Fame

by Susan X Meagher

  “I’ll let you two get ready,” Haley said. Then she realized she didn’t have a car. “Um, I need a lift.”

  Piper moved away from her sister and grasped Haley’s hand. “Be right back, Charlie.” Then they started for the open doors, with Delta’s little nails tapping along behind them. “You might want to come get your dog,” Piper added. “He thinks he gets to go everywhere.”

  “You can take him,” Charlie called out, already on her way upstairs.

  “Not going to,” Piper called back. “If you want to find him, he’ll be at the back gate, whining.” Then they hurried to the gate, where Piper had to block the pup with her foot to keep him from following. “Sorry, fella. Go play with your real mommy. I’ll be right back.”

  She rolled her eyes as the dog started to wail. But Haley was proud of her for taking a tiny independent step. She clearly didn’t do that often.

  The ride home only took ten minutes, given they were traveling at an off time. As the car idled in front of Haley’s building, she leaned over to give Piper a kiss. “Did you have a nice birthday?” she asked, staying so close she could feel warm breath on her lips.

  “The nicest I can remember. Except for the part where you wanted to kill me,” she added, grinning. “Except for that, it was fantastic.” A tiny frown settled between her eyebrows. “Not eating kinda sucked, too, but other than that? Fantastic.”

  “Have fun tonight. Take a picture of Meredith for me. Preferably naked.”

  “I don’t think she’ll mind,” Piper joked. “I’ll text it to you if you promise to send it to everyone you know. That should help Charlie’s career.” Her shoulders rose and fell. “I’m afraid I’m going to do something dumb. Or look dumb. Or act dumb.” She cocked her head, looking like a kid. “I really am dumb!”

  “You’re not dumb. You just aren’t a talent manager. Look at the bright side. If you do something awful tonight your sister might actually hire someone with experience.”

  “Brilliant!” she said, grinning with a brightness to her smile that showed she was calming down. “If I screw up, I’ll get what I really want. Thanks for the reality check.”

  “No problem.” She leaned over and kissed her again. “Call me.”

  “Often,” Piper promised, grasping Haley’s hand and holding on until she was out of the car. “Bye,” she added, looking like she truly didn’t want to leave. That was a nice way to end a date. Always leave them wanting a little more.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  PIPER STOOD IN FRONT OF THE mirror, adjusting loose, unstructured slacks. They were too big, but a generously cut top covered the waistband, hiding the safety pin she’d used to snug them up. Assessing herself carefully, she had to admit she looked damned good—even though she definitely did not look like herself. She’d never owned anything so slinky, but it turned out a fuchsia and tangerine print that made her look tall, and thin, and toned, also made her seem kind of elegant. Or rich. Either way, she was glad her sister understood clothes. She would have looked stupid in jeans and a sweater, her usual choice for dressing up.

  Piper flinched when she noticed Charlie standing in the doorway. The little sneak had obviously been there for a while, judging from the knowing smirk on her face. “Yes, you do look sizzling hot,” she said, coming into the room to slap Piper on the butt. “You’re welcome.”

  “I’m glad I let you dress me up, but you’re the one who’s paid to look good.” She met Charlie’s eyes in the mirror. “Tonight, they’re totally getting their money’s worth.”

  Charlie did a slow turn, tucking her chin into her shoulder as she twirled, posing like she would at a photo shoot. Her diaphanous, sky blue dress trailed all the way to the floor. It was both casual and sophisticated, like a beach cover-up for a princess. Bare shoulders sparkled and Piper moved closer to see that Charlie had put some glittery face powder on them. “Nice trick,” she said, touching the skin with a finger. “It doesn’t come off easily, so it won’t be on everyone’s clothes when they hug you. And I predict there will be loads of hugging tonight.”

  “I’m about to pee myself! I don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous.”

  She didn’t look nervous to Piper’s experienced view. She looked excited—a big difference. “You’re keyed up, and that’s good. You’re at your most bubbly when you’re keyed up.”

  “We’re gonna have fun tonight,” Charlie said. “Our first super A-list meeting.”

  That was probably true. Charlie mostly hung out with other actors somewhere near her level of fame—men and women who’d been in a few things, but hadn’t hit it big. Thankfully, she also maintained friendships with a few women from high school, normal people with normal jobs. Those girls kept her feet on the ground—most of the time.

  Given her friends were around her age, they had parties constantly, but they were usually ad hoc invites to hang out by the pool with a big group. Tonight was going to be a very different thing.

  After loading Delta into his carrier to drop him off at his second home, Piper put her hand around Charlie’s arm and led her to the door. “I wish you had a real date. You’d have a lot more fun.”

  “You’re such a dope.” She stuck her hand in Piper’s hair and mussed it. Luckily, her hair bounced back into shape with very little urging. “It’s loads more fun hanging out with you than a guy. And you won’t be angling for a part in Tim’s next movie.” She rolled her eyes. “Or trying to get into Meredith’s pants.” She stopped and gazed at Piper for a second. “She’s not your type, right?”

  Piper chuckled at her curious expression. “No, but even if she were, I wouldn’t try to get into her pants. Not that I’d have much luck. It’d be hard to compete with Tim Banks—in any way.”

  ***

  Charlie chattered nonstop on the drive up PCH to Malibu. A clear, dry, breezy Sunday night was the perfect time to head north, with little traffic going in that direction once the sun began its retreat.

  As they got closer to The Colony, the old-school, super-exclusive enclave right on the water, Charlie shut up like someone had stuffed a sock into her mouth.

  Growing up in LA had given Piper a rough familiarity with Malibu, mostly because she and her friends had jumped on Topanga Canyon to head to the beach every time she could sneak away. But she’d never seen past the impenetrable wall of garages that blocked the view along PCH.

  It had always struck her as a terrible affront to allow people to jam homes cheek to jowl along one of the prettiest beaches in the county, but trying to get super-rich people to share their view was a battle she was sure she didn’t have the weapons to fight.

  She slowed down as she neared Malibu Road, a street she’d never been down. Understated stucco gates announced the outrageously expensive neighborhood with just two words, “Malibu Colony.” There was a guard house right at the entrance, and a uniformed guy popped out immediately. Her hand was shaking a little when she rolled down her window to say, “We’re going to Tim Banks’s home. Charlie Summers.”

  “Great,” he said, friendly, yet reserved. “Let me call ahead, Ms. Summers.”

  “No rush,” she said, turning to catch sight of Charlie, who looked like she wanted to jump out of the car and run the rest of the way.

  “All set,” he said a few minutes later, pushing a button to make the gate lift. “Have a good night.”

  “We will,” she said, continuing down the road. As with many things in LA, the place was underwhelming from the street. To the right was an empty lot, just a sandy patch of scrub. But a tiny golf course filled the area to the left. “Did you know there was a golf course here?”

  “I’ve never been near here in a car,” Charlie said.

  Piper shot her a look. “Have you walked down on the beach?”

  “Of course,” she said, chuckling. “We’d walk for miles to sneak down here and try to find famous people. You?”

  “I’ve been a time or two. I skipped school once to do it and we ran into Larry Hagman walking his dog.”
>
  “Who?”

  “No one you’d know,” Piper sighed, usually not bothering to fill Charlie in on the many, many people she was too young to have any awareness of.

  They turned right, and Piper was a little disappointed to see that the road was just the same as PCH. Just garages blocking any view. She slowed down, trying to get a look at the house numbers, finally coming to the right one. The two-car garage was, as were all of the others, just off the road. She jammed her car into a little nook that would possibly stop someone from sideswiping it, and they got out. How anyone could have a big party was a question she couldn’t answer with any certainty. Everyone must have had to park at a nearby grocery store and be transported by bus. Very LA.

  The garage was plain cedar, no ornamentation, as was the gate. Nothing to indicate rich people lived here. Piper buzzed and a clicking sound indicated the lock had been released. Charlie’s hand was around her upper arm as they entered. Once past the garage, they were in a beautifully lit patio area, with the house glowing in the twilight. It was a modern, understated assemblage of cedar, glass, and a minimum of white stucco, just to hold it together.

  Stepping past kids’ toys, Adirondack chairs, and a fire pit, they approached the home, with the door opening before they hit the top step.

  A middle-aged Latina stood there, smiling warmly. “Welcome, Ms. Summers and Ms. Campbell. Please, come in.”

  They entered, and Piper got a peek at what being at the top of the food chain bought you. The place was so understatedly luxurious it almost hurt your eyes to look at it. Everything seemed like it had been burnished to a soft golden glow, then she realized that was because of the lighting scheme. You knew you were in the high rent district when the lights cost more than your house.

  Then the great and powerful Tim Banks came striding along the wide entry corridor, looking like the prince of the palace—a place he could have bought with the money he had in a bank account he’d forgotten about. Piper had read that he’d made over $200 million as an actor, at least that much as a spokesmodel, and God knew how much of a cut he got from the movies he’d directed, which had grossed over $500 million. The Banks-Legrand fortune had to be half a billion dollars, a sum that was truly hard to get your mind around.

  But Tim Banks never gave off the vibe of a guy who cared much about that. He was almost always photographed in black jeans and a V-neck T shirt, although he also looked fantastic in a tux.

  His hair was longish, perfectly straight, a dirty blonde that made him look more like an aging surfer than a mogul. Tonight, he had about a week’s worth of scruff on his face, most of it bristly grey. But somehow, he was still beautiful. He’d been a gorgeous young man, and age had left him merely ruggedly handsome. But handsome men were a dime a dozen. Tim had that extra something, an undefinable quality that made you like him, even though you didn’t know a damn thing about him.

  He had an easy swagger when he walked, and tonight he was super casual, his black jeans topped by a muted, pale blue Hawaiian print shirt, a shirt that looked like it was made to go with Charlie’s dress. “I’ve been waiting for this night!” he said, his big voice booming as his arms extended for a hug. “The day I finally get to meet Charlie Summers.”

  He was smaller than Piper would have guessed. Not small, per se, just smaller. When a guy filled a huge movie screen, that gave you an unrealistic expectation a mere mortal could never meet. But his personality was outsized, easily as big and warm as it seemed in the dozens of movies he’d made over the last thirty years.

  “Tim Banks,” he said after he’d released Charlie and held his arms out to Piper. It was strange having a world-famous guy you’d been watching on screen since you were a child hold you like you were the best of friends, but that was the Hollywood way. He smelled awfully good. Piper couldn’t name the scent, but whatever it was, it just made her want to keep hugging him. When he pulled away he left a hand on her shoulder. “It’s great to meet you, Piper.”

  “Same here.” She was tempted to say she was a fan, but that was just stupid. Everyone was a fan. He had to be sick of hearing it.

  “Come on in, ladies,” he said, turning to lead the way down the corridor. “I bet Rosa can rustle us up some drinks, right, Rosa?”

  “Of course I can. Anything you wish. Anything at all.”

  Piper went first, letting Charlie make up her mind. “I’d like some sparkling water.”

  “Of course. Lemon? Lime?”

  “Either,” Piper said.

  Charlie spoke up. “My sister’s doing a juice fast with me. We’re both going to lose ten pounds.”

  “Neither of you needs to,” Tim said, “but you’ve really got to look emaciated, Charlie.”

  He gave Rosa a quick look. “Why don’t you make us some juice? Coconut water, some coconut meat, pomegranate seeds, and some açaí seeds.” He turned back to the sisters. “That’s better than water, right?”

  “That’s great,” Charlie said. “We’re supposed to have our last bottle right about now.”

  A sexy voice sounded from behind Piper, then a very light touch settled on her shoulder. “I’d love a juice, Rosa.”

  Piper turned to face Meredith Legrand, and in that instant, she realized she was in love. Jesus! How did one woman have so many luscious qualities? It truly wasn’t fair. Meredith’s looks were the physical equivalent of a one-percenter: someone so rich with beauty the rest of the world could never catch up.

  Meredith was also usually clad in black, tonight showing off something slinky and roomy, letting you see mere hints of her shapely butt and world-class breasts.

  Meredith’s surprisingly deep voice purred, “So nice to meet you,” then cool fingers slid down Piper’s arm as she realized she was shaking, begging whatever gods were listening to stop Meredith from noticing her rock-hard nipples. “Meredith Legrand.”

  “Piper Campbell,” she managed, with her voice sounding like she had laryngitis.

  That delicate hand left Piper’s body and settled onto Charlie’s, then the other hand fell to Charlie’s hip and pulled her close for a hug and kisses to both cheeks. “It’s so nice to meet the woman who’s going to cement Tim’s reputation as a director. We’ve been dying to work with you,” she said, clearly lying. Charlie had been tapped only a couple of weeks earlier! At best, she was second choice. And given the way things worked in Hollywood, she might have been the tenth. But it was impossible to listen to Meredith’s dulcet tones and not believe every word. Every completely fabricated word.

  Meredith led the way through the house, which must have been built like a railroad car, since the lots in this part of Malibu were notoriously narrow, but very deep.

  The living area and dining area all flowed together, then they were on a huge deck, with a fantastic view of the ocean, with the sun taking its cue to dip into the water as they crossed the threshold.

  “Wow,” Charlie said. “Did you tell the sun to do that, Tim?”

  “I wish I had that kind of power,” he said, chuckling. They sat on remarkably comfortable buff-colored canvas loveseats, four of them arranged around a massive wicker coffee table, all of them admiring the setting sun for a minute. It was simply too stunning to ignore, leading them into a kind of church-like reverence.

  Then Rosa appeared, with tall glasses of juice resting on a wooden tray. She must have had everything ready to go, since it would have taken Piper an hour to open coconuts and peel pomegranates. Maybe this was a common Banks-Legrand after dinner treat.

  Meredith thanked Rosa, and took a glass. “We just finished dinner with the kids, and they’re out running off their meal now. I hate eating so early, but they’re always starving by seven.” A sexy laugh passed those delectable lips. “Seven!”

  Piper didn’t want to tell her that seven wasn’t really an unreasonably early dinner time, since she was pretty sure Meredith didn’t have any conception of a normal life. Her mother had been a well-respected, fairly famous actress, her father a screenwriter known as mu
ch for his affairs as his work, even though both were legendary.

  “How long have you been working with Charlie?” Tim asked Piper. He’d put on some black-framed glasses with a surprisingly dark tint, making his eyes all but invisible.

  “Since our mom brought me home from the hospital,” Charlie answered for her.

  “You’re sisters?” Meredith asked. When those sultry, dark eyes slowly scanned Piper, she felt like she was at a lesbian bar being aggressively assessed. What the fuck? Was her imagination running wild? Or was Meredith Legrand flirting with her? “I never would have guessed that,” Meredith said, barely giving Charlie the time of day. “You look nothing alike.”

  “Different dads,” Piper managed, knowing her face was turning pink, but not knowing how to stop it. “We each look more like our father than our mother.”

  “Fascinating.” Meredith looked like she wanted to take a bite out of some sensitive part of Piper. “Genetics fascinates me. A lovely, dark-haired woman donated her eggs and gave birth to our children, yet each of them looks so much like Tim it’s almost funny.”

  Tim gave her a lingering look. “We wanted to have our kids the old-fashioned way, but both of Meredith’s older siblings died of a rare genetic disorder.”

  “Oh, God. That’s awful!” Charlie said, conveying the empathy she was so easily able to access.

  “I didn’t know my older brothers,” Meredith said, “so it was much tougher on my parents than me. But I decided when I was very young that I’d never reproduce. Luckily, we had other options.”

  “I’d love to meet your kids,” Charlie said.

  “Oh, they’ll be back when it’s too dark to see. Prepare to be covered with sand,” she said, smiling.

  “Right,” Tim said. “We’d better get started. Once they’re here we won’t be able to hear ourselves think.”

  “I know almost nothing about your plans for the movie,” Charlie admitted. “Even my agent didn’t know exactly where we’re shooting, but I bet it’s not on Waikiki Beach.”