“I am so cold.” She ripped the sheets back and climbed in next to him. “How low do you keep the air-conditioning?” She shivered. The moment her icy fingers touched his skin he jumped. She giggled and jerked her hands away. “Sorry.”
He grabbed her hard by the arms and knocked her onto her back. “You weren’t leaving.”
Her brows pinched. She frowned, censure in her expression. “Of course I wasn’t leaving. You thought I could ever leave you?” She shook her head. “Man, you’re a dense one.” She leaned up to kiss him and his heart swelled right along with another part of him. “I love you, X. I’m not going anywhere. You hear me?”
“Yes.”
“Repeat after me: Frankie loves me.”
He rolled his eyes, laughed a bit. “Frankie loves me.”
She smiled. “And she’s not going anywhere.”
He dropped down to lie next to her, his head cushioned on his bicep. He curled a lock of her hair around his finger, smoothing it with his thumb. “And she’s not going anywhere.”
“Good job.” She squeezed his forearm. “Now, I did have something I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Oh?” He tried to sound nonchalant, but his heart stuttered, jogged, and nearly stopped.
“Don’t look so worried.” She smoothed a finger over his brows. “I have been thinking about your sister.”
“My sister?”
Frankie nodded. “Yes. I think we should find her. Christian’s boyfriend’s sister—”
“Christian has a boyfriend?”
She rolled his eyes. “Christian’s boyfriend’s sister works for a private investigator who specializes in finding lost people. If it’s okay with you, I’ll give him the information you have and we’ll find her.”
He’d never considered finding his sister, although he missed her every day. He thought of Shayne’s curly auburn hair and big chocolate eyes and smiled. He nodded. “Yeah. It might be kind of hard, though. Dad said he searched high and low for Shayne and her mom.”
“You really believe that?”
“I don’t know what to believe.”
Frankie shrugged. “We’ll do whatever we have to do and won’t stop until we find them.”
***
It’d only been two days when Frankie’s phone rang with news on Shayne and her mother.
“Uh-huh.” Frankie nodded. She pursed her lips, shook her head. “What? You’re kidding me!”
“What’s up?” Xavier thought his heart might explode while he waited for answers to why Frankie shrieked her responses.
She waved him off and did a few more head shakes before hanging up. “They found her.”
“What? That easy?” Now he understood why she’d kept shaking her head. “How?”
“Apparently, your dad didn’t search very hard. She’s using her real name and has been since she left. Shayne Xavier registered for kindergarten in California. She lived in the same city until moving to—” She walked up to him and held his hand. “Are you ready for this?”
He nodded, but wasn’t sure he was ready for any of this.
“Maybe you should sit down.”
“Just tell me.”
“Okay, according to what they found she now lives in Kingman.”
“Arizona?” His voice squeaked a bit.
“Yeah.”
Well, wasn’t that a bitch. His baby sister had been living less than two hours away for... “How long?”
“How long what?”
“How long has she lived in Kingman?”
She bit her lip. “Twelve years.”
“Twelve years?!”
“Don’t you think it’s about time you see her again?”
Yeah, he did.
But first things first.
27
“Where are we going?”
Once again, Frankie wore a dress Xavier had picked out and, once again, he’d made all the plans for their date. He loved to surprise her and she loved to be surprised. Yet another way they were perfect for each other.
“I’m not telling you, love, but I’m hoping you’ll be happy when we get there.”
They pulled into the parking lot of a tiny wedding chapel just off the strip. She looked down at her white knee length dress and matching high heels.
“Matthias?”
He chuckled, big grin in place, got out of the car, and headed around the back. He opened the trunk, closed it. She opened her own door and stepped out. He rounded the trunk, a smile on his handsome face. For the first time, she noticed his dark suit and the flowers in his hand. His hand shook a bit as he held the bunch of white and yellow roses out to her.
“Make me the happiest man in the world, Frances Holden. Marry me. Right now.”
She wanted to.
Oh, how she wanted to take his hand, walk into the church and promise to love him forever. But she couldn’t do that without having her mother, her best friend…
A sharp, shrill whistle interrupted her regrets.
Her head whipped around to see Christian standing on the steps of the church. He waved then cupped his hand around his mouth. “Come on, Frank. You’re late, and I’ve got places to go and people to see after this little party.”
She laughed and ran straight into Xavier’s arms. He caught her, wrapping his arms around her back. He laughed. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes.” She kissed him.
“Come on, sweetheart. Let’s get married.”
Without a doubt in her mind or a care in her heart, she took his hand and walked into the foyer of the church. Her mother rushed toward them, her walker squeaking with each step. Xavier rushed to help her and Frankie fell even deeper in love with him.
Charlotte Holden had never looked more beautiful. Her light yellow dress fell to mid calf and flowed around her like the petals of a flower. She beamed. “Thank you, Matthias.”
He smiled and leaned down to kiss her cheek. “I’ll give you two ladies a few minutes. I’ve got to check on my flower girls anyway.”
“Flower girls?” she asked to his back.
“Oh, wait until you see them.” Charlotte took Frankie’s hands. “Mr. and Mrs. Pierce’s daughters are adorable.”
Frankie should have known Grayson and Jane would be part of this special day. “Mom, you look beautiful.”
She hobbled a twirl. “Matthias is a charmer. He took me shopping then paid for everything. I even got a pedicure.”
“He took you shopping?” She glanced over her mother’s shoulder and saw a little girl run with arms wide to jump into Xavier’s arms. He spun her around while she squealed.
“Don’t ruin my crown.” She patted the top of her head. “It’s made out of flowers. Isn’t that cool? They match my dress.” She rubbed at the small fabric daisies forming a belt along the bodice of her bright yellow dress. “Mom said I had to thank you for my new dress. So … Thank you, Uncle Xavier. I love it!” She smacked a big, wet kiss on his cheek and a tear tumbled down Frankie’s.
Her mother’s fingers slid over her face. “Don’t cry, dear. You’ll ruin your make-up.”
Christian strutted up to them, his eyes narrowed and his hands hit his hips. “Why the tears?”
She smiled as more tears made their bid for liberation. “I’ve never been happier.”
Christian hugged her, kissed the top of her head. “I hope it’s okay, but I volunteered to walk you down the aisle. It seems only right that I relinquish my rights as your best friend.” He handed her a tissue. “Stop that or we’re both going to be blubbering. And I don’t cry pretty.”
“What’d you do to upset my wife, Chris?” The accusation held understanding and humor, no true malice.
“She’s not your wife yet.” Christian stuck his hand out. “How about we get this show on the road?”
Xavier shook Christian’s hand before giving her another hug. He kissed a particularly tender spot on her neck and she nearly fell in the floor. He laughed and held her close. “I’ll have to remember that spot for l
ater.” He chuckled then released her just enough to look her in the eye. “You sure about this?”
“No doubts at all. How about you?”
“I have never been more sure about anything in my life.” He stepped away and took her hand, lifting it to his lips. “This is how it’s going to go.” He pointed to the doorway that led into the chapel. “I’m going to escort your mother down the aisle. The girls will make sure you have a bed of flowers to comfort your steps and Christian here is going to walk you down the aisle.”
“What about Grayson and Jane?”
He smiled. “They’re already inside.”
“But—” She bit her lip. “Is that everybody?”
“Yes.” He frowned. “Did I miss someone?”
She shook her head. “No. You’ve thought of everything, but if we’re all walking down the aisle, shouldn’t they?” She shrugged. “Have them follow you and Mom, so they can see their girls. Is that okay?”
“That’s perfect.” He looked at her mother. “You wait here, beautiful, I’ll get the Pierces and we’ll get started.”
“So you’re going to marry Uncle Xavier, huh?” The same little girl from earlier shook her head. “I can see why he loves you. You’re pretty!”
Frankie grinned. “Thank you. What’s your name?”
“I’m Emma.”
“Ah, I’ve heard a lot about you. I love your crown.”
She smiled, showing off a missing front tooth. “Thanks, my mom picked it out. She helped Uncle Xavier plan his wedding.” She frowned. “Why didn’t you plan your own wedding?”
“Because I wanted it to be a surprise,” Xavier said as he picked her up by the waist. “Now go get the ring from your dad.”
Panic soaked her like a bucket of cold water. “A ring! Xavier, I don’t have a ring.”
“I’ve got you covered, Frank.” Christian squeezed her hand and shoved his other hand into his pocket. “Everybody stop your yammerin’. Let’s get these two married.”
The wedding march rang through the tiny church and Xavier gave her a smile that melted her heart before he took her mother’s hand and slowly, patiently, led her into the chapel. Grayson held a thumb up, showing his approval before a sharp tug on his arm and a whispered, “Come on,” from Jane had them following Xavier and Charlotte.
The girls took their jobs very seriously. They were gorgeous in their matching yellow dresses and shiny white shoes. The two older girls scattered yellow and white rose petals in front of them and little Emma held a white satin heart-shaped pillow on her hands.
Frankie imagined the trio had practiced this event at home. They knew their parts and delivered perfectly.
“You ready?”
Tears prickled in Frankie’s eyes and the moment she looked into the face of her best friend, they trickled down over her cheekbones.
“Is this what you want? He said you’d said you wanted to marry him, but I never thought to ask you myself. Man, what a sucky friend I am. If this isn’t—”
“I want it, Chris.” She wiped a hand over her cheeks. “I want him. It’s just a little overwhelming.”
“He loves you, Frank. I never thought I’d see that particular arrogant prick fall, but he has. Hard. I know I don’t have to worry. He’s gonna take real good care of you.”
She hugged Christian close. “Thanks for your part in all of this.”
Christian chuckled and wrapped her in what used to be the best hug in the world. “I didn’t do much. He took care of it all.”
“Can I get married now?”
Christian laughed and she did her best to ignore the shimmer in his eyes because if she let herself acknowledge Christian’s emotions, she would definitely lose control of her own.
***
Xavier wondered what was taking so long. Surely she hadn’t changed her mind. Or had she? Oh, crap. It took all his self control not to race back down the aisle to find her. When he was about to lose the battle, she appeared in the archway.
His throat tightened, thick with emotions he’d never experienced this strongly in his entire life. She smiled at him. Her eyes twinkled behind the sparkle of unshed tears.
He’d wanted to surprise her, soliciting the help of their nearest and dearest to pull off the greatest surprise of her life. It’d worked. She hadn’t had a clue. And now she would be his wife.
He barely comprehended her final steps bringing her to stand in front of him or the exchange of her hand from Christian’s to his own.
Christian had been Frankie’s go-to-guy for a very long time, and although Xavier didn’t expect their friendship to come to an end, he wanted to be the one she depended on, the one she turned to when she was happy or sad or just needed someone to talk to. He wanted to be her one-and-only.
“Frances, do you have your vows?”
He saw the moment of panic flash across Frankie’s face and took her hands. “Just speak from the heart.”
“Okay, um…” She glanced down at their clasped hands then looked him in the eyes. “When I first met you, I thought you were a gigantic jerk with an ego to match. I watched you and tried not to listen to the rumors based a little too much on fact, and didn’t want anything to do with you.”
He swallowed hard. This was not at all what he’d hoped to hear from her.
“When you hurt your shoulder because of your own stupid stubbornness, I didn’t look forward to the challenge of helping you recover. In fact, I thought it kinda served you right. And then when I found out you hadn’t gotten anybody to help you—” She shook her head and once again dropped her gaze to their hands.
“I never imagined I’d fall so helplessly and hopelessly in love with you. As I got to know the real Matthias Xavier, I couldn’t fight it.” She raised their joined hands to her lips and kissed his knuckles. “I promise to protect you when you’re vulnerable, to honor you with everything I am, and to love you even when I want to knock you upside your stubborn head. I love you.”
He stared into the beautiful blue eyes of his wife and couldn’t believe his luck. He hadn’t had to wear the same pair of socks or rely on lucky seventeen on his back. Frankie’d come into his life and refused to give up on him. He had no idea what he’d done to deserved the love of this woman, but he vowed he’d do everything in his power, every day, to make himself worthy of it.
“Matthias, your vows?”
He cleared his throat, very aware of the emotions this ceremony brought out in him. “Frankie, you push me when I’d rather give up. You refuse to leave when I push you away. You love me even though I don’t deserve it. You’re a gift. The greatest gift I’ve ever received. I promise to honor you, to treasure you, to love you until time ceases to exist.”
“Rings?”
Emma ran forward, her crown of daisies bouncing wildly on top of her head. She thrust the pillow into his arms and raced back to sit in her spot next to Jane. He untied the white ribbon and slipped the ring on her finger. “Every time you see this, I want you to remember how much I love you.”
She stared down at the three-carat solitaire, shifting her hand around to allow the diamond to catch the light and sparkle. “I love it.”
“I knew you would. We’ll go together and pick out a band.”
Christian stepped forward and dropped something into her hand. She gasped and held it up for inspection. He wasn’t surprised to see Christian had selected a simple, elegant, heavy piece of platinum. It was exactly what he would have expected Frankie to pick out. Judging by the small smile tugging at her lips, she agreed. She slid it onto his finger and the weight solidified her ownership. She owned him. Body, heart, soul. And he couldn’t have been happier.
“You may now kiss your bride,” the preacher, a short, portly man, who owned the small wedding chapel, pronounced.
Xavier didn’t have to be told twice. He took his bride and planted one on her, bending her over backward and using just enough tongue to make her blush as he pulled away.
“Hello, Mrs. Xavier,” he whispe
red.
She smiled. “I like the sound of that.”
So did he. Very, very much.
As the small crowed rushed up to congratulate them, all he could think was how much he wanted to be alone with her.
She accepted a quick hug from Jane and turned with a grin. “So, where are we going for our honeymoon?”
“Kingman.”
She smiled, tipped her head to the side then nodded slowly, approvingly. Tears glistened in her eyes. “I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather go.”
28
No matter how insistent Xavier had been, telling her he had everything she’d need for their honeymoon in Kingman, she insisted even more she needed to stop at her house.
“Just really quick.” She twisted in her seat. “I have to pick up a few things.”
“You won’t need them.”
“Please.”
He closed his eyes and shook his head. “You have two minutes and then I’m hauling your cute little ass out of the house with or without whatever it is you’re so determined you need.”
She smiled victoriously. “You won’t regret it.”
He already did. They were running late. He hadn’t planned on pictures. He guessed that was a major oversight on his part. Of course they would want documentation to frame and remember the day forever. He’d have to remember to thank Jane later. She’d really saved the day.
But then the well wishes and congratulations took an eternity. Frankie, being her very gracious self, made sure to take a few minutes with everyone in the small wedding party. Thank heaven he hadn’t invited more people.
They pulled up to the curb in front of her house and he shifted the car into park. “Two minutes, Wife.”
She leaned across the console and kissed him. “Be back in ninety seconds, Husband.”
He still chuckled as she rushed inside the front door. She hadn’t asked about her mother or the arrangements he’d made. It’d simply taken box seats for the playoff game next week to get Christian to look in on Charlotte. Xavier guessed it wasn’t the tickets, Christian would have done so anyway, but X felt like he had to offer some kind of incentive.
Out of Left Field Page 21