Relatively Famous by Jessica Park Read Free Book Online

whatever she felt comfortable doing, which didn’t help her at all. Dani shuffled behind a large man in a tweed suit and did her best not to start hyperventilating. After reaching the public waiting area, she scanned the crowds for Mark. Surely he wouldn’t be late, would he?
    “Excuse me, Miss. Are you Dani?” A young man in his mid-twenties tapped her on the shoulder.
    “Yes, I am,” she answered hoping this wasn’t a reporter.
    “Excellent.” The young man tipped his head forward. Did he just bow at her? “I’m Christopher, Mark Ocean’s personal assistant.” His entire appearance screamed obsessive-compulsive. He had closely cropped hair, not a single strand daring to move out of place. His crisp cotton shirt was tucked neatly into his dress pants , and Dani was nearly blinded by the shine from his shoes. “Your father,” he said in a whisper, “is outside in the car waiting for you. I’m sure you understand that he couldn’t meet you himself.” He gave Dani a knowing look. “The crowds would have been impossible , and that is not the way Mr. Ocean wanted to introduce you to the world.”
    Dani refrained from giggling at the notion of being introduced to the world. “Of course. I’ll have to get my suitcases from baggage claim, though.”
    “I’ll take care of that for you. Do you have your claim tickets? Wonderful. Right this way, Miss.”
    Dani scurried after Christopher, who swiftly led the way out of the airport to a black limousine idling by the curb. The air was warm. The sky was brilliant blue. Dani regretted ever complaining about California weather.
    “This is Mr. Ocean’s car,” Christopher announced just as a driver materialized to open the door. “I’ll be right back with your luggage.”
    “Don’t you want to know what my bags look like?” Dani asked.
    “I’ll find them. It’s my job,” he called to her, as he rushed back inside the airport.
    Dani tried to peer into the tinted windows of the limousine. The limo driver held out his hand to Dani , and without thinking, she reached her hand out and shook his. “Hello. It’s nice to meet you.” The driver shook her hand awkwardly and then tilted his head, indicating she should get into the car.
    “Sorry,” she mumbled. Dani stepped inside the cavernous limousine and fell ungracefully onto the leather seat. “Oh, that’s squishy!”
    “Dani? Hi.”
    In the darkened interior Dani found herself seated smack next to the one and only Mark Ocean.
    “Oh, sorry, I couldn’t see you when I was getting in , and then I sort of tumbled into my seat , and I’m lucky I didn’t land on you. That would have been weird, huh? So, anyway, I’m Dani, obviously, and you must be Mark. Again, obviously. And, well, so here we are!” God, she’d been so calm and cool about meeting her father , and now that he was in front of her, idiocy prevailed.
    Dani looked at Mark. He really was quite a handsome man—thick dark hair, a strong, handsome face, dark eyes, and a solid build. He looked kinder in person than in his photographs. His soft white shirt was unbuttoned at the top, and even Dani, with her limited designer experience, could tell he was expensively dressed. He crinkled his eyes with an uncertain smile, and Dani felt reassured.
    “Hi, Dani. It’s really great to meet you. Should we…I mean, are we supposed to…I don’t know, hug or something?” Mark tossed his hands helplessly in the air. “I’ve been sitting in this car for the past hour trying to decide what to do when I saw you. I didn’t want to just hug you without warning. But shaking your hand seems stupid, too.” Mark turned away as if embarrassed.
    Dani smiled at him. They’d been having the same dilemma. “Let’s just go for a hug, okay?”
    Mark smiled back, a look of relief on his face. “Yes. Good idea. We should get that first hug out of the way , and after that it’ll be less strange. Okay, here we go.” Mark leaned forward a bit and wrapped his arms