by Dee Dawning
A tinge of pain started in her temples “I don’t like it either, but I need to get my book out. The publisher won’t wait forever.”
“I know, but this is crazy. How are you going to do this?” Zoe appeared to be quite upset.
It’s a good thing she doesn’t know about last night.
“I don’t know yet. I wish I had a fairy godmother like Cinderella and all I had to do was go to the hotel room or whatever other arrangement she made and get buggered and fucked by whoever she picked and get it over with.”
Zoe exchanged her wide-open mouth for a serious appearance and whispered, “I’ll do it.”
“What?”
Speaking with authority, she said, “I’ll do it. I’ll be your fairy god-pimp…I mean mother.”
She was astonished. “Really, you’re not joking.”
“I’ll do it. I know two guys who would be perfect. All I ask is that you don’t fire me if you’re unhappy with the guys I picked.”
She waved her hand at the nonsense she spouted. “I would never do that. This time I don’t want hunks, anyway. Just average looking guys with decent bods.” She laughed. “No beer guts.”
“I’ll need a photo to show the candidates.”
“Hmm.” She pulled up the photo section on her computer and went through her personal images. “Here’s one of me in a bikini. Would that be all right?”
She walked around her desk and peered at her monitor. “Perfect. Print it out and I’ll get going.”
After printing the picture, she handed it to her. “Do not let anyone have this. Just show it to them.”
She nodded then paused like she wanted to say something.
“What?”
“You know you can’t just decide to have anal sex all of a sudden and do it. You have to prepare for it.”
She smiled. “After the crash course I had on the subject with all those excerpts you gave me yesterday, I know. I’ll start preparing myself.”
Zoe tilted her head and cast a silly grin. “Good. It looks like I have my work cut out for me.” She leaned down and did something she’d never done. She kissed her boss’ cheek. “Well, I better get going.”
“Zoe.”
She glanced her way before she left the room.
“Thanks. I really appreciate this.”
She dipped her head in acknowledgment.
* * * *
She barely left Becca’s Long Island home when she called her new friend, Vince.
“Reynolds Architecture.”
“It’s a go. This weekend. Where can we meet?”
“Trends?”
“C’mon, Vinnie, it’s Starbucks time not Miller time.”
“Where are you?”
“Brentwood.”
“I’ll meet you at Lower Eastside Deli at the corner of Smallwood and Canal in Brooklyn.”
“Be there in thirty. Bye.”
* * * *
It was mid morning when Zoe got there so the only customer beside Vince was her. She slid in the other side of the booth he occupied. “Hi, Vinnie.”
For some reason she couldn’t stop calling him Vinnie. Actually, he kind of liked it. He also liked Zoe. Not like he liked Dede. More like a kid sister. “Hi, have some of my lox.”
She took a bite. “Mmm, good.”
Gerta set a glass of water down. “You’re not Dede, are you?”
Zoe’s eyes narrowed.
“No, Gerta. This is Zoe. Bring her a plate of lox with a plain bagel and…” He looked at her questioningly. “Iced tea?”
She nodded. “Perfect.”
“Sorry, Zoe. Vince and his friend have been trying to find a girl name Dede. I’ll be right back with your order.”
She looked at him accusingly and he started whistling and innocently looked away. “Vinnie, look at me.”
He shifted his gaze to her. “Yes?”
“Have you been blabbing about Becca to everyone?”
He shook his head. “Just Gerta. She overheard Kevin and I talking.”
“And how much does she know?”
He raised a single eyebrow and scrunched his lips to the side of his face. “Pretty much everything.”
Gerta set Zoe’s order in front of her and filled her iced tea glass.
When she left, he asked, “Where were we?”
Zoe placed her elbows on the table and leaned forward. “We hadn’t got anywhere yet. Since Becca’s writing her new book as Dede and you know her as Dede, I’m going to call her that. Dede’s agent told her she needs to incorporate an anal sex scene in the story she’s working on. I don’t know how much she told you, but she has trouble writing a sex scene about something she hasn’t done.”
He found that very interesting. “Ah. That’s why she initiated our ménage.”
She smirked. “Right, and you didn’t get into anal.”
Vince shrugged. “All she needs to do is call us.”
She smiled and rolled her eyes. “She knows that, but she’s petrified about being intimate with you guys again. You must have woven a magic spell on her, because she’s positive if she had sex with you two again, she would fall hopelessly in love.”
And he could see himself falling for her. “I wouldn’t mind that.”
“I know you think you would love her back, but she and I both know you barely know her. To quote her, ‘I probably had more strokes in my pussy from their cocks than meaningful words exchanged between us.’”
He chuckled, “That’s funny.” He stopped laughing and added, “It’s also true, but there’s chemistry between us. So if she’s afraid to come back to us, what’s she going to do to finish her book?”
Zoe dipped her brow so low her eyelashes almost touched her brow with the disgusted look she flashed. “She’s not thinking very straight. Promise me you won’t get mad.”
He nodded. “I promise.”
“I’m supposed to find two new guys to bang her.”
“What!” He said it so loud that Gerta and the cook looked over. “It would kill me if she did that. Are you going to do it?”
She looked around and spoke under her breath. “That’s why I’m here. I’m recruiting two guys that think enough of her to hire a private eye to find her and don’t see a slab of meat when they think of her.” She leaned in. “I’m going to trick her into coming to your place, but like I said last night, the rest is up to you. She’d better have a night of romance fit for a queen. The love and admiration needs to be so thick it could be cut with a knife.”
“I can do that. Believe me, I’ve been thinking for three weeks what I would do if I had another chance with Dede.”
“That’s what I like to hear. Take me to your apartment since Dede can’t know where we are going I need to be able to find it with her eyes closed.”
She left Vinnie and Kevin’s loft about three o’clock and drove to Becca’s home and let herself in. Understandably, since she was about to pull a fraud on her boss, she was nervous as a freshman sorority pledge on initiation night.
Chapter Ten
An Evening Fit for Royalty
Waiting on pins and needles for Zoe’s return, Becca decided to sit on the divan in her parlor, where she could read a book and see the minute Zoe returned.
Zoe returned at four o’clock and looked surprised when she saw her, but quickly smiled. “Good news, I have everything arranged. They will be waiting for you at their apartment.”
That pleased Becca and she felt herself getting excited. “Oh, goody, when do I leave?”
Zoe raised a cautionary index finger. “Not so fast. They have conditions.”
She frowned. “Conditions? What kind of conditions?”
Zoe sat on the settee across the coffee table from her. “Well, for starters, they don’t want you to know where they live. So I’m supposed to bring you blindfolded.”
Her frown deepened. “What? What about you?”
“I already know where they live. That’s why they want me to bring you.”
One of Becca’s eyes thinned while the other widened. “Who are these guys, mobsters?”
Zoe laughed, then asked, “Would it matter if they were?”
She pursed her lips and shook her head. “I guess not. Anything else?”
“Yes, they thought it sounded unromantic for you to come over and the three of you get naked and hop in bed. They wanted to treat the whole liaison like a date.”
That pleased her. “That’s sweet. What do they want to do?”
“I’m not sure, but I heard something about rack of lamb.”
Her eyes rounded and she licked her lips at the thought of her meat of choice. “Really, I love rack of lamb. It’s my favorite.”
“I know.”
“This is beginning to sound exciting. Thank you for finding these guys for me.”
“You’re welcome, now let’s get you ready. I want you to be beautiful for your date.”
Zoe talked her into wearing her favorite of Becca’s floor length evening dresses—a beautiful, red on white subtle floral print, poly chiffon, strapless gown with solid red back straps and bust matching the color of the floral print.
She fixed her long blond hair up with two long ringlets draping over her bare shoulders on each side and topped it off with a tiara. After she applied her make-up and donned her dress, Zoe said, “You look absolutely stunning.”
She was pleased, too. “Oh Zoe, you did a wonderful job on my hair. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Don’t move. I want to get your camera and take your picture.” She came back with the camera and took five snapshots. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I found this matching red scarf in your closet. When we get seated in my car, I’ll tie it around your eyes, so you can’t see.”
Becca furrowed her brow. “Oh, do we have to do that?”
She pursed her lips and nodded. “I’m afraid so. I swore on my father’s grave I would do it.”
A little put out, she shook her head. “All right, let’s get going.”
After riding with Zoe in her late model Honda blindfolded for about thirty minutes, Becca felt the car make a hard left turn and come to a stop.
“We’re here. Are you nervous?”
“Wouldn’t you be? I’m about to do something I’ve never done, which can be painful, with two men I haven’t met.”
“Good point. Don’t move. I’ll help you out.”
Becca heard the driver’s door open and close, then fifteen seconds later hers opened. Her hand reached around her right forearm. “Okay, now swing your leg out a couple of feet and step on terra firma.”
Becca did as she was asked.
“Good. Now swing your other leg out. I’ll make sure your beautiful dress doesn’t snag or get dirty.”
She swung her other leg out and both feet rested on the ground.
“All right. Watch your head and when I tell you, stand up.”
With her hand on top of her head Zoe urged her out and up, when Becca was out of the car. “Can’t I just take the blindfold off now? I’ll have no idea where we are.”
“Sorry, boss. I gave my word. You might see a landmark or an address.”
With Zoe’s right arm around her waist and her left hand holding hers, she guided Becca into the building and up a flight of stairs. When they came to the landing, Zoe led her down a hall some twenty feet. She didn’t hear a doorbell or knock, but suddenly Zoe urged her in. “Watch your step, Becca.” She grabbed her thigh and helped her navigate what seemed like a six inch riser. She had apparently arrived because Zoe removed her red blindfold.
* * * *
Though it was dark, her eyes were light sensitive from wearing the blindfold. As her eyes grew accustomed, she surveyed the room. It held a ring of familiarity. Contemporary living room furniture to the right and a large candlelit table with a lovely floral centerpiece sat to the left. Lighting was low and soft romantic music played in the background. Tantalizing aromas emanated from the kitchen and caused her stomach to growl. She was both anxious and apprehensive.
Where are her dates? Then she realized she’d been there before. This is Kevin and Vincent’s loft. As she started to turn to leave, Zoe grabbed her. “Why did you bring me here?” She snarled. Then she saw them. Wearing summer white tuxes, they were even more dashing and handsome than they’d been that night. Conflicted, she grabbed Zoe’s thin arm. “We need to talk” She jerked her arm and dragged her toward and into the powder room.
“Okay. I want to know. Why did you bring me here?”
“Because you were about to make a terrible mistake.”
“What right do you have judging my decisions? It’s my life.”
“None, if it affected only you, but the decision to banish Kevin and Vinnie from your life was unwarranted and affected them adversely.”
Becca nearly giggled when Zoe called Vince, Vinnie.
“Did you know they dream of you every night while you dream of them? Isn’t it silly to settle for dreams when the real thing pines for you?”
“I told you they would keep me around for awhile and then discard me.”
“What is the matter with you? Next to me, you are the most sensible woman I know. Why are you so sure they would dump you?”
She did laugh at that. “Have a high opinion of yourself, do we?”
“About some things.”
“I’ll tell you why. Because it happened to me. Shortly before I hired you, I went with a younger man—six years younger. He was a young Broadway understudy and I became infatuated with him. I’d never been happier and everything seemed perfect. I wanted to marry him and he seemed receptive, but unknown to me, a ballerina he’d gone with for over a year had broke up with him shortly before we started going out.”
“You were his rebound.”
“Exactly, and when she wanted him back, he dumped me. The thing was I’d fallen in love him. Zoe, it nearly killed me.”
“Okay. I’m sorry for what happened to you, but this is different. I grilled these guys and they think you and they share a chemistry that transcends the lack of time you’ve known each other. Did you know Kevin spent over five thousand dollars on a private eye trying to find you?”
She shook her head.
“I didn’t think so. They have gone out of the way tonight to make you feel wanted, buying tuxes, bouquets of flowers. Vince is personally cooking your favorite dish.” Zoe began waving her hands as she does when she gets excited. “If you have to go to bed with two guys one more time to finish your book, don’t you think they have earned the right to…to…plug both your holes?”
She laughed out loud and shook her head. “Zoe, you are too much.” She hugged her. “I’ll give it a try, but I want you here, through dinner and afterward.”
The shocked look on her face was precious. “No, baby. You have to find your own hunks. I just want you nearby in case something goes wrong.”
She bobbed her head and took her hand. “Don’t worry, it won’t. Let’s go find your delicious dates.”
They stepped out of the powder room and the handsome duo waited, each with a corsage. Kevin stepped forward and pinned the corsage on Becca while Vince affixed his to Zoe’s chest. Kevin leaned down and kissed her cheek. Shivers ran down her arms as he whispered in her ear. “I know and love your real name, but to me, you will always be Dede. You are an amazing looking woman, Dede.”
He pulled away and winked, but she held onto his hand. “Is it all right if Zoe stays?”
“Of course. She can even spend the night in our guest room, if you like.”
“I think I would.”
“Consider it done.”
Switching escorts, Vince came over, grasped her hands and kissed her cheek. “I cannot tell you pleased I am that you came. I’m really looking forward to getting to know you.” He smiled. “In the cerebral sense.”
She laughed. “Thank you. After meeting your other attributes at a previous encounter, I look forward to meeting your brain.”<
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He laughed. “Kevin said you were spontaneous and clever. I can see what he means.” He held out his arm. “Dinner is ready. Shall we be seated?”
She bowed her head and wrapped her fingers and thumb around his forearm. “Certainly.”
Vince led her to the head of the table and pulled the captain’s chair out for her. As she sat, he helped push the chair in and took a seat to her right. Kevin after seating Zoe to Vince’s right took the seat to her left. A beautiful man sat on each side of her. She thought wistfully, I hope Zoe is right. There were two bottles of wine on the table, a red and a white.
Vince tapped her wrist. “The red wine is Beaujolais and the white is Chardonnay. Which would you prefer?”
Since they were about to have lamb, she chose, “Beaujolais, please.”
He turned her wine glass right side up and poured. “Zoe, how about you?”
“Chardonnay.”
After pouring Zoe’s wine, he poured glasses of Beaujolais for Kevin and himself.
A lady who was probably in her early forties came out and began serving Caesar salads.
A man wearing a black formal tux appeared, holding a violin. He was older and partially bald. Standing at the far end of the table, he rested the violin against his shoulder and began playing a haunting melody.
To her surprise the lady broke out in song as she served the salads, singing the old Nat King Cole standard, “When I fall in Love,” then joined the man.
Becca leaned over to Kevin. “Who are these people? They’re very good.”
“Yes, they are. Saul and Gerta are friends of ours. They own a Jewish deli down the street from here.”
After they finished the salad, Gerta, continued as she cleared our plates, singing the Everly Brother’s hit “All I Have To Do Is Dream,” while bringing the main course. It looked delicious.
The entrée was scrumptious and, to her surprise, after Gerta cleared the dinner plates, Vince rose and stepped into the kitchen. All of a sudden she heard Vince singing, “Happy birthday to you.” Shortly thereafter, everyone joined in. She smelled the burning candles seconds before Vince set a large chocolate mousse cake with thirty-six burning candles before her.