Getting Lucky (The Marilyns) (5 page)

He could see the hope in her eyes, and it cut deeply that he would be the one to squash it. “You are in debt up to your eyeballs. And bankruptcy isn’t an option because you don’t own enough assets to cover the debt. The bank will take the house and all of the contents to pay off the money Ricky borrowed to invest in the solar company, the court will garnish any royalties made off his music to pay the studio back, and Ricky wiped out your savings the week before he died. He was counting on his upcoming tour to replenish the coffers.”

“Oh.” She nodded and let it all sink in.

He had to give her credit. She didn’t fall apart. The near loss of Dawnie had been more emotional than finding out she was flat broke. That was as it should be, but unfortunately for the girls, not a view their mother would have taken.

“The only way out is the reality show.” She rolled her shoulders like she was trying to smooth out the tension. Maybe someday, he’d reach over and massage it away.

He gave Lucky a minute while she processed the situation.

She nodded slowly. “Okay, here’s the deal. I want one hundred million dollars for one season, half up front, and they drop the lawsuit. I will designate where and when the cameras can film. If they fire me, I get to keep the money. Filming starts as soon as possible and lasts for no more than six months. All of this is nonnegotiable and final. One season and one season only.” She nodded. “I can stand six months. Half of a year in this house, and then I am out of here.”

She would leave, and he would never see her again. His heart ached. At least he had six months. That was something. “I’ll call them today.”

“Always in charge.” She nailed him with her hazel-green eyes dead on and made to get up.

Will grabbed her hand and pulled her back down. It was a necessary touch, and he made himself let go of her hand. “We need to talk about Rosie.”

“Dawnie told me that she died. How wrong was it to be the tiniest bit happy?”

“She had cancer…cervical cancer that metastasized.”

She slumped back against the pillows. The fact that both Lucky and
she
had cervical cancer was no coincidence. Cervical cancer was caused by the HPV virus, which was transmitted through sex. Ricky must have been fairly crawling with HPV.

“Now I feel somewhat bad about being happy.” With her forefinger and thumb, she pinched the bridge of her nose. She’d been lucky that her cancer had been caught early. “So you’re the girls’ legal guardian?”

“They have no one else.” Will sounded tired, and he couldn’t help it.

“Wow.” She sat forward and covered his hand with hers. “That’s a lot to take on. How are you handling it?”

Lucky might have been mad at him, but when it counted, she was always there. When someone mattered to her, she would move heaven and earth for that person. What he wouldn’t give to see love shining in her eyes instead of sympathy.

Without thinking, Will laced his fingers through hers and tried not to sound too hopeful. “They need a woman’s guidance. I don’t have the right to ask this, but please keep an open mind when it comes to the girls. They are victims as much as you are. They haven’t had it easy.”

With her thumb, she stroked the back of his hand. It was soothing and sexy at the same time. This was too much physical contact. He couldn’t handle it. She hadn’t meant it to be sexy because it was a kind gesture to console a friend. Always the friend, never the lover. But he couldn’t pull his hand away. She was here, and they were touching.

“I can’t…” She bit her lip, swallowed several times, and nodded. “I’ll try.”

This was the Lucky he knew and loved. She would do what had to be done and then leave.

“Why didn’t you tell me about Ricky?” Her tone wasn’t accusatory, merely questioning. She tucked her legs under her.

He shook his head and silently begged her to forgive him. The last year and a half without her had been an eternal winter full of gray days and sleepless nights. He hadn’t noticed until he’d seen her today and his world had filled with color again. “I couldn’t. It would have hurt you deeply, and I couldn’t do it. If it had been anyone other than you, I’d have spilled everything long ago.”

He’d gambled with the truth and lost. How did he explain that hurting her was the last thing he’d ever wanted? That was why he’d kept Ricky’s dirty little lies, not because of familial loyalty but because hurting her made him sick to his stomach.

“So instead, you let me find out on live TV—”

“I had no idea that was going to happen. Ricky and Rosie kept it secret. Even the girls didn’t know.” Before he’d realized he was doing it, he’d brought their linked hands to his lips and kissed each one of her knuckles starting with her thumb. He hadn’t meant it to be so intimate, but she didn’t pull away.

Lucky had to understand…. She had to forgive him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to hurt you but ended up doing just that.” His mouth lingered over her hand a little too long, and he forced himself to lower their linked hands. “I would have done anything—will do anything for you, but I couldn’t hurt you.”

Her eyes narrowed to squints. “I don’t know why, but I believe you.” She leaned closer. She smelled of her favorite shampoo and Bert’s Bees Coconut Foot Cream. He wanted to start at her feet and kiss his way up.

“Come on in, let’s hug it out. I know you hate hugging me, so that’s partially why I’m insisting.” She pulled him closer. “Come on in here.”

He pulled her to him, and her arms went around his neck. His eyes fluttered closed, and he savored the feel of her against him. She fit so perfectly in his arms. Her heavy breasts mashed against his chest. He slid one hand into her hair and pressed her to him. His other hand slid down to the small of her back—right where her tee shirt ended and the waistband of her jeans jutted open. If things were different, he’d slide his hands down and cup her round bottom, but Lucky only saw him as her brother-in-law. Determined not to let go first, he held tight.

“I’m having a little trouble breathing.” Lucky’s voice was raspy.

“Sorry.” He loosened his hold but didn’t let go. If it were up to him, he’d never let go.

As she sat back on her heels, one arm fell away, but the other stayed around his neck. The taut muscles at his neck relaxed under the weight of her arm.

Lucky looked around. “I hate this room. It’s like living in a giant cotton ball.”

“To me, it’s a giant ream of copy paper.” It was peaceful sitting next to her.

“That’s a good one. And that bed. It’s like Liberace’s albino rejects. The marble cherubs carved into the headboard still freak me out.” She inched over next to him and laid her head on his shoulder. “I know being this close to me must be torture, but I saw a side of you today that I’ve never seen before. You and Dawnie … you love her. Your concern was nice. I didn’t expect it.”

She was right, her being this close with her head on his shoulder was delicious torture, and he did his level best to ignore the fact that one of her breasts was pressed up against his arm. He’d never realized that she noticed his lack of touching her.

“Never in a million years would I have thought that you and I would move in together and have a reality show with Ricky’s children. I feel like I should hate it, but I kind of don’t. I can’t wait to play Barbies with Dawnie. Does that make me open-minded or merely desperate to belong?”

“It makes you wonderful. Not many people are as resilient as you. Nothing keeps you down.” He tried to keep the love out of his voice, but he wasn’t sure he pulled it off.

“In the beginning, I kind of felt that you tolerated me for Ricky’s sake. Then we became friends … sort of … well, you pretended to like me. I know Ricky always sent you to deal with me when he didn’t have the time or didn’t want to bother. You were always nice to me even when you wanted to ring my neck. Thanks.”

This is how she thought he felt? He had a lot of work to do. “What do you mean? I’ve always liked you.” One day, he’d changed that like to love.

“You know Betts and Charlie have this crazy idea that you have a thing for me.”

Will choked on a mouthful of embarrassment. “I … um … well…”

“I know, crazy, right?”

That was a stab right to the heart.

“Yes.” He tried to laugh it off, but it sounded hollow. He bit the inside of his cheek and tried to grin. She had no idea how much that had hurt.

Forever cursed as the role of best friend instead of boyfriend. The nineteenth-century novelist J.M. Barrie had said it best: “Even love unreturned has its rainbow.” And his rainbow had no idea that he’d loved her the longest and deepest of any other person alive or dead.

***

What in the holy hell was Lucky supposed to do now? She stared up at Will. His shoulder supporting her head was soothing. Calm Will, reliable Will, steady Will. Little lines crinkled the edges of his chocolate-brown eyes.

She’d agreed to mortgage her soul for the sake of money … again. But little Dawnie had held her so tight, and she couldn’t stand the thought of Dawnie having to lose even more. Since Ricky’s estate was broke, his children were broke also, and that was something from which she couldn’t run away. Responsibility wrapped its noose around her neck and pulled tight. They weren’t her kids, but they needed her … at least for a little while.

The weight of supporting a family settled awkwardly on her shoulders. It occurred to her that Will had been shouldering that responsibility alone until now. “You’ve been supporting them?”

“Yes. I’m sorry. I know it’s a betrayal of you, but I couldn’t let them live on the streets or go into foster care.” His words bordered on desperate, but his tone was controlled, even.

“It’s that bad?” Lucky rolled her eyes. “Of course it’s that bad.”

Why hadn’t he come to her sooner? Duh. He had, and she’d ignored him. If she’d been alone, she’d have smacked herself on the forehead.

“As always, you’ve taken care of everyone.” She put her hand on his thigh. Under the khaki trousers, it was hard muscle. He’d been working out. “I’m sorry.” The words didn’t stick in her throat too much. “You needed me and I wasn’t there.”

This wasn’t about her and the kids, it was about being there for an old friend when he needed her most. If there was one thing Lucky prided herself on, it was loyalty.

He glanced down at her hand on his thigh and cleared his throat. “Yes … well, that’s all in the past. You’re here now, and you’ve agreed to the show. That more than makes up for the last year and a half.” He looked up at her with earnest eyes framed by outrageously long lashes and held out his hand. The longer he kept his gaze on her, the more heat rushed to places that shouldn’t be more than lukewarm. She’d never noticed gold flecks in his brown eyes. Or his thick black hair that was a tad unruly, huge milk-chocolate eyes, a straight nose, and high cheekbones; he was part Indian brave and part Fortune 500 CEO. Why hadn’t she noticed him before?

“Is everything okay? You’re staring at me with the oddest expression on your face. Are you ill?” He touched her forehead with the back of his hand. “You don’t feel warm, but there’s a nasty respiratory bug going around.”

“No, I’m fine.” She forced herself to look away. It was just Will. The older brother she’d always wanted … only he wasn’t her brother and no longer felt like her brother.

“Good.” He nodded. “So how’d you come by the hundred-million figure?”

“Sounded like enough to get us out of hock. Is it?” Lucky bit the inside of her cheek. She’d been here less than two hours, and she was already thinking of herself, Will, and the girls as an “us.” Getting emotionally attached was a bad idea; the girls weren’t hers to love.

“Us?” One of Will’s eyebrows shot up.

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t gloat. It causes wrinkles.”

Light knocking sounded at the closed door. It quickly turned into banging. “Uncle Will! Uncle Will!”

He stood, was at the door in two strides, and pulled it open. “What’s wrong now?”

“Nothing.” Dawnie, with a paper shopping bag on each arm and dragging a three-story plastic, pink Barbie mansion, stood in the door wearing a silver sequin ball gown, a rhinestone tiara, and pink flip-flops. “I brought the Barbies.”

Lucky stood. “I see that. Aren’t you a little overdressed?”

She shook her head. “Nope. We’re having a wedding. Barbie Fashionista’s marrying Ken.” She looked around surreptitiously. “But Ken’s secretly in love with Barbie Color Magic.” She tried to wink, but blinked instead.

How could Lucky keep from loving this adorable creature?

“Wow. Art imitating my life.”

Will put a hand on Lucky’s shoulder. “Let’s give Lucky some time to settle in—”

“I’m good.” She covered Will’s hand with hers. This new touchy-feely side of Will was nice, and it felt right.

“My daddy loved Barbies. He’d play with me for hours.” Excitement radiated off Dawnie in waves.

Lucky didn’t know what to say. She didn’t want to think of Ricky with his daughters—the daughters he’d had with another woman.

Will shot her a sympathetic look. “I bet Lucky would like some time to unpack.”

He was trying to shield her from any references to Ricky, but she needed to face it. No longer could she run from reality, because it was standing right here holding two bags full of Barbies.

She shook her head and smiled at Will. “Nope. I’m okay.”

Will returned her smile.

“What are you doing in the hallway?” She pointed to the bags of Barbies. “Get in here. We’ve got a wedding to set up.”

“Jesus Christ, what’s wrong with you?” Betts Monroe’s famous voice droned on from Lucky’s iPhone.

“Nothing is wrong with me. I’m making dinner.” It was mac and cheese from a box. How hard could it be?

“For the love of God, put the spoon down. Don’t you remember what happened the last time you attempted to cook?”

“That’s not fair. Not everyone had to go to the emergency room. Some people didn’t even throw up.” Lucky stared at the amazing array of pots and pans hanging from the rack above the kitchen island. She counted twenty-seven. Her eyes went up to the iron hook bolted to the ceiling. It must be braced between two studs to hold that kind of weight. Finally, after evaluating the different sizes, she chose a pan slightly larger than the mac and cheese box.