while the gaggle of groupies oohed and ahhed at his masterful break shot and ran their hands over his biceps and back.
“Sure you don’t want to line up a few more candidates?” Ronaldo asked. “There’s a Chinese actress who took Japanese flower arrangement classes. She even knows how to do the tea ceremony.”
“Uh, Oba-chan will never believe I went for a traditional woman. This Amy’s perfect. Feisty, Americanized, untamed. I bet Oba-chan was a lot like her when she was young.”
Rolando quirked his eyebrow and picked the cue ball out of the pocket. “And that’s a good thing? Teo, I’m worried about you.”
One of the silicone enhanced babes fluttered her eyelids and said, “Konnichiwa.”
Teo gave her an air kiss and waggled his eyebrows. “Domo arigato. You up for some skinny dipping later?”
Another woman lined up for her shot, her bikini bound behind pointed their direction. Right before she struck the cue ball, Ronaldo snapped her bikini bottom. Her stick scratched the table.
“Penalty!” Ronaldo said, reaching for her bikini tie. “I’m taking it off.”
The woman hanging onto Teo whispered, “I’m ready to take it all off. Shall we find a private pool to dip in?”
Teo wet his throat with a swallow of beer. Why not? He wasn’t chained to Amy yet, and he was still aroused from their encounter. He waved to Ronaldo, “I’m outta here. Thanks for setting up the reality show.”
Not that they were going to air it. It was only a ruse to get the self-respecting Amy, the type of girl his grandmother would approve of, to get acquainted with him and agree to pose as his girlfriend for the summer.
Ronaldo snickered. “You’re so screwed. Once the show starts, no more messing around.”
“Yeah right.” Teo fist bumped his buddy. “Then I’m heading to Amsterdam early and going incognito. Gotta get my fill of Dutch girls and their wooden clogs before Amy shows up for our first date.”
Chapter 4
Amy ran her fingers over the ten thousand dollar check, her advance. Not bad. Not bad at all. Sure, Peter had double-dipped, being Ronaldo’s PA, but she’d still give him his fifteen percent agent’s cut. After all, without him, she’d soon be eating dog food.
She had enough bus fare on her TAP card to get to the bank. Things were looking up, even though she’d been rejected at another casting call.
She tapped her fare card and got onto the Metro bus. Her phone rang as she squeezed herself into a seat near the back. It was her father.
“Your mother says you’re going to Europe. I’m not paying any roaming charges for your cell phone, you hear? Why are you travelling when you don’t have a job? You’re not supposed to be rewarding yourself. Which auditions are you giving up for this spree?”
As usual, her father launched into a tirade without first saying ‘hi.’
“Dad, this is a job. My employer is paying for the trip.” Not to mention food, lodging, and spending money.
“Temporary or permanent? Remember, no real job by the end of summer and you’re coming home. I let you do things your way, majoring in acting. Now you do things my way.”
“I know, Dad, but I’ve on the verge of a big break. This project’s sponsored by Silver Studios.”
“Don’t know who they are. What’s your role?”
“Acting, of course.”
“In Europe?” Her father’s voice wasn’t quite as harsh as before. “TV show, movie? What’s the deal?”
“Documentary or docudrama. I’ll be appearing with a professional motorcycle racer.”
“You mean motocross?”
“No, Grand Prix racing. High speed on professional tracks all around the world.”
“Why you? What part are you playing?” Nothing got past her father’s bullshit meter. If she told him what she was really doing, romancing a racer, he’d have a fit and order her to get on the next plane home.
Sweat bloomed under Amy’s collar. “I’m going to give interviews, do photo opportunities.”
“Journalism? How much are