by Jessica Park
“So, tell me, what kind of man is he?” Barry asked.
“I’m just getting to know him.” Dani said. “But he’s really nice.”
Mark resisted the urge to frown. Nice? Nice was not going to cut it. For an honor student, she should have come up with something significantly more descriptive than nice. “I’ll tell you what kind of man I am, Barry.” Mark struck a thoughtful and somber pose. “I’m just a man like any other man. A man sitting beside a daughter that he wants to know and love.” Okay, it was a little Notting Hill, but it did the trick because Barry looked like he was about to cry.
The Celebrity City crew and Barry Kinch finally cleared out. The interview had gone very well. Mark checked his watch. The segment would air at seven.
Mark went into the kitchen and pulled an energy drink from the fridge. He’d done it. That one interview had started the transformation. He and Renna had a phone date to watch Celebrity City tonight, and then he was going to celebrate with the blonde reality-TV girl for a late dinner. She would love the media frenzy that was about to unleash. Speaking of dinner, it occurred to Mark that Dani would need to eat. He rifled through the kitchen for take-out menus. He set them on the counter and headed outside for a swim.
Chapter 18
Dani stood in front of the refrigerator hoping to find something for breakfast besides the leftover Thai food from the night before. Mark had a year’s supply of Red Bull, but nothing remotely resembling eggs, toast, or cereal. She had only fifteen minutes until Kayla was coming to pick her up for the beach club. Dani was wearing one of her new bikinis and had stuffed one of her new bags with towels and sunscreen. She also had the credit card from her father and her new iPhone, which Christopher had given her last night.
Dani shut the fridge and decided that she’d have to get something to eat at the club.
“Oh, I didn’t know anyone else was up. You must be Dani. I’m Bridgett. Is there coffee?”
Dani spun around to see who belonged to the sleepy voice. No way! There, right in front of her, stood the Rock of Love girl! Her name definitely wasn’t Bridgett on the show. The Brett Michael’s reject had on a sheer spaghetti-strap tank top and a purple thong.
Dani bit her cheek to keep from laughing at the sight of this girl in her father’s kitchen. “Nope, no coffee, although there is plenty of Red Bull in the fridge.”
“Yay! That’s perfect!” The bubbly, busty young woman—who couldn’t have been much older than twenty—skipped over to the fridge and helped herself to a can.
Dani put 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 West Coast 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 on her cell phone, berating someone. “I said one-of-a-kind gown! Not some off-the-rack freak show creation. You better not screw this up or I’ll make you wish you’d never been born,” Ava threatened, before tossing her cell into a Coach bag. “Idiot. Total frickin’ idiot.” Ava pulled a pair of red sunglasses down onto her eyes and turned back to Dani. “Sorry. I’m having my seventeenth birthday party at the beach club in a few weeks and it’s impossible to get anything done properly.”
“Oh, do you have a party planner?” Dani asked.
“An event planner,” she corrected. “But that was my father on the phone. He actually suggested that I buy my dress from a store. Like that’s going to happen. Can you imagine me showing up at my own party wearing a dress that anybody could go out and buy? I’ve told that man ten times that I’m wearing an original design. I mean, how hard can it be to make a few phone calls?” Ava flipped her brown highlights to one side and shook her head in disgust.
“Babe, you know you’ll end up with the perfect dress and the perfect party. You know how to get what you want, right?” Pete put a hand on his girlfriend’s leg as he accelerated.
Dani leaned forward to look across Kayla at the guy sitting in the back seat. Kayla waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, that’s just my older brother, Nathan. Apparently he’s my biological brother, although without DNA proof, I refuse to accept that. I apologize in advance for any dorkiness you are forced to endure.”
“Good to meet you,” Nathan said. “And I apologize in advance for any bitchines
s you have to put up with from Kayla.” He wrapped an arm around his sister, forcibly pulled her in for a hug, and rubbed the top of her head, messing up her hair. “She just pretends to hate me, but deep down she is proud as peaches of her doting brother.”
“Let me go, you infantile jackass!” Kayla wrestled herself out of Nathan’s grip and ran her hands through her hair. “I swear to God you better start behaving, or Dani will run screaming back to Michigan.”
“Nice to meet you, too, Nathan,” Dani said, laughing.
Nathan’s soft brown curls fell over his ears, and Dani immediately liked his ruddy appearance. If it weren’t for him, Dani would have considered the possibility that all California teens were of a distinctly different breed from Michigan teens. The group’s flawless appearance was moderately unnerving, so Nathan’s casual surf attire and friendly smile helped put Dani at ease.
“I saw your interview last night,” Kayla said. “Was that your first one?”
“Was it that obvious?”
“I think you did really well.” Nathan said.
“I could barely watch the segment on television. I hope it was my first and last interview. It was probably awful.”
“I swear to you it wasn’t bad at all,” Kayla said, as she studied Dani’s face. “You have very good bone structure for television. I should know. Have you seen me on the soap Shorelines? I have a recurring guest spot as the barista at the coffee shop. I’m perfectly symmetrical, you know.” Kayla lifted herself up so she could admire herself in the rear view mirror. “That’s why I part my hair in the middle. To accentuate the even alignment of my features. You could fold my face in half and everything would match up exactly. It’s very rare.”
“Oh,” Dani said not knowing how to respond to an announcement of facial symmetry. “Very remarkable.”
“Yeah, there’s a lot of remarkable things about my sister,” Nathan added.
“Most people have minor flaws, but our mother used to be a supermodel, so Ava and I have an advantage over the rest of the population. Poor Nathan, as you can see, somehow missed out.”
Dani thought he was pretty cute no matter what dominated his genetic make up. He had kind of a younger Joshua Jackson look that she liked.
“Oops, here we go, kids. Paparazzi at three o’clock.” Pete glanced out of the passenger’s seat window. “Our guest today is attracting attention.”
Dani’s stomach dropped as she looked to the right. “Where did they come from?” A silver Acura had pulled up next to the Land Rover and was matching their speed. The back window rolled down, and a photographer stuck his upper body out while he aimed a camera at Pete’s vehicle.
“Is that Sanchez?” Kayla asked. “Ava, wave hello!” Ava dutifully waved, and both the driver and photographer waved back.
“You got Dani McKinley with you today?” the driver hollered.
Ava looked back at Dani questioningly, but she was unsure what to say.
Before she could make a decision, Kayla had whipped out her phone and was texting. A moment later, she had an incoming message. “Okay, we can make a deal with them. They can get shots of us as we arrive at the club, and then they’ll back off.”
“You just texted the paparazzi?” Dani asked. “I thought we were supposed to ignore them and keep our heads down.”
“Good luck with that,” Pete said sarcastically.
“Dani, I have about ten seconds to text him back,” Kayla explained. “Take the deal or else they’ll get into the club and haunt you for the rest of the day.”
Dani wasn’t sure what to do, but Kayla obviously had experience with the paparazzi. “Okay, whatever you say.”
Kayla sent out a message, and the photographer started snapping photos as they approached the beach club gates.
“Watch it, Pete, or you’ll miss the valet!” Ava shrieked.
“I’m not going to miss the valet, babe. You think I’d make a delicate creature like yourself walk?” Pete teased his girlfriend.
For a moment, Dani wasn’t sure they were at a beach club at all. Had they made another stop? The sprawling club was unlike any place she’d been to in Michigan. Dani’s jaw dropped as she hopped out of the car and followed Kayla to the cobbled path that led to the main entrance. While Pete handed the car over to a valet, Kayla looped her arm through Dani’s.
“Look pretty for the camera,” Kayla instructed. “I promise you it’s worth giving them a few shots.” Kayla flipped her red hair to the side and gave a practiced look.
Dani flashed back to the day in front of her high school when she and Sam had been barraged. But Kayla knew how to handle these lunatics. Ava hung back with Pete, and Nathan had already disappeared ahead of them into the club. Dani smiled weakly back at Kayla and swung her purse over her shoulder, trying to imitate the pose.
“Sanchez, this is Dani McKinley.” Kayla flirted with the photographer. “And you better play nice with her. Don’t be a dick, got it?”
The photographer emerged from behind his camera. “You think I’d do anything to piss you off, beautiful?”
Sanchez kept clicking away as Kayla changed her poses with Dani until he nodded, indicating that he had what he wanted. “You’re gorgeous, Dani. Great shots.”
They entered the clubhouse, and Dani marveled at the expansive reception area. She silently trailed behind Kayla as they walked through the airy room to reach a marble front desk. “This is where you check in,” Kayla said.
“Welcome, Ms. McKinley. Here is the key to your suite. Mr. Ocean has given you full-access status, so please charge whatever you’d like to the account. Is there anything we can do for you right now?”
“I don’t think so,” Dani answered numbly. A suite?
Kayla directed Dani outside to a long section of the building. “You’re suite two-fourteen? Good, you’re only a few doors down from us. Since we have our suits on, we can go straight down to the cabana. They should have our towels and chairs ready. Don’t worry, my monstrous sister and her boyfriend will sequester themselves far away from us.”
“Why do I have a suite?” Dani asked.
“You can shower and change there. Order lunch or dinner inside, if you want. You can schedule a massage in your room or have one in the cabana. And if you get lucky with one of the hottie lifeguards, you can hole up there for a little afternoon delight.” Kayla raised her eyebrows suggestively. “This is an incestuous little group here, so you’re sure to fall prey to one our local boys soon enough. Oooh, Chelsea and Violet are here already!” Kayla waved happily at two girls lazing in cushioned lounge chairs next to a large white tent. “I can’t wait for you to meet them. Come on!”
Chapter 20
“I kid you not,” Kayla’s friend Chelsea insisted as she sipped a papaya spritzer. Chelsea had just finished filling Dani in on the perks of having a mother who owned the country’s most-watched home shopping network. “Believe me, my mother could spend hours telling you how any one of her contraptions would change your life. If you ever need a gold lamé purse, an outfit designed by Beyonce’s mother, or an automatic stainless-steel vacuum-sealer, I’m your girl. Don’t be shy.”
“I’ve always had a deep interest in vacuum-sealing, so I may take you up on that.” Dani smiled, adjusted her bikini bottom, and stretched her arms above her head, relaxing in the sun.
“So, Dani, what do you think of California so far? Is this your first time out here?” Violet looked around, trying to signal a waiter for more drinks.
Violet had the quintessential California-blonde look. Her golden hair ran down her back, nearly reaching her waist, and was streaked with perfect white highlights. She’d told Dani that she was also fifteen, but Dani found it nearly impossible to reconcile her age with her very shapely figure. Dani’s first impulse had been to hate this beautiful girl, but she was so friendly—and seemingly oblivious to her beauty—that it made it impossible not to be drawn to her. Her father was apparently a highly paid motivational speaker who traveled the country lifting t
he spirits of the depressed wealthy.
“This is my first trip to L.A., and so far it’s been great. The circumstances are a bit unusual, but I’m loving it,” Dani said.
“Do you have some fun plans with your new father?” Kayla asked.
“I’m going to Mark’s premiere for The Clone Faction in a few days, so that should be cool.”
“Fantastic! I don’t suppose you’ve hit the red carpet before, huh? Do you have a dress yet?”
“Mark said he is arranging for one. I have no idea what it looks like.”
“Do you know who the designer is?” Violet asked. “That’s all that matters.”
“Um, I have no idea. He did say Carrie Underwood had worn one like it…”
“Oh, God. This could go either way,” Chelsea said with alarm. “If the dress blows, call us and we’ll help you out.”
“Absolutely.” Kayla said with excitement. “And don’t worry. We won’t let Chelsea do your hair.”
“Shut up,” said Chelsea. Her black hair was streaked with strips of electric pink. “This hair makes my mother so insane that I can’t stop dyeing it. I think I have an addiction. Last winter, these pink strips were blue. It drives her crazy. Same deal with my clothes and makeup. You’ll never catch me wearing some perfectly tasteful Diane Von Furstenberg dress.”
Violet’s eyes widened. “Yeah, you should have seen her mother when she saw what Chelsea was wearing to the fall formal at school. Black army boots with a sheer, shredded, Courtney Love-inspired masterpiece of a design. And the leather arm cuffs didn’t help your poor mom, either!”
“I hate all this black stuff,” Chelsea moaned. “Half the reason I come to the beach club is so I can wear a bathing suit and get out of that junk.”
“One day you’ll have tortured your mother enough.” Kayla turned to Dani. “So, what’s your beach club like at home?”