by Jessica Park
“It’s fine. I’m not mad.” Olivia looked remarkably calm.
“You’re not? I mean, I’m glad.” At least she wasn’t getting territorial and nasty about this, but couldn’t she look the slightest bit jealous? “It doesn’t bother you?”
“Mark,” Olivia said. “I know you didn’t call her.”
Chapter 41
“The food looks great here,” Dani said as she looked at the menu.
“I’m glad you suggested this restaurant. I haven’t been here in ages,” Mark said.
“I thought it would be nice for the three of us to go out together.” Dani beamed at Olivia, who was sitting next to her in the round booth. “Kayla said she and her family eat here a lot and it’s great. When I called to make the reservation, they said they were booked, but once I mentioned your name, Dad, they immediately had room. Pretty cool, huh?”
“You’re in a good mood tonight,” Mark commented. He threw an arm around Dani’s shoulder. “You seemed a little down for a few days. I was beginning to wonder if something was going on.”
“Nope. Everything is perfect.” Dani said sweetly. “Have you eaten here before, Olivia?”
Olivia shook her head. “Mark has been taking me to a lot of fancy places. I always thought those trendy restaurants were more about seeing and being seen, but the food has been surprisingly great.”
“See? I told you,” Mark said triumphantly, reaching across Dani to touch Olivia’s hand.
Dani had a hard time focusing on what to order, but then, she wasn’t really here for the food. “I don’t know what to get.”
“Mark, why don’t you order for both of us?” Olivia pushed up her sleeve, revealing a glimmering tennis bracelet.
Dani glared at the diamonds. She knew Olivia would never choose anything like that herself, even if she could afford it. Olivia wore jewelry with beads and stones.
“So, Dani, I have my audition for Evan’s movie this week.” Mark paused. “I hope I don’t let you down…” Mark raised his glass in a toast.
Dani clinked her glass against his. “No, you would never let me down, would you?” She looked accusingly into his eyes.
Mark changed the subject quickly. “I’ve really got your party plans in gear now. It’s going to be the most amazing Winter Wonderland ever. I’ve rented a snowboard simulator, and there will be servers wearing Russian hats, giving out Sno Cones, and giant stuffed polar bears. All the seating will be in sleighs. And there is even going to be an ice rink so you can skate with your friends!”
“It sounds like the biggest send-off party ever,” Dani said. Obviously, Mark could not wait to get rid of her, and what better way could there be to celebrate her departure than a blowout party?
“Good evening. I’m Jenny. Would you like to order drinks before dinner?”
Dani looked up at the shapely young woman who stood by the table. The woman was even more beautiful than she’d imagined. Her black sleeveless mock turtleneck and black pants clung to her figure, and her short haircut accentuated her defined bone structure.
Jenny raised an eyebrow in Mark’s direction. “Mark Ocean,” she said flirtatiously. “It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”
“Jenny? It has been a while.” Mark rose from his seat and gave her a hug. “I can’t believe this. I had no idea you were working here now.”
“I’m still modeling but the money here is good. What have you been up to?” She rested her hand on Mark’s shoulder as he sat back down. “You look wonderful, but that’s nothing new.”
“You know, the usual. Jenny, this is my daughter, Danielle McKinley. She’s been staying with me for the summer.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. You’re just as attractive as your father,” she said approvingly. “Mark, I didn’t know you had a daughter.”
“Neither did I. It’s a long story.”
“You’ll have to tell me sometime.”
“Sure. I guess.”
Dani glanced at Olivia. Mark had not taken his eyes off Jenny since she’d come to the table, and it was clear that he had completely forgotten about Olivia.
Jenny finally dropped her hand from Mark’s shoulder. “Let me bring some wine to the table, and then I’ll take your order.”
Olivia stared calmly at Jenny as the server strutted to the bar. “She is lovely, isn’t she, Dani?” Her voice was cool and even, and caused Dani to shift uncomfortably in her seat.
“Yes, very lovely.” Dani took a sip of her water. “How do you know her, Dad?”
Mark broke out of his trance. “Oh. We, uh, we used to go out.” He looked at Olivia. “A long, long time ago. I don’t think I’ve seen her in two years.” Mark quickly changed the subject and began asking Dani what else she might like at her party. “How about one of those guys that carves ice sculptures with a chainsaw? That would be fun.”
“Whatever you want. I’m sure it will be amazing.” Dani didn’t care what went on at her party.
When Jenny returned to pour the wine, Dani could see that Mark was trying not to look at her. Mark took a taste from his glass and nodded for her pour more.
“I’ll have some, too, if you don’t mind?” Olivia asked Jenny with a smile.
“Oh, yes, certainly.” Jenny began to fill her glass.
Dani reached quickly across the table for the bottled water, sending Mark’s glass toppling over. The red wine splattered across his shirt and into his lap. “Oh, my God, I’m so sorry, Dad! I can’t believe I just did that. I’m so clumsy.”
Jenny rushed to Mark’s side and knelt down next to him. She began dabbing at Mark’s chest with a napkin. “This is terrible. I don’t know if it’s going to come out.” She pressed the napkin against his thigh.
“It’s okay, really,” Mark tried to take the cloth from Jenny’s hands. “I’m fine.”
“Why don’t you come into the back with me, and I’ll get some seltzer and see if we can get it out?”
“I guess so.” Mark appeared reluctant to go with her.
“Dad, you really should let her help you. It’s all my fault. I’d feel better if you could at least save your clothes,” Dani insisted.
“I guess you’re right.” Mark stood up and looked at Olivia. “I’ll be right back.” He let Jenny put her hand on his back as she guided him away.
Dani watched as Olivia took in the image of Mark and Jenny together. “I guess he’s never really going to change, is he? He’s always had a thing for women like her,” Dani said.
Olivia rested her elbows on the table. “You may be fooling your father, but you’re not fooling me.”
“What do you mean?” Dani asked innocently.
“I know exactly what you’re doing. You tracked down a beautiful, seductive ex of your father’s, and then you gathered us all here to prove that I am not your father’s type and I never will be.”
Dani held Olivia’s fuming stare but didn’t respond.
Olivia continued. “You also invited Bridgett to the house. Why? Hoping that I would be threatened by her boob job and stilettos? What I can’t figure out is why you would do this to your father and me? You set us up just to break us up. I don’t suppose you’re going to explain yourself, are you?’
Dani crossed her arms and watched her father return to the table without Jenny. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Olivia.”
***********
At home, Mark changed into a dry shirt. He returned to find Olivia pacing the floor with both hands on her hips.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“What’s wrong? Are you blind?” Olivia stopped pacing just long enough to shoot him an exasperated look.
“Aw, you’re not upset about that waitress, are you?” Mark stepped behind Olivia and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I was just surprised to see her.”
“Obviously. Are you aware that you didn’t even introduce me? That I fell off your radar the minute that perky girl appeared?”
“I didn’t introduce you?” He turne
d Olivia around to face him. “I apologize. Really. That was inexcusable. It won’t happen again.”
“Mark, Jenny is the least of our problems.” Olivia stepped away from him.
“What problems?”
“Do you really not see that Dani is doing everything she can to break us up? And, I have to give her credit, because it’s working.”
“Dani? Breaking us up?”
“Oh, please. She wanted me to see you flirting with other women. And the worst part is that you were.”
“I was not flirting with anyone, and what makes you think Dani is against us?”
“Gee, let’s see. Bridgett showing up out of the blue, Dani knocking over wine so that your ex-girlfriend has a chance to rub you down? The way your innocent daughter casually mentions to me that you’ll never change, that you’ll always be a bachelor who will want every other woman in the room except the one you’re with. You haven’t noticed? Dani is acting like a manipulative, spoiled kid, Mark.”
“Hey, don’t you talk about Dani like that,” Mark warned.
“Do you even know your daughter? Look at the ridiculous party you’re planning for her. Polar bears and sleighs? And that dress you bought her might be right for a twenty-five-year-old, but not for a teenager. None of that is Dani. It’s all you.”
“I’m doing the best I can with her, and whatever is going on between us has nothing to do with Dani.” He was angry now. “Why are you picking a fight with me?”
“I’m not picking a fight with you. If you can’t see what Dani is doing, then I don’t know what to say to you. I’m not going to put up with her behavior.”
“You’re going to try and hold a fifteen-year-old responsible for your jealousy?”
“This isn’t about jealousy, Mark. I can handle myself just fine. But you have to get your daughter under control. I don’t know why she wants me gone, but she does. I’m not doing this any longer. I can’t stand watching Worse, I can’t stand watching you be so oblivious while she sabotages us.”
“Maybe you just want out. Is that it? First you put this all on Dani, and then you put it on me? Maybe this is about you. You just want a fall guy so that you won’t feel guilty about bailing. So, you want out? Be my guest!”
“I’m not the one bailing, you are.” Olivia’s eyes welled up with tears. “You are. Because you’re not going to fight for me, are you?”
Mark’s head was spinning. How had this escalated so quickly? He didn’t even know what they were fighting about. All that nonsense about Dani? And had he really been looking at Jenny that way? No, he hadn’t. It had caught him off guard when he didn’t feel attracted to her anymore. He could explain himself to Olivia and try to repair the damage, or he could just let her go. But right now she was falling apart, and he had no idea what he was supposed to do.
Olivia took her bag off the counter and turned to leave. “I never should have gone out with you. I knew it. This was all a terrible mistake. Goodbye, Mark.”
Mark didn’t say anything as he watched her leaving. Had they just broken up?
Shouldn’t he be relieved that she was gone—that the sham was over—because this is what he’d been waiting for, right? But Mark found himself calling after Olivia. “Don’t give up on me.” The front door slammed. “Don’t give up on me,” Mark said again softly.
Chapter 42
Dani was in serious danger of flashing everyone at Ava’s party. She tried to adjust the top of her bright blue bathing suit. This was by far the most revealing thing she’d ever worn, and what she was wearing tonight would make Jason forget all about what had happened last weekend with Mark. She’d paired the obscenely priced strapless designer bikini with a matching sheer miniskirt and a pair of fierce bejeweled heels. The stylist had come to the house to shape her hair into a cascade of intricate curls and to use heavy eye makeup in blues and greens to go with Ava’s beach theme.
“Girl, you are looking hot tonight!” Chelsea high fived Dani.
“You’re not looking so beastly yourself, Chelsea!” Dani said with another high-five. “You work black like nobody’s business.” Chelsea had on a bathing suit with elaborate crisscrossing strips of shiny material. She hadn’t bothered to wear anything else over her suit, so Dani relaxed about only having the sheer skirt over her own. “And Violet, I love your hair!” Dani admired the mass of colorful flowers that had been woven into Violet’s blonde hair.
“Thank you, my dear. It took three hours. I was sure they would all be dead by the time I got here. Spritz me down if they start to dry up, will you? Have you seen Kayla yet?”
“I think she’s trying to get the band to tone it down a bit. Ava thinks they’re too loud. Speaking of the birthday girl, I can’t wait to see her entrance. Kayla said that big men in Speedos are going to carry her?”
“Yup, on a golden surfboard,” Chelsea said excitedly. “Not that Ava actually surfs.”
“So, Dani, where is your father?” Violet asked. “I thought he was coming with you tonight?”
“No, he decided to stay home.” She shrugged. The truth was that Mark had been so mopey since he and Olivia had broken up that he hadn’t done much of anything except continuing the preparations for Dani’s party. He’d even stormed into her room one day and grabbed her dress out of her closet, claiming it was completely wrong for the party and that he was getting her another one.
“Come on, let’s go look around. This party is outrageous.” Chelsea grabbed a freshly blended smoothie from one of the servers, and the girls went to explore.
The party tonight took over every available inch of space at Waves. At the entrance to the club, a series of huge pink beach balls had been pushed together to create a tunnel for the guests to pass through. Inside the main dining room were dinner tables, each decorated with green linens, seashells, sand castles, tropical flowers, and candles. Models dressed in mermaid costumes lay across glowing tables, holding still so as not disrupt the sushi displays that balanced on their bodies.
Chelsea laughed. “Human canapés! Come on. Let’s go outside.”
“Wow,” Dani said in awe. She pointed to the middle of the pool, where the band was stationed on a small stage that had been decorated to look like an island. The entire surface of the pool had been covered with plexiglass so guests could literally walk on water. And there was a surf machine overlooking the ocean. A constant current of water rushed through the pool-sized contraption, providing wave after artificial wave for boarders and surfers.
“Oh, cool, they have a body painter. Look at Pete.” Violet pointed to Ava’s boyfriend, Pete, who strode past them in a tight bathing suit. His entire back was covered in a detailed underwater scene that included an alarmingly realistic shark.
“Look at that.” Dani pointed to a twenty-foot-high water screen that was flashing footage of the party. “You know Kayla will be loving that!”
“Wait, come check this out.” Violet pulled them over to the railing that overlooked the beach.
In between flaming torches were sand sculptures of Atlantis surrounded by sea turtles, dolphins, whales, crabs, and shells. It was breathtaking. A number of classic cars were parked on raised lifts on the beach below them.
“That’s a ’54 Corvette. My dad has one parked in our garage,” Chelsea said, sucking on the straw from her drink. “And that’s a ’62 Cobra and a DeSoto. Whoa, and a ’41 Ford Deluxe.”
“Speaking of cars, did you see the white Mercedes convertible out front with the big red bow? Ava is going to be furious. She wanted a BMW.”
Dani frowned. “Evan seems like such a down-to-earth guy. I’m surprised he puts up with Ava’s attitude.”
Chelsea shrugged. “Evan is surprisingly normal. His wife is the one who makes them cater to Ava. We have to make sure Kayla doesn’t turn into her sister,” she joked.
“Hey, where did your boy Jason take off to?” Violet asked Dani. “I haven’t seen him since I first got here?”
Dani surveyed the party, checking out the tiki huts
where guests sat talking. “I’m not sure.” She was hoping to find Jason and apologize for the other evening. “I’m going to go look for him. I’ll be back.”
“Once he gets a look at you, I don’t think he’s going to let you go. Have fun!” Chelsea said.
Dani laughed and jumped as she made her way past a flamethrower who got a bit too close for her taste. She couldn’t find Jason, but she did spot Nathan doing pretty well balancing on a board in the surf machine. He was shirtless, like every other guy at the party, and had on red trunks.
Dani walked closer and smiled tentatively, causing him to break his concentration and wipe out. She rushed toward him. She couldn’t believe she had just made him fall, but it was flattering. Nathan surfaced quickly, and as he climbed out, a hand reached out to him. He bounded out of the water and joined a group of his friends. Dani watched as he toweled his hair and said something that made the group laugh. She smiled. Dani liked watching him with his friends and seeing him have such a good time. In fact, she couldn’t take her eyes off him.
But when Dani finally turned away, she came face-to-face with his shimmering, floating image on the giant water screen. She stood frozen, transfixed by his picture, and she had to force herself to breathe. She needed to find a bathroom where she could splash some cold water on her face. Dani went down the covered walkway past piles of big, puffy pillows lying under sheets of sheer netting that created cozy, romantic nests.
And there was Jason, lying completely intertwined with a girl on a futon. As much as she willed herself to run, Dani couldn’t move.
“Hey, you. What’s up?” Nathan tapped Dani on the shoulder but she couldn’t respond. “Dani?” He followed her stare.
Without warning, Nathan flew over to the futon and hauled Jason off of the startled girl. Nathan shoved him hard.
“Nathan, what the hell?” Jason snarled.
“Yeah, what the hell, Jason? Huh?” Nathan shoved him again.
Jason finally noticed Dani. “Dani. Wait, Dani, this isn’t what you think.” He took a step in her direction, but Nathan stopped him.