The Seeds Of A Daisy: The Lily Lockwood Series: Book One (Women's Fiction) by Alison Caiola Read Free Book Online

started out wavy and sexy, but was looking more “cavewoman” after our convertible ride. I definitely had to give Jamie a hat to keep in the car for me. After smoothing my dress, I glanced quickly one more time and thought I looked pretty good.
    Over the years, people have told me I look like a young Sandra Bullock and even though it is a bit annoying to be compared to someone else, I secretly had to agree. I had gotten some sun that day, which brought out my hazel eyes. I had decided to dress casually, since it was Sunday and I wasn’t in the mood for getting too dressed up. I’d put on a salmon-colored silk Stella McCartney sun-dress with a camisole neckline and scallop detail. I threw on a pair of strappy sandals, applied a quick dash of lipstick, and was good to go.
    “Oh, I almost forgot,” Mitzi turned to me. “Congrats on the Emmy nomination.” Before I could respond with proper thanks, she continued, “You’ve got some stiff competition there, girl.”
    Ouch
. I responded to her with something I thought I’d never say in my lifetime: “I know, but it’s an honor to be nominated.” Jamie looked at me like
who are you and what the hell did you do with my girlfriend?
    Mitzy ushered us into the large living room. The décor was classic Hollywood of the 1960s, with a sunken conversation pit, large brown module couches, and a massive slate-gray stone fireplace.
    “Where are the go-go girls?” I whispered to Jamie. He tried not to laugh.
    Harvey Leder, known in Hollywood for his shrewd taste in picking movies that became big box-office smashes and for his bad taste in picking ratty toupées, looked genuinely happy to see us.
    “Thanks so much, Harvey, for having this get-together,” Jamie said.
    “Are you kidding? I wanted my star to meet everyone. Kid, this film is going to be golden, and you are going to rocket to the top!”
    Jamie was eating it up and I was happy for him. Proud of him, too. This was a big break for him and the first time he was carrying a movie.
    “Groovy house,” Jamie said. He shot me a look. This time I tried not to crack up.
    “Thanks, kiddo,” Harvey replied. “Mitzi and I love it. Man, if these walls could talk. . . Dean lived here back in the day. Frank and the Rat Pack hung out and partied here all the time.
    Jamie nodded his head up and down slowly while looking around. “Yeah… I could see that.”
    “Lily, mind if I take Jamie away for a minute? Some last-minute work stuff we need to straighten out.” Before I could answer, they were making their way into another room. I found myself standing alone in the middle of the groovy living room.
    “Alrighty, then,” I said out loud. Mitzi came back and handed me an apple martini.
    “Here you go, sweetie. Now, do you know everyone here?” I looked around and saw small groups of your typical good-looking young actor types chatting and drinking. I’d been a child actor, so I was really considered a veteran in the business. This crowd looked like a new crop of young up-and-comers.
    “No, Mitzi, don’t think so, but I’ll be okay—I’m a pro at this. First, I think I need to eat. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I smelled the food.”
    “Well, go head outside and by all means, eat. We have the old sushi chef from Myagis before it closed down. He makes the most incredible rainbow rolls, and Wolfgang sent us his best pasta chef. The linguini is to die for! So go—enjoy.”
    I walked through the French doors to the back patio area. There was a huge kidney-shaped pool with cabanas on both sides. A full bar took up one corner, with six buffet tables positioned in front of the cabanas. Round, multicolored lanterns were hung in double strands across the patio, casting enough light to let you see what you were eating, while maintaining a festive and romantic ambience. Small groups of attractive twenty and thirty-somethings chatted, laughed, drank, and mingled.
    In high school, I’d had a friend who lived on this