The Night She Got Lucky (26 page)

Wait! Wait! I have it! Roxie jumped from her wicker chair on the front porch of Rick and Josie's ranch house, suddenly inspired.

What'd you decide? Josie asked. She'd just come back from the kitchen with another platter of chicken and steak taquitos with all the trimmingsguacamole, sour cream, fresh salsa, tomatilla sauce. Lucio beat even Josh and Jason in the race for seconds.

I am picturing a rain forest setting, Roxie said, looking out onto the vineyards, reaching out like a movie director framing a scene. It's kind of surreal, maybe mists rising from the ground, mountains, waterfalls, a jaguar or two pushing through tall grass in the background.

Rick wagged his eyebrows at Lucio and raised his glass of lemonade in a toast. I hope you've got Photoshop, he said, and they both laughed.

I hope you've got dry ice, Bea said.

Roxie's eyes shone. She raised her chin and put her shoulders back. And I'm standing there, an Amazon woman, full of my own glory and powera true queen.

Lucio finished his taquito. That would make a grand statement, he said.

Roxie wasn't done. And I'm holding a spear that's way taller than I am and wearing some kind of headdress with plumes from exotic birds. My midriff is bare but my breastplate is ornate.

Well, duh, Bea said dryly. Those plain ole breastplates are so
yesterday
.

Shhh, Bea, Josie said, giggling as she snuggled into her spot next to Rick on the white wicker love seat. Lucio smiled as he watched his friend casually put his arm around his wife and grin at her. All evening, Lucio had been entranced by how perfectly the newly married couple complemented each other. They hosted this party like they'd done it a thousand times, though it was their first official get-together at the ranch since the wedding. Rick's face was perpetually lit up, like he'd discovered the key to everything.

It looked to Lucio like Josie and Rick had been designed for each other. They fittheir personalities, their spirits, their physical bodies. And the ranch fit both of them. Even their three dogs seemed ecstatically happy with the arrangement. From where Lucio sat, it appeared the universe had settled down around the couple with a great sigh of relief, everything in place, just as it was supposed to be.

Lucio watched Rick kiss the tip of Josie's nose. It was so innocent and so tender that it sent a pang of need through him. Lucio's eyes went to Genevieve in her chair, legs crossed casually, a sweet smile pasted on her face as she watched the newlyweds. She must have been thinking the same thing.

Her eyes found his. Her cheeks flushed, embarrassed to have been caught gawking at the couple, but Lucio reassured her with a smile of his own.

Perhaps they wanted that same kind of comfort, connectedness, and love for themselves. There was no shame in that.

Lucio could not help but sigh. As much as he was enjoying the company and the good food and wine, he suddenly wished that it were just Genevieve and himself herealone. He wanted to lift her in his arms once more and lay her down in the grass, or on the porch floor, or the great big leather sofa inside in the main room of the house, or upon one of the dozens of antique beds on the property.

It didn't matter where, really. He just wanted to lay her down, to cover her with his body and his passion.

In what seemed like slow motion, Genevieve batted her eyelashes at him. The desire rose in him so fast that Lucio had to adjust his trousers, a move that HeatherLynn didn't much like. He reassured the little dog in his lap with a pat to her head.

Go on, Rox, Teeny said, raising his wine glass. I'm on the edge of my seat over here waiting to hear about your choice of footwear.

Right, Roxanne said, nodding seriously. It's gotta be some type of thigh-high animal-hide boot, you know? It needs to be laced up the front.

Sounds like Pocahontas on steroids, Bea said.

Teeny's laugh was so loud the whole pack of sleeping dogs raised their heads to make sure all was well. It wasn't until that moment that Lucio realized the evening had been spent in the company of six dogs of varying breeds and temperaments, ranging in size from Rick's huge mutt, Chen, to little Senorita Chiquita in his lap. Then there was Rick's small yappy terrier mix, Tara, and Roxanne's muzzled brown dog, who looked like she wanted to relax but didn't know how, growling at poor clueless Chen for no reason at all. Rounding out the canine crowd was Josie's fun-loving Genghis, and Bea's Martina, a sleek and intelligent animal with better manners than most of the humans he'd run across.

Truth be told, Lucio had never been interested in socializing with dogsunless they were pulling his sled through the tundra. The only purpose for this particular pack of canines was the joy they brought to their humans. He had to admit the arrangement wasn't bad.

You're just jealous, Roxanne reprimanded Bea, laughing. My idea puts yours to shame.

Bea waved a hand through the air, then casually scratched Martina behind her ears. Mine's more practical. More people can relate to it.

Lucio had to agree. Bea had asked for a photo of dog and owner on the tennis court, Martina photographed in midair, jumping over the net to catch a tennis ball in her mouth. Lucio thought it sounded fun, and knew the perfect setting would be Rick's tennis courts, right here on the estate, at sunset.

Besides, Bea continued. Where are you going to find an Amazon Woman outfit on short notice?

I know where, Josh said matter-of-factly. Our drama club rents from this costume warehouse in the citythey have everything, I'm telling you. Batgirl. Nefertiti. Slutty nurses.

Lucio started laughing before anyone else, mostly because of the horrified look on Genevieve's face.

Dear God, she said under her breath.

Sorry, Mom, but you can't protect us from the world. Josh shoved another taquito into his mouth and swallowed it whole. That freaky stuff is everywhere in society todayespecially in San Francisco. But don't worry, we know how to keep it in perspective.

You just have to trust our judgment, Jason added with a reassuring nod.

That's exactly what I was thinking, Genevieve said, trying to smile over clenched teeth.

Josh finished wiping his mouth on a napkin. I can give you the name of the place, he said to Lucio. I'll even volunteer to do all the costuming for the photo shoots. I've worked backstage at our school's theater productions for years!

Wonderful, Lucio said, reaching across to give Josh a high five.

And I'll do the rest of the Web site design and get it listed with search engines, Jason said. Once we get some sample portraits we'll be ready to go online. I'm working on the MySpace and Facebook sites, too.

Great! Lucio high-fived Jason, as well.

As soon as your posters are ready, I'll make sure they're up at all the stores, Rick said.

My thanks to you, as always, Lucio said, bowing as deeply as he could manage with a small dog in his lap.

My pleasure.

We have our idea, too, Josie said from her nest under Rick's arm. She looked quickly to Rick, who nodded for her to do the honors. Josie sat forward on the love seat.

Rick and I are on the Harley, right? When everyone started to chuckle, she smiled. We've decided to go totally over-the-top with the black leather stuff. Chains, shades, and tattoos. Well, mine will be fake.

Teeny laughed.

And the three dogsthey'll be dressed exactly like us. Little helmets, sunglasses, vests, the whole deal.

Bea shook her head. Good luck pulling that off.

Rick gestured to the haphazard pile of dogs on the porch floor near his feet. Our pack is pretty mellow. They spend all day running the property, so with Lucio's expertise I think they'll be able to sit still long enough to get the shot.

Lucio nodded in approval. So far, the ideas from the group had been outstanding. But no one had even inquired about Genevieve's pose with HeatherLynn, and Lucio was itching to make the big reveal.

He was about to toot his own horn when Bea, bless her, barged in. How about your shoot, Ginger? How did it go?

Genevieve gave Lucio a sheepish smile. I'll let you be the judge.

You brought it? Josie said, scooting to the edge of the love seat.

Mm-hmm, Genevieve said. Be right back.

Lucio watched as she rose from her wicker chair and headed for the front door of the ranch house. He couldn't help himselfhe admired her tall elegance, the sweet indentations at the back of her legs, her soft heels, the swish of her lovely ass. Lucio felt Rick's eyes boring into the side of his head, and knew he'd been caught.

He turned, nodding ever so slightly to Rick, hoping his friend would see that he was pleading guilty to being crazy about Genevieve.

Rick's eyes got big and he dropped his jaw. Damn, he whispered, shaking his head.

What? Josie asked her husband.

That was incredibly fast, Rick said. When he noticed the strange looks from the crowd, he amended his comment. The photo, he said. What I meant was that Lucio sure got that picture together fast.

Everyone ready? Genevieve stood before the group on the front porch, the blank side of the large poster board visible between her shapely, long legs. The only sound was the
slap!
of the screen door as it closed behind her. Everyone was frozen in quiet anticipation.

Genevieve flashed her eyes at Lucio for the go-ahead. Whenever you wish, he said, smiling at her.

Ta-da! She whipped the horizontal eleven-by-seventeen glossy blowup from behind her back, flipping it so the image was on display for all to see.

Lucio was thrilled. The reaction was precisely what he'd hoped for. There were a few seconds of complete silence, followed by dropping jaws, then an outburst of laughter, surprise, and squeals of delight.

Bea was on her feet. Look at you, girl! she said, laughing. She then made a few
whoop-whoop-whoop
sounds while pumping her fist through the air.

Awesome, Mom! Josh called out. And look at HeatherLynn's little beehive! It's perfect!

It really was, Lucio had to admit to himself, smiling. Somewhere in the stream of treats and titillating talk, he'd captured one single perfect image: HeatherLynn's face pointed right at the camera, her little pink tongue licking her lips, while Genevieve lay stretched out on her side, all long and languid curves, a few sand grains stuck to the glistening pink of her flat belly, her eyes simmering with the kind of overt sexuality the original 1960s TV Ginger could never have gotten away with.

Everyone got to their feet and crowded around the print. Teeny took it from Genevieve's hands and held it in the middle of the huddling group. Unbelievable, he breathed. Wow! Gingeryou're amazing!

Josie looked up from the image, her eyes huge. Good God, Garrison, she whispered. I think you missed your calling!

Rick nodded slowly. Nice, man, he said to Lucio, chuckling in shock. Real nice.

You sure you want this on the Internet? Roxie asked, her brow furrowed. You don't know who might see it. I mean Her eyes darted to Josh and Jason, then back to Genevieve. It might attract the attention of one of those ‘he was a quiet man and mostly kept to himself' serial killers prowling the Web for his next victim!

Lucio laughed, as always, amused at Roxie's worst-possible-scenario view of anything related to man-woman relationships.

Well, Josie said, sitting back down. You've set the bar pretty high, Ginger. The rest of us have our work cut out for us.

You're going to make a ton of money, Lucio, Bea said, walking over to slap him on the back. The affectionate tap nearly caused him to spill his wine all over HeatherLynn, who was still asleep in his lap. Every dog owner I know is going to want one of these. I hope you're ready for the demand you're going to unleash.

Lucio looked around at his crowd of friends and raised his glass in thanks. Thanks to all of you, I most certainly am.

I owe you one, Genghis, Lucio mumbled, watching as the fun-loving Labradoodle ran off with the last intact shuttlecock on Samhain Ranch. Blessedly, the badminton tournament had come to a standstill.

I'll check in the barn again, Teeny said with a great sigh. I swear there's some more in there somewhere.

Have mercy on me, Teeny, Lucio whispered in his teammate's ear. Come up empty-handed, I beg of you!

Teeny laughed as he jogged off to the barn.

We're gonna take you down,
sucka
! Joshua said, making theatrically threatening hand gestures from the opposite side of the net.

Yeah, Bea called out, laughing. Is that all you got for us, pretty boy?

Lucio chuckled as he wiped the sweat off his brow.

You are a far better woman than I, Bea. I need a break.

She laughed again, giving her teenage teammate a victorious high five.

Smiling, Lucio strolled across the lawn to the shaded stone wall, where he ditched the badminton racket. He surveyed the ranch for any sign of Genevieve. Josie and Jason were still on the front porch, talking about her trip to the North Pole. Rick and Roxie had taken the horses out for a ride. Teeny was running toward the barn. Lucio was puzzled. Granted, it was a huge property, but Genevieve was nowhere to be seen.

He decided to try to find her. Lucio took a path through the gardens, remembering that first night they'd spoken, when he'd advised her that he'd be no good for her and, with a trembling hand, she'd given him her card. It was just two months ago, but it seemed like another lifetime.

He'd been filled with self-pity that night, ruminating over how he was nothing without his career. It made Lucio smile to think how drastically his perception had changed. Now, he knew how much he had missed when his career was his only passion. He walked farther, noticing the tall gardenias to his right, recalling how Genevieve's shoulder had brushed against the flowers as she approached him, sending their scent into the evening air. He reached toward the flowers, cradled a single blossom in his hand and inhaled. It was a fragrance he'd always associate with her. He picked the bloom to take along with him, sure that Rick and Josie wouldn't mind.