Love Tango

by J. M. Jeffries

  Her parents had to know that her show could easily end and that getting more work for her would be harder because she wasn’t a cute little apple-cheeked kid anymore. They should have saved their money. And Tristan was just like them, living in the moment.

  “I read an article in Variety when they interviewed your parents,” Nick said, “and they kept referring to you as that ‘other daughter.’”

  That hurt. She wanted to love her parents and wanted them to love her, but the veiled threats and insults had changed her.

  “I couldn’t be the daughter who would do anything for them, just so they keep up their lifestyle,” she said.

  Because there was so much scrutiny on them now from the government, her parents had been a lot more cautious with Portia’s money. And Portia was careful herself. Unlike Tristan who couldn’t seem to keep a penny in his pocket, Portia saved every cent she could with her eyes on UC Davis and veterinary school. And her parents still took their 15 percent of both without even trying to help Tristan be more responsible with his money.

  “Thank you for trusting me with all that.”

  She leaned forward, wondering how to impress on him to stay away from her parents. “Your best bet is to stay away from them.” She put every emphasis she could into her words.

  He nodded. “I have every intention of doing so, but...”

  She gave him a hard look. “But what?”

  His fingers drummed a tattoo on the tabletop, his eyebrows scrunched up in thought.

  Nick nodded. “Finish your pizza, I want to ask you something.”

  Her pizza was cold and she took a couple bites and set it aside. Her appetite was gone. “What do you want me to do?” she asked, half-fearful.

  He smiled at her. “First off, how long does it take to do a genealogy?”

  “There’s no correct answer for that. The shortest time was a month and the longest was seven months. It all depends on how accessible the information is and how quickly I can find it. Why are you asking?”

  “I’ve been thinking about doing a genealogy of my family for my siblings as a Christmas present. I know it’s only May, but I like to plan ahead.”

  Relieved, she said, “I can do that.”

  “What do you charge?”

  She thought quickly. She’d just finished a job for one client and only had one more. With the time frame he’d given her she could do this. “For you, no charge.”

  He held out his hand and shook hers. “That sounds reasonable. Done.”

  After lunch they strolled across the street for a quick visit to Charlie Chaplin and Walt Disney’s stars. Roxanne had a fondness for Disney since the studio had produced her favorite animated film of all time, Fantasia.

  “You know your way around,” she said.

  “When my sister Lola and I were kids, we used to pack up her keyboard and my tap shoes, and come down here to perform. She’d play music and I’d dance. And sometimes our brother Sebastian would come. He’s a magician and can put on a show that totally enchants an audience. We made some pretty decent money. On a good day we’d take in a couple hundred dollars. By the time I was sixteen, I had enough money for my first car.”

  She liked that he knew the meaning of hard work. If she wasn’t careful she would fall for this man. That would not be a good idea. His celebrity status would put her more into the spotlight and in her parents’ sights.

  “What was your first car?”

  “I can see you’re thinking it was some sort of exotic car like a foreign sports car.”

  “That did cross my mind.” Her own first car had been a little Mercedes Roadster which she had adored. Not the most practical car, but she’d wanted it and she had the cash to get it after her finances recovered.

  “I bought a Toyota Camry,” he said.

  She wanted to laugh, but good manners helped her hold it in. “You bought a mom car?” She tried to picture all six feet two inches of him crammed into a Camry.

  “I needed something practical to drive around. I kept that car until I graduated from UCLA and moved to New York. Sold it then. Didn’t need a car in the city.”

  She shivered. “I was in New York City a few times. It is one scary city.” It had been loud and busy twenty-four hours a day.

  He smiled. “I loved New York. I loved the energy, the brightness, the constant activity.”

  She could see he meant what he said. “I love Los Angeles,” she said aware they’d arrived back at the parking lot. “At least you gave up being practical in your cars.”

  He grinned as he pointed the remote at his Range Rover and unlocked it. “I can afford what I want now. Though you should see my twin brother’s car collection. Daniel loves everything on four wheels. He has cars with names I can’t even pronounce.”

  She’d met Daniel Torres briefly the morning the contestants for Celebrity Dance had been announced. He seemed like a nice man and she could see the brothers loved each other. That was nice. She wondered about the rest of his family. Were they as close as these two?

  “I’m going to need some background info on your mother in order to research her genealogy chart,” she said as he pulled into the parking lot where she’d left her Prius. “Why not come to my house tomorrow night? I’ll make dinner and then we can get started on your genealogy research. I suggest we start with your mom. Finding out about your dad is going to take more work since he’s from Brazil.” She couldn’t believe she had asked him to her house. She never invited anyone to her house. But it was too late to rescind the invitation.

  Having someone at her house was intimate. Not like it was work. Nick was getting under her skin. She wasn’t sure how to feel about it. As dance partners, they had to have a certain level of intimacy, but inviting him to her house was way over the line.

  “That would be great.”

  “Yeah, about seven.”

  “I’m curious to see what you are like in your own territory.”

  How did she answer that? “I’ll hide my panda slippers and Clippers sweatpants.”

  He laughed and took her hand. “This I have to see.”

  Chapter 4

  Nick spent the morning at the gym with his brother Daniel. Because they were both on TV, they were deeply aware of their images.

  Daniel ran on the treadmill while Nick worked his arms and shoulders on the free weights.

  Afterward, they showered and went to their favorite corner café which offered the best enchiladas in Studio City.

  “How are the wedding plans going?” Nick asked as he dug into the food.

  “Do you know how crazy it is trying to plan a mobile wedding?”

  “Not a clue,” Nick said with a shake of his head.

  “Getting married on a float on New Year’s Day during the running of the Rose Parade has fun built into it, but I’d be just as happy eloping to Vegas.” Daniel simply groaned. “Nina, Kenzie and Greer and her sisters are talking about a girls’ weekend in New York for dress shopping. And florists all over the world are competing for the wedding bouquets and table arrangements at the reception. If we handle this right we don’t have to pay for flowers. I saw the bill for the flowers for Nina’s wedding so I’m cool with that.”

  Nick knew the wedding was going to be spectacular and flowers would play a prominent role—especially given Greer’s profession.

  Nick’s phone rang. The display showed Levi Goldblum, top exec at the network. “I have to take this.”

  “Be in my office at two,” Levi said and hung up.

  “That was quick,” Daniel said.

  “Mr. Personality.”

  “Oh, Levi.”

  Nick pushed back from the table. “If I don’t leave now, I’ll be late.” He reached into his pocket for his wallet.

  Daniel held up a hand. “D
on’t worry about lunch, I’ll get it.”

  Nick thanked his brother and headed for his car.

  * * *

  Levi Goldblum was a slim man, medium height, in his late twenties, dressed in an Italian suit that fit him like a glove. He sported a neatly trimmed beard, black-rimmed glasses, and reminded Nick of a well-dressed dork. Levi was hungry, ambitious and ruthless. Someday, he would be running the network from the penthouse office above him. Currently, he was senior vice-president of programming and he’d taken a chance on Nick’s show on the strength of Nick’s talent.

  Levi’s huge office was at the top of the network’s thirty-story building and situated in a corner with wide views of Los Angeles. A huge desk dominated the room with a circular black leather sofa large enough to seat ten people in one corner, bookcases along one wall and a full bar and galley kitchen along the other wall.

  “Sit,” Levi ordered pointing at the sofa. “Coffee on the table.”

  Nick poured himself a cup of coffee and leaned back waiting while Levi paced back and forth with the suppressed energy of a hungry tiger.

  “I don’t like failures,” Levi said.

  Tell me a surprise. “Nobody does.”

  “Having Roxanne Deveraux on your show is a ratings coup. She hasn’t really been in the public eye for over a decade and she’s still in demand. She turns down more than she accepts and still everybody loves her even when she plays a corpse.”

  Nick felt confused. “What’s the problem?”

  “The bottom line is always money.” Levi settled in the chair opposite Nick. “Her parents own the rights to a script for a TV movie which they sent to her. I had a chance to look it over and it’s a good script. It’s topical and sexy. It has a murder and the internet. All the things that make life worth living. No one hates to deal with crazy more than me. But I smell money and this—” Levi put a finger against his nose “—is never wrong.”

  Nick had to agree. Levi could smell money like a pig could smell truffles. When Nick and Mike had first shopped Celebrity Dance around the only person interested was Levi and Nick owed him for that chance at redemption. Celebrity Dance was a success and nothing said forgiveness like success.

  “So what do you want from me?”

  “The parents are playing hardball with the script and don’t want to move forward with a development deal without Roxanne in the leading role. They aren’t exactly wrong, she’d be great in it, even though we both know there are plenty of other actresses who’d jump at the part.”

  Nick raised his eyebrows. “Did you tell them that?”

  Levi looked nonplussed. “What do you think? Nick, I don’t like being backed in a corner—certainly by two wannabe hacks like Hannah and Eli Devereaux—but I want that script. Take Roxanne’s pulse. See how she feels about doing the movie.”

  Nick already knew how she felt. “I’ll talk to her, because I owe you, but I don’t think she’s really interested.”

  Levi was pragmatic. “Do your best. She’s either going to say yes or say no. Just give it a try.”

  “And you’ll accept her decision, whatever it is?”

  Levi gave Nick a long look. “Number one, you won’t owe me anymore. Celebrity Dance turned out a lot better than I expected. Trust me, your show will keep me on top for a couple more years.”

  Yeah. The life expectancy for someone in Levi’s position was around ten years unless they had more gold mines in the wings. “I’ll talk to her.”

  Roxanne would be hurt because she’d just started to trust him and he had the feeling she would see this as a betrayal, but he couldn’t change what he couldn’t change. Trust was a marketable commodity. It wasn’t given easily or lightly.

  He knew that compromise was the rule in this game. A lot of people had to be made happy. He only hoped she would be okay with him broaching the subject with her. He owed Levi for taking a chance on Celebrity Dance, so doing this favor for him was important.

  “I know their history with their daughter and trust me, my sympathies are with Roxanne Deveraux, but...” Levi’s voice trailed away as he frowned with whatever thought occurred to him.

  Nick did understand. Show business was all about money, no matter how pretty it looked on the outside. God, he only hoped Roxanne remembered that and didn’t blame him.

  Levi sighed. “My hands are tied. And I’m not giving up on what I want without exhausting every option.”

  “I’m going to say this again, but I don’t think she’s ever going to agree to work with them.” He knew she wouldn’t quit Celebrity Dance. She’d probably find a way to break her ankle before she’d allow her parents to exploit her again.

  “She signed a contract to help promote Celebrity Dance. She’s a professional and will do what needs to be done.”

  “I can’t do this to her,” Nick said quietly. “Roxanne is a nice woman. It’s not her fault her parents...are...difficult.” Difficult was the only word he could say about them without sounding crude. Hell, he wanted to be her hero. He wanted to date her. Where the hell did that thought come from? Damn, he was in trouble. He couldn’t get personal with her. That would break rules one through ten. Don’t date a partner, ever.

  “I know,” Levi said. “I like Roxanne Deveraux, too. She’s always been bankable. People look at her and remember her as that cute little girl with the smart lines on Family Tree. She can have any kind of future she wants in this business. Even I’ve thrown her a few roles throughout the years, but she always passed. Maybe her stint on Celebrity Dance means she’s ready to step back into leading roles.”

  “I don’t think so. Having to deal with Hannah and Eli isn’t on her plate at the moment.”

  “Don’t be so sure. Blood is thicker than water and I’ve seen some of the bitterest family breakups in this business healed with the right opportunity at the right time. I’m willing to throw her parents a lifeline in order to get her, but I’m not drowning so they can live.”

  “Maybe you better talk to Roxanne instead of me.”

  Levi smirked at Nick. “Not a chance.”

  “Chicken.”

  Levi laughed. “I’m vegan, that’s why I like to save chickens. I’m sorry I have to put you in this position and I’m even sorrier Roxanne has barracuda for parents, but you can’t tell anyone I said that. It will ruin my reputation.”

  Nick nodded. “My lips are zipped.” Nick stood and they shook hands, his estimation of Levi’s character went up a couple notches. “You like her, don’t you?” Nick said as he walked to the door.

  “One time,” Levi said with a wistful expression on his face, “she was the romantic fantasy of a pimply-faced boy.”

  “You just went to an uncomfortable place.”

  Levi laughed. “I realize I have the reputation of being a cold, heartless reptile, but once upon a time I had feelings.”

  “I think you still have a feeling or two.”

  “Don’t tell anyone.” Levi slapped Nick on the back, opened the door and grinned. “I’ll be in touch.” He closed the door.

  Nick was surprised at Levi’s honesty. Levi was a company man who made decisions based on company policy and kept his eye on the bottom line. With Roxanne, he thought Levi was still that pimply-faced boy in love with a beautiful, lovable TV star and Nick would work with that.

  Nick nodded at Levi’s assistant as he headed for the elevator. His dinner with Roxanne was going to be very uncomfortable.

  * * *

  Roxanne was almost in heaven over her dress for the first show. She stood in front of the mirror staring. The wardrobe mistress, Fay Benson, grinned at her. Fay was a tiny woman with impeccable taste. She’d studied fashion design in Paris, but brought her skills to Hollywood instead of working for one of the big fashion houses.

  “The dress is beautiful and perfect on you.” Fay steppe
d back to eye her critically.

  Roxanne couldn’t stop staring. Ginger Rogers, eat your heart out. Her gown wasn’t an exact replica, but close. The strapless bodice hugged her tightly, showing off her toned shoulders and arms, but the full skirt of feathers danced around her legs like it had a life of its own. Instead of the original white, the gown was a deep scarlet.

  “I love it.” Nick had told her she would.

  “Nick has terrific taste.” Fay tweaked the dress around Roxanne’s hips. “It’s a little loose. You’ve lost weight.”

  “And here I thought little elves were holding it up.”

  “Some double-sided tape will take care of the girls.” Fay winked at her. “Don’t worry. I’ve never had an unplanned wardrobe malfunction.”

  “I’ve never had a wardrobe malfunction ever.”

  Fay laughed. “You’ve never needed one.”

  Roxanne trusted Fay and had worked with her before when she’d been nominated for an Emmy for costume design.

  “Now that you’re all grown up,” Fay said walking around Roxanne, “I can really dress you. I’ve been dying to do so for years.”

  When Fay dressed her, she put Roxanne in elegant, age-appropriate clothes. In an industry where the right dress could make or break a woman’s career, Roxanne was thankful to have Fay’s vision.

  She may not want to be a huge star anymore, but she didn’t want to look ridiculous, either.

  Hitting the right steps without falling on her face was worry enough.

  “I thought what you did at sixteen took a lot of courage. Most sixteen-year-old kids don’t know their butt from a hole in the ground, but you took control of your life and didn’t go off the deep end, unlike some child stars I could name like Maddie, whose last name I can’t remember, from Maddie’s Mad World.”

  “Yeah, she was a hotbed of crazy.”

  “She still is,” Fay said.

  “I have so missed working with you.”

  “You need to stay on the show for the entire season. I want to see you win the grand prize.”