Sam Mullins

And then there was ex number six, Robert Eaton, who, if you can believe it, also happened to be in the same disco the rainy night that Lana met Dante for the first time. They'd only been divorced for less than a month, and Lana was still raw about it. She caught him cheating on her, and now there he was sitting at the bar, cavalierly flirting with a striking brunette.

And then there was ex number six, Robert Eaton, who, if you can believe it, also happened to be in the same disco the rainy night that Lana met Dante for the first time. They'd only been divorced for less than a month, and Lana was still raw about it. She caught him cheating on her, and now there he was sitting at the bar, cavalierly flirting with a striking brunette.

Hollywood's a cruelly small town sometimes. Dante must have picked up on her brooding over her ex and understood that this was not a woman making bedroom eyes. This was someone who seemed in need of comfort, in need of a gentleman. Easy. As they dance, he asks her, and who might my dance partner be? Lana's taken aback. A man in Hollywood who didn't know who she was didn't come around very often.

Hollywood's a cruelly small town sometimes. Dante must have picked up on her brooding over her ex and understood that this was not a woman making bedroom eyes. This was someone who seemed in need of comfort, in need of a gentleman. Easy. As they dance, he asks her, and who might my dance partner be? Lana's taken aback. A man in Hollywood who didn't know who she was didn't come around very often.

Someone who didn't know who she was was about the most attractive quality Lana could imagine in a person. I'm Lana. Lana Turner, she says. Lana, it's nice to meet you. I'm Dr. Ronald Dante. And what do you do, Lana? She smiles and says, You really don't know? He shakes his head innocently. I'm an actor, she says. An actor?

Someone who didn't know who she was was about the most attractive quality Lana could imagine in a person. I'm Lana. Lana Turner, she says. Lana, it's nice to meet you. I'm Dr. Ronald Dante. And what do you do, Lana? She smiles and says, You really don't know? He shakes his head innocently. I'm an actor, she says. An actor?

As they sway in the disco in front of her ex, she looks up to him and says, And you? What do you do? He smiles and looks back to her eyes. I'm a hypnotist.

As they sway in the disco in front of her ex, she looks up to him and says, And you? What do you do? He smiles and looks back to her eyes. I'm a hypnotist.

They talked of hypnotism, and he regaled her with stories of performing, told her that for him, hypnosis is about so much more than stage entertainment, that it can be used for other things, like it can help you gain confidence, lose weight, or even help you quit smoking.

They talked of hypnotism, and he regaled her with stories of performing, told her that for him, hypnosis is about so much more than stage entertainment, that it can be used for other things, like it can help you gain confidence, lose weight, or even help you quit smoking.

As they parted ways that first night, she gave him her home phone number, you know, to help her kick her smoking habit, wink wink. Dante held her number in his hand. It may as well have been engraved in gold for all that it would get him. But first, he had to romance.

As they parted ways that first night, she gave him her home phone number, you know, to help her kick her smoking habit, wink wink. Dante held her number in his hand. It may as well have been engraved in gold for all that it would get him. But first, he had to romance.

Two days later, the universally agreed-upon appropriate amount of time to wait before calling, he rang her up, and they made plans to spend an afternoon together. Dante chose his arrival carefully, on a motorcycle, clad in leather, an entrance fit for the movies. He was feeling it.

Two days later, the universally agreed-upon appropriate amount of time to wait before calling, he rang her up, and they made plans to spend an afternoon together. Dante chose his arrival carefully, on a motorcycle, clad in leather, an entrance fit for the movies. He was feeling it.

He arrived at her mansion, took off his helmet, probably shook out his perm. And as Lana set her eyes on him, she thought of Marlon Brando in Wild Ones. When he told her to hop on, Lana surprised herself by not hesitating. He had a way of inspiring confidence in people. She'd been a great many places and done a great many things, but she'd never been on the back of a motorcycle.

He arrived at her mansion, took off his helmet, probably shook out his perm. And as Lana set her eyes on him, she thought of Marlon Brando in Wild Ones. When he told her to hop on, Lana surprised herself by not hesitating. He had a way of inspiring confidence in people. She'd been a great many places and done a great many things, but she'd never been on the back of a motorcycle.

He loved that bike, but he also loved that on the back of it, there was no room for a chaperone. He wanted Lana to himself. Dante felt her clutch his leather jacket as they roared out of the driveway and tore through the hills of Malibu, two perfect strangers on a high. He pulled up to Malibu Beach and helped her off the bike. They walked down the beach.

He loved that bike, but he also loved that on the back of it, there was no room for a chaperone. He wanted Lana to himself. Dante felt her clutch his leather jacket as they roared out of the driveway and tore through the hills of Malibu, two perfect strangers on a high. He pulled up to Malibu Beach and helped her off the bike. They walked down the beach.

Lana was feeling hopeful, but she didn't want to be. She was just out of marriage number six and was about to turn 49 years old. She was happy to be without a husband. But his eyes were even more compelling in the daylight, and that voice of his pristine, a broadcast on a clear signal that grabbed her anew. He was unlike the others. He was odd in a charming way.

Lana was feeling hopeful, but she didn't want to be. She was just out of marriage number six and was about to turn 49 years old. She was happy to be without a husband. But his eyes were even more compelling in the daylight, and that voice of his pristine, a broadcast on a clear signal that grabbed her anew. He was unlike the others. He was odd in a charming way.