Adored: Book 1 (The Beloved Series)

by MJ Masucci

  After several more minutes of going back and forth with Frankie, he hung up.

  “Who the fuck was that?”

  “Frankie, Nina’s security guy.”

  “She has a security guy?”

  “He said she’s a mess. She’s very upset.”

  “She broke up with you.”

  “He knows that. He also knows that she’s young and hasn’t really had a boyfriend. It’s all foreign to her.”

  “Julian, is she worth it?”

  “Yes, she is. I’m in love with her. She’s so different from other women. There’s something about her that I can’t get out of my head.”

  “Then you need to treat her right.”

  “I need to clear my head. Take me to the Getty.”

  Maureen grumbled, but each went to separate bedrooms to dress. Four hours later, she was complaining that her feet were hurting while he chose some items from the gift shop.

  “Are you done yet? You really got a lot of stuff. You expect me to believe you’re going to display blown glass stuff in your house?”

  “No, these things are not for me; they’re for Nina. She’s going to be mine by the time I get back to New York and it starts with this.”

  “I think that will cheer her up.”

  Julian paid for his purchases and they hailed a cab, getting caught in a traffic jam that caused them to spend nearly an hour before they got back to her apartment. Julian sat on the terrace typing on his phone. He stopped when Maureen came out with beers for the both of them.

  “What were you doing?”

  “Looking up the florist’s number in Fishkill. I want to send flowers each day I’m gone.”

  “That’s a lot of roses.”

  “Not roses, flowers. I’ll call tomorrow when I wake up.”

  “What kind of flowers?”

  “Fall flowers, different bouquets. I know she’ll like that. I took one for her Mom the night I met her and Nina loved it. Then when I come back, I’ll send her two dozen roses.”

  “Suppose she doesn’t want the flowers?”

  “I’m not giving up. You were right when you said I was living like a hermit pushing people away. I realized it on Saturday night before I went to bed. My family has been gone for nine years and I have no one.”

  “Hey, you have me.”

  “Except for you.”

  “And you can always go to my parent’s house. Mom asks about you all the time.”

  “I feel weird going over there without you.”

  “Don’t. They love you, Julian. They’ve known you since you were a little kid and they want you to come if you need someone.”

  “I will. I promise to stop by when I get home. Now, where are we eating? I’m starving.”

  “Want tacos again? They deliver.”

  “I don’t think I could look at tacos after I filled the toilet bowl with them last night. You got any food in this house?”

  “Yeah, some stuff, but you might not like it. Yogurt, celery, carrots and some protein drinks.”

  “Why? Are you on a diet now?”

  “I told you I have to watch my figure now that I have a movie to do.”

  “This is going to be embarrassing, but I saw your body last night and it was slamming.”

  “Fuck, Julian, did you have to remind me I was naked in front of you?”

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean that to sound disrespectful, but it’s true. I’ve seen you in the smallest of bikinis, what’s the difference?”

  “The difference is that you never saw my tits before.”

  “So you want me to strip to make us even?”

  “No, I do not want you to strip. You’re like my brother.”

  “Yeah and I felt like it last night. Nina asked if we ever slept together.”

  “Is she jealous?”

  “It doesn’t seem that way; at least she’s not worrying that we might hook up. I think it’s more she’s jealous or envious that I open up to you and not her.”

  “It’s time to let other people in. Not everyone is going to leave. Your family dying was a one in a million thing. It happened.”

  “I feel guilty.”

  “Guilty about what?”

  “That I’m alive and they died.”

  “You can’t. It’s not your fault and if you were with them, you would be dead, too.”

  Julian could feel the tears welling up in his eyes and he began to peel at the label on his beer. Maureen stared at him until he looked at her.

  “You need to let it go or get some therapy. I’ve been telling you that for years.”

  “I know but I don’t want to sit in some chair whining about my problems to some stranger.”

  “It’s not whining. It’s cleaning out your soul and your mind.”

  “I’ll think about it. Now, about dinner?”

  They ended up having pizza delivered. It was not the best Julian had since he was used to the New York variety and he commented.

  “Stop complaining. You didn’t seem to have a problem eating it,” Maureen chided.

  “I’m exhausted. I’m going to bed.”

  “Oh, before you do, I have to leave early tomorrow. I have a meeting with the producers in the morning so just do whatever until I get back.”

  “I want to ship this stuff. Any package service stores around here?”

  “Yeah, there is one on La Vista about six blocks over, a UPS Store.”

  Julian kissed Maureen on the cheek and headed to the bedroom. After brushing his teeth, he settled into bed and thought about how it was to sleep with Nina. She fit so well in his arms and he hoped to feel her in them again.

  The next morning, Julian woke up with a start. It was still dim out and he got out of bed to look out the window. It was cloudy. He hoped it wouldn’t rain, at least until he got back from the package store. He typed on his phone to find out the exact address and after dressing, took the bag of items he got from the museum.

  It was still early and he had to fight the pedestrian traffic trying to hail cabs. At the store, he filled out the forms for shipping while the clerk carefully packed all the gifts he had gotten for Nina.

  Julian hoped she would like everything: a small colored glass bowl, a hand-blown glass river rock, a book about Cezanne because she told him that she loved Impressionists. He also got her a celestial calendar, a packet of glossy postcards of several paintings, a cloth beach bag with “The Getty Center” imprinted on it, fragrant bath beads from France and a small package of Italian chocolates. The last thing he did was write Nina a note professing his feelings for her and signed it “Love, Julian.”

  By the time he got back to Maureen’s apartment, fat raindrops had begun to hit the pavement. He called the florist in Fishkill. He placed his order for the next two weeks, asking them to send different mixes of flowers each day to her address.

  Either this would win her back or she would go on hating him for what he had done. He could only wait to hear from her. The first of the flowers would be delivered that afternoon.

  He was full of nervous energy so he turned on the television mounted to the wall. Nothing but stupid daytime garbage broadcasting. Julian had no desire to watch who was the baby daddy and turned it off. Next, he paged through the stack of magazines on the coffee table.

  There was a tiny blurb in People about the new movie with Danté Copa and newcomer Maureen Miller. He made a mental note to pick up a copy when he got home. He wanted it as a keepsake. When Maureen wasn’t back by lunch, he ordered a pizza from the same place as yesterday.

  She ended up coming in just as the pizza arrived. The rain had turned into a drizzle and steam rose from the pavement. Some of the young women Julian had seen when he first arrived were sitting on the lounge chairs by the pool, not seeming bothered by the rain.

  “Pizza again?”

  “Yeah, what’s wrong with that?”

  “I gotta eat healthy.”

  “Are you going to turn into one of those health nuts? The next time I come
out here, are we going to survive on wheat germ and salads?”

  “Why are you so cranky?”

  “I’m not, just hungry. How was your meeting?”

  “Pretty good. Danté and Elliot were there. You’ll meet them tonight.”

  He winced.

  “What was that for?”

  “Do you really want me to go?”

  “Yes. I want an east meets west. You should meet the people I’m going to be friends with here. Get used to it, Julian; I think my ship has finally arrived. I met the director and after the meeting, he said that he had another project I would be perfect for.”

  “That’s wonderful. I’m happy for you, Moey.”

  His phone rang and his heart skipped a beat when he saw that it was Nina.

  “It’s Nina; I need to take this.”

  He went into his bedroom and answered.

  “Sweet pea?”

  “Julian, why are you doing this to me?”

  “Nina, please listen to me. You were right to get angry at me. I fucked up. I was inconsiderate and chased you out of my life. I don’t want you to go. I realize my life is better with you in it and I think you feel the same way about me.”

  He waited for her to answer, holding his breath.

  “I don’t know.”

  “What don’t you know?”

  “I don’t know if I can deal with the way you are. You’re sweet and open one minute, grouchy and closed the next. It’s dysfunctional.”

  “I promise to try to be open, but there might be times that I’m not and you can’t run away from me when it happens. Please don’t give up on me.”

  “I don’t want to,” she said, her voice cracking.

  “Did you get my flowers?”

  “Yes and they’re lovely. How did you know I like dahlias?”

  “I didn’t. I let the florist choose. But now that I know, you’ll get plenty of them and more.”

  “Oh, Julian, you don’t need to spoil me with gifts. Just give me yourself, that’s all I need.”

  “I solemnly swear to share myself with you, to be open and honest, considerate and loving. I’m in love with you, Nina. If you take me back, I promise to be all those things.”

  “It sounds like wedding vows.”

  “I’ll remember that when I write them.”

  Nina giggled and he began laughing. In his heart, he knew that she was the one even if she didn’t know it.

  “When are you coming home?”

  “I’d like to spend some time with Maureen. It’s been awhile since I was here with her.”

  “Are…are you going to be back for your birthday?”

  “I’m not sure but I’ll try.”

  “I want to celebrate it with you.”

  “Don’t worry, sweet pea; there will be plenty of birthdays to celebrate together.”

  “Julian, I need to go. I love you.”

  “I love you, too. Goodbye baby.”

  He hung up and realized he had butterflies. Talking to Nina did that to him. Her soft voice excited him in a way no other woman ever had.

  Maureen smirked at him when he came back to the kitchen, “Your face is flushed. What exactly were you talking about in there?”

  “Get your mind out of the gutter. Nothing dirty. We just discussed things.”

  “So is she taking you back?”

  “She already has. I want to go back for my birthday.”

  “But we always celebrate together.”

  “We can celebrate together on your birthday and I’ll go back on the twenty-seventh.”

  “I can see that you really like this girl. I accept your proposal and you’re buying me drinks as well as dinner on the twenty-sixth.”

  “You got it.”

  Julian grabbed a slice of now cold pizza and took a huge bite. His mood lightened considerably knowing that Nina was back in his life. He had something to look forward to when he went home.

  After lunch, he decided to go to the pool. The sun had appeared and everything was now dry. Maureen went to take a nap since she needed to be prepared for a late night. He changed into his swim trunks, grabbed a towel and went to sit by the pool.

  Several of the young women he had seen a couple of days ago were there. One waved to him and he waved back before adjusting the lounge chair back to sun himself. He sat up when he felt droplets of water on his arm. A woman clad in the tiniest of bikinis was standing over him.

  “Can I sit here?” she said gesturing to the chair next to him.

  “Sure, no one is joining me.”

  “You’re new here, aren’t you?”

  “I’m just visiting. I live in New York.”

  “How long are you here for?”

  “A couple of weeks.”

  “We should hang out. I think we could have a good time together.”

  Julian started to feel uncomfortable. He hadn’t dated for awhile, but he was pretty sure she was propositioning him for sex.

  “Thanks, but I have a girlfriend.”

  “I don’t see her here. If I had a good looking guy like you for a boyfriend, I would never let him out of my sight.”

  “I appreciate the offer, but my friend has me pretty booked up for the next couple of weeks.”

  “What are you doing tonight? I know a great party.”

  “I’m going to one with my friend. But thanks, anyway.”

  He hoped his curt answer would give her the message that he wasn’t interested. It worked and he heard her walk away. He breathed a sigh of relief because he wasn’t sure what else to say to deter her.

  The warm sun felt good on his body and he fell asleep for a time until soft hands stroking his face woke him up. He jumped and was greeted with the giggling of Maureen.

  “God dammit, Moey! You fucking scared the shit out of me.”

  “What’s go you so riled?”

  He lowered his voice, “See that girl over there?”

  “Oh, you mean Mallory?”

  “I guess. I never got her name. She propositioned me earlier.”

  “Stay away from her. She’s a succubus. She’ll fuck you and never leave you alone.”

  “She invited me to a party with her. I said no thank you. I even told her I had a girlfriend.”

  “That’s no deterrent for her. She’ll sleep with anyone.”

  Chapter 9

  Julian had finished just finished getting ready for the party. Maureen was dressed in one of the shortest dresses he had ever seen, a short strapless black dress barely covering her ass along with the highest of heels. He wore a pair of jeans with a black dress shirt that he left untucked.

  “That dress is, wow, a bit risqué.”

  “You think this is bad? Wait until you see some of the dresses at this party. This is nothing.”

  They left her apartment at the stroke of ten and took a hired car to her costar’s home in the Hollywood Hills. The driver pulled up to a large contemporary home with a long winding driveway. Security was at the gate and took her name before they allowed them entry.

  Once inside, they were greeted by a waiter with glasses of champagne, which Maureen took and immediately drained. Julian didn’t much like champagne and turned down the offer. A tall, handsome, dark-haired man approached them that he recognized as Danté Copa. He kissed Maureen on both cheeks and to the annoyance of Julian, grabbed her ass then offered his hand to Julian to shake.

  “What’s up, man?” Danté said.

  “Nothing. Nice place you got here.”

  “You need anything?”

  “A beer would be nice.”

  He pointed Julian toward the corner where a bartender station was set up.

  “Help yourself. I need to borrow Maureen for a bit.”

  Julian didn’t relish being left alone since he knew no one here, but he went to get a beer at the bar. When he turned around, she and Danté were gone. He wandered through the kitchen and out to the pool area which overlooked the lights of Los Angeles.

  “Hey you. I didn
’t know you would be here.”

  Julian turned to the voice and saw Mallory.

  “Yeah, hi. I’m here with my friend.”

  “Where is she?”

  “Off somewhere with Danté.”

  She giggled.

  “Something funny?”

  “Usually Danté being off somewhere with someone means they’re getting it on. He likes to fuck, especially his costars.”

  This statement alarmed Julian. He wasn’t sure if Maureen was equipped to handle this guy. She had a couple of drinks before they came here and then the champagne when she arrived.

  “Can you excuse me?”

  “Whatevs.”

  Julian walked away and began climbing the stairs looking for the bedrooms. He opened several doors, but they were empty until he came to a room at the end of the hall. He listened hard trying to hear over the loud music being played by the DJ; someone was crying.

  “Hello,” he called as he banged on the door.

  “I said we didn’t want to be disturbed. Go the fuck away.”

  Julian tried the door handle and it was unlocked. He was fairly easily able to push the door open and found a half-clad Danté standing over Maureen. Her mascara had run down her face with her tears.

  “What the fuck are you doing in here?” Danté screamed.

  Julian shut the door and hit the door lock on the handle. He was bigger than the middle-aged man and he approached him with clenched fists.

  “I could ask you the same thing. Why is she crying?” He approached Danté, who backed away holding his hands in front of him.

  “Yo, dude, no need to get upset.”

  “You haven’t begun to see upset, asshole. I don’t give a fuck who you are. If she’s crying, then you did something to her.”

  “Julian, I’m okay.” Maureen said.

  He went to her while still keeping an eye on Danté, who settled against the wall near his bathroom.

  “Why are you crying?”

  “I got scared, that’s all.”

  “Let’s go.” he held out his hand for her. As he walked her out, he turned to Danté,

  “Asshole, maybe you should stop preying on your young costars. I’m sure TMZ would love to hear this story. Be glad I didn’t fuck up your pretty face. No need to call security, we’re leaving.”