“You’re in those magazines. I thought you’d like to see them.”
“I’m not sure if I want to look. The pictures don’t bother me, but I’m not interested in what they have to say.”
“I looked through them, there’s nothing bad,” Tom reassured her.
“What are we doing today?” Tess asked Lisa.
“We’re having a girl’s day.”
Lisa took Tess to several shops. This time a driver and a bodyguard went with them everywhere to make sure Lisa wasn’t hassled.
“Do you have any idea what you’d like to wear?” Lisa asked enthusiastically, almost as if she hoped Tess would let her pick the dress out for her.
“I have no idea. I’m assuming it has to be a dress, but it doesn’t have to be long, does it?”
“You don’t have to wear a dress at all, but I would. You two are the next biggest news second to the actual premier.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s a big deal for the two of you. Most of the time, Tommy comes to these things alone, and if he does bring someone, it’s for publicity. You two are the buzz right now. He’s been calling you his girlfriend since he got into town.”
Tess’ stomach fluttered with flickers of excitement and apprehension. “I know you’re dying to help me find the perfect dress, and I would be very appreciative if you would. I want to look amazing.”
“Yay! Thanks, Tess, I knew you’d let me help. Believe me, when I’m through with you, they won’t even notice Tommy. I know you’re not big on attention, but you’re under the spotlight, Tess. You might as well shine.”
“Hopefully that light isn’t shining too brightly when I fall on my face,” she mumbled.
Lisa took Tess to a posh dress boutique. She tried on a dozen dresses, finally finding the perfect, strapless, royal blue dress. It was stunning with pleats at the top, making the silky fabric flow to one side of her waist, molding to her curves like a glove.
They stopped at a café, enjoying lunch outside on a patio. Tess felt like a goldfish sitting in a fish bowl. Leaving the café, several paparazzi called Lisa’s name, asking for her picture. Tess recognized a photographer from the airport. He approached Tess, calling her by name, asking nicely if he could take a photo. Masking her surprise, she stopped and smiled.
“You handled that well!” Lisa nonchalantly took her hand, guiding her into another boutique.
“That was the same guy from the airport. Tom was friendly to him, and I think he called him Joey. Hopefully I didn’t look like an idiot. Should I have stopped?”
“You did great. You’re very photogenic. You need a strapless bra for your dress, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
They were trying on lingerie when Lisa entered Tess’ dressing area, which resembled a dressing room suite. “So, Tess, I thought I should give you some pointers. If you don’t mind.”
“Please do, I’ll take all the advice I can get.”
“There will be dozens of movie stars coming out to support Benny’s film, so you’re going to see a lot of familiar faces. You don’t seem too hung up on that, but you still might get overwhelmed. Tommy will know everyone there. People adore him, so be yourself and stick next to him. Whatever you do, don’t drink too much. If you’re going to drink, have water in between. I don’t want to be your hair holder while you’re wrapped over a toilet.”
“Okay. I never drink too much.”
Lisa hesitated for a minute. “Tess, on a scale of one to ten, how confident are you?”
“Maybe an eight. It depends on the moment. I don’t know. Why?”
“I know Tommy is crazy about you, but you need to be a ten at the premier.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not trying to upset you, but I think I should warn you. It’s no secret that women constantly pursue him.”
Tess gave a begrudging shrug and folded her arms across her chest.
Lisa patted the tuft silk dressing bench, encouraging Tess to sit beside her. “You’re different, Tess. He’s been chasing you since the moment you two met. He’s probably been chasing you his whole life, he just hadn’t found you yet.”
Tess smiled biting her lip. “Am I really that different for him?”
“You have no idea.” Lisa said sarcastically.
“He makes me feel incredible.” Heat flooded her cheeks.
“Good, you’re going to need to be incredible, Tess. You need to be prepared.”
“What are you trying to tell me Lisa? Just spit it out. You’re making me nervous.”
“There will be a lot of women at the after party, a few he’s probably dated. Not that it means anything to him, believe me it doesn’t, but you need to be confident. A ten in confidence, Tess.” Lisa held up ten fingers. “These women don’t care who you are. They want to go home with him and they won’t be shy about it either. They don’t play nice, and you’re almost too nice.”
Merely the thought made her angry. Tess’ eyes narrowed.
Lisa pointed at Tess’ frown. “That’s what I’m talking about, that look right there. This is why we’re having this conversation now, because it won’t do you any good to get angry with these women or pissed at Tommy. They’ll sense it like a shark smells blood and it’ll make it worse. They’ll notice your jealousy and play off it. They’re going to flirt with him and paw on him and try to dance with him. It’s pathetic, but they do it, so you need to be able to handle yourself.”
Tess nodded as she absorbed Lisa’s advice.
“Tommy’s not going to want you being all pissed off and jealous. It will ruin your night and his if he has to constantly reassure you. Babysitting someone’s hurt feelings all night is a complete drag, especially when you haven’t even done anything wrong. He wants to show you off. That’s why he brought you here. He’s proud to have you with him and this is a huge, huge, huge deal for him. So basically, don’t fuck it up. Benny and I like you. I’ve never seen Tommy this happy. He’s been on cloud nine since the day you two met, and from what I can see, you’re just as crazy about him.”
“I am,” Tess agreed.
“Check your emotions at the door and claim him as your own. You need to be confident. A ten, Tess.”
“Are they really going to be that bad?” Her palms started to sweat and she waved them in the air.
“Yes, Tess. Some of them are. Look, he’s been pursuing you, right?”
“I guess. He likes to surprise me all the time.”
“Turn it around, seduce him for the evening. Everyone there is going to be beautiful, so don’t be insecure. You are the incredibly gorgeous woman he wants to be with. The way he ogles over you constantly, he probably won’t notice any other women.”
“Ten, I’m a ten.” Tess straightened herself very tall, looking into the mirror. “I can do this. You’re right. I won’t freak out. No babysitting.”
“Can you dance?” Lisa asked.
“Oh yeah, I can dance.”
“I mean can you really dance?”
Tess tried to keep a straight face as she showed Lisa her best moves in the dressing room in her thong and strapless bra. “Running man, the sprinkler, I can even do the superman.”
“You had better be fucking with me,” Lisa groaned, looking scared to death.
“I am.” Tess showed Lisa her best Las Vegas style dancing and they both laughed so hard they had tears. “How do you do this?”
“You have to tune it all out and ignore the negative. Benny and I learned the hard way. It took many ruined evenings to figure it out, and that’s why I’m warning you. Now Benny’s a ten in confidence and me… I’m an eleven! No other woman in a crowd of hundreds is going to get Benny’s attention over me.”
“They wouldn’t stand a chance,” Tess agreed, hugging Lisa, unconcerned that she was half-dressed. “Thanks. Seriously, thanks for everything.”
Lisa sauntered on her tippy-toes back to her own dressing room. She turned back to Tess, flashing her ten fingers, mout
hing, “Ten.”
They headed to a spa across the street. “What are we having done?” Tess asked.
“Everything.”
They got massaged, waxed, rubbed and scrubbed. Lisa even hooked Tess with someone to do her hair for the premier, declaring, “Thank God I came a few days early. You’d be walking the red carpet in shorts and a ponytail.”
It was late in the afternoon by the time they returned to Tom’s house. Benny and Lisa left to have dinner with the producer for photo ops. Tess curled up next to Tom on the sofa.
“Are you going to show me your dress?” he asked wishfully.
“Nope, I’m going to make you wait.” She smirked, biting her lip, thinking of being a ten. “You’re going to like it.”
Sunshine gleamed through the windows, warming Tess’ toes poking out from under the sheets.
It was a beautiful day. Tom took her for a ride through the verdant wooded canyons near his home. The cool, fresh air whipped through her hair while they listened to classic rock, talked about California and places he loved. They stopped for lunch at a bar all but hidden in the dense pine trees. Row after row of motorcycles lined up perfectly in front of a red neon sign, blinking Mom’s. Bikers dressed in full leathers gathered in small packs, checking out the latest and greatest motorcycles.
Tess shook her head and let out a snicker. “Well aren’t you just full of surprises?”
His eyes glimmered with boyish charm. “This is one of my favorite bars. No one takes pictures here.”
As they stepped into the dimly lit bar a deep husky voice hollered, “Well, look what the cat drug in!”
Tom chuckled, heading straight for the end of the bar. “Hello, Codge.”
“I wondered if I’d be seeing you soon. Rumor has it you finally got yourself a girlfriend.” Codge stroked his long braided goatee and brushed his hands down the front of his chest, as if smoothing out wrinkles in his sleeveless black Harley T-shirt. He gave Tess a polite once over. “Hell, you look more like a woman to me. Bout time, Tommy.” He grabbed Tom by the shoulder, giving him a firm whack on the back.
“Tess, I’d like you to meet Codge, short for Old Codger.”
Codge stood at least 6’4” with broad shoulders and biceps most men would consider guns. She leaned forward over the bar to see if he was standing on a step. Tess stared up at the man who had to be at least seventy and extended her hand. “Holy crap, you’re tall,” she muttered in amazement at the sheer size of him. “Nice to meet you.”
“He only looks tough, Tess. Codge is a big pussy cat.”
Codge let out a deep thunderous laugh as he took Tess’ hand and seated them at a booth. “Let me get somebody to cover the bar. I’ll be right back, honey.”
Tess giggled, catching a glimpse of a tattoo covering his arm of a biker pin-up girl with Mom scrolled in a halo above her head.
“Mom is Codge’s wife. He swears she’s a saint for putting up with him. He looks intimidating, but looks can be deceiving. He’s a great guy.”
“Looks can be deceiving,” Tess agreed. Codge looked like a Hell’s Angel but seemed more like an adorable grandpa, dimples and all. “I thought you were going to be a complete ass the first day we-”
“He has asshole written all over him, till you get to know him.” Codge interrupted from behind, roughly clasping Tom’s shoulder and scooting next to him at the booth. “It’s cause he’s so pretty.” He cut loose another boisterous laugh. “Nah, this guys all right, Tess. He’s one of the best friends I got. I’ll vouch for him.”
Tom cleared his throat and rolled his eyes. “I don’t need you to vouch for me old man. I just wanted her to taste one of your famous turkey burgers.”
“Turkey burger my ass. Don’t let him fool you honey.” Codge eyes him suspiciously and then raised a wary eyebrow. “Some people go to church to find solace, Tommy comes to Mom’s.”
Tom smirked. “Comparing church to Mom’s is a bit of a stretch, don’t you think? They might not let you into heaven if you keep talking like that.”
“Hah! Hell, Saint Peter will be guarding those pearly gates with a shotgun the day I die, Tommy.” The two men gripped in another manly embrace, both wearing huge smiles. “I’ll go put your order in.”
Amused by their camaraderie, Tess’ smile broadened across her face as Codge left the table. “Are you two related?”
“Not by blood, but he is like family to me. I’ve known him for thirty years.”
He went on to explain that Codge had helped him out of more than one bind when he was younger, including bailing he and his brother out of jail after a fight in his bar. Tom’s older brother left home in Tennessee and moved to Hollywood to be an actor. Two years later Tom followed. His brother had a knack for drinking too much, fighting too often and finding any trouble in a thirty-mile radius.
Unfortunately, his brother’s bad choices ultimately ended what could’ve been a promising acting career. Tom got lucky and landed a roll in film that started his claim to fame. It drove a wedge between them that only got worse over time.
“Shayla’s his daughter?” she asked, and he nodded in reply. “How did she wind up working for you?”
Tess couldn’t help but notice a change in Tom. He was relaxed and openly talking about his family. He had only mentioned his brother once before, briefly saying he was closer to Benny than his own brother.
“My brother wasn’t any better at acting like a father than he was in front of the camera. Worse actually. I went back home to visit my parents before they died and spent time with Shayla. She was a senior in high school and-” his lips drew taut with anger. “I told her if she ever needed anything, money, a place to stay, a job, to call me.”
“So she called?”
“I’d been out of town for a month, and when I got home, she’d been waiting for me for three days. My neighbor took her in until I showed up.” Tom frowned. “My brother’s a piece of shit. Anyway, I put her through college and gave her a job. She’s a great girl.”
The waitress brought out their lunch. Tess ran her hand over the top of his. “That was a really nice thing for you to do. I’m sure she appreciates all you’ve done for her.”
“I wish I could’ve done more for her, when she was younger.” Tom climbed out from his side of the booth and sat beside her. “Speaking of brothers-” he flipped her hair behind her shoulder. “Do you want to have John pick us up at the airport or do you want me to arrange a ride?”
Her glance drifted down to the table and she smiled to herself thinking her heart might beat right out of her chest. When she lifted her gaze, his dark eyes stared back intently. “Did you bring me all the way out here in the middle of nowhere to tell me that you’re taking me home?”
“I was working up the courage,” he admitted self-consciously with a smirk.
She planted a big kiss of appreciation right on his lips. “When do we leave?”
“Sunday afternoon. Three days,” he said regretfully.
“I’ll call him later, just to make sure he can pick us up.”
“If it’s going to be uncomfortable or too difficult for you once we get there, and you change your mind, we can stay downtown. But, I want to stay with you.”
“I’m not even going to try to convince myself or you that it won’t be difficult, but I don’t care what it takes, I still would like you to stay.”
After enjoying one of the best turkey burgers Tess had ever eaten, they said their goodbyes to Codge. He advised Tess with a gentle bear hug, “You be careful of that one. He’s always up to no good.” Codge followed with a warning to Tom. “You’d better be good to her, Tommy. I’d hate to have to have to come looking for you.”
“Yes, sir, old man.”
“Old man? You ain’t gettin’ any younger Tommy,” Codge roared as they strolled out the door.
They drove back through the canyon and stopped at a fairly private beach. The strong surf kept them out of the ocean, so they spread out a blanket on the warm sand.
> “You don’t ever get to do this, do you? Chill, relax, go where you want.”
“No, I don’t, not in a long time. I miss doing this kind of stuff out in the open. It’s nice to be normal.”
“Are you referring to me as normal?” she teased.
“You know what I mean, and you are far from normal.” He traced the small of her back with his fingertips to tickle her. She giggled, covered in goose bumps.
“I’m sure you get to do a ton of incredibly fun, interesting things that make up for missing out on some of the normality’s of life.”
“True. I’ve had some great opportunities. I like being able to use my celebrity to help charities. I enjoy taking advantage of the media to benefit an organization that needs help. Plus, I’ve been able to travel places I never thought I would ever see.”
“Out of all the things you’ve gotten to experience and all the places you’ve traveled, what’s your favorite?” Tess played her fingers along his ribs.
“You, Tess. You are my favorite,” he answered sincerely.
Tess held her breath, holding back the tears stinging her lashes. “I don’t want to do this now. I don’t want to cry and dwell on saying goodbye to you, Tom. I’ll cry and miss you later, but not yet.”
He kissed her shoulder, stroking away the single tear sliding down her cheek. “Tess, I promise we’ll be together. We’ll work it out around our schedules.”
“I don’t have a schedule,” she scoffed. “I don’t care where my life is headed any more. I only want to be happy and you make me ridiculously happy. I’ll do whatever it takes to be together.”
“I do have to leave, though. I’ll be on set for a while, but after filming gets started, it’ll be easier to stay in character and I’ll have you come see me.”
Tess looked away, laying her head on the blanket to hide her sniffles. At this point, she couldn’t imagine not seeing him for a day.
“Tess, I gave you my word. Please, trust me. I don’t want to go, but I don’t have a choice. When this film is done, we’ll be together.”
“I do trust you. It’s just going to be hard to say goodbye, and I have this fear. I don’t want to lose you. It’s difficult for me. Do you understand?” She’d couldn’t go through another loss like Richard, nor did she want him to break her heart.
What to Read After FSOG: The Gemstone Collection (WTRAFSOG Book 3) Page 41