1
“So, you’re really going to go through with this?” Jennie asked as she plucked one of Madeline’s silky cammies from her suitcase and fingered the cloth.
Yes,” Madeline Whitley replied for at least the twelfth time as she snatched the garment from her ex-girlfriend and refolded it. “I want to do this. I’ve heard this place can do wonders for a person’s career.”
Jennie crossed her arms and gave Madeline a stern look. “Your career does not need any help,” she said. “You’re just going through a slump. Everyone loves a hot, brown-eyed blonde with a rocking body.”
Madeline rolled her eyes. Leave it to Jennie De Angelo to minimize her current unemployed status. Seven months without a decent acting gig was not a slump, it was a disaster. Ever since her multi-season, Grammy award-winning TV sitcom was canceled, finding work was challenging. To say the least.
Although every year, when she renewed her contract, her agent and manager always assured her she was not being typecast, she realized now they were lying simply to line their own pocketbooks. Whenever she went to read a script, she was always welcomed by the receptionist as Mrs. Monroe, thehilariously sarcastic mom fromOnly Days Which End in Why. Even when she sat with the producers, they wanted to discuss a humorous episode they remembered from the six seasons.
At first, she shrugged it off but now those memories were painful as she realized basically no one in Hollywood or New York took her seriously. Including her ex-girlfriend. “I don’t expect you to understand,” Madeline said. “You work in dramas on cable. You can jump from one series to another and always play the sexy lawyer or hot police detective. There aren’t many serious movie roles suited for a slapstick comedy mother of three.”
“Babe,” Jennie said as she walked to the end of the bed to stand beside Madeline. Even though Madeline was midway through folding a pair of capris, Jennie slipped her arms around Madeline’s waist and pulled her close. “What’s the rush? You know I’ll take care of you for as long as you need.”
Madeline closed her eyes and wished Jennie’s words were enough. The idea of being taken care of was appealing, if not for the fact that Jennie was a serial cheater. Two years together and Madeline finally said “no more.” Still, the feel of the woman so close was hard to resist. They fought often, but the make-up sex was off the charts.
As if reading her thoughts, Jennie leaned in and traced her lips down the line of Madeline’s jaw. The sensation her hot breath made caused Madeline to shiver, and the ever so familiar ache started low on her body. Giving in would be so easy.
“Come on, don’t you want to try being a kept woman?” Jennie asked.
That question was exactly what Madeline needed to snap back to reality. She jerked her eyes open and pushed against Jennie’s chest. “No,” she answered. “And you’re wrinkling my capris.”
A flicker of irritation showed in Jennie’s eyes, but then she shrugged and stepped back. “Whatever,” she said. “But I think you are wasting your time with this resort. Whatever people are whispering about must be bullshit.”
Madeline tilted her head. “Why is that?” she asked.
Again, Jennie shrugged, this time slipping her hands in the back pockets of her expensive jeans. “Because it is all washed-up athletes and has-been celebrities making the claims,” she answered.
Madeline stiffened. The comment cut her like a knife. “Did you just say—”
Telling from the look on Jennie’s face she might not have meant to insult her but was not necessarily sorry she did. Still, to take away the sting, Jennie held up her hands with palms out.
“You know I didn’t mean you,” she explained, moving closer again.
Typical of her modus operandi, if things became uncomfortable, Jennie tried to cover it with sex. This time her hands moved faster and pulled Madeline into an embrace so quick and tight she gasped. Taking that as a sign to continue, Jennie’s lips caught hers. The kiss was not gentle, filled with passion and lust. It took everything in Madeline not to respond. For the second time in less than five minutes, she found herself pushing Jennie back. This time, there was more than irritation in Jennie’s eyes.
“Stop,” Madeline said, not sure if Jennie would. As if on cue, there was a knock on the doorframe. Madeline glanced over and saw her assistant, Kel Lehman, standing in the doorway.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Madeline, I didn’t realize—” Kel started, but Madeline waved a forgiving hand as she stepped back from Jennie. Although she always liked having Kel around, seeing her at this moment was especially welcoming.
“What do you want?” Jennie snapped, surprising Madeline with the tone. She knew Jennie never liked Kel, calling her the “meddling baby dyke” behind her back, and was often dismissive, but this was a bit over the top.
“Hey, don’t be so rude, Jennie,” Madeline said, shooting her a look before turning back to Kel. “What did you need?” She watched as Kel’s eyes darted to Jennie. It was hard to read their expression through the glasses the woman always wore, but if she guessed, the emotion was fury.Does the way Jennie treats me make her mad?Madeline wondered for the first time. A part of her was touched if that was true.
Kel slowly countedto ten before she stepped into the room with Madeline and the bitch Jennie. Punching an A-list celebrity in the mouth would be a poor career move.Still…she thought but forced herself to unclench her fists. Apparently, her correction was not quick enough as she watched Jennie toss a glance at Madeline.
“I do believe this little shit was thinking about throwing down on me,” she said.
Madeline laughed, but to Kel, the sound was a bit tight, as if she might have noticed Kel’s anger too. “Just stop, Jennie,” she said, coming to stand beside Kel, placing a hand on her shoulder.
The feel of Madeline’s touch was warm, and Kel tried not to focus on the sensation of her fingers through the light fabric. As a rule, Kel kept clear of Madeline physically. The attraction was too tempting, and she would die before embarrassing either of them.
“Kel is the sweetest soul I’ve ever met,” Madeline continued. “But even so, you probably should go. I need to pack.”
Jennie snorted a laugh. “Whatever,” she said again, walking toward them.
Kel did not miss the glare of warning in the woman’s eyes as she closed the distance.Bring it on, Kel thought. Hollywood career or no career, she would not back down. Luckily, Jennie broke the look when she reached the door and leaned over to plant another rough kiss on Madeline’s mouth. Just as abruptly, the woman pulled back and shoved passed Kel. The bump on the shoulder was no accident, but Kel was smart enough to let it go. For now.
