The ocean sounded like the beautiful soft breaths of a sleeping woman as it awakened me that morning. My eyes and ears told me I was still in Hawaii. And the previous night was still a little hazy in parts but the ending I remember quite well. I turned slightly and could see my naked companions were still here, still asleep, and still beautiful.
One was a redhead named Ashlee, and the other a blonde named Jessica.
They had a last name in common, Simpson.
How they got here was quite a story, I probably should back up and tell it all from the beginning. Perhaps it'll make more sense.
The previous morning I'd awakened alone. Kim and I had gone back to her place for dinner, she had a family commitment that she was nice enough to invite me to. Waking up here alone didn't make me feel used; her devotion to her family was something that didn't make the gossip rags. And it was something I fully respected. I was still getting acclimated to this lifestyle that was suddenly mine, if only for a week. I sat out on the deck and watching the ocean, unable (or unwilling) to move, the endless waves gave me a sense of tranquility I'd never experienced. It was my cell's ringing that brought me back to reality.
"Aloha, pal!" it was Chuck calling from LA. "Great place, huh?"
"You said it, man." I said lazily.
He laughed on the other end.
"Well, it gets a little better, remember Marty O'Bryan?" he said.
"Um, yeah, wasn't he the guy who produced Tigress' albums?" I replied.
"And he also developed the Soundscape software." Chuck continued.
"No kidding, He did that?" I said, surprised.
"You bet, look up the beach, do you see a huge house down there?"
"Yeah, I see it." I said looking at an enormous stone and wood home about a mile down the beach.
"That's his place." Chuck said.
"Whoa!" I was stunned.
"Yeah, whoa is right." Chuck said. "Anyway, go down there tonight, Marty heard you were in town, he'd like to see you."
"Me?" I said, still stunned.
"Right. Head over there tonight, a guy like him is someone you should know. You'll have fun." Chuck said.
"Well, uh, okay I'll be there." I said hesitantly.
"Aloha, pal." And he hung up.
Marty O'Bryan was indeed the producer of Tigress' albums and a recording company software mogul. He'd developed the Soundscape system that became the industry standard for recording. He luckily patented the technology before someone like Microsoft could steal it from him. He now received a generous lifetime royalty from them and built an enormous Hawaiian estate that was the envy of every other millionaire worldwide. And this place seemed like an endless party. Marty and I had met a few times when we worked with Tigress, but I never got to know him that well. As evening came, I walked up the beach, unsure what I'd find when I reached this Hawaiian version of Citizen Kane's "Xanadu" house. As I approached the home, I could hear music blasting and heard Marty's voice from the second floor balcony.
"Hey! Jimbo! You made it!" he called.
"Well, I couldn't turn down an invitation from the king of the islands." I said.
Marty laughed and showed me inside.
His house was a palace inside, and he had many guests roaming in and out, and many bikini-clad beauties.
"I'll tell you Jim, it's good to see a familiar face here. I know your partner's gonna be in next week, right?"
"Right, he'll be here Friday night."
"Good, Chris' always around but I never see that much of you."
"Well, I'm glad you invited me." I said.
"Get yourself a drink, I'll see you on the beach." Marty said as he followed a nubile beauty outside.
I wandered around checking out the place. I recognized a few people from the Tigress staff. There was a multitude of food and drink options. I thought I saw Kendra Wilkinson from Playboy heading out to the brightly lit volleyball court, she shot me an "I know you from somewhere" look that made me smile in return. Nah, it's probably someone else she was looking at, I thought. I found the bar and got a bottle of Corona. The beach was calling my name though. As I headed out I bumped into a laughing blonde who was heading in the same direction.
"Hey! I remember you!" she said happily.
I was trying to adjust my eyes in the semi-dim surroundings.
"Remember that Mercedes you got to drive?" she said with a smile.
It was Jessica Simpson. She looked great in a Hawaiian print dress and flip-flops.
"Oh, wow! Yes, of course I remember you." I said suddenly
"What are you doing out here? You know Marty?" she asked.
"Um, somewhat, he works with Tigress and..." I started.
"Oh! The tour, that's it!" she said excitedly. "You look great!"
"Well, so do you. I guess Hawaii will do that to a person." I was just surprised she was here and remembered me.
"Oh, you bet! Hey, I know somebody you'll want to meet. I'll be right back." And she disappeared into the party crowd. I went out onto the deck and joined the people who were watching the sun sink into the ocean. Kendra soon reappeared.
She was somewhat shorter than I imagined, but very blonde and busty, with her hair tied in a tight ponytail, and wearing a form-fitting tank top and shorts.
"Hey, you look familiar, have you ever been to the Playboy Mansion?" she asked.
"Uh, no, only in my dreams I'm afraid." I said with a nervous laugh. "I'm Jim."
"Kendra." She was about to say something else when she was called back to her game.
Just then, Jessica reappeared with someone in tow.
"Ash, this is Jim. Remember I told you how I met him in Dallas at the concert?" She said.
"Hi, I'm Ashlee Simpson." She said in a bubbly voice.
"Yes, hi" I replied. "I remember watching your TV show."
Ashlee was as tall as her big sister, but with straight, bright red hair. She wore a flowery print Hawaiian shirt and white pants.
"Jess told me how you helped her out that night." She said with a smile.
"Oh, well, I was just being a nice guy." I said modestly with a shrug.
"Guys like you are tough to find." She continued.
Jessica was laughing.
"Well, uh, we're out there." I said with a nervous smile of my own. "Can I get you two a drink?"
They looked at one another, smiling.
"Whatever you're having is fine." Jessica said. Ashlee nodded in response.
"Be right back." I said as I headed back to the bar.
Marty was holding court by the bar when I walked up.
"Hey, Jimbo! I saw you and Kendra out there, you make a good couple." He said with a know-it-all smile.
"Well, if saying hello makes us a couple then maybe you're right." I replied with a laugh of my own.
Marty handed me 2 more Coronas.
"How'd you know what I was getting?" I asked.
Marty put his arm around me.
"Let me tell you something Jimbo, you have fun out there. You're a hard worker and a good worker. You deserve some fun, my friend." He said in a fatherly way. "Good things are gonna be happening with you, I know it."
"Well, thanks." I replied, somewhat confused by his "advice".
It was odd that he not only knew what I was getting, but how many. As if he knew who I was with.
I walked back to the outside deck and the girls were there watching the volleyball game.
