Because you are wonderful, Josie. Beautiful and sweet and smart and I feel happy when Im with you. You make me laugh. You make me want to try.
She shook her head, confused. Try?
To be the decent man you imagine me to be.
Josie slipped her hands around Ricks waist and rubbed his muscular back.
Where were you hurt, can I ask? She let her hands roam, eventually bringing them to his firm butt.
My ass is fine, he said with a grin.
No kidding, Josie said, giggling. She moved her hands to his narrow hips.
The left hip is man-made, he said.
She let her hands slide down along the back of his thighs, then around to the front, feeling nothing but solid muscle beneath her fingers.
My left femur is held together with a titanium rod. My left knee is a testament to modern plastics.
Her stomach fluttered. She was frightened by what he was telling her.
She squatted down and placed her hands gently on his calves, then his shins, waiting for anything else he had to say.
Ricks hand caressed her hair. The right tibia broke in four places. My right ankle was crushedtrust me when I tell you that you dont want to go through airport security with me.
Josie remained in her squat, staring down at the wood floor of her apartment, suddenly overwhelmed. She knew her fingers trembled where they touched him. Eventually she rose to a stand, spreading her palms flat against Ricks shirt, feeling the rise and fall of his solid abdomen, eventually moving her hands along his ribs and chest.
Three broken ribs. A lacerated spleen. A bruised heart. A punctured lung.
Josie felt the sorrow well up in her. How could one person go through so much and still be walking around?
You can stop now, Josie. Its all ancient history.
She shook her head, not looking at his face. She placed her hands on his shoulders, biceps, forearms, and hands. She needed to know everything.
Rick sighed softly. Pretty much the same thing as my legsa little bit of plastic or metal here and there.
With that, Josie placed her hands on his head and raked her fingers through his hair. The look on her face must have been horror, because Rick immediately comforted her.
I was wearing a helmet. I had a minor concussion. Nothing more.
She nodded, not knowing what to say, and not sure she wanted to be the woman to put all the pins and plates to the test.
He tipped up her chin with his fingers and looked her in the eye. Im healthy now, Josie. Its been a long time and Im healed. I run. I lift weights. I do yoga. I get stiff sometimes, but Im good to go.
But I… I dont want to hurt you accidentally, she whispered, trying with all her might not to blush or tear up. Im not a tiny woman. I could crush something. I could snap one of your rods or chip one of your plates.
He chuckled again. Gently, he took her into his arms, squeezed her, and whispered into her hair. Youre the woman I want, Josie. Just say the word when youre ready.
Josie melted into his hug, knowing that no mans embrace had ever felt this perfect, this complete. Ricks arms were strong but they cradled her gently. She could hear his heart beat in his chest. She could hear the patience in his voice. Sure, Rick Rousseau might have a few synthetic parts, but he was more of the real thing than any man shed ever encountered.
Josie decided to skip the words. Instead, she took his hand and led him through the living room toward the bedroom. Genghis stopped chewing and looked up at them with curiosity, giving Josie the two seconds she needed to swoop down and grab the now disfigured vibrator. She tossed it in the bathroom trash can on the way down the hall.
Josies home phone began to ring. Whoeverand whateverit was would have to wait.
Bea snapped her cell phone closed and turned to Roxie and Ginger. Well, shes not answering. Now Im sure somethings going on.
Good Lord, Bea! Roxie said, laughing. Josie is a grown woman. She can choose not to answer her phone if she wantsthats the beauty of living in a democracy.
Ginger leaned forward on one elbow, whispering as if spies were lurking at the outdoor bistro. As much as it pains me to say this, Bea may be right. Think about itits more than the usual scatterbrain stuff with Josie lately. She may be avoiding us.
As if shocked by the accusation, HeatherLynn poked her head out from the cocoon of Gingers jacket, little black button eyes popping from her white pompom head.
You guys are nuts, Roxanne said.
She didnt show up for our walk yesterday, Bea reminded Roxie, lowering her hand to stroke the top of her own dogs head. As usual, Martina slept peacefully by her owners side, content and well behaved. And now she cant meet us for a drink tonight? So I ask, since when does she have so many scheduling conflicts?
Maybe shes babysitting for her sisters kids, Ginger offered.
See? Im sure thats what it is, Roxie said. You know how Beths always dumping her kids on her at the last minute.
Of course Im right.
Youre wrong, Bea told Ginger with finality.
Ginger sighed. She took a soothing sip of her lemongrass Mojito.
Whatever you say, Bea.
So you agree theres something going on with Josie?
Ginger laughed. Not necessarily, but Ill say anything to get you to drop the subject.
Not gonna happen, Bea said.
For the next few minutes, the three women sat quietly at the small wrought-iron table. Lilith tugged at her muzzle and growled at a man strolling down the sidewalk. HeatherLynn retreated back into her hideaway. Martina slept.
Roxie took a long drink from her margarita and sighed. Have you ever noticed that we get on each others nerves more when Josies not with us?
Bea nodded, taking a swig of her Michelob Ultra. All the more reason to find out whats going on with her, and get her back on track.
Roxie shrugged.
Hey, Ginger, Bea continued. Remember that woman who came to the paper to see Josie the other day? When we were heading out to grab some of Paulie Patrakiss last baklava?
Roxies mouth fell open. You got some of his last baklava? You went /without/ me?
We tried to reach you but you were covering that double-murder thingy.
Ginger frowned when she said that, then groaned in exasperation and smoothed out her brow. What about the old lady, Bea?
You think Josie has something going on with an old /lady/? Roxies face froze in shock.
Oh, for Gods sake, Bea said, dropping her head into her hand.
Not everyone is turned on by senior citizens, Rox, Ginger said.
What/ever/. Roxie rolled her eyes. So whos this old woman and what does she have to do with Josie avoiding us?
Bea settled back in her bistro chair and looked around at the hip city crowd, pondering the question. Josie was in a very serious conversation with the woman. It looked important.
I think she was the widow of one of Josies obits, Ginger said, pursing her lips. As usual, Bea, youre looking for intrigue where there is nonemaybe you should buy a spy novel or something.
I can sense these things, Bea said, her conviction growing. Josie has something going on in her life that shes not telling us about, and Im sure its a man.
When Ginger gasped and stiffened in surprise, HeatherLynn popped out of her owners jacket again.
No way, Roxie said, her voice louder now. Josie would have told me if there was someone in her life.
Oh, really? Bea arched her eyebrows. You dont think Josie would be the tiniest bit embarrassed about a new boyfriend considering that little no-man-no-way vow we all just took?
Nobody had a response for that.
Bea turned to Ginger. Do you really think shed be anxious to tell us about her latest selection from the primordial slime pit of men when all we do is talk about the joys of living in a testosterone-free zone?