The Good Luck Charm (The Good Luck Series) (2 page)

Keely laughed, pushing her hair behind one ear. “No, I don’t.”

“Honey, there’s no denying it. You’ve grown into a beautiful woman.”

“Stop it.”

“I don’t mean to embarrass you honey, but it’s the truth. And don’t you be forgetting it.” Lucinda placed an arm around her shoulder. “I hope you can join me after the show. I’ve got something for you at my hotel.”

“No problem. I’ll go grab a table.”

“Good. I’ll see you in a few.” Lucinda turned toward the stage.

Keely made her way through the crowd and grabbed an empty bar table. She sighed, settling on the stool and instantly felt out of place sitting alone in one of the hottest nightclubs in town. A place for couples, for dates.  She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been out on a date. Nor the last time anyone found her
that
interesting.

What about the buff Frisbee guy?

Ah, how could she have forgotten Mr. Even-Soaking-Wet-with-Algae-Sticking-to-My-Shirt-I’m-Still-Gorgeous?

The music began playing, and Lucinda stepped onto the stage. Her rich Cajun voice vibrated through the rafters. Keely didn’t even notice the waitress setting a glass of white wine on the table until she spoke.

“Excuse me?” Keely asked.

“I said the gentleman over there sent this to you.”

“What gentleman?”

The waitress pointed toward a booth where none other than the Frisbee guy, Darren, sat. He saw them looking in his direction and waved.

Was fate smiling down on her or what?
Her cheeks warmed and she looked back to the waitress. “Thanks.”

“My pleasure.”

She picked up the glass and took a sip, then looked again at the booth, but he was gone. Frowning, she scanned the room, not understanding why he’d buy her a drink and then leave.  She took another sip and set the glass back down, turning her attention once again to Lucinda.

“I wasn’t sure what to order. I’m glad I got it right.”

For a moment her breath caught in her throat. Her pulse quickened and she slowly swiveled the stool in his direction.

“Do you mind?” Darren pointed to the vacant stool next to her.

“Not at all. Have a seat.”

Once he’d settled he leaned toward her. “She’s good, isn’t she?”

“Lucinda? Oh yeah. One of the best,” Keely agreed.

“I saw you talking to her earlier. Do you know her?”

Keely nodded. “She was my mom’s best friend.”

“Was?”

“My mom passed away three years ago.”

“Sorry to hear that.”

“Thanks.”

She sipped her wine then reached her hand out to him. “We never properly introduced ourselves earlier. I’m Keely Jones.”

“Darren Wright.” He clasped her hand in a firm shake.

“So, do you always buy wine for women who try to drown you?”

He grinned. “No. I usually avoid them.”

“Ah, then that must make me…”

“You’re the first.”

She laughed, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear. “I’m glad to hear you don’t have it happen often.”

He shrugged and she noticed a dimple in his chin.

“Tell me about your dog.”

“Duke? Oh, he’s not really mine. I’m long-term pet sitting for my brother while he’s working in Alaska.” She took another sip of wine. “Duke’s vet declared him overweight so I have to take him jogging every day.  Otherwise he’d lie around the back yard, being fat and lazy.”

Darren listened to her talk, his eyes drawn to watching her mouth move. In the dim light he could follow the shape of her lips as they formed the words. And he began to wonder what it would be like to kiss her. To taste the wine on her lips. Maybe he’d get the chance. The idea appealed to him and he started to think he might get the chance until the houselights came up dispelling the intimacy of their interlude.

“Looks like I kept you from enjoying the performance.” He apologized.

“No problem. I enjoyed our conversation. Maybe we’ll get a chance to talk again if I see you at the lake.”

He stood. “Let’s hope away from the water.”

She laughed again, her eyes shining. “Preferably.”

He was about to suggest they walk out together when the Cajun singer approached their table.

“Are you ready, Chérìe?” she asked.

Keely nodded and made introductions. “Thanks again for the wine.”

He watched as she walked away with the singer, wishing he’d at least thought to ask for her number.

“Hey, what happened to you?” Clint asked, making his way through the crowd of people.
“There couldn’t have been a long line to the men’s room.”

“I got side-tracked,” Darren replied. “Tell me more about that barbeque place.”

“So who was that man?” Lucinda turned on the lights in her hotel suite.

“Who was who?” Keely dropped her purse beside the sofa .

“Don’t be coy. Darren, the young man at the club you introduced me to. I saw him approach you shortly after I began singing. You two were deep in conversation the whole time.”

Keely shrugged, curling her legs under her as she sat on the sofa. “Oh him. He’s a guy I ran into today.” She hugged an accent cushion to her chest and explained how they’d met while Lucinda lit a few candles around the room. “It’s kinda funny now, but I wasn’t laughing this afternoon.”

Lucinda grinned, sitting at the opposite end of the sofa. “I’d say not. Goodness, it’s a wonder the two of you weren’t hurt. I’ve seen that lake. It isn’t that deep and when the water is fairly clear, you can see that huge rocks cover the bottom.”

“My hip grazed one. The worst part was I had on a pink top. He didn’t have to look hard to see every detail.”

Lucinda clapped her hands and her bangle bracelets jingled. “Oh my! Now maybe that is why he was hanging around you tonight. Perhaps he was hoping to get another peek. Or better yet an invite back to your place.”

“Lucinda!” Their laughter filled the room.

The woman shrugged innocently, making her bangle bracelets chime. “Men always like to look, darlin’. For some it’s a game. But
your
Darren, he did seem to be a nice young man.”

Keely hugged the cushion tighter.
Her Darren
. Could she hope?

“He’s not
my
anything. We just met. I tried to drown him. He bought me a glass of wine. We talked.”

Lucinda laughed. Then her eyes widened slightly, and she jumped up from the sofa, pointing a finger at Keely. “You wait right there. I have something for you.”

Before long the smell of Zen wafted throughout the suite and Lucinda returned with a tray of burning incense. A silver box rested in the center of the tray.

“What are you up to?” Keely tossed the pillow aside and swung her legs around, moving to the edge of the sofa.

“Sh-h-h. What I’m about to show you is very sacred. It’s something my grandmother passed along to me many, many years ago when I was a young woman.”

Lucinda slid the tray onto the small coffee table in front of the sofa. Then she began chanting an incantation as she waved her hands over the burning incense.

Apprehension crawled up Keely’s back. Voodoo played a big part in Lucinda’s life. She’d been raised in the Louisiana bayou. Keely had only witnessed Lucinda calling for blessings twice in her life. Once had been right after her father died and was intended as a healing process for her mother. The second time was right before her mother died and had been an attempt to ease her mother’s pain.

Lucinda dropped to sit crossed legged on the floor. She reached for Keely’s left hand and turned it palm up.

“You see this line, child? Some say this is your lifeline. Man and woman were made to walk that line together. But you, you’ve been trying to do it alone. It’s time this changed.”

Lucinda looked at her with concern. “Your mother asked me to watch out for you and Alex after her passing. It’s been three years now Keely and you’ve made no move toward settling down and making a family of your own. Your mother wanted grandchildren.”

Keely pulled her hand away. “I have a career, Lucinda. I don’t want or have time for a husband…a family…at least right now.”

“Careers are wonderful. Look at me! I have a fabulous one. But I had my family too. When I was young I got married to the most wonderful man and we had lots of babies. We were happy, but Denton died young. And our children are grown now with their own babies.

“I’m not saying you have to forego a career to have a family, but your mother wanted you to be happy. To find that someone special, get married and have children.”

Keely pursed her lips and frowned. “Lucinda, I don’t see marriage and a family as my ultimate goal in life. A successful career is what I want. Maybe in a few years I’ll meet someone and we’ll get married.”

Lucinda crossed her arms over her chest. “Can you honestly sit there and tell me you aren’t lonely? That you enjoy living with a dog as a companion?” 

Keely laughed and shook her head. “I wouldn’t classify Duke as a companion. But I get your point.”

“Good, now hold out your left hand.” Lucinda smiled and ran a painted nail down the lifeline again. “I see good things in store for you, Keely Jones. But to ensure they come about sooner rather than later, I’m going to pass along something my grandmother gave me. Something that will bring you good luck.”

Lucinda opened the silver box and took out a black felt pouch. She again chanted an incantation as she slowly parted the drawstring closure. Then she poured the contents into Keely’s palm and closed her fingers around it.

“This is an all powerful gris-gris, child. If you wear it around your neck, then the amulet will draw your true-love to your heart.”

“You’ve got to be kidding!”

Lucinda snapped her fingers loudly then pointed at Keely. “Silence. Whether you believe in it or not, you must wear it. It will reveal its value in due time.”

“How will I know who my
true love
will be?”

“The gris-gris will open, spilling forth the
blood-red
stone in his presence once you have opened your heart to the possibilities.”

Slowly, Keely opened her hand. She lifted the gris-gris up by its chain while Lucinda chanted and moved her hands in circular motions over the incense, dispersing the fragrance into the air.

“Remember, you must wear it always.”

Keely studied the gris-gris and examined the amulet closer. Nestled within a small heart-shaped filigree of silver sat the
blood-red
stone.

“How does it open? I don’t see…”

“That is the mystery of the gris-gris. Now put it on. Hurry. It’s quarter till two and you have to get up early for work tomorrow.”

Keely humored Lucinda, slipping the chain around her neck not understanding where the time had gone.

“How long will you be in town?” Keely stood, picked up her purse and slung the strap over her shoulder.

“My flight leaves tomorrow. I have an engagement in San Francisco then I’ll be flying to Paris for a two-week tour of Europe. After that it’s back to New York for a benefit concert.”

“Oh how awful. Two weeks in Europe doesn’t give you much time for sightseeing.”

“I know. I’ll call you when I return to New York.”

Keely touched the gris-gris, fingering the smooth silver. “I’m sure I’ll be fine. I don’t expect anything to happen with this any time soon.”

Lucinda smiled. “Of course. I felt that same way when my grandmother gave it to me. But then Denton came along and I didn’t know what hit me. Perhaps this Darren is the one?”

“Good night, Lucinda.” Keely hugged her again before she left.

When Darren walked into the conference room the next morning, everyone turned and stared making it obvious he was the last to arrive. Jama glanced at her watch. “I’m so glad you could make it. Get the lights won’t you.”

He dimmed the fluorescents and settled into a vacant chair as the PowerPoint presentation began. The figures his sister quickly ran through showed the poor financial status the agency was in, which blew him away.

Holy shit! Why hadn’t she come to him for help? She should have known all she’d had to do was ask.

“As you see, the departure of Ted Hamilton placed Wright and Associates in dire straits. I’ve tried to keep the agency from going under, but it has become impossible to do that on my own without coming clean with you.”  She walked to the wall and turned the lights back up.

“Many of you may wonder why I’d bring my brother into the agency and within weeks promote him to Account Director instead of choosing someone from within. I want to dispel any questions about the reasons behind this move. We need Darren’s skill. His track record proves he’s a powerhouse in the industry, and I believe he can help get Wright and Associates back on our feet. We are lucky to have him and I want each one of you to make him feel welcome.”