It must sound harsh to hear me say that, but it is true. Lucio let his forehead rest upon Ginger's. She felt his hands stroke her back. I have never told anyone this, but there are times I truly believe that I would trade all my adventures and success to be able to know the child who was never born.

Lucio

He would be a grown man now.

Ginger put her arms around him, holding him tight.

And your boys Lucio made a sound somewhere in between a laugh and a sigh. They are a funny pair, yes? And I watch them and I can't help but think of my own son. I know that dwelling on this is ah, the word

Ginger smiled, now accustomed to the pause that occurred when Lucio couldn't come up with the English needed to finish his thought. Dwelling on it is sad?

Yes, but that is not the word I was thinking of.

Pointless?

Almost.

Maudlin. Morose? Self-pitying?

Lucio laughed. You know too many words, pelirroja. But you do understand. He tightened his hold on her and adjusted his head so that he could rest his cheek against hers. What I am trying to tell you is that I am relieved you're not pregnant, it is true, because I do not know if I could be a good father right now in my life. But it is not so simple. I often wonder about it, what it would be like to have a child.

Ginger closed her eyes and inhaled the scent of him. It was spicy and clean and delivered a shot of heat through her veins. She'd missed himhis voice, his touch, his scentover the last week.

He pulled his cheek from hers and steadied her in front of him. I have something I need to ask you.

Ginger smiled. You can ask me anything.

You have just finished bleeding. I understand this. And you have taken great care with your hair and makeup and it is all so perfect for the picture. But none of it can deter me. I want you.

Ginger swallowed hard.

Lucio ran his fingers inside the low, square neckline, brushing a fingertip just above her nipples. She gasped, trembling under his touch.

The moment I saw you in this dress I was the word yes! I was reduced! Reduced to my most base self. All I wanted was to throw you down in the sand next to the bamboo hut you share with MaryAnn.

Oh, reeelly?

I wanted to rip the dress off you, muss up your hair, and get inside you. Lucio's grin widened and he cupped her face with his hands. Do you have any idea how sexy you are dressed like this, Genevieve? Do you have any idea what you have done to me tonight, how you have made a ruined man of me?

Ginger tilted her head back and laughed at Lucio's speech. Wow, she said, catching her breath. So this is your way of telling me you've always had a thing for the girls of Gilligan's Island?

What normal man has not? he murmured, nuzzling her ear.

But which one really did it for you, Lucio? Ginger captured Lucio's earlobe between her lips and sucked gently. Tell me who you liked the best.

Ginger, of course. When Lucio chuckled it tickled her neck. For me, it has always been about Ginger.

Modeling was more work than she ever imagined. Lucio had prepared the studio beforehand, bringing in real sand and spreading it on the floor of the plain white backdrop. He'd also acquired a lifelike palm tree, a beach umbrella, and a few coconuts. The rest of the island paradise would be added on the computer using his own stock photos of Tahiti and a little bit of digital magic, he explained.

Lucio posed her on her right side, propped her on her elbow, and began flashing light meters all over the placenext to her face, her belly, and her legs, then adjusted the aluminum reflecting panels and light stands. While all this was going on, HeatherLynn curled up on her pillow, attired in her bikini. Josh had done a spectacular job of mimicking the design of the vintage swimsuit but still making it comfortable for the dog. Ginger smiled at HeatherLynn, knowing that years of being groomed, fussed over, primped, and attired in various sweaters and coats had left her perfectly willing to don a bikini when called upon to do so. She'd even been willing to have the fur on the top of her head teased and sprayed, a little blue bow holding her bouffant in place. The girl was a trouper.

The infant-size sunglasses were going to be another issue entirely, however.

I have not done much studio work so we will have to learn together, yes? We will experiment.

Ginger smiled, watching how Lucio's brow creased as he fiddled with his lens. He popped his head up. Do you have the doggie treats?

Hidden right behind my behind, she said.

And what a very fine behind it is, Lucio said, smiling. It is crazy, you knowhow you resemble her! But I must say, your face is prettier, softer.

Ginger rolled her eyes. I already agreed you could make wild passionate love to me when we're done. There's no need to go overboard with the compliments.

He let go with a laugh as he reached into his camera bag for something. All right, we are going to take a couple shots of you alone before we try to add Senorita Chiquita, yes? I need to make sure the exposure is exact.

Ginger held her chin high, hoping to God that the lights didn't accentuate any pulling skin at her throat or lines around her eyes. She prayed that the veins in her legs didn't look like a roadmap highlighted in green marker. And what if she appeared bloated because of her period? She made a point to pull in her core muscles.

Relax, Genevieve. Get those ridiculously negative thoughts out of your head. Lucio kept the shutter whirring and clicking.

How did you know what I was thinking? she asked.

It is broadcast all over your face, he said, continuing to take shot after shot. I know what to look for now. All those times you were doing the tap-tap-tapping you had that exact look in your eye.

What look?

Worry. Fear. A little sadness. I think maybe Larry put all that rubbish in your head, am I right?

Ha! Ginger said, moving a shoulder forward in the hopes it would accentuate her collarbones. I had no idea I was so transparent.

You are sweet is what you are. Sweet and sexy and a joy to be around.

Ginger smiled, licked her lips, then tried to shake her hair provocatively, forgetting that there was so much hairspray on her head that there would be no movement whatsoever. Gilligan's Island would have to be hit by a category 5 hurricane for that to happen.

My God, Genevieve. Looking at you is making my cock as big as a telephoto lens.

She laughed, having fun with him, knowing he was teasing her, trying to get a reaction he could capture with the camera.

How do you say ‘cock' in Spanish? she asked, giving him a devilish smile.

Do not move! Lucio popped up from his crouched position and went to get HeatherLynn. She seemed pleased to see him.

Here you go, you cute little girlie girl, you. He set the dog in front of Ginger, near her knees. Get a treat ready, Genevieve. I am going to put the sunglasses on her face and you will try to keep her still with the treats. You must continue with that sexy little smile of yours while keeping her still, yes?

Yes, yes, she said. While Lucio perched the tiny sunglasses on HeatherLynn's snout, Ginger tried to reassure her pretty girl by stroking her ears, cooing, and baby-talking.

What a good little doggie she is, Lucio whispered, steadying the sunglasses. Within seconds he was back at the camera.

Ginger fed the dog a steady stream of treats and sweet talk. Through it all, she tried her best to smile but knew she probably looked stiff and fake.

There are many ways to say ‘cock' in Spanish, bonita, Lucio said, out of nowhere.

Really? Ginger tilted her head in curiosity.

Click.

I know you ask me that because there are certain things you long to say to me in Spanish, certain dirty things.