Sophisticated for the Night Read online

  I put my head in my hands, as I sat at the dressing table. Mr. Logan Steele. Just thinking his name brought back full surround sound and HD quality visuals of that amazing night and made my heart beat a little faster. What the hell was wrong with me? He was an escort, I paid him to be nice to me, to make love to me, to teach me how to be sexier and to at least know how to touch a man sexually. So why did I keep imagining I’d seen something hidden deep behind his gorgeous grey eyes, something more, something that he tried to cover with his sexy mirrored shades the next morning? Ever since my neighbour Anthony tried to rape me when I was fifteen, I’d become a very astute judge of character, determined I wasn’t going to be duped again. So how had I got it so wrong with Logan? While I still had enough money, money I really hadn’t been in a position to waste, I’d tried to book him again, but I’d never heard back from him. I’d come to realise, that everything he’d said that night and the morning after, was a lie. I was so stupid. I’d actually constantly checked my phone, in a state of excitement, every time I heard an email ping in, hoping it was him, then I’d physically cried, when after a month I hadn’t had a response from him. How pathetic was I? Falling for a damn man whore? I shook myself down as my phone rang.

  ‘Summer?’

  ‘I’m not so famous someone answers my phone for me, Mum,’ I smiled.

  ‘I thought maybe you’d be having a spray tan or something and an assistant might answer.’

  ‘No, no personal assistant and no spray tan, but I do have a team here wanting to do my hair and makeup and to help me get dressed.’

  ‘I just wanted to wish you luck, I know you’ll probably be so busy tonight you won’t have a chance to talk to us, but we’re so proud of you. Both of us. I really think this is going to be your big break.’

  ‘Thanks, you’re so sweet. Are you sure you can handle seeing me like this?’

  ‘How bad’s the dress?’ she gasped.

  ‘I still haven’t seen which one they went with yet,’ I laughed. ‘I meant me faking sex on screen.’

  ‘Well, we’ll handle it because it’s not real,’ she confirmed, with a slight waver to her voice. ‘O God, it’s not real is it?’

  ‘No,’ I uttered quick as a flash. ‘As if I’d sleep with Daron, let alone in front of the crew on camera, he’s repulsive.’ I cringed as I suddenly realised the team were listening in, but they all nodded their agreement. I wondered how many of them he’d tried it on with as well.

  ‘Well everyone already thinks you’re a couple after that headline last week. How’s it going to look, you going with him tonight?’

  ‘I’m not going with him on a date, Mum. I was worried about the expense of them sending a limo just for me and he offered to let me go with him. He’s not even in this hotel, he wanted to be picked up from his own apartment. Besides it will look good for the cameras. Mum, I’m really sorry, but the hair and makeup team want to make a start on me. Promise me you’ll use the money I left you to get a taxi there? They’ll be free champagne and food at the after party and you and Dad never go out.’

  ‘You should keep your money, you’ve already given us too much,’ she scolded.

  ‘Don’t argue with me, please. I couldn’t have got here without you both, I want you to have a fun night, where you don’t have to worry about anything.’

  ‘We’ll see. Good luck, we both love you so much, Summer.’

  ‘I love you too, Mum. I’ll come and see you as soon as I get a chance later, ok?’

  ‘Ok, bye.’

  ‘Bye.’ I blew a kiss down the phone and smiled at the two women waiting patiently. ‘Mandy you know I’m not a fan of over the top makeup. Can you just try and make me look as natural as possible? Or better still just let me do my own?’

  ‘I’ll keep it as natural as I can, but you need a certain amount of coverage or you’ll look washed out under the spotlights and the camera flashes. Just sit back in the chair and relax, it won’t take long, then Rachel can do your hair and Zoe’s ready with your outfit.’

  I gasped as Zoe unzipped the most stunning royal purple long dress, with silver jewelled edging on the sweet heart bust line and the halter-neck straps.

  ‘It’s beautiful isn’t it,’ she nodded.

  ‘Gorgeous, but it’s not one of the dresses I tried on, it’s not the black and silver dress I said was my first choice.’ I actually preferred this one, but it was odd they hadn’t had me try it on.

  ‘I was instructed that this was the dress that they wanted you to wear, just doing my job. Your shoes and underwear are over there in the boxes on the bed.’

  ‘Underwear?’ I looked at her surprised. ‘The film company supplied underwear too?’

  ‘Your dress has no back, so you don’t have a bra, luckily your bust’s firm enough to go without, but there are some knickers for you and the shoes,’ she smiled. I headed over to sit on the edge of the bed, just wearing my dressing gown and opened the smaller box to find a pair of delicate electric blue lace, fitted boy shorts, with a heart shaped opening in the back. Just the feel of them told me that they were expensive, without seeing the designer name on box. It seemed a bit odd to send knickers that didn’t match the dress, but I guess no one would be seeing them anyway. Definitely not Daron, no matter what ideas he may have. Honestly, until I got over this ridiculous crush on Logan Steele, no one measured up, in any respect. The other box contained a stunning pair of crystal embellished, high heeled, strappy shoes, which I quickly put on. I then shimmied the knickers up and dropped my dressing gown, ready for Zoe to help slip the dress over my newly done, low chignon hairdo. I was accustomed to being seen in just my knickers now, that initial embarrassment on set had soon faded. Though I still blushed if I caught anyone staring at my breasts for too long, which happened a lot with the film crew.

  ‘You have an amazing figure,’ Zoe stated, as she smoothed the dress into place over my hips.

  ‘Thank you,’ I smiled.

  ‘Do you work out?’

  ‘No, but I really need to. I’d just like to keep my stomach and arms toned, in case I’m lucky enough to get another role.’

  ‘From what I’m hearing, you guys killed it. I bet your agent will be inundated with offers from tomorrow.’

  ‘That would be really nice,’ I nodded, still not wanting to get my hopes up.

  ‘You know what else is really nice? Havershams of London have given you some diamond jewellery on loan as well. It’s in the safe, I’ll get it out.’

  ‘O my God. Is this all normal?’ I exclaimed.

  ‘Yes,’ she laughed. ‘Start getting used to it, you’ll be getting even more special treatment if the movie’s a hit.’

  I went to look at myself in the full length mirror in the dressing room and nearly started crying. I hardly recognised myself, I looked like a proper woman, a sexy, beautiful woman. Definitely fit for the red carpet. Mum and Dad were going to be stunned to see me looking like this. Zoe came back in and reached around my neck to secure a dazzling tear drop diamond necklace, handed me some matching earrings and when I was done she secured a matching bracelet around my right wrist and slid a large diamond ring onto my right hand as well.

  ‘What if I lose them?’ I asked, looking at her in a state of panic. These had to be worth more than my parents’ small terraced house.

  ‘They’re insured, but obviously try not to,’ she laughed. I nodded as she went to get the door when someone knocked. I took a moment to close my eyes to try and find my centre of calm. I was really nervous, but if I wanted to be a big time actress I was going to have to fake it and act like this was just a normal day. ‘Someone’s popular,’ Zoe grinned as she stuck her head around the door. ‘You have a delivery on the bed and one in the lounge.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Well the one on the bed is a box from Parkers in Covent Garden, only one of the most expensive florists in London.’

  ‘My parents,’ I sighed. ‘I threatened them that I’d have words if they did anything like
this. They can’t afford it.’ I followed her through to the bedroom and carefully sat on the edge of the bed, worried about creasing my outfit. The purple ribbon securing the box could have been cut from my dress, it was a perfect match. I pulled out the card tucked into it, read the message and just sat staring at it in disbelief.

  ‘Are you ok?’ Zoe frowned. ‘You look really shocked, it’s nothing nasty is it?’

  ‘No, not at all. It’s just from someone I didn’t expect.’

  ‘God, it’s not Daron trying to get in your knickers again, is it?’ asked Rachel, as she tucked in a stray piece of my hair and sprayed it.

  ‘No,’ I replied shaking my head, as I looked back down at the card.

  Summer, many congratulations on your premiere night. I’m sure you’ll be amazing. Prepare for everything to change. Logan

  ‘Who’s Logan?’ Zoe enquired.

  ‘O my God,’ gasped Mandy, my makeup artist. ‘It’s from him?’ She looked at me stunned and I looked back at her horrified. She knew who he was and the last thing I wanted was everyone knowing I’d had a date with a male escort, let alone that for some bizarre reason he was sending me flowers months later. Why was he sending me flowers? And how had he known I’d be here?

  ‘Who’s Logan? I didn’t know you were seeing anyone?’ Zoe asked. I blinked up at her, not sure how to handle it.

  ‘Just someone she went on a date with, she wasn’t sure if he really liked her, but from the look of this box, he really does,’ Mandy winked, sensing my discomfort. I gave her a grateful smile and reluctantly opened the box with all of the girls watching. Once again, just like that first night, he’d sent me a single beautiful calla lily, nestled in blue satin. I took it out and smelled it as my heart began to flutter.

  ‘I’d say he likes you, Parkers isn’t cheap and to send it in that luxury box as well?’ nodded Rachel.

  ‘I’ll get the hotel to bring up a vase for it, you’d better go and look in the lounge as well,’ Zoe advised, as she stood up and disappeared. I carefully put the flower back in the box and frowned. Blue satin, like the blue dress Logan had purchased for me last time, because he said it matched my eyes. Could he have sent my blue knickers too? I was so confused. It was nearly ten months since I saw him, why would he suddenly be in contact now? And wasn’t it one of his rules, that there would be no contact unless it was for a booking? I walked into the lounge and my hands flew up to my mouth in surprise. There was the most enormous free standing bouquet on the dressing table, made up of more calla lilies with white roses, but nestled in the middle was a single red rose. These had to be from my parents. I pulled out the card to see that they were from Parkers as well and shook my head, feeling completely confused to find another message from Logan.

  I’ve never forgotten that night, I hope it stayed in your memories too. Logan

  ‘I thought he never replied to your last request,’ whispered Mandy. I looked around to see we were on our own.

  ‘He didn’t,’ I confirmed. Mandy was the one who’d gotten his email for me. She’d worked with someone before, who’d had one appointment with Logan and told her how good he was. If it had been Mandy herself, I couldn’t have done it. I’d hate to have slept with him, knowing he’d already been with one of my friends.

  ‘Then what the hell’s going on?’ she uttered, looking at me confused.

  ‘Just the question I’m asking myself,’ I nodded. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, as I remembered him opening that front door of The Dalton Hotel suite, I’d nearly passed out from nerves and excitement to see him in person. He’d taken my breath away with his gorgeous face and that smile that could power a thousand watt light bulb. I’d never seen anyone so handsome before, or since. Damn him, I thought I was getting over this ridiculous infatuation and sending me flowers was stirring up all the feelings I’d had for him, not to mention making my nipples stand to attention and my knickers dampen.

  ‘Right let’s check your hair again, it’s nearly time, the limo will be here soon,’ ordered Rachel, as she marched back in with her can of hairspray, which was permanently attached to her hand. After coaxing and teasing a few strands and blasting me with enough spray that I’d go up like a match, if someone put a naked flame near me, Mandy touched up my lip gloss and Zoe appeared with the vase containing my beautiful single lily and announced it was time for me to leave.

  ‘Knock them dead on that red carpet and if Daron tries it on, slap him,’ ordered Mandy. I laughed and gave her a hug. We’d become quite close in the time she’d worked on me during production and often went out dancing together at weekends.

  ‘See you in the gardens before the film,’ nodded Rachel. ‘We’ll take our kits to touch you up, if needed, before any interviews.’

  ‘Put your gloss in your clutch,’ Mandy ordered.

  ‘Thanks girls, for everything,’ I stated sincerely, as I grabbed my silver Lulu Guinness sparkly lips clutch that Logan had purchased for me. I loved it and rarely had the chance to use it. Thank God it matched my new dress.

  ‘You deserve it, you’ve worked so hard. Now get gone, or you’ll miss your own premiere,’ smiled Zoe. ‘Our car’s waiting too.’

  I headed downstairs and walked through the lobby, turning heads as I went and smiled. I may have to get used to being in the spot light if tonight went well. I stalled as I stood outside the hotel entrance. A few of the cast and crew were staying here and there were a number of limousines waiting with the doors open and the drivers standing to attention.

  ‘Miss Beresford, you’re with me this evening,’ announced one, as he stepped forwards. I looked at him in surprise, I was sure I recognised him. I suddenly took a startled gasp, as I realised it was James, the driver Logan had sent for me, the one who’d delivered the dress, clutch, underwear and flowers to my house, for our appointment last time. It had to be a coincidence, he must be Daron’s driver too.

  ‘James?’

  ‘You have an excellent memory, as well as beauty. You look stunning this evening. Are you looking forward to your night?’

  ‘I’m a little nervous,’ I nodded, as he gestured to the open car door.

  ‘I’m sure you’ll be absolutely fine with the right man by your side,’ he winked. I looked at him wondering what that was supposed to mean. I was sure I wasn’t going to be fine with Daron at all. He was becoming a nuisance, he was that persistent and I’d reached the end of my limited patience with him. If he tried to grab my backside or breasts, or even looked at me the wrong way tonight, he was going to get the hardest slap of his life. I carefully lifted my long dress and climbed into the low car, shuffling back in the seat as I smoothed my dress back into place, while James closed the door.

  ‘Good evening, Miss Beresford. May I say how stunning you look tonight and how good it is to see you again,’ came a deep sexy voice, that would have set my knickers on fire, if the thoughts of Logan bloody Steele hadn’t already dampened them. I closed my eyes as I took a deep breath. That wasn’t Daron Beck’s voice, but I couldn’t bring myself to believe that he was here. That Logan himself might actually be sitting opposite me, on the biggest night of my life.

  I reached up to put my hand on my chest, over my wildly beating heart and realised, as I slowly opened my eyes, that my hands were actually shaking. I slowly drew my gaze up a pair of black trousers, covering some long legs that were parted, making me gulp as I saw the sizeable bulge straining against the crotch. The jacket of his tuxedo was undone, revealing a crisp white shirt with pleats, topped off by a bowtie. One hand was resting on his solid thigh, the other stretched out in a casual pose, across the back of the leather seat. My brain was arguing with itself, as to whether I should look higher to see the face of my companion. If it wasn’t Logan I was going to be massively disappointed, but if it was, how the hell was I supposed to process that? I flitted my eyes up quickly and heard myself take a startled breath to see it was him. Logan Steele, the man who’d driven me crazy for the last ten months, was sitting opposite me w
ith a smirk on his handsome face. I went dizzy as his grey eyes locked with mine and I forget to breathe, as I was flooded with a surge of heat. Damn him for being so gorgeous and damn him for being here. I could feel the tension and sexual attraction sizzling the air between us. He wanted to fuck me right now, and God, did I want him too, but not until he explained himself, if at all.

  ‘Mr. Steele, what the hell are you doing here?’ I demanded, when I finally took in some air and my annoyance overrode the feelings of desire I had for him.

  The Limousine

  Logan

  I fidgeted as I sat in the limo, waiting for her to come down. I couldn’t get comfortable. I’d done my jacket up, undone it, then repeated again. Tried sitting with my legs crossed, an ankle on my knee, leaning forwards with my elbows on my knees, sitting back in the seat with my arms folded. What the hell was wrong with me? I wasn’t a nervous sort of guy, if anything I was confident bordering on cocky at times, I knew it, but tonight you could virtually hear my bloody bones rattling.

  ‘Fuck,’ I muttered, as I looked out of the blacked out window. My heart had just moved into my mouth and my stomach did that weird bloody thing it did every time I thought about her. She’d just walked out of the hotel, in that purple designer dress I’d purchased for her, those sexy shoes and the jewellery my best friend had persuaded Havershams to lend to her for the weekend. However good I imagined she’d look, however beautiful I remembered her face, or how she looked on her initial approach photo, which I’d looked at more times than was healthy, was nothing compared to seeing her in the flesh again. I adjusted my fresh erection, as I watched her head towards James, knowing if she recognised him, there was a real possibility she’d realise I was sitting in here and she’d refuse to get in. I’d instructed James to manhandle her into the vehicle, as gently and efficiently as possible, if required. No way was I leaving here without her sitting opposite me, until I had a chance to explain, to say whatever the hell I needed to say. The worst of it was, I still didn’t have a fucking clue what to say to her. I watched as she climbed into the limo with her head down and sorted out her dress, as James closed the door. Well it was now or never and I steeled myself for a slap, resisting the urge to chuckle at my own pun.