Lovers and Gamblers (94 page)

Linda hung back. She didn’t want him to see her… and yet… Oh shit – they could be friends, couldn’t they?

She moved nearer to him – was going to change her mind and back off – but then he saw
her
. He left the blonde mid-sentence and was by her side. ‘Good to
see
you.’

‘You too.’ They grinned foolishly at each other.

‘So… what are you doing here?’

‘I’m a photographer, aren’t I? Thought I’d see what all the excitement was about.’

‘I thought you were in New York.’

‘I was.’

‘When did you get back?’

‘Few weeks ago.’

‘Can I get you a drink?’ he asked anxiously, leading her towards the bar.

‘No, I’m fine.’

‘You look fine. I mean you look terrific.’

She laughed self-consciously. ‘I cut my hair.’

‘Looks nice, really nice.’ He paused, at a loss for words. ‘Well…’

‘Well…’

‘I keep on seeing your work in every magazine I pick up.’

‘And I keep on reading about you – this gossip column – that gossip column – you’ve really been getting around.’

‘Gotta fill my time.’

‘Oh sure.’

‘You mean
you
sit home?’

‘Not exactly.’

‘I didn’t think so.’

They were both suddenly serious, staring at each other.

‘I am here to tell you I have really missed you,’ Cody volunteered, ‘like
really
.’

‘
Yes?
’

‘Yes.’ He fumbled for a cigarette, dropping the pack and picking it up quickly. ‘I’m not nervous – really I’m not.’

She laughed softly.

‘I heard about you and Paul.’

‘Al was furious. You would think it was him I was walking out on. I don’t know how he’ll feel about me being here today.’

‘I’m sure he’s forgotten all about it. Paul’s doing very nicely in London – I hear he’s got himself a girlfriend.’

She didn’t feel at all jealous. ‘That’s nice.’

‘Why didn’t you call me?’ Cody asked intently.

‘Call
you
? Why didn’t
you
call
me
?

‘You told me not to.’

‘
Screw
what I
told
you. Oh, Cody – the trouble with you is you’re too goddamn
nice.’

‘You wouldn’t have said that if you’d heard me on the phone to Lew Margolis the other day. I shafted him right between the goolies. It felt good.’

Linda laughed. ‘You don’t have to defend yourself for being nice. I love you for it!’

‘Do you realize what you just said? I think a remark like that calls for dinner tonight. I’ll pick you up at eight. Where?’

‘Same place, different apartment number.’

Again they both found themselves grinning foolishly.

‘Hey – I’ve got a press conference to get on the road here,’ Cody said at last. ‘You’re taking my mind off everything!’

‘So sorry – what’s it all about anyway?’

‘Announce the movie… you know Dallas has become some huge star from that one TV series.’

‘You don’t have to tell me. I have made a small fortune from my pictures of her. They sell again and again and again.’

‘A fortune, huh? You mean you’re rich?’

‘Well, you always did say I was a bright lady!’

‘Ouch! You never forget.’ He kissed her lightly on the cheek. ‘Time to bring on my two superstars. How about you staying on after and getting some exclusive shots?’

‘If you don’t think they’ll mind…’

‘Mind! Dallas will be delighted, she’s always talking about you.’ He didn’t want to confess that so was he. ‘See you in a minute.’

He vanished inside the house, and Linda couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. She felt ridiculous really, standing there grinning like an idiot, but there was nothing she could do about it. Seeing Cody again just made her feel
so
good.

She glanced around at her fellow photographers and journalists. They were chatting, drinking, setting up tape recorders and cameras.

Suddenly a hush fell over the gathering. Framed in the patio doorway stood Al and Dallas.

What a couple they made. Somehow Dallas was softer than before – more glowingly beautiful. She was wearing a very simple white dress which emphasized her suntanned body. Her luxurious wild hair cascaded down over her shoulders, and her huge green eyes gleamed with a hidden danger. She looked incredibly sensual and vulnerable all at the same time. An irresistible combination. That was the new ingredient – Linda decided – the vulnerability. It had every man in the room falling instantly in love. They didn’t know whether they wanted to rape or protect her. She had them bewitched.

Linda also noticed a change in Al. A big change. The arrogance had gone and had been replaced with a look of deep satisfaction. For the first time since she had known him he looked like a contented man. And who could blame him? The two of them sparked off enough electricity to light up the house. Al was thinner than she remembered, and very darkly tanned. Also he had stuck to the beard he had grown in the jungle, and it gave him the look of a gypsy. His jet hair was long and unruly, and on his forehead there was a thin scar – a souvenir of the jungle.

Whereas before Linda had always thought his sex appeal somewhat manufactured – now he looked like the real thing.

The photographers and journalists surged forward – and was it her imagination or did most of them surge in Dallas’s direction? She wasn’t sure but she could have sworn a look of resignation swept over Al’s face.

‘Ladies and gentlemen of the press,’ Cody announced proudly, ‘I give you Dallas and Al King.’

JACKIE COLLINS

There have been many imitators, but only Jackie Collins can tell you what really goes on in the fastest lane of all. From Beverly Hills bedrooms to a raunchy prowl along the streets of Hollywood; from glittering rock parties and concerts to stretch limos and the mansions of the power brokers – Jackie Collins chronicles the real truth from the inside looking out.

Jackie Collins has been called a “raunchy moralist” by the late director Louis Malle and “Hollywood’s own Marcel Proust” by
Vanity Fair
magazine. With over 500 million copies of her books sold in more than 40 countries, and with some thirty
New York Times
bestsellers to her credit, Jackie Collins is one of the world’s top-selling novelists. She is known for giving her readers an unrivaled insiders knowledge of Hollywood and the glamorous lives and loves of the rich, famous, and infamous! “I write about real people in disguise,” she says. “If anything, my characters are toned down – the truth is much more bizarre.”

Jackie Collins started writing as a teenager, making up steamy stories her schoolmates paid to devour. Her first book,
“The World is Full of Married Men,”
became a sensational bestseller because of its open sexuality and the way it dealt honestly with the double standard. After that came
“The Stud,” “Sinners,” “The Love Killers,” “The World is Full of Divorced Women,” “The Bitch,” “Lovers And Gamblers,” “Chances,”
and then the international sensation,
“Hollywood Wives”
– a #1
New York Times
bestseller, which was made into one of ABC’s highest-rated miniseries starring Anthony Hopkins, Stefanie Powers and Suzanne Somers.

“The Stud,” “The World is Full of Married Men,”
and
“The Bitch”
were also filmed – this time for the big screen. And Jackie wrote an original movie,
Yesterday’s Hero
, starring Ian McShane and Suzanne Somers.

Readers couldn’t wait to race through
“
Lucky
,”
her next book – a sequel to
“Chances”
– and the story of Lucky Santangelo, an incredibly beautiful, strong woman, another
New York Times
number one. Oprah had one word for the book
“Lucky,”
and that was – “Hot!”

Next came the bad boys of Hollywood in the steamy
“Hollywood Husbands”
– a novel which kept everyone guessing the identities of the true-to-life Hollywood characters.

Jackie then wrote
“Rock Star”
– the story of three rock superstars and their rise to the top, followed by the long-waited sequel to
“Chances”
and
“Lucky”
–
“Lady Boss”
– tracking the further adventures of the smart and powerful Lucky Santangelo as she takes control of a Hollywood studio.

Both
“Lucky”
and
“Chances”
were written and adapted for NBC television by Jackie, who also executive produced the highly successful six-hour miniseries
Lucky/Chances
, starring Nicollette Sheridan and Sandra Bullock.

In the nineties, she produced and wrote the four-hour miniseries,
Lady Boss
, which became another huge ratings success for NBC.
Lady Boss
starred Kim Delaney.

Next came
“American Star,”
a love story, which the
Los Angeles Times
described as “classic Collins.”

Then the dangerously close to the truth
“Hollywood Kids”
– a story of power, sex, danger and ambition among the grown offspring of major celebrities.

In 1996
“Vendetta – Lucky’s Revenge”
was published – and became an immediate
New York Times
bestseller.

And in 1998, Jackie hosted her own daily television show for CBS,
Jackie Collins Hollywood
. A combination of fun, style and interviews, Jackie talked to everyone from George Clooney to Jennifer Lopez.

After that she wrote
“L.A. Connections”
– a four-part serial novel published one per month –
“Power,” “Obsession,” “Murder”
and
“Revenge.”

In 1999 came
“Dangerous Kiss”
– the return of Lucky Santangelo in a bestselling novel about relationships, addiction, fear and lust.

In the year 2000,
“Lethal Seduction”
became the first bestseller for Jackie Collins in the new millennium. This tale of erotic suspense and glamorous intrigue featured Madison Castelli, a character first introduced in the
“L.A. Connections”
series.

“Hollywood Wives – The New Generation”
became a blockbuster bestseller in 2001, following in the footsteps of the original
“Hollywood Wives.” “Hollywood Wives – The New Generation”
featured a brand new cast of characters and a totally fresh perspective on how women pursue power, love, sex, and success in Tinseltown today.

In 2003 Jackie produced the TV movie of
Hollywood Wives – The New Generation
for CBS.
Wives
starred Farrah Fawcett, Robin Givens, Jack Scalia and Melissa Gilbert.

In June 2002, New York flash, L.A. trash and a Mafia don meet head-on in
“Deadly Embrace.”
This sexy tale of dangerous passion and suspense features heroine Madison Castelli and is both a prequel and a sequel to her adventures in the bestselling
“Lethal Seduction.”

In 2003 came another New York Times bestseller,
“Hollywood Divorces,”
the story of three very different women. Followed in 2005 by
“Lovers and Players”
– a story of family conflicts, three brothers and their billionaire father, a beautiful heiress, a hip-hop mogul, Russian call girls, illegitimate children and two murders. This all takes place over seven days in New York, and yet again hits the
New York Times
bestseller list.

“Drop Dead Beautiful – The Continuing Adventures of Lucky Santangelo”
was published in 2007. Lucky came back with a vengeance – bolder and more beautiful than ever! In
“Drop Dead Beautiful”
Lucky meets old friends and enemies, and deals with her wild teenage daughter, Max, who is as stubborn and strong as her mom. Lucky plans to return to Las Vegas and build an amazing billion dollar hotel complex. But when she does… the trouble really begins…

Next came
“Married Lovers,”
a powerful look at the ins and outs of marriage in L.A. It’s also the story of an under-age Russian girl who becomes involved in the sex trade, and eventually arrives in Hollywood and causes major trouble.

“Poor Little Bitch Girl”
followed
“Married Lovers,”
another
New York Times
bestseller. It is the story of three very different women who all went to high school together. Denver Jones – a twenty-five year old kick ass associate lawyer in L.A. Carolyn Henderson – assistant to a powerful married Senator in Washington. And Annabelle Maestro – daughter of movie star parents, who has carved out a niche for herself as a much in demand New York madame running call girls.

And then there is Bobby Santangelo – Lucky’s Kennedyesque hot sexy son, with mucho style, great looks and plenty of money. Everyone wants Bobby…

Throw into this mix a raunchy agent, a sixteen-year-old gangbanger’s girlfriend, an older superstar on the prowl, a lethal murder… and
“Poor Little Bitch Girl”
becomes a guilty pleasure for everyone to enjoy.