Hollywood Princess

by Dana Aynn Levin

  I took a sip of my martini. Dad’s compliment made me uncomfortable.

  “I was wrong,” he continued. Dad admitting to being wrong made me stop mid-sip, and stare. This was a rarity, perhaps even a first.

  “About what, Dad? I thought you were never wrong,” I teased.

  As we spoke, Elizabeth glanced my way and smiled shyly, having caught us starring. Dad and I smiled back. I flirted from afar by throwing her a kiss. Eli blushed and returned her attentions to the actors she was talking to.

  “Steve!” a burley, older man in a black suit clapped Dad on the back.

  “Ed! Good to see you, my son, Daniel. Danny, Ed Tegarten.”

  Ed Tegarten attempted to shake my hand but laughed when he couldn’t because I was holding a drink in each one.

  “Who’s that pretty young thing you’re both starring at?” he asked.

  “Elizabeth Jordan-Jacobs; Mike and Miranda’s girl,” Dad chuckled, “and if my son doesn’t blow it, she’ll be my daughter-in-law some day.”

  “But Dad, you said…”

  “I was wrong, Danny. You’re not too young if it’s the right girl. Elizabeth is the right girl. I can’t imagine her not being in our family.”

  “Thanks, Dad. That means a lot to me.”

  CHAPTER 72 - ELIZABETH

  Paula shared stories with me about Dad that I’d never heard before. Apparently Michael Jacobs had been quite the party boy in college before law school and Mom had changed him. Now I better understood his closeness to Steve.

  “I need to borrow my date.” Steve interrupted us with his sudden appearance.

  “What’s up, Steve?” I asked.

  “A photographer from the Style Section of The Times is here. Please find Danny. I need you both in five minutes.”

  Danny had excused himself to go to the men’s room, and now that I thought about it, he should have returned by now.

  I began my search by heading toward the men’s room, tucked under the sweeping staircase behind the bar, another possible destination. I hadn’t left the VIP room since arriving and was relieved to find the crowds in the other rooms had thinned. I could move around.

  Danny’s height certainly helped as I readily spotted him across the room. He was engaged in conversation with an attractive, deeply tanned, tall blonde. In her very high heels, she even appeared taller than Danny.

  I didn’t move as I assessed them, my intuition on guard. My knees began shaking, and not from my Jimmy Choo stilettos.

  What was she doing? Her fingers brushed against Danny. They touched his shoulder, his lapel, and then his face. And Danny didn’t object! He smiled at her. What the hell?

  Who was this woman? Her legs stretched on forever. Only the very top of her thighs was covered by her skin-tight mini dress. The clingy dress cheapened her appearance. Danny would never let me out in a dress like that. The strapless bodice covered by a shrug-like metallic jacket barely contained her A-cup assets. Why was I jealous?

  My reaction ashamed me, and I composed myself by taking a deep breath. Danny was with me. We were here with Steve. He wouldn’t dare flirt with another woman tonight. It would humiliate me and embarrass Steve. Danny would never do that.

  This woman had approached him, I concluded. Who could blame her? She didn’t know about us, and Danny was the handsomest man at the party. Alas, boyfriends, unlike husbands, do not wear rings.

  This woman wasn’t even his type. Danny liked brunettes with naturally occurring skin tones, not tanning booth blondes. He wanted his girl to have curves, not be built like a boy. This woman was too tall. Danny enjoyed teasing me about being only five foot three. Danny loved that I wasn’t tall because he could tower over me and feel protective. That’s what he always said. Even tonight while I wore stilettos, Danny towered over me.

  CHAPTER 73 - DANIEL

  Trying to extricate myself from Reggie while not setting her off took the skills of a neurosurgeon. At any moment, Elizabeth was going to seek me out. My trip to the men’s room had gone on too long. The situation was tenuous at best.

  I couldn’t believe Reggie was here. How the hell had this happened? I knew the answer of course, in vague terms. Models always attended premieres. They dressed up the room. Ambitious managers had no difficulty securing invitations to high-profile events for their clients.

  As Reggie had no idea who Dad was, I had to chalk this up to one unfortunate coincidence and deal with it as best as I could.

  “Sweetheart, there you are!” Elizabeth purred, her megawatt smile flashing at me. Elizabeth leaned into me, placing her hand on my arm and sliding it into my hand. I had no choice but to pull her close.

  “Steve needs us. A photographer from The Times is here,” she added.

  Though not unexpected, Eli’s appearance caught me off-guard. Even with the lateness of the hour she was breathtaking. Eli’s hair and make-up remained perfect, so elegant.

  But what was going through Elizabeth’s head? Had she seen Reggie’s hands on me? Did she suspect anything? Was Eli’s sunny greeting genuine, or an act? Eli might be an excellent actress. I wouldn’t know until we returned to the hotel.

  If my neck weren’t on the line, it would be interesting to watch this unfold. When Elizabeth felt threatened, she became mama lion, subtly pulling rank. In this case, her message was loud and clear. Elizabeth was royalty and I was her willing subject.

  Reggie understood. Eli was the girlfriend on the telephone, and her smile diminished ever so slightly. I ignored it and hoped that I seemed at ease. Elizabeth needed to remain ignorant.

  “Eli, this is Reggie Ames.”

  “Nice to meet you Reggie. I’m Elizabeth Jordan-Jacobs,” she responded and offered her hand to Reggie. Reggie complied and shook it.

  I smirked. Eli’s introduction was a power play. She rarely introduced herself by her entire name, but tonight Eli wanted to be recognized, so she was liberally using it. Most everyone in this room recognized the name, though I doubted Reggie did.

  “Eli, how nice,” Reggie answered frostily. Her eyes looked Eli up and down, sizing up the formidable adversary she never had a chance against.

  Elizabeth cringed. Nobody called her Eli, except for me.

  “It’s Elizabeth, dear,” she answered in a haughty voice I didn’t recognize.

  Reggie didn’t flinch. Was she used to being the other woman, forced to speak to wives and girlfriends? Eli continued smiling.

  “I’m sorry,” Reggie began, “I thought Dan said…”

  “Only Daniel calls me Eli,” Elizabeth cut her off and smiled at me.

  “Reggie lives in Cam’s parents’ building in Miami. We met at the pool.”

  Eli gasped, a staged response. “I hope you didn’t hear our phone calls.” The giggle in her voice dared Reggie to recall an awkward memory while she fished. Power play.

  “I guess. Maybe,” Reggie answered tentatively.

  “Daniel, why didn’t you excuse yourself from your friends and go someplace private?” Eli scolded with a lilt that kept her voice light and friendly.

  “I was at the pool, Eli. There was no place to go.”

  “My apologies, Reggie,” she said sweetly, “Having to listen to our conversations.” Eli smiled at me and touched my cheek. “Those were R-rated, dear,” she purred.

  I had Reggie’s feelings to consider. I took Eli’s hand from my face and squeezed it. I warmly smiled at her. “Yes, they certainly were,” I answered sheepishly.

  “I wasn’t listening,” Reggie quickly added. “There were others there.”

  “You’re from Miami. What brings you here?” Elizabeth changed the subject.

  “I model. I’m in New York for work,” Reggie answered more comfortably now that Eli had asked a familiar question.

  “Daniel got you on the guest list?” Eli turned to me. “You didn’t tell me friends from Miami would be here. We could have met up earlier.”

  How cozy that would have been. Not.

  “I didn’t invite Reggie. I di
dn’t even know she was in New York.”

  “My agent arranged it,” Reggie cooed. “Dan, you can get me on the guest list? Aren’t you a college student?”

  Elizabeth’s expression told me she realized that Reggie did not know who I was.

  “I am a college student, but I know some people,” I answered evasively.

  “Let me guess, Daddy’s connected,” Reggie said with a tinge of sarcasm.

  “Sweetheart,” Elizabeth’s syrupy voice saved me, “We don’t want to keep Dad waiting. It is The Times, after all.”

  “I have to go, Reggie. Good to see you.” I hoped I sounded casual.

  “Good to see you too.” Reggie’s disappointment was obvious to me but hopefully not to Elizabeth.

  CHAPTER 74 - ELIZABETH

  Danny guided me back to the VIP room. The tension between us was palpable.

  “Danny, who is Reggie?” I frowned. Why did she call him ‘Dan?’ The use of Danny’s diminutive reminded me of Amelia all over again.

  “No one to concern yourself with. Reggie’s just a girl the guys and I met at the pool.”

  “She didn’t seem happy when I showed up.”

  “I was happy when you showed up,” Danny answered playfully.

  “Danny, you’d better be.”

  “I’m always happy when you show up.”

  “But she wasn’t.“

  “What a tigress! I wouldn’t want to run into you in a jungle. You’re claws were showing, lady,” Danny answered with a smile. “I think your point was well made.”

  “What point was that?”

  Danny stopped short. He had a bemused but serious expression on his face as he placed his hands on my shoulders and leaned in close to me. Our heads nearly touched. We would not be overheard.

  “Baby, you know what point. That I’m a happily married man with a stunning wife who’s far more beautiful than any model.”

  My eyes opened wide, shocked by Danny’s metaphor. “We’re not married!” I exclaimed.

  “Maybe not legally, but spiritually we are.”

  We are? Who cared about Reggie? I grinned stupidly. I was Danny’s wife!

  “Eli, we love each other, we’re best friends, and we’re lovers. We’re married.”

  “Are you sure?” The conversation caught me so by surprise. I couldn’t think of anything to make me think Danny wasn’t being sincere. He was even sober.

  “E, who spends every night with me and will continue to do so always?”

  “This is heady.”

  Danny smirked. He held me to his chest. The fine-gauge wool of his jacket was soft against my bare shoulders. Danny’s light musky cologne seduced my senses.

  “I love you very much Mrs. Newman,” Danny whispered.

  My eyes opened wide at this salutation. Before I could speak, Danny was holding my face as his lips pressed against mine for a slow kiss. Shivers ran through me.

  “I love you very much too, Mr. Newman,” I whispered when our lips parted.

  Danny’s eyes brimmed with joy. My heart fluttered. I smiled shyly, afraid of crying. Our foreheads touched. Danny’s breath on my face coursed electricity through me.

  “Elizabeth, you are so lovely tonight,” Danny whispered. “Can I kiss my bride?”

  “Of course,” I nodded. “Does this mean tonight’s our honeymoon?”

  Danny grinned. Then he placed his hands on my face to hold me as he once more brought his lips to mine. I held on tightly, my hands around his neck. My lips parted and our tongues entwined, full of joy, playfully savoring the moment. The power of our love left me drunk. My head spun. If we hadn’t been holding each other so firmly I would have teetered on my Jimmy Choo’s and stumbled.

  When we parted, Danny held me close in his arms.

  “Do you realize where we are?” I was suddenly aware of the guests in the room. Several tried to avoid being caught staring.

  “But I love you, Eli,” Danny whispered, and brushed his lips against mine, again sending bolts through me. “I can’t wait to get you back to the hotel.”

  “Danny!” I was blushing.

  “Eli, you know you can’t wait either, so say it.”

  Danny waited expectantly, a devilish grin on his lips.

  “I can’t wait to…” I threw my arms around his neck. “Oh, Danny, when can we go? I’m dying to get back to the hotel already,” I whispered.

  CHAPTER 75 - DANIEL

  “There you are,” Dad greeted us. “Any longer and I was going to send out a search.” Steve grinned. He wasn’t angry at our delayed arrival.

  “Sorry, Dad. I ran into somebody.”

  “They’re here,” Dad said to the impatient photographer.

  The photographer used a floor-to-ceiling window covered by heavy red brocade drapery as the backdrop and took several pictures.

  “Thank you, Mr. Newman,” he said to Dad before taking his leave.

  Elizabeth had lost her spark and teetered back to our table.

  “Dad, can we go? Eli’s tired.”

  “Sure, but remind the driver to come back for me.”

  “That’s okay. Eli and I are walking.”

  Dad joined me at Elizabeth’s side. “It’s getting late. Why don’t you kids head back to The Regency?”

  “You’re sure?” Elizabeth asked. I nodded.

  Then Dad folded Eli in his arms. “Good-night, dear.” And he kissed her cheek.

  “It was great, Steve.” Eli rallied her last ounce of enthusiasm. “Ellen can call in sick anytime she wants. I’ll gladly be her substitute. But I hope she feels better.”

  “Of course,” Dad laughed.

  “I’m telling Mom what you said,” I teased Eli, and she blushed.

  “Daniel! Don’t you dare!”

  “Mom knows you’re not trying to dethrone her. Chill, Eli.”

  “Get going,” Dad commanded. He turned back to Eli and appraised her. “Oh, hell!” he said, and Dad pulled Eli in for an all-encompassing hug. “Just because you’re a grown woman doesn’t mean I can’t hug you all I want. Elizabeth, you’ve been my daughter all your life.”

  “And you’ve been my second dad. I love you, Steve.”

  I took Eli’s hand, and we made our way through the thinning crowd to the massive front doors. Relief. We exited to the gated driveway without running into Reggie again.

  A crisp breeze was blowing from Central Park. It was noticeably colder now than when we’d arrived. Elizabeth unfolded her pashmina and wrapped it around her shoulders. The thin cashmere could not possibly be warm enough to protect her. I smiled. Why should Eli suffer?

  “Here.” I removed my jacket and gently placed it across her slender shoulders.

  “Thank you,” Elizabeth said and she tilted her head up to look into my eyes. The warmth of Eli’s tired smile melted me. My arm slipped around her shoulder and drew her closer. I let my other hand lift her chin for our lips to meet for a slow, love-filled kiss.

  “Feeling warmer?”

  “Yes,” Elizabeth answered in a near-whisper; her green doe eyes continuing to melt my heart. Having pushed her arms into the jacket sleeves, Elizabeth wrapped her pashmina around my neck as though it were a cashmere tallit and delicately kissed me.

  “There,” Elizabeth said. “I have to take care of you too. You’ve done such a good job of taking care of me.”

  “I’ve always taken good care of you, E. It’s what I do best.”

  “What you do best?” Eli giggled. “Always? We’ve only been together for six months.”

  “My taking care of you predates Donnelly by years, Eli.”

  I took Eli’s soft, delicate hand. It was only a few short blocks to The Regency.

  “Remember the brush fire? You were thirteen, and I was almost fifteen.”

  “That was the scariest night of my life.”

  “Mine, too,” I agreed.

  “Danny, you were scared? I never knew.”

  “Eli, you were little. I couldn’t show you my fear. I had to…”


  “Take care of me.” Eli quickly kissed me, the misty memory etched on her face.

  CHAPTER 76 - DANIEL

  That July evening six years ago had started normally enough. Sunday, with Los Angeles mired in a heat wave, Mom and Randi had fled to Malibu with Eli and I. Wednesday the menacing Santa Ana winds began blowing. By Thursday, a small brush fire started in Malibu Canyon. It wasn’t far from our house, but it wasn’t that close.

  After five days in Malibu, the moms were restless and they left for Century City to see an early movie and enjoy dinner. Elizabeth and I were perfectly comfortable staying alone, and we enjoyed leftover fried chicken and a pan of frozen French fries.

  By seven-thirty, we began a chess match, and sitting on the rug while playing, we devoured ice cream sundaes. Bowls of vanilla ice cream covered in chocolate syrup contained a sampling of every sweet we could find including Hershey’s kisses, rainbow sprinkles, and whipped cream.

  Elizabeth wrinkled her nose and inhaled. “The air smells awful,” The heavy, acrid smell of burning brush had infiltrated our nostrils.

  Dad called from Chicago, disturbed to learn we were alone.

  “Danny, turn on the television,” he insisted. “ Malibu is burning.”

  That ended the chess match. KNBC had suspended regular programming to report exclusively from Malibu. This small brush fire had grown into an out of control inferno, consuming the canyon.

  On edge, Elizabeth and I sat, eyes riveted to the television. She put down her ice cream bowl, clutched a pillow to her chest, and sat hunched over crossed legs. As we watched the news reports, Elizabeth chewed her lip.

  “Eli, don’t worry,” I said, attempting to soothe her, “they’ll be here soon.”

  “Danny, I’m scared.” Elizabeth was trembling.

  “I know, but I’m here.” I tried to sound as confident as a frightened fourteen year old could sound. Nobody had to say it. I was older, and I was a boy. It was expected that Elizabeth would rely on me. I couldn’t disappoint her or our parents.

  A wind gust howled, causing the glass patio doors to shake. The smell of smoke temporarily intensified and Eli ran to look. The plants on the patio were blowing. Palm fronds danced across the usually clean-swept tile surface. In the distance, the Pacific was choppier than usual. Otherwise, on this side of the house the world seemed normal.