’t spend more than $1,500.
“Thank you,” I said.
I took the garment bag Janet handed me, along with two other larger ones, and found my way to the parking lot. With one swipe, I’d spent more than a week’s salary on a black dress with silver weaving, a pair of strappy black Louboutins, a bespoke purse designed by Chloe, and a necklace to match it all. Once I placed it all in the trunk of the Corolla, I drove to Giovanni Salon and Day Spa on Santa Monica for a blowout, eyebrow wax, a facial, and makeup application.
I hadn’t ever been this pushed, prodded, and picked. Actually, it felt good, and I had to hold myself in check as I wound the car back through the Hollywood Hills. Just because I could get used to this didn’t mean I should.
“Did you find something?” Tanner asked when I arrived back at his house. He sat one of the large recliners rimming his pool deck; he peeled off his aviator
Similar Books
