A Reclusive Heart (Hollywood Hearts 2)

“Does this favor have a name or are we all supposed to follow your rude example? Honestly Nick, sometimes I wonder why I love you so much,” Dana said, stepping forward.

“Hey!” Edward snapped.

Nick grinned hugely.

She rolled her eyes playfully at her husband. “Don’t give me that look, you know I have a soft spot for Nick.”

“That’s funny, because I have a hard-” Nick began only to be cut off by Dana slapping a hand over his mouth.

Dana smiled warmly as she looked at Jamie. “I’m sorry that my very rude friend here is being, well….himself. I’m Dana and this is my husband Edward.

We’re very please to meet you…..,” she prompted smoothly.

“Jamie Harris,” she managed to answer.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Jamie. Would you care for something to drink?”

“No, thank you,” she said, feeling really nervous and wishing Nick would release her so she could make a run for the car or the border, whichever was more convenient.

Dana nodded, turning her attention back to Nick. “I’m going to remove my hand now. Behave yourself,” she warned sternly, but the smile she gave him kind of defeated the tone.

“Now tell me what this favor is that you need,” Dana said, walking back to her husband to lean into him. Edward’s arm automatically came around her waist to hold her.

Jamie had to look away again, feeling like she was intruding on another private moment. It was obvious that this couple was madly in love. Something she would never experience.

Wow, that was a really depressing thought.

“I need you to take Miss. Harris out for a complete makeover.”

Dana frowned as she looked back at Jamie. No doubt she too thought it was a hopeless task.

“Not that I could ever say no to you-“

“You better be able to say no to him,” Edward practically growled, making Dana smile.

“-but do you mind telling me why she needs a makeover and what it’s for so I know where to focus?”

Nick sighed. “She’s an editor, well really an author Rerum has signed and I’m her editor. I need to get her ready for some PR, but I don’t have much time.”

Dana frowned, looking thoughtful. “Have I read anything you wrote?”

Nick chuckled. “Most likely, but she writes under a penname.”

“Oh, what name?” Edward asked, kissing the top of Dana’s head.

“J.L. Lewis,” Nick announced to her horror.

Why must the man do things like this? Did he enjoy humiliating her? First with the tampon and the toilet shield, then he put her down in Rick’s office for a good half an hour. Now he was determined to have a good laugh at her expense.

Like Dana Pierce really knew who she was. Puhlease. That was so ridicu”The J.L. Lewis of the Immortals on Earth series and Vampires of the Heart series?” Dana Pierce asked with a deadly serious expression.

Wow, Jamie thought, Dana Pierce heard about her books. That was pretty cool. Maybe she had some advice or something about her books. Of course she probably only heard about her series from Rick. Jamie really doubted someone like Dana Pierce actually read her work.

“That’s her,” Nick said casually.

Dana’s jaw dropped.

Jamie became worried.

“Honey? Are you okay?” Edward asked.

Not bothering to answer, Dana rushed towards her scaring the crap out of her. Dana took Jamie’s hands into hers as she gushed, “I am such a huge fan of yours! Oh my god, you have to sign something!”

Chapter 4

“You know, you don’t have to do this,” Jamie mumbled.

The two women who’d practically dragged her here, slowly turned around, looking horrified. “I love makeovers!” Amy Benet, Edward Pierce’s baby sister, gushed.

Dana chuckled. “She’s just hoping we let her out of this.” She gave Jamie a warm smile. “Don’t worry. This will be fun.”

Jamie wasn’t so sure of that as she glanced past the two women towards the open floor of the upscale beauty parlor.

“Besides Rerum Publishing is paying for this so I say enjoy it,” Dana said with a firm nod.

Amy quickly agreed, making her fight back a smile. These two women were nothing like she expected. Never in a million years had she expected that Dana Pierce would drag through her house to her private office so that Jamie could autograph a piece of paper for her. Nor did she expect Dana to call her sister-in-law and brag rather excitedly that J.L. Lewis was in her house. That of course made the other woman screech and demand that no one move until she got there.

Now they were embarking on what could only be described as a day of torture. The other two women argued with Nick for over an hour about what needed to be done. When Nick explained what he wanted done she frowned along with the other two women. Even Edward Pierce looked a little confused. The way he explained it she could have sworn he expected her to turn out nerdish.

Thankfully the other two women shot him down. When he argued, Dana enlisted the help of her three boys and little girl to chase a laughing Nick out of the house with water guns. The new game plan now was hair, makeup, laser eye surgery if it turned out she was a candidate and then clothes.

Jamie didn’t have much hope, but didn’t say anything. She knew she wasn’t pretty. Caitlyn was the pretty sister. Everyone always said so. Jamie was the smart one, the responsible one. It was the role she was born into and accepted it without complaint. Never once had she even considered, well not really at least, having a makeover. What was the point? There wasn’t enough makeup in the world to turn this ugly duckling into a swan. No point in wasting her money.

She didn’t want to waste Rerum Publishing’s money either, but the two women were so excited and happy to do this with her that she couldn’t bring herself to tell them it was pointless. She just hoped when this was all over that they weren’t too disappointed.

******

Nick glanced at his watch as he stepped out of the car.

“Shit,” he muttered as he headed for the front door. It was a quarter to nine and he was more than two hours late in picking Jamie up. Dana was going to be pissed, but there was no helping it. He just spent the last eleven hours on the phone, computer and overseeing five assistants all so he could make J.L. Lewis’

introduction to the world perfect, smooth.

This was the big chance he’d been waiting for and he wasn’t about to let anyone mess it up, not even J.L. Lewis herself, especially not J.L. This was his big break. This was his “Dana Pierce.” When he was done, everyone was going to know who J.L. was and it would all be thanks to him.