Lucky Number Four (7 page)

I wish she would look my way more. There’s something
about her. I just can’t put my finger on, but she has me intrigued.
I need to get to know her, and the other two better keep their
distance. I have to think this one through. I don’t want to screw
it up. I’m tired of all the phony women I’ve met and continue to
meet on a daily basis. They’re so shallow, only wanting me for what
I can give them—more exposure. Dora is like a breath of fresh air
in a stale world. Will she ever think of me as something other than
an annoying roommate? Time....I just have to take it really slow,
even though it’s hard.

Before fighting it, I wish I would’ve known
how easy it was going to be to live with three HOT guy models. I
haven’t seen them in more than a week. The day after our dining
experience, I found a note on the kitchen island informing me they
were working on a gig together, and would be gone for a little
while. It’s been so wonderful having the place all to myself, and
boy, have I taken advantage of it. I’ve stayed away from their
rooms though. Okay, so I may have peeked, and was shocked by how
neat they were. Of course, that could be due to the cleaning team
overseen by Harriet, the little, round woman, who I met on Monday
afternoon since there weren’t any classes. I love her already. She
is truly an organized bundle of energy.

She works for Drew’s father and has been part
of the family since before Drew’s birth. Drew’s mom left them after
Emily was born and Drew’s dad has looked for Ms. Right for years. I
gathered that he had been married several times, though Harriet
didn’t tell me how many. “Liam isn’t much of a talker,” she said.
She also told me he’s the reason for them needing a fourth
roommate. She says four is his lucky number, and he’s known to
obsessively buy four of the same thing to not tempt fate. She says
she’s very fond of him but feels he’s tormented by some secret. She
hopes one day he will tell her so she can help him. I waited
patiently while she went through the first two, and then she
finally expounded on Colin.

Colin has known Drew for years. He was an
exchange student who one of Drew’s stepmoms invited into their home
when they were ten. They became instant friends and kept in touch,
and when Colin became a model in America, Drew suggested they move
in together. Poor Colin dated this other model for several years. I
got the impression that Harriet despised Judith, his ex. “Witch
with a capital B” is how Harriett described her. One day, Judith
just dumped him out of the blue and left Liam and Drew to pick up
the pieces. Harriet said that was nine months ago, and he seems to
be back to his old self, thank goodness.

Damn. So Colin’s heart has been broken too.
Just another reason to tell my heart to stop it.

I have no desire taking on someone else with
a broken heart. When it came time for Harriet to leave, we had
already bonded so well, and it felt wonderful when she hugged me
and told me I was what these boys needed in their lives.

Confession time: I haven’t told my family
about my move yet. In fact, I swore Julie and Kevin to secrecy when
we all went for Sunday dinner with the fam, which is quite the
story within itself. No time to tell now. I’m enjoying my last day
of being by myself in this mansion in the sky. Poetic, aren’t
I?

Saturday morning comes too quickly. Today,
the ‘three’ are supposed to return, and I plan on making myself
scarce. First work, and then the afternoon in the library, and
finally dinner at Kevin and Julie’s with a night filled with movie
watching.

Work is as hectic as usual on a weekend
morning, and the library is a refreshing calm after the thundering
storm. Sitting at my laptop, I feel someone staring at me. No, I’m
not psychic. I see a face in my screen as my computer turns off.
Closing it up, I turn to see the face more clearly, and the object
of my attention smiles.

Good lord, it’s Drew. What the hell is he
doing in the library? From what I can tell, he’s causing a scene as
I look to my left and right and see women, girls, and even some
guys staring as if they’re seeing a movie star. Well, he’s not in
the movies yet, but I guess you could say he’s famous. He’s in
every effing magazine and on almost every billboard in the
world.

Pushing my laptop in my backpack, I grab it,
and slowly rise from my seat. I watch as he gets from his, still
grinning like a smexy idiot. Yes, I said
smexy
. Well, he is,
but boy does he know it. He starts forward and I move quickly to
the exit, walking as fast as I can in a library. I swear I can feel
his breath on the back of my neck, but I keep going. Pushing open
the door, I’m temporarily blinded by the bright sunlight. I look
way up at a frowning Drew after he gently takes hold of my arm and
spins me around.

“What’s your hurry?” he asks, finally
cracking a smile.

“Oh, hi, Drew. I didn’t see you. What are you
doing here?” I ask as innocently as I can.

“Yeah, sure. You looked right at me. How
could you have missed me?” he asks, pointing to himself.

“Well, I did. But you didn’t answer me.”

“I’ve come to pick you up,” he says. His
killer-watt smile makes a girl walking by trip over her own feet at
the mere sight of it.

“What makes you think I need picking up? I
have plans.”

“Well, if your plans are with Julie and
Kevin, I guess things have changed.” He loses the smile and tries
to look serious. “The guys and I chipped in to give them a present
for their wedding. Kevin and Julie are going out for a night on the
town. You know, limo, dinner, and a sold-out play that tickets
magically appeared for. I guess you’re stuck with us.”

We keep walking toward the parking lot and
guess what? Standing by a huge luxury car are Liam and Colin, the
rest of the “us” Drew was referring to, and they don’t look too
happy.

“So you knew where she was the whole time …
yet you sent us on a wild goose chase anyway?” Liam’s dry voice
matches his stern look.

“Like you two could’ve convinced Dora to hang
out with us? This plan needed my touch,” Drew says with
confidence.

“I never said I was going to hang out with
you,” I announce as I stare at Drew, trying to make him feel
uncomfortable. It doesn’t work. He just grins at me.

Infuriating.

“Now, Pandora Phillips, how can you pass up
an evening with us? Okay, so Liam may not be as friendly as Colin
and me, but give him a few drinks and he loosens up.”

As I look at the two grinning faces of Drew
and Colin, my mind begins to betray me. I glance at Liam and even
he’s wearing a half smirk. My mind makes its choice for me, and I
decide I’m stuck. I need to eat, right? And my two so-called
friends have dumped me for a better gig, which I don’t blame them
for, but still.

“Okay, I’ll hang with you guys, but I make
all the decisions, okay? That’s the deal, so take it or leave it,”
I cross my arms and wait for their negative replies.

“Okay,” Drew quickly agrees.

“Sure,” Colin readily says.

Liam nods.

We pile into the car, and I get stuck in the
front next to Drew, who’s driving. “All right, so we’re going to my
favorite eatery,” I say and then quickly rattle of the directions
while Drew pulls into traffic.

I love the looks on their faces as we enter a
part of the city I’m sure they’ve never stepped foot in. I point to
an empty parking spot a block away from our destination. Drew looks
a little nervous about leaving his car, but he locks it and we make
our way down the darkening street. A few streetlights pop on, but
most seemed to be burned out. We turn a corner and there it
is—Papa’s. Its warm glow from within lights up the pavement in
front. Opening the door, a flurry of delicious smells hit us and my
stomach rumbles, reminding me that breakfast was a zillion hours
ago.

“Pandora Phillips, my little angel! Such a
gloriosa day this is, gracing us with your beautiful presence.”
Papa’s voice makes me giggle, something I do every time I hear his
cheesy line.

Papa is a big man, not tall, but round. He
reminds me of that famous chef on the cans of spaghetti I ate as a
child. He wears a huge apron and a tall chef’s hat. His Italian
accent completes the image. He strides forward and embraces me,
swallowing me up in his arms.

“Where have youa been my naughty girl? We
haven’ta seen you ina months! Where is thata young man of yours?” I
see him peering over my head, looking for the SOB.

“Papa, he’s history,” I say flatly.

“Good, bella, good! Never liked him. You are
a princessa and deserve a prince.” He finally lets me go and I turn
to introduce him to my escorts.

“Papa, I want you to meet three new friends
of mine.” I see the three smiling widely at my statement. I’m
shocked that even Liam’s smile looks genuine. After the
introductions, Papa sternly looks them up and down.

He puts his arm around me and glares at them.
“This is youra only warninga, one not lightly made. Any of you
breaka my Pandora’s heart, it will be your lasta day on Earth. In
fact, her lasta one is now on my hit list. I have connections, if
you know what I mean.” All three nod their heads, which is pretty
funny as they tower over the short rotund man.

“No, Papa,” I say. “We’re just friends, and
as for the other one, he’s not worth your anger. I’m so over
him.”

“Okay. So I will let it go, just because we
lovea you. Now, Giuseppe, get the special table ready. These people
are hungry.”

Giuseppe is Papa’s nephew, and I’ve always
thought he should be a model. His dark, Italian looks are one of
the reasons I’ve had a major crush on him forever. He comes up to
me, bends over and kisses my hand, and my heart flips as usual.
Yes, I know my heart flips at the attention of beautiful men,
except for Liam, which I will have to analyze further. Giuseppe
then takes my hand and leads us to the best table by the kitchen.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the three “Modelteers” frowning
at the gesture. So much testosterone in one space.
Awesome
.