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How rich movie stars spent their money wasn’t any of her concern though.
Trevon was wearing a good-natured grin, and it seemed obvious the two men liked to rib each other. “Well, for that much money it should have more room.” He shook his head in exaggerated annoyance. “We’ll take my truck and you can come get your car in the morning. In the meantime, some of the girls might want to take it out for a spin tonight. Cruise around town. Maybe drive it up to Burbank and park it at Bob’s Big Boy for all the old men to see.”
Damon was either too drunk to care or was just playing along, because he fished the keys from his pocket and tossed them to Tessa.
They jingled as she caught them.
“Just fill ‘er up when you’re done with ‘er.”
Tessa laughed and put the keys on the kitchen island, as if simply holding them could wreck the expensive car. “No way!”
“Well, they’re there if you change your mind.” The actor winked before following Trevon out of the kitchen. “Goodnight, everyone.” Offering a wave over his shoulder, he disappeared.
And that was how Tessa Kincaid met Damon Drake.
Chapter Five
The California sun was brilliant the following morning when Tessa awoke in her second-floor room inside Auntie Athena’s historic mansion.
Rushing to the window, she opened it and looked outside, hungrily sucking in a lungful of the fresh air.
She’d always heard horror stories about the smog in Los Angeles. But compared to the smoke that billowed from the factories in her hometown, this was paradise!
Her view overlooked the perfectly manicured backyard with its large, net-enclosed trampoline and the palm trees and bushes lining the white stucco fence that guarded the property’s back perimeter. Beyond all that, she could see the majestic Santa Monica mountains in the distance.
Rushing back to the bed, she picked up Buttercup and brought her to the window to enjoy the view.
“We made it, Buttercup! This is our life now!”
Tessa hugged the bear before setting her on the windowsill. “I’ll leave you right there so you can look at it all day!”
She left the room behind and sauntered into the hallway, following the aroma of breakfast. She was halfway to the staircase when she encountered Auntie Athena coming the other way.
“Well, good morning, Miss Cute Stuff. I was just on my way to check on you all.”
“Good morning, Auntie. None of the other girls are awake yet?”
“Nope.”
Tessa wasn’t surprised. They’d had a true slumber party, staying up into the morning hours watching scary movies and eating junk.
“Since I’m seeing you first, you get the honors. Let’s check your diaper,” Auntie said.
Tessa giggled bashfully but didn’t resist as Auntie went about her task.
“Just as I suspected, cutie. A wet Little girl. Come on. To the nursery you go.” She followed up the statement with a few playful swats on Tessa’s padded bottom.
Down the hall, Tessa ventured into the nursery with Auntie following closely behind.
She smiled as she saw the room again.
A large, adult-sized changing table rested on one wall, while another wall held space for an oversized crib. Tessa wasn’t sure where the furniture was specially made, but it was all something straight out of her dreams.
Athena stopped at a big shelf stacked with diapers and said, “Which one would you like to start off in this morning, honey?”
Tessa was all smiles—though her cheeks burned red as a twinge of embarrassment washed over her—as she surveyed her choices.
“A Mountainville Supreme,” she said, tapping one of the thickest nappies available. The giant disposable garment had cartoonish mountains printed on it and was named for the famous town in West Texas where the garment got its start.
