Gingers lips parted, but she stayed silent.
Bea raised her bottle toward Roxie. And Roxie, do you really think shed be running to the proprietor of the infamous
[http://i-vomit-on-all-men.com] i-vomit-on-all-men.com Web site to brag about the wonderful new guy whos stolen her heart?
Well, if you put it that way…
Ginger interrupted them both. You know, I took that vow seriously. Ive completely changed my way of thinking. I will never again worry about pleasing a man. From here on out its all about pleasuring myself!
When she got two silent stares, Ginger amended her comment. Waitthat didnt come out right.
Roxie turned to Bea. I dont get itwhat would the old lady have to do with Josies new man?
Beas eyes narrowed. She drummed her short fingernails on the bistro tabletop, not answering right away. After a few moments of contemplation, she looked up with a smile. Whats the one thing we all have in common? she asked, sounding pleased with herself.
Dogs, of course, Ginger said with a sigh. Plus, none of us are having any sex, and, lets face it, the more time that goes by the less likely I am to ever have it again, because in a few years Ill probably have a dried-up hoo-hah and more chin hair than the Unabomber, and then where will I be?
Roxie choked on a mouthful of margarita.
Actually, Bea said, rolling her eyes, I was alluding to the fact that were all experienced journalists. Bea folded her hands in front of her on the table. We are trained to track down information. We know how to put together facts to reveal an accurate and balanced snapshot of the truth.
I write about trends in bathroom design, Ginger pointed out.
Reporting is reporting, Bea snapped.
Just then, a shiny black Lexus cruised by. The equally black man behind the wheel slowed the car, then nodded at the women before he drove on.
Lilith growled.
Do you know him? Ginger asked.
Nope. Just a friendly guy, I guess, Roxie said.
Anyone who drives that slow is on the prowl, Bea said.
I swear Ive seen him before, Ginger said.
So let me get this straight, Bea. Roxie crossed her arms across her chest. Youre suggesting we /spy/ on our friend? You want us to go undercover on Josie, start asking questions of her neighbors? Family?
Sources? How about we sit outside her apartment and watch who comes and goes? Maybe root through her garbage?
Theres no need to get carried away, Bea said.
Youre the one whos been carried away! Roxie was clearly upset. Josie is my friend. I would never do that to her.
It is pretty smarmy, Ginger said. I wouldnt want you guys doing that to me, not that youd find anything. I say we just ask Josie. If she wants us to know, shell tell us.
Roxie nodded. Of course. Well just ask her whats going on. Well remind her that were her friends and she can tell us anything.
Bea shrugged. Fine. Ask her, then. Go on.
Roxie pulled out her cell phone. She dialed Josies home number. No answer. She called Josies cell. No answer. She tried both again. No answer.
Here, let me, Ginger said, rooting through her oversized pink leather bag to find her cell. She placed the phone on the tabletop and put it on speaker. The three women waited patiently through four rings.
See? Bea said. Shes not going to pick The phone sparked to life. The call had gone through but the only sound was of shuffling and mumbling, followed by a high-pitched yelp and a deep-voiced laugh. Then there was the sound of something smacking the receiver a few times, with a little more laughing thrown in. Then the line went dead.
Ginger tossed the phone back into her purse and, without comment, drained the rest of her mojito.
Bea bowed her head humbly, as if acknowledging the roars of an imaginary crowd. My work here is done, she said.
I dont freakin believe this! Ginger waved her hands around. HeatherLynn panicked and popped back inside the jacket. Josie took a vow! She was the one who told us to go out and lead full and happy lives in the company of our dogs! No one forced her to say that! She came up with that all on her own!
Lets not jump to any conclusions, here, Roxie said, glaring at Ginger.
We dont know for sure what we just heard on the phone. It could have been anything.
Bea nodded. Sure. Hey, in fact She started laughing. I bet all that giggling was part of her empty mind practice!
Ginger pursed her mouth tight. Roxie stared out into the street. Bea chuckled some more.
I do worry about her, Ginger said, shaking her head. You know how she isall a guy has to do is buy her a bacon cheeseburger and the next day shes at Macys picking out her stainless pattern. We cant let her do this to herself again. We cant let her waste her time with another ьberloser.
Amen, sister, Bea said.
But who are we to interfere? Roxie leaned forward on her elbows again, quite serious. I love Josie. Shes my best friend. But shes an adult. I know I wouldnt appreciate you guys doing that to me! Roxie flashed her dark eyes at them. I mean, its my life! I can make healthy choices for myself! Who are you to say whats good for me?
Bea nodded. Okay. Well, I got two words for you/Raymond Sandberg/. Any further discussion?
Lilith growled as the black Lexus cruised by again, headed in the opposite direction.
Ive got a real bad feeling about this whole business, Ginger said, letting her voice trail off as she watched the car drive away. Strange old ladies. Mystery boyfriends. The idea of spying on our friend. And whats with Super Fly in the Lexus? Am I paranoid or is that the second time hes driven by?
Roxie shook her head emphatically. Im not rooting through anybodys garbage. Thats where I have to draw the line.
CHAPTER 9
You sure are popular, Rick said through his teeth, which were clamped down on the elastic neckline of Josies little pink top. He would have used his hands to remove her blouse, but they were busy springing her left hip from the prison of her bikini underwear.
The damn things turned off now, she said, tossing her cell phone onto a basket of folded laundry. My friends can be persistent. Josie returned her attention to the metal buckle of Ricks jeans, frowning in concentration. Theyre probably wondering why I didnt meet them for a drink tonight.
Why didnt you just tell them you had a date?
Josie smiled in triumph, pulling the belt strap loose from the buckle.
Then she looked at Rick, biting her bottom lip. Um, they dont know about you yet. I havent found the right time to tell them.
Rick laughed. Ah. Youre ashamed of me.
What? Josies gray eyes went big and her cheeks reddened. Of course not!
Its just thatoh, jeez, its a really long story, but none of my friends are in relationships right now, and we kind of promised each other that wed be happy without men, that we could have wonderful, satisfying lives in the company of our dogs.
Whoops.
Yeah. Josie glanced down at her own below-the-waist bareness, and when she looked back at Rick, her cheeks were flaming. Whoops big-time.
Even while they laughed, Rick felt the weight of the moment descending on him. He was beginning to see all that was happening here, in stark clarity. There was a beautiful, funny, half-naked woman straddling his legs, looking down on him with trust and adoration. Her satiny thighs were spread. Her shiny curls fell around her face. Her creamy, freckled breasts were practically falling out of her top. And if all that wasnt erotic enough, the entire scene was backlit by evening sun spilling through the bedroom blinds, which gave the entire vision an ethereal glow. And as he stared in wonder at this apparition, he felt the light of her smile and the warmth of her laughter cut through seven years of cold darkness.