Megan bent down and began to separate soiled socks from dusty T-shirts. Towels worn thin were detached from nubby sheets. “It’s called life,” she said calmly.
“It’s closer to death.”
Megan threw clothes into the washing machine. She said nothing.
“Even Elliot, the prince of practicality, admits that,” Gino said pointedly.
Megan slammed the machine’s lid and stared at a crack in the concrete wall. “Soon, even Elliot will know there’s no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, no fairy godmothers.” She bent down as if she were an old woman and picked up the laundry basket. “No Prince Charmings, no Sleeping Beauties,” she murmured.
Gino touched the rim of the empty basket she held. “There’s me.”
She said nothing. She had no defense.
“After granting your last two wishes,” Gino said, “I’ll return to my world and achieve the one dream even I never dared to desire. I’ll become a full-blooded genie and ascend to the throne with honor.”
His hand moved away from the basket to Megan’s bare arm, but before he touched her, she stepped back.
“All is possible,” he said. His hand remained in the air.
Megan brought the basket up higher against her chest. “It’s easy for you. You breeze in here, all smoke and show, preaching the impossible. But two more wishes, and you’ll be no more than a memory.” She took a deep breath. “A memory so unreal, I’ll never be quite sure I didn’t dream you.”
“I’m real, Megan.” He stepped closer to her, his hand still outstretched.
She moved back. “No, you’re not.”
“Don’t be afraid.”
“I’m not afraid. I’m just realistic.” She set down the basket atop the washing machine and rubbed her forehead. “All I wanted was a crock pot to make soup in, spaghetti sauce, a stew now and then. That was all I needed.”
Gino’s hand dropped to his side. “I’m sure Dolores will throw you a dilly of a bridal shower, and you can put crock pot first on your wish list.”
His sharp tone drew her attention. He looked back at her, his gaze coming down the aquiline slant of his nose until it settled around her. He didn’t have to say the thought trying to burst past the wry twist of his lips. It was expressed in the calm condescension of his stare:
Humans!
She leaned against the washing machine. It welcomed her with a slow, easy churn. “You know, you may be all-powerful, but if it wasn’t for me, you’d still be lounging around Club crock pot.”
“Meaning?” It was a cool cross-exam.
“Meaning I’m the master.” She thought she’d experience more satisfaction at the look that skimmed his regal countenance.
His composure returned quicker than it left. “Yes, you’re right. I’ve no business interfering. I apologize.”
His unexpected humbleness caught her off guard.
He took a long breath as if weary. “It’s only because when I’m high on my throne, I’ll remember you. And I’ll smile.” He smiled then, but there was a soft spray of sadness in his eyes. “I’ll be happy. I only want you to be happy, too.”
He began to whirl, spinning like a dervish. “Call me, Master, when you want me.”
“No—”
He spun faster into a funnel cloud.
“Wait—” She reached out a hand to stop him, but he was a reeling blur. The crack in the concrete suddenly split, and he was gone.
She stared at the wall, the crack again no more than a hairline. She reached over and touched the concrete, as solid as stone beneath her fingers.
“You son of a… a… a genie king.” But even as she swore, a smile started and became full.
She may be the master, but he was the magic.
Chapter Seven
“So, is Gino still here?” Kitty asked.
Megan’s head shot up, her half unwrapped sandwich forgotten. She looked at Kitty, Elliot, then back to Kitty.
“Gino?” Elliot lifted his own sandwich and took a bite. “Who’s Gino?” he said, a dab of mayonnaise on his lower lip.
“Megan’s pen pal,” Kitty explained. “You haven’t met him?”
Elliot looked at Megan. His chews became longer, slower. “No.”
Oh boy, Megan thought. When she’d walked into the break room this morning and seen the crock pot still sitting on the counter, she’d thought her problems were over. She’d run with the pot to her car where Gino was stretched out in the back seat, munching a cherry cheese Danish and reading the sports section.
“Ta-da!” She’d presented the crock pot. “It was right on the break room counter where I’d left it. Elliot must’ve forgotten to put it in the garbage bin.”
Gino had smiled wanly. “Bully for Elliot. And to think, we risked chemical contamination trying to find it.”
“I told you ACK only smells bad. Otherwise, it’s harmless or they wouldn’t be dumping it out back. Listen, I’ve got twenty minutes before my shift starts, so—” she’d lifted the cover off the crock pot “—jump in, and I’ll run you home.”
Even now, she could see Gino’s expression. Without a protest, without one word, he’d done as she’d asked. He didn’t have to say anything. The angry look on his face had said it all.
“I suppose it wouldn’t really matter if you waited until we got home to go undercover,” she’d said to the crock pot.
When there was no response, she’d peered inside, but didn’t see anything. She’d waited a few minutes, then replaced the top and started the car.
“It’s for the best,” she’d said as she pulled out of the parking lot, the crock pot on the seat beside her. “Especially after your floor show at Elliot’s mother’s house yesterday. What if Elliot saw you and realized you were the fan dancer from his mother’s living room? It’s for the best, really,” she’d repeated.
Not very skilled at making small talk with an appliance, she’d fallen silent, driving with one hand on the steering wheel, the other steadying the crock pot. She didn’t speak again until she put the crock pot on her kitchen counter.
“I think you’ll like this spot,” she’d said to the cooker’s clear cover. “The sun hits here most of the afternoon.” She’d laid her hand on the cover. “Have a nice day, Gino.” Her hand had rested on the glass top a minute more, then she’d left.
“SO, is HE STILL VISITING you?” Kitty asked.
Elliot looked at her, waiting for her answer.
Oh boy, Megan thought once more. “Yes,” she answered. She saw Elliot’s thin eyebrows rise. “And no.”
Elliot’s brows angled with puzzlement.
“He arrived on Saturday, but he’s been in and out since then.”
Elliot’s brows pulled into a straight line, indicating displeasure. “You didn’t mention you had a house-guest?”
“He came so suddenly, dropped right out of the blue. That’s crazy Gino.” Megan laughed. Elliot didn’t. “I’ve no idea how long he’s staying, and he’s been so busy.”
“Doing what?” Elliot asked evenly.
She smiled weakly. Several seconds passed. Finally she was inspired. “Looking for living quarters.”
“He’s moving here?” Kitty asked.
“No!” Megan attempted to temper her loud denial with a smile.
“Then why’s he looking for a home?” Kitty persisted.
“Not exactly a home.”
“Property?”
“Yes.” Megan nodded as if she liked the sound of that. “Property.”
“He buys and sells real estate?” Kitty inquired.
Megan considered the idea. “I know he’s owned two thousand properties during his… career.”
“Wow!” her friend said.
“Megan.” Although Elliot’s voice was a normal speaking tone, it sounded louder as if the strain of remaining silent for the last few minutes was taking its toll. “Who is this person?”
She toyed with the plastic wrap on her sandwich. “He’s a friend.” She patted Elliot�
��s hand. “That’s all. I’m sure you’ve had friends I’ve never heard about.” She paused before adding, “Like Kimberly.”
EIGHT MILES AWAY, Gino had his own problems. Besides feeling nauseous from the stench of stale corned beef and cabbage, he still couldn’t sleep. His genie side could probably continue this way for many more days, but his human side required rest soon. It had been over two days since his last shut-eye and, at this point, he was ready to give up his promised kingdom for ten minutes of deep slumber.
Last night, after he’d left Megan in the laundry room, he’d become air, certain the ethereal form would free him from human thoughts, emotions. Desire. No more than lightness itself, he’d risen, seeking the peace and relief of dreamless sleep.
He’d needed space. He’d needed distance to try to understand what was happening to him, why he was becoming so personally involved in a master’s life. It shouldn’t matter to him that Elliot’s mother had mistreated Megan. It shouldn’t matter to him that Megan was going to marry Elliot and make a big mistake. None of this should matter to him.
But it did. It mattered more to him than he wanted to think about. So, he’d floated up, rising into the sky five hundred feet above his master, hoping the thoughts could not follow a vapor, the feelings could not find near nothingness.
But one memory had filled the void. Fly as high as he could, he remained haunted, possessed by the picture when Megan had come to him, and they’d danced together on a nearly deserted island. He’d held her in his arms and, for the first time in his life, he hadn’t felt two-thirds genie, one-third human, a foot in both worlds, never completely belonging in either. He’d felt whole. He’d thought such joy would only be attained when sitting high on the royal throne, surveying his kingdom.
He’d never imagined it was a feeling he’d find on earth in the arms of a mere human.
Soon the sky had become cloaked with clouds, and he’d become rain, falling softly back to the earth where Megan walked.
ELLIOT WAS SILENT AGAIN for a frozen moment until he summoned her name once more. “Megan.”
His voice was now lower. Megan recognized the tone. When Elliot got mad, he didn’t yell or swear. No, he didn’t rant or rave. He became “reasonable.”
“I’d like to meet your friend.” Elliot interlaced his fingers. His hands were set on the table in a cool curve. “Would that be possible?”
“Well…” What if Elliot recognized Gino as the G-stringed gigolo who bumped and grinded in his mother’s living room yesterday, then performed a minor miracle before disappearing into thin air? How would she explain that?
“Are you saying I can’t meet your friend? I don’t understand.” Elliot’s hands knotted together.
“Of course, you can meet Gino,” she assured him.
Elliot waited. “When?” he finally asked in that ever-patient tone.
“When?” Megan echoed. “We-e-e-l-l-l, like I said, I never know when he’s going to pop in. He’s in and out all the time.”
Elliot’s hands, still bound in a fist, tapped the tabletop. “Maybe you could try calling him?” he suggested logically.
“A barbecue!” Kitty exclaimed.
Megan and Elliot looked at her as if she’d lost her mind.
“Tonight’s my Lovely Lady Lingerie party, remember, Megan?” Kitty went on. “And Elliot, you’re coming over for Monday night poker with the men. So, why don’t you both come over a little early, bring Gino with you, I’ll put a couple of T-bones on the Miracle Thaw, we’ll drink a few beers and all have a real good time.”
Kitty sat back in her chair, crossed her arms beneath her ample chest and smiled, satisfied she’d found the answer to all their problems.
Elliot looked at Megan. “Sounds good to me.”
“Me, too,” she agreed lamely.
“Do you think Gino can make it?” Kitty asked.
“I don’t see any reason why he couldn’t,” Elliot stated, aiming a pointed look at Megan.
She couldn’t think of a reason either, at that moment, but she’d make sure she had a good one by the time she showed up at Kitty’s tonight—sans Gino.
“We’ve got to get back to work, don’t we?” She attempted to end the conversation.
Kitty glanced at the clock. “Goodness, you’re right.” She started to gather her lunch wrappings. She took a final sip of her coffee as she stood up. “I’ve got to stop at the ladies’ room quick. Elliot, I’ll see you tonight around five-thirty. Megan, I’ll see you down in Q.C.”
As Kitty left, Megan started to rewrap her own uneaten sandwich. She gave Elliot a quick glance. He was watching her, a paragon of calm. Her fingers fumbled with the plastic wrap, which refused to cooperate. Finally, with a sigh, she got up and threw the sandwich and the balled-up plastic wrap into the trash can. Elliot watched her walk back to the table.
“Something wrong?” he asked.
She didn’t sit down. She crumpled her napkin and brown lunch bag. “No, no. I’ve got to get back to work.” She picked up her unopened can of diet cola, ready to go.
“Megan.” Elliot stopped her. “Is there something you’d like to tell me?”
Even she heard the nervous denial in her light laughter. “No, of course not.”
Elliot sat there, his hands still folded, a sensible sphinx. “I’m looking forward to meeting your friend, but I’m still not clear why you didn’t mention him to me before. If Kitty hadn’t brought him up, I wonder if you would’ve told me about him at all. He must’ve been there the night I brought you home from the accident.”
Megan sat down. “Elliot, Gino isn’t a person. I mean he isn’t a people.”
“What?”
She took a deep breath and attempted to dig herself out of the hole she’d just made deeper. “What I’m trying to say is he’s not a people person. The truth is he doesn’t think much of the human race as a whole. Sometimes, he finds his own private space and doesn’t see anyone for long periods of time.”
“He sounds a little strange.”
“He’s different.”
“How long have you known this guy?”
“Not very long.”
“Are you sure he’s safe to have in the house?”
“Believe me, he wouldn’t hurt a fly. And once you get to know him, he’s not that strange. In many ways, he’s like you and me.”
Elliot’s hands flattened on the tabletop. “Why didn’t you tell me about him?”
She had a sudden inspiration. “I did.”
Elliot gave her a level look.
“Remember on Saturday, when I left that message on your machine, telling you to come over to the house quick? That’s when Gino first arrived, and I wanted you to meet him. At that time, he expected to be here for only about an hour. I didn’t mention him again, because I thought he’d gone, but that’s not how it worked out. He’ll be around longer than he expected, so now, there’s time for you to meet him.” She stood up. “I’ve got to get back to work.”
Elliot looked at her. “As I remember, on that message, you also told me to bring my .38.”
“No, I said…don’t be late.” She tried to leave.
“Megan?” Elliot’s summons stopped her once more. “Kimberly and I had planned to marry, but while I was away in the marines, she started seeing other guys.”
“You don’t have to talk about it,” Megan said softly.
“No, I want you to know. I didn’t find out it was all over with Kimberly until I got back home. She said she was sorry. She loved me but she couldn’t marry someone like me.” Elliot looked away, staring at the selections on the soda machine.
“Someone like you?” Megan asked, not understanding.
Elliot shrugged. “Middle class, blue collar, uneducated. She was beautiful and brainy. She was going to be a doctor. She felt she could do better. We’ve seen each other a handful of times since then. She’s been divorced twice.”
“It seems she found out what we already know,” Megan said.
Elliot’s gaze came back from a far-off memory. “What’s that?”
“She can’t do better than you.”
Elliot smiled. “If she doesn’t know it by now, she will shortly.”
Megan’s smile grew puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“One day soon, Kimberly is going to be surprised,” Elliot said.
“You’re talking crazy again.” Just like yesterday at his mother’s when he’d rambled on about gazebos and bidets.
He winked at her as he stood up to go, that tight, small smile still on his face. “Crazy as a fox.”
THE Q.C. OFFICE was still empty when Megan returned from lunch. She went into the back testing room to finish the measuring she’d started before lunch. She was adjusting the gauges when Kitty appeared in the doorway.
Kitty raised a white bucket. “I got the one o’clock shots.”
“Good. I’ll help you measure them as soon as I finish impact testing these flanges.”
Kitty set down the bucket. “Megan, I’d no idea Elliot didn’t know about Gino. I never would’ve brought him up if I’d known. I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize. I talked to Elliot after you left, and we straightened it all out. Everything’s fine.”
“You’re not mad?”
Megan patted her friend’s forearm. “There’s nothing to be mad about.”
Relieved, Kitty plopped down onto a stool inside the doorway. “I’m looking forward to tonight. It’ll be fun, and I’ve got to admit, I’m a little curious about this mystery man myself. Is he single, because I’ve got a cousin who’s—”
“About tonight,” Megan interrupted.
Kitty looked at her and waited.
“I don’t think it’s going to be possible.”
Kitty’s features puckered. “Why?”
Megan rubbed her forehead. Here we go again, she thought, having to come up with a logical explanation for a completely illogical situation. But it would only get worse if Gino went with her to Kitty’s tonight. Kitty herself had just expressed her curiosity, and Megan knew Elliot would give Gino the third degree. All those questions with no acceptable answers. That was the main reason Gino was staying home tonight. That and the fact she never knew what he might do, say or conjure.
A Man for Megan Page 10
