Aint too proud to beg sfdg-1 (7 page)

Your girl hasnt dated in a while. Theres only the occasional movie or dinner out with friends and time with her family. Shes enrolled in a yoga class at her gym, but her attendance is sporadic.

Anything new on the Sheehans?

Nothing. No freaks. No fakes. And certainly no connection of any kind with Bennett Cummings. As far as I can tell, theyre just as mind-numbingly normal as she is. And were about done with all the old boyfriends.

Anything interesting?

Teeny hissed, shaking his head. Aside from the fact that Ive never seen a more pitiful group of slacker white boys in my life, theyre pretty unremarkable. One dude has defaulted on his student loans. Another had a juvenile pot charge. One guy got arrested in some kind of militant environmental protest. But Ill tell you what Teenys eyebrows arched high on his scarred forehead.

Rick waited. What?

None of these guys lasted long, man. A lot of them moved in with her, but they didnt stay. Maybe shes lousy in bed.

It was Ricks turn to laugh. From what he could tell from those lunch-break kisses, whatever Josie Sheehan might lack in finesse would be more than made up for by her enthusiasm. Her soft skin was on fire when he touched her. Her pretty little mouth had sought out his with real hunger. Those sighs she made were incredibly hot.

Shed be a quick study with the right teacher, Rick said.

Teeny shrugged. Hey, man, this is your area of expertise, not mine. /Was it?/ Rick squinted, staring up at the sunshine punching through the ginkgo leaves. It was true that women had once been his specialty, but everything was different now.

When he thought back on those days, a sick knot of regret twisted in Ricks gut. The truth was that in the seven years between graduation and the accident, women took up most of his waking hours. If hed had a job back then, he might have considered his pursuit of women an avocation.

But because hed had the freedom to live off his ample trust fund without the annoyance of actual work, womanizing became his profession, the outlet for all he learned getting his business degree from Yale. Rick had traveled the world looking for new opportunitieswith women. Every night he observed the market. He made new acquisitions at regular intervals, only to plunder their natural resources and dump them back on the open marketplace in a matter of hours, days, weeks, or months, according to his whim, and at a much reduced value.

That was a long time ago. Now his vocation was Celestial Pet Superstores, Inc., and his avocation was an anonymous charitable foundation that paid the bills of uninsured or underinsured head injury patients. Women were no longer his area of expertise. They didnt interest him. They didnt even exist for him.

Until Josie.

And he was well aware that the free-market exploitation approach was not only wrong for Josephine Sheehan, it had been wrong for Margot Cummings and every other woman hed ever messed with. In fact, it was just plain wrongin a huge, karmic kind of way. He knew if he wanted something good with Josie, hed have to do everything right, every step of the way.

Besides, he owed it to Josie, Margot, all women everywhere, and himself.

His plan was to get to know her. Hed take his time with her, moving as slowly as possible. Hed make sure she felt comfortable and knew she was appreciated. Only then would he bring up the possibility of sex.

Im going to her place for dinner Thursday, Rick said, still looking up at the leaves.

Teeny said nothing.

Shes cooking for me. Seven oclock.

Teeny still said nothing.

Rick returned his gaze to his friend, whose face was a mask of equal parts horror and hilarity.

And you dont have to sit outside her apartment waiting for me, Teeny.

Ill be fine.

Teenys eyes widened, but he still had no reply.

She said shed like to make me eggplant Parmesan.

Apparently, Teeny had been holding in a huge guffaw for as long as humanly possible. When it finally exploded from him, he rolled off his organic buckwheat-hull cushions and flopped over in the grass, clutching his sides.

Rick could appreciate the irony. Hed instituted a no-alcohol, no-drugs, no-woman-no-way policy seven years ago, and had never veered from its confines. Not once. No matter how tempting the temptation. Even Gwen Anders, the tall, cool, blond bombshell executive director of his foundation, didnt distract him. Hed lost count of her subtle attempts at seduction over the years, though hed noticed an uptick in their frequency lately. In fact, shed called him three times that morning alone, on foundation business she would need to discuss in person, no doubt.

So what had happened to Ricks resolve? Apparently, it was no match for Josie Sheehan and her goofy dog and her eggplant Parmesan. So as Rick watched Teeny roll around in the grass laughing so hard he was crying, he couldnt really blame him. The whole thing must look pretty comical.

It didnt feel like a joke, though. It felt good. It felt right.

My progress? Josie plopped into one of the conference room chairs and stared at Mrs. Needleman. Progress with what?

Gloria Needleman folded her hands primly in her lap, studying the framed collection of the /Herald/s historic front pages lined along the conference room wallsthe 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Bay of Pigs, Watergate, 9/11.

With love, of coursethe only thing that will ever save us. Mrs.

Needleman moved her gaze from the greatest horrors of history to Josies eyes, and Josie knew she couldnt fool this woman if she tried. Gloria Needleman was beyond eccentric, beyond being an odd bird. The woman had an intense otherworldly vibe. Josie wondered if it was the result of a long and interesting life, or if shed been born that way.

Regardless, Josie had a feeling that Ira Needlemans achievements had been made possible by his wifes unusual strength.

Denise the receptionist entered the room, delivered the tea, and promptly left. Josie noticed how Mrs. Needleman turned up her nose at the refreshments presentation.

The old woman dunked her tea bag, waiting for Josie to answer her.

Umm, Mrs. Needleman? Josie cleared her throat.

Please call me Gloria.

And Im Josie.

Of course you are.

Umm, Gloria? Josie took a deep breath. Have you done this sort of thing before?

The womans eyes brightened with a devilish gleam. Do you mean have I ever been forced to drink off-brand tea in a cheap Styrofoam cup?

Josie laughed, surprised by the caustic barb. Bea would love this lady.

Actually, she said, I was referring to the love-life thing. The list.

The universe. Your matchmaking guidance. Do you do this often?

Gloria shrugged and paused for dramatic effect. Ive dabbled, she said, then took a tiny sip of tea. And Ive had some success. Im guessing by your response that its working for you?

My God! Josie jumped up and shut the conference room door. She raced back to her chair, lowered her voice, and leaned forward on her arms. I did the list, like you said, and a half hour later, /bam/! There he was!

And Im talking everything on my listwell, the stuff I can tell at this point anywayintelligence, humor, kindness, and, you know… She wasnt sure how to convey the concept of hot as hell to a great-grandmother.

A real hunk-a-hunk of burnin love?

Josie smiled. The old Elvis Presley lyric was hokey, but accurate. You got it, she answered.

Lovely, Gloria said, clapping her hands together in glee.

Hes coming to my house for dinner Thursday night.

Excellent. Gloria took a cautious sip of her dark brown drink, then flicked her tongue at the bitterness. What will you be preparing?

Eggplant Parmesan.

Gloria reached out toward Josie with both palms up, as if she were begging. Why in Gods name would you want to make that? Is the man a vegetarian?

Uh, no. In fact, Rick had ordered a huge steak at lunch. But Josie was baffled as to how her signature dish had suddenly lost all its street cred.

I meant no offense, Gloria said. Its certainly your choice what to serve. There are more significant things to worry about.

Josie cocked her head in curiosity. Such as?

Glorias eyes narrowed, and Josie heard the old woman sigh deeply. I came here today because I have something very important to tell you.

Josie sat up straight.

I have an overwhelming sense that the young man whos recently entered your life is in some kind of danger.

What? Josie scooted her chair even closer and got a heady whiff of Glorias perfume, which made her slightly dizzy. Hey, lets back uphow did you even know I had a young man?

Thats not especially important. What is important is that you understand what Im telling you.

Josie frowned. She held the old womans gaze and realized she was absolutely dead serious. He has a lot of security guards around him, Josie said, hesitantly. He says its standard for todays corporate world.

But what would make you think hes in /danger/? You dont even know him!

Just then, Glorias eyes closed. Josie held her breath. What was the protocol when an eighty-four-year-old woman went perfectly still and ceased moving? CPR? The Heimlich maneuver? A good pinch?

Gloria raised an arm and held up a pale and crinkled palm as if to keep Josie at a distance, but otherwise, she remained utterly still. Several long seconds went by. Josie took a sip of her tea. She couldnt help but think how delicious a slice of Paulies baklava would taste right at that moment.

Josie worried about Rick. Was he in trouble? Was all the security about something other than work? How much did she really know about him, anyway?

Your lover is a complicated man, Josie. Gloria opened her eyes to reveal a ferocity that seemed out of place on such an old face. I believe hes going to need your understanding and forgiveness, and soon. I am telling you this so you can prepare yourself.

Josie frowned. Hes not my /lover,/ Gloria. We just met!

The old woman shrugged. Thursday will be here before you know it.

Josies mouth fell open. In a matter of minutes, Mrs. Needleman had belittled her eggplant, made her new boyfriend sound shady, and basically accused her of being a slut! She wouldnt even take that kind of crap from Bethor Bea, Ginger, and Roxie! Josie sniffed and sat up straighter. Pardon me, but you were the one who told me to be choosydont you think I should at least wait until the third date before I jump in the sack with him?

Gloria giggled, her bony shoulders rising and falling under her polyester shoulder pads.

Josie leaned back in her chair, thinking that among the strangest experiences of her life, this conversation with Mrs. Needleman was right up there. Gloria was either crazy, putting on an act to get attention, or she had psychic powers of some kind. Maybe she was a witch. Or a guardian angel. Or an octogenarian vampire slayer. Josie crossed her arms over her chest and considered the giggling old woman, and realized that the only thing that mattered was what shed said about Rick.

All right, lets say I accept your claim that my loverI mean, Rickis in danger. Is there anything I should warn him about?

Gloria stopped giggling the instant Josie posed her question. She shook her head sadly and reached out to touch one of Josies folded arms. He already knows, dear girl, and its a heavy burden, indeed.

Bennett found her in the usual place. Shed moved the Queen Anne sitting chair to face the picture window, where she sat staring over the sloping grounds and out into the Newport Harbor. Every day, his wife moved the damn chair to the window. Every night, the maid moved it back beside the antique tea table. Why the hell bother? Bennett didnt know why anyone bothered with anything around here anymoremeals, dusting, flowers. It seemed as pointless as tending to a doll house.

He walked across the parquet floor to Julia, his feet feeling like blocks of cement. He wondered if this sense of dread was similar to how families of Alzheimers patients feltyou went to your loved one, but you werent sure theyd be there. You spoke to them, but you didnt know how much they heard. Julia wasnt whole anymore. Yes, her brain was intact, but her spirit was gone. Rick Rousseau had stolen that, too.

Bennett leaned down and kissed the top of his wifes head. Back when theyd met in school, Julias hair had been a glory to behold, pale yellow waves that reflected light like a mirror. She was a beauty then. Tiny chiseled nose and pale eyes, a full mouth and small white teeth. She had elegant hands, long, slim legs, and firm breasts. She was from a good New England family, like his own, and possessed the social ease that would be required as the wife of a prominent industrialist. When the time came, she gave him a daughter. The child was as beautiful as her mother and as smart as her father.

Bennett had always maintained that, as parents, theyd done everything right. Julia stayed at home with their child, while Bennett built his company. Margot was loved. She was given freedom and opportunity. She had dance and piano and French lessons. She went to the most exclusive private schools and summer camps. She was given a brand-new red convertible BMW when she turned sixteen. A Yale education. A Fifth Avenue wardrobe.

But Bennett wasnt entirely delusional. He noticed early on that his daughter hadnt inherited all shed need to be successful in life. She lacked an inner strength. She chafed at discipline. She didnt know the meaning of restraint. And so when she had an abortion at nineteen, it was a huge disappointment to Bennett, but not exactly a surprise. Up until the night of the accident, Margots life continued to be an orgy of excesstoo many parties, too many drugs, too many bad boys.

And Rick Rousseau was the worst of the worst. Hed gotten Margot pregnant at nineteen, and hed killed her at twenty-eight.

Without taking her eyes from the ocean, Julia reached up and over her chest to pat Bennetts hand where it lay on her shoulder. She was silent.

Its time, he said, staring out the window with her, searching for that elusive point in the distance that had fascinated her so, day after day, month after month, year after year. I have everything in place.