on her most casual voice. “So, you were on…”
“Yup. Made it to the top five.” Bridgett proudly wiggled five fingers at Dani. “Brett kicked me off when I got wasted on tequila and barfed on his cowboy hat. He said I partied too hard even for him.”
Dani couldn’t help herself. She had to ask. “So, is Brett Michaels a good kisser? He looks a little tonguey, if you ask me.”
“He’s very good. I mean, compared to your father—”
“No, no!” Dani stopped her, immediately regretting her question. “I don’t want to hear about anything about Mark and his romantic talents or lack thereof.”
A cell phone rang and Dani wondered where Bridgett could have stashed it on her body.
“Hon, your purse is calling.” The blonde shook her high ponytail in the direction of Dani’s bag.
“Oh! My first call.” Dani rushed to her purse and answered. “Hello?”
“Dani, why haven’t you called me?” It was Leila.
“Hi, Mom,” Dani said happily. “Well, I did email you three times. How did you get this number? And don’t blame me for the cell phone. Mark gave it to me. Did you see the interview last night? Can you believe I was on television?”
“Mark’s assistant , Christopher , emailed me your cell phone number , and, yes, I did see the interview. I think you handled yourself nicely. It was much less awful than I imagined.”
Dani had watched the show alone in her room. Well, watched might be a generous term. She had buried her head under a pillow and peeked out occasionally. The show’s staff had procured her high school yearbook picture, the paparazzi photos of her and Sam, and the footage from her shopping trip with Mark. There had even been a clip shot outside the airport, although she hadn’t noticed any cameras then.
“Did you see what I was wearing? Wasn’t it cute? And Mark had someone do my hair and makeup, so you can’t throw a fit because they said that I needed all that in order not to look freakishly pasty on camera, so—”
“You looked wonderful,” Leila said.
“Yeah, you looked totally hot,” Bridgett piped in.
Dani held a finger to her lips to quiet her father’s date. She didn’t want to explain to Leila why a semi-nude woman of questionable legal age was in Mark’s kitchen.
“So you and your father are getting along well?” Leila prompted.
“Yeah, it’s going fine. This house is fantastic, Mom. He took me shopping yesterday, and I’m leaving in a minute to go to a beach club with the daughter of a friend of his. Oh, there’s the horn outside, Mom. I’ll call you later.”
Chapter 19
Leaving the house, Dani walked smack into a gorgeous redhead, who smiled at her. “Sorry, I told Pete not to beep the horn. It’s totally rude.”
“No problem. You must be Kayla?”
“Kayla Dodd at your service. Ready and willing to corrupt a Michigan transplant and introduce you to W est C oast life.” She winked at Dani.
Kayla’s thick, shiny hair fell over her shoulders and Dani was filled with envy. She did still have some curl left over from yesterday’s professional styling, but it was impossible not to be overwhelmed with insecurity while in front of this modelesque beauty. Kayla’s skin glowed , and Dani had no idea redheads could tan so nicely. She silently thanked Mark for having hooked her up with such fashionable beachwear , since Kayla’s low-cut sundress and high-heeled sandals were stylish enough for a cocktail party.
Kayla took Dani’s hand and pulled her down the stairs to the curved driveway , where a white Range Rover sat idling. “Come on. Come meet everyone.”
Dani followed Kayla into the back seat and hadn’t even put on her seatbelt when Kayla began the introductions. “Everyone, this is Dani, the infamous long-lost love child of the one and only Mark Ocean. My sister Ava is the prima donna in the front seat , and our driver today is her boyfriend Pete.”
Pete and Ava turned and gave a little wave. Ava was
Lisa Mondello
Jenn Vakey
Milly Taiden
David Feldman
Kathi S. Barton
Melissa F. Olson
A. M. Willard
Angela Jordan
Adriana Lisboa
Laurie R. King