“Oh, I’m sorry,” I choked out, my voice much more controlled than I had expected. Score one for me! “I’m Mr. Steinman’s assistant, Lacy Cooper.”
He reached out and took my hand, bringing it to his mouth and gently kissed the back of it; his full, perfect lips lingering there for just a moment.
Was this really happening?
I mean… who did that?
“It’s very nice to meet you, Lacy Cooper,” he all but purred, and I swear I felt my toes curl inside my pumps.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. Dupree,” I replied, excited that I actually got the words out without sounding like too much of an imbecile.
Thank you, God!
He seemed to study me a moment, his brows furrowing and his mouth forming a tight line before his grin appeared once again.
“Not Mr. Dupree ,” he scolded gently, and I had the insane notion that I would have called him anything he had wanted me to at the moment.
Stud-muffin came to mind, but I thankfully bit that one back.
Score another one for the brain to mouth filter I had been working so hard on.
“Please, call me, Jack.”
“All right, Jack .” God, why was he staring at me that way? It was as if he was studying every damn line on my face, every imperfection, and I felt my cheeks heat.
“You have lovely eyes,” he murmured, and I swear to God, my heart stopped dead in my chest!
Wham! Just like that. It came to a full and complete stop.
Why in the Hell was Mr. Perfection himself complimenting me, or even bothering to speak to me in the first place?
That was just not how things went down in this town.
I was the chubby chick. The girl who was dependable and safe to be around. I blended in with the furniture. I did not stand out and I sure as shit did not get compliments from movie stars.
Ever !
Before anything else could be said, the door to Hal’s office flew open and he all but rolled through the opening. I had to bite back the giggle that threatened to burst from my lips as Jabba the Hut flashed through my mind.
I did, however, notice, with a slight sigh of relief, that he had indeed, tamed that horrible comb-over of his. Thank God for small favors.
“Damn it, Lacy,” he snapped, glaring at me. “Didn’t I tell you not to bother our guest.”
“I…I’m sorry, Mr. Stein—”
“It was actually my fault, Hal,” Jack broke in, throwing me a slight wink that caused that damn gopher to make another appearance in my throat.
I swear to God; the little bastard was taking up residence there.
“I was just shooting the breeze with Miz Cooper until our appointment.”
Hal threw on his best smile, which was greasy and false, and held out his hand to Jack. “Well, yes. I see,” he replied, but not before throwing me a nasty glance that said I should have at the very least let Mr. High-and-Mighty know that Jack was here immediately.
Ugh! Jackass!
Hal waved Jack ahead of him. “Come into my office, Jack. I know we can work out a deal.” With that, Hal whisked Mr. Wet Dream through the door, and slammed it shut behind them.
When I go t back from lunch, Jack was gone. I couldn’t stop the feeling of disappointment that washed over me at having not gotten a chance to say goodbye.
It wasn’t as if it really mattered anyway. His making chit-chat was most likely his way of just being nice, anyways. Southern hospitality and all.
There was a small part of me that wondered if he would hire Hal as his new agent, which would mean he would need to come to the office occasionally, but Hal was not giving up any information on the subject at all.
The creepy old bastard.
The rest of the day flew by in a flurry of contracts and phone calls, when all I wanted was to lose myself in the few moments spent talking to Jack.
Gah! Responsibility really sucked!
That night, afte r fighting horrendous traffic, not to mention my continuing wayward thoughts, I called Felix and Lance, wanting to spend a little quality time with my two best friends and a nice bottle of wine…maybe even two.
The events of the day had left me exhilarated, yet utterly confused.
Never had any of Hal’s clients ever taken the time to bother with me before. And, the fact it had been Jack Dupree who had, well…that was just the icing on my damn cupcake!
If he decided against hiring Hal and I never saw the man again, at least I could say I got one fleeting moment with him. Not to mention, the thrill of his taking my hand in his and freaking kissing it!
Things like that just didn’t happen to a girl like me.
Lance arrived in a flurry of showmanship and Merlot. He burst through the door of my apartment singing some show tune at the top of his lungs as he danced around with the two bottles he carried.
Damn, but I loved that man.
Felix arrived, a bottle of wine in one hand and a box of cupcakes in the other.
Whoop! Two for two!
God, I love my crew!
The three of us curled up on the couch and opened the first bottle, all the while laughing and shoving cupcakes into our mouths like greedy, hungry cannibals.
At bottle number three, as I was feeling the effects of the previous two, I decided to tell them about my day.
“I met Jack Dupree today,” I blurted out, my words slightly slurred and overly loud. “He winked at me and kissed my hand.” Holy crap! Did I really just say that out loud? I wondered, feeling like a total third grader.
It was Lance who reacted first. He jumped up from the sofa, spilling his wine in the process, I might add, and screeched like a Banshee stuck in a bear trap.
“Oh… my God ! Oh, my God! You met Jack freaking Dupree?” He unconsciously wiped the wine from the front of his jeans as he shrieked and flailed about and there was an instant or two that I thought he was going to have some type of seizure.
Felix and I burst into a fit of drunken giggles as I nodded happily. “And…he kissed my hand,” I repeated, holding up the hand in question as if it were the Golden Chalice.
“You, bitch!” Lance all but growled, which only caused Felix and I to laugh all the harder.
Jack Dupree wasn’t just my wet dream.
“Yup, that’s me,” I laughed, snorting just a little bit. “I am a seductive, wily Vixen; who just twitches her little finger and suddenly has men, the likes of Jack Dupree, falling all over her!”
“What was he like?” Felix asked breathlessly.
“Um…well, let me see. He was okay, I guess.” I tried my best to sound cool and indifferent, but a moment later when Lance all but launched himself back down on the couch between us, I couldn’t contain that bit of excitement.
Oh, who the hell was I trying to kid – I was practically bouncing off the walls.
“Come on, girl. Dish it!” Lance barked impatiently.
“Well,” I began as coyly as I possibly could, “He is even better looking in person than he is in films. Not to mention he has this absolutely amazing Southern drawl!” I sighed deeply, thinking how nice it would be to hear him whisper sweet nothings in my ear with that accent of his. “And… those eyes!” I fanned myself. “Good God !”
So, for th e next hour or so, we talked about the infamous Jack Dupree and how completely edible the man was.
Amidst wine-induced giggles and bravery, we discussed how he would swoop back into the office and take me away from the daily monotony which had become my life.
But, no matter how fun it was – I knew it was all merely the ramblings of three drunken friends and nothing like that could ever happen to me.
I was a realist.
Even in my drunken stupor!
Lance and Felicity left around midnight in an assault of laughs and hugs. I locked the door behind them and headed to bed, grateful that the following morning was Friday. I planned on just getting through the day, then enjoying a nice relaxing weekend alone. Just me, a couple pots of c
offee, and a good book.
Who knew, I might even rent a Jack Dupree movie.
I walked int o the office the next morning feeling just a bit hungover. Sitting on my desk was an arrangement of flowers. Gorgeous, colorful blooms in all shapes and sizes, bursting with the scent of the Heavens. They were amazing!
But…who ?
I made a beeline for the bouquet and dug around, looking for a card. Finally, the tiny white envelope made its appearance and I ripped it open, my jaw just about hitting the floor as I did.
What. The. Hell ?
It was a pleasure meeting you, Lacy. I would love to take you to dinner sometime.
Jack
That absolutely had to be a joke…right? I mean, dinner ? With me? Come on! That just so couldn’t be real. It had to be someone’s idea of a bad joke.
I bet Lance was behind it. He always did shit like that. He was so going to hear from me at lunch.
“Lacy!” Hal barked from his office. My cue to get his coffee and start the day…ugh.
Jabba looked up from the paperwork he was going over and frowned. “Is it your birthday?” He asked distractedly, his eyes skimming over the piece of paper in his hand.
I almost burst out laughing. In the nine years I had worked for the old grouch, he had never once acknowledged my birthday, Christmas or any other holiday for that matter. I guess my getting flowers for the first and only time in those nine years threw the old bastard for a loop.
“No, sir,” I replied. “They were, um…a thank you from a friend.”
Wow! That lie slipped out easily.
He grunted his acceptance of my explanation and went back to ignoring me.
Grateful for small favors, I headed back to my desk.
The day seeme d to drag along at a snail’s pace and when finally, five o’clock rolled around, I couldn’t grab my stuff fast enough. I had tried calling Lance at lunch but got his voicemail. I knew he was working on a new song and dance number for the show he was in, so he was most likely in rehearsals. Or, getting his legs waxed, I thought with a grin. The man had nicer legs than mine and Felicity’s put together and spent a hell of a lot more time and money on them than we did. But…to each his own.
My phone rang just as I was pulling into my parking space and I quickly grabbed for it. As I turned, the bouquet of flowers I had painstakingly propped up in the back seat next to my purse, teetered dangerously and I rushed to keep it from tipping.
“Crap!” I spit out as some of the water dumped right into my bag. I steadied the arrangement and answered my phone, knowing without even having to look at it just who it would be. “Very funny, asshole,” I ground out, trying not to be too angry at my friend.
I knew he was just trying to be funny, and hey, if he wanted to waste money on flowers for the sole purpose of a joke, who was I to complain?
It wasn’t as if I got flowers all the time.
“Lance, you just suck!”
“I’m sorry?” My entire body froze as I realized the voice on the other end of the line was not that of my friend.
Oh…shit! I really needed to start checking my caller ID.
But…could this really be happening?
I mean, I would recognize that sexy drawl anywhere, but, it couldn’t be!
Could it ?
There are certain times in a girl’s life that are instantly put down to things she will remember for the rest of her entire existence. Special little memories to hold on to and keep safely tucked away. Hearing Jack Dupree on the other end of my cell was a huge one for me. I had absolutely no idea how he even got my number, but who in the Hell was I to complain! That incredible voice drifted across the airwaves like a warm, summer breeze and tickled my senses.
“Oh, crap! I…I mean, I’m sorry! I thought you were my friend,” I stammered over the firmly placed foot in my mouth.
Jack chuckled, deep and husky, and it had to be one of the most sensual sounds I had ever heard in my life.
Dear, dear Lord!
“Well, I am glad to hear it wasn’t directed at me,” he laughed. “Listen, I was hopin’ I could take you to dinner tomorrow night,” he said, and I swear on a stack of cupcakes, the man sounded a tiny bit nervous !
As if he wasn’t Jack Dupree and I wasn’t Miss Plain Jane!
Every sensory circuit in my body was on overload and I was finding it hard to breathe.
“I…I…um…why ?” I finally managed to sputter.
I just could not even begin to grasp why Mr. Movie Star himself would ever want to take me to dinner. It just wasn’t done! I was a nobody. The man should have been seen with the hottest new starlet on the scene; someone beautiful…
Who had a body that could stop traffic.
Not me.
“Why?” He repeated softly, as if he just couldn’t fathom the idea that I even had to ask the question.
But, seriously…come on!
Jack Dupree was asking me out?
This wasn’t happening.
“Yes… why ?” I repeated.
What if he thought that by getting to me, he could get in good with Hal?
But… Hal was the one who would be salivating to work with Jack. Not the other way around.
Jack was going places and had the potential to make Hal a boatload of money in the process. If Hal could land Jack as a client, it would be a very profitable thing.
Not so much the other way around.
There was silence on the other end of the line. I pulled it away from my ear and looked to make sure the connection hadn’t been lost.
“I don’t have any ulterior motives, if that’s what you were thinking,” he replied, sounding slightly wounded. “I’d just like to get to know you better.”
I dug down deep within myself and tried to sound as calm as humanly possible, even though my heart was beating around in my chest like a damn bass drum.
“Well, I guess…I mean…sure. I’d like that.” I finally replied. My mind was spinning out of control. I was beginning to feel dizzy.
Had I smashed my car on the highway coming home and this was Heaven?
There were just way too many scenario’s to even begin to comprehend.
“Great! How about I pick you up tomorrow at…let’s say six?”
I nodded numbly, then realized with a flush of embarrassment that he couldn’t hear me nodding.
“That would be nice,” I breathed out, still not quite believing this was happening.
And, did I just say nice ? Holy Crap! This was beyond nice! It was surreal! I was living every damn woman’s fantasy!
A dinner date with Jack Dupree!
“All right, then. I’ll see you tomorrow at six.”
I was about to end the call when a thought occurred to me. “Wait!” I gasped.
“Yes?”
“Don’t you…don’t you need my address?” I asked. “And…what should I wear? I mean, is it dressy or casual?”
That damn masculine laughter drifted back into my ear and I swallowed hard, wondering just how in the Hell I thought I would ever be able to go an entire evening in this man’s presence and not make a total ass out of myself. Maybe I should tell him I already had plans and had to cancel, but I thankfully didn’t say it. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity I just had to take.
“Not a problem. I’ve got it,” he laughed. “And dress any way you’d like. I’ll see you tomorrow, Lacy.”
“Oh, crap! Wait!” I again blurted out and heard him chuckle.
“Yes?”
“Thank…thank you for the flowers,” I croaked, not wanting to forget my manners in the midst of this crazy surge of unbelievable shock that at the moment was my life.
“It was my pleasure.” He replied huskily, that voice of his making my toes tingle. “Until tomorrow, Lacy.” With that he hung up, leaving me to sit there, slack-jawed.
I sat o n the couch that evening, contemplating just what in the hell had happened. I was roughly jerked from my thoughts of impending do
om by the sound of my phone ringing. I grabbed it from the coffee table and hesitantly answered, part of me afraid it was Jack calling back to say Got cha!
“Hello?”
Oh, God! My voice sounded lame even to my own ears. I cringed.
“Sorry, baby-girl, I couldn’t call back sooner,” Lance’s voice rushed on from the other end. “Rehearsals ran long, and then of course nim-rod Bruce decides he wants to use the new number in tomorrow night’s performance. The crazy old fart! What does he think? I have nothing better to do than learn new shit on an hourly basis? Anyway, needless to say, there were costume fittings and extra run-throughs and you know the drill. This is the first chance I’ve had to even breathe, let alone make a call. I swear, being Fabulous does have its downside.” He took a deep breath. “So, what’s up, Sugar?”
I chewed at my lower lip and debated whether I wanted to tell him or not.
I knew that if I told him about my dinner date, he would move Heaven and Earth to be here tomorrow to get me all glammed up for the big event.
Which, in Lance’s happy little world, would consist of making me look like a very bad Cher impersonator.
I knew I could beg and plead with him to keep it toned down…but still I hesitated.
I just wasn’t sure.
But, I figured if I was actually having dinner with Jack Dupree, and that this all wasn’t just a dream, I would need help. Lots of help.
I needed to look as put together as possible.
So, I bit the bullet.
“Okay, I have to tell you something…but you have got to promise me not to scream,” I said, trying desperately to contain my own excitement as it built up around me once again.
“Honey-girl,” he chuckled. “I don’t think a woman has ever made me scream,” he retorted haughtily, and I choked back a laugh.
“All right…here goes. I’m having dinner…with Mr. Perfect tomorrow.”
Three…two…
The sound from my friends’ mouth in the next instant would have put the loudest tornado siren to shame. Maybe it was because he was a performer and was used to projecting his voice…maybe it was because he was just that excited for me, I don’t know… but either way, he put the banshee’s wail from the night before to shame.
Sinfully Delicious: Six Scintillating Stories of Sweets, Treats, and Happily Ever Afters Page 11
