Chapter Two
The next time she met Ethan Tyler, Mandy was ready.
So his band had sold millions of records. So Ethan was one of the most gifted bassists alive. So their music was pretty good. They actually had some really good songs, as at least two of their members – Jaime and Ethan - were also lyricists. Mandy had downloaded as many of their hits as possible from as far back as five years ago when they were just a support band working with bigger names at the top live shows.
Today, few groups had the same impact or loyal following as The Strum. Hiring Jessica Charles to revamp Ethan's image was her chance to work with the entire band, which was a great opportunity for career advancement. Everyone would want to become clients of the stylist for The Strum and in this town, word always spread quickly.
"Ethan is giving you the chance to understand who he really is as an artist, and in turn create an image which reflects his genuine style," Jessica told her sagely before sending Mandy on her way to measure Ethan. "You're going to be my eyes and ears, so don't mess this up. Whether you're taking him shopping at Versace or discussing whether he really needs to wear those black leather boots to his next television interview over coffee, remember you represent the voice of Jessica Charles."
It was hard to remember much of anything when she was thinking about coming face to face with Ethan again.
The drive down to his beachside mansion had been a comfortable one, thanks to the stretch limo that had been sent to pick her up from the office. She was armed with the tools of her trade plus countless warnings from her harried boss. Jessica was desperate to get Ethan on the client list, and for some reason the woman believed it all hung on how well Mandy handled this ‘golden' opportunity.
The magnificent three-story house was stunning, the property cloaked with green trees and a vast soccer field-sized lawn. She noticed lines of exotic cars on the side of the building plus a wide array of state-of-the-art motorcycles just beyond in an open-door garage. Blinking at the obvious display of opulence, Mandy faced the front door, took a deep breath, and pressed the bell.
When the heavy door swung open, Mandy stared speechlessly up at Ethan.
He was absolutely gorgeous, rocking a dark designer stubble on that strong, masculine jawline. And he was shirtless. A pair of low-slung jeans hung on his hips. It was ripped up in places that Mandy wanted to take a bite out of. A big bite. She gasped inaudibly and swept her eyes up to his impossibly blue ones. She tried to ignore what a sexy torso he had even with all that damnable ink. His chest was hairless and as toned as an Olympic athlete's, and so tanned he was gleaming.
Staring fixedly into his face, Mandy wished she didn't like the way his hair seemed even more enviably silky today as he brushed it off his forehead negligently.
He was looking her over in blatant scrutiny. "Pretty. Very pretty."
Mandy tried not to make a face. She'd gone all out today. It was warm out so she'd opted for her knee-high gladiator sandals with the buckles and straps running up her shapely calves. She paired it with a sleeveless white top tucked primly into a very un-prim short, patterned skirt. She knew how well she filled out her clothes and even though they were comfortable and simple, no one would accuse her of not having style.
"Though you really should have left your hair down. I liked it better the last time," he added, making Mandy grit her teeth as he spun on his heels – barefoot, naturally – and proceeded into the house.
"It's hot," Mandy heard herself mutter, giving her sleek ponytail a wag as she walked in after him and shut the door.
Ethan kept on walking down the marble-topped floor of the grandly designed foyer. Mandy's mouth hung open as everything in the entryway seemed larger than life. The paintings, chandeliers, flower arrangements, and furniture made her feel like she was trapped in a huge Alice in Wonderland prop room.
"I've got company," Ethan murmured as he beckoned to her from an arched doorway on the left. Mandy's fingers tightened on her briefcase as she tried to avoid staring at Ethan's gorgeous ass, hugged by his low-riding jeans.
Mandy prayed for strength and reminded herself that she had to make this all business. One hundred percent professional at all times. She recalled the last few days since meeting Ethan and how curious she had been to find out as much about him as she could. She'd told her sisters about Ethan and they'd screamed in envy. Obviously they were fans of the band and Mandy had spent hours talking to them about what he was like while hearing all of the celebrity gossip that they had read about over the years.
Then, as a pang of guilt washed over her, Mandy remembered the words of advice that Marcus had given her when she'd told him that she would be working with Ethan Tyler.
"I've heard of those guys. Be careful, Mandy. Men like Ethan eat girls like you for breakfast," he had warned. "I know you can handle yourself, but you know, just make sure that they treat you with the respect you deserve."
Ethan led Mandy through door after door, passage after passage, and up a flight of stairs till they came to some kind of entertainment room. There was music drifting from the speakers and metallic sounds thumping in the background. Mandy's eyes widened as she glanced around and noted a few well-known faces in the small crowd of male and female revelers, who were drinking and laughing while a music video was playing on the massive wide-screen wall mounted television.
Mandy recognized it as the latest video for the new top ten song Kiss or Die. Her legs feeling like lead, she advanced into the room while Ethan headed straight for the bar where a tall man, dressed in all black, his long curly dark hair trailing down his leather-covered back, was waiting. Ethan patted him on the shoulder and Mandy saw him mouth the words, "She's here."
The man in black turned around to face her and Mandy found herself smiling wide as she came face to face with Jaime, lead singer for the band.
Jaime was the epitome of sexy. A complete alpha male with a gorgeous chiseled face, smoking gray eyes, and oozing sex appeal comparable only to Ethan's golden-boy attraction. Jaime's skin was deeply tanned, showing much of his well-known Italian-American heritage, and he certainly had the trademark Italian lean hips accented by his thick black leather belt. He smiled and took Mandy's somewhat limp hand. It was hard not to feel weak seeing Ethan and Jaime side by side, one half-dressed and the other in an all-black getup, both with enough masculine appeal to have a normal woman hyperventilating from uncontrollable lust.
Jaime's touch sizzled on her skin. "Nice to meet you. Mandy, right?"
"Yes," Mandy let out on a croak, retrieving her scalded hand. "Nice to meet you too, Mr. Battista."
Jaime grinned and took a swig from his bottle of beer. "My father's Mr. Battista. You, beautiful, get to call me Jaime."
"Jaime … you got it." Mandy replied, lip quivering.
Ethan still had his arm around Jaime's neck. "Isn't she gorgeous?" Ethan queried with a half-smile.
"She's hot, Ethan. Way out of your league, man." Jaime grinned as Ethan scowled.
Mandy couldn't help but smile as Jaime asked her, "So what's your poison? Anything we can offer you before you get down to work on this profligate? I hear he's finally got himself a new stylist. Hopefully we'll start to see some improvement."
"That's what I'm here for, um … Jaime. And I don't drink when I'm working. Maybe later."
Jaime nodded with a smile just as a slender, skimpily dressed blonde came over to drape herself around him. Mandy suddenly felt really uncomfortable since all the woman seemed to be wearing was a bikini top and cut-off jeans too miniscule to be considered a pair of shorts.
"All right," Ethan murmured when both Jaime and the woman started kissing with no preamble. Ethan gently took hold of Mandy's elbow as she fought down a blush from watching the impromptu lip-lock between Jaime and the brazen blonde. Looking around the room, she realized that everyone had paired off, the couples paying no attention when Ethan pulled her away from the crowded room.
"I should apologize about that," Ethan said once the doors were closed behind them, blocking out the sounds. "They all showed up an hour ago. I told them that I had a few things to do today, but they never listen. You sure you don't want anything to drink?"
"No thanks," Mandy replied. It wasn't even noon, and yet these folks were already partying. Typical rock star lifestyle, she thought with disgust. She quickly reprimanded herself for allowing such stereotypical thoughts to rise to the forefront of her mind. She was here as part of her job, and regardless of what her own personal opinions were about the kind of life he led, she had to remember that she wasn't here to judge him – she was here to better understand him so she could do her job, especially with the upcoming tour she was still dreading.