Right now, I've got to be professional. An employer, and a dad. My daughter trumps my blue balls all day, every day, and she's the reason Audrey's pulling up my driveway. I take another drink of the ice water I poured myself when the guard at the gate called up, and will my Johnson to behave. At least while Jeanne's around.
"Audrey's here, Dad."
"I know," I say, turning to my girl with a smile.
"Well, come on. We have to meet her at the door."
"Wanda will do that."
I watch as her face falls, and my stomach drops along with it. "She's my friend. I wanted to open the door for her."
I hear the unspoken words, even if she doesn't say them. She's never had a friend over. At least not one who came here just for her. Kids whose parents wanted something from me or Misha came to see her, but Audrey is the first one to come here just for Jeanne. Even if it's a job, she's not here for anyone but Jeanne.
"Let's try and catch her," I say.
We make it to the door just as my house manager, Wanda, starts to open it. "No." Jeanne yells, running forward to push it closed. Right in Audrey's face.
Jeanne realizes what she just did, and looks stricken. I want to tell her it's okay, but it's not. I mean, damn. My kid just slammed the door in Audrey's face. While I'm still at a loss, the doorbell rings. Jeanne looks at me, and I shrug.
She nods and opens the door. "Hi, Audrey."
"Hey, Jeanne. Did you finish your book? Powerless, right?"
"Yeah. It was awesome. I can't believe you remembered."
"Of course I remembered. We're friends, right?"
"I'm sorry I closed the door on you," Jeanne tells her, looking down. My daughter is so painfully shy that she says and does things that make her seem younger than she is. While I don't want her to grow up too fast, I hope for the day that she can be comfortable in her own skin to act her age.
"It's okay. I was excited to see you, too."
"Do you want to see the house?"
"Sure."
I watch as my shy, sweet daughter takes Audrey's hand and leads her towards her wing of the house. They're talking and laughing, and I'm at a loss for words. I've never seen Jeanne so relaxed with someone she's just met.
"I like her," Wanda tells me.
"Yeah, me too."
"Does she like you, though?" she asks, because she knows the truth about why Audrey's here.
"I think so, but she doesn't want to. I was pretty brutal to her when we were in high school."
Her eyes narrow. "Misha too?"
"Yeah."
"Why am I not surprised? The most intelligent thing I've ever seen you do is leave that witch."
"She's Jeanne's mother. I wouldn't have her if it wasn't for Misha."
"And she doesn't want her. Unless it's to try and win you back. That girl deserves better."
"You'll get no argument from me."
"Then get your behind up those stairs and join the tour. Because ‘better' is in this house right now."
She doesn't need to scold me twice. I'm up the stairs, and searching for them in seconds. This damn house is too big. Misha and my agent said I needed it to maintain my star image. Especially since I insisted on being here in La Jolla instead of L.A. No one needs all of this room, though. It's pretentious, and unnecessary, and I really need to look at downsizing.
I finally find them in my wing of the house. Audrey is standing inside of my office, looking into my bedroom. I don't see Jeanne, so I'm guessing she's already inside. I smirk a little as I walk up behind Audrey. The joke's on me when she spins suddenly, pinning me with a glare.
"Trying to sneak up on me?"
"I was just going to tell you that there's no reason for you to be out here," I say, holding up my hands.
"I'm not going in your bedroom."
"Well, since you're sleeping in there, that's going to make things a little difficult for you."
"What? I'm not sleeping in there."
"Other than Wanda, my staff changes. I hire college students, and day labor for most of the upkeep here. I can't let them all know this is fake."
"I didn't agree to sleeping with you."
"My bed is really big, if you haven't noticed. We can each take a side."
"You know what they say about men who need big beds. Overcompensating much?"
"You're welcome to find out anytime you want."
"I'm not going to be another notch for you. I'm better than that."
I back her up until she's up against the wall, and place my hands on either side of her. "You shouldn't believe everything you read. Yes, I have an image. One I hate, but part of being famous is playing the game. And that's just what it is, a game. I haven't slept with even a third of the women I've been photographed with, and I've never brought a woman here. Misha was in that room, but never on that bed. Jesse and I burned the damn bed we slept on one night when I got drunk. Then I redecorated. Other than Wanda and Jeanne, no other women have been in there since then."
"I like her-Jeanne, I mean."
"What's not to like? I mean, other than closing the door on you earlier."
"She can't help it. Treating me badly is in her genes. She probably had a voodoo doll of me instead of a Barbie when she was younger."
I can't help it. I lean in and take her lips. She stays still for a few seconds, and then she grabs my hair, pulling me closer to her. I move my hands to her back, holding her close as we kiss like we've been doing it for years, instead of just two days. I already know that she likes when I nibble on her bottom lip, and she knows I like it when she pulls my hair. It's never been like this with anyone else, Misha included.
"Audrey … oh!"
I immediately step back from Audrey and smile at Jeanne. "Hi, honey."
"I didn't mean to interrupt."
"You didn't. Are you ready to show me the rest of the house?" Audrey asks, letting her know she's more important than me. I really, really want to be important to Audrey, but I also appreciate her putting Jeanne first, and trying to ease her embarrassment at finding us kissing.
"Are you sure? You can hang out with my dad if you want."
"Your dad's not going anywhere. I can hang out with him later. Right now, I want to finish my tour with you."
"Okay. We should go look at the pool, and stuff."
"Lead the way."
I watch them walk away, and can't help but smile. Both at Audrey wanting to spend time with Jeanne, and also because she said we could hang out later. Now I just need to think up something for us to do that will blow her away. The date to end all dates. Time for Google.
Audrey
"You like my dad, huh?"
"I'm not sure."
"You were kissing him."
"I was, but kissing isn't the same as liking."
"Did he really stand you up for your prom?"
"I'm not sure we should talk about this."
"Boys don't look at me."
"'Boys' or a specific boy?"
"One boy," she says with a sigh. "I asked him to dance with me at our last school dance. He did, but I know he thinks I'm too nerdy for him."
"Boys can be stupid. Luckily, men are starting to realize that nerdy girls are hot."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. You met Ainsley the other day. Her fiancé is Zack Taylor, who's one of the hottest football players you'll ever meet. Our friend, Isa, is a certified genius, and she's with Jake, who every woman in Virginia wants. Then there's Darcy. She's a hardcore gamer, and her guy, Brayden, gave up his kingdom to be with her."
"And then there's you."
"No one's given up a crown for me, but yes, I do get a good amount of attention. The men I date have to be as interested in my brain as my body, or they're gone really fast."
"Are all of your friends nerds? Is that a spy requirement?"
"No," I tell her with a laugh. "I have glamorous friends, and kick-ass friends, too. We're all different, and that's what makes us such a great team. We all complement each other's strengths, and help each other out with our weaknesses."
"Is my dad one of your weaknesses?"
"I'm afraid that he is."
"I think he appreciates your brain now."
I decide that I need to give her at least a little bit of the truth. "I'm not going to give you the details about what your dad-and mom-did to me in high school. I will tell you that he was the first boy I was ever in love with, and he hurt me very badly. I want to trust the man that he is now, but a part of me just can't."
"I think I may love Roger. I've never said that out loud, but I think you'll understand."
My heart cracks just a little for her. "I do understand," I tell her, putting my arm around her.
"I don't want to change who I am, but I want him to realize that there's more to me than my brain."
"Definitely don't change, but if you want, I can ask my friend Stella to come out here, and take you shopping. You dress fashionably, but I'm not sure it's ‘you.' Stella will know exactly what clothes will make you more comfortable."