“I’m going to kill her. How did she talk me into this?” I punched the decorative pillow in my lap and brooded.
“That’s what I ask myself on a daily basis.” Stella chuckled.
Jackie swept back into the living room and dropped a suitcase by the door. Finally. She and Stella had spent at least two hours going over Jackie’s itinerary for the next several days and briefing me on anyone I could possibly encounter. Then she’d spent over an hour gathering her stuff. The sooner she left, the sooner she could get on with her sabbatical and the sooner I’d be done with the charade.
I rose from the sofa to see her off.
“Thank you so much for doing this, Maddie. I owe you big time.” She sighed. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
I scrunched up my nose. “Just don’t alienate my friends back home.”
“You worry too much.” Jackie gave me a big hug. “Love you.”
My stomach tightened. I could do this. “Love you, too.”
“Oh, I almost forgot.” She reached into her purse and pulled out her wallet.
“What do I need that for?”
“You need my ID if someone asks for it. You’re me, remember? And if you want to buy something, your ID has to match the plastic. We’ll trade.”
I flinched. Handing over my ID and credit cards made it so much more real. For the next few days or weeks, I wouldn’t be me. I wouldn’t even have my faithful Volkswagen Beetle. I’d have her Tesla though. And Jackie needed this. I’d do it for her. In a daze, I rifled through my purse, then offered up my wallet.
“You’re going to do great. Thanks again. Really.” She snatched my wallet, gave me another hug and darted through the door.
Stella closed the door after Jackie, then glanced at the legal pad she’d been making notes on. “I think we covered any situation that could pop up. Other people in the building you might run into, upcoming appearances. But if you forget something, I’m familiar with most everyone she knows, so I can give you a refresher any time. If I’m not here, you can reach me on my cell. All you need to do is stick to the plan and not leave this condo without me. Okay?”
I nodded.
“I’ll be back here at eight in the morning. We’ve got that movie premier tomorrow night. You — I mean Jackie — had to send the dress back for alterations. They swore they’d have it ready, but just in case it’s still not quite right when we get there, I’d like us to arrive early.”
“But you guys already worked out the dress stuff. What problem could there be?” I asked.
“Jackie’s the one who fitted for the dress. You two look the same weight, but you never know.” She shrugged.
I didn’t want to go gown shopping for myself, much less Jackie. I'd rather be in jeans and a tee. Besides, I’d surely end up with something Jackie Bloom wouldn’t be caught dead in. “What are we going to do if it doesn’t fit?”
“We’ll figure it out. Believe me, I’m highly motivated to convince everyone you’re Jackie. If we pull this off, Jackie's promised me a big, fat bonus.” Stella grinned. “Gotta go. I have a date.”
“Have fun. See you tomorrow,” I said, returning her smile as she waved and left.
From the black leather sofa, I glanced around the room and willed my muscles to relax. Okay, so staying here wasn’t exactly a hardship. I had all the modern luxuries — gleaming, hardwood floors, a giant kitchen, more bedrooms than I needed and the biggest TV I’d ever seen in my entire life. Then there was the gorgeous balcony with a dazzling view of the Hollywood Hills. I'd think of this as a vacation. All I had to do in between was make a few appearances.
Posing for the camera wasn’t difficult and I could be charming when I wanted to. In front of hundreds of people? No problem. Except my body disagreed, butterflies making war in my stomach. I seriously needed to chill.
Darting to the kitchen, I brewed some herbal tea, then made myself comfortable again on the sofa. I turned on the TV and flipped through stations.
At home in my own room, reading kept me happy, but I hadn’t thought to pack a book or my e-reader since I’d only planned on a day trip. Getting lost in an epic romance novel would’ve made me forget, at least temporarily, that I’d only brought pajamas, one change of clothes and my camera. Not having my belongings made me feel out of sync and being alone in Jackie’s huge condo didn’t exactly put me at ease.
I switched off the TV and rolled my shoulders. My friends often teased me for being a hermit, because I preferred the comfort of my own home and tried to get them to come over, rather than leave the house.
Ironically, now that I’d been required to stay inside, I wanted nothing more than to get out.
The Tesla called to me from the parking structure below, beckoning me, silently begging to be set free for a quick spin. It was dark now, so no one would see me. I’d take her out, just for a few minutes, and come right back. Easy.
A snicker escaped me at the image of Jackie driving my car after being so spoiled with hers. Well, she’d been the one to insist on switching cars, just like we’d switched IDs. I grabbed my baseball cap, pulled it low over my forehead and plucked Jackie’s keys off the hook by the door.
Getting caught wasn’t an option, not without Stella around to bail me out. Keeping my head down, I opened the door and hurled myself past the threshold, into the hallway — and slammed into a chest. A very big, firm chest.
“Holy broken nose, Batman.” My nose burned and I squeezed my eyes shut as they stung in pain.
“In a hurry?” the owner of the hard chest said. I knew that voice…
I lifted my chin to meet his gaze and stared into familiar charcoal gray eyes. “I—”
Dallas Bines.
Jackie’s ex.
My dream crush.
My mouth dropped open. An image flashed through my mind of the last article I’d read called Top Ten Hollywood Abs. They’d given him the number three spot, but in my opinion, he should’ve rated first. No contest.
“Are you okay?”
“Well, it depends on if you know a good surgeon.” I may not have been obsessed with my looks like Jackie, but the less I resembled the elephant man, the happier I’d be. I covered my nose with my hand. If I did look grotesque, I didn’t want Dallas Bines to see.
Dallas laughed softly. “I’m sure it’s fine. Let me have a look.”
He laid a steadying hand on my elbow and his other hand gently pried my fingers from my face. His hands were warm and soothing and my resistance melted away.
Oh, my God. Dallas Bines, the object of my two-year obsession was actually touching me. My nerve endings pulsed at his nearness and I tried to ignore how his gray eyes seemed to see through me. He looked different in the flesh. His hair wasn’t as dark, only a shade lighter than mine. But he was just as gorgeous as in the magazines. Maybe even more so.
Already, the pain was subsiding which pushed me toward the theory that nothing was broken. That didn’t mean my face wouldn’t be bruised tomorrow for the premier. I hoped Stella had arranged a miracle worker to do my makeup.
His one hand remained at my elbow and the other cupped my cheek. He leaned toward me for a closer look. “Your nose looks the same as before.”
Suddenly thirsty, I licked my lips. “I think I’m good. Feels better now.”
“On your way somewhere?” The gravelly tone of his voice commanded me to freeze.
Not that I was about to move any time soon. It was as if an invisible string connected me to him. Oh, wait. He was still holding my face and my elbow. He really needed to stop being so hot while his hands were on me.
“Uh, I was about to go for a drive,” I said, trying to ignore the pressure of his thumb at my elbow.
“In sweats?” His gaze traveled from my waist to my tennis shoes. A smile spread over his face. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you without super high heels. Didn’t realize how short you are.”
I fought back a blush, feeling like I’d just been thoroughly dissected. Jackie nev
er blushed. I’d already risked exposing myself to the first person I ran into.
“Are you sick or something?” he asked as his hand slid down my arm to my fingers. “You look flushed.”
This was getting worse. I swallowed, which made me feel even thirstier as I tried to come up with a reply that sounded like Jackie, but my mouth went numb.
I forced a smile. “I’m fine. Didn’t plan on getting out of the car, so I figured no one would notice.”
His brows furrowed. “Since when does Jackie Bloom go out for leisurely drives without being seen by someone? Isn’t the whole point of leaving the house to attract attention? Where are you really going?” He gave me a crooked smile.
“Uhm.” My front teeth grazed my lower lip.
Leaving the condo had been a horrible idea. If I didn’t stop talking immediately, Dallas would discover I was an imposter. Stella wouldn’t get her bonus and Jackie would be forced to come back.
Dallas’s eyes crinkled at the corners and I wondered what it would feel like to run my fingers through his hair. I had to snap out of it, because I shouldn't want to date ex-boyfriends of sisters or friends. Ever. Besides, he’d already dumped me. Dumped Jackie, I mean. Whatever. Point was, even if he became interested in Jackie again, which he wouldn’t, he’d be bored out of his mind with Jackie’s country-girl twin.
I inched my hand away, but his fingers tangled with mine. A delicious shiver ran up my spine.
Dallas Bines was off limits, I reminded myself.
“I need to go rest my nose.” Without another word, I spun on my sneaker, breaking his hold on my hand, and took the two steps back to my door. I reached for the knob, then glanced over my shoulder. Dallas looked baffled… but gorgeously so.
I vanished into my temporary home, resolved never again to leave it without Stella.
* * * *
After what felt like hours in the chair the next day getting a make-over, I squirmed in the back seat of the limo, thankful that Jackie and I had similar metabolisms. The most beautiful dress I’d ever seen fit me to perfection. Its smooth lines of silver satin fabric hugged my waist, then draped elegantly over my hips. I felt like a princess. More accurately, I felt like a movie star. After a couple hours in skyscraper heels, however, I’d feel pain.
Stella leaned forward and adjusted a bobby pin, securing a lock of my hair. “I outdid myself. You look amazing.”
“I think you missed your calling,” I said. “Why not do hair and makeup for a living?”
She shrugged. “I’m always afraid it won’t be as much fun if I’m depending on it to pay the rent.”
I’d planned on doing the same as Stella, so how could I fault her? Instead of following my passion, photography, I’d checked out colleges to study business management. Maybe I’d have to rethink that...
“What’s the name of the movie we’re seeing?” I asked, amazed Stella hadn’t already filled me in on the players. Or maybe she had. Too much information had been crammed into my head and since the run-in with Dallas I couldn't keep anything straight.
“Mistaken Identity.” Stella smirked.
“You’re kidding, right?” Talk about ironic.
Stella held back a giggle. “Tommy Landers plays two guys who look exactly alike and eventually switch places. They fall for each other’s girlfriends and mess up each other’s lives. It’s a romantic comedy.”
“How well does Jackie know Tommy?” I jolted when Stella’s hand shot out to grab my wrist before I could rub my eye.
“Try not to ruin your makeup.” She plucked a tiny mirror from her purse and handed it to me.
By then, the itch had faded, so I returned the mirror to Stella. It was going to be a long night if I couldn’t scratch like normal people.
She leaned back again and crossed her legs. “Tommy played her boyfriend in A Time for Courage about a year ago. It’s still in post-production. Anyway, they hate each other, so feel free to ignore him. Jackie always does.”
If only I could ignore everyone else, too. “Unless someone comes by with a camera, right? Then I act like we’re best buddies.”
Stella chuckled. “You’re catching on.”
The closer we got to the theater, the more my adrenalin pumped. I slowly sucked in a breath, hoping my hands would stop trembling.
“You really need to change your face,” Stella said, folding her arms over her chest and staring me down.
“That would defeat the whole purpose of this impersonation, wouldn’t it?” I asked.
“No, I mean that grim expression. Like someone’s holding a gun to your head. You know, big eyes.” Stella formed an O with her thumb and index finger and held it in front of her open eyes. “Terror.”
“And then some. I feel like a fraud.” I bit my lower lip and averted my eyes. “What do you say to snooty people who act like they’re better than you? How do you deal with all this and not go crazy?”
“My mom is Jackie’s manager, so I grew up around her famous clients. One thing I’ve learned over the years, they’re just people, Maddie. Celebrities still cheat on their spouses or end up in rehab. Being famous doesn’t make you better than everyone else and don’t let them convince you otherwise.”
I ran an unsteady hand over the skirt of my gown. “I’ve been living in the country my whole life. I feel so out of place in the city.”
“This world, and every city in it, belongs as much to you as it does to anybody. And no one has any power over you unless you give it to them.” She gave me a soothing smile. “If I can handle these guys, so can you.”
My mouth gaped. “Damn, you’re good, Stella.”
“I want you to rock that red carpet.” She gave me a cocky grin, then swept her hand toward the tinted glass of the limo. “Here we are.”
Wait. She wants me to rock the carpet. What about her? Dread washed over me. “You won’t be with me?” I asked.
“I’m not famous and I’m not your date,” Stella said, confirming my worst fear. “They don’t want me there.”
I groaned.
About half a block away, search lights lit up the outside of the theater. Enormous guys with shoulders stretched back, wearing solemn expressions and dark suits, sprinkled the sidelines and guarded the perimeter.
“When they’re snapping pictures, do that smile we practiced when I was doing your makeup. Whatever you do, keep it up. Scowls look terrible on camera. Those bad photos are the ones they sell to the rags with captions like, ‘Jackie Checks Into Rehab’ or ‘Jackie Dumped by Her Latin Lover.’ So, no frowning, okay? Plus, it gives you wrinkles.”
Geez, no wonder Jackie depended on her so much. “Stella, you totally deserve double whatever Jackie's paying you.”
At the front of the line, a limo door opened and my pre-Dallas long-time crush, Luke Holtz, the star of Jackie’s and my favorite TV show Otherworld, stepped out. He showed white teeth as cameras flashed, then he turned and offered an arm to a pretty blond girl who’d just emerged behind him.
In a matter of moments, that would be me posing. Except I’d do it alone. My stomach pinched.
“No need to panic,” Stella said in a soft voice. “I called ahead and made it very clear that Jackie wasn’t giving any interviews. All you have to do is walk and smile.”
“Somehow, I don’t think it’s as easy as you make it out to be.” My shoulder muscles tensed.
“You’ll be fine. We’re up next. I’ll meet you at the other end.” Stella gathered her purple, beaded gown closer to her body and scooted toward the back of the limo. The driver opened the door on my side and I moved to step out.
“Wait.” She grasped my upper arm. “You have to pose for the photographers in front of the step and repeat, but just for a couple minutes, then you can move on.”
“Step and what?” God, couldn’t she have gone over this before the limo stopped? Butterflies waged war in my stomach.
“Step and repeat. The wall with the sponsors all over it, where you stand and they take your picture. You rem
ember how to do the pose?”
I nodded. “Yeah, one foot in front of the other, bend the knee.”
“Don’t forget to do something with your arms.” Stella nodded toward the door.
Oh, crap. I was really going to do this. “Got it,” I said.
As delicately as I could, I stuck one leg out then the other, the glare from the lights nearly blinding me after being in the dark limo. I stood up and mustered all my will to smile, then took a step forward, keeping my eye on the other end of the long, red path.
Oh, Lord, how did Jackie walk in stilettos when she had so many hours in them? I shouldn’t have let Stella talk me out of my sneakers. Even a pair of boots would have been better. It’s not like anyone could see my shoes under the yards of shimmering silver fabric cascading around my feet.
As if the shoes weren’t dangerous enough, I had to worry about tripping over my own dress. I wanted to rush past the press line, but my shoes and dress prevented it. Maybe I could save time by cutting the step and repeat short.
What was Jackie thinking to choose a dress, no matter how gorgeous, with no straps? It looked great on or off the hanger, but horrifyingly, it felt like it was slipping. I snuck a discreet peak only to find my dress hadn’t budged.
And don’t get me started on the fake eyelashes. Sure, they looked great on camera, but the glue felt weighty on my lids every time I blinked. At least they toned down my wide-eyed look of terror, giving me a sultry bedroom look.
A few more steps and I hit the carpet. It had a wide sponsor board on one side and on the other side was a three-foot deep line of press all crowding together for the best shot. Cameras clicked and people shouted out my sister’s name. Keeping my distance from them, I stopped, pasted on a smile and struck the pose Stella had taught me.
A part of me was just a little bit dazzled by the glamour. How many people could say they’d walked a red carpet filled with A-list celebrities? My friend Angie would just die if she knew what I was doing. Still, I wouldn’t be sad when the whole thing was finished and my feet were flat again.