Groupie/Rock Star Bundle by Ginger Voight Read Free Book Online

host cajoled. “Give
us the exclusive. All of New York wants to know if you and Lourdes
are as hot and heavy as you appear in the tabloids.”
    For that, Vanni looked over at me. He didn’t
wink, but I somehow sensed he wanted to. “New York will have its
answer soon enough, Mike. Stay tuned.”
    Always leave them wanting more.
    Iris nudged me with a smile. “That’s your
exclusive,” she said, brimming with confidence.
    Yay, me.
    As we were leaving Vanni tried to
steal me away by saying we could share a cab up to the hotel, for
that all-important interview that needed to be done. Iris wasn’t
having it. She insisted that we needed to go shopping for something
to wear at Jasper’s big party that night, and that he’d just have
to be patient.
    As a wingman, Iris Kimble totally
sucked.
    I tried to muster enthusiasm as we bid Vanni
adieu and headed off to get glamorized before the big event that
night. Free clothes and a free makeover just didn’t do much to
excite me while I had all these unanswered questions swirling
around in my head.
    I tried to pry it out of Iris as we sprinted in
and out of different boutiques and salons, but she wasn’t
forthcoming. She either didn’t know or she didn’t feel it was her
place to share. Vanni was her friend, after all, and she had to
protect his confidence.
    So I remained aggravatingly clueless as I was
plucked, primped, and pampered for a major event thrown by one of
the most important entertainment moguls in the country.
    By the end of it all I could hardly
begrudge the miraculous efforts put forth by what I affectionately
dubbed my “pit crew.” I wore a long plum colored satin dress with
black lace overlay. It had an empire waistline enhanced by a
jeweled band with black rhinestones just under the bodice, to catch
the light around my rather prominently exposed cleavage. My skin
was pale but dusted with a shimmering powder to give it a rosy
glow. My hair, still in its two-toned bob, was trimmed and teased
till it lifted off my head like a Technicolor halo. Everyone vetoed
the glasses, so the only real mask I got to wear was a darker
periwinkle gray eye shadow they used for a smoky effect.
    They provided a lace shawl for my creamy
exposed shoulders, which helped detract away from any perceived
“flaws.” When I stepped out of the car in front of the luxury
apartment building where Jasper Carrington lived with his famous
wife Athena, I felt almost as if I belonged to Manhattan high
society.
    The minute I entered the posh
penthouse apartment I took another glass of champagne from a
uniformed waiter to fill my tank of confidence. The music thundered
around the elegant living room where several familiar faces
lingered.
    Was that…? Could that be…? I didn’t
know he was dating her… and where is her husband?
    Iris would bend toward me every now and then to
fill me in on all the hottest gossip. But the only real story I
wanted to hear was about Lourdes. Would she make it to this
glamorous affair?
    And would I be demoted from Cinderella back
down to the Ugly Stepsister the minute she walked through the
door?
    Alana and Iain arrived, arm in arm,
looking like normal people in love amidst all the Celebots that
were milling around trying to network. I got a quick peck on the
cheek from both Alana and Iain before they made their way further
into the fray.
    Jasper came by with Athena draped on
his arm. She was an exotic creature with long, black hair and big
brown eyes. Her lips were full and her curves were luscious as they
undulated under her silk mermaid dress that dipped low in the
front. She murmured her hello graciously, but it was fairly evident
she didn’t bother to even learn my name before she went on to the
next guest.
    All the players were in place except
for one. Okay, two. And the longer I had to wait for their
appearance the more anxious I got. I snagged another glass of
champagne as the waiter went by, but avoided the hors d'oeuvre
tray. My stomach felt as though