Page 5 of Kiss Me at Midnight
“Yes, indeedy, she does.” Dotty played right into Jud’s hands. “Are you sweet on my granddaughter, Judson? She could be Marion the Librarian to your Harold Hill.” AMusic Manreference.
“I’d like that.” Jud gave Lily a good-natured smile. He’d gone to the animal rescue benefit tonight because his agent had told him the attendees were upper-crust New Yorkers, staid creatures that were miles apart from Jud and his Hollywood ways.
As a popular star of film and TV, Jud had spent the last decade snubbing his nose at the Hollywood power players, choosing instead to play the field with a string of beautiful women. And now that he wanted to transition to directing film, he was finding his image was in need of repair. It wouldn’t have mattered if he’d had a trust fund or inherited some of the Hambly billions. If that were the case, he could have financed his own film. Too late, he’d realized he should have been brown-nosing. No one was interested in gambling one hundred, fifty, or even twenty million dollars on the directorial debut of a playboy who shunned the Hollywood establishment, even if he was well-pedigreed in the acting community.
As part of his image-repair plan, Jud was in need of a part-time girlfriend, someone who was above reproach and didn’t require much of his time. A fake girlfriend, to be exact. He’d sat at the bar all night grilling the knowledgeable bartender about the single ladies in attendance. Enter Representative Lily Summer.
His gaze drifted toward the woman who sat next to him. Her warm thigh brushed his every time the driver made a left turn. She was businesslike and reserved. Her official website pictures showed her in glasses with her brown hair in an uninspired bun. In the photos, she dressed well, if somewhat unimaginatively, like she had tonight. Pantsuits. Dresses with simple lines.
A willowy body like hers could pull off more feminine looks, a high hemline, a bare midriff, a bikini where less was more. He glanced at Lily’s feet and added sexier shoes to the list.
Lily Summer doesn’t need sexy shoes to be sexy.
That thought struck out of the blue. Jud shook his head. He wanted to date Lily, not fall in love.
“If you must come, you’ll wait in the car,” Lily said in a calm, collected manner.
He liked her composure. She’d be unflustered in front of the media. Another plus for the role he wanted her to play.
“We’re not waiting in the car.” Diminutive Dotty sat up tall in the seat as she dug through her purse. “Besides, you can’t leave me behind. I have the mace.” She pulled out a small cannister. Her finger moved toward the pump trigger as if she were about to mace someone.
Fast as lightning, Lily claimed the mace before disaster struck and Dotty sprayed the driver.
Add calm in unexpected situations to the list of Lily’s good attributes. She could handle the limelight. She was perfect for the role of Judson Hambly’s girlfriend.
“Okay, you can hold my mace,” Dotty allowed. “But I’m still coming along.”
Lily sighed.
They took another left at speed. Lily’s body pressed against Jud’s.
Increasingly, Jud wondered what it would be like to hold Lily in his arms and kiss her.
“I’m coming, too,” Jud told Lily. “We’ve got your back.”
“Now tell your supersquad where we’re going.” Dotty was the perfect foil for the situation.
Lily sighed. “Abe Cohen wants to give generously to the primary food kitchen and shelter in my district.”
“Abe Cohen has serious money,” Jud blurted. He owned several companies and had stakes in several sports teams, including the New Jersey Badgers.
“You know him?” Lily asked sharply.
Jud nodded. “After I didThe Music Man, he paid me to perform at his daughter Rachel’s birthday celebration.” The very wealthy often booked the very famous to attend their private functions. His performance had been filmed for the reality show Rachel starred in.
“I was going to ask my family to book you for my birthday, Judson.” Dotty had a faraway look in her eyes. “It’s on my bucket list. I have a wonderful voice and loveThe Music Man.” She burst into song,“Seventy six trombones–”
The driver took a hard, unexpected left, which sent Lily’s soft, warm body careening into Jud’s.
She can careen into me anytime.
“If you know Abe, I don’t think you should be my wingman,” Lily was saying to Jud underneath the warbly notes Dotty was singing.
“…a hundred and ten coronets–”
“On the contrary, I think it will help.” Not that Jud knew how it possibly could, but if Abe was in the mood to spend, he might invest in Jud’s movie. Everybody knew social settings smoothed the way for business deals.
“…followed by rows and rows…”
