Courageous Love

by KC Richardson

  “Frank, this is my wife, Kirsten. Baby, this is my friend I told you about, Frank Greco.”

  “I’m so happy to finally meet you, Frank. Jordan’s told me so much about you. I can’t believe you two used to play basketball against each other in college. How did you become reacquainted?”

  Frank thanked Jordan for the beer and took a drink. “I hurt my knee during training, and the doc sent me to Jordan for PT. We recognized each other and laughed at fate bringing us back into each other’s lives.” She wanted to laugh again at fate. What were the chances of running into Alex again so soon? And her being Jordan’s best friend? A wave of disappointment slashed through Frank like a knife. Jordan must have noticed.

  “Hey, baby, would you excuse us for a moment? I need to talk to Frank privately.”

  “Sure, love. I’ll be out at the pool with our guests.” Kirsten turned to Frank and smiled. “I hope you brought your appetite and suit. I look forward to talking with you more.”

  Frank and Jordan watched Kirsten’s retreating form, and Jordan turned back to Frank. “Okay, let’s have it.”

  Frank took a deep breath. “I think your Alex hates me.”

  Jordan looked concerned. “Why would she hate you?”

  “I gave her a speeding ticket about two hours ago.”

  Jordan broke out in laughter. “Was she speeding?”

  “Yep. And talking on her cell phone while driving.”

  Jordan laughed again. “Good. I’m glad you gave her a ticket. I’m always telling her to slow down, so now maybe she will. That phone call must have been to me to let me know she was on her way. I wonder why she wasn’t using her Bluetooth.”

  “She said the battery died. I don’t know, Jordan. Maybe I should have given her a warning.”

  “Uh-uh. You did exactly the right thing. Alex is a very safe driver with the exception of her speeding. You were doing your job.”

  Frank finished her beer and was grateful for Jordan’s understanding, but didn’t feel like she should stay. She didn’t want to ruin the party for Jordan or Alex. “Thanks for the beer, but I’m going to take off. Please say good-bye to Kirsten for me.”

  Jordan stopped her again. “Forget it, Greco. You’re staying. Alex might be a little pissed now.” Jordan laughed when Frank raised her eyebrow. “Okay, a lot pissed off, but she’ll get over it. She’s really great once you get to know her.”

  Frank hesitated. “I don’t know…”

  Jordan threw her arm around Frank’s shoulder and led her to the sliding glass door. “C’mon, it will be fine. There are plenty of other women here to talk to, and if you’re not enjoying yourself in another half hour, I won’t stop you if you want to leave. What do you say?”

  Frank shrugged. “Sure, okay.”

  Jordan squeezed her shoulder. “Great. I want you to meet our son.”

  *

  Alex relaxed on the chaise lounge with Aiden sitting in her lap. After seeing Sergeant Greco at the door looking all kinds of yummy in her black shirt, tan shorts, and spiked hair, Alex panicked and slammed the door in her face. She acted like a petulant child, and it embarrassed her that she behaved that way, but she just couldn’t help it. The fact that she wanted to grab her and kiss her breathless shocked her more. She took Aiden from Jordan’s arms as she stormed past her out to the backyard. She ignored the questioning look on Jordan’s face as she wrapped her arms around Aiden. She inhaled Aiden’s scent, and his giggles calmed her. She spotted Jordan and Frank as they headed her way.

  “Alex Taylor, I believe you’ve met my friend, Frank Greco.” Jordan smirked as she took Aiden from her arms. “Frank, this is my best friend, Alex, and this handsome little man is my son, Aiden.”

  Alex watched the exchange between Aiden and Frank and felt her anger start to dissolve. The transformation from tough cop to the woman who was cooing with Aiden surprised Alex. Frank held Aiden on her left hip and extended her hand to Alex.

  “Ms. Taylor.” Frank smiled at Alex. “It’s nice to see you in more pleasant circumstances.”

  Alex could feel her mouth tug into a grin but tried to remain aloof. “Sergeant Greco.”

  Alex noticed the amusement in Jordan’s eyes, having seen it many times in the years they’d been friends. She made a mental note to get revenge later. Jordan took Aiden from Frank and called out over her shoulder as she went to Kirsten’s side. “You ladies play nice.” Alex thought she heard Jordan snicker but couldn’t be sure.

  Alex rolled her eyes as Frank looked anywhere but at her. It was when Frank looked down at her feet that Alex decided to lighten up. She indicated the empty chair next to her. “Would you like to sit down?”

  Alex almost laughed at the look of relief that swept over Frank’s face. “I’d like that, but I’m going to grab a beer. Can I get you anything?”

  “A beer would be great, thanks.”

  Alex watched Frank saunter over to the cooler with her confident swagger back in place. Alex found this much more attractive than the tail-tucked-between-the-legs look Frank was just exhibiting. The warmth infusing her body was testimony to that, along with the sight of Frank’s ass as she bent over to retrieve two beers out of the ice chest.

  Frank returned, and after twisting off the cap, handed the beer to Alex and took the vacant seat.

  Alex took a drink that quenched the dryness of her mouth she’d been experiencing since Frank went to get their beers. “So, how do you know Jordan?”

  “We played basketball against each other in college. We weren’t exactly friends, but we knew each other. A few months ago, I got hurt and Jordan was my PT. We got to talking and hit it off.”

  Alex smiled. “That’s how she got together with Kirsten. She was Jordan’s patient, but after she was discharged, they became friends and eventually fell in love.”

  Frank laughed and shook her head. “Well, I’m happy with us being just friends.” She took a pull from her beer. “What about you, Alex? Do you think we can be friends?”

  Alex raised an eyebrow and eyed her suspiciously. “I don’t know, Sergeant. Are you allowed to be friends with a criminal?”

  Frank leaned closer and lowered her voice. “I won’t tell people you’re a criminal if you don’t. It can be our little secret.”

  Did she just flirt with her? Damn, she’s sexy when she loosens up. Alex crossed her finger over her heart. “I promise.”

  Frank leaned back against the chair and assumed a relaxed pose. “What do you do for a living? Besides breaking the law, I mean?”

  Alex couldn’t help but laugh. She was beginning to appreciate Frank’s sense of humor. “I’m a nurse in the ER at County Hospital.”

  “Really? Why haven’t I seen you before? I’m there at least a couple of times a week tending to calls. I definitely would have noticed you.”

  Yes, most definitely flirting. This could be fun. “I just transferred over from Fountain Hills Regional a few weeks ago. But I’ll be sure to warn my new colleagues to look out for you.”

  Frank’s eyebrows shot up her forehead and made Alex laugh. “Warn them? About what?”

  “Not to speed when you’re on duty,” Alex said with a sly grin. And to look out for the devastatingly good-looking Sergeant Greco.

  Frank tipped her nonexistent hat. “Just trying to keep the streets safe, ma’am.”

  Alex again raised her eyebrow suspiciously. “Uh-huh. How long have you been a police officer?”

  Frank relaxed and leaned back against the chair. “A little more than ten years. I got my degree in criminal justice and entered the police academy shortly after I graduated college.”

  Alex was ready to ask another question when Jordan came over. “Hey, ladies, food’s ready. Grab a plate and help yourselves.”

  Frank stood and offered her hand to Alex. She looked at Frank and smiled. A gentlewoman too. She took her hand and contemplated keeping hold of it, but that idea was nixed when Frank let go. Instead, Frank placed her hand on the small of Alex’s back and gently g
uided her ahead.

  “After you.”

  They gathered in the kitchen where Jordan introduced Frank to some of her friends. A few of the women were from Jordan’s recreation league basketball team, and when they discovered Frank played against Jordan in college, they invited her to play on their team when league started back up. Alex’s pulse raced when she saw Frank’s face light up with excitement. Damn, Frank was attractive. If Frank decided to play, it would give Alex one more reason to attend more games.

  They grabbed their food and headed back to the lounge chairs. They hardly spoke as they devoured their burgers and potato salad. When they finished eating, Alex held out her hand for Frank’s empty plate. “Do you want more food, or can I take this to the trash?”

  “No, I’m stuffed, but I can throw it away.”

  Alex grabbed the plate from Frank’s hand. “I got it. Do you want anything to drink?”

  “Just some water. I need to be going soon.”

  A wave of disappointment rushed through Alex as she went to throw away their plates. She thought she and Frank were getting along okay. She tried to brush away the regret and plastered on a smile she knew didn’t reach her eyes. She handed the bottle of water to Frank, and when their fingers touched, Alex felt like her insides caught fire. Frank must have felt it too judging by the look on her face. Just as quickly, the connection was broken when Frank took the bottle from Alex’s hand. Her voice sounded huskier when she said thanks. Yep, Frank must have felt it too.

  Frank gulped the water down quickly and fiddled with the water bottle. Alex wondered what was going through Frank’s mind because her confidence was now replaced with a look of uncertainty.

  “So, Alex, I was wondering if I could call you sometime and, um, maybe ask you to dinner.”

  As attracted as she was to Frank, dating her didn’t seem like a very good idea right now. She wasn’t sure why exactly, but the warning bells going off in her head told her to politely decline. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

  A frown was quickly replaced by a faint smile on Frank’s face. “Sure, okay.” Frank stood and offered her hand to Alex. “Good to meet you, Alex. Maybe I’ll see you around sometime. Take care.”

  Alex watched Frank leave with her shoulders slumped, and she felt like a jerk. Would it have killed her to give Frank her number? They could have gone out for drinks and gotten to know each other a little more, but she couldn’t ignore those bells. They hadn’t steered her wrong yet. Alex was surprised that Frank and Jordan both turned to her at the same time. Frank offered a weak wave and an even weaker smile, hugged Jordan, then left the party. She was unsure of what Frank said to Jordan, but it couldn’t have been good judging by Jordan’s determined gait and her tight-lipped mouth.

  “What did you say to her?”

  “Calm down, Jordan. She asked me for my number and I told her that wouldn’t be a good idea.”

  “Why? It looked like you two were getting along.”

  “We were. We did. It’s nothing she said or did. I just didn’t think it was a good idea. She seems very nice, and I’m sure I’ll see her around the ER and at your basketball games if she decides to play. I don’t want any complications or awkwardness if things didn’t work out for us.”

  Jordan laughed and shook her head. “You sound like I did a few years ago when I first met Kirsten.”

  Alex took Jordan’s hand and held it. “I know, but just trust me on this. It’s better this way.”

  “Okay, Al.” Jordan leaned over and kissed her.

  “Where’s my big boy? I need some Aiden love.”

  “Kirsten is just finishing feeding him. I was going to snag him away so she can finally eat.”

  Alex stood and placed her hand on Jordan’s shoulder. “Let me. You mingle with your friends, and I’ll take care of the little monkey.”

  “Deal. But if you try to leave with him, remember, I know where you live.”

  Alex looked over her shoulder as she went to find Aiden. “Didn’t I tell you? I moved.” She could still hear Jordan’s laughter as she entered the house.

  Kirsten was just taking Aiden out of his high chair when he spotted Alex and squealed with excitement. All thoughts of Frank fled from her mind as Aiden practically jumped from Kirsten’s arms into hers. “Why don’t you go eat and I’ll take Aiden off your hands.”

  Kirsten kissed Alex on the cheek as her face flooded with relief. “Bless you. I’m starving for food and adult conversation. Not that I don’t adore this face,” Kirsten said as she nibbled Aiden’s cheek. His giggling made them both laugh.

  “Go. I’ll take him into his room, and we’ll play with blocks. Come on, little man, let’s build something great.”

  *

  Frank couldn’t get out of there fast enough. She didn’t normally make the first move with a woman, but something about Alex compelled her to ask for her number. And she crashed and burned, which was exactly why she didn’t make herself vulnerable. She tried a little light flirting with Alex, and she seemed to flirt back. So why wouldn’t she give Frank her number? It wasn’t like she was some sort of psychopath. She was a police officer, for fuck’s sake. If she couldn’t be trusted, who could?

  Alex was a beautiful woman, and once they started talking, seemed down to earth. Frank was just starting to get to know Jordan, but couldn’t imagine her being friends with a jerk. There must have been some reason Alex shot her down. There was no mention of a girlfriend. But that didn’t mean she didn’t have one. It depressed Frank to think she just wasn’t good enough or attractive enough for Alex. All of this was making her a little crazy.

  She pulled into the driveway of her home, grabbed her backpack, and went inside. She could hear the scrambling of four paws clacking on the wood floors as her two-year-old Lab mix, Bella, came to greet her. The excitement Bella displayed at seeing her erased any negative thoughts from her mind. How could anyone be sad after being greeted like this?

  Bella started to jump on Frank, but she ordered her down, and Bella sat as her tail continued to wag. Frank laughed and got down on the floor with her to give her pup lots of love.

  Frank didn’t know she was in the market for a dog when she went with her best friend, Katie, and Katie’s girlfriend to a pet adoption event almost two years ago. She tagged along as they went to look for a cat to add to their growing family of animals. She was wandering aimlessly through the adoption area when she spotted Bella. She was just twelve weeks old, lying in her bed, seeming to take everything in that was going on around her. While some of the other dogs were barking and jumping, there was her Bella, the calm amongst the chaos. Frank filled out the application, survived a home visit, and became the proud owner of the sweetest pup she’d ever known. It had taken a few days to acclimate to her new home, but in no time at all, Frank and Bella became an instant family.

  “Come on, girl, let’s get you fed.” Bella followed Frank into the kitchen, her tail wagging wildly, as Frank prepared her meal. She sometimes thought Bella loved mealtime more than going to the beach or park. She drank a glass of water while Bella practically inhaled her dinner.

  Later that evening, as she and Bella took their nightly stroll through the neighborhood, thoughts of Alex came back to her. Pulling her over earlier in the day wasn’t the most ideal way to meet. Maybe she was still pissed about that, but she had to realize Frank was just doing her job. She was sure they would run into each other occasionally with Alex now working at County.

  Frank had to admit she had a good time at Jordan and Kirsten’s despite how things ended with Alex. She was excited and nervous at the prospect of playing basketball on Jordan’s team. She hadn’t played on an organized team in a number of years, but she would occasionally take her ball to the nearest park and shoot around. Sometimes she would get involved in a pickup game or two, but that was pretty much it. She worked out regularly and ran a few miles a day, but she wasn’t exactly in playing shape. She’d have to start playing more pickup game
s before practice started next month.

  “All right, Bella. Time for bed. Grab your frog.” Frank laughed as Bella wandered around the house looking for her bedtime buddy. She reappeared with the green stuffed animal in her mouth and followed Frank into her bedroom. As Frank got ready for bed, Bella fluffed up her bed, moved around in a few circles before finally getting settled. When Frank came back into the bedroom, she smiled at the cuteness factor of Bella sound asleep with her paw thrown over the frog. “Good night, sweet pup.”

  Chapter Two

  Alex finished putting in a patient’s IV and made a note in the chart. “Okay, Mrs. Bennett, try to get some rest. Someone will be along shortly to transfer you upstairs.” She closed the curtain behind her and stopped in her tracks at the vision in front of her. Frank stood at the nurses’ station with her forearms on the counter, leaning close as she spoke quietly to Jenny, one of the nurses she worked with. Alex quietly observed Frank. She had an almost predatory aura about her, and Alex felt her pulse speed up. She understood her visceral reaction was just physiological, but it still unnerved her. Her heart rate was just returning to normal when Frank turned her way and smiled. So much for that.

  “Well, hello, Nurse Taylor.” The predatory gleam in her eyes remained as she looked Alex over from head to toe, making Alex shiver in response.

  Alex felt like she had been undressed by Frank’s gaze, and instead of feeling insulted, as she would if someone else had pulled that shit, she was turned on, her body tingling and warming everywhere Frank’s gaze lingered. She had to quickly take back control before she totally lost it. She openly admired Frank as she sauntered over, leaned one arm on the counter, and faced Frank. She quirked her eyebrow and smirked. “Hello, Sergeant. How have you been?”

  Jenny looked from Frank to Alex and back to Frank. “Do you two know each other?”