Read Getting Lucky (The Marilyns) for Free Online

his eye, he saw her bend over to pick up one bag. He closed his eyes and tried really hard not to imagine that towel falling to the floor.
    He opened his eyes to find that she’d walked into the bathroom and shut the door.
    The scent of her flowery soap on her skin lingered in the air. Lucky was feminine in an unconventional way. Every move she made was somehow graceful and harsh—like a cross between Donna Reed and Xena the Warrior Princess. He glanced at the bathroom door. Would there ever be a time when she didn’t feel the need to shut it? Would he ever get a chance to be more than her brother-in-law?
    Five torturous minutes later, she stepped out, wearing skintight jeans and a vintage Rolling Stones concert tee shirt. Her feet were bare, her hair was finger-combed in a long, wavy mass, and her face was makeup free. He wanted to eat her up.
    As she walked, she reached behind her and twisted her hair up into some intricate bun thing and stuck a pen through it. He’d seen her do it a thousand times, but it still mesmerized him. How did it stay up? How could she look so regal with nothing but a pen?
    She took the seat on the sofa next to him, propped her feet up on the coffee table, and relaxed back. “So, what evil master plan have you hatched this time?”
    A lock of hair came loose and fell into her face. He stuck his hands under him again to keep from tucking it behind her ear.
    “First, thanks for saving Dawnie’s life. If you hadn’t been there… I don’t even want to think about it.” His voice shook, and he couldn’t make it stop. The thought of losing Dawnie… It made him physically ill.
    “You know thanks aren’t necessary. She’s such a sweet child, I’m glad I got there in time.” Lucky took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “You’re stalling.”
    She turned to look at him. “I promise to listen. Right now, emotionally, I don’t have much left in me. Never in a million years would I have believed myself capable of caring about Ricky’s children. But when I heard that cry for help and saw that tiny body at the bottom of the pool, I died a thousand times. I had to save her. She had to be okay. My heart stopped beating until she took a breath. And then she held me so tightly.” Her voice broke. “What am I supposed to do? She has Ricky’s eyes.”
    She was hurting, and he ached to hold her.
    If life were different, he would have scooped her up, set her on his lap, and kissed it away, but he couldn’t, no matter what he wanted, so he kept his hands exactly where they were.
    “I know this is hard for you. If I could save you this pain, I would, but you have to face it.” He blew out a long breath. “And unfortunately you have to face some other things too.” How did he start? How did he go about ruining the life of the woman he loved? “I know you don’t want to talk about the new reality show, but we have to discuss it.”
    “No, we don’t.” Her heart wasn’t in it, and she didn’t get up. It was progress … hopefully.
    “Yes, we do. You’re being sued by the show, and they want their money back.” Which was just a drop in the bucket.
    “So what? As soon as Ricky’s will is out of probate, I’ll settle with them. What’s the big deal?” She sounded so matter-of-fact … so innocent. That was about to change.
    “There is no money.” He let his hands out of jail, turned so that his back was against the armrest, and gave her his full attention. Facing her head-on was the least he could do for her. “Ricky’s estate is broke. In fact, the bank will be foreclosing on the house next week. I’ve put them off that long with the promise of a new show. My brother was a hell of a musician but a terrible money manager. He invested everything in a company developing efficient solar power technology. They went bankrupt and took everything Ricky had with them.”
    “Everything?” She shook her head. “Solar power… What are you talking about? No, wait…. He was obsessed