Free The Night She Got Lucky by Susan Donovan Page B

high on his forehead.
    Perhaps he was going about this all wrong. Perhaps he needed to focus on what he
did
have as opposed to what he lacked. He had his talent, his imagination, and a treasure chest of top-of-the-line photo equipment. He also had the strongest motivation of allself-preservation.
    I believe the answer is pet portraits, Sydney, Lucio announced.
    His agent sucked in his cheeks and blinked. Excuse me? For a second I thought you said something about pets.
    Lucio laughed softly, because what was there left to do
but
laugh? He had become a penniless squatter on the verge of criminal prosecution, a globally renowned nature photographer who now needed to take pictures of poodles to pay his way. If he did not laugh, he would have to cry.
    Yes. Pets and their owners. He looked at Piers's and Sydney's equally shocked expressions. Why do you look so puzzled? Think of itan award-winning
Geographica
nature photographer is now available to take a portrait of you and your animal friend! Rich people will want to pose with their Chihuahuas and Siamese. I could even Photoshop in a variety of my own landscapes as backdropssavannas, rain forests, the Himalayas, canyons and rivers, icebergs!
    The men were speechless.
    It will become the ultimate in status.
    Icebergs Sydney mumbled to himself.
    Little dogs! Big dogs! Lucio waved his hands around, trying to drum up enthusiasm. Parrots. Kitties. What do you call them, the little furry household rodents'
?los jerbos
!
    Piers winced, then translated for a perplexed Sydney. I believe Lucio wants to take pictures of gerbils.
    Lucio tapped his friend's arm. Now that is something I
will
ask Rick for. He could let me promote my services at Celestial Pet stores. That will bring in some business.
    Sydney collapsed into his office chair, drumming his fingers on the desk. How much do you suppose you can charge for this kind of job?
    Lucio looked to Piers for suggestions, but his friend shook his pale blond head, clearly having nothing to contribute.
    Lucio felt himself break into a hopeful smile. Thousands!
?Todo es posible!
He laughed. I will make the most of these ninety days. Then I will win the Erskine. Is everyone with me?
    Piers produced a dubious glance.
    Sydney bit down on the inside of his cheek.
    ?Excelente!
Lucio said. I will begin immediately. I already have my first client.

CHAPTER 5
    It had been easy to find her address, and Lucio used the brass knocker on the front door of the stately home. He heard a high-pitched yapping, followed by the slap of feet on a hard interior floor. A shadow passed across the frosted glass of the door just before it opened. And there she was.
    Ginger Garrison was barefoot, her hair pulled up in a ponytail, wearing a pair of black stretch yoga pants and a tight, nipple-friendly piece of stretchy fabric Americans referred to as a sports bra. Despite the name of the apparel, when Lucio looked at that bodywith its pale peachy skin, rosy red-painted toenails, the flat abdomen exposed by the low-waisted tightssports were the last thing that came to his mind.
    We meet again, Senora Garrison, Lucio said. He reached for her hand and raised it to his lips, closing his eyes to savor for the instant his lips met her flesh.
    She ripped her hand away.
    Surprised, Lucio straightened. I have come at a bad time, yes?
    The beautiful Ginger laughed. Her little doga puff of white with two tiny black marble eyesbegan sniffing Lucio's shoe. May I pick it up? he asked, hoping that his obvious love of animals would soften whatever irritation he may have caused by arriving unannounced.
    HeatherLynn is not an ‘it.' She's a ‘she.'
    Of course she is, Lucio said, feeling the now familiar hot shiver moving through his body. Why did this happen when in this woman's presence? Or even when he thought of her? Why did he seem unable to prevent it?
    Please come in.
    Lucio did as he was told. He stepped inside the house, immediately aware of the shimmering dance of light from a