Friends and Lovers Trilogy 02 - Charmed Read Free

noticed.
    Actually, she
had
been oblivious at first. She’d been preoccupied with finding her shoe, memorizing the details of Molly McGuire’s personalized fairy tale, and hitting the road on time. She’d rather stick a needle in her eye than to be late for a child’s birthday party. You only turn five once. Sofie often joked that the sun could explode and Lulu wouldn’t notice if she were “in the zone.”
    Only she wasn’t “in the zone” now, thanks to Murphy. He’d wrapped his warm, strong hand over hers, breaking her concentration and rousing physical desires she’d thought comatose. One heart-jolting touch and she’d been ready to rip off his clothes and tackle him in the driveway. In broad daylight. At least that’s the way the racy scenario had played in her brief fantasy.
    Rudy and Jean-Pierre would be so proud.
    Her meddling friends constantly urged her to explore her sensual side. Rudy Gallow, a man who’d spent the last few months with his nose stuck in a growing library of self-help books, was especially committed to helping her discover the joy of a healthy physical relationship (stress on the word healthy). Even more so than her buttinski sister.
That
was saying a lot.
    But Lulu had been so shocked by her burst of sexual interest, that instead of flirting with Murphy, she’d raced away from him as though he were the devil. Which in a sense he was. Tempted by her sister’s boyfriend. How wicked was that?
    Focus on Molly McGuire’s loonytale. Get into character. Focus.
    She merged onto the Garden State Parkway heading north and stepped on the gas. Soon she’d be surrounded by little children and everything that was good in life.
Focus.
    She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel.
    Maybe Sofie met Murphy during one of her shifts at the casino. As a scantily-clad greeter-girl she rivaled the poker tables in attracting male gamblers. In the four weeks that she’d been employed at the Carnevale, the exotic, mocha-skinned brunette had racked up an astonishing total of proposals, only half involving marriage.
    Given her sister’s unique beauty and innate talent, it boggled Lulu’s mind that she’d failed in her attempts to secure a major Broadway role. Sure she’d landed supporting roles, several cable infomercials, and had even enjoyed a stint as a QVC spokesperson, but major stardom eluded her. Credible roles had dwindled this past year along with her bank account. Though Sofie would never admit it, Lulu knew the moment the ambitious actress had reached her emotional limit. The phone call in which she had griped, “If I could just lose ten more pounds” had prompted Lulu to take control.
    Enough was enough.
    She’d immediately guilted her little sister into moving back into their grandmother’s home for the winter. “Viv’s in Florida for the next several months,” she’d said. “It’ll be good for both of us. I could use the company and you could use the financial break. You can work part-time at the Carnevale Casino like me, and zip up to Manhattan for prime auditions.”
    When Sofie balked, Lulu played the sympathy card, crying loneliness and depression. Her ex-husband, Terry Ross, had moved to Chicago with his girlfriend, and their grandmother Viv had temporarily transplanted to Orlando to “reminisce” with an old boyfriend. It wasn’t entirely a lie. She
had
been lonely. But mostly she’d been worried that if Sofie didn’t get out of Manhattan fast, her insecurities and the competitive acting market would eat her alive.
    Funny, Sofie considered Lulu the vulnerable one, but Lulu knew without a doubt that beneath her baby sister’s tough exterior beat an ultra-sensitive heart. As restless and driven as her sister was, she also knew Sofie would soon tire of living down at the shore. If she’d just stay long enough to recharge, Lulu would feel a heck of a lot better about her leaving. Surely the attention she was getting at the Carnevale was boosting her confidence. Sofie