Night After Night Read Online Free Page B

show off the pieces.”
    “Let’s do it,” Jessica said, then told her driver to take them to The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, where they were bound to find the perfect outfit to complement Zoe’s new designs.
    Fifteen minutes later, they were entering the upscale shopping mall. With it being a weekday afternoon, the place wasn’t quite as busy, but Jessica’s wild mane of hair and her rock-star quality were hard to conceal. It didn’t take long for heads to start turning in their direction as people recognized the celebrity in their midst. Jessica’s big, strapping bodyguard, Simon, walked close behind them, his intimidating presence and the firm show of his hand enough to keep fans from rushing up to her.
    People stopped and stared, some pointed in excitement, and a few even shouted Jessica’s name. She smiled and waved, completely at ease with the attention while Zoe watched it all with a sense of relief that she didn’t have to deal with such an intrusive level of fame. The name of Zoe Russo was connected to her sought-out designs and accessories, not her face, which offered her a bit of anonymity unless she chose otherwise. Seeing what Jessica had to deal with on a daily basis made Zoe want to keep things that way.
    As they walked through the forum of shops, a trail of people followed at a distance. When they stopped at Valentino, Carolina Herrera, and Roberto Cavalli to try on a few outfits, Simon remained by the front doors to keep any rabid fans from disturbing Jessica as she perused the latest fashions. Zoe felt like a zoo animal on display as the small group watched them through the shop windows, and for the most part she was able to ignore their stares—all but one, anyway.
    Standing just off to the side of the crowd was an angry-looking man who seemed to be watching her. Wherever she went, his narrowed gaze seemed to follow, causing an unsettling sensation to shiver down her spine.
    She pushed off her unease when Jessica selected a summery halter top and asked Zoe to accompany her into the dressing room to give her opinion. Welcoming the chance to duck out of sight for a while, she joined her friend, and ten minutes later they were leaving the store with Jessica’s new purchase in hand.
    As they stepped back outside, Zoe was grateful for Simon’s protection as the bodyguard fell into place behind them and easily kept the throng of people from invading their personal space. Zoe glanced around for the man she’d seen earlier. Unable to find him, she exhaled a relieved breath and relaxed.
    “I can’t believe you haven’t found anything yet,” Jessica said as they passed other specialty shops. Then she grinned and pointed at a window display. “Check out that sexy off-the-shoulder dress at Michael Kors. It has your name all over it.”
    “Yeah, it does,” Zoe agreed, attracted to the style and the gorgeous coral color certain to complement the rich jewel tones she’d incorporated into her Eye Candy accessories. “Let’s go try it on.”
    Just as they reached the store, a trio of teenage girls came running up to Jessica, reaching her before Simon could step in and stop their enthusiastic approach.
    “Oh, my God, it’s Jessica Morgan!” one of them squealed in excitement. “You’re so awesome!”
    “I just love your song ‘Never Again,’” another gushed, her eyes wide with awe.
    “Can I take a picture with you?” the third girl asked, and without waiting for a reply she wedged herself next to Jessica and handed one of her friends her cell phone. “My sister will never believe I met you unless I can prove it with a picture.”
    Jessica leaned close to the girl and smiled just as the cell phone flashed, drawing even more attention to the pop star. Zoe stepped away as other people crowded around, asking for an autograph or a picture, even as Simon did his best to keep the fans from overwhelming Jessica.
    “It’s okay,” Jessica told her bodyguard as she accepted a pen from a woman