by Sarah Morgan
“What’s happened?”
“Nothing. Everything is good, boss.” It was obvious from Roxy’s overbright voice that everything was far from good. “We just had a bit of a morning, that’s all, didn’t we, Mia? Fun and games all around.”
“What happened to your face?” Matt lifted his hand and gently pushed her hair back from her brow, examining the livid bruise on her temple.
Roxy flinched away from him. “It’s nothing.”
“Mommy hurt,” Mia said solemnly, and Roxy produced a smile that Frankie suspected she’d dug from somewhere deep inside.
“Mommy’s fine, honey. I’m clumsy, that’s all. I fell, like you do sometimes. Woops.”
“Bad man,” Mia said emphatically. “Bad man shouting.” She covered her ears and shook her head so that her blond curls flew around her face.
Frankie saw Roxy’s eyes fill, and Matt clearly saw the same thing because he immediately reached for the little girl and scooped her into his arms.
“Do you want to see something special, Mia?”
“Fairies?” Mia looked hopeful and Matt shook his head.
“Better than fairies. Butterflies.”
Mia stared at Matt’s mouth and tried to copy the sound. “Fies.”
“Butterflies,” Matt repeated. “Go with Uncle James. He’ll show you.”
Mia brightened at the thought of playing with James. “Play horsey?”
“Not here.” James obligingly took the child from Matt. “Horsey doesn’t want to put his knees on a chain saw. Horsey would never walk again. Come and see the butterflies.”
“Fies.” Mia grabbed a hunk of James’s hair in her fist and they wandered out of earshot.
“Thanks.” Roxy blew her nose hard. “I don’t want her to see me upset. I know it’s a lot to ask, but I was wondering if I could take the rest of the day off. There are some things I need to do. You don’t have to pay me or anything.”
Matt didn’t answer. Instead, he took another look at her head. “Frankie, there’s a first-aid kit in the drawer in my office. Were you knocked out, Roxy?”
“No! There is no way I was passing out and leaving my baby alone with—” She broke off and shook her head. “I’m fine.”
Frankie hurried to the office and returned with the first-aid kit. She opened it up and found alcohol wipes and sterile dressings.
“I washed my hands while I was there, so I’ll do it.” She set about cleaning Roxy’s head while Matt asked the probing questions.
“Headache? Nausea?” He watched as Frankie applied the sterile dressing and then closed the first-aid kit.
“You’re worried about brain damage, but my mom always said I had no brain to damage.” Her attempt at a joke ended in a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sob, and Matt curved his arm around her and pulled her against him in a brotherly hug.
“It’s all right. You’re safe now.”
“I don’t need help. I can handle this.” A single tear spilled down Roxy’s cheek and she made a furious sound and brushed it away with the heel of her hand. “It’s dusty in here. We need to clean this place up.”
Frankie could see that she was shaking. “Roxy—”
“Don’t give me sympathy. I don’t want my baby to see me cry.” More tears glistened in her eyes and she blinked rapidly. “Say something annoying. Make me mad.”
“No problem. Making people mad is my special gift.” But Frankie moved so that she blocked the child’s view. She wanted to hug Roxy, too, which surprised her because emotions usually sent her running. Maybe being with Matt had changed her in more ways than she’d thought. “What happened? What can we do?”
“I got involved with the wrong guy, that’s what happened. I don’t know how he found me, but he did. If he put half as much effort into finding a job maybe he wouldn’t be such a loser.” Roxy gave a disgusted sniff. “I’m not going back to the apartment. I grabbed what I could although I’ve probably left loads behind.”
“Why did you have to grab your things, Rox?” Matt’s voice was gentle. “Eddy did this? He hit you?”
“Sort of.”
A muscle flickered in Matt’s cheek. “You don’t sort of hit someone, Rox.”
“He shoved me really hard and I hit the wall.”
“Did you call 911?”
“No. That would have made him mad, and he was already mad enough. I told him to get the hell out, and he got the hell out. I don’t think he’ll be back, but I don’t want to risk it. That’s why I need time off. I need to find somewhere safe for Mia and me to stay, just while I sort myself out. There’s a mom at nursery I might be able to crash with for a couple of nights.”
She glanced over at Mia again, checking on her constantly, but the little girl was tugging hard on James’s hair as they studied the “fies,” oblivious to the drama playing out close by.
“You need help, Roxy.”
“Who’s going to help? Eddy isn’t exactly the type who lives up to his obligations. And even if he wanted to try again, I wouldn’t let him. I promised myself I would never, ever stay with a man who scares me. I don’t want Mia growing up thinking that’s okay. I’m going to have to help myself. And that’s fine. Totally fine.” Despite the heat, her teeth were chattering and Matt tightened his grip on her.
“I wasn’t talking about Eddy.”
“Who, then?” Roxy sniffed and pulled away, her eyes widening as she saw the look on Matt’s face. “You? You’ve already done loads, and Mia isn’t even your kid. You gave me this job and your sister helped me find childcare.”
“You can stay at my place.”
“Hey, I’ve waited a year for you to make me an offer like that—” eyes glistening, Roxy gave him a playful punch on the arm “—and you do it now while my face looks like a rainbow.”
“I’m serious, Roxy.”
“So am I. It’s kind of you Matt, but I can’t stay with you in your fancy Brooklyn brownstone. I’m not that kind of gal.”
“What you are is a good, kind, caring person who needs a break,” Matt said. “So for Mia’s sake, you’re going to ignore pride and say ‘Yes, Matt.’”
Roxy stared at a point on the center of his chest, her face set as she struggled not to cry. “You have a life to live. I’m not going to be a burden to anyone. And anyway, your cat would try and kill Mia.”
“You can use my apartment.” Until the words came out of her mouth, Frankie didn’t realize she was going to say them. “It’s safe and it’s all one level, unlike Matt’s. We won’t need to do much in the way of childproofing.”
She felt Matt’s gaze on her and knew he was as surprised as she was by her offer.
Oh God, what had she done? She’d given up her beloved apartment. Her security. Her independence. Despite Matt’s suggestions, all she’d left so far in Matt’s apartment was a toothbrush. This was a huge step.
Anxiety rippled through her, and she tried to ignore it.
Of course she wasn’t giving up her independence. And anyway, she already slept in Matt’s bed every night. It was ridiculous to feel that keeping a few items of clothing in his apartment somehow changed things.
“That’s kind,” Roxy said, “but we take up a lot of space. Our things have a way of spilling over everywhere. And you told me you only have one bedroom.”
Frankie felt her face heat. “I’m not using it right now.”
Roxy looked puzzled and glanced at Matt. Then a smile spread across her face. “Okay, that’s one piece of good news. Finally.”
What did she mean by finally?
Frankie opened her mouth to ask, but Roxy was looking anxiously at Matt.
“Before I say yes, you’d better tell me how much the rent would be.”
Matt named a figure that would have covered a windowless basement in the roughest borough of New York.
Frankie felt a lump form in her throat.
Crap, she was turning into a marshmallow.
“We can go back to your apartment and pick up your thi
ngs right now,” Matt said. “Or you can give me your keys and a list and I’ll do it myself.”
“Are you my landlord or my bodyguard?”
A hint of humor lit Matt’s eyes. “I’ll be whatever you need me to be until you’re back on your feet.”
He didn’t hesitate to help, Frankie thought, swallowing hard. He didn’t think about his own comfort or convenience. He wasn’t putting his business first, or trying to protect himself.
He was focused on helping Roxy, a vulnerable woman who had no one in the world.
He was a man in a million.
So why was she feeling so terrified because she’d given up her apartment?
What was wrong with her?
Something squeezed in her chest.
Roxy rubbed her palm over her cheek, undecided. “That’s a really low rent. I don’t want any favors.”
Frankie’s heart ached. If anyone needed favors, it was this girl, but as someone who had turned independence into an art form, she understood and sympathized.
“Right now that apartment is sitting empty,” Matt said. “But I can’t rent it to anyone else because it’s Frankie’s home and all her things are there. It makes sense to have it occupied, but there aren’t many people I’d trust with it.” With those few simple words he threw a bucket of water over the flickering flames of Frankie’s anxiety.
He understood. He understood how she felt.
Frankie felt a rush of warmth and gratitude and all her worries seeped away.
It was fine. Everything was going to be fine.
“It would feel wrong,” Roxy muttered, and Frankie stepped in.
“We all have moments in life when things are tough, Roxy. When that happens, it’s okay to reach out and let your friends help. Look at it this way—one day you’ll be able to do the same for someone else when they’re in trouble.”
“Pay it forward, you mean?” Roxy sniffed and chewed the edge of her nail. “I guess that makes sense. And you’re right that I have to think of my baby. Her safety comes before my pride.”
James walked back to them and handed over a wriggling Mia. “You’re a good mom, Rox.”
It was exactly the right thing to say and Frankie saw Roxy’s cheeks flush.
“Don’t get all soppy on me.” But she straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. “All right. If you’re sure. I don’t have much stuff, anyway.”
“I can clear out some of my things.” It made perfect sense.
Roxy needed somewhere safe to stay and it wasn’t as if she was using the apartment much.
In the last three weeks she’d only been inside it to water her plants and pick up fresh clothes.
Matt held out his hand to Roxy. “Give me the keys to your apartment and a list of things you need. I’ll pick them up so that you don’t have to go back there.”
“I’ll go with you.” But Roxy looked exhausted and the bruise on her head was turning an ugly shade of blue.
“I’ll go with Matt,” Frankie suggested. “You and Mia stay here with James.”
Clearing Roxy’s tiny apartment took less than an hour, and on the way home Matt stopped at the store to pick up a few things he thought she might need. Doing something practical helped to cool the anger simmering inside him.
Frankie sent the occasional questioning glance in his direction as she filled a shopping cart with food. “Are you okay?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You’re worried about Roxy. You want to remove Eddy’s head from his shoulders.”
Matt forced a smile. “Hopefully he won’t come near her again, and even if he tries to he won’t find her. It was generous of you to offer to let her use your apartment.” The gesture had surprised him. After all the conversations they’d had on the topic, he hadn’t expected it.
He pushed the cart to the checkout and started unloading it.
“Hey, it’s your apartment. You’re the generous one. Don’t buy that—” she removed a little girl’s outfit and two dolls “—you’ll offend her.”
“How will buying a few things for Mia offend her?”
“Because this is tough on Roxy. She needs to do it herself as much as she can.”
Matt dragged his hand over the back of his neck. “I’m being overprotective again?”
“I love that side of you. And I suspect it will help Roxy to know her friends have her back. But I think we should be a little subtle, that’s all. She’s trying to be independent. We don’t want her to misinterpret what we’re doing and take it as a sign that we don’t think she can cope.”
“Good point.” He put the outfit and one of the dolls back on the shelves. “What makes you so smart?”
“I was born that way.”
“You were born sexy, too.” And he couldn’t keep his hands off her. Ignoring the fact that they were in a public place, he leaned across and kissed her. “I know you didn’t want to move in with me. Tell me honestly—are you freaking out?”
“A little bit.” She gave a half smile and he eased away, pleased that she hadn’t lied to him but wishing her answer had been different.
“You’ve been sleeping in my apartment every night since we got back from Puffin Island.”
“I know. But this feels—” she shrugged “—I can’t explain.”
“As if the door has closed? No escape?” He didn’t need her to explain, because he understood. And the fact that she still didn’t trust what they had hurt more than it should have. Telling himself it wasn’t personal, he paid for the items and loaded them into bags. “You can escape anytime you like, Frankie. You can stay with Eva on a temporary basis if you’d rather.”
Why the hell had he suggested that? The last thing he wanted her to do was move out.
She touched his arm gently. “I’ve upset you.”
“No. Do I wish you’d move everything you own into my apartment? Yes. But I don’t want you to feel trapped. I know this is a big deal for you, and I want you to know you’re as free to leave today as you were yesterday.” He kept it easy and casual, ignoring the fact that all he wanted to do was drag her back to his apartment and keep her there. “But I’m pleased we were able to help Roxy. That was a good thing you did.”
“You’re the one doing it.” She helped him bag the items. “You’ve spent a lot of money, Matt.”
“It’s my money.”
By the time they’d settled Roxy and the baby into Frankie’s apartment, it was late.
James, who had taken to crawling around on all fours to be Mia’s horse, announced that he was going to sleep on the couch.
“Why?” Roxy put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “You think you’re going to get lucky?”
“No, but you had a bang on your head and you need someone to keep an eye on you. That’s the rule with a head injury.”
“I’ve had worse than this.”
James stopped crawling. “Maybe. But I’m still sleeping on the couch. Ouch.” He winced as Mia tugged at his hair and smacked her little legs against his waist.
“Horsey run.”
“She’s got one hell of a grip, Rox.”
“Don’t swear in front of my baby, you big oaf.”
“Oaf,” Mia said happily. “Oaf.”
“Sorry.” James looked sheepish and Roxy relented.
“I suppose every horse needs a stable. I’ll make up the couch.”
“There are blankets and pillows in the basket by the bed,” Frankie said and while Roxy went to fetch them, Matt took the opportunity to talk to James.
“Are you sure you want to stay? I’m upstairs if she needs anything.”
“I don’t think Eddy will find her here, but she’s scared and I don’t like to think of her scared. I thought I’d hang around here for a while.”
Matt nodded. “If he manages to track her down somehow and turns up, call me.”
“Sure thing. You can come down here with that chain saw of yours and carve him into a more useful object. A doorstop, may
be.”
Matt was about to respond when Roxy appeared in the doorway, her face pale.
“You don’t have to talk about me as if I don’t know what’s going on here. I don’t need a bodyguard and it seems I’ve got two.”
“Three.” Frankie took the pillows and blankets from her and put them on the couch. “I’m a black belt in karate. If Eddy shows up here he’s going to wish he’d picked a different address.”
“Karate? That’s pretty cool.” Roxy took Mia from James and cuddled her close. “I’d like to learn.”
“I can take you with me next time I go.” Frankie vanished into the kitchen and appeared moments later with a few plants in her hands. “These are toddler height, so I thought we’d put them upstairs. And I need to show you how the bolt on the door works because it’s temperamental.”
Matt handed Mia the doll he’d bought. “You didn’t tell me it was temperamental.”
“It’s fine, but you have to bash it with your hand.”
“Good, because I’m in the mood for some bashing.” Roxy frowned. “You bought her a new doll?”
Matt hesitated, remembering the exchange with Frankie. “It’s a gift, Rox.”
“You don’t need to do all this for me.”
“I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for your daughter.” He knew that Roxy put Mia before everything, including her own pride.
Roxy chewed her lip and then gave a wobbly smile. “Thanks. That was kind.”
Mia was ecstatic and insisted on smacking kisses on Matt’s cheek until Roxy finally peeled her away.
By the time they returned to his apartment, it was almost dark.
Frankie arranged the plants on the windowsill in the kitchen. “Do you think he’ll show up?”
“Her ex? I don’t think he’d know to look for her here, but if he does James will deal with him.” Matt consulted a recipe book and gathered the ingredients for a basic red sauce. He wondered how a man could father a child and then have no interest in raising it or protecting it. And in a way, Frankie’s situation was even worse than Roxy’s. Her father had walked out on a child he’d raised for fourteen years. What the hell made a man do that?
“Are you angry?” Frankie washed her hands and reached for a clove of garlic. “Either that onion has offended you, or you’re angry.”