by Jim Wygand
“There ‘good will’ in it, Charlie but, no, it’s definitely not Goodwill!” Gina continued, “Charlie, you know what I would like to do tonight?”
“Go to an art exhibition?”
“Smart ass! Yes, go to an art exhibition then go out for dinner at a place where we can dance. Can you dance, Charlie?”
“A real Fred Astaire my dear. To your Ginger, of course! Yeah, I think I can hold my own on a dance floor.”
“All right!” Gina gave Charlie a “high five” to which he responded a bit shyly.
“Never been high-fived, Charlie?”
“Not by a beautiful woman, no. You surprised me.”
“I have a lot of surprises in store for you Mr. Mullins, but let’s get going. We have an art show to go to.”
Johnny hailed a cab for them and they headed for the exhibition. Charlie dutifully looked at all the paintings. He shook hands with Gina’s friends, some of whom he had not yet met others he knew from previous events. However, Charlie’s mind was on the prospect of holding Gina close and dancing with her. After wandering around with Gina and saying hello to a lot of people, Gina whispered into his ear, “Let’s blow this joint, Mullins, I wanna dance.”
Charlie could not stifle a laugh. “Blow this joint, Gina? Where’d you get that kind of talk?”
“I told ya, Mullins, I’m a Philly broad! Let’s go.”
“Took the words out of my mouth, lady. Take my arm, we’re on the way!”
They stepped outside and Gina kissed Charlie firmly on the mouth. When he recovered he noticed an approaching cab and flagged it down. Gina gave the driver an address where they could have dinner and dance. On the way to the restaurant, she kissed him again. “Boy did I miss you this week, Charles! I really did.”
“Well, at least we have that in common, Gina,” Charlie laughed.
When they arrived to the restaurant Charlie was already climbing the walls. Gina had him almost hypnotized and he was loving every moment.
Again, they were given superb seating. The restaurant was crowded and Charlie noticed that when they walked in every eye was on Gina. He thought to himself, “The world is a tuxedo and I’m a pair of brown shoes!” She followed the headwaiter to their table with Charlie close behind and it looked to Charlie like there was a spotlight on her. The whole place took in her exquisite beauty and it was clear from the table they got that she must have been somebody important. Again, Charlie marveled at the power that beauty provided. When Gina had seated herself with the help of a waiter who could not help looking at her cleavage, Charlie settled into his chair. He noticed that no one was holding his chair for him.
They ordered dinner and a fine Chilean wine – Don Melchor. Gina seemed pleased that Charlie seemed to know his wines. A man like that was romantic she thought, especially when it seemed to be natural and not something he had read in the most recent edition of Esquire.
A small orchestra was playing some nice slow dance music and Gina said “Why don’t we have a dance before the wine and the dinner arrive?”
“I thought you would never ask!” replied Charlie.
They moved to the dance floor and Charlie wondered how he was going to dance with Gina without melting into the floor. He reached for her lightly and she pressed into him delicately. She planted her cheek firmly to his and they danced. “I’m impressed, Mr. Mullins, you are a regular twinkle toes.”
“Not bad, I guess, Gina. Maybe it’s just easy to dance with you.”
“Oooohhh, isn’t that gallant? I accept the compliment willingly.”
After the music stopped they worked their way back to the table. Charlie wondered if he might be panting and, if so, if Gina could hear it. He had always been impressed by Gina’s self-composure but she seemed even more so tonight. She was quick, witty, and seemed to be enjoying herself immensely.
They enjoyed their dinner and Charlie ordered another bottle of wine. “That’s really a delicious wine, Charlie. A wonderful choice.” Gina was just a little giddy from the wine. He was giddy from holding her close all night and smelling her perfume. He thought it was “Opium” but what the hell did he know?
They danced until the last patrons were being informed that it was “last call” which meant, “get the hell out, we’re tired of watching you dance!”
Gina looked at Charlie and said, “Charlie, I don’t think you are going to be able to drive home.”
“Nonsense, Gina. I’m fine.”
“I don’t know, Charlie. We’ve had two bottles of wine – that averages out to a bottle each and that will put you over the alcohol in your blood limit in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey combined!” Gina giggled.
She looked at Charlie intently and added, “Why don’t you stay at my place tonight? We’ll take the cab from here and you can leave your car in the parking garage at the trattoria.”
Charlie was dumbfounded. “Ah, well, I don’t want to impose, Gina. I mean I guess I could sleep on your couch.”
“Won’t that be crowded, Charlie? I mean it’s not a big couch and one of us might fall off.”
“Holy shit!” thought Charlie, “I’ve died and gone to heaven. Did I hear her right?”
“Say that again, Gina! You want me to sleep with you at your place?”
“Would you rather I sent you an engraved invitation, Mr. Mullins? I think you understood what I said. Or no? Are you being reluctant, Charlie?”
“She means it! Oh my God. Mullins, you are the luckiest guy in the world!”
“Ah, oh, no, Gina. I’m not being reluctant. In fact, let’s get the hell out of here!”
“Thought you’d never ask!” she said.
Charlie paid the check and then flagged a cab in front of the restaurant. Gina gave the driver the address.
Gina’s apartment was as beautifully appointed as Gina. It was feminine and organized as only Gina could make it. It was also clearly expensive. She lived well. Gina looked at Charlie and said, “Welcome, Charlie. This is my space.” Then she moved closer to Charlie and kissed him. They stood there kissing for several moments. She melted into him and could feel his excitement. He returned her kiss with equal passion. His hands automatically moved to her breasts and she gasped and pushed closer. When they pulled apart, he said “God, Gina, I’m crazy about you! I want you.”
“Me too, Charlie, now kiss me again while I undo your shirt.” She kissed him fiercely and began to unbutton his shirt while his hand reached back to the knot at the base of her neck. He untied it and the two parts of the dress fell downward to reveal her beautiful breasts. Charlie looked at her for a moment and then began kissing each breast. He thought he would explode. They both yanked off the rest of their clothes and Gina led him to the bedroom.
What Gina lacked in experience she made up for in enthusiasm. She was a passionate and wild lover. Charlie did not remember a more beautiful moment in his life. Tony Mazza once commented to him that the best thing in the world was to make love to a woman you really loved. Tony had that kind of relationship with his wife, Marie. Charlie now knew what Tony meant.
When they had recovered from their lovemaking, Charlie looked over at Gina and said, “You are the most beautiful creature in the world, Gina. I’m in love with you. I want you for me for the rest of my life.”
“Nice of you to say that Mullins after I just finished seducing you.” She laughed heartily, “I love you too if you didn’t notice.”
“Oh, I noticed all right,” said Charlie “I won’t be able to take my shirt off in the locker room for a couple of weeks, I think.”
“Ohhhh, did I do that?” Gina teased as she looked at the red furrows down Charlie’s back. She bent over and kissed his back tenderly, “well maybe if the horny wives of Shoreville see those welts they might think twice about messing around with you. I could scratch their eyes out!”
“I don’t doubt it, Gina. You certainly are passionate.”
“You do that, Charlie. It’s you.”
They made love twice more
then fell asleep in each other’s arms. Gina dozed off first and Charlie looked at her beautiful face and body until he also fell asleep. He felt like the happiest man in the world and slept like he had not slept in years.
XV
Charlie woke up Sunday morning to the smell of strong coffee. He was starting to sit up in bed when Gina entered the bedroom with a cup of coffee. “Good morning, Mr. Mullins. Did you sleep well? Would you like some coffee?”
Charlie took the mug in his hands and looked at Gina. She was wearing a short silk baby doll and a semi-transparent floor length negligee. Her beautiful feet were in a pair of silk bedroom slippers. “Do you have some sort of fairy godmother that makes you beautiful in the morning?” Charlie asked.
“No fairy godmother, Charlie, love. Love blinds you and that makes me look beautiful,” she laughed.
“Whatever,” said Charlie, “I’m not gonna question what works!”
“So, how was your evening, Charlie?” Gina had a sly look on her face.
“Oh, so-so, said Charlie. I only made love to a beautiful woman and fell asleep in her bed. Could have been better I suppose.” Charlie laughed.
“Really?” Gina slipped into the bed, “think you could do it again?”
Charlie was already aroused when Gina touched him. “I guess you can!” she exclaimed and pulled him to her.
Charlie fell back out of breath when they had finished. “I’ve died and gone to heaven!” he exclaimed.
“Well, what do you say we catch a cloud and get some brunch?” Gina said.
“Yeah, I think I am pretty hungry,” said Charlie “it must have been the exercise.”
“OK, Mullins, get your ass out of that bed and shower up.”
“Oh hell, Gina. I only have the same clothes I wore last night.”
“Bad planning Charlie. Just goes to show that you didn’t start out thinking you would get me into bed. I’m pleased.”
“Yeah, maybe you’re pleased” said Charlie but I have to wear the clothes I wore last night. Can you stand being around me?”
“Tell you what, Charlie, why don’t I just send out for something and we’ll eat here. That better?”
“Have you got a razor here, Gina?” Charlie asked.
“Nope, how about some hot wax for your beard?”
“Oh my God! He exclaimed, “I think not. It sounds painful.”
“It is, baby. It’s the price of beauty. If we women can take it, why not you?”
“I’ll forgo the pleasure, thanks,” said Charlie.
“Take your shower, Charlie and I’ll order some breakfast for us. Take your time, it’ll be about half an hour before the stuff arrives.”
Charlie walked to the bathroom, closed the door and turned on the shower. The warm water felt good but stung his back. When he stepped out of the shower he turned to see his back in the mirror. He was pretty well scratched as far as he could see. “It was worth it,” he thought “I hope it stings all week so I can remember last night!”
The bathroom was a woman’s bathroom. Perfumes, creams, several hair brushes, a hair dryer. Not a masculine thing in the whole place. He looked around for an extra toothbrush and there was none. “Gina!” he yelled, “have you got an extra toothbrush I can use?”
“God, Charlie, after all we did last night and all that kissy face, I think you can use mine, no? Are you fussy?”
“Nope, OK with me. Thanks.” He brushed his teeth, wrapped himself in a towel and looked around for his clothes that were strewn all over the place. He put on his shorts, pants, and shirt. The breakfast arrived in a few minutes while he had another cup of strong coffee. Gina had ordered their breakfast from a bakery nearby. It was delicious and Charlie was famished.
“Charlie?” Gina asked, “Do you have a credit card or some cash with you?”
“Yeah, I have both, Gina. Why?”
“Well, since you are going to be here all day, why don’t we go to the mall and get you some clothes and some shaving stuff? You can leave it here for when you come back.”
“This is too damned good to be true!”
“OK, Gina. Are you sure about this? I mean….”
“You mean what, Charlie. You mean you would rather walk around in the clothes you wore yesterday than have some clothes hanging in my closet?”
“God no Gina, I mean I don’t want to intrude on your space….”
“Oh, I see. You make love to me 4 times in the last 24 hours and you are worried about hanging some clothes in my closet! Charlie Mullins, you are really, really weird!”
“Oh hell, I don’t know what I mean, Gina. I love you. I respect you. I want you to be mine. I just don’t want to feel like I am forcing something on you…”
“There you go again. As I recall, it was I who seduced you last night. You think I am going to mind if you hang your pants in my closet? Yesterday they were on my floor! Let’s go Mullins, we have to do some shopping!”
“Charlie and Gina went down to the garage in the basement of her building. She walked purposefully to a black Mercedes. C’mon Charlie, let’s rush out to save. We’ll find us some nice stuff on sale. The more we spend the more we save, right?”
Charlie got in on the passenger side and noticed that the windows were tinted – perhaps more so than the law allowed. Anyone outside the car would have a hard time seeing inside. The cops didn’t like that but then again, maybe a beautiful woman can convince them that the dark film is necessary to her safety. “Who knows?” he thought.
Gina drove to a local shopping center. Charlie accompanied her to a men’s store where she sat down and let him choose whatever he felt like buying. After he had chosen a couple pairs of pants and about 3 shirts she interrupted him, “I want you to buy silk boxer shorts, Charlie.” Charlie asked her, “What, Gina? Did you say silk boxer shorts?”
“That’s what I said, Charlie. They’re sexy and I imagine myself pulling them down. Got it?”
“Silk boxers it is!” replied Charlie.
“I’m going to step out for a minute while you try all this stuff on. I want to run by another store for a minute. OK?”
“Sure, Gina, go ahead. I’ll be here for a few minutes anyway.”
Gina left and came back in about 15 minutes with a small package. “Here, Charlie. Put this with your purchases.”
“What’s this Gina?”
“It’s a bottle of Armani cologne. You think I didn’t recognize the fragrance when you switched from that awful drug store stuff you had been using?”
Charlie laughed out loud. “You’re too smart for me, girl. I’m in your hands. Take me!”
“Right, Charlie. The pants fit OK?”
“Yeah, they’re fine. Don’t even need to alter them. Just right.”
“You got some shirts, socks, and….”
“Yeah, I got silk boxer shorts, Gina. Navy blue OK?”
“Oh my God, Charlie, navy blue sets me off like a roman candle!” Gina feigned a fainting spell.
Charlie paid for his purchases with his credit card and they headed for a local drug store in the mall to buy some toiletries. Charlie got some shaving gel, a pack of disposable razors, deodorant, a tooth brush and looked for a moment at the cologne display.
“Don’t even think about it, Mullins!” Gina said, “Never again. You’ve got your sexy cologne now.”
Charlie laughed, “OK, beautiful. From now on you pick the smell.”
“You can bet on it, Mr. Drugstore Cologne. I’ll take over in that department if you don’t mind!”
When they had finished the purchases Gina said, “Hey Charles, you gonna starve me to death? I’d love some lunch. What do you say?”
“God yes, Gina, I’m sorry, I forgot. So much has happened in the last several hours I’m still a bit dizzy.”
“I think you’re dizzy from hunger, Charlie. I know I am. Let’s go.”
They found a Ruby Tuesday’s in the mall and served themselves from the salad bar. When they finished, Charlie paid the bill and they
drove back to Gina’s place. When they got there and entered the apartment, Gina took on a serious look. “Charlie, let’s talk. I need to tell you something. I don’t want to surprise you and I don’t want to be surprised either. Sit down and I’ll fix us an espresso.”
Gina went to a small espresso machine and fixed two cups of the strong coffee. “Charlie, don’t ruin this with sweetener, right? This is real Italian espresso and it would break my heart to see you fill it with a list of chemicals that reads like the side of a detergent box.”
Charlie laughed, “Gotcha, Gina. Sugar it is.”
“Charlie, next week you meet my uncle, my father, and one of my best friends all in the same person. I want to talk to you about that meeting.”
“I’ve been waiting for this Gina. At least now maybe I will know the last name of the guy I’m going to meet.” He laughed.
Gina remained serious. “It’s Rizzo, Charlie. His last name is Rizzo.” She looked at him apprehensively.
The name did not register with Charlie at first. “OK, first name Carlo, last name Rizzo. Carlo Rizzo….Carlo Rizzo?”
Suddenly Charlie realized that he was saying the name of the most famous Italian in Philly. Carlo Rizzo, chief capo of the Philly mafia.
“Excuse me, Gina, did you say Carlo Rizzo?”
“No, Charlie, I said ‘Rizzo’. YOU said Carlo Rizzo.”
“You mean Carlo Rizzo, the guy who is supposed to be….” Charlie pulled himself up short.
“The head of the Philadelphia mob, Charlie? Yes, that Carlo Rizzo. That’s the man who is my uncle.” For the first time Gina had fear in her eyes. She was waiting for Charlie’s reaction and she hoped it would not be the same as so many of the others she had known. When she told other guys what her uncle’s name was, they paled. Most of them found a reason to take off and never called her again. She didn’t want this to happen with Charlie but it would not be possible to keep her uncle’s name a secret.
“I, ah, never, I mean, who would have, that is….”
“C’mon Charlie. Out with it, Carlo Rizzo, reputed mafia don of Philadelphia is my uncle. He is my father. He raised me from almost infancy. He kissed me goodnight when I was a child. He gave me aspirin when I had a fever. Yeah, that Carlo Rizzo is my uncle. He’s the guy you’re gonna meet. Now what?”