mother, the French-born Dominique, who up until the last few years had ruled his life with an iron fist, or at least tried to.
'Fine,' he said noncommittally.
'Still interfering in your life?' Lucky asked.
'You've got it wrong,' Alex said calmly. 'She gave that up a while ago.'
'Hmm…' Lucky said disbelievingly. 'One of these days you'll admit it. You know you're always trying to please her.'
'I hardly ever see her any more,' he said.
'Have it your way,' she said. 'I've no desire to get into your personal business.
And perhaps you'll do me the same favour.'
'I like Lennie,' he objected. 'Just because he's acting like a rude jerk tonight, I don't hold it against him.'
'He's not acting like a jerk,' Lucky countered, furious at his criticism. 'He'll be here any moment.'
'Okay, okay. In the meantime allow me to escort you back to the table so you don't have to stop and talk to every asshole who grabs you.'
'Thanks, Alex. I'm sure this will make the gossip columns very happy.'
'What do you mean?'
'Lucky Santangelo Golden being escorted across the ballroom by bad-boy director Alex Woods.'
Alex laughed. 'Big fucking deal.'
'Where's Pia?' Lucky enquired. 'And where exactly did you come up with this one?'
'You seem to be under the impression that I only date bimbos and actresses,'
Alex said. 'Well, let me tell you, this one's a very capable lawyer.'
'She is?' Lucky said, trying to keep the amusement out of her voice.
'What's the matter with you?' Alex said irritably. 'Don't you think an attractive woman can function as a lawyer?'
'Sure I do. And if this one's so smart, maybe she'll last longer than five minutes.'
'You can be such a bitch.'
'I can be a good friend, too. Never forget that, Alex.'
'There is something I'll never forget.'
'What?' she said, before she could stop herself.
'Remember that one special night long ago and far away?'
'No, Alex, I do not remember it. We both promised we would forget it ever happened. And if you ever tell Lennie, I will personally slice your balls off with a blunt knife. Do you get the picture?'
'Yes, ma'am,' he said, thinking that only Lucky could come up with such a descriptive phrase.
'It's not funny,' she said sternly. 'I am quite serious, so quit with the shit-eating grin and let's go back to the table where I'll try to be nice to Mia or Pia, or whatever her name is.'
'If I didn't know you better,' Alex said, fixing her with a quizzical look, 'I'd think you were jealous of all my girlfriends.'
'I told you the problem, Alex. I've got to talk to them; you get to fuck 'em.'
'Hey,' he said, straight-faced. 'You think it's fun for me? One blow-job and they expect me to return the compliment.'
She shook her head. 'You're absolutely incorrigible.'
'Thanks,' he said, with a big crocodile grin. 'I love it when you talk dirty!'
Chapter Thirteen
The white girl took the black boy into a restroom at a gas station. She locked the door and laid out the white powder next to the basin, then she snorted it with a rolled dollar bill, carefully showing him how to do the same.
'I'm not gonna get sick, am I?' he asked, feeling like a dumb ass. 'Or maybe it'll turn me into an addict?'
'You're really whacked,' she said, running a hand through her short dark hair.
'Snort the coke for fuck's sake and shut up.'
He was drunk enough to do as she said. Drunk and horny. Tonight he was definitely getting lucky. After all, he'd done everything she'd told him to do -
stolen the CDs, driven around with her in the jeep, played music and had a blast.
Obviously she wanted to be with him. Why else would they be spending all this time together?
The coke tickled his nose. He began to sneeze.
'For Chrissakes, don't sneeze in this direction,' she said irritably. 'You'll blow it away.'
'Where'd you get it anyway?'
'Why do you keep on asking me that? I've got my suppliers.'
'You do this often?'
'Don't you worry about it,' she said secretively. 'I do what I do.'
After a few minutes he began
Elizabeth Moon
Sinclair Lewis
Julia Quinn
Jamie Magee
Alys Clare
Jacqueline Ward
Janice Hadden
Lucy Monroe
Marc Nager, Clint Nelsen, Franck Nouyrigat
Kate Forsyth