Page 68 of Harmless Scandals

She thought back to the summer before she turned seventeen. She knew the show wasn't doing well, worse, she knew she was part of the reason.

“I was sixteen going on thirty.” She glanced around and found that no one was paying attention so she continued. “I had to take uppers to just get out of bed. I was exhausted all the time. Partying all night and then working all day is never fun, even when you are teenaged.”

“Easier than when you are thirty.”

She chuckled. “True, but it was not a path to happiness. Uppers in the morning, coffee throughout the day, and alcohol at night.”

“You were sixteen,” Mick said.

“Yeah, well, I started drinking when I was thirteen or fourteen, so it was no big deal.”

He made a sound of disgust and Adam laughed. “Forgive Mick. As wild as he can be, he grew up with a very strict father and a doting mother. He had nothing to escape.”

“Don't get me wrong. I wasn't this poor abused child. Part of it was my fault. I knew just how to act out to get attention in the rags. So, there I was, acting on a show I hated, dealing with the life of a teenage actress who doesn't even want to get out of bed, and I snapped. I couldn't do it anymore. Worse, I knew I didn't want to act.”

“So, you didn't want to act. What's wrong with that?”

“I had been brought up in front of the camera. I knew that I had nothing else to offer anyone, and worse, my mother had expectations. I'd been supporting my family since I was five years old.”

“And I take it your mother wanted you to continue on?” Mick asked.

She nodded.

“She was working out deals for all these horrible movies. I started to see my future as a washed-up teen star, who was never that good at acting, being stuck working on movies that were embarrassing. Skin teen flicks. At one time, I had thought I wanted to be a serious actress. As I said, I hated acting by the time I left it.”

“But you had liked it at one time?”

“Yeah. But, then, when you’re five years old, and you have an entire crew to do your hair and dress you up, it’s like play, you know. Especially if you were a girly girl.”

“And I take it you were.”

She smiled. “Yep. Even before my first commercial, I would happily sit for hours at a time to have my hair and nails done. As with everything else, though, it got to be a chore. It was no longer fun for me to go out. I couldn’t just throw on anything and go to the store. There was always someone with a camera everywhere I went.”

They were both looking at her as if she had grown another head. So, she decided to change the subject.

“So, Adam was telling me about this club you two go to.”

Mick glanced between them, then settled his gaze on hers. “You want to go to Rough ‘n Ready?”

She nodded. “I...well. I’ve read BDSM books, mainly romances. But, I’m a girl who has to see things and Adam offered a trip.”

Mick looked between the two of them, then he smiled. “I’ve already talked to Ross and got a pass for you. How about tonight?”

“Sounds like a fantastic plan,” she said.

twenty-one

They stepped through the door at Rough ‘n Ready and Serenity blinked. It was such a contrast to Hawaii. A low thrum of music filled the room. In here, the lights were dim, but there was enough light to look around. There was a dance floor, which she hadn't expected to see, and seating. Booths lined the area by the bar. It was packed, even for a Sunday night.

She tapped Mick's arm and then motioned him to lean down. “Is it always this busy?”

“No. Sometimes it’s even busier. They have the only BDSM club in the islands.”

“Since we aren't playing, why don't we get a drink?” Adam said.

They led her to the bar with a petite brunet serving drinks. She glanced at their wrists.

“Not playing tonight, boys?”

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