Every Pearl Has Its Oyster (26 page)

“Don’t look like that,” Liam said, referring to the apologetic glances that Amanda gave the crowd as he pulled her through them and into the restaurant. The dimly lit space was packed and busy, but it didn’t stop both hostesses from rushing to make a greeting.

“Hello, Mr. Brody,” one managed to say before the other, subtly straightening the black mini dress on her long and slender frame. “Your table is ready for you.”

“Thank you,” Liam smiled, making eye contact with her for perhaps a little too long. Amanda took the time to readjust her outfit. Liam’s sweater fell like a dress on her body, the slouchy look seeming to translate as chic or at least passable. No one seemed to notice her worn-out tights. If anything, the crowd stared at her face, trying to place her in their memories.

“Is she that girl who hosts the show on Travel?” someone asked.

“No, she has a shorter face than that girl,” came the answer.

Amanda let out a breath of relief upon hearing such neutral words. They weren’t bashing her, and that was all that she had hoped for from a place like Lilac. All her ego needed for a boost was to survive dinner without anyone laughing in her face.

“Enjoy your meal,” the flirty hostess said, daring to wink at Liam before sauntering off from their cozy corner booth. Amanda watched him watch her go. He turned back only to grin, unrepentant. “What?”

Amanda laughed. “You’re going to have trouble with this. I can tell.”

“Trouble with what?” Liam scoffed.

“Staying faithful to me,” she smirked, studying her menu. She could tell that his eyes were still on her though hers were decidedly on the cocktail list.

“You do remember that this is a fake relationship, right?” he asked.

“No way, really? I’m just saying it has to look real to the press, and if they catch you cheating on poor little me you’ll look worse than you did before I came along,” Amanda pointed out, trying not to cackle at the realization taking over Liam’s face. “I’m sorry,” she said, laughing. “I know it sucks. Maybe we can hire someone for you to cheat on me with and make her sign a contract of confidentiality.”

Liam thought about it hard for a few long seconds before shrugging it off. “I’m stealthy. Don’t worry about it.”

“Okay,” Amanda snorted. She suspected he probably was stealthy anyway – there had to be hundreds of women he had slept with that the media had never known about.

“For example, I just noticed the idiots across the room without actually looking at them,” Liam said.

“What idiots?”

“The ones recording us on their phones,” he answered nonchalantly, reading through his menu. “Doesn’t usually happen here.”

“Well, just make the best of it,” Amanda said simply. Before she could suggest how, Liam slid down the booth, sidling up next to her and draping an arm around her shoulder. She held her breath.

“Alright.” He leaned in close, his lips grazing her ear. “This is me whispering sweet nothings to you right now,” he said in a smoldering voice. Amanda burst out laughing, covering her mouth as he continued. “Now I’m complimenting something about you, probably not your ridiculous outfit,” he whispered through a smile. She rolled her eyes.

“I’m being receptive despite the fact that you’re a total douche,” Amanda murmured, taking his hand.

“Nice touch,” he said. “You ready?” he asked.

“For wha – ”

Liam cupped her face with his free hand and kissed her on the lips. The shock eventually subsided into amusement. She was kissing Liam Brody. He was pretending to like it. She kind of was too. Through a laugh, she kissed him back. Before Amanda knew it, the unreal moment was over and she thankfully hadn’t done anything extremely embarrassing. An A-List actor had just kissed her in public and she had been too amused by their previous banter to really think about it. Liam leaned back in his seat to watch her laugh.

“I can tell you’re actually happy right now because you have one of those ugly laughs.”

Amanda wiped the tears in her eyes that had emerged from cackling so hard. “You’re so annoying. You’re worse than I could’ve imagined.”

“I’m glad we’re having this conversation. It’s good to hash things out.”

“Totally,” Amanda agreed, fanning at her face as she came down from her hysterics. “God, I hope they didn’t catch that on camera.”

“Oh, they did,” Liam replied simply, barely able to peck her cheek without snorting. “But it’ll be good for us.”

SO SHE WASN’T THE MAID, GUYS.

January 13 4:21PM

Posted by FilmFreak

HDU via Pop Rock Gossip

Liam Brody has officially stepped out with new girlfriend, 22-year-old blogger Amanda Nathan. Brody, known for his repertoire of supermodel exes, has shocked just about everyone by showing off his new relationship with Nathan, a virtual unknown in the Hollywood world. Could this be some sort of publicity stunt? A video of the couple at New York’s Lilac seems to prove otherwise.

Footage recorded of the date shows the lovebirds laughing and whispering throughout most of the night, even sharing a hot and heavy kiss right before dinner. Also seen in the video is a confident Nathan unruffled by Brody’s wandering eyes around a flirty hostess.

“
This is a sign of a true and healthy relationship,” says celebrity analyst Monica Kinsey. “We’ve heard a lot about jealousy issues with Liam’s former girlfriends. Here, Amanda appears at ease and can even joke with Liam about his behavior – she is confident that there is nothing to worry about, and he is unabashed because he knows that she knows this.”

(Hold on… is this real life?? Somebody find Pretty and ask her what she thinks about this because I don’t know how to feel right now. I thought Liam Brody was supposed to be HDU’s favorite douchelord. What’s going on? L - FF )

TOP COMMENTS

so_effin_cute

publicity stunt. liam brody is a pervy asshole and always will be

howboutno89

i want to believe this for how sweet it’d be but i feel like she’s got to be a paid actress. if not, he’ll prob cheat on her FAST

mrstylerchase

idgaf that video is kind of adorable. but ia with everyone, he’ll probably cheat on her L hope not tho

Diamonds Are Forever: The Final Novel of the Hidden Gem Series

It's been three years since Gemma Hunter walked away from Queen Bee and her infamous relationship with Tyler Chase. Now a twenty-two year old in the world’s fashion capital of Manhattan, Gemma is on the verge of a burgeoning career in haute couture. Old and new friends zip in and out of her busy life with best friend Zoe as a loyal client and Leah as a vital employee of Gemma’s new fashion house. And for once, everything is truly within her own control.

And as far as guys go? There hasn't been room for anyone serious, but the summer may very well change that when a certain free agent moves back East to play for the New York Knicks…

Perfect/Fit

Isabelle Kelly has long accepted her role as the token plus-sized buddy in both her D Network television series, “Buckled Down,” and in real life. But now that the show is being canceled and her contract with D Network has expired, Isabelle is having a hard time finding employment anywhere else in image-conscious Hollywood. With her former cast members moving on to bigger and better projects, Isabelle finds herself lonely and dejected and an easy target for gossip blogs. However, an unlikely friendship is forged when Isabelle meets reality show trainer, Daniel Quon, known best for the most extreme success stories on his hit weight loss television show. With a longtime crush on former co-star, Joshua Lee Miller and a major audition for her dream role looming on her calendar, Isabelle can only hope her new friendship will be the key to the Hollywood life she had always dreamed of.

Tasteless

For seven seasons, cameras followed The Somerville family as they ran their quaint, upstate New York restaurant. Olive and Warner Somerville and their six children were images of the American Dream but when the cameras stopped rolling, they found their thirst for fame was not yet quenched. The Somerville name quickly became synonymous with fine foods and fashion thanks to the eldest siblings Sage and Poppy’s new designer line and Porter’s status as a go-to celebrity chef. When eighteen-year-old Angus, the youngest of the Somerville clan, finds his own success as a coveted deejay, twenty-year-old fraternal twins Rye and Basil find themselves with the rather undesirable title of The Somerville Duds. When Basil decides to join his older brother in opening a new restaurant, Rye finds herself truly alone. Determined not to ride the coattails of her famous siblings for the rest of her life, Rye resolves to do something extreme to prove her own worth.

India Lee is a YA author and lover of fashion, entertainment, shoes, good food, coffee, jetsetting, luxury, mild debauchery, and dogs. Her Manhattan home bodes well for most of these things but she could use a little more space for her wardrobe and pets.

Connect With the Author

Twitter
http://www.twitter.com/IndiaLeeBooks

Blog
http://indialeebooks.blogspot.com

Tumblr
http://indialeebooks.tumblr.com

Official Website
www.indialeebooks.com

Other Books by the Author (Now Available)

Hidden Gem

Hidden Gem: Diamond in the Rough

Hidden Gem: No Stone Unturned