Page 7 of Torrid Love
“You mean Dark Compulsion?”
She’s talking about a private adult club that caters to Hollywood’s Who’s Who annexed to the Quintus. I’m a member.
“No, Dom, I mean the Quintus Hotel,” I correct.
“Surely you’ll stop by Dark Compulsion… unless you hook up with a girl on the yacht.”
“What kind of statement is that?”
Now I’m really pissed off.
“I’m just sayin’.”
I let out a loud exhale.
“Are we fighting again, Dom?”
“We aren’t fighting,” she retorts. “Why don’t you just come out and say it?”
“Say what?”
“After Eddie’s party you’ll find an eager fuck buddy for the night––like you always do––which is why you’ll only pop in and out of Zoe’s birthday party.”
Her bitter tone jabs at my heart.
“This conversation is heading south. Fast. I called to find out how you were doing after an extended absence from LA,”—and because I missed you—“I didn’t call for us to be at it like cats and dogs. I thought our time apart would cool things off between us. Not that I know why the sight of me––or the sound of my voice––repulses you so much, but clearly it does. I’ll catch you later.”
With that, I hang up.
What the fuck?
CHAPTER 2
Dominika
“Wow, this lasagna was amazing, Holly,” I say, dropping my knife and fork on the plate. “I can make a mean deluxe grilled cheese sandwich and I’m good friends with the barbecue, but not much more. You, on the other hand, have skills.”
Holly Dunham singlehandedly prepared her best friend Zoe’s birthday meal. Everything was delicious.
“Being a makeup artist on Food TV has its perks,” Holly says, combing her bleach blonde hair behind her ear. “Firstly, the hours are way more decent than when I used to work on movie sets. Secondly, the free cooking lessons are a perk. Waiting around in the dressing room and watching the show as it’s being recorded comes in handy,” she laughs. “Although right now, I feel a little gypped since I was stationed in LA while you were off to Europe and my bestie here was in the Big Apple.”
“It’s all about the right connections,” Zoe winks at me.
“It was nothing,” I shrug.
“Wash your mouth out with soap,” Zoe scolds. “Had you told me a year ago, I’d be the makeup artist to a huge star and I’d travel with her to New York because she was selected—out of God knows how many actresses—to cohost a top-rated daytime talk show,I would’ve laughed. Without Dominika, I’d still be applying concealer on people’s butts to make them appear baby smooth. Working on the set of a porn film isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. The stuff you see…” Her face twists in a disgusted grimace. “Thanks to you, those days are behind me.”
“I just overheard Rory and Roark mention they needed a new makeup artist,” I downplay.
Until a year ago, Zoe Hagan was a freelancer. Rod’s company has used her on a number of videos I’ve directed and produced. Her attention to detail sets her apart, which is why I didn’t hesitate to recommend her to Rod’s brothers. A few interviews later and she’d landed her big break as the makeup artist for then-unknown Adelaide McAdams. The now megastar is leading the award-winning cast of the smash hit political thriller‘Pushing the Distance’on UTV.com—the subscription-based streaming service co-owned by the two eldest Wolfe brothers.
“If you hear of any more openings at UTV.com,“Call Me Maybe?”” Holly jokes. The reference to the iconic hit song is quite funny.
“I thought you loved your job?” I say.
“I do, but New York City? It’s high up there on my list. Believe it or not, I’ve never been. Neither have my parents or my sisters. I’m dying to see the Big Apple.”
“Why haven’t you been?” I ask.
