by Amber Skyze
She rounded the corner and came to a dead stop. There was Lucky and he was talking to another woman. She was laughing at something he was saying. He was playing with her hair.
What the fuck!
They were flirting with each other. Marcy stumbled backward until she hit the wall. Unable to watch the horror taking place in front of her eyes, she fled the hallway and back out the doors she’d just entered.
“Marcy is everything all right?”
“Uh, fine. Lucky seems to be a little busy and I just remembered I had to be somewhere. Tell Vienna I had to cancel my appointment. I’ll call to reschedule.” Like hell she would. She would never step back into this spa again.
“Wait Marcy, that’s not…”
Marcy didn’t stick around to hear Yvette make up excuses for Lucky. She knew what she saw and she saw him flirting with another woman. Not just another woman an older woman. Probably older than her.
Marcy drove around aimlessly for an hour trying to get her bearings. She couldn’t believe that Lucky was a player. Yet he obviously charmed all the older women in the place.
A sick thought crossed her mind. What if he was fucking them too?
“Oh God.” She felt like puking. How could her Lucky do such a thing?
Tired of driving around Marcy went home and opened a bottle of wine. She was tempted to jump online and tell her newfound friends all about her player, but decided against it. She didn’t want to talk about it. Instead she drowned her sorrows in the wine.
It was well after midnight and Lucky had left numerous messages on her cell phone. She hadn’t bothered to listen to them. She had no desire to hear all his excuses. If she hadn’t seen it with her two own eyes she wouldn’t believe it, but she had.
Had he done that on purpose? Was he trying to blow her off?
She screamed in frustration.
“Louis Lucky Luciano, you infuriate me.”
She thought about calling him and telling him exactly how she felt about him, but knew drunk dialing him wasn’t the right solution. No she was better off just forgetting all about him and his player ways.
Chapter Six
Marcy had managed to avoid Lucky for over a week. She’d ignored all his calls and canceled all her future appointments with the spa, but that didn’t deter him. He would get to the bottom of this. He was determined to find out what had caused to her rush out without so much as a word to him.
Yvette said she’d seemed really upset. Lucky wondered if she’d received a phone call from someone that sent her running. For the life of him he couldn’t understand why she didn’t show up in the hallway.
But he was about to find out.
He pulled up in front of her store. He’d never been here before and after seeing some of the local residents he was worried for her safety. There was no doubt a few of them were drug dealers and they were likely packing some sort of weapon.
Lucky got out of his car and locked the doors. He was happy he’d found a spot right in front so he could keep an eye on his car while he was inside.
The minute the bells rang announcing his arrival he knew things were grim. She looked withdrawn and downright pissed that he was in her store.
Refusing to be dissuaded, he walked right up to the counter.
“We need to talk. Now.”
She stepped back as if his words burned her.
“I’m busy,” she said matter-of-factly.
“I’ll wait.” He looked around and noticed a coffee maker on another counter. He strolled over and poured himself a cup.
“It’ll be awhile.”
“I have all day. You can’t ignore me today, Marcy.”
He noticed her groan. Good, he had her exactly where he wanted her.
“Fine, say what you have to say and get out. I don’t need you disrupting my customers.”
“Why’d you bail the other night?”
“I think we both know this fling was temporary. It ran its course, now it’s over.”
He cringed at her choice of words. Fling was not what he would call what they’d shared. He’d thought they were growing closer. In fact he knew he was falling in love with her.
He moved back to the counter where she stood.
“Fling? This is far from a fling.”
“Sure it is. It’s sex. Friends with benefits and it’s over.”
“Friends with benefits? Seriously, Marcy?”
“Yup, that’s exactly how I’d describe it.”
“I’m not buying this act. Something made you run off and I want to know what it was.” He slammed his fist on the counter.
Marcy jumped.
“I’m sorry,” he said, quickly. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I’m just confused, hurt and a little disappointed.”
“You’re disappointed? Well la-de-da for you. I should be the only one allowed to be disappointed. Exactly what do you feel disappointed about? That you lost one of your many conquests? Well sorry pal, that’s just too goddamn bad.”
“Huh?” Lucky was confused. His many conquests?
“Oh, don’t go acting all innocent on me now.”
The bells on the door let Lucky know they weren’t alone.
“Is everything all right here?”
“Everything’s fine, Barb. This gentleman was just leaving.”
“Marcy. I need to know…”
“Goodbye Mr. Luciano and please do not return here. You’re not welcome.”
“This isn’t over Marcy. Not by a long shot.”
Lucky blew out the door and into his car. He gunned the gas.
“We’re not over.”
“What the hell was that all about?”
Marcy looked at Barb and knew she was scared.
“Nothing to worry about. He’s harmless.”
“He didn’t sound that way to me. He sounded pissed.”
“Yeah, well, too bad for him. He’ll get over it.”
“If you need a few minutes, I could cover for you.”
“Yes, thanks, Barb.”
Marcy hurried off to her office. She needed a minute to breathe. The nerve of Lucky showing up at her store and confronting her. He had no business being there. He obviously didn’t get the hint when she hadn’t returned any of his calls or canceled her appointments.
Hopefully he’d got it loud and clear this time. She was done with him. There was no going back. He had enough older women to keep his bed warm. So why did it hurt so fucking much?
Marcy buried her face in her hands and cried. She wanted nothing more than to pull him close and kiss those precious lips. She wanted him to whisper sweet nothings in her ear and promise it would be all right. But he hadn’t and she knew it wouldn’t make a difference. He was a player. Just like Dan, except he liked his women older. In the end a cheater was a cheater and Lucky was exactly that.
She couldn’t believe she’d been duped once again by a man.
“That’s the last time,” she said, wiping her tears. “I’m done with men. Now I know why I use my vibrator.”
* * * * *
“How’d it go?”
“Horrible. She’s ripping mad at me. Saying crazy stuff like she wouldn’t be one of my many conquests. I don’t get it. What would make her think I had other women?”
“I don’t know, dude. It seems rather odd.”
After Marcy had kicked him out of the store he’d driven over to Lorenzo’s. He’d needed someone to talk to, someone who could give him another perspective on what took place. Only Lorenzo seemed just as puzzled as Lucky.
Marcy’s words kept playing over and over in his mind. Many conquests.
“She thinks I’m banging other chicks and I can’t fathom why. The only time we saw each other outside the spa we were together. I haven’t been with another woman in, Christ I don’t know when the last time was.”
“This woman has you acting all sorts of crazy, dude. Are you sure she’s worth the effort?”
“One hundred percent. Now if I could only figure
out what happened the night we were going to surprise her. I asked Yvette to send her in. What the hell happened between the lobby and the room?”
“Uh-oh. I think I might be able to answer that.”
“Are you serious? I need to know right now.”
“I think we have a case of mistaken identity.”
“What? How?”
“I was in the hallway waiting for you to come out and get me. I was talking to Mrs. Carney. She was all upset about me having to cancel a session. She was trying to convince me to give her one right there and then. Someone was in the hall but I thought she was going in the wrong direction and realized. I wonder if it was Marcy.”
“What did she look like?” Lucky couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Had his own plan backfired on him? Had she seen Lorenzo and thought he was Lucky? It was a definite possibility.
“She had long sandy blonde hair, dressed in some kind of sweat suit or something.”
“Fuck, Lorenzo. I’ll bet that was Marcy. She thought you were me and oh shit. I have to make this up to her. I have to find a way to prove to her I’m sincere and that I’m not a player. She needs to know I’m not like her ex.”
“Just tell me what to do and I’m there for you, bro.”
“Let me think about this and get back to you.”
Luring Marcy back into the spa was not going to be easy. She hated him right about now. He’d have to incorporate Yvette into his plan. He’d do anything to win her back. No matter the cost Marcy Brown was worth it.
Marcy moped around for the next week. She couldn’t get Lucky out of her mind. She yearned for his touch. She longed to lie in bed and talk about how she was feeling or what she wanted out of life. Lucky had been there for her for so long. She missed him. The weekly trips to the spa were a thing of the past. Her body craved a massage, but she couldn’t go back unless Lucky was gone. Maybe not even then.
She’d stopped looking for her new friends online. She was too embarrassed to face them. All the other cougars who took their challenge had found love. Marcy thought she had too, but again she only found a dud.
After all the talks about Dan, how could Lucky screw her over? In a million years she’d never dreamed he’d do such a thing. It didn’t make sense, but she’d witnessed it firsthand.
Lucky finally gave up calling and texting. Marcy thought she’d feel relieved but she didn’t. Instead she wondered who she was with. Was he bringing another woman’s body to life with the touch of his hands or charging her libido with that amazing tongue of his?
“Ugh!” She had to stop torturing herself. She needed to get back among the living. Deciding it was best to face her friends she booted up her computer. Maybe, just maybe, they would offer her words of encouragement.
Tempt The Cougar Blog
Marcy: Me again. I totally suck at being a cougar. Turns out Lucky isn’t Lucky. He’s a loser, just like my ex. A cheating loser. I went in for my appointment and saw Lucky with another older woman. They were laughing, having a grand ole time. He was playing with her fuckin’ hair. Even Dan hadn’t made me feel so cheated on and used.
Rachel: A cheating loser? OMG. What happened?
Monica: Did you get Lucky? Did you enjoy it? Take the positive and release the negative. So he’s a loser. He’s a bigger loser than he even knows because he lost YOU. Move on and upward. You’ve got to kiss a lot of toads…but that doesn’t mean toad sex can’t be fun.
Cam: Are you sure? I mean if he is, then screw him and the horse he rode up on, but what makes you think he is? Unless, of course, you saw him dipping his wick in another pot of wax. Oh that was an awful analogy, wasn’t it? Sorry. Point is, you owe it to yourself to make sure before you write him off. Just my two cents. Good luck, babe. We’re here for you.
Lee: Damn, girl…don’t jump your fences before you get to them. It could be just a terrible misunderstanding, and he might have a reasonable explanation. And, if not…then walk away. But don’t give up something so precious that easily.
Darci: Lucky’s probably lucky I live on the other side of the world or I’d show him what we Aussies do to cheating losers. Can you say, “That’s not a knife. That’s a knife”? *wink*
I’m really bummed to hear the bloody idiot messed up on you, but hey, you got more than something out of it, didn’t you? You got some wicked fun which you can put in your arsenal for the real lucky bloke who steals your heart.
Marcy: BRB, the spa is calling.
Marcy: I’m back. They were calling because I haven’t been there in awhile and they’re worried. They want to know what they could do to get me back in. I not so subtly said, get rid of Lucky. Guess what? He’s gone. That’s why they called. To see if I want to try out their new massage therapist. I’m happy yet bummed at the same time.
What should I do?
Autumn: GO. Take a chance. And you don’t suck at being a cougar. Just because one stud turned out to be an asshole doesn’t mean they all are. Who knows what’s waiting behind the curtain for you? If I hadn’t taken a chance on Mitch I’d have missed the best part of my life.
Monica: Go get a massage for God’s sake. You don’t have to have sex with every massage therapist you meet. Unless you want to. Whatever floats your boat. But a massage is always a good thing.
Marcy: LOL God, Monica, you’re right. It’s not like I’m gonna sleep with another therapist. I’m being foolish.
Edie: What’s in your heart, honey? Sometimes you have to go against what you think and go with what you feel.
Elizabeth: Go! You didn’t start going there to meet someone, you went for a massage. Don’t let him take that away from you.
Lynn: sounds to me like you could use some stress relief. How better to make you forget the jerk.
Sloan: yeah, let the new hunk take care of you. Sorry things didn’t work out. Hugs. There are plenty more hotties in the ocean. Trust me on that one!
Marcy: Thanks ladies, I don’t know what I’d do without you. Hugs.
They were right she should just go for it. She was dying for a massage. She thanked them and called the spa back. She was scheduled for Thursday instead of Friday and with Vienna, Lucky’s sister and the woman she ran out on last time. When Lucky said it was a family business he wasn’t joking. All his siblings worked there. She knew he had a brother, but she wanted to steer clear of him too. No more male therapists, from now on she’d stick with females.
Part of her was sad he was gone, but the other part was relieved. There wasn’t any chance of running into him.
As she climbed into bed that night she couldn’t get that haunted look Lucky’d had the last time they seen each other out of her mind. He looked hurt and confused. She closed her eyes and tried to think of something different, but only managed to come back to the time they’d had sex, here, in her bed.
Sleep eluded her for hours. Lucky haunted her thoughts. Temptation to call him grew with every passing minute, but she refrained.
He was gone.
Chapter Seven
Thursday arrived and Marcy couldn’t be more thankful. Her body had been aching from all the hard work she’d been doing. She’d hired the extra help to assist with the things she shouldn’t be doing, but she did them anyway. It was the only way to keep her mind distracted from Lucky.
She’d had reservations about their age difference and with just cause. Though it wasn’t the age that made him a player, that was just ingrained in some men. Women too.
“Welcome back.” Yvette greeted her with a big smile.
“Thanks.” Marcy looked around nervously worried Lucky might be lying in wait.
“Vienna will be ready in just a moment.”
“Thanks Yvette. And I just want to say I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so harsh on the phone.”
“Don’t worry about a thing. You are an important guest and we wouldn’t want to see you upset about anything. I’m glad we could resolve the issue for you.”
“Me too.” Marcy took a seat and let her nerves cal
m. She hadn’t realized how anxious she was about coming in today.
She sat for about five minutes, before Yvette spoke again.
“She’s ready for you. I’ll just bring you down there myself.”
Hmmm, that’s odd.
“She’s not coming to get me?” The last time she was left to her own devices she saw something devastating.
“She’s on the phone with a personal call. She said she’ll be finished by the time you get undressed.”
“Okay.” Marcy wasn’t sure she liked the way this was going. Where was she and why wasn’t she walking her back?
Yvette stopped and placed her hand on Marcy’s arm.
“Honestly Marcy. It’s okay. I promise.”
“Thank you. I’m just a little uptight. It’s been forever since I had a massage.”
“I know and after tonight you’ll be feeling brand new again.”
“I hope so.”
Yvette walked her into the room and instructed her to get undressed and wait.
Marcy quickly changed out of her clothes and climbed under the heated blanket. Her heart felt like it was in her throat the way it beat rapidly. She thought it would choke her.
The music was different tonight. There weren’t any rain forest sounds, it was more like ocean and waves. The water crashing against the surf reminded her how much her heart was broken.
She couldn’t help but think coming back to Lucky’s family spa was a bad idea. She should have tried to find a new place altogether, not a new person. Deep down she wondered if she’d hoped she’d run in to Lucky.
The knock on the door brought her attention back to the here and now.
“Come in,” she called.
The door opened slowly. Marcy’s eyes were closed, but she was curious about her new massage therapist. Once she heard the door click into place she opened her eyes and turned to see who was in the room with her.
“You!” She bolted up and wrapped the blanket tighter around her naked body. “What are you doing here?”
“Marcy please, there’s so much you don’t understand.” He put up a hand to keep her from fleeing.
