He Loves Lucy by Susan Donovan Read Free Book Online

and mean. “You sure were once.”
    And it was the lowest fifteen minutes of his life.
    “We’d look great together, Theo.”
    “No, we would not. Let it go, Lola.” He slammed the door on his way out, only to run right into Tyson.
    “What’s up, Theo? You look mad as a rattlesnake.”
    Theo pushed past, shaking his head. “Nothing.”
    Tyson caught up with him. “Hey! Whoa, Redmond. Is this about the Lucy Cunningham woman? I thought she was doing great.”
    Theo stopped and looked at his friend. “She is.”
    “And you?” Tyson yawned, rubbing his eyes. “How’re you doin‘?”
    Theo grinned, amused by Tyson’s efforts to stay awake. “I’m keepin‘ it together.”
    “Just remember, man, you’re a personal trainer, not a miracle worker.”
    Theo laughed. “No, I’m a trainer
and
miracle worker. Don’t have any choice at this point. And you need to get more sleep.” He continued walking, spotting his nine o’clock appointment waiting for him on the leather couch, the cute, trim, red-headed Cecile.
    “How’s the little bro?”
    Theo smiled at Tyson. He was always so cool about Buddy and had been a great help with coaching these last few years. “He’s good. He wants you to come over Sunday to watch the game. We’re having some of the athletes over. You up for it?”
    “Always.” A big grin burst across Tyson’s face. “Those boys know how to party.”
    Coming from Tyson, that was a real compliment.
     
    When Gia Altamonte called Lucy at work an hour before and invited her to lunch, Lucy had been shocked. She was way beyond shock now, staring at the supermodel sitting across the VIP table from her at Larios on the Beach, snarfing down a plate of rice and beans and roasted Cuban pork.
    “I think I forgot to eat yesterday,” Gia said, her mouth so full it temporarily muted her unmistakable speech.
    “Yeah. Happens to me all the time,” Lucy said.
    Gia laughed. “I’ve been meaning to check on you, you know, after the life squad, but I’ve been in Belize for the swimsuit shoot and then I had to go to Los Angeles and then frickin‘
Greenland
. You ever been to
    Greenland? It’s nice. So you doing better now, or what?“
    Lucy loved Gia’s voice. It made her smile. It was high enough to be painful to the ear, grating yet endearing, especially in person, when it could be seen emerging from those sultry, heavily insured lips.
    Perhaps it was cruel that God gave Gia Altamonte that voice to go with that mouth, because an acting career would forever be out of her reach. Then again, maybe that voice was proof that God did have a sense of humor, or that he wanted to give the rest of the normal schlubs on earth some shred of superiority.
    “I’m doing great. Haven’t choked since.”
    “You like Cuban food, Lucy?”
    “Love it.” Lucy had ordered a side salad with oil and vinegar, a side order of black beans, and a grilled mahimahi fillet-not bad for an impromptu lunch out and nothing she’d have to be ashamed to write down in her journal.
    “Good, ‘cause I’m gonna have my mama make you something. She’s a big fan of yours.”
    Lucy started. “I have a fan?”
    “Of course you do!” Gia said, laughing. “My mama and me make two!”
    Lucy couldn’t help but be amused at the otherworldly nature of this situation. She had been invited to “do” lunch with a
Sports Illustrated
swimsuit model in the VIP room of a chic restaurant on Miami Beach. Lucy didn’t even know models
ate
lunch. And she’d certainly never been inside a VIP room of anything before, except maybe for the back office at the Order of the Eagles Aerie 982 in Pittsburgh, when her dad once brought her along when he had to pick up a roll of raffle tickets.
    “How’s Theo treating you?” Gia asked after she’d ordered coffee for both of them.
    “He’s busting my hump, but it’s going well.”
    “Mmmm. He’s a cutie, no?”
    Lucy shrugged, hoping she hadn’t started sweating at just the mention of his name.