by Dianna Love
The sound of the doorbell carried from the first floor. Frankie.
Lucie grinned. “He rang the bell. Like a real date. How sweet is that?”
“Charm boy is working it.” Ro held the door open for her. “This is your night. Enjoy it. Think about all the reasons you love him. Not the ones that tear you apart.”
***
After dinner, while waiting for one of the two valets to chase down the car, Frankie wandered to the garbage can on the corner to toss something and Lucie admired the modern minimalism of his navy suit. He wore a pressed white dress shirt, sans tie and she realized, no matter what he wore, his clothing choices added to his no-nonsense persona.
She closed her eyes, tilted her head back and breathed in the cool air. The sounds of cars speeding through the intersection, pedestrians chatting and the click-click-click of a woman’s high-heels surrounded her. She loved this city.
Feeling something tickle up her spine, she opened her eyes and caught the second valet staring at her. Really staring. Then the guy gave her the once over and nodded.
She had just scored the coveted double take and the feeling became something bright and warm and so incredibly luscious.
This deserved something special. What the hell, she offered up a little finger wave.
Frankie returned wearing a landslide of a grin. “I turn my back for one second and you’re flirting?”
“I couldn’t help it. Did you see the way he looked at me…like he wanted to lick something off me? How incredibly exciting.”
But Frankie didn’t look too excited. Not with the whole teeth-gritting thing going on. “You think?”
She laughed. “I know. This is a proud moment.”
Frankie nuzzled her neck. “I could make that licking thing happen. The Hyatt is right around the corner.”
Oh, my. With a tiny shift of her head, his warm breath crossed her cheek and she moved closer to feel the heat and softness of his lips against her. She reached up, glided her fingers over his perfect cheekbone.
Her Frankie.
Enjoying the familiarity of his arm sliding around her, she kissed him, lingered there, loving the feel of him, and then slowly backed away. “You can lick something off me later. I don’t want to mess up the dress before we go dancing.”
“Oh, I won’t mess up the dress. That I can promise. And I’d still take you dancing.” He moved closer, right up to her ear. “Come on, Luce, we’ll get a room and stay downtown tonight.”
They had no clothes or toothbrushes and he wanted to do a sleepover? “We aren’t prepared for an overnighter.”
“So what? I’ll buy us a couple of toothbrushes—maybe some chocolate syrup for that licking thing—and we’ll do the walk of shame in the morning. Only, I won’t be feeling shameful.”
She thought about it; let the idea take shape. The bad girl. The dirty stay-out.
“Yes,” she said, and he smiled like a gold medalist. “You’re still taking me dancing though.”
“Anywhere you want to go.”
“Frankie?”
“What?”
She had to ask. “Do you like me better dressed like this?”
“No.”
All this work and he didn’t like it? Yikes. “You’re not even going to think about it?”
He shook his head. “Don’t need to.”
Hiding her disappointment didn’t come easy, but she plastered a smile on her face and held it until it set.
“Luce, I want you any way I can get you. I love this look on you. It’s sexy and outrageous and a huge turn-on. So, if you want to do this, great, but I don’t like it better. I love you being you. If this is a side of you, then I’m all over it.”
She could simply be her and it didn’t matter to him. What a gift. What a catch. “Thank you.”
And yet, for all the happiness he gave her, she wanted more. She wanted him to leave his home so they wouldn’t always be known as mob kids. That’s all Franklin, Illinois saw in them. She wanted more.
Frankie ran the pad of his thumb across her bottom lip then kissed the same spot. “You know what I’m thinking?”
“What?” Not that she cared at the moment.
“I’m thinking we should do this date thing again next Saturday night.”
Lucie did the math. “That’s the fourth Saturday of the month.”
“Do you need to check your calendar?” He kissed her again. “Maybe you have another date?”
This was unbelievable. Shocked cold, she pushed back and waited for the moment he would realize what he’d just done. One, two, three…nothing.
“What?” he asked.
“You go to your parents’ on the fourth Saturday of the month.”
He nodded. “Normally. Next Saturday though, I think I’d like to take a hot brunette on a date. Of course, if you don’t want to go, I’ll just go to my parents’ and tell them you blew me off.”
Telling his Frankie-can-do-no-wrong parents something like that would make them furious. “You wouldn’t dare.”
The Frankie Factor grin rocketed across his face. “You know I would.”
Lucie laughed her horror. “That’s blackmail.”
“Persuasion.”
“Blackmail!”
He shrugged.
Were they truly joking about this? After it had been such an issue between them? Or was he simply trying to please her. “You’re just doing this because you think it’ll make me happy.”
Finally, the grin faded and he blew out a breath. “Luce, I’m trying here. You’re always on me about taking your side. Now I’m doing it and you’re still on me. You wanted me to compromise. I’m doing it.”
Yes, he was. And she sounded like a woman who was never happy. She grabbed the edge of his suit jacket and pulled him tight against her. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’d love a Saturday date.”
He pulled back from the hug. “Maybe this dating thing is what we need. We’ve never done it before.”
“I think I’ll like it. We’ll start over. Take day trips and talk. Not worry about our families. They won’t be the tie that binds us.”
Frankie did a clipping action with his two fingers.
“What’s that?”
“The cutting of the ties that bind.”
Within fifteen minutes, Frankie shoved her through the hotel room door. A fierce, buzzing energy blazed low in her belly and she realized she loved sneaking around like a couple of high school kids. Every flipping second of it.
Having never been the bad girl, this little romp screamed sinner. Particularly when Frankie flattened her against the door and hiked her dress up, his long fingers frying her skin. She drew a hissing breath and closed her eyes. How long she’d been without him.
Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.
He bent low, slipped his fingers under the edge of her underwear and…yanked.
Holy moly.
The damned things only made it as far as her thighs, though.
Frankie laughed. “Damn. Thought I had that.”
“Try again, fella.”
On the second try, they hit her knees and he slid them off her. Were they really going to have sex against the back of a hotel room door? Where millions of strangers did the same thing?
God, she hoped so.
Frankie slid his hands up her thighs and over her boney hips, and the inferno in her stomach spread to her legs. Totally crazy—the lust she still had for him.
He trailed frantic kisses over her neck. “Are you okay with this?”
Locking one leg around him, she pulled him tighter.
“I guess that was a yes.”
He unzipped his fly, boosted her against the door and she wrapped her other leg around him, ready for that moment, that first press of him against her that she’d memorized from the thousands of times they’d made love.
He entered her with the quick self-assuredness that Lucie adored about him. Frankie knew his talents, and pleasing a woman ranked high. Her breath hitche
d and she let out a long moan. It had been too long since she felt this need for him. This want for more. This passion.
When he pulled back, she breathed in, waiting for the next slow slide when her backside would bump against the door. How had she ever believed she could live without him? Yes, she could be anything with Frankie. He’d never judge her. Pity her. Patronize her.
“I love you,” she said, invading his mouth, nipping at his lips. The ferocious hunger tore into her and she pumped her hips, needing him deeper and deeper still, while her world spun in a glorious whirl and she shook her head, fighting off the explosion, wanting it to last. But he knew her. Knew the rhythm of her body. Knew the magic spot that would undo her. He hitched her a little higher and—boom—sent her over the edge, tumbling, tumbling, tumbling until the cry trapped in her body broke free.
His body stiffened and he grunted before collapsing against her. “Love…you…too.”
“Easy in there,” someone cracked from the hallway.
She popped her eyes open, stared at Frankie and burst out laughing. They stood there, her back plastered to the door with him still inside her and breathing heavy.
“You’re destroying me tonight,” he said.
The words caught in her brain. She wanted to destroy him. “Good.”
“I might die, but I’ll go with a smile on my face.”
He stepped back and an instant chill slammed against her. Nothing unusual. Every time he left her, the cold came. He pulled up his pants, grabbed her panties off the floor and handed them over before reaching around the bathroom wall to flip on the light. “It’s all yours.”
“Thanks,” she said. “And lucky me, I didn’t have to take my bra off.”
Chapter Ten
Late Monday afternoon, Lucie finished with Fannie and Josie and dropped them at home before heading to Sammy Spaniel’s to retrieve her share of the trunk show sales.
Of course, to celebrate a day without dognappings, she and Frankie ducked into the alley next to the Bernard’s for a make-out session before he left for work.
That Frankie.
That tongue.
At certain times, that was all she needed to smooth her edges. They argued a bit over his leaving her alone, but she reasoned the dogs were the targets. As long as she didn’t have a dog with her, she’d be safe. Besides, her ongoing investigation of the items she had sold hadn’t produced any other diamonds. She’d have to keep looking.
Lucie made quick work of getting to Sammy’s to pick up her check. From there, she’d take a cab to the Lutzes’ to retrieve her car. Frankie had been reduced to taking the train home from work every night so she wouldn’t drive into the city alone in the morning. It seemed like overkill to her, but spending time with him would never be a bother.
She pushed through the door at Sammy’s and the doggie bells on the door jangled.
Jeanette stood along the sidewall restocking coats and collars. An open box sat on the floor next to her. She wore her typical dark jeans paired with a wrap sweater that showed off her chest. No shock there. Her hair was pulled away from her face and when she looked up, her eyes carried extra luggage under them.
“Hi, Lucie.” Jeanette’s voice didn’t have its usual bubbly excitement and her questioning stare forced Lucie to check her mental calendar.
Yep. Monday. “You told me to stop by and we’d settle up from the trunk show.” Jeanette pressed her fingers to her forehead. Uh-oh. “Are you okay?”
Jeanette nudged the box on the floor and stepped toward Lucie. “The store was robbed last night.”
Robbed. Oh, no. “I’m so sorry. Were you here when it happened?”
“No. I was out with Jimmy. After he dropped me off, I came down to do my orders and the place was a mess.”
“What about your alarm?”
Jeanette shook her head. “They cut a hole through the second floor window and unlocked it. I only have glass-break sensors up there. They must have carried everything through the window.”
Lucie glanced around the store, but every collar, leash and shelf item seemed to be in its rightful place. Jeanette must have been up all night. “Well, it looks like you have everything organized.”
“Yes. I had back stock and got right to it after the police finished. If the store isn’t open, I don’t make money.”
“What was missing?”
“Mostly cash. I usually do my deposit on Mondays after the busy weekend.”
“Ah, Jeanette. That stinks. Do the police have any leads?”
“Who knows? They fingerprinted all over, but so many people come through here, they didn’t seem too hopeful. Maybe they’ll get a print from the register.”
Lucie nodded. There would be no way she could take a check from her today. Not after being robbed. “Forget about the check. We’ll settle up at the end of the week.”
“Are you sure?”
Lucie nodded. “Absolutely. Can I help you? I’m done with the walks so I could help if you need to do orders or something.”
“I appreciate that, but I have it under control. Besides, you may not want to stay here when I tell you the rest.”
Good God. “What?”
“I lost mostly cash, but a lot of my high-end stuff was stolen. They took all the wooden dog feeders, the oversized beds...”Jeanette held her hand to her forehead again. “Some of the coats and collars are gone. I’m sorry, Lucie. They took everything left from your trunk show.”
Suddenly, this random robbery didn’t seem so random. “Everything?”
“I’m so sorry. I’ll pay you for them. My insurance should cover it. I feel horrible.”
Insurance. Right. Lucie would still earn money, but that wasn’t the damned point. What a nightmare. Could the diamond thief have robbed Jeanette’s store to get to Lucie’s items?
A screeching sound in her brain made her a little woozy. She propped a steadying hand against the wall.
“Lucie?”
It was her fault. Should she tell Jeanette? She wanted to, but what did she really know? Nothing. And trying to explain something she herself didn’t understand would be impossible.
She needed to get out of here. Get her thoughts together. She should have followed her instincts and not put any merchandise in this store. Instead, she let Frankie, with all his Fortune 500 Coco Barknell crap convince her. She should have done it her way.
Lucie said goodbye to Jeanette and ran to the corner for a cab. No luck. Dammit.
She tore down the street and cut over one block to Sanford’s, a local hot spot, where she easily found a cab. She pulled her phone and dialed Frankie’s cell.
“Hey,” he said. “I just got to the office. What’s up?”
“Can you meet me in the lobby in ten minutes?”
“Here?”
The pounding in Lucie’s head traveled to her eyes. “Yes.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Jeanette’s store was robbed. My accessories are gone.”
“Son of a bitch.”
Eight minutes later, Lucie stormed through the revolving door into the cavernous lobby of the Herald and found Frankie standing next to the security desk where a guard checked in a visitor. Frankie waved her toward the windows and a modicum of privacy. Her sneakers squeaked against the marble floors and the guard and lone visitor tossed her a look.
“I feel like I’m getting nowhere. Ro has gone through every stone in my stock and hasn’t found any other diamonds, which means the thief still thinks the diamond we found is on one of my coats. Clearly, the warnings our fathers put out are not helping. We have to figure out who is doing this. Waiting for another dognapping so we can capture the thief has failed.”
Frankie pulled her into him and squeezed. He was as lost as she was.
“I’ve had it, Frankie.”
He pushed back and eyed her with that focus he reserved for split-finger fastballs. “Have you finished collecting the stuff you’ve sold?”
“I’m working on it. It’s not ea
sy getting all that stuff back.”
“I know.”
“Jeanette being robbed just days after my stuff landed in her store was not a coincidence. You have to know that. I’m responsible for what happened to that woman. And don’t give me any of your can-do attitude crap. I need to do something. Fast.”
“I know. We’ll figure this out.”
There it was. The can-do attitude. He simply couldn’t help it. She let the sound of his voice settle her quaking nerves. He always provided the calm in her storm.
“It’s crazy, Frankie. The dogs being dognapped, Jeanette’s store being robbed. It has to stop.”
“Yeah, it does.” He glanced at his watch. “I gotta get back upstairs, but I’ll get a couple of the guys from my father’s crew to help out.”
“Are you insane?”
“Knew you’d say that.”
“How could they possibly help?”
“If the dognappers see five guys around you, they’ll go away.”
She held up a finger. “Even if I liked that idea, there is no way I’d do it. One of them is bound to tell my father, and I don’t need him hassling me.”
Obviously fed up, Frankie squeezed his fingers over his forehead, his nails turning red from the pressure. Lucie filled the gap of silence. “And I’m not convinced this doesn’t have something to do with my father’s business or the people who work for him.”
“Your father wouldn’t put you in direct danger.”
Yes, she believed that, but she didn’t trust the people working for him. “We are not enlisting anyone’s help.”
Frankie stayed quiet. Too quiet.
“Whatever you’re thinking, forget it.”
He grinned. “Yes, dear.” His phone rang and he checked the screen. “It’s my editor. I gotta go. I’ll call you later and we’ll talk about it. For now, please, go straight home and stay put.”
After dropping a quick kiss on her lips, he took off toward the elevator.
Lucie turned toward the revolving door. She’d stay put, but she wouldn’t be idle. Time to show these dognappers what she was made of.