A Stranger in the Mirror by Sidney Sheldon

There were twenty-five girls in the show and there were always a dozen or so from the chorus line in bathing suits, sunning themselves. They appeared in the hot noon air like late-blooming flowers, one more beautiful than the next. Toby had never had trouble getting girls, but what happened to him now was a totally new experience. The showgirls had never heard of Toby Temple before, but his name was up in lights on the marquee. That was enough. He was a Star, and they fought each other for the privilege of going to bed with him.
    The next two weeks were marvelous for Toby. He would wake up around noon, have breakfast in the dining room
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    ere he was kept busy signing autographs and then rehearse an hour or two. Afterward, he would pick one or two the long-legged beauties around the pool and they would up to his suite for an afternoon romp in bed. And Toby learned something new. Because of the mpy costumes the girls wore, they had to get rid of their i)ic hair. But they waxed it in such a way that only a curly ip of hair was left in the center of the mound, making the :ning more available. "It's like an aphrodisiac," one of the girls confided to by. "A few hours in a pair of tight pants and a girl becomes having nymphomaniac." Toby did not bother to learn any of their names. They re all "baby" or "honey", and they became a marvelous, isuous blur of thighs and lips and eager bodies. During the final week of Toby's engagement at the sis, he had a visitor. Toby had finished the first show and 5 in his dressing room, creaming off his makeup, when dining room captain opened the door and said in hushed ies, "Mr. Al Caruso would like you to join his table." Al Caruso was one of the big names in Las Vegas. He ned one hotel outright, and it was rumored that he had hts in two or three others. It was also rumored that he i mob connections, bur that was no concern of Toby's. iat was important was that if Al Caruso liked him, Toby lid get bookings in Las Vegas for the rest of his life. He rriedly finished dressing and went into the dining room to et Caruso. Al Caruso was a short man in his fifties with gray hair, nkling, soft brown eyes and a little paunch. He reminded by of a miniature Santa Claus. As Toby came up to the Ie, Caruso rose, held out his hand, smiled warmly and i, "Al Caruso. Just wanted to tell you what I think of �, Toby. Pull up a chair." There were two other men at Caruso's table, dressed in k suits. They were both burly, sipped Coca-Colas and did t say a word during the entire meeting. Toby never learned ir names. Toby usually had his dinner after the first show. was ravenous now, but Caruso had obviously just finished
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    earing, and Toby did not want to appear to be more interested in food than in his meeting with the great man. "I'm impressed with you, kid," Caruso said. "Real impressed." And he beamed at Toby with those mischievous brown eyes. "Thanks, Mr. Caruso," Toby said happily. "That means a lot to me." "Call me Al." "Yes, sir--Al." "You got a future, Toby. I've seen 'em come and I've seen 'em go. But the ones with talent last a long time. You got talent." Toby could feel a pleasant warmth suffusing his body. He fleetingly debated whether to tell Al Caruso to discuss business with Clifton Lawrence; but Toby decided it might be better if he made the deal himself. If Caruso is this excited about me, Toby thought, I can make a better deal than Cliff. Toby dedded he would let Al Caruso make the first offer and then he would do some hard bargaining. "I almost wet my pants," Caruso was telling him. "That monkey routine of yours is the runniest thing I ever heard." "Coming from you, that's a real compliment," Toby said with sincerity. The little Santa Claus eyes were filled with tears of laughter. He took out a white silk handkerchief and wiped them away. He turned to his two escorts. "Did I say he's a funny man?" The two men nodded. Al Caruso turned back to Toby. "Tell you why I came to see you, Toby." This was