Lucinda grinned, sitting at the opposite end of the sofa. “I’d say not. Goodness, it’s a wonder the two of you weren’t hurt. I’ve seen that lake. It isn’t that deep and when the water is fairly clear, you can see that huge rocks cover the bottom.”
“My hip grazed one. The worst part was I had on a pink top. He didn’t have to look hard to see every detail.”
Lucinda clapped her hands and her bangle bracelets jingled. “Oh my! Now maybe that is why he was hanging around you tonight. Perhaps he was hoping to get another peek. Or better yet an invite back to your place.”
“Lucinda!” Their laughter filled the room.
The woman shrugged innocently, making her bangle bracelets chime. “Men always like to look, darlin’. For some it’s a game. But your Darren, he did seem to be a nice young man.”
Keely hugged the cushion tighter. Her Darren. Could she hope?
“He’s not my anything. We just met. I tried to drown him. He bought me a glass of wine. We talked.”
Lucinda laughed. Then her eyes widened slightly, and she jumped up from the sofa, pointing a finger at Keely. “You wait right there. I have something for you.”
Before long the smell of Zen wafted throughout the suite and Lucinda returned with a tray of burning incense. A silver box rested in the center of the tray.
“What are you up to?” Keely tossed the pillow aside and swung her legs around, moving to the edge of the sofa.
“Sh-h-h. What I’m about to show you is very sacred. It’s something my grandmother passed along to me many, many years ago when I was a young woman.”
Lucinda slid the tray onto the small coffee table in front of the sofa. Then she began chanting an incantation as she waved her hands over the burning incense.
Apprehension crawled up Keely’s back. Voodoo played a big part in Lucinda’s life. She’d been raised in the Louisiana bayou. Keely had only witnessed Lucinda calling for blessings twice in her life. Once had been right after her father died and was intended as a healing process for her mother. The second time was right before her mother died and had been an attempt to ease her mother’s pain.
Lucinda dropped to sit crossed legged on the floor. She reached for Keely’s left hand and turned it palm up.
“You see this line, child? Some say this is your lifeline. Man and woman were made to walk that line together. But you, you’ve been trying to do it alone. It’s time this changed.”
Lucinda looked at her with concern. “Your mother asked me to watch out for you and Alex after her passing. It’s been three years now Keely and you’ve made no move toward settling down and making a family of your own. Your mother wanted grandchildren.”
Keely pulled her hand away. “I have a career, Lucinda. I don’t want or have time for a husband…a family…at least right now.”
“Careers are wonderful. Look at me! I have a fabulous one. But I had my family too. When I was young I got married to the most wonderful man and we had lots of babies. We were happy, but Denton died young. And our children are grown now with their own babies.
“I’m not saying you have to forego a career to have a family, but your mother wanted you to be happy. To find that someone special, get married and have children.”
Keely pursed her lips and frowned. “Lucinda, I don’t see marriage and a family as my ultimate goal in life. A successful career is what I want. Maybe in a few years I’ll meet someone and we’ll get married.”
Lucinda crossed her arms over her chest. “Can you honestly sit there and tell me you aren’t lonely? That you enjoy living with a dog as a companion?”
Keely laughed and shook her head. “I wouldn’t classify Duke as a companion. But I get your point.”
“Good, now hold out your left hand.” Lucinda smiled and ran a painted nail down the lifeline again. “I see good things in store for you, Keely Jones. But to ensure they come about sooner rather than later, I’m going to pass along something my grandmother gave me. Something that will bring you good luck.”
Lucinda opened the silver box and took out a black felt pouch. She again chanted an incantation as she slowly parted the drawstring closure. Then she poured the contents into Keely’s palm and closed her fingers around it.
“This is an all powerful gris-gris, child. If you wear it around your neck, then the amulet will draw your true-love to your heart.”
“You’ve got to be kidding!”
Lucinda snapped her fingers loudly then pointed at Keely. “Silence. Whether you believe in it or not, you must wear it. It will reveal its value in due time.”
“How will I know who my true love will be?”
“The gris-gris will open, spilling forth the blood-red stone in his presence once you have opened your heart to the possibilities.”
Slowly, Keely opened her hand. She lifted the gris-gris up by its chain while Lucinda chanted and moved her hands in circular motions over the incense, dispersing the fragrance into the air.
“Remember, you must wear it always.”
Keely studied the gris-gris and examined the amulet closer. Nestled within a small heart-shaped filigree of silver sat the blood-red stone.
“How does it open? I don’t see…”
“That is the mystery of the gris-gris. Now put it on. Hurry. It’s quarter till two and you have to get up early for work tomorrow.”
Keely humored Lucinda, slipping the chain around her neck not understanding where the time had gone.
“How long will you be in town?” Keely stood, picked up her purse and slung the strap over her shoulder.
“My flight leaves tomorrow. I have an engagement in San Francisco then I’ll be flying to Paris for a two-week tour of Europe. After that it’s back to New York for a benefit concert.”
“Oh how awful. Two weeks in Europe doesn’t give you much time for sightseeing.”
“I know. I’ll call you when I return to New York.”
Keely touched the gris-gris, fingering the smooth silver. “I’m sure I’ll be fine. I don’t expect anything to happen with this any time soon.”
Lucinda smiled. “Of course. I felt that same way when my grandmother gave it to me. But then Denton came along and I didn’t know what hit me. Perhaps this Darren is the one?”
“Good night, Lucinda.” Keely hugged her again before she left.
When Darren walked into the conference room the next morning, everyone turned and stared making it obvious he was the last to arrive. Jama glanced at her watch. “I’m so glad you could make it. Get the lights won’t you.”
He dimmed the fluorescents and settled into a vacant chair as the PowerPoint presentation began. The figures his sister quickly ran through showed the poor financial status the agency was in, which blew him away.
Holy shit! Why hadn’t she come to him for help? She should have known all she’d had to do was ask.
“As you see, the departure of Ted Hamilton placed Wright and Associates in dire straits. I’ve tried to keep the agency from going under, but it has become impossible to do that on my own without coming clean with you.” She walked to the wall and turned the lights back up.
“Many of you may wonder why I’d bring my brother into the agency and within weeks promote him to Account Director instead of choosing someone from within. I want to dispel any questions about the reasons behind this move. We need Darren’s skill. His track record proves he’s a powerhouse in the industry, and I believe he can help get Wright and Associates back on our feet. We are lucky to have him and I want each one of you to make him feel welcome.”
What are you doing Jama? Account Director? That isn’t why I came home.
Darren shook his head, but remained silent as his sister continued to brag on him.
“In fact, he’s already landed a major account for us. Yesterday, he signed McDaniel to a five year contract.” Jama beamed in his direction as applause erupted around the room. When the clapping subsided, she continued. “And despite his arrogant airs at times, like almost being late to this m
eeting, he’s every bit as down to earth as the rest of us. Even if he’s picked up some bad habits along the way.”
Adjusting his tie, he tried to make sense of why Jama was doing this to him. He understood she needed a new Account Director, but surely she had others just as deserving within her agency that could do the job. She didn’t need to place that burden on him.
“Do you have anything you’d like to say, Darren?” Jama asked. All eyes focused on him. Some were hostile.
He cleared his throat and slowly stood. “It’s an honor to be here at Wright and Associates. Jama’s the reason I began a career in advertising. It was her dream job and some of that dream rubbed off on me. While I prepped for college, she prepped for campaign projects. And I’d bug the crap out of her giving my advice on how ‘she should do it’. I think she spent more time telling me why my ideas wouldn’t work than doing her assignments.
“I listened to what she said and grew to love advertising too. So it’s a huge honor and surprise to be named Account Director.”
He laughed. “I didn’t come to the agency to take on this role. I came to refocus my career path, but I promise not to let you down.”
Applause again filled the room and the meeting soon broke up. A few of the executives he’d begun to work with came by to congratulate him. When the room finally emptied, Jama came over and hugged him.
“I thought you were going to ruin my surprise by not showing.” She beamed. “So do you have any immediate plans? What direction do you think you’ll be taking us?”
Grinning, he shrugged. “Up. We’re going up. Down isn’t an option.”
Jama laughed, turning to leave. “Good. Don’t let me down, little brother.”
“Jama, wait.”
She stopped and turned back toward him.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were in trouble here? I’d have come home sooner if you had.”
When he’d decided to finally come home after working in the Big Apple for five years, he’d needed a break, and it was a good way to get his mother off his back. He hadn’t realized she’d been pestering him because Jama needed his help but was too proud to ask.
“And admit defeat from the start?” She shook her head. “I had to prove to myself and to Ted that his leaving and practically stealing the agency blind wasn’t going to break me. And I almost did it too. If we hadn’t lost the local Marshall’s account last December—”
Darren nodded. “I know. One account can make or break an agency. Who did they go with?”
“Jackson and Jackson. A good firm with a go getter ad exec who is landing accounts left and right for them. I’m hoping you’ll be able to curtail some of their glory. You already have by landing McDaniel.”
Darren nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“While you’re doing that, I’d like to see you become a mentor for one of our people. Shelby Mitchell. She’s a top-notch account manager and is eager to advance. I think Shelby could learn a lot from you.”
“I’ll be happy to help her.”
“I’m counting on it,” Jama said. She opened the door and, with a quick wave of her hand, left him alone in the conference room.
Darren leaned back against the table thinking about the burden his sister had placed on him.
Whether she realized it or not, she was expecting more from him than just directing the agency into landing more accounts. He had to make sure Wright and Associates was solid again. After all, they were family.
First things first, he needed to get acquainted with Shelby Mitchell and get the scoop on the go-getter at Jackson and Jackson.
Chapter Three
Keely parked her car that afternoon and got out, smiling as she listened to the happy chirping of birds, a tell-tale sign of spring. She opened the back car door and snapped on Duke’s leash before he lumbered with a yawn out of the vehicle.
He seemed rather lethargic today and that worried her. Her vet, Kyle Landers, had given her a Pamphlet on the complications associated with excess weight in large breed dogs known as bloat. He said a good way to prevent this was maintaining Duke’s weight with daily exercise. She was working hard to see that the dog stayed on a routine and it wasn’t doing her any harm either. Not only did she have more energy because of her daily jogs, but she’d also met an interesting guy as a result.
Leading Duke toward the trail, she scanned the green area and noticed it was sans Frisbee players today. She’d been looking forward to seeing Darren again. In all honesty, she’d hoped he’d be there, minus his friend. Frowning, she stretched her calves on a nearby park bench, preparing for their jog around the duck pond while Duke sniffed the ground.
“Are you ready, boy?” she asked Duke, petting him on the head.
He looked up at her with woeful brown eyes. His flews drooped and saliva dribbled from them as he yawned again.
Ew. She never understood why her brother got a pet in the first place and second, she couldn’t imagine why he’d chosen a bloodhound. He didn’t hunt. Alex was a workaholic. His job required him to travel more than fifty percent of the time. Taking care of a dog wasn’t in the plan.
She’d been called upon numerous times to pet-sit over the years. So when Alex transferred to Alaska and couldn’t take Duke with him, she wasn’t shocked that he’d turned to her for help.
She sighed, knowing she was too soft when it came to her brother. She’d given up her lease on the perfect downtown loft to move back into the family home just to take care of the dog.
Duke. An overweight bloodhound.
She clucked to him as she started to jog. He kept up for the first lap, then without warning, dropped down on the trail, jerking the leash from her hand.
Startled, she jogged in place and half-turned, finding he’d stretched out behind her. He didn’t look hurt. He just looked bored. Typical Duke.
“None of this. We’re got to keep moving, Duke.” She picked up his leash again clutching it tighter in her hand. With a firm jerk she got the dog on all fours and they started moving forward.
Half a lap later however, Duke dropped down on the trail again, but she didn’t lose her grip on the leash this time. Annoyed, she glared at him, and continued to jog in place to keep her heart rate up. “What’s up with you today, boy?”
He ignored her, closing his eyes as if napping.
She tugged on the leash, but he wouldn’t budge.
“Great.” She stopped moving and stooped down to check on him. His collar wasn’t too tight, so his circulation wasn’t being cut off and he didn’t feel hot, so he wasn’t overheated. Those were the two signs her vet had advised she watch for as they exercised.
Duke opened his eyes. He raised his head and his ears perked up. He got to his feet again and without warning began running at full speed. His sudden movement jerked Keely to her knees and he pulled her across the trail, through a patch of dirt and gravel, disturbing a gathering a geese and leaving loud squawking and the rustling of ruffled feathers in his wake. He continued pulling her through a mass of low-lying bushes until he finally broke away from her hold. She lay on the ground with her face in the grass trying to figure out what had caused the dog to take off like that.
“No, Duke. Stop!”
She looked up in time to see the dog leaping toward Darren and knocking him into the water.
This can’t be happening. Not again.
Pushing herself up, she felt the sting of the leash burn on the palm of her hand and winced. Sitting in the grass for a moment, she surveyed the damage of her skinned appendages before she got to her feet. She’d definitely be sore tomorrow.
By the time she got to the water’s edge, Darren was wading toward Duke, trying to grab his leash.
“He didn’t hurt you, did he?” she asked, fearing the worst. This was the second time the dog had caused him to fall into the water.
“No.” Darren turned and waded toward her, while Duke doggie paddled to the edge. Getting out Darren laughed and handed her the leash. “I think he
was happy to see me, but I wish he’d picked a different way of showing it.”
She sighed. If he was laughing, then he wasn’t upset. This was good. She didn’t want this mishap to make him avoid her.
“What about you? Are you okay? As I walked from the car I saw him dragging you—”
“I’ll live.”
“You said that yesterday. What will you say tomorrow?” A dark brow arched and he cocked his head to one side.
“If anything else happens tomorrow, then shoot me because I can’t take further public humiliation. And I’m sure you don’t want to end up back in that water again.”
He laughed and reached for her hand, running his thumb over the red area of the leash burn. “That must sting.” Without warning, he raised her palm to his lips and kissed it.
The warmth of his breath on her palm sent a tingle soaring through her, and she sucked in her breath hard. If his kissing her palm caused that reaction she could only imagine what kissing his lips would cause.
Finding her voice, she choked out a response. “It does.”
He nodded and glanced at her skinned knees. “Those need looking at. Do you have a first aid kit in your car?”
She shook her head, not believing he was more concerned about her than the fact that he stood there with algae in his hair.
“I do.”
“That’s okay. I’ll take care of my knees at home. I should get Duke out of here before he can cause more harm.” Looking down at her clothes she noticed she was covered in dirt, grass and bits of twigs from the earlier escapade. She haphazardly dusted herself off feeling her cheeks warm with renewed embarrassment. “I still can’t believe he took off like that. He’s never…”
“He’s a dog, Keely. Their attention span is short.”
“I know, but…he plowed you down…”
She looked up and Darren placed a finger over her lips. “It’s okay, accidents happen.”
There was a brief silence as they walked toward the parking area. Duke loped along beside them. Darren slowed in front of the sports car that had parked next to her four-door hybrid.
The Good Luck Charm (The Good Luck Series) Page 2
