Chapter Fourteen. Kazmar reached the end of another story—for he’d told at least a dozen—and the entire table, including Grace

Kazmar reached the end of another story—for he’d told at least a dozen—and the entire table, including Grace, burst into laughter. Somehow he and Lena had planted themselves in the back where Logan had situated her while she worked. She had introduced her to Kazmar and Lena, who were unpretentious and gracious, and they had asked her to join them at a table that was filled with Kazmar’s childhood buddies, people who knew him when he was Kevin Martin, before he became Kazmar, the Sexiest Man Alive, according to People magazine.

She was grateful for the company, although she wished the guy next to her, Eric, would quit putting his arm around her. Other than that little annoyance she was having a delightful time. Once in a while she would look up and see Logan working the room, talking to the guests. Some women openly flirted with her, which really didn’t surprise Grace at all. She was beautiful and any straight woman with the slightest bent would give her time.

“Grace, I hope Kaz isn’t boring you? ” Lena asked.

She looked over her shoulder, realizing that Lena was standing behind her. She immediately stood, thankful to be rid of Eric.

“Not hardly. I’m having a wonderful time, and I’m glad to be here.”

Pleased, Lena took her arm and walked her to a corner. “I think you’re gorgeous, and I can tell Logan is smitten with you.”

Her cheeks reddened. “I don’t know about that. Logan is certainly a free spirit. I think she likes a lot of women.”

“She certainly does, ” Lena said knowingly.

“I didn’t realize you two were friends.”

“Oh, yes. She photographed my very first shoot in Brazil six years ago. We got along famously. Perhaps too famously, ” she quickly added. When Grace said nothing, Lena whispered, “We were lovers for a while.”

“Oh.” She hoped she didn’t sound too surprised. Why should she be? Both women were very attractive, and, as a model, Lena had to be indebted to the photographer who launched her career.

“When Kaz and I decided to get married, she was the only photographer I wanted. She understands me.”

“She’s incredibly talented, ” Grace agreed.

Both of them glanced at Logan who was talking to a thin brunette with shoulder-length straight hair. Grace immediately recognized Penny McWhirter’s high cheekbones. Logan and Penny were laughing, and they looked toward her at the same time and smiled. Is she another lover, too?

Lena touched her arm and said, “You might want to go over and join them. There’s nothing like a mé nage a trois to spice up your life.”

She turned to Kazmar, and Grace joined Penny and Logan. Penny flashed a friendly smile and Grace realized how striking she was without the ball cap covering her face. She wore a shimmering red cocktail dress which was so short that Grace could see most of her upper thigh. She certainly has incredible legs.

“You look a little different without your coveralls, ” Grace said.

“I thought I’d change before I rubbed elbows with the rich and famous.”

“Have you two met? ” a confused Logan asked.

“She wandered into the garage today, ” Penny explained. “I have a collection of motorcycles and I told her we’d go riding tomorrow if you’re up for it.”

“I’d love to.” She looked at Grace. “I think we can convince Grace with a little arm twisting.” She felt Logan’s arm wrap possessively around her waist, a gesture that Penny watched carefully.

“Are you almost done? ” Grace asked.

“Yeah, ” Logan said. She looked around the room. Three hours had passed since Kazmar and Lena had wed and most of the guests had left, particularly the A-listers who only stayed long enough to be seen and to be considered polite. “I think I can pack it in.”

“Then how about coming to the after-party? Kazmar and Lena have invited their select friends inside for a special toast and some really good eats.”

“And this wasn’t? ” Grace asked. “This is the nicest reception I’ve ever attended.”

Penny and Logan exchanged knowing glances. “Grace, there’s nice and then there’s obscene, ” Logan explained. “What you’ve witnessed was expected, and the food and drink were palatable, but the rich know how to keep the good stuff to themselves.”

Grace allowed Penny and Logan to lead her inside—back to the great room where, just a few hours before, Kazmar and Lena had promised to love each other for eternity. She had been impressed that the room looked so much like a country church in England. Yet, as they stepped through the heavy oak doors, she realized that in a short time the room had been transformed into a gambling hall, complete with craps tables, roulette wheel and blackjack dealers. A metal band, whose song she recognized even though she couldn’t name it, cavorted across the converted altar, their electric guitars reverberating throughout the room. I’m surprised they don’t crack the stained glass.

The penguin-like waiters and waitresses had also changed— their crisp uniforms discarded for much, much more casual attire—golden thongs. They wore nothing else, and she could tell the beautifully busted women had added a second layer of makeup and hot pink lipstick. A crowd was assembling near the doorway, and when Kazmar and Lena entered, everyone applauded. Gone were his tuxedo and her expensive dress. He wore jeans and a muscle shirt while she sported a low-cut spaghetti strap tank top that left little to the imagination and very short shorts that revealed the curves of her tanned buttocks. The band struck up a hit song, and Lena grabbed her new husband and dragged him out to dance. She thrust her hips and breasts at him, until he finally pulled her into a long kiss and the crowd roared again.

A chesty redheaded waitress bounced in front of them with Dom Perignon. “Champagne? ”

All three of them took a flute and Penny raised her glass. “To Kazmar, Lena and a great party. I love the rich and am proud to be one of them.”

They sipped their champagne and Grace immediately recognized the difference between the reception champagne and what she enjoyed now. It was the most eloquent drink she’d ever savored, and it was going straight to her head.

“Have you ever played roulette, Grace? ” Penny asked.

“No.”

Penny grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the table. Grace glanced over her shoulder and caught Logan’s slight goodbye wave. Before she knew what was happening, she was making bets on red and black with chips that seemed to magically appear in front of her. Penny remained close, whispering advice and explanations. Often, her hand would graze Grace’s back, and she thought of the Root of Passion deep in her purse. What were Penny’s expectations? Where did Logan disappear to?

She looked down and realized she’d been steadily winning and had amassed a large pile of fifty-dollar chips. “Is this real money? ”

Penny offered a lopsided grin. “Of course it’s real, but it’s not your money. It’s mine. Don’t worry about it.”

She automatically stepped away. “Oh, no. Then you should be placing the bets.”

Penny placed her hands on Grace’s arms and stroked them gently. “Are you kidding? You’re my good luck charm. This is the best case of beginner’s luck that I’ve ever seen! ” She leaned toward her, and she knew she was about to be kissed.

“Hey, you two! Play the game or get a room! ” one of the other players shouted, and Penny quickly pulled away, her cheeks red.

She motioned they’d cash in, obviously embarrassed, and an assistant at the table swiftly stacked the chips into equal piles, counted them, and handed over a wad of bills. After they stepped away from the table, she said, “Logan mentioned you like art. Do you like Jackson Pollock? ”

She nodded. “He’s my favorite.”

“Then let me show you something.”

She took her hand and led her through a back door and down a hallway to a spiral staircase. Grace followed her up to the second floor and down another hallway to a set of double doors.

“It’s in my room, ” Penny said, opening the doors with a flourish.

Her jaw dropped at the size of her room, which was larger than the suite at the Paris hotel. It must have spanned a third of the upstairs and was more of a mini-apartment, complete with a kitchen and dining area. Bookshelves seemed to swallow up every inch of free wall space, and each one was packed with books.

“I’m sorry it’s so messy, ” she said, leading her around several piles of paperbacks.

“What do you do for a living? ”

“Not much right now. I’m applying to doctoral programs. I’m studying to become a psychologist.”

She was impressed. She had great appreciation for the study of the human mind. “That’s great. Where are you hoping to go? ”

“I’ve applied to UC San Diego, University of Washington and Arizona State. I’d like to get out of Vegas.”

She led her into a dimly lit hallway in front of a large canvas. The tangle of brown drips and yellow swirls seemed to jump out at her, and for a moment she lost her breath. “This is number five.”

“Yup.”

She looked at her, confused. “But I heard some guy named Martinez bought this for like a hundred and forty million.”

Penny shook her head with a slight smile. “Well, the price is accurate but not the buyer. That was just diversion tactics. My dad bought it and gave it to me for my birthday.”

“Your dad gives great gifts, ” she said. “Where is your dad? Is he here? ”

“No. He hates weddings. After you’ve been married four times the novelty wears off.”

She knew little of Linus McWhirter except that he was rich and he liked young trophy wives. She suppressed the urge to ask Penny a multitude of questions about her mother and focused on the amazing work of art in front of her. Number five was one of her favorites.

They stared in silence, as if they were in church. She knew many people didn’t like Pollock’s work and thought his art was just a mess, but he was her favorite painter. The intricate intersections of lines and color reminded her of the human body and the freeway of arteries and capillaries buried beneath the skin’s surface. She sighed deeply.

“What do you think? ”

“It’s unbelievable. It’s so different from the reproductions I’ve seen. I mean, it’s obviously the same painting, but it’s just… so much more impressive.”

She could have stared at the Pollock for another half hour, but she stepped away and smiled at Penny, well aware that they were standing in her bedroom, not a gallery.

“Thanks for showing it to me. You must look at it all the time.”

She grinned. “Truthfully, I could take it or leave it.” When Grace gasped, she added, “I do like it, and I like art, but my dad bought it because it was expensive, not because I wanted it.”

“What did you want for your birthday? ” she asked, stunned that anyone wouldn’t want a Pollock.

“Either a nineteen twenty-eight Model A or a backpacking trip through South America.”

She winced and Penny laughed. Penny took her hand and wandered to the living room. Enormous glass windows lined the east wall of the room, giving her an incredible view of the strip in the distance.

She went to a cupboard and pulled out some wineglasses. “Would you like a merlot? I noticed it seemed to be your beverage of choice.”

“Um, okay.”

She poured them each a glass, and they went out on the balcony and stared at the lights of Vegas. Grace could barely hear the noise from the after-party below. It seemed as though they were a hundred miles from anyone. She glanced at Penny who stared at the cityscape, content in the silence. She’s certainly not like Logan.

“So, how long have you been into cars and motorcycles? ”

“Most of my life. My dad says that was his first clue that I wasn’t a girly girl.”

She laughed. Her own wake-up call had been her love of Daisy Duke.

Penny glanced up, and Grace sensed small talk wasn’t her forte. “So, I imagine being a surgeon is incredibly stressful. How do you go through the day knowing that people trust you one hundred percent? ”

The question surprised her. Nobody had ever put it that way. “I don’t know. You’re right about the stress, though.” She told Penny about her nightmare and her fear of losing her edge in the operating room if she expanded her social life. “I guess I’m personally doomed, ” she concluded.

Instead of instantly disagreeing, which was always Margo’s tack, Penny didn’t respond. She just swirled her wine in reflection. Eventually she said, “Then what are you doing in Vegas with Logan? Is she your girlfriend? ”

“Oh, no, ” she said quickly. How the hell can you explain this? “I don’t know why I’m here, ” she blurted.

Penny laughed and soon she laughed with her. “You know, ” Penny said, “maybe you’ve got it backwards and maybe that’s why you’re here. Have you ever thought the nightmare might go away if you find some balance in your personal life? ”

She bit her lip. She wasn’t prepared to have an intellectual conversation tonight after so much fine wine and champagne, but what Penny said made sense. She felt her eyes on her, and she suddenly wished she could fly away. What are you afraid of, Gracie?

“Oh, my gosh. I better go look for Logan. She’s going to wonder what happened to me.”

“Yeah, I’d better take you back, ” Penny said with little enthusiasm.

They paid homage once more to the Pollock before rejoining the party. Logan was nowhere to be found amid the drunk partygoers. Penny found Kazmar dancing with one of the naked waitresses and whispered in his ear. He pointed outside and she nodded.

Grace followed her toward a large pool house, its bright lights piercing the darkness and illuminating the vast lawn.

“I’m pretty sure I know where she is, ” Penny said, grinning. “C’mon.”

They crossed the grass and as they approached the building, she heard a scream. She pressed her face against a huge windowpane and her jaw dropped. Splashing in the pool were Lena and Logan, both naked. They playfully chased each other until Lena allowed herself to be caught and dragged to the steps. Logan carefully set Lena above her and parted her legs. Suddenly ashamed of her peeping, Grace turned away.

“This is quite a show, ” Penny said, also peering through a window. “Are you surprised? ”

“Not really, ” she lied. “But we should probably give them their privacy.” She tried to pass Penny, who grabbed her by the waist and pulled her close.

“Don’t go. It’s okay. I know it’s okay.”

“What are you talking about? They’re having sex. We shouldn’t be watching them. It’s terribly rude.”

“They won’t mind.”

Still holding Grace in her arms, Penny stepped to the window. Logan remained between Lena’s legs, and the look of pleasure on Lena’s face suggested she was close to orgasm.

“Watch them. There is nothing more beautiful than two women making love, don’t you agree? ”

“Yes, ” she said, her voice barely audible.

Ten seconds later, Lena cried out and kept moaning as Logan continued to pleasure her. When their bodies finally lay still, she blinked, as if leaving a trance.

“C’mon.”

Before she could protest, Penny opened the pool house door. Lena and Logan looked up, surprised. Grace prepared to heap apologies on the two women, but Lena laughed and Logan smiled broadly, which surprised her into silence.

“Can we join you? ” Penny asked.

“Absolutely, ” Lena said, motioning to the pool. “After all, Penny, it’s your house.”

Penny disrobed immediately, but Grace remained rooted in place. She’d never skinny-dipped, and she’d never been to this type of party where anything seemed to go. Penny dove into the pool and swam to Lena. As if sensing Grace’s dilemma, Logan quickly emerged from the pool and went to her.

“Grace? Are you okay? ”

She nodded. “Yeah.”

“Are you upset that I was with Lena? ”

“No. Should I be? ”

Logan smiled gently and kissed her on the cheek. “No, you shouldn’t. Why don’t you join us? It’ll be fun. We’ll give Lena a great sendoff into a life of heterosexual monogamy.” She shook her head and added, “I don’t think she’ll make it, frankly, but hopefully Kazmar will understand.”

Grace swallowed hard. “I’ve never done anything like this. Only my exes have seen me naked.”

“Really? You didn’t seem to have a problem last night.”

She looked at the floor, embarrassed. “I can’t really account for my actions last night.”

A scream drew their attention to the pool. Penny was tickling Lena and trying to dunk her.

“Take off your clothes, ” Logan whispered. “Face a fear. I think that was number one on the list, wasn’t it? ”

She nodded at Logan and touched the side of her purse. “Is there a bathroom nearby? ”

Logan pointed to a door and she left for the changing area. She dug through her purse and took a small sip from the vial. You shouldn’t need to drink too much, Grace. After all, it’s just nudity. You’re a doctor, for God’s sake! She closed her eyes and listened to the laughter and screams coming from the pool. She pictured all three beautiful women, naked, their bodies bathed in the glow of the moonlight seeping through the windows. Her heartbeat quickened and she held the sides of the basin. She was drawn into the river again, only this time it wasn’t water rushing past her but the beautiful liquid that was the Root of Passion, caressing her body.

She managed to unzip her dress and left it in a heap on the floor. When she emerged from the changing room, Logan held out a flute of champagne.

Grace swallowed the expensive bubbly in a few sips and felt suddenly tipsy. She smiled and stepped into the pool, every nerve reacting to the cool water.

“Come play with me, ” Penny called from the middle. She floated on her back and kicked her legs vigorously. Grace laughed at her antics.

“No, ” Lena said, advancing toward Grace, her entire body covered by the water except her amazing face. “Do you think I’m beautiful? ”

“Yes, ” she answered honestly.

Lena rose out of the water, and she realized they were nearly the same height. She floated into her arms, brushing against her nipples.

Lena smiled and stared at her. “Are you nervous? ”

“Does it show that much? ”

Lena kissed her forehead and rested her cheek against Grace’s, whose legs nearly collapsed at the touch. When Lena kissed her neck, Grace relaxed in her arms.

Eventually the magic lips bit her earlobe and Lena whispered, “You know, you came to my wedding, but you didn’t give me a gift.”

“That’s true, ” Grace gasped, as Lena’s hands caressed her breasts. “What do you want? Some place settings from Crate and Barrel? A vase from Tiffany’s? ”

Lena answered by sucking on her nipples. She moaned, and Penny and Logan looked up momentarily from the other end of the pool where they were doing flips. They turned away and she felt completely alone with Lena, as if they were secluded on an isolated beach and not on display in front of two other women.

When Lena’s mouth met hers again, she breathed in an incredible scent, a rich perfume she most likely could never afford.

“What are you wearing? It’s amazing.”

“I don’t know, ” Lena admitted. “Whatever my dresser thought Kazmar would like.”

At the mention of her husband, Grace stepped back. “Oh, my God. What are we doing? ”

She looked at her sympathetically. “Come here. It’s all right. Kazmar and I have no secrets. He knows I’m here. He doesn’t know I’m about to claim another beautiful lesbian as a lover, ” she added, “but when I tell him, I’m sure he’ll approve. He has great respect for doctors.”

Her voice was hypnotic, her rich accent drawing Grace back into her arms. They moved in a steady rhythm and she saw the beautiful lavender liquid swirling in the vial. She moaned in pleasure, and Lena looked up.

“Am I hurting you? ”

“No, ” she cried. “That’s great.”

The water swirled around them, and she saw the river swelling around the bank as her excitement grew. Hands caressed her buttocks. She opened her eyes and saw Penny standing behind Lena, kissing her neck.

“Don’t stop, ” Logan whispered, sculpting her body against Grace’s.

The four of them bobbed in the water, and she knew she was close to screaming out in joy, caught between Lena and Logan.

She visualized the Root of Passion swirling in the vial. The orgasm was like lightning, and she lost her balance. Logan caught her, and she trembled in her arms. She looked at Lena, her eyes closed, Penny cradling her against the pool deck.

Logan held her tightly. “Cross number one off your list.”