American Diva by Julia London Read Free Book Online Page A

tells Star that Audrey and Lucas were recently spotted in the diamond district in New York.
     
    Jack quickly closed the rag and put it back on the rack, and only then noticed the woman behind him was reading over his shoulder. “I really like her music,” she offered when Jack looked at her curiously.
    “Yep,” Jack said, and quickly turned around, feeling like an idiot.
    Later that afternoon, when Lucas Bonner was in the TA offices, Jack discovered the man set his teeth on edge, and he couldn’t figure out why. Granted, he wasn’t crazy about Bonner’s manner—it seemed false to Jack somehow. And it annoyed him that when talking about Audrey’s security needs, he kept saying we .
    He wondered how a woman as beautiful and vibrant as Audrey LaRue could have ended up with this guy. They didn’t seem to match. Bonner was too intense for her.
    What he wanted was a security detail for Audrey LaRue during her nationwide tour this summer, and Mitzi had led him to believe that TA staged security details just like they staged extreme adventures.
    “We’ve had a couple of scary encounters with fans, a few threatening letters, and then there was the break-in at our condo. The police are investigating that, but we’d still like to take an extra precaution,” Bonner said. “Those letters are giving us the creeps.”
    “Wait . . . did you both get letters?” Michael asked, confused by Bonner’s liberal use of the word we .
    “Well, no . . . Audrey did.”
    “Aha,” Michael said, and frowned a little disdainfully. “So . . . what do you need from us?” he asked.
    “I’m not sure,” Bonner said, leaning back in his chair. “All I know is that we can’t walk out our door without flashes going off and people screaming for autographs. Anyone could get to us.”
    Us? Did this guy really think anyone was dying to get to him ?
    “And besides, personal security is pretty standard fare nowadays. Britney has twenty-four/seven security. Lindsey and Mariah, too. It just makes good sense.”
    “Security is not really our scene,” Cooper said.
    “Right . . . but you know security,” Bonner insisted. “You do all those adventures with people as famous as we are.”
    The TA guys all exchanged a look.
    “Don’t worry about the cost,” Bonner added confidently. “We’d rather feel safe than worry about a few bucks here and there.”
    How nice for Audrey that this guy wasn’t worrying about spending her money.
    “We don’t do security, but we’ll talk about it,” Eli reiterated, and stood up, indicating the meeting was over. “We’ll give you a call.”
    Bonner stood, too, and shook each of their hands. “I look forward to working with you guys. Mitz says you’re the best.” He walked to the door.
    Mitzi lingered and whispered to Cooper, “Just think about it. Promise me you’ll think about it.”
    “Right,” Cooper said, moving her to the door.
    When they finally went out, and the door shut behind them, Michael turned around and shook his head. “What a waste of time.”
    “There are a dozen great security firms in town,” Cooper chimed in. “Why us?”
    “Because of you, Jessup,” Eli said to Cooper. “You know Mitzi has a thing for you. This is her ticket into your pants.”
    “No way,” Coop said instantly, shaking his head. “I have a girlfriend, and even if I didn’t, I don’t do publicists. You know what happened the time I dated Leslie.”
    “Don’t tell it again,” Eli said quickly. “I swear to God I can’t hear it again without laughing my ass off. The last time you told it, I laughed so hard it damn near killed me.”
    “Too bad that’s the gig,” Michael said as he crossed to the little fridge they kept stocked with beer. “I was hoping for something really cool. Volcano diving, maybe.”
    “Yeah, too bad,” Eli agreed, ignoring Cooper’s glare. He squinted absently at a lamp. “I have to admit, I kind of like that new song Audrey’s got out.”
    Jack paused in what he