“I thought you were his cousin, not his niece.”
“Well. Let me explain,” said Gloria. “In our family, if you’re a little older and achieved a certain level of success, you become an uncle regardless of the actual title. He’s Uncle Reno to me.”
“I see,” said Lucinda. “But yes, Oz is a member of the famous Drakos family of Apple Valley, Florida. I think he owns a big chunk of that casino himself.”
“Oh, really?”
“Oh, yeah. He’s no slouch now. But he’s a heartbreaker. That’s the cautionary tale. Because when they say he’s the wizard of Oz, they mean it. He’s a wizard in bed alright. I’ve heard stories you wouldn’t believe about how good he is, and what he can do to a lady.”
Gloria nodded. She’d already figured that out the first time she laid eyes on him. “He’s a ladies’ man.”
“That, my dear, is the understatement of the year,” said Lucinda. “He’s a man who likes the ladies, alright, but these ladies around him just loves him. But I’m going to tell you like your uncle Reno, if he was here, would tell you, and like I’m sure your mother, if she were here, would tell you too: stay away from that one. He’ll only break your heart in the end.”
“Don’t worry,” Gloria said with a smile. “The absolute last thing I plan to be pursuing in this, my new life, is some trifling man. I’m trying to make a name for myself, away from my father, and no way is that name going to be as the whore of some . . . some gigolo!”
Lucinda laughed at her use of such an old term, and they both high-fived. “I knew you were a smart girl all along,” she said. “I could tell it when we first met. Good for you, Gloria. Good for you!”
CHAPTER NINE
Inside the storefront office next door, Alex was just walking up to the desk that his wife, Kari Grant-Drakos, was seated behind. He walked behind the desk and kissed her on the lips. He’d only seen her briefly since arriving back in town from a business trip, and he’d missed her terribly. But, like usual lately, she had to take a backseat to him checking on his kid brother. But she never complained. She was his ride or die forever.
And that was why a kiss that was supposed to be a peck, became passionate. He placed his arm on her back and rubbed it as he kissed her. He wanted her beneath him desperately. But it had to wait.
“I know,” she said when they stopped kissing. “I want you too.”
Alex smiled. Kari was blunt like that.
“Where’s Oz?” she asked, as she looked past him. “They didn’t release him?”
“They released him. He’s outside.”
“Doing what?”
“Gawking at a woman, what else?”
Kari smiled and shook her head. “He will never learn. Who this time?”
“The latest new thing in town. I think she’s the new owner of Lucinda’s diner.”
“Reno’s cousin?” Kari asked.
Alex looked at her. “Reno’s cousin? Who says she’s Reno’s cousin?”
“Lucinda said Reno called her and asked if her diner was still for sale. He said something about having this cousin, a female, who was looking to buy a small business.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Reno didn’t mention it to you?”
Alex shook his head. “No. But I haven’t seen him in a while. We’ve both been busy.”
“You’d better tell Oz to leave that one alone,” Kari said. “Those Gabrinis are nobody to play with.”
“Oh, he’ll like the challenge if I told him she was related to Reno. That’s my brother. He’s odd like that. You can’t tell him anything. He has to find out for himself.”
“If he breaks that child’s heart,” Kari said, “he’s going to find out, alright.”
“Hey, Sister-in-law!” It was Oz walking in with his big, loud, boisterous voice and personality. “How are you doing, Kari D?”
Kari smiled. “Better than you,” she said, and Alex laughed. “I see your brother got you out of trouble again.”
“Here you go with that he got me out of trouble nonsense” said Oz. “I got myself out, thank you.”
“I said it because Alex’s name carries weight around here,” Kari said with a smile. “The only thing your name carries is women.”
“Speaking of women,” Oz said as he leaned over Kari’s desk, removed his sunglasses, and looked her in the eyes. “What do you know about the new owner of Lou’s diner next door?”
“I know you’d better leave her alone like Alex told you.”
“She’s new in town, that’s the only reason I’m asking.”
“That’s the only reason, really?”
“Yes! I have a woman. I’m not even looking.”
Both Kari and Alex, who dreamed of Oz settling down, looked at him. “You have a woman?” Kari asked. “Who?”
“Girl named Jennifer. Gorgeous girl. She was with me last night.”
“At the bar?” Kari asked.
“Yeah.”
“Well, where is she?” Alex asked.
Oz hesitated. “I don’t know. She left when the fight broke out.”
Alex couldn’t believe it. “She left you when you got in trouble, in other words?”
Oz hesitated. “Something like that, yeah.”
“And she’s your woman?” Alex asked.
“She’s a woman I’m interested in seeing again, yes.”
“What do you mean seeing again?” Kari asked. “Are you telling us you just met her last night?”
“Yeah. So?”
Kari leaned back. Alex shook his head. “You’re hopeless. Just hopeless!”
But Oz started smiling. “I might be hopeless,” he said with a roguish grin, “but at least I have fun!”
“Boy bye,” Kari said. “You and your fun got you in jail. But that’s probably fun to you too. Especially in the shower room. How was Bubba?”
Oz’s grin left. “What? Bubba? Not me!” he declared.
Alex laughed. “Yeah, I’ll bet plenty Bubbas in that place wanted your ass.”
“Literally,” Kari said as she stood up, and they both laughed again.
“Very funny,” said Oz, failing to see the humor.
“Ready?” Alex asked his wife.
Kari grabbed her purse. “I’m ready.”
But as they began heading out, Oz, following them, was still curious. “But about that girl,” he said as they walked.
“Odysseus!” Alex admonished. “Give it a rest will you please?”
But Kari was staring at Oz. “What about her?” she asked.
Oz turned to her. “Know anything about her?”
“She’s Reno Gabrini’s cousin,” said Kari. “Is that enough?”
Oz was surprised. “His cousin?” They all made it outside. Kari began locking up the place. “Are you serious?” Oz added.
“Is my wife ever not serious, Oz?” asked Alex.
“Now that’s a good question,” Oz said. But as they walked to the SUV, Oz was still curious. “His cousin, hun?” he asked. She was a Gabrini, he inwardly thought. Which meant, to him, that she wouldn’t be spooked when she found out about his other life. All of those Gabrinis were known to have mob ties too. That wouldn’t be anything new to her.